Stix Golf Clubs Review (Tested In 2023)
Ever since we saw Stix golf clubs get released during the midst of 2020, we have been wanting to get our hands on a set to try out. It was a perfect time to release a new direct to consumer golf brand, and we thought they were crushing it with their design.
We had a number of questions.
- How does the black finish hold up?
- How would I enjoy moving to all graphite shafted clubs?
- How do Stix golf clubs compare to other beginner golf club sets?
Spoiler alert, these are more than just the best beginner golf club set that we have tested, and they are more than we hoped they would be when they were first released. Not only did they have stunning performances, but also were a magnet for compliments on the course because of their beauty.
Are you going to see these clubs slung over the shoulder of a caddy at the Masters tournament? Probably not. That doesn’t change the fact that in our opinion, Stix golf clubs are the best golf club set under $1k.
Who Are Stix?
Back in 2020 lockdowns were abundant, people were at home twiddling their thumbs, and golf had a record year of adoption.
With all the newcomers coming to the sport of golf, there was a lot of talk about the best equipment to use for beginner golfers.
Stix was launched around the same time with one simple idea: Premium quality at a fair price. Their sleek branding and modern finish made them an attractive option for the golfers that were stuck picking between package sets.
Let’s face it, most people these days can’t go get a golf club fitting. There were times where we just wished there was a complete set that looked as good as it played.
Stix makes it super easy to find the best fit for you, with different length, flex, and finish options. This shouldn’t come as a surprise, because it is what you would expect from a premium golf brand.
Unboxing The Set (First Impressions)
We were shocked at how quickly these clubs came. The order went through on Wednesday and we were unboxing them on Thursday.We were impressed with the speedy delivery and the condition of the box.
We ordered the complete 14-club Stix golf club set, along with the stand bag, and headcovers.
Everything was nicely wrapped and in good shape when we received them. Our first thought when all the clubs were unwrapped, was how awesome the black finish looked on the irons and putter. We were really excited to see how they would hold up. We were stoked to try out the putter.
When shown the new set, friends were all really impressed with the clubs apparent high quality.
Stix golf clubs driver, putter, and woods have a metallic finish on the bottoms which stands out on a sunny day on the course. Of course with shiny materials come fingerprints. However, most golfers will have a towel handy to clean them off after a day on the course.
The clubs also come in a silver finish, which some golfers may prefer, buy we totally love the scratch resistant black finish.
Stix Golf Clubs Performance Review
In February of 2023 we purchased these Stix clubs. Living in the Midwest, February means cold and snow. We checked the weather app on our phone. It showed that there would be a clear, sunny, warm(ish) weekend ahead.. The course closest to us was open for the weekend so we knew there was the chance to get out and check out the new clubs.
We just wanted to go out there and have fun.
We played one of the best rounds of golf ever.
These clubs are super solid. Performance aside for a second, you wouldn’t believe the feedback we received simply on the looks of the clubs from people on the course. One gentleman we were paired up with said, “What are those?….they look…futuristic.”
Which is true, the clubs look amazing in the sun.
The first club that we want to discuss is the driver, since it often is the hardest club for box sets to get right. BTW: The set we bought has regular flex shafts.
Graphite Shafts
Graphite shafts seem to be getting more popular with golf club sets. Up until now we only used steel shafts whenever we wanted to play a competitive round.
For golfers who haven’t tried all graphite shafted clubs, you will be pleasantly surprised with Stix. Graphite provides a lighter golf club which is great if you tend to walk the course, but they also provide some other benefits.
For one, with the lighter weight, you can get much more club speed out of these clubs. We are planning on taking these Stix golf clubs to a simulator like the SkyTrak launch monitor to test the difference in our club head speed.
You also get much more flex with the graphite shafts. This provides more forgiveness for any off-center shots that you may hit. They also vibrate less, which minimizes the impact of foul shots. All of this perfectly aligns with the target market that Stix is aiming for with these clubs.
Testing The Stix Driver
We don’t usually have high expectations for the driver in beginner golf sets, or other complete golf sets. However, with Stix boasting that they have made a premium golf set, we expected the driver to be better than most beginner golf sets.
In short, Stix has nailed the driver.
