A Beginner’s Guide To Golf Clubs

Golf Tips
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Hybrids are a relatively new addition to the golf club family. These versatile clubs can replace the range of irons, anywhere from a 2-iron to an 8-iron loft. Hybrids typically feature a head that is shaped similar to fairway woods but are much shallower and shorter.

Are you a beginner who has just started playing golf? Well, you better get yourself some golf clubs. Like any other sport, golf requires proper technique, athleticism and poise. Whether it is driving or pitching, there are several techniques you will have to master and for that, it is crucial you invest in a complete set of golf clubs.

Types Of Golf Clubs

When it comes to choosing golf clubs, there are several options available to you:

Driver

The driver is the longest club in the set and is incredibly useful at getting the ball airborne as much as 11 degrees. Also known as 1 Wood, the driver gets its name for driving the golf ball off the tee. A driver’s head is typically constructed using lightweight titanium to maximize its size without making it too heavy.

Drivers are exclusively used to master tee shots since it helps maximize height and distance while minimizing side spin for straighter shots.

Woods

Woods got its name from the material it was originally constructed from but times have changed and modern day woods are made using metal. Woods are known to propel the ball the farthest. Their heads are rounded and big with a flat bottom. Woods typically have the smallest loft among all other types of clubs.

The power of the club is measured by how small the degree of the loft is. Woods are normally used for hitting long distances and are not considered the best choice for beginners.

Fairway Wood

Despite its name, fairway woods are no longer constructed from wood and you do not necessarily have to use them in the fairway. These clubs are often made using stainless steel. The head of the fairway is usually smaller than the driver. The shaft features a flattened bottom to allow the head slide over the grass when you take a hit.

Fairways are used for shots that are beyond the range of an iron and are beneficial when you require more control on the ball. Their loft degrees are usually in the range of 12-20, allowing you to hit softer, higher shots than any driver.

Hybrids

If you want to hit shots that require height but no distance, you are better off with a lob wedge. Pitching wedges, on the other hand, are typically used for balls that are positioned further away from the greens but are too near for a large iron.

These golf clubs have a larger sweet spot and a lower center of gravity that beat long irons that they are designed to replace.

Irons

Iron golf clubs are generally used if you want to hit the ball fewer than 200 yards from the green. These clubs possess a higher degree of loft than the woods and are numbered 3 through 9.

The long irons (3 and 4) have little loft and can send the ball far. Middle irons (5 and 6) are used when the ball is 150 to 170 yards from the hole. The shorter irons (7, 8 and 9) get the ball in the air quickly due to their loft.

Wedges

Wedges are commonly used for making the ball fly onto the putting surface. These clubs feature higher loft angles than irons and woods. There are mainly four different types of varieties, including lob wedge, gap wedge, pitching wedge and sand wedge.

While the gap wedge is primarily used for hitting the ball down the length of short distances and onto the putting green, the sand wedge is handy in getting the ball out of bunkers, tall grass and sand pits.

Putters

Putters are considered the most used clubs in the sport. They gently help move the ball along the putting green into the hole. Golfers can use three kinds of club heads for their putters, heel-toe club head, traditional blade and mallet club head.

Putters with shorter shafts are referred to as conventional or standard putters while the broomstick and belly putters are the longer types. Golfers can opt for a putter according to their playing style and individual preference.

How To Hold A Golf Club

While there are several ways to hold your golf club, you should opt for a technique that feels comfortable for you. A good hold helps you hit the ball straight and maximizes your distance. The right hold also increases precision on your short game.

Group Of Female Golfers Teeing Off On Golf Course

A proper grip is among the most important aspects of a successful game. Before we learn about different grips, it is essential you learn how to properly hold a golf club:

Use Your Dominant Hand - To hold the club, use your dominant and grab the shaft that connects to the grip and raise the club up at a 45 degree angle. This allows you to appropriately grip the club with your off hand first.
Place the Club in Your Non-Dominant Hand - Keep your off hand relaxed and with your palm facing you, lay the grip of the club across the inside the area where your palm and your knuckles first meet.
Secure Your Off Hand - Curl the last three fingers of your non-dominant hand around the grip. Secure your thumb flat across the club. Roll your thumb towards the opposite side of the grip, curling your forefinger. Golfers must be able to see the knuckles of their index and middle fingers.
Curl Your Fingers Over The Grip - Imagine a clock with the club head pointing at twelve. Now curl your fingers over the grip similar to what you practiced with the other hand. The pinky of your finger should reside in the space between the middle and forefinger of your non-dominant hand. Your right thumb should point towards eleven on your imagined clock, allowing it to lay flat on the grip of the club.

