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    Golf clubsGetting the right set
of golf clubs that match you and your swing characterisitics is
probably the most important decision you have to make to improve your
golf score. Simply put, golf clubs are not a one size fits all
proposition. Golfers come in such a wide variety of sizes, sahpes,
skill levels, athleticism, etc., that one standard set of clubs just
simply can't be used by them all with good results.
As the skill level increases the choice of individual golf clubs becomes even more important since the equipment can be tailored even more closely to each golfers particular golf game. Before trying to decide which golf clubs will be best for you a little advance preperation is required. You need to know what your swing speed and tempo is to match the right clubs to your swing. Almost any pro shop will have a device to measure this and it is usually free. Swind speeds can vary from 50 to 120 mph, with most folks falling in the 65 to 95 mph range. Swing tempo is how long it takes for a golfer to complete the swing from start to impact with the ball. Most range between 1 second to 1.5 seconds. Armed with this information, the following suggestions will help you choose the right golf clubs for you: Drivers
The driver is the biggest, longest hitting, club in the bag. It is also usually the most expensive. It's function is simply to hit long shots with enough accuracy to keep you in the fairway for the next shot. When considering a driver a lot of attention is paid to the clubhead. Since drivers typically have been hard golf clubs to control, the design of the clubhead in recent years has made control much more attainable through selction of clubhead material. Titanium heads are being used more frequently now, and the lighter material allows the manufacturer to create a much larger sweet spot where impact actually takes place. So fewer mishit shots are a result of this change in design. High handicappers and beginners should really consider getting a titanium head driver for this reason, whereas steel head drivers are often better choices for more advanced control since they allow more control and shot-making ability. High handicappers should also consider a higher lofted club for better control, maybe over 10 degrees, whereas lower handicappers should select a lower degree of loft for their driver. Your swing speed will affect the shaft selection for your driver. generally slower swing speeds require graphite shafts to allow for greater distance. Higher swing speeds can benefit from steel shafts since they allow greater control characteristics. Another place swing speed comes into play is in the shaft flex. High swing speeds call for a more firm shaft, wheras slower speeds, under 95 mph call for a more flexible shaft for greater distance. Irons When selecting club iron sets, the most obvious choice is between cavity-backed or forged clubheads. Cavity-backed heads allow for better control and usually are more suitable for beginners and high handicappers. Forged heads are great for transmitting more feel to an experienced golfer, but they can be very unforgiving when hit off center. The size of the clubhead is important in choosing these golf clubs too. The larger clubhead sizes available in cavity-backed designs can aid in even better club control, whereas forged heads are usually only made in one standard size for the experienced golfer. The same guidelines mentioned above for shaft material and flex for drivers also apply to irons as well. Wedges Wedges are golf clubs that are used for short approach shots around the green and usually have a high degree of loft. Many players carry three wedges in their bag, one for fairway shots (50 - 54 degrees, one for playing out of sand (55 - 58 degrees), and a lob wedge (58 - 64 degrees). When choosing a wedge remember that the softer the clubhead material the more feel and spin you can achieve, but they are also less forgiving. Also, the sole of the wedge is an important consideration depending on what kind of grass you normally play on. The sole can range from flat to very rounded and is referred to as the "bounce" of the wedge. The bounce can range from 0 to 15 degrees. If you usually play on courses with closely mown grass then choose wedges with little bounce, but if the grass can tend to be longer on your course get a higher bounce factor for your wedge. Shaft materials and flex usually don't come into play much with these golf clubs since they are not usually swing for long distance. Putters Selecting the right putter can without a doubt influence your score more than any of the other golf clubs. Putters come in a wide variety of sizes, shapes, and styles. It's a good idea to experiment with several to find the one that is right for you. Most putters have two basic shapes, either blade or mallet. The blade putters look more like hockey sticks, and the mallet putter heads resembles the head of a small hammer. Sometimes the head is offset by where the shaft enters the head to promote keeping your hands ahead of the ball when putting, an important fundamental for accurate putts. Most putters have face inserts made of any of several materials including rubber, plastic, metal, ceramic, etc. Each of these inserts makes for a different feel when the ball is struck. The size of the putter is a major consideration. If possible use a standard size, or one that is 34 - 35" long. If you have trouble with using these kinds of putters and have inconsistency problems you may benefit from a long or "belly" putter that is often arounf 50" long and is held firmly with one hand against the chest to stablize it while holding it with the other hand lower down the shaft. It promotes a truer arc on the swing but sacrifices some of the feel and distance control. Beginners often do well with a heavier club head like a mallet design and one that is offset to promote a hands first swing. Custom golf clubs If you decide to get custom golf clubs made for you there are some very good merchants online who can help you get the exact fit. Generally speaking these are the pieces of informatiuon that you will need to give them to get a set of golf clubs that fits you well:Your gender Your skill level Your swing speed Your height with no shoes on How far it is to the floor from your wrist with your shoes off Your age What club you use to reach 150 yards Armed with this information these companies can make a set of golf clubs that will fit you extremely well. Below are the links to companies online who we feel have the best selection of golf club sets to choose from. Golf
Club Resources
3BallsGolf.com GigaGolf.com TheWorldOfGolf.com |
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