If you’re just starting out in golf then one of the many things you need to learn, along with how to hit the ball further, and how to improve your stance, is what all the different clubs are for. A set of golf clubs generally contains 14 clubs, but do you really need all of them? Once you get an idea about the role each club plays, then you’ll have a much more enjoyable game, but there are so many different types, and even types within those types, so how are you supposed to know what you need and when?
We’ve put together a quick guide that will hopefully make it easier when it comes to choosing your golf clubs, meaning you can head out for a game feeling like a pro.
FIRST THINGS FIRST – THE PARTS OF A CLUB
When you start learning about clubs, and general golfing terms, you’ll hear different parts of the club mentioned, so let’s look at these first as they all work together to create your best shot:
The head is the part of the club in contact with the ball; the rounded bit at the bottom. Its shape and design can affect the loft – the angle of the clubface – spin, and distance.
The grip is the part of the club that you hold, and where all the energy and control is focused.
The shaft is the long bit between the grip and the head which channels the energy from the swing to the clubface. They can be of varying lengths and flexibility which can affect the speed and direction of the ball.
WOODS
These are the clubs with the biggest heads and longer shafts. They were traditionally made of wood, hence the name, but are now made from titanium. They’re your go–to club when you’re after a long shot – basically when you want to hit it really far! When you need to cover a lot of distance, you need a specific wood called a ‘Driver’, or 1-wood, which is often used for the first stroke off a tee. This allows the ball to make contact right in the middle of the sweet spot; the part of the club that makes contact with the ball for the perfect shot. Most golfers will have 3 woods in their bag; a 1-wood, a 3-wood (fairway wood) and a 5-wood.
When would you use one? When you’re not starting a hole but still have some distance to cover.
IRONS
Irons generally come into play when you’re within 200 yards of the green. They’re numbered 3 – 9 and the general rule is that the lower the number, and the smaller the angle of the loft, the further the ball will go but the harder it is to use.
Here’s an example of iron distances:
- 3-iron: 200 yards
- 4-iron: 190 yards
- 5-iron: 180 yards
- 6-iron: 170 yards
- 7-iron: 160 yards
- 8-iron: 150 yards
- 9-iron: 140 yards
Irons have smaller clubheads than a wood and are much thinner (they’re often referred to as ‘blades’) and they have angled clubfaces to help grip the ball.
When would you use one? If you’re fairly close to the hole and need more precision.
HYBRIDS (Also known as utility clubs, or rescue clubs).
Hybrids are the new kids on the block when it comes to golf clubs, and they’re the real multitaskers of your golf bag. As the name suggests, they’re a cross between a wood and an iron, with the larger head of a wood combined with the shorter shaft of an iron. They’re numbered like irons (2-hybrid etc.) to correspond with the iron they’re replacing, and often replace a 3 – 4 iron. They are thought to be easier to use than an iron and the bigger head pushes the centre of gravity back and down, which sends the ball higher.
When would you use one? When you’ve got a longer shot and you’d struggle with an iron, but feel a wood wouldn’t give you the control you need.
WEDGES
Wedges have their own heading, but also come under the ‘Iron’ heading as the clubheads are the same, they just have sharper angles so have more loft, as well as a shorter shaft. Most golfers have three or four in their kit. There are four types of wedge:
- Pitching wedge: these are pretty standard in most sets of irons as they’re useful for both full shots and chip shots, with a 42 – 48 degree loft.
- Gap wedge (or Approach wedge): as the name suggests, this one bridges the gap between a sand wedge and a pitching wedge and is useful for chip shots, long bunker shots, approach shots and more. It has more loft than a pitching wedge (49 – 53 degrees).
- Sand wedge: this is shorter and has more loft (54 –58 degrees), making it ideal for bunker shots but it’s a very versatile club that can be used for other shots too.
- Lob wedge: with more loft than a sand wedge (60 – 64 degrees) this is another versatile club, and the high loft is great for producing spin.
When would you use one? You’d use a wedge for chips and pitches when you’re around the green, when you need to get out of a sand bunker, or when you’re faced with a shorter approach into the green.
PUTTER
There’s a wider selection of putters around than any other type of club and they tend to be the most used club in a golfer’s bag; the theory being that in any round of golf, a golfer will use their putter on 50% of their shots. They’re traditionally the shortest club, while also being the most expensive. They’re designed to move the ball forward without lifting it from the ground.
Finding the right putter for you is a very personal thing and the best way to find out is to go to a golf store and try them out, maybe get some advice from a pro and then putt and practice out on the putting green. It all depends on the feel of it, the weight and the balance, as well as how it strokes the ball. What suits your golf buddy may not suit you; you might prefer a straight putter, while someone else might like a mallet putter. It can also depend on the kind of stroke you have, your height, your stance and even the length of your arms, your ideal putter will work with all of those things. Some have lots of extras – fins and bits sticking out – others are simpler and sometimes different putters play better with different types of ball. Read our tips for improving your putting in our blog.
When would you use one? When you want to get the ball in the hole.
Whether you’re a seasoned pro who could give Rory McIlroy a run for his money, or you’re just starting out and are still trying to work out your birdies from your bogies, there’s always something to learn with golf, and always a way to improve your game. Take a look at our blog for tips on improving your swing, as well as how to stop slicing the ball.
As you start to build up some essentials for your golf bag, it’s a good time to think about insuring your golf equipment. All those clubs are going to add up and it would be good to know that should the unexpected happen, you have cover in place. Choose from three policy types that you can then add to from a choice of optional benefits. Head over to our website before you tee off, and get a free, no-strings quote without any jargon.
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