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Club Types
Woods
Woods are
long-distance clubs, meant to drive the ball a
great distance down the fairway towards the hole.
They generally have a large head and a long shaft
for maximum club speed. Historically woods were
made from Persimmon wood although some
manufacturers - notably Ping - developed laminated
woods. In the late 1980s manufacturers started
using metals (steel or titanium); even more
recently manufacturers have started using space
age materials such as carbon fiber or scandium.
Even though most 'woods' are made from different
metals they are still called 'Woods' to denote the
general shape and their intended use on the golf
course. The TRGA argues that woods should in fact
be made of wood and has banned the metal versions
from their list of conforming clubs
Irons
Irons are
golf clubs with a flat angled face and a shorter
shaft than a wood, designed for shots approaching
the green or from more difficult lies such as the
rough, through or over trees, or the base of
hills. As with woods, "irons" get their name
because they were originally made from cast iron.
High-loft irons are called wedges. The higher the
number gets on the scale, the lower amount of
angle difference from 90 degrees.
Wedges
Wedges
are irons with a higher loft than a 9 iron, which
is typically lofted at about 44 degrees. Wedges
are used for a variety of short-distance,
high-altitude, high-accuracy shots such as hitting
the ball onto the green ("approach" or "attack"
shots), placing the ball accurately on the fairway
for a better shot at the green ("lay-up" shots),
or hitting the ball out of hazards or rough onto
the green (chipping).
There are usually four
types of wedges with lofts ranging from 48° to
60°: pitching wedge (PW 48°), gap wedge (GW 52°),
sand wedge (SW 56°), and lob wedge (LW 60°). The
pitching wedge is sometimes called or labeled as a
10 iron, and the gap wedge is often called an
approach wedge and labeled with AW. Also present
in some golfers' bags is the "chipper" or
"chipping wedge" which is designed for low-speed
swings to lift the ball a short distance (20–30
yards) onto the green. The club if used takes the
place of a pitching wedge used with an abbreviated
swing to accomplish the same end. Most chippers
however have more in common with putter design
than that of wedges.
Hybrid
woods
Hybrids are a cross between a wood and an
iron, giving these clubs the wood's long distance
with the iron's familiar swing. These clubs
generally are used instead of either fairway woods
or low-numbered irons, though some manufacturers
produce entire sets of hybrids or "iron
replacements" that incorporate hybrid design to
add distance and forgiveness to a player's entire
set of irons from 3 or 4 all the way to pitching
wedge. These clubs are often referred to as
"Rescues" because the TaylorMade Rescue was one of
the first clubs to utilize this design, as well as
the use of the clubs to get one out of a tricky
position (to be in fact rescued by the
club).
Putters
Putters
are a special class of clubs with a loft not
exceeding ten degrees, designed primarily to roll
the ball along the grass, generally from a point
on the putting green towards the cup. Contrary to
popular belief, putters do have a loft (often 5
degrees from truly perpendicular at impact) that
helps to lift the ball from any indentation it has
made. This increases rolling distance and reduces
bouncing over the
turf.
Golf clubs: the
key tools of golf
Golf clubs are the key
tools of the game. Devoted players show
extraordinary emotional attachment to the clubs.
And why not? After all, clubs are no less than
guns to hunt scores. Many people have a
misconception that to own good quality golf clubs,
they need to spend a huge sum. But it's not
necessary to have an expensive set. What actually
matters is to get a proper set. And nowadays, with
advanced technologies, manufacturers are designing
clubs in a way to help golfers play with more
ease.
There are five types of
golf clubs - woods, irons, wedges, hybrid woods
and putters. Wood clubs are meant to make the ball
cross a long distance down the fairway right
towards the hole. In general, these clubs have
large heads and long shafts in order to maximize
club speeds. Traditionally wood golf clubs were
made from persimmon woods but since 1980's
manufacturers are opting for alternative materials
like titanium, steel and carbon or scandium in
recent times. Irons got their names like wise as
these are usually made of cast irons. These have
flat angled faces and are shorter in shaft length
than that of woods. Iron golf clubs are crafted
for shots taken from rough lies, over the tree
shots or those played from the base of the
hills.
Wedges are basically
high-loft irons and are meant for a wide variety
of high altitude, short distance and particularly
high accuracy shots. These golf clubs are for
attack shots, lay-up shots and chipping. Broadly
there are four types of wedges, designed for
specific shots of which lofts range from 48° to
60°. Hybrid clubs are basically used instead of
either irons or woods. These are meant to combine
long distance of woods and swings of irons.
Putters are special types of golf clubs having
lofts below ten degrees and designed to roll the
balls along the spread of grass.
Before buying golf
clubs, one has to check the parts i.e, Shaft,
clubhead, loft, grip and ferrule. Shaft is one of
the most essential considerations. Nowadays club
manufacturers are using steel or graphite.
Graphite shafts are light in weight and allow high
swing of clubs whereas steel shafts are durable
and less expensive. For beginners, cast iron heads
are better than forged ones since they are spotted
to provide large sweet spot and can deliver more
forgiving on accuracy. While choosing golf clubs,
one should consult a club professional as there is
no universal design that suits for all. What would
be right for your partner may not be so for you.
Also there is a gender factor. Men's clubs are
usually I inch taller than women's clubs.
Golf clubs' prices vary
a great deal. Top of the line iron sets range from
$700 to $1200 while high grade putters and drivers
range between $300 and $600. But for a beginner
it's not always required to start with a new set
of golf clubs. In certain garage sales, one can
pick up full set of clubs at cheap
prices.
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