Great Golf Can Be Had From Playing The Right Golf Clubs
Posted by Stephen Dent | Posted in golf clubs | Posted on 26-04-2012
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Golf equipment has changed over the years and the way we play golf has altered as well. How we play golf has changed and a lot of that change has to do with the clubs we play. The traditional iron set is more or less dead. The irons we carry have changed with most manufacturers recognizing the rising popularity of easy-to-hit hybrids and marketing irons sets which start at the 4-iron and occasionally even at the 5-iron. It makes sense, as for most club players hybrid clubs are considerably more forgiving to hit than the corresponding iron.
The USGA and the R&A enforce a limit on the volume (size) of driver heads. That limit is 460cc and for most club golfers, bigger really is better. If you suffer with inconsistency from the tee playing a bigger driver will definitely help. Pushing the weight to the perimeter of the these big drivers and new square and triangular designs means the modern driver is far more forgiving. Square designs and more stable weight distribution are far more forgiving, even on bad swings. Miss-hit a large 460cc driver and you won’t suffer as much in distance or accuracy.
In common with all clubs, the heart of your driver lies with the shaft. Fit the wrong shaft and you’ll be fighting the club, struggling to find any accuracy or distance. Modern shaft designs can diminish or even eliminate many of the most common misses in golf. Troubled by a slice, a softer shaft might do the trick. If your launch angles are too low, then using a driver shaft with a soft tip for example, could add some loft to your drives. Fitting the correct shaft for your swing speed and your driving will improve. If you’ve never measured your swing speed, the majority of shaft ratings will incorporate a carry approximation for calculating your best flex. When you check the ratings for various shafts, you need one with a carry rating that matches your typical yardage and you need to be sure that shaft’s frequency is accurate.
Hybrids have been the fastest growing segment of the golf market in recent years. While many golfers have trouble hitting longer irons, the hybrid clubs have offered a solution. From any lie condition, good or bad, hybrid clubs are generally easier to hit. The design allows for the ball to launch higher and land softer. Manufacturers of shafts now have options that fit the model of the hybrid clubs.
Choices of irons are larger than ever before. Golf manufacturers are trying to alleviate the common issues and swing faults by designing different iron styles. Whether it’s wider soled heads to minimize the number of “fat” shots and get the ball in the air, or offset irons designed to eliminate the dreaded slice, there are irons for every golfer. If your own irons aren’t making your golf life easier, you may need to make a change or at least explore other options.
Having a strong short game can mean the difference between breaking 100 and breaking 80. New forgiving wedges help golfers around the green. The high lofted wedges can help if hitting a flop-shot has proven to be a sticking point for you. If you have a tough time getting up and down from the bunker, there are easier to hit hollow sand wedges that can make a difference. These wedges are easier to hit and almost impossible to miss-hit. Being afraid to wind up in the bunker can literally become a thing of the past.
There have been some extreme changes to putter shapes and sizes over the past few years. Putters used to be small and very blade like but have transformed into larger models with visual cues to help today’s golfer better align his shots. From traditional to belly putters, blade to mallet, small to large, putters have seen significant advancements that make a huge difference in your ability to line up and sink more shots by allowing you to make a smoother stroke that keeps the club face on target the whole way through.
Taking every piece of this article into consideration when choosing your clubs will help you get fit to play your best. From drivers and putters, to irons and wedges, your clubs should be perfectly fitted to remove your weaknesses and make the most of your strengths. A professional club fitter can help you get the shafts you need in your clubs while making the right recommendations for driver and iron sets that look and feel the best to you.
Learn more about golf club fitting. Stop by Golf Etc’s site where you can find out all about Proper Club Fitting and what it can do for you.
