|
|
ARTICLE 19
Understanding The Basic Types Of Golf Clubs
For those new to golf, it can seem ridiculous to need 14 different clubs just to smack a ball enough times to get it to the end of the
course. However, as you play the game more and more you will begin to see that all of the different types of golf clubs will almost
certainly come in handy quite often. Here I will outline some of the most important key things that you need to understand about golf
clubs. After you understand these, you can start to perfect you own ability to choose the best club to use at any point in the game.
This, along with a powerful and accurate swing, is how you can begin to win more and more games.
The first type of golf club is a wood. To the contrary of what the name suggests, the heads are not made out of wood. Usually woods are
made out of hollow metal, usually steel or titanium. They are designed to allow for the greatest distance with each stroke. Out of the
14 clubs in a standard set, the woods make up less than half. They are usually used on the long and straight portions of the golf course,
since they allow for the greatest distance with semi-decent accuracy. The accuracy is certainly not the strong point of the woods, and
usually it takes plenty of practice to be able to keep the ball on a straight course. Woods are also the longest clubs in the set.
Irons come next, and they are used most frequently throughout the game. They are very versatile compared to the other two types of clubs, and
therefore make up a larger amount of the clubs in your bag. They can still achieve fairly large distances, though not quite as far as the woods
can. Depending on which particular iron you use, you can have a much higher level of accuracy and get the ball a lot closer to where you want
it to be. There are many different kinds of irons that have very specific uses, such as those that are meant to get you out of the sand
traps or pop the ball up over an obstacle.
The final type of golf club is the putter, and a standard golf bag usually only contains one of these. These are used on the putting
green at the end of the course, or in other parts of the course that require delicate accuracy. They are meant to be the clubs with
the shortest distance and the highest accuracy, usually only going a few yards to the target. Balls hit with putters are not meant to
fly up in the air. Rather, they are just pushed lightly along the ground where they will roll gently to the target. Putting is arguably
the most important part of the game, so it is a good idea to get a nice putter and practice a bunch with it.
These 3 types of clubs are the basis for the game of golf. When you begin to start recognizing when you should use a wood or an iron,
that is when you are beginning to get a feel for the game. Until then, you will just have to practice all you can with the golf clubs
that you have.
ARTICLE 20
The Importance Of Choosing The Flex In A Golf Club
When choosing a golf club, it is tempting to only focus on the things like length and weight. However, in order to choose the golf clubs
that are best for your golfing abilities, you will need to carefully consider the flex of the shafts of the golf clubs you are looking at.
Flex is an important factor in any golf club, but most beginners have a hard time wrapping their minds around the reason why. Here I will
try to impress upon you the importance of the flex of a golf club. If you can understand why it works the way it does, you can start to
buy golf clubs that work better for the goals you are trying to accomplish.
When you swing your golf club, there is a very imperceptible flex in the shaft. You won't be able to notice it because you will be
swinging at the time, but it is there. When you buy your golf club, it will have a flex rating assigned to it that will tell you
everything that you need to know about the club. These ratings are extra stiff (X), stiff (S), regular (R), seniors (A), and ladies (L).
You may think that it is not very serious to choose the wrong fled rating. When you strike the ball with a club that has a flex rating
that you are not accustomed to, your shot is most likely to be angled in the wrong direction. This will cause nothing but frustration
for you during your game.
To prevent this game-crippling turn of events, you should definitely be careful when choosing the flex in your shaft. There are certain
traits that will always give away someone who should go for a stiffer rod. If your longer shots tend to always fly left of the intended
target, this means that your golf club is most likely too flexible. The same goes if your swing is stronger than the average swing. If
you swing the golf club extremely fast, chances are you would be better off playing your game with a stiff club. Just take the opposites
of these things for the more flexible clubs. If your shots tend to veer to the right of if you have a slower swing, this is what you
want to go with.
One way to determine what category you fit in is to go out to the driving range and hit the ball as far as you can. If your maximum
drive is less than 200 yards, stick with an L flex rating. If it between 200 and 230, go with an S. Between 230 and 250, R. 250 or
more, S. XS is usually only used by professional golf players, and doesn't often come in handy for consumers. However, the rating
system overall is a very good system and a great way for you to make sure that you are getting the golf club that you need. If you
need more advice as to which rating you should choose, talk to some of the more experienced golfers around your favorite golf course
and see if they can offer you any words of wisdom. The more personal advice you can get regarding the flex rating of your future golf
clubs, the more likely you are to be happy with the choice.
ARTICLE 21
Picking The Best Golf Clubs And Accessories
There are many reasons why someone would want to choose the absolute best in golf clubs and accessories. Maybe they want to show off
their devotion to the game in order to close an important business deal with a huge golf fan. Maybe they hope to become a professional
player and compete in tournaments. If you are interested in getting top of the line equipment and clubs for golfing, your reasons don't
matter. What matters is that you pay close attention to all of the details involved in getting the clubs that will be the best for your
style, without digging too much into your pocketbook (although you will probably notice quite a dent once you are done making the
transactions).
