Golf Clubs - Could You Want to Know Any More?

by Kevin T. Fairbanks

Golf clubs are usually considered a set consisting of a
driver, fairway woods, irons and putters. The advanced
golfer would have at least a driver, metal fairway woods,
irons and a putter in their golf bag. The trend lately has
been to replace some of the longer irons and fairway woods
with hybrid golf clubs.

The United States Golf Association (USGA) sets the rules of
golf. In those rules, it limits the number of golf clubs in
a golfers golf bag to 14 golf clubs. A classic golfer would
have a driver, 2 fairway woods, 7 golf irons, 3 golf wedges
and a putter. You will find a different set combination in
each golfers bag. Hybrid golf clubs, of late, may replace
some of the longer golf irons and fairway woods.

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 club head on these golf club drivers is
limited in size. Most brand name drivers cost between $200
and $400. For the budget-minded golfer, discount golf
drivers can be purchase for much less. The price for
discount golf club drivers can be less than $100.

Sometimes referred to in modern days as metal woods, these
clubs have more lofted club heads than drivers. A set of
fairway metal woods, consisting of a 3, 5 and 7 wood, can
run anywhere from $150 to $300. A set of discount golf woods
would provide quite a savings over name brand golf clubs. A
typical use of the fairway metal wood is a second shot on a
par 5 golf hole or for accuracy off the tee on a narrow
fairway.

Hybrid golf clubs have made a big entry into the world of
golf clubs. They are very versatile golf clubs that are used
in place of long irons and fairway woods. Hybrid golf clubs
combine the best features of the fairway wood and long
irons. Wit this versatility, they can be used almost
anywhere on the golf course. Prices for hybrid golf clubs
run similar to drivers, but discount hybrid golf clubs are
available along with clone and knockoff hybrid golf clubs.

Golf club irons are considered the most important group of
clubs in a golf club set. Golf club irons are used in the
range of 125 yards to 225 yards from the putting green. A
set of golf club irons consists of the numbered irons 2, 3,
4, 5, 6, 7, 8 and 9. The higher the  number of the golf club
iron, the higher the loft and the shorter distance the golf
ball will fly. The shaft length will be shorter for the
higher numbered golf club irons.

Golf club wedges can be part of the golf club iron set
purchase. Normal golf club wedges include a pitching wedge,
the sand wedge and different lofts of lob wedges. These golf
club wedges are used for shots that are within 100 yards or
closer to the green. These shots are sometimes referred to
as the money shot because they should get you very close to
the pin. The number of wedges carried by the golfer is
dependent upon their particular golf game and their
strengths and weaknesses.

The golfer has the choice of 2 primary types of golf club
irons. For the more experienced golfer, forged irons are mad
for precision and enable easier shaping of shots for draws
and fades. Cavity-backed golf irons have a larger sweet spot
and are more forgiving on off-center shots, providing
straighter shots. A set of golf irons consisting of 2
through 9, a sand wedge and a pitching wedge, would range in
price from $250 to over $1,500. Discount golf irons can
provide great savings and are sometimes referred to as
knockoff golf irons or clone golf irons.

The last and probably most utilized golf club is the putter.
The golf club irons are used for the money shots. The putter
is the money club. The old saying "Drive for show, putt for
dough" is a very true statement. The putter is used on every
golf hole at least once. The putter will be the golf club
that ultimately puts the golf ball in the hole. This club
provides the golfer the best opportunity to cut strokes from
their golf round.

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.

Kevin is an avid football fan and over-all good guy. He has
taken his love of football and developed web sites that
offer that love of football to others.