How Much Does a Golf Bag Weigh?
Golf is a fun sport with plenty of health benefits. However, playing an entire 18-hole round isn't easy, especially when carrying a heavy golf bag. Your bag is an essential element in your golfing arsenal. That's why choosing the right golf bag that suits your body and your game is imperative.
If you've ever searched online, you know there are tons of bags to choose from, each with different features, weight, and storage capacity. In this article, we'll guide you on the different types of golf bags in the market, how much they weigh and what factors can affect the weight of your bag.
How Much Do Golf Bags Usually Weigh?
Golfing can sometimes lead to low back pain. Whether it's from improper swing technique or lugging around heavy loads, the last thing you want to do is hurt your back. That's why we encourage golfers to consider the weight of their bags.
You may be thinking, how much does a golf bag weigh? The weight of a golf bag largely depends on the type of golf bag it is, whether it's a carry bag, stand bag, fully loaded, and whether it's wet or dry.
An unloaded golf bag typically weighs between three to 11 pounds. Carry and travel bags are on the lighter side at about three pounds, while stand and cart bags can weigh between seven and 11 pounds. A golf bag with clubs can weigh between 25 and 35 pounds.
Tour Bags
Tour bags, also called staff bags, are the largest type of bag, meaning they have enough storage for everything from clubs to gloves. Unfortunately, the extra space comes with a price. These bags weigh about 10 pounds unloaded.
They are often used by PGA tour golfers and carried by their golfer's caddie. While it works well for professional golfers, they aren't ideal for the average golfer, who doesn't have a caddie to carry their belongings. If you decide to use a tour bag, consider using a golf cart or a push-pull or electric trolley.
Cart Bags
Cart bags, otherwise known as trolley bags, are carrying on a trolley or pushed around in a cart. They are unique because they feature a non-slip base to prevent the bag from sliding off the cart. On average, cart bags weigh about 6 to 7 pounds.
While not as oversized as staff bags, cart bags still offer plenty of storage for carrying balls, valuables, and your clubs.
However, constantly using a trolley to push cart bags can be tedious, especially if you have to rent them. We recommend cart bags for advanced players who need a lot of equipment and gear to give them an extra edge on the course.
Stand Bags
Compared to the previous two, stand bags are unique in that they feature retractable legs allowing them to stand upright without getting dirty. It lets you have access to your clubs while playing a round. They're suitable for golfers who prefer to carry their clubs on their back; however, you can also use them on a push cart or golf cart.
Stand bags weigh between three and five pounds, significantly lighter than cart or tour bags. Most stand bags achieve lightweight due to the material, with options like lightweight nylon. The fabric is water-resistant and durable. The lightweight water repelling material prevents water absorption, which can add more weight to the bag.
These bags are perfect for golfers who prefer to walk the course. Many have backpack-style shoulder straps to distribute the weight evenly across both shoulders, making them comfortable to carry. Some bags even feature a hip pad to prevent bruising or pain.
The ability to carry or push these bags while maintaining a relatively light weight makes the stand bags the most versatile option.
Carry Bags
Carry bags are incredibly light and convenient to carry around on the course. It's perfect for golfers who plan to walk the course. It weighs in at about three pounds unloaded and even weighs under 20 pounds when loaded, depending on how many golf clubs you have.
However, these bags have fewer pockets compared to the other types. Many stand and cart bags will have 14-way dividers, while carry bags may have only a couple of dividers. Carry bags are ideal for beginners who may not need a bunch of wedges, woods, and hybrids. Perhaps, they only need the basics, such as a driver, putter, and a couple of irons.
The bag has fewer pockets compared to other different types of golf bags. Many other bags will have eight pockets and 14-way dividers, while carry bags may offer a few pockets and only six dividers.
Carry bags are perfect for casual golfers since they easily fit into a small car, so you can take them on short weekend trips where they might have a course nearby the hotel.
Travel Bags
Travel bags are either soft or hard-cased and more like a cover. That's because they are used alongside your current golf bag to protect your equipment during transit.
Many of them have a padded top to ensure the safety of your clubs, bags, and accessories. They are best for traveling and not meant for carrying on the course.
