To play the game of golf, it is essential that one has the proper golf equipment. Golf equipment can be a costly investment, as there are so many gimmicks and gadgets being sold to improve one’s game. However, for the weekend duffer, nothing more is needed than the essentials: golf clubs, a bag to carry the clubs in and golf balls.
According to United States Golf Association rules, a golfer should carry no more than fourteen clubs in the bag. The essential clubs needed are a driver, fairway woods, irons, wedges and a putter. The golfer can mix and match the number of particular clubs to suit his game as long as he does not exceed fourteen clubs. Golf is not an inexpensive game, as the average golfer will normally spend between $500 and $1,000 to purchase a complete set of clubs.
Golf bags are an essential part of golf equipment because it would be impractical, if not impossible, to haul fourteen clubs and golf balls around a golf course. Bags can be made of fine leather but most golfers usually use some sort of lightweight nylon bag. It is advised that a golfer choose his bag based on how he will primarily be getting around the course. If he will primarily be riding on a golf cart, he may want to choose a larger bag that will accommodate more accessories, balls, towels, etc. If he plans on walking, then a light bag with a comfortable shoulder strap is recommended. Many of the light, nylon bags are being made with retractable legs that will allow the walking golfer to prop up his bag while on the course.
Golf balls are usually sold in boxes of three, called sleeves. Many times it is most economical to purchase packages that include five or six sleeves. The two main balls sold are balata and two-piece balls. Balata balls are made with a hard rubber core, wound with rubber bands, and covered with balata (a soft, plastic cover). The two-piece ball is normally a large, hard rubber core, surrounded by a surlyn cover. Surlyn is a hard plastic that is more resistant to nicks and cuts. The balata is softer, but most advanced golfers feel they can shape the flight of the ball easier than with a two-piece ball.
There are other pieces of golf equipment that the beginning golfer may wish to obtain. The first is a pair of golf shoes. Golf shoes range in variety from wingtip, to tennis shoes, to sandals. Most shoes made today come with soft rubber spikes, to assist the golfer in setting his feet into the ground. Another recommended piece of equipment would be a golf glove. After a day of swinging a club around 80 times, blisters can form on the grip hand if not protected by a glove. Other pieces of golf equipment that should be considered are golf tees, ball markers, a club brush and an umbrella, for rainy days.
The Essentials of Golf Equipment
All about Golf Clubs
A good set of golf clubs is the weapon of choice for the advanced golfer. A complete set of clubs consists of woods, irons and a putter. According to the rules of golf, as set forth by the United States Golf Association (USGA), a golfer’s bag may hold 14 clubs. Most golfers will carry a driver, two fairway woods, 7 irons, 3 wedges and the putter.
A driver is a long-shafted club with a full head used to strike the ball that is set upon a tee. The club head does not have much lift to it, to achieve maximum distance off the tee. The fairway woods have club heads that are slightly more lofted than the driver, and are used for long shots when the ball is lying on the ground. Most brand name drivers cost between $200 and $400. Fairway woods normally retail from $150 to $300.
Golf irons are the essence of a set of golf clubs. Two thirds of the shots in a normal round of golf will utilize an iron. Irons are used to hit the golf ball off the ground from distances of 125 yards to 225 yards. Each iron is assigned a number based upon the loft angle of the club head. The 9-iron has the most loft, and is used to hit short, high shots. A 2-iron has very little loft, and is used to hit low, long shorts.
Wedges are normally included in the purchase of a set of irons. The most common wedges are the pitching wedge, the sand wedge and the lob wedge. These golf clubs are used for short, controlled shots, normally very close to the putting green. Some golfers may choose to remove one of the wedges in lieu of a 2-iron. Also worth noting, there are two primary types of irons available. Forged irons are precision clubs that can give experienced golfers a greater ability to shape their shots. Cavity-back irons are considered to be more forgiving, with a larger sweet spot and primarily for golfers who want to focus on hitting straight shots. A set of 10 irons can range in price from as little as $250, to as much as $1,500.
The final and perhaps most important golf club, is the putter. The putter is also known as the “money club” because it is the club used to tap the ball into the hole. The purpose of the putter is to roll the ball, so there is no loft on the club head. There are many varieties of putters in all shapes and sizes. Some of the putter shafts are so short that the golfer grips it near his knees, and some are so long that they are gripped at the golfer’s chest. Many golfers spend their entire lives changing putters to find the one that feels right for them. Simple putters can cost as little as $20 but some of the more exotic putters can cost as much as $300.
Golf Clubs: Your Best Friends On The Course
Golf clubs are the most important piece of equipment that the golfer has, and yet so many of us don't treat them right. A lot of people start out buying a used or cheap set and that's fine, but it doesn't mean that you shouldn't look after them.
Used clubs can be very good quality, and even if not, caring for your clubs in the right way is a great habit to get into. When you start replacing them one by one for high quality golf clubs picked out to fit your individual golfing style, you will want to be sure that they will last for as long as possible. A good golf club is something you would be real upset to lose, a few years down the line.
So here are 7 important tips for maintaining your clubs to the highest standard.
1. Watch out for the condition of the grip. You need to replace it as soon as it becomes worn. If not, it will slip a little in your hand and this will affect your stroke because you will have to tense up the muscles to keep a good hold on it.
2. Carry a small towel around in your golf bag so that you can clean off any mud or sand that gets onto your clubs right away. That way you will be sure that it will be clean for the next time that you take it out. You can keep the towel damp with water from your drinking bottle.
3. Clubs should be kept in the house, not in the trunk of the car where they can become damp and rusty. Be sure to dry them after playing in rain or in dewy grass.
4. Head covers are very important to protect woods and putters from damage when they are knocked against the heads of other clubs. Covering the heads of the irons too will give extra protection.
5. When cleaning the club heads at home, use warm water with a little soap and then dry them thoroughly. Strong cleaning products and abrasive brushes should never be used. You can find suitable materials in the golf store.
6. Check the shaft of the club often. A damaged shaft should be replaced before it begins to affect your game.
7. Clubs should be stored and carried in a good quality golf bag for their protection.
Golf clubs that are not well maintained will lose their accuracy and your performance on the course will deteriorate. So in order to be sure that your clubs will serve you well and help you to keep improving your game, take good care of them. Your golfing career will be enhanced when you always own top quality, well maintained golf clubs.
