Part of gaining familiarity with golf involves learning about the equipment. There's so much variation between the 14 clubs that players carry in their bags that it can be confusing for anyone who is new to the game. Learn the basic characteristics and purposes of your clubs to make the most of them on the golf course.
Woods
Although they originally had clubheads made from wood, moderns woods are made from titanium or steel. The 1-wood, also known as the driver, is almost exclusively for hitting tee shots. A slightly shorter club in length with more loft -- that is, a face angle closer to a horizontal plane -- the 3-wood is frequently used off the tee and in the fairway. Today's woods occasionally run as high as the 9-wood, the most lofted and shortest of such clubs.
Irons
Most likely, the majority of clubs in your bag will be irons. Made of metal, each iron is marked with a number on its sole that identifies its loft. The lower the number, the less loft. For example, a 3-iron that provides less loft than a 9-iron will hit longer shots with a lower trajectory than the 9-iron. Golfers should learn how far they hit each iron in their bag to make the correct club choice for various distances on the golf course.
Hybrids
Hybrids are a relatively new classification of golf club, only appearing frequently for the last 10 years or so. Lee Pearce describes hybrids in his book, "Golf Club Bible," as a combination of woods and irons, incorporating a full head similar to woods with lofts matching those of long and mid-irons. Hybrids are frequently used by golfers who consider them easier to hit than irons -- particularly out of fairway bunkers and rough.
Wedges
Wedges, a certain type of iron, are shorter clubs with greater loft used most commonly for short approach shots and shots around the green. From pitching wedges and gap or approach wedges to sand wedges and lob wedges, these clubs generally range from about 48 to 62 degrees of loft. Pitch shots, chip shots, lob shots and shots out of green side bunkers are common uses for wedges.
Putters
More shots are struck using the putter than any other single club in your bag. Featuring less loft than any other club -- anywhere from 2 to 4 degrees -- putters also are the only clubs not intended for use on full-swing shots. Generally used to hit the ball once it reaches the green, putters frequently are called upon for shots just off the green, particularly for players whose confidence in chipping skills has diminished.
References
- "Golf For Dummies"; Gary McCord; 2011
- "Golf Club Bible"; Lee Pearce; 2009
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