Clubs

Finding the right golf club to suit your playstyle is one of the most crucial aspects of improving your gameplay. 

Although it might very well be a game-changer for most, people often tend to overlook what suits them and go with whatever is trendy at the moment. This is one of the reasons why beginners have trouble adjusting with their clubs - because it doesn’t suit them.

And for understanding what suits you, you need to first understand what makes a golf club. Take a quick look through the overview down below to get a clear-cut idea of the parts, types, and uses of golf clubs. 

Choosing the Right Grip

The upper piece of the shaft in a golf club where you hold is called a grip. It’s usually around 8 to 10 inches long and made up of rubber. 

There are 4 different types of grips categorized by their sizes labeled as undersized, standard, midsize, and oversized or jumbo grips. You can easily determine the right size you’d need by measuring your hands – measure the length from the crease of your wrist to the tip of your middle finger. Now depending upon that measurement, just find the right grip from the list below:

Undersized/Junior - shorter than 7 inches 

Standard - 7 to 8.75 inches

Midsize - 8.25 to 9.25 inches

Oversized/Jumbo - longer than 9.25 inches

However, you need to understand that these numbers are just average numbers and that if you have a smaller palm but feel comfortable using an oversized grip, go for it. Choosing the right grip is all about your comfortability while holding and stroking.

Picking the Right Shaft

The cylindrical rod that extends from the grip to the base of the golf club is called a shaft. It is usually made out of graphite or metal.

While the standard length of a shaft is 34" - 37", you can fit them to the size you’re comfortable with. But the key aspect to look for in a shaft is its flexibility. 

Shafts come in different flexes from flexible ones to extremely stiff ones too. Each of these variations serves to suit a different swing speed or play style.

The levels of flexibility or stiffness are identified by different letters and here’s what those indicate:

L - for Ladies

A or M - for Senior Flex / Amateur

R - for Regular

S - for Stiff / Firm

X - for Extra Stiff / Tour

An L(For Women) or an R(For Men) can usually be good enough for an average golfer. However, depending upon your play style and swing speed, you may or may not require a different type of shaft. You might want to consult a professional fitter if you have difficulties with a regular shaft.  

Choosing the Right Club Head

The base part of the club attached at the end of the shaft is called a club head. A clubhead is the most crucial component of a golf club as that’s what hits the ball.

Every club manufacturer has its unique technology implemented in the clubhead so as to deliver the best possible performance. 

The qualities and characteristics of a club head differ according to each club type and that’s where we go to the different types of golf clubs.

Types of Golf Clubs and Their Uses

Although a golfer is allowed to carry up to 14 clubs in their golf bag, there are mainly just 5 types of clubs:

1. Driver
2. Fairway Wood
3. Iron
4. Wedge
5. Putter

Drivers

Drivers clubs are often known as ‘Woods” or “1 Wood” primarily because they used to be made out of wood. However, nowadays, they’re constructed from metals such as steel and titanium.

Out of all the clubs in a golfer’s bag, drivers have the largest club head and are used in the teeing ground to drive the ball as far from the golfer and as close to the greens as possible. It’s the first shot of the game, usually on a Par 4 or 5.

Putters

Putters, as their name suggests are used for putting the ball into the hole once they’re inside or very close to the greens. 

As putting ground is where most of the games are decided, putters are the most important clubs and also designed with the best designs and technologies for optimum accuracy and control.

Fairway Woods

Although in the past, Fairway Woods were made out of woods, now they’re usually made out of stainless steel. They are used when the shot is beyond the range of iron, and when you want a little more control than a driver.

Irons

Irons are for hitting from fairway to the green. You can find a whole variety of irons from long to medium to short depending upon the type of distance you want to cover. 

Wedges

Wedges are specialty clubs that are used when the ball gets caught up in sand bunkers or other obstacles.