Golf Club Selection: Your Ultimate Guide
Golf is one of the most popular sports the world over, and while it is most commonly associated with businessmen and middle-aged men, it is a game enjoyed by people of all age, gender, and social status. Golf is a game that can be enjoyed alone or with friends and is a great way to spend an afternoon outdoors. It is a technical game that requires expertise and precision to excel. And not only are the aforementioned qualities required but so too is the equipment. One piece of equipment, the most important piece, is the golf club.
In this article, we will hope to give you a guide as to which golf club you should select. Golf clubs come in a variety of shapes and sizes and have many different uses. By reading this article, you will be able to walk into a golfing store, identify what you need, and leave without asking a single question, something you may have found difficult or impossible to do before reading this article.
So, if you are absolutely golfing mad, or just want to get started playing the game, you came to the right place. Here is the ultimate guide to golf club selection.
Golf Clubs for Beginners
When you are first getting started with golf, it can be tempting to splurge on every golf club you come across. It is very important that you do not do this, owing to the aforementioned variety of golf clubs that exist. When searching for the best men’s and best women’s golf clubs, you must find a club that is best suited to you and your style of play. Golf clubs do not come in a one-size-fits-all. It is best to buy your clubs slowly and meticulously, buying only what you need at that time. It may be worth, as a beginner, buying a second-hand set from somebody on the internet, rather than buying new [you may not like the game after a while]. Avoid the top name brands, for they are usually for experienced golfers, and it may be a waste of money.
As has been mentioned throughout, there are many varieties of golf clubs, with some not best suited to beginners. For your first club, you will want a beginner set including drivers, three-woods, odd-numbered irons [3, 7, 5, 9], and of course, a putter. A steel shaft is recommended.
Golf Clubs for Experienced Golfers
Now, moving onto experienced and intermediate golfers with over a year of experience, you will want to get clubs that are more suited to you. You should develop and build your set over the years as your golfing begins to improve. You can consider the top brands and latest models of clubs.
Different Types of Golf Clubs
1. Irons
The iron is used for long shots [two-hundred yards]. The purpose of this club is, as you may already know, to hit the ball at distance, while still delivering an accurate and planned swing. Iron heads come in many sizes. They are generally made from titanium or carbon composites, which makes them much lighter, but means they still deliver a powerful shot. There are different types of iron models. There are the standard models; the Offset; the Draw, and the Neutral. Irons also come in different shapes. Square-shaped heads are designed to help align tee shots and are far superior to traditionally shaped driver heads.
2. Woods
Woods are the clubs that hit the golf ball the farthest, far more than drivers, which are designed to hit a ball within two-hundred yards; woods are designed to hit balls over three-hundred and fifty yards. This club was, at one point, made from persimmon or hickory wood, which is why the club is known as a ‘wood’. Now, however, as times have moved on, woods are made out of metal. Wood heads are large and rounded, with flat bottoms to glide across the grass when making a shot. They are quite heavy but very effective.
3. Putters
The putter is the club that is used most, and the one that is used when up close and personal. Putters are used to rolling or knocking the ball into the hole or along the green. Putters come, like other clubs, in a variety of sizes and shapes. It is important that you find a putter you are comfortable with and one you do not struggle to use, for you will be using it a lot. Your putter will become like an extension of yourself and will determine whether or not you make any shots count. If you do not know how to handle a putter, it’s important that you practice as much as possible. Mastering the other clubs is also important, but the putter most of all, for the putter is your coup de grace.
4. Wedges
The wedge is a club used to strike the ball fast to make it fly into the air and land on the putting green. There are different types of wedges, from the gap to lob. When you are first investing in wedges, it may be best to inquire with the shop owner which is best and explain you are relatively new to the sport. Wedges are a must-have so it is essential that you get one before you embark on your first trip to the golf course. You can likely pick them up second hand, as with the other clubs mentioned on this list.
Personal Selection
When you are selecting a golf club, it is very important that you select one best-suited to you and your style of play. Golf clubs come in many shapes and sizes, and while it can be easy to confuse them, it is important to research so you can discern one club from another. You must find a club that is best for you, and this comes through trying them out, practice, and buying different clubs. As mentioned in an earlier paragraph, you may want to invest in a second-hand kit at first.
With the help of this page, you now know everything there is to know about different types of golf clubs, and how to select the perfect club for you. Golf is a lot of fun, and while we may not be able to play at the moment [lockdown restrictions considered], we can still prepare and invest in clubs for when we can return to the green.
