If you are still wondering how to choose the best golf clubs for beginners then, this article might ease your worries considerably.
A beginner level golfer needs to be very cautious while choosing his clubs as the right club can dramatically increase or decrease his/her chances to excel in the game.
Even before I delve deeper as to which golf club is best suited for a newbie golfer, it is important to understand which all golf clubs you have at your disposal.
Each golf club is designed to determine the distance traveled by the golf ball and also the loft angle. So, I shall divide this article into various sub-categories to help you under the “basics of this game” in a better way.
>>> Check Out How to Improve Your Golf Swing in a Stress Free Manner <<<
How to Choose the Best Golf Clubs for Beginners – The Article Contents:
1) Different Types of Golf Clubs and When Each Should Be Used?
>>> The Iron Golf Club
>>> The Woods Golf Club
>>> The Hybrid Golf Club
>>> The Putter Golf Club
>>> The Wedge Golf Club
2) Tips on How to Choose the Best Golf Club for Beginners
3) Conclusion
Different Types of Golf Clubs and When Each Should Be Used
Different Types of Golf Clubs and When Each Should Be Used?
Golf for beginners can be both an exciting and a scary ordeal. You need to be always on your toes and your eagerness to master strokes can often jeopardize your game.
So, you need to go slow and ensure that you first learn the basics before advancing any further. The first step is to familiarize yourself with the different kinds of golf clubs and when each should be used.
Let me walk you through each of these in brief:
The Iron Golf Club
Also known as the good old irons, these clubs have been synonymous to the sport of golf since its inception. The clubhead of an iron is made of steel or iron. The face of an iron club is flat with an angle and grooves for keeping the score.
>>> The Usage: The main aim of irons is to place the ball closer to the hole. The distinctive feature of irons is to keep the golf ball from straying into the rough. It is also used for retrieving the ball from sand bunkers and small water bodies. Irons are best suited to tee off on holes that are placed in short distances.
>>> Types of Irons: The first is the Muscle Back made of forged iron. As the weight of a muscle back iron is placed all over the clubhead in an even fashion, finding the ‘sweet spot’ is a daunting task. You need to be a skilled player to use a muscle back.
The Cavity Iron is the other variant. Here, iron is removed from the center of the clubhead and shifted towards the heel and toe of the club. This reduces the center of mass and enables the golfer to loft the ball high when struck with a cavity iron.
The weight distribution on the heel and toe of the clubhead enables you to enjoy forgiving mishits as the ‘sweet spot’ is evidently present.
What are Irons Made Of?
@ The Clubhead: The first component is a clubhead that is the determinant in striking a golf ball. It has grooves that enable you to determine the speed at which the golf ball shall travel.
@ The Shaft: The next component of an iron is the shaft. This determines the speed and accuracy of your drive. The shorter the shaft, the less the control (over the swing) and vice versa. Shafts are made from iron, graphite and carbon fiber.
@ The Hosel: Located on the inside of the clubface, the hosel allows the golfer to strike the ball with a wider club face. The hosel also lowers the center of gravity.
@ The Grip: Gripping the shaft of an iron club is vital to ensure that your drive is a success. Grips are located on top of the shaft and made from rubber or leather. ‘Bulging’ and ‘wasting’ is not permitted and grips need to be placed in a ‘cross section’ format.
What are the Types of Iron?
@ The Driving Iron: This iron has the longest shaft and the lowest loft angle (maximum of 16 degrees). Numbered 1, the driving iron is the toughest to use as it permits minimal use of the clubface.
@ The Short Iron: These have short staff and a large clubhead. With a maximum distance of 150 yards and a high loft angle, short irons are used best to loft the ball over a high obstacle (such as a sand bank or a tree). Numbers 9 and 8 are the most used short irons.
@ The Long Iron: These have the longest shaft and relatively low loft angles. Long irons tend to drive the golf ball to a distance of 260 yards. A newbie golfer can use these (number 2, 3 and 4 irons) effectively while navigating the rough or even the fairways.
@ The Mid Iron: Numbered from 5, 6 and 7. This iron is used in fairway as the maximum distance that mid iron covers is 210 yards. The mid irons are best suited in hilly terrains as they have a high loft angle. The shafts are made from graphite or steel.
The Woods Golf Clubs
The large head, longer shaft and the ability to strike the ball over long distances best describes the woods golf club. These are usually made from hardwood. The heads of fairwood are also made from metal, carbon fiber and titanium.
