What You Need to Know About Golf Clubs
One of the first things that might be daunting about golf is the range of equipment used. We will introduce you here to some of the most common types of club, each of which have distinctive features and uses. In this article, we’ll run through the basics of each and give some ideas of what you need to be aware of as you shop around for the perfect set of clubs.
One key fact for beginners to know is that the rules of golf specify that you are allowed up to 14 clubs. However, there are no restrictions on which clubs.
The Driver
The first club to be familiar with is the driver. It is used for the first thing you will do in golf: teeing off.
The driver is often known as a wood, in reference to their original style of manufacture (often using persimmon or hickory, if you were interested). This name is still used, showing how attached golfers are to their history. Nowadays, though, it is normally made from graphite.
So what are the characteristics of this club? As it is used to cover large distances, it has a low loft angle, which can be between seven and eleven degrees. It is also the longest club you will use. As it is used for teeing off, it also has the largest club head and hitting area.
The most popular size for this head is 460cc, which has a larger size for beginners.
The Iron
Irons are one of the most commonly used clubs in golf. They can be used for any short or mid-range shots. Some players will even use them to tee off. They are normally purchased in sets of six to eight individual irons.
The key distinction with irons are the ridges in the head of the club. These allow for spin on strikes, giving greater control. The heads of iron clubs are also thinner, which can give greater accuracy.
The two main types of these clubs are Cavity Back and Cavity Muscle Back. Highly skilled golfers can use this club to bend shots around obstacles.
For those with a mid to high handicap who want to get under the ball, it is worth looking at some of the most forgiving irons.
Wedges
Wedges have a lot in common with irons. Wedges also feature ridges in the club head. However, they are distinguished by their angle of loft, which is normally between 46 and 64 degrees.
You may wonder why this extreme angle would be needed. The answer lies in the need to lift the ball. This club will normally be used to get the ball out of lower positions such as in a sand bunker or to clear another kind of obstacle.
To help you in these kind of situations, wedges also have something known as a “bounce” feature. This bounce results from the angle between the edge and the sole of the club face. This means the club will not become stuck in the ground and instead will bounce off any surface.
Putters
The putter is the club used in golf most frequently. It is recognized by its flat club face. It has no loft or bounce as it is generally only used on the putting green.
There are two types to know: the Blade and Mallet Putter. The difference between the two is simply one of size. The Blade has a smaller head and may be favored by more experienced golfers. The larger Mallet can allow players of all experience levels to avoid mis-hitting shots. The size of the Mallet also allows for more stable movement.