Graphite is the preferable material for golf clubs. It is known or being lighter and easier to swing. Since the lightness allows for a
faster swing, you will notice an immediate increase in the power of your stroke if you are switching from steel to graphite. This can be
a positive aspect or a negative aspect, depending on your play style. You can compensate a lighter shaft by going for a heavier head in
order to increase the momentum you get when you swing. You probably shouldn't get something too drastically different than what you are
used to, since this could get in the way of whatever you have learned so far. However, don't be too adverse to change, since you may find
something that takes a while to get used to but still improves greatly on your game.
As far as accessories go, you will probably only need a carrying case and some golf balls. You can spend a little bit of money or a huge
amount of money on either of these things. Balls come in many different varieties, although you will find that they all look the same.
You can buy ones that tell you their position over a GPS device (few people would find any use for this), or ones that glow in the dark
allowing you to play at night. Usually a standard regulation ball is the best thing you can buy, despite the luxurious and more expensive
other choices. As far as carrying cases or other accessories go, you simply have to ask yourself if their usefulness is worth the money.
Don't go overboard just to impress your golfing buddies. Instead, ask yourself if your game will really be improved by the item.
Club stores will always have something new and appealing to offer you. If you take them up on every offer, then you have likely wasted
a large amount of money. Instead of just picking the most expensive club or the one with the flashiest advertisement, you should pick
one that will help you out when you are actually playing the game. Analyze your own playing and decide whether you need that extra flex
or whether your stroke is fast as it is. Figure out the length that will be perfect for you, and avoid paying for clubs that hinder your
game rather than help it.
The best way to find out about great clubs is to talk to your golfing friends and see what they have been using. Rather than spend money
on a recent product just to find out that it is terrible, you can talk to people who have already kept up with the latest technology.
See what their thoughts on the clubs are, and maybe even borrow them for one game. This will give you a personal reference to whatever
you are thinking of buying, and perhaps allow you some hands-on time with it. These are some of the most important things when buying
new products, so be sure to accomplish them somehow before you spend any money. Your club buying experience should be a good one as
long as you take it slow.
ARTICLE 22
Picking Golf Clubs With The Right Feel For You
Buying golf clubs can be an exciting venture, almost like buying your first car or getting your first house mortgage. As with any
financial investment, you want to pick something that will be useful for years to come. Therefore your clubs should work perfectly with
your swinging style. By picking clubs that are comfortable to use, you can reduce the likelihood of ever having to replace your clubs.
When you go shopping for clubs, you should look for several things that will increase the comfort and quality of your purchase. These
are easy things to look for, and by making a small checklist you can avoid wasting your money on something that doesn't fully satisfy
your needs.
First of all, you should pay close attention to the way the golf club feels when you hold it and swing it. Pick it up at the store and
give it a few test swings, and maybe even hit a few balls with it if the store will allow you to. The flex of the shaft, the weight of
the club, and the length of the club will all combine to create a very unique feel for every single golf club you try, and if you try
enough then you are sure to find one that feels ideal. If you begin to notice traits that you prefer, such as a higher flex level in
the shaft or a shorter length, then you can choose golf clubs based on these specific features.
The material of the golf club is a very important part of the factor. The material that the shaft is made out of depends on how much
flex you want in it. Graphite shafts are usually suggested for beginners, and have a higher level of flexibility. Steel shafts are
cheaper and more reliable, but much heavier. Some people prefer to have this weight and momentum as the swing the club, but some can't
get used to it. Again, you will have just have to go the club store and swing the clubs around a bit so as to get used to the feel.
The head of the golf club will need to be a very strong material. While a graphite shaft is usually a good choice for beginners, it is
not a good idea to choose a similar alloy on the head of the golf club. Iron has, and probably always will be, the best choice for the
golf club head. Usually iron heads have the perfect amount of weight (though you can get this adjusted) and enough strength to be very
long lasting. Even if you usually prefer golf clubs to be much lighter, you will probably find that an alloy head causes the golf club
to be rather abnormal and almost unusable.
The golf club grips may not seem like much of an important part, but you would be surprised at what an adverse effect an uncomfortable
grip can have on your game. Your hands may become sore from gripping it, and you will slowly become less and less comfortable with each
swing. Therefore when you are picking out a golf club, you should be very happy with the grip. If you aren't fully satisfied, you can
replace the grip. You can find replacements in some club stores, and most definitely online. Don't be afraid to customize your clubs in
order to make them more pleasant to use.
ARTICLE 23
Things To Consider When In The Market For Golf Clubs
The golf club market is a strange phenomenon. Every year, new models of clubs come out that every golfer in the world drools over. They
are still just sticks with chunks of the same material attached to the end, but golfers always feel the need to upgrade and find higher
quality sticks. However, if you avoid falling into this mindset you will find that you are much happier (and probably a bit richer).