Types of Woods Golf Club
@ The Fairway Woods: These clubs are used to strike the ball over long distances. These are usually used on fairways. They can loft the ball high and cover long distances. Compared to woods, fairways have a stiffer shaft and a smaller clubhead.
@ The Woods: These have flexible shafts and a wider base. This enables the ball to travel long distances without any fuss. The loft angle is low and the distance traveled is high. 1 and 2 woods are commonly used for the drive.
Highlights of Woods
@ These golf clubs have a shaft length in between forty and forty eight inches.
@ Woods can be made from hardwood or metalwoods.
@ The loft angle delivered by fairway woods ranges in between 7 degrees to 31 degrees.
@ There is a slight bulge on the face of the woods. This enables you to avoid spinning the ball while in the air and direct it closer to the intended target.
@ The driver head of a wood is 466cc as per the international golf regulations and rules.
Hybrid Golf Club
The positives of both woods and irons are encompassed in hybrid golf clubs. This is why hybrids are the number one choice for newbie golfers. They allow the ball to cover more distance as compared to woods and are more forgiving than irons.
What are Hybrid Clubs Made of?
The club head of hybrids is convex with a hollow base. The base is steel or titanium with a shallow head. The weight as well as the length of a hybrid can be compared to that of an iron.
These clubs are devoid of muscle or cavity backing and instead, have a slight bulge at the rear end. This makes them look a lot like woods. In case you are a new golf player with ‘slow swing speed’ then, hybrid golf clubs can help compensate for this error.
How do Hybrid Golf Clubs Function?
@ As hybrids have a combination of both irons and woods, they are a boon for new golf players.
@ The swing mechanism of a hybrid is similar to fairwood.
@ The ‘loft height’ as well as the ‘launch angle’ delivered by hybrids is better than irons.
@ When you strike the ball using a hybrid, it tends to produce a backspin. This results in the ball falling onto the ground and then, biting backwards. So, it fails to cover distance once it lands onto the ground.
When is a Hybrid Used?
@ If you are a golf player with a high handicap then, hybrids can help ease your play.
@ It helps you get the ball out of rough rather easily.
@ The bump and run action performed near the greens is best executed with the aid of a hybrid.
@ Hybrids help loft the ball clear of high trees or grass without much fuss.
@ The control and direction delivered by hybrids may not be as good as the ones delivered by irons and woods.
The Putter Golf Club
This is the third variety of golf clubs that a newbie as well as seasoned golfer uses. The putt club is used for placing the ball from the green into the hole.
The clubhead of a putter is low with a reduced loft angle and a flat face to slap the ball with. These clubs are used to hit the golf ball slowly in order to cover a small distance.
Where all do You Use a Putter?
Usually, putters are used in areas where the ball is close to the hole. It could be used on the grass. Ideally, putts should be avoided in the rough.
The Long Shaft Vs The Mallot – Which of these is a Better Putter?
The usual length of a putter (the shaft) ranges in between thirty two to thirty five inches. The grips and shaft length vary as per the golfer’s personal preference.
Belly Putter: You can opt for the belly putter which is a few inches longer than the normal putt club. The added length allows the putt to be placed against the belly area of the golfer. Doing so avoids the extra usage of arms, wrist, the shoulder as well as your elbows.
Long Putter: This is yet another variety of putt golf club that enables the golfer to rest the club onto his chest or the chin. It avoids the usage of wrist, elbow and arms while putting. Both the ‘belly putter’ as well as the ‘long putter’ reduces your control over the shot.
Fetch Mallet: Well, this does not really ‘add a punch’ to your existing putt. The fetch mallet is a putting club that is used for putting as well as retrieving the ball that has fallen into the hole.
The Wedge Golf Club
This is the last and final category of golf club that a golfer uses. It is derived from the irons and is termed as a wedge. Wedge clubs possess heavy clubheads and short shafts. They also provide a golfer with the highest possible loft.
The Pitching Wedge Golf Club:
This is a wedge that enjoys a loft angle in between 48 to 54 degrees. It is used for executing short distance shots. You use this club when the maximum distance the ball needs to cover does not exceed the 125 yard mark. Pitching wedge is also used to play bunker shots.
The Lob Wedge Golf Club:
This wedge is used to lob the ball over an obstruction. You make use of a lob wedge when the maximum distance to be covered is not more than 50 yards.
The lob wedge has a loft angle of around 60 degrees, which is apt to get the ball over tall trees and high sand banks. They can be used for playing chip shots close to the green and even bunker shots. Lob wedges usually help you escape a sand trap.
