Regardless of skill level, all golfers begin to lose flexibility and raw strength as they grow older. This translates directly into lower club head speed and diminished distance on shots with all clubs. While length isn't the only factor in scoring well, giving up too much distance makes the game harder and less enjoyable. Fortunately, equipment designed for seniors helps to counter the effects of age.
Shaft Flex
When shopping for clubs in a store or online, you might notice shaft flex options that include a senior category. Shaft flex offers the most direct way in which to help address loss of club head speed in senior players' swings. A regular flex shaft, for example, usually fits players with an average driver swing speed of 75 to 84 mph, according to golfforseniors.net. By comparison, senior flex shafts work best for golfers possessing a swing speed of 60 to 75 mph, which is typical for golfers over 60.
Shaft Length
Occasionally, senior golfers will attempt to regain length by switching to a longer shaft. Longer shafts can increase club head speed by virtue of the wider arc they create in the swing. However, golfforseniors.net points out that such a move brings problems for most players. If a golfer is not taller -- requiring longer shafts -- then deviating from standard length shafts -- which range from 43 to 44 inches -- can result in diminished accuracy. Longer shafts can also make it difficult to routinely make contact on the sweet spot of the club, which can also decrease distance.
Ditch Longer Irons
Recent years have seen a variety of club technology innovations, including the surge of hybrid clubs. Hybrids combine the best qualities of irons and woods, making them easier to hit. One of the qualities of hybrid clubs that appeals to most senior players involves the lower center of gravity that make them simpler to get up in the air with a slower swing speed. While hybrids have found their way into the bags of golfers of all ages, no group has benefited as much from their introduction as seniors.
Putters
Golfequipmentsource.com notes that along with aging bodies, seniors must grapple with declining eyesight. This can prove problematic when putting. Such challenges are helped somewhat by putters that offer advanced alignment tools, such as the Odyssey Two Ball putter or the Rife Two Bar putter. By providing added features to assist in lining up putts, seniors can rest assured that they will start the ball on the intended line. As any seasoned golfer can tell you, there is no substitute for confidence on the putting green.
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