2 Responses to “How to pick the right golf clubs for beginners?”
admin said:
Some play for the weekend activity and there are others who'd like to move up in the ranks. If the occasional pastime is your stride, a low- to mid-performance club can work for you, while a high-performance club is suitable to those who'll play more often.
- Set a budget
The notion that the more costly the club, the better it is purely doesn't hold water anymore. If you do enough research and read reviews you'll find a club that matches your degree of interest. Don't be fearful to check out used clubs as they can give you the best odds of getting the club you want at a good value.
Now that you know your interest level and have established a budget, here's a concise run-through of kinds of golf clubs and what each one does.
Woods
A standard golfer's bag will have a driver (called 1-wood) and a couple of fairway woods (3- and/or 5-wood). A driver is the longest club (typically 45 inches) making it the toughest to handle during a swing.
Irons
Irons feature thin clubheads with grooves on it. Experienced players opt for a blade style iron while beginners get a cavity-back style. A blade-style has a clubhead with a full back, while a cavity back's clubhead is hollow. It is hollowed out to make a perimeter weighting effect helpful for less-experienced golfers.
Irons are categorized as long (1, 2, 3,4), mid- (5,6,7) and short (8,9). Short irons are the easiest to hit while the long ones are the hardest. The shorter the iron, the more loft there is and for beginners, the more loft, the better.
Putters
Putters are the clubs most regularly used in the game and come in clubhead styles of blade, heel-toe and mallet. Lengths come in belly putters, standard and broomstick (long) putters. Which selection to get is an individual pick.
Utility clubs/hybrids
The clubs combine features of woods and irons and are best for beginners who may not want to buy too many clubs straight out.
Lastly as a final word before bringing them out of the golf shop, most new clubs fit individuals at the typical height of 5'10" for men and 5'5" for women. If you are significantly shorter or taller than these numbers, you should get your club fitted to your height.
admin said:
Honestly Assess Your Levels of Interest and DedicationBefore you can determine how much you're willing to spend, and on what caliber of clubs, you must honestly assess your dedication. Will you be practicing much? Are you willing to take lessons? If you answer "no" or "probably not," then cheaper clubs might be the way to go. Answering "yes" could be a sign that you're not aiming too high if you want something more expensive.
New vs. UsedIf you're unsure of your dedication to golf, or if you have a history of taking up a hobby only to drop it later, used clubs might be a good choice. They'll be much cheaper, of course, than new. And because they'll be so much cheaper, they can be easily replaced later.
Set Your BudgetGolf clubs can be very expensive. How much you are willing to spend might be tied to how dedicated to the game you think you'll be. On the other hand, if you have plenty of money to spend and want top-of-the-line equipment, go for it. A good option for many beginners, however, is looking for an inexpensive first set. That way, if you don't follow through with the game, you haven't wasted much money.
Understanding Shaft OptionsTwo basics of golf shafts that beginners should most pay attention to are shaft composition (steel or graphite) and shaft flex (how much the shaft bends during the swing). Graphite is lighter and can help generate swing speed; steel is more durable and cheaper. Women and seniors will most likely benefit from graphite shafts with a softer flex. Younger, stronger men might go with regular or stiff shafts, but keep in mind that most teaching pros say many golfers use shafts that are too stiff.
What About a Clubfitting?If your first set of clubs is going to be a new one, you might consider a clubfitting. Many teaching pros do an in-depth clubfitting that lasts 30-45 minutes. If you don't do that, then being measured in a pro shop to make sure the clubs you choose are well-suited to your body type can't hurt. The standard, off-the-shelf length for golf clubs corresponds to a male who is 5-foot-10. If you are around that size, then standard will probably work just fine. If much shorter or taller, get fitted.
The Clubs Can Make Golf EasierThere's no substitute for a good golf swing. But brand new golfers can make it easier on themselves by choosing clubs that are geared to higher-handicappers (also known as "game improvement clubs"). Choose irons that are perimeter weighted and cavity-backed. Look at "hybrid" sets, where the long irons (3-, 4- and sometimes 5-irons) are replaced by utility clubs. Get a driver with more loft, not less. Pay no attention at all to what the Tour players are using.
Ask Around and Shop AroundAsk your friends who golf for their recommendations. Walk into a pro shop and ask for advice. Ask your friendly neighborhood golf pro. What would they recommend for someone like you? It's a great way to get ideas. When you're finally ready to shop, make sure to shop around. Price and selection can vary from one pro shop (or department store, or garage sale, or whatever) to another. Identify your price range and stick to clubs you can afford.
