Playing golf is a sport that demands skill, yet one which can be helped enormously by the type of clubs you use. Every golfer has an armoury in their bag, which can make all the difference between a hole in one and a ‘dead’ ball. So if you’re starting out in golf and are confused as to what is best, here’s a brief guide about how to choose the best clubs for you.

Starting Out in Golf

Before rushing out to spend a lot of money, if you are starting out in golf then you should bear in mind that you need only a basic set of clubs to begin with. You are probably aware a full set of golf clubs comprises of putters, hybrids, woods, wedges and irons. Irons, hybrids and woods are numbered according to the speed and distance they will drive the ball.

For the golf novice, a driver, a 3 wood, 5 wood, 3 hybrid, 4 hybrid, 5 through 9 irons, pitching wedge, sand wedge and putter will be sufficient. This way, you can spend more money on tuition to learn how to use them effectively.

 Golf Club Basics

A club should fulfil three criteria; it should be comfortable for you to hold, allow you to take control (meaning that you should be connected with the club enough to feel the head and how it responds with the ball), and it should give you power.

Before buying or using your clubs, you need to understand the basic principles involved in golf club design. A golf club is made up of three elements, the shaft, the head and the grip.

The grip is essential to your game, and is essential to your swing, and so having a good grip on your club is important for accuracy. Your club should therefore be fitted with a grip that provides traction to avoid your hand slipping. Fortunately, grips are interchangeable, and if you buy a second-hand club with a worn grip, it can be changed.

Shafts are made of different materials, and will affect your swing. Graphite is recommended for the beginner, as it is light and can help generate swing speed, whilst steel is more hard-wearing and cheaper, but more difficult to use.

Each golf club head is fashioned to provide loft and speed. Loft and speed corresponds to the angle of the clubface that controls trajectory and affects distance. For a beginner, you want a driver that has more than 10 degrees of loft and woods with at least 17.  Bear in mind that some heads do have adjustable loft. A Titleist 913 (Driver) for instance enables you to choose between different lofts.

Buying Clubs

So when buying clubs, it’s important that they not only feel right, but meet your level of handicap. The best way is to experiment with other golfers club’s to see what works best for you. Once you have a good grasp of the game, you can always be fitted for a club, designed for your particular height and swing.

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Rob Rudd is a professional writer who enjoys writing on many subjects from golf and sports to DIY and home improvement.

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