How To Grip A Golf Club

There are many different ways to grip a golf club. Here are some grips you can try:

The Vardon Overlap is among the most common grips in the world and is practiced by professional players all over the world. Harry Vardon was the one to popularize this grip during the 20^th century. For this grip, golfers have to place the club in their fingers. The Vardon Overlap is one of the most important grips that are taught by golf instructors today.

To achieve this grip, simply take the pinkie finger of your dominant hand and move it back and lay it on top of the fingers of your left hand. It should sit on top of the space that rests between your middle and index fingers.

Interlocking Grip

The Interlock is perhaps the most common grip of all. It was largely popularized on the LPGA Tour and has been used by several players, including Tiger Woods and Jack Nicklaus. As the name suggests, the grip literally locks the hands together.

This grip is best suited for beginners or for players with small hands, weak wrists and forearms. For this grip, use your little finger on the training hand (the dominant hand) and intertwine it with the index finger on the lead hand. Fit the lead-hand thumb in the lifeline of the trailing hand.

Baseball Grip

The Baseball Grip, also known as the Ten Finger Grip, is perhaps the least preferred grip among teachers. However, this grip offers plenty of advantages. Many famous players, such as Beth Daniel, Art Wall Jr and Bob Estes have used the Ten Finger Grip. This grip is best suited for beginners as the steps are easy to comprehend and follow. People who suffer from joint pain, have weak hands or have arthritis usually benefit from the Ten Finger Grip.

For this grip, simply start off by adopting a perfect lead hand grip and then place the little finger of the trailing hand alongside the index finger of the lead hand. The lifeline of your trailing hand should cover the lead hand thumb.

How To Regrip Golf Clubs

If you are an enthusiastic golf player, you must have probably noticed how your golf clubs wear off, especially on the grip. If your grip is starting to appear loose and frayed, it is time to regrip it. Rest assured, you can always re-grip your golf clubs at home by using household supplies and items.

Simply follow these easy steps:

Set Up A Vice - Set up a vice to hold the club in place. While this step is typically not necessary, it makes handling the unwieldy club much easily. While setting up the vice, place rubber pads on the insides. Be careful as it is easy to accidentally bend the club if the vice has been locked in firmly.
Place the Club Horizontally - Place the golf club horizontally in the vice and lock it in the middle. Ensure you have sufficient space to work around the grip of your club.
Spread Cloth Under The Club - To avoid making a mess, it is imperative you spread a cloth or paper underneath the club to keep the floor clean. You will be working with liquid solvent so make sure the solution does not drip.
Cut through the Old Grip - Carefully use a utility knife and make a clean cut lengthwise through the grip, making an incision. Be careful not to cut in too deep or else you will damage the actual shaft.
Use Grip Solvent - Spray some grip solvent over the area that you have cut. While you can use lighter fluid, it is recommended you opt for a specialized solvent. Ensure the solvent travels underneath the grip and reaches the shaft.
Peel Back The Old Grip - Slowly pry open the old grip where you made the cut and gently peel it back using your fingers or a screwdriver.
Remove the Tape From The Shaft - Use a straight razor to peel off the tape from the shaft. Clean the area where the old grip used to be.

Double Tape the Area - Use double sided tape to cover the same area. Start by peeling off the backing of the second side. You may opt for a professional golf grip tape or simply pick up something from the hardware store. Try to tape as far down from the shaft as the new grip will extend.
Apply Grip Solvent - Apply grip solvent generously over the newly applied tape. Try to cover the entire surface.
Take a New Grip And Pour Grip Solvent Over It - Pour solvent over the new grip. Additionally, stick a golf tee in the hole at the end to keep the fluid in.
Slide the New Grip on the Shaft - The new grip will slip on easily because of the fluid. Now, pull off the golf tee that rests at the end of the grip and force the grip all the way up. To avoid creating a method, do this over a bucket or a piece of cloth.
Align the Grip - Align the grip whichever way you want before the glue on the inside starts to set. To prevent the grip from twisting, line it up with logos and graphics.
Dry - Allow the grip to dry for an entire day.

If you are not comfortable with cutting and gluing the grip on your own, you can visit your local golfsmith and have the job done at a nominal fee. Do not forget to wear gloves if you are following the DIY method.

How To Swing A Golf Club

Golf is among the most popular sports in the world. However, like other sports, it requires strenuous practice and dedication. After all, maintaining consistency in an 18-hole golf course is not easy. To perfect the sport, you will need to start by practicing your swing.