Many beginner golfers have problems off the tee.
Nothing is worse than pulling a golf shot. Especially when you are playing a course like we did, with water hazards on nearly every hole. Pulling shots was san issue we used to struggle with, but there are some things you can do to stop pulling golf shots.
One solution is improving the equipment you are using.
The round we played with the Stix golf clubs is one of the first times that we definitely noticed an improvement in our drives. After all, Stix golf clubs are made for beginner golfers looking for the best set of clubs to start.
Besides performing well, the driver looks amazing. The simplicity of the design is striking. The red dot right in the center stuck out really nicely when lining up a drive. If you don’t have the best eyesight, having this contrast is helpful.
Overall, we give this driver an 8/10. Again, you aren’t going to see these on the PGA tour, but for the value, you can’t get much better than this.
3 Wood and 5 Wood
Playing at a relatively short course, we only were able to play with the woods a few times, which is disappointing as these were some of our two favorite clubs in the set.
The woods hit straight and low, which will be a particularly helpful quality on the courses with trees located throughout the golf course. Overall we were impressed the few times we use them.
The 5 wood was easy to pickup off the fairway, which is a quality you would expect out of woods these days. With golf club manufacturers getting better with designing club faces, this is exactly how we were expecting woods from a golf club manufacturer like Stix would perform.
The 3 wood hit very smoothly off the tee. We typically like to use clubs like these off the tee when conservatively playing a hole. Whenever we took the headcovers off these clubs, we knew we wouldn’t be making a mistake.
4 Hybrid
We have never found the need to have a hybrid in our bag, until we bought the 14-club set from Stix. We usually just made due with 3 irons to punch a shot down the fairway.
That is what we assumed until we picked up this 21° 4 hybrid club. We thought this type of club was mainly used by older golfers with slower swing speeds, who can’t quite get as much loft out of their irons. But there is a benefit to having a 4 hybrid filling a slot in the bag. Basically we got the distance we would normally get out of an 3 iron, with the forgiveness of a wedge.
The 4 hybrid performed exceptionally well, and gave us punchy shots from both the fairway and the rough.
Just like the woods and driver, the 4 hybrid has a sleek stainless steel design on the club head, which weighs in at 230g.
Irons and Wedges
The graphite shaft on the cavity back irons and blade style wedges that came with the Stix golf clubs are where you really see the redeeming qualities of having graphite shafts.
Because these shafts are graphite, they are much more elastic than steel shafted irons. Paired with the large sweet spot on all of these clubs, this set is designed with beginners in mind.
We had to take some shots from the rough and was always pleasantly surprised at the result.
All of the irons weigh in at 64g which is particularly helpful when dialing in speed and control at the range.
The wedges weigh in at 57g each and come with stiff shafts for more control greenside. You aren’t going to be swinging these as hard as you would a 5 or 7 iron. You will appreciate Stix choosing to design these with stiffer shafts than you would have with the irons.
Stix Putter
Full stop. The Stix mallet putter is phenomenal. iI’s a great move by Stix to sell it as an individual club as well.
Others may have differing experiences of course, but the balance of this club was perfect for how we putt. It weighs in at 430g with a length of 34″.
The oversized, square putter grip are designed to provide more control.
The putter looks amazing with its milled face and black on red design.
Compare it to more expensive putters, because it is just that good.
Stix Bag and Headcovers Review
If you have been playing golf for a while and are looking to upgrade your clubs, consider Stix golf clubs. However if you have been playing golf for a while, you probably already have your bag setup just the way you want it. It’s not necessary to upgrade your bag to the one Stix sells since Stix is totally focused on creating an amazing golf club set, not an amazing golf bag.
On the other hand, if you appreciate aesthetics, get the bag. It perfectly matches the black on red design of the set. The red loop zippers are helpful when wearing winter golf gloves where cold fingers might not be as accurate.
The Stx golf bag comes with an insulated pocket for your preferred course drink, protected pocket for your valuables, and all the dividers you need to go along with the set.
It has everything you need. The legs folded out easily, the strap is nice, and there is ample room for rangefinders and accessories you choose to bring with you.
The head covers on the other hand were fine with a simple design that properly covers your club heads.
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