So, you fancy getting into the world of golf? But not sure where to start and what to spend money on? It can be daunting; the kit alone to play at a basic level is confusing. However, finding the right set of golf clubs even for a beginner is important.
You can have up to fourteen clubs in your bag, but you can play a successful game with half that amount. As a basic requirement, your kit should consist of a driver, a 3-wood, a 3-hybrid, a 5-hybrid, a 7-iron, a 9-iron and a putter.
But for someone new to the game of golf, all that can be confusing, so let’s look at the terminology and take some of the mystery out of the kit.
What are the club’s components?
● Grip
As you would imagine, this refers to the part of the club that you hold, usually with a rubber surface to make holding it easier.
● Shaft
Arguably the most important part of the club, the shaft connects the hosel to the grip and has a direct impact on how well you play. There are shaft variables that will affect your ability to deliver the clubhead properly at impact.
● Hosel
More than just a connection between the shaft and the clubhead, the hosel controls the lie angle of the club, important for the angle of your swing.
● Clubhead
The clubhead is the part that makes impact (hopefully) with the ball. The overall control of the ball is dictated by the clubhead.
So now we have that sorted, let’s take a moment to establish what the different types of clubs are.
What clubs can you get
● Drivers
Also known as woods due to being made of wood historically, although these days, they are mostly made from steel, graphite or titanium. As a beginner, the 1-wood or driver, should be the first club that you pick up. The driver is the club used to play from the tee and will usually make the ball travel the farthest distance due to its low loft angle ranging from as low as 7 degrees to 11 degrees. The driver will also be the longest club in your set with the largest clubhead.
● Fairway Woods
The ideal golf club for targeting long-distance drives. Able to achieve amazing results on the fairway, while also playing well from the tee due to the added control they give the player. They require a little more skill in precision shots due to their smaller head size, but once mastered, can give you a higher and softer shot with better control in order to shape shots easily.
● Hybrids
The most modern golf club in any kit. The hybrid is a cross between a wood and an iron and the technical innovation in these clubs means even professional golfers are starting to use them to their advantage. A hybrid will typically send a ball further than an iron with increased trajectory, improved swing control and greater accuracy. In fact, they have added so much advantage that they are able to replace many of the irons in a typical golf bag.
Hybrid golf clubs are highly recommended for improving your gameplay.
● Irons
Irons are one of the most frequently used clubs in a golf bag due to their versatility and accuracy, in most part due to the head of the iron club being thinner than the wood or hybrid clubs. The deep grooves in the head are responsible for generating extra spin on the ball, helping the player with control of the shot.
● Wedges
Given that 50% of the shots that you play in a round will be in the short game, wedges are the most important club in your bag. Rather than covering distances, the loft on a wedge enables players to chip a ball from sand or turf into the air.
There are different types of wedges available and it’s worth knowing your pitching wedge from your sand wedge, details of which can be found here.
● Putters
With over 40% of all golf being played with a putter, this makes up a vital part of your golf bag. Putters have a distinctive flat clubface, without lofts or bounce angles, giving golfers the ability to roll the ball smoothly into the hole.
There are, of course, other things to consider before committing to your first set of clubs. A golf set represents a financial commitment to the game and cost should be a consideration. Starting with the basics and building your set up organically as you grow with the game will save you from lugging heavy clubs that you never use around a golf course.
Another consideration is whether to invest in adjustable or standard clubs. Splashing out on adjustable clubs will allow your clubs to grow with you as your game improves.
Article Submitted By Community Writer