When you decide that you want your own golf clubs, it is best to step back and take a look at your situation in a way that will let you
determine what you really need to spend your money on. Consider some of the following things, and decide for yourself whether you want
to spend money on the more expensive clubs or if you'd rather just get some older, more reliable, and cheaper clubs.
First, consider how serious you are about golfing. Are you looking to become a professional golfer, or do you just go out on the weekend
with your buddies? If you are still a beginner, then there is almost no reason in the world for you to spend money on deluxe golf clubs,
even if you someday plan to be a pro. By buying the high-end golf clubs and skipping beyond your own abilities, you are cheating yourself
out of the valuable learning that the other clubs can offer you. So keep within your ability range (if you have lower ability, you will be
happy to find that you will have to pay a lower price for your clubs), and if you find that you are still seriously progressing, you may
upgrade in the future.
Next you will want to think about how often you golf. If you golf every day, then you will find that it is worth it to pay extra for golf
clubs that have a higher durability and lifespan. However, some of the high-end graphite clubs are known for everything but their
durability, so you don't want to mistake costliness for quality. If you stick with a good old set of steel clubs, you are not likely
to have to replace them anytime soon. Steel clubs are also stiffer, so if you have a faster swing then you would probably want to go
with them anyways. No matter what you choose, you will want to take it out and take a few swings with it before you commit to buying it.
So if the more expensive golf clubs aren't all that great, why do people spend such obscene amounts of money on them? The truth is
that if you have the skill level required to handle some of the more expensive clubs, it could pay off. They are designed to be
very unforgiving and unfriendly to amateurs, instead rewarding the skill and accuracy that comes with years of practice. So if you are
a beginner golfer who is buying an expensive new set of golf clubs, you are most likely shooting yourself in the foot. Stick with
cheaper, more forgiving clubs, no matter what the most popular golfing magazines tell you. If you don't believe that the more
expensive clubs will hinder your game, borrow one and try it for a few shots. See how it affects your game.
Rather than taking any advice you read in golf magazines, on the internet, or even here, you would do best to go out and talk to some
of your golfing buddies. See what they recommend, and have them study your strokes to see if they have any suggestions based on your
unique playing style. Go to the club stores and try out as many clubs as you can before deciding on one. This will ensure the best
results, since you will have personal experience with every golf club that you will be choosing from. This is much better than being
completely clueless and choosing simply based on the statistics that you are given.
ARTICLE 24
Saving Money By Choosing A Half Club Set
For a beginner at golf, buying a full set of deluxe clubs is almost always very foolish. When a beginner uses the more advanced clubs,
he or she will likely encounter nothing but frustration. If you are a beginner and you want to buy some golf clubs of your own, you
should look at some of the options that are alternative to buying a full new set of clubs. You can use a few different options (and
even combine them if you're lucky enough to find such a deal) to get golf clubs without doing too bad of a number on your wallet. The
first way that a beginning golfer can get away with these huge savings is to buy a half set of clubs. This will not only save money and
be lighter to carry, but it will also improve your game since you will have less of the more advanced clubs to choose from.
The half-set doesn't have a combination that is set in stone. Usually you will end up having to choose a few to exclude and include. In
most cases, a half set will include 4, 6, and 8 irons, as well a sand iron and a pitching wedge. It will include several woods, as well
as a putter. Using these clubs, you will be able to have one available that will work in almost every situation. There are certain
equivalencies between clubs that will allow you to drop them from your collection. For example, a 5 wood and a 2 iron have very similar.
However, the wood will allow you more forgiveness if you hit it a little bit off-center. Therefore you can drop the 2 iron from your
golf club set until you become enough of an expert to really need the unique hit it will give you.
Having a half set of clubs will usually allow for a beginner to really improve his or her swing before getting really involved in the
game. Once you have had the half set for a while and you are proficient in using them and swinging them, you can begin to think about
moving up to a full club set. The experience that you have gained from using the half set will carry over to the new ones, and you will
be much more skilled than if you had simply started with the full set. It will also give you a chance to figure out your own personal
preferences such as club length and head weight. When you buy the full set, you will be much more positive that it is the perfect golf
club set for you.
You can acquire a half club set in one of several different methods. The first is to simply buy one that is geared towards beginning
golfers. This could be a good choice, but you should definitely try them out before you buy them. An even better way to get a half-set
is to mix and match individual golf clubs. Many club stores will allow you to do this, and you will just need to get some advice from
an expert golfer as to which ones you will most certainly need when you are out on the golf course. Have a seasoned golfer come to the
store with you and pick out all of the clubs in your half-set.
• ARTICLES 1 TO 6
• ARTICLES 7 TO 12
• ARTICLES 13 TO 18
• GOLF EBOOKS
• HOME PAGE
|
| GOLFING TIPS. All Rights Reserved. |
|
|
|
