“Golf is a compromise between what your ego wants you to do, what experience tells you to do, and what your nerves let you do.”
–Bruce Crampton (Australian professional golfer)
It has happened to me quite often when I’m standing in a golf field and staring at the bag, thinking Which golf club should I use? Wait, you didn’t know that there are different types of golf clubs?
I understand how it feels because I wasn’t a professional from the start and often struggled with choosing the right golf club. But you don’t have to worry because I’ve learned a lot from my experiences, and I think I’m experienced enough to craft my experience to share a few things with you.
Being informed about these basics can be a step towards being a scratch golfer. So, begin your journey by learning all the key details, like what they are made of, when to use them, and other similar things. So, let’s get started.
What are the Different Types of Golf Clubs?
Golf clubs are divided into some golf club categories, and in total, there are 5 main golf club types. Here are the different golf club names:
Woods
Woods are specially designed for making power and distance shots. These are ideal for tee shots and log fairway shots. While its name might suggest that it is made of wood, the modern ones are crafted out of strong metal like titanium or steel.
They are must-haves in the golf bag as they can send a ball flying. For example, the driver (1-wood) has gained the title of longest gold stick and is perfect for tee shots when the cup is far away. There are also 3-wood and 5-wood that do the same things but at a greater length.
Irons
Iron golf clubs come in several numbers ranging from 1 to 9. Lower numbers like 3-iron or 4-iron are generally used for hitting shots when the cup is at a great distance. Higher numbers like 7-iron and 9-iron are easy to control and give stability.
These are also divided into three categories: first is long irons 2-3-4, which are hard to master; then is mid-iron 5-6-7, which is good with distance and control; and finally, short irons 8-9 are easier to use and ideal for close-to-green shots.
Wedges
Wedges are created for high and short shots that carry lots of spins. They make precise chip shots by getting out of the bunker. There are four types of wedges:
- Pitching Wedge: They are great for approaching short shots, usually at 44-48 degree loft.
- Sand Wedge: These help players escape bunkers and have a loft between 54–56 degrees.
- Low Wedge: For high and soft shots that land gently and range from 58 to 64 degrees.
- Gap Wedge: It lies between pitching and sand wedge with 50-52 degree loft that fills the distance gap.
Putters
So, now we have everyone’s favorite and the most used type of golf club putters. It comes in action when the ball is near the hole and rolls it in smoothly. But there are two putters; first is the blade, which is light and gives the traditional field.
Second is the mallet, which is opposite of the putter as it is heavier and has a larger head. It contributes to stability and alignment and is the first choice of players who are looking for good control.
Hybrids
This is the balanced fusion of a wood and iron golf club and is made for those who struggle with handling traditional long irons. It replaces 2-irons and 4-irons and is useful with shots where long iron clubs aren’t optimal.
For example, while making a fairway or rough long shorts, a hybrid will give the distance of the wood club and control of the iron club. It escapes thick grass and lands a soft shot on the green grass.
Also Read: What is a Handicap in Golf? Understanding How It Works
How Many Golf Clubs In a Set?
In the standard golf bag, there are 14 clubs, but beginners tend to carry fewer as the bag can get bulky and hard to carry around. Usually, it contains:
- 1-Wood (Driver)
- 3-5 Wood (Fairway Woods)
- 4-9 Iron (Irons)
- PW, SW, LW, GW (Wedges)
- Hybrids (Optional)
Players adjust it according to their needs, but 14 clubs is the maximum limit that is allowed for them to carry in a golf bag. Some even carry 12 golf clubs for simplicity.
Parts of a Golf Club
It’s important to understand the parts of the golf club, It has 5 parts. Those are:
- Grip: The place where you hold the club.
- Shaft: It is the longest and most flexible part and connects the grip to the head.
- Clubhead: This is the part of the club with which you hit the ball.
- Hosel: The connecting bridge between the shaft and clubhead.
- Face: Face refers to the area that makes contact with the ball.
These five parts together make one golf club. Each one of them is crucial and will be present in every stick. Its components are made up of different materials; for example, the club heads are typically crafted of steel and iron, while the shafts are built of graphite.
Different Types of Golf Shots and Which Clubs to Use
There are many types of golf shots, but those can’t be made with any random golf club. It requires a specific golf club for a specific shot. Like:
| Club | Shot Type |
| Driver/ 3-Wood | Tee Shot |
| Irons / Hybrids | Fairway Shot |
| Sand Wedge | Bunker Shot |
| Pitching Wedge/ 9-Iron | Chip Shot |
| Putter | Putt |
How to Choose the Right Golf Club?
Choosing the right golf club is crucial, several factors need to be considered. For starters, your skill level. Are you a beginner, intermediate, or professional? Based on that, you’ll pick the club that aligns with your skill.
For example, beginners should go for a driver, 3 wood, or anything similar that is easy to use. Next is to study their purpose and when they need to be used. Don’t overspend on clubs. While quality does matter, it can be found at an affordable price.
Conclusion
So, these were different types of golf clubs and their use cases. Golf requires great attention and skill along with good gear; that’s why it is essential to have an understanding of the different types of golf clubs.
If you are someone new, then start slow and gain experience by watching others and practicing with regular clubs. Once you have confidence, then purchase the complete set and learn every club one by one.
Finally, never go overboard and be under budget while making a purchase because if you decided to quit in between those clubs, you would only be sitting in a corner. Hopefully, this guide was helpful, and for more such informative articles, make sure to visit sportsbyte.
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