Archive for January, 2009

Choosing Golf Clubs

admin January 26th, 2009



Ok. Here are the basics. A golf club has three parts – the head, the shaft and the grip. A standard set of golf clubs consists of three woods (the Driver, #3, and #5 fairway woods), eight irons (#3, #4, #5, #6, #7, #8, #9, and PW), and a putter – that’s twelve clubs in all. According to the rules of golf, and we should all play by the rules, you can carry fourteen clubs in your bag, so many golfers add a specialty wood or another iron.

Now, let’s have a look at the different types of clubs.

Drivers & Fairway woods

These clubs are used to hit longer shots. That’s a basic yet apt way to look at it. If a golf hole is a par four or five from tee to green, most golfers would choose to use a wood.

The driver, or the 1 Wood, has the lowest loft of any golf club. Loft is the angle of the club face that controls trajectory and affects distance. A driver has a loft between 7 and 12 degrees. Better golfers have traditionally favored drivers with less than 10 degrees of loft, which require a lot more skill to hit.

Most golfers also carry a #3 and #5 fairway wood as part of their arsenal. A #3 wood has a loft of 15 degrees, and a #5 wood has a loft of 18 degrees. The higher the golf club number, the higher the loft. The #3 and #5 wood are commonly referred to as fairway woods, because they are most often used during the second shot of play, when you are supposed to be on the fairway.

Hybrids

Hybrids are a recent innovation to golf. A hybrid is a combination of an iron and a wood and is an easier to hit alternative to a long iron. Hybrids are versatile enough to be used in any situation. Hybrids come in a range of four lofts – 16 (#2), 19 (#3), 22 (#4) and 25 (#5) Degrees. Hybrids replace their equivalent number long iron, e.g. a #3 hybrid will replace a #3 iron and a #2 hybrid can be used to replace a #5 fairway wood.

Irons

Irons are generally used for shorter distances and more control than drivers and fairway woods. The closer you are to the green, the higher the iron you will use. A standard set of irons consists of #3, #4, #5, #6, #7, #8 and #9 and the PITCHING WEDGE (PW). A sandwedge is generally a good option to purchase for shots out of sand traps. The #3 and #4 irons are harder to hit than the higher numbered irons. Many golfers choose to replace the #3 and #4 iron with higher lofted woods or hybrids which are easier to hit than traditional long irons, resulting in comparable distances.

Wedges

Wedges are really just specialty irons. The first wedge is the Pitching Wedge (PW), which is usually between 52 and 56 degrees in loft. The PW is the highest lofted iron in a standard set and lowest loft of the wedges. Lob wedges range from 58 to 64 degrees and are used for close range short and high shots to overcome obstacles close to the green. Wedges are extremely useful for your short game and it is beneficial to keep a selection of them in your bag.

Sand Wedges are another type of wedge and are designed to get you out of the dreaded sand traps. They have a shorter shaft and a more angled face to get under the ball in order to exit a bunker.

Putters

As the adage goes “Drive for show, Putt for dough”. The putter usually gets you in the hole, so it can be assumed, that choosing the right putter is critical to your game. Putters come in various styles and types.: short, belly, long, bent, center-hosel, heel-toe, mallet, and so on. When choosing a putter the main things to consider are the: weighting, balance and feel. Better putters provide alignment aids to help you visualize the line from your ball to the target.



By: Lind Golf

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Lester

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Can A Rescue Golf Club Improve Your Score

admin January 12th, 2009



If you’re having problems with those long drives and are finding that irons just aren’t doing the trick for you, why not give one of the new rescue golf clubs a try? If you’re an experienced golfer that’s been paying attention to the pro shops and internet forums you may already be experienced with these and how they can improve your game, but for the rest, here’s some information on these, the latest creation in golf clubs, and why they actually shave some points off your score.

Rescue golf clubs are actually a type of hybrid or utility club and they typically replace your long irons, from your 1 iron all the way up to your 5 iron or even better. Hybrid clubs are those that combine the facets of both a wood and an iron. This gives you the distance of a long iron but with a higher trajectory. The shafts are shorter like an iron, as well as the face being stiffer but the components give you the distance of a wood. Many are finding that rescue golf clubs give them better distance and a softer landing than regular woods or irons.