But the MUT - Multi-use Traveler Bag has taken all the benefits of a traditional travel bag and made it even better! It's an everyday roller duffle that converts to a golf travel bag with a single zipper. It even includes a torsion bar for extra club protection when you're on the go. And when you're done, it easily converts back to a roller duffle for other trips. With the MUT - Multi-use Traveler Bag from StitchGolf, you can now travel with your golf clubs in style while still having a practical everyday bag to use when you're not on the course.
If you travel a lot and want to protect your gear, it's good to invest in a high-quality travel bag. However, lugging around a hard-case travel bag isn't fun either. We recommend a soft case for those who are more sensitive to weight.
How Do Clubs Affect the Weight of a Golf Bag?
Besides the type of golf bag, having clubs loaded onto the bag will significantly increase its weight. The type of clubs and materials significantly contribute to the overall weight of your golf bag.
Depending on the clubs and shafts you use, a set of clubs can add an additional 25 to 30 pounds to the weight of your bag. Let's say your golf bag weighs six pounds. With 14 clubs weighing about one pound on average, that'll give you around 20 pounds. It still doesn't include all the accessories you'll want to carry.
The weight of each club varies depending on the club type. For instance, putters weigh more than irons. And irons are heavier than woods. Expect the weight of a club to weigh between 0.7 to 1.2 pounds. The driver is the lightest club, weighing about 0.73 pounds, and the putter weighs about 1.17 pounds. Generally, irons weigh between 0.88 pounds and 0.95 pounds.
We recommend going for graphite-made shafts if you're searching for the lightest clubs. Graphite shafts are lighter than steel and easier to swing, increasing your distance and reducing shock and vibration. However, you'll have to pay a little more for graphite clubs than steel.
What Else Affects the Weight of a Golf Bag?
While clubs play a major role in the weight of a golf bag, several other factors can increase the load of your carrier or bag. Here are the factors to consider:
Golf Balls
A golf ball weighs about 1.62 ounces, which sounds insignificant, but can easily can a pound or two. Many golfers carry 12 or 24 golf balls in their bag between playing on the course and practice.
Accessories
Everyone is looking to enhance their game and gain an edge over their competition. Many golfers carry a wide range of accessories to make golf more fun and easier to play. Common accessories include GPS devices, rangefinders, grips, umbrellas, food, water, clothing, pitch repairers, golf tees, towels, and even shoes.
All these items can easily add another 7 to 10 pounds to the weight of your golf bag. We recommend auditing your golf accessories and limiting them to only the essentials for gameplay.
Rain
Golfers are all too familiar with water. Your equipment is bound to get wet at some point, whether from a light rainfall or torrential downpour. When the bag absorbs water, it'll absorb the water weight, which can add an extra pound or two when exposed to humidity or heavy rain.
We advise looking for a golf bag with water-resistant material. Water-resistant materials can repel water, helping to keep the bag as lightweight as possible and protect valuables.
Of course, there are water repelling sprays or a rain hood that you can put over your bag. But investing in a water-resistant bag means you'll benefit from a lighter bag that stands the test of time.
Material
Golf bags can consist of many materials, which can significantly impact the bag's weight:
- Nylons are the lightest material and great for beginners to carry around.
- Canvas is relatively lightweight and generally used for stand bags.
- Leather is the heaviest material but provides better durability and aesthetic appeal. Many tour bags use leather for their quality, weather resistance, and size.
They also have plastic or metal frames to help support the bag's weight. Plastic frames are lighter and are more conducive to carrying, while metal frames are much heavier. Tour and stand bags use a metal frame for better protection, especially for golfers who play frequently.
Size
Golf bags come in all different sizes. The size of the golf bag is contingent on the size and number of pockets for storage space. Many bags will range between six to 15 dividers.
Generally, larger golf bags are heavier than smaller ones simply because you'll likely put more clubs and equipment into the bag.
We recommend finding bags with a backpack strap if you're carrying a larger golf bag. One strap won't be enough if you are walking the course.
Final Thoughts
While there are many studies and tutorials on improving performance in golf, many golfers overlook the little things like their accessories, equipment, and even the weight of their golf bag.
Golf bags can play a critical role in your performance. Depending on your skill level, you'll need to balance the number of clubs, gear, and bag type to suit your needs. It's vital to ensure your golf bag weight is manageable to keep your energy level high during rounds.
Ready to find some of the lightest golf bags around? Whether you need a staff, cart, stand, or carry bag, our proprietary STITCH Touring Fabric keeps your load light and easy.
