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Since the Scots began hitting balls more than 500 years ago, clubs have been a source of pride for golfers everywhere. As any experienced player will tell you, a quality set of equipment can drastically improve your play, which is why most players care for their clubs like they would a family member!
So now you’ve seen the players out on the course and you think it looks fun, but where do you start? This informational article will provide a brief rundown of the different types of clubs and their purposes.
There are three general kinds of clubs: woods, irons and putters. Woods, or drivers, are the most powerful clubs; they are used for long-distance shots. Players begin each game with a wood, which they use to drive the ball down the fairway. The face of these clubs is round with a flattened sole so it doesn’t dig into the ground during a swing. Drivers also generally tend to have a longer shaft than other clubs; some players prefer to use shorter drivers, however this reduces their distance. Like their name suggests, woods were made out of wood until the late 80s, when club manufacturers began to use steel or titanium. Today, many drivers are made from ultra lightweight materials like carbon fiber, but they still retain the wood title for tradition-sake.
Irons have a shorter shaft than woods an angled face. After a player uses a wood to drive the ball down the fairway, they use irons to perform technical shots, getting the ball closer to the green. The angled face allows players to hit in difficult situations, including sand, rough, through, over trees and other obstacles. These clubs are also numbered according to their length. For example, 1-4 irons are considered long irons, which provide more power. 5-7 are mid-irons, and 8-plus are short-irons. Also, the angle of the face changes between clubs – sand wedges have an angle of 54-58 degrees.
Putters have flat faces which are designed to push the ball toward the hole when it’s in close proximity to it, especially when it’s on the green. Because of the preciseness of these clubs, they are among the most valuable pieces of equipment for a golfer. The advantages of putters include: smooth stroke, good glide, and bounce-less topspin – all of which increase the club’s performance near the hole.
Golf bags are especially valuable for a player to transport their clubs. The round-shaped bags can be made of leather or nylon and they allow players to organize their clubs into easily-accessible categories (i.e. size, length, type). New bags come with wheels that make them easy to pull, but traditional golfers carry them. Pockets on the side also make it easy to store and transport items like extra balls, gloves and towels.
Golf is a sport ripe in tradition – it’s also extremely difficult to master. However, a solid knowledge of clubs is a perfect jump-off for anyone interested in learning the game.
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