The Basic of Golf Club

You may carry no more than 14 clubs for your golf game. A typical set includes 3,4,5,6,7,8,9, PW for irons; 1,3,5 for woods and a putter. The number you find on each club is called the “loft” and it roughly tells you the length of the club. The lower the loft, the longer it is going to be. This means you can hit the ball at greater distances with these clubs but with a corresponding loss of accuracy.

You don’t need to carry all clubs, however. If you’re a golf newbie, you can start with 1 wood for your driver; 3,5,7 and 9 irons and a putter. There are manufacturers that allow you to configure a set for your needs. You can also look into buying hybrid golf clubs instead of the specific irons and woods.

In choosing your golf clubs, you also need to consider shaft flex. This refers to the stiffness of the shaft. If you’re wondering why this is important, the speed of your swing largely determines the kind of shaft you need. The stronger you are, the stiffer the shaft you are going to need.

See, when you make your stroke, the weight of the clubhead causes the shaft to bend. If the shaft that you’ve chosen bends too much on your downswing, you will lose control over your ball. Conversely, if it doesn’t bend enough, your ball will fall short of your desired target. Thus, it’s crucial to get the right amount of flex since the shaft is where power comes from in your shot.

If you hit the ball less than 180 yards with your driver, you will need a Ladies Flex; from 181 to 200 yards, a Senior Flex and from 200 to 240 yards, you’ll need a Regular Flex. If you hit the ball from 241-275 yards, a Stiff Flex is for you while hitting a ball greater than that will probably mean that you need an Extra-Stiff Flex. If you don’t know how far you can usually hit your ball, most golf shops will measure your speed for you so you are guided in your purchase.