Here’s how you can practice your swing:

Arrange Your Feet - Arrange your feet in a way so that your front foot is slightly ahead of the ball. The club should rest near the middle of your body and your feet should be wider than shoulder width apart.
Stand Close To the Ball - Get close enough to the ball so the center of the clubface reaches the ball with your arms out forward but still relaxed. However, you should not stand too close to the ball or else it will compromise your club positioning.
Check Your Alignment - The alignment is basically the direction your shoulders and feet are pointed in. Align your feet and shoulders in a way so an imaginary line passing from your back shoulder to front shoulder is pointing directly at the target. This alignment is termed as the square.
Bend Your Knees - Adopt an athletic stance by bending your knees. Distribute your weight evenly on both feet. While you will be required to shift your weight during the backswing and the downswing, it is best you start with even weight distribution.
Hold The Club - Use a relaxed grip that you are comfortable with. Each grip has its own set of advantages and disadvantages, hence adopt the one which seems natural to you.

Swinging The Club

Now it is time for you to practice your swing. Start by trying out your backswing. For the backswing, you are supposed to lift your club from the starting position and bring it above your head. Shift your weight from the ball of your front foot to the back foot.

Keep these three steps in mind:

Move your hands straight back whilst keeping them close to your back leg. Remember to keep your front arm straight while doing this. When the club head hinges backward, the shaft of the club must be parallel to the ground.
Resume a slight wrist break as you move your arm parallel to the ground. Your left arm should be roughly parallel to the club. The end of the club must point slightly outside the golf ball.
Now rotate your torso further back so the club travels slightly behind your hands. Your hands should be slightly bent during this last phase of the backswing.

Now you will have to follow through with the downswing. Perform the downswing so the head of the club hauls down and lags behind everything else. Allow the 90^o to increase and then relax through the impact area. This drastically increases clubhead speed while allowing you to maintain control.

Ensure the shaft is leaning forward towards the target during the moment of impact. Additionally, pay attention to directional control. Apart from your hands, use your lower body to create energy into the shot.

It does not matter how far back you take the club but whether you release it correctly or not.

How To Clean Golf Clubs

After a long hard day of swinging, putting, chipping and perhaps even swearing at the golf course, your clubs will need a nice cleaning session. Cleaning your golf club the right way will not only ensure it lasts longer but might even improve your performance. Having dirt and debris on your equipment can negatively impact your performance on the course. To keep your clubs looking spotless, here's a guide on how to clean them properly :

Prepare The Cleaning Solution

To scrub your golf clubs new, you have to prepare a cleaning solution. Simply fill a bucket or the sink with a few inches of warm water. Ensure the water is not too hot or else it might damage your club. Next, pour a few drops of dishwashing soap and allow the solution to become soapy.

Soak The Iron Head

Do not simply submerge the entire golf club in the bucketful of water or in the sink. Instead, only soak the iron head. The iron head should be fully submerged in the water. Let it rest for about 2 minutes. The soapy detergent will soon start to loosen up any oils, dirt or mud.

Scrub The Dirt Out Of The Head Grooves

Now it is time to clean the dirt out of the club head grooves. For this task, it is best you use a soft-bristled toothbrush or a wire club brush to extract the dirt easily. Additionally, brush the soles and sides of the club to get rid of lingering debris. Use gentle strokes as scrubbing the golf clubs too hard can result in scratches.

Rinse Away

Once you are done with scrubbing and soaking the clubs, it is time for rinsing. Use lukewarm water to rinse the iron head to get rid of excess soap. Be careful not to get the other parts of the golf club wet in the process.

Dry The Head

Excess moisture can damage your golf clubs, hence use a towel or soft rag to completely dry your golf clubs. Don’t forget to inspect the grooves of the club to ensure all the dirt and grime has been removed.

Clean The Grip

Use warm water to clean the grip on your clubs. Ensure you remove any dirt, grime or oil which may have been left behind. This dirt and debris can have a negative effect on your ability to grip the club. Additionally, inspect the grip to decide whether a replacement is needed. Now use a towel to gently dry your grip.

Final Check

Before you put your golf club back in its proper spot, ensure it is properly clean and dry. Follow these easy steps to clean your golf clubs. Dirt and debris might hamper the performance of your golf clubs, hence it is essential you clean them every once in a while.

Conclusion

Hopefully, this guide has provided you ample information on how to purchase, properly use and take care of your golf clubs. To further enhance your skills, get as much practice as you can and perhaps invest in a home simulator so you can practice indoors as well.

Two-Way Putter - Left and Right Hand