The Ultra Lob Wedge Golf Club:
This is an advanced version of the traditional lob wedge with a high loft angle of 70 degrees. When the launch angle is rather high, only then, should you make use of the lob wedge. Bunker shots requiring high launch angle may benefit from this club type.
The Gap Wedge:
This wedge has a higher loft angle as compared to a pitching wedge. The loft angle delivered by a gap wedge is approximately 52 degrees (as high as 58 degrees). Callaway, Ping, TaylorMade and Cleveland make the best gap wedges.
With 12 degree bounce angle and a total drive distance of 110 yards, the gap wedge is undoubtedly ideal for playing any shot. Here, the only consideration is the shorter travel distance as compared to the one delivered by a pitching wedge.
The Sand Wedge:
As the name suggests, the sand wedge is best suited to help golfers get the ball out of a sand bunker. This club is best suited when the golf ball is buried in the sand.
The loft angle delivered by a sand wedge is 56 degrees and the bounce angle is approximately 9.8 degrees. Sand wedge also helps retrieve the ball from muddy ground or the rough.
The ideal travel distance delivered by a sand wedge is in between 25 yards to 65 yards.
Tips on How to Choose the Best Golf Club for Beginners
Rushing to fill your golf bag with an array of clubs is a natural impulse that most new golfers possess. While there is no harm to collect golf clubs, it is a wasteful expenditure that is best avoided. You can increase the number of clubs in your golf bag as you lower your golfer handicap.
Here are a few tips to look into while selecting a golf club:
Avoid Over Enthusiasm:
When you become over enthusiastic, you tend to jeopardize your chances of getting hold of the best golf clubs.
A new golf player often misses the opportunity to level-up his/her gear as he/she progresses on the game. So, go slow and add more clubs as you earn them (by lowering your handicap).
Search for a Buddy Golfer:
If you a new golf player then, seek out a friend or a relative who plays golf regularly. Borrow his clubs if that is possible.
If not then, include a putter, a long iron and a wood (probably the number three should do the trick). The basic clubs shall help you get familiar with the game and cost you nothing (almost).
Look for Discounted Deals:
As you progress in your golf game, you should add a few more clubs to your kitty. You need to now add a few irons into your golf kit. Choose numbers from 3 to 9 as I (LeanAndFit reviewer) am assuming you already have a 3-wood in your golf kit.
Avoid expensive stores and opt for discounted deals. At the same time, try and avoid opting for the more expensive graphite shafts and instead, opt for steel shafts.
Avoid Advanced Golf Clubs:
When you are playing as a beginner level golfer then, you need not to add advanced golf clubs into your kit. Some of these include wedges, putters and long irons. Even 9-wood or 7-wood would not be a suitable addition.
So, stick with the basic clubs and if needed, opt for hybrid clubs as they are cheaper. In fact, hybrids are forgiving in nature and allow you to play golf in an easy manner.
The Switch Option & an Occasional Lob Wedge:
You need to be able to ensure that you avoid indulging in buying golf clubs used only by professional players. Compare your current clubs and do a bit of mix and match.
For example, you might want to add a lob wedge as your game progresses to overcome sand bunker or other obstacles (high trees). Opt for a 7-wood in case you cannot play with a 3-iron.
The Club Numbers and Putting Alternatives:
The putter is a great option but you need to keep in mind that you are a beginner level golfer. A mallet is a great option is you are having issues with a standard putter blade.
You also need to ensure that you maintain just the right number of clubs within your golf kit. If you exceed the fourteen number then, the chances are that you are in for a fine.
The Lower the Handicap Better the Golf Clubs:
As your game progresses and you begin to witness changes in your golfing skills, it is time that you consider the shaft stiffness and the brand name associated with your club.
The clubface design as well as the cavity in your iron can be looked into. If you are more particular about your game then, opt for forged iron golf clubs. The loft, the lie angle, the putter length etc. can also be considered as your game advances.
The Bottom Line
Playing golf is a fun filled activity and it should remain the same way. When you are beginning your golf career, you need to go slow. Regardless of whether you wish to peruse golf as a career or a hobby, you need to ensure that you never skip the fun element from it.
Listing out the best golf club brands for beginners is an unfair task. In my opinion, any brand that helps a beginner level golfer improve his/her game is an ideal companion for the golfer. On the contrary, if a best-selling golf brand fails to deliver then, it is best avoided.
The task here is to improve your game without compromising on your fun element. Play golf like you would ‘to pass time positively’ and not as schoolwork.
As time passes, you would get an idea which golf club to include in your golf bag and which ones to avoid. You do not need a special tutorial for the same.