So who should consider these rescue golf clubs and when are they used? If you’re having trouble reaching 220 yards with a 4 iron you may want to consider switching to a hybrid. They give you the distance you need as well as the consistency you should be getting from your irons.

Rescue or hybrid golf clubs are good off the tee if you’re facing a hazard near the green. Because they give you the distance you need you can reach the green but because they land so much softer you’re not likely to overshoot the pin either. Longer bunker shots are also good when using hybrid or rescue golf clubs because you need to get it airborne but because sand traps are usually close to the green you don’t want to overshoot it either, which is easy to do. Rescue golf clubs let you get the ball into the air and past the trap for longer bunkers. They are also excellent to use when you’re in the rough since the stiffer face makes it possible for you to manage this rough terrain more easily than any other club type.

Rescue golf clubs are usually very affordable which means that it should be easier for you to try some out without breaking the budget. They’ve very versatile and even the pros are starting to stock them in their bags. So no matter what your skill level or handicap you might want to consider trying one of these rescues.



By: Nazima Golamaully

About the Author:

For a comprehensive guide to golf clubs visit The Golf Clubs Website at http://www.TheGolfClubsWebsite.com



Christopher

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Golf Ball Reviews – For Golfers with Good Views

admin January 10th, 2009

Ronald Piper asked:




Whether you are a beginner at golf or a professional, you will want the golf ball that suits you and your game best. You will also want to get the best golf ball for your money. This is where golf ball reviews come in handy as a reference tool.

Don’t allow yourself to be swayed by what you see your friends or fellow golfers using. First, they may have been golfing longer than you have. Secondly, they may have an entirely different technique than what you have. There are many good golf ball reviews online, in magazines or stores that will be very helpful. It is wise to remember that the most expensive balls may not be what you need. The top-of-the-line name brands that you read about may not be the best for you either. More expensive is not always best- just more expensive.

Golf balls consist of two major types: wound or solid. The wound balls are the conventional balls that have been around for years. The solid ball came into play in the 1980’s. Originally, golfers were of the opinion that the solid golf balls offered little control of spin and performed poorly in general. They were used to the wound ball. Technology has now advanced to where golf ball reviews will show the increased popularity and use of solid balls.

Beyond the two basis types, there are one piece, two-piece and three-piece balls. The one piece, made of Surlyn with dimples, is the basic ball for on the driving range or just starting out. You won’t get much distance, but they are very durable and inexpensive, which makes them great for practicing. Two-piece balls have the core and a strong covering. Due to the high restitution covering, you will get great distance and durability. Manufacturers are now able to make them “softer” which contributes to greater control. Golf ball reviews have shown that these are very popular for the every day golfer on the course.

Three-piece balls, wound with a liquid center or solid, allow the more experienced golfer the control he wants. The backspin is very good and there is good distance and height. These are more for the experienced golfer who is able to “control” his shots with spin and distance.

There are also four-piece balls, but they are new on the market. They are made of a soft Urethane, are durable and great for distance.

You will be able to choose if you are looking for spin or feel golf balls. Golf ball reviews will help you decide which ball is right for you. Low spin golf balls will lessen the amount of side spin when you shoot, therefore the ball will go straighter in the air. It may not go as far in the air as you”d like, but with less spin it will roll more when it hits the ground. This is a good ball for player that is unable to get a long drive. A mid spin golf balls is the ball most suitable for all players. It combines both distance and feel. High spin golf balls are made to increase the spin when it”s in the air and go farther. They are used a lot by golfers that hit right to left with a draw.

Firm feel golf balls are used for distance, and will feel hard when hit. They are used if distance is more important than spinning onto the green. It’s a very durable ball and will go many rounds. Mid feel golf balls act similar to the mid spinning ball in that it is the most suitable for all players. It combines distance with being easily controlled on the green. Soft feel golf balls are balls used by many professional golfers that are able to use spin on short shots. It is not a ball for beginners. It is easily nicked or damaged due to the soft cover.



Lisa

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