Jack Nicklaus, one of the greatest golfers to ever play the game, has some knowledge for new players. He always claimed, “golf is 90% mental and 10% physical.”
If this is the case, understanding the game is key to mastering it. Unlike other sports, golf has a huge amount of equipment and tools to learn.
If you are new to the game, discerning the different clubs can be confusing. This article can help. Read on for a beginner’s guide to golf club types.
Woods
Although the name is a bit antiquated seeing as technology has changed, woods are your distance clubs.
These include drivers and fairway woods used from the tee box for maximum distance. They are lightweight, bulbous, and hollow. Ideal for longer pars, select one of your woods when you are hitting over 175 yards to the green.
Most bags will have a 1 wood (also known as the driver), a 3 wood, and a 5 wood. These will give you good options for distance swings.
Hybrids
As the name suggests, hybrid clubs are a blend of woods and irons. In the long history of golf, these are one of the newest technologies.
Ping, Calloway, Titleist, and Taylormade Golf clubs are a few brands doing really unique things with hybrid styles. The tech is a perfect marriage of control and distance
The forgiving nature of the sweet spot makes them an excellent option for new players. Most golf club sets will call for a hybrid or two.
Irons
The official number of clubs you can carry in your bag is 14. Most of these will be irons.
Unlike woods, Irons are generally a solid slab of metal. Ranging from 3 to 9, the loft of the clubface increases as the numbers rise. These are used for fairway golfing.
The less loft, the farther the ball will travel. Use the iron around 175- 120 yards from the green.
There is quite a bit of nuance with the distance. Practice on a driving range to get a feel for your range with the specific irons. New players should keep a golf club selection chart on hand for distances.
Wedges
Wedges are used for shorter distances to the hole. These clubs have a deep loft. This lets the user pop the ball up and land softly without much roll.
Popular styles in golf bags include pitching, gap, sand, and lob wedges.
Intermediate wedge shots are one of the best ways to shave shots off your game.
Putters
So, using the above clubs, you made it onto the green. Well done, but it’s not over yet. You still need to get it into the cup. This is where the putter comes into play.
Look to use the putter anywhere on the green. There are many weight and size options for putters. They are all designed to give the user smooth, controlled strokes.
Like all aspects of golf, practice makes perfect with the putter.
Know the Golf Club Types to Hone Your Game
The longest distance in golf is the space between your ears. Remember, it’s a mental game. Learn your golf club types and how to use them to hone your skill. Good luck.
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