Golf is a sport that requires skill, precision, and the right equipment. Knowing which golf clubs to use in different situations is essential for any golfer, from beginners to pros. In this article, we'll explore the four major types of golf clubs: woods, irons, wedges, and putters. We'll also discuss the different sizes available for each type of club and how they can be used to improve your game. Woods are the longest clubs in a golfer's bag and are used for tee shots on par 5s, par 4s, and occasionally par 3s.
Woods come in a variety of sizes, indicated by a number on the club. The higher the number, the longer the shot will be. Woods are also known for their large clubhead size and low center of gravity (CG), which helps promote faster swing speed and more distance. Irons are used for approach shots from 100 yards and up. They range from 1 iron to 9 iron, with higher numbers indicating higher loft angles.
A standard set of irons usually includes 3 iron to 9 iron, but some golfers carry 1 and 2 irons as well. Irons require a lot of skill to hit, so they are not recommended for beginners. Many golfers choose irons with a muscle-backed clubhead design or a clubhead design with a recessed back. Hybrids are a combination of woods and irons and are designed to replace long irons in a standard set. They have shorter shafts than long irons, making them easier to hit, especially for beginners.
Hybrids are also more forgiving and perform better than irons. They come in 3 hybrid, 4 hybrid, or 5 hybrid sizes and can be used outside a bunker, in the rough, or on the fairway. Wedges are ideal for approach shots from 100 yards and up. Their loft is relative to the distance they produce; the higher the loft of the club, the shorter and higher the shot will be. The rebound angle is also critical when selecting a wedge; this is how much lower the trailing edge of the sole is relative to the leading edge of the club face.
A standard set should include a lob wedge (46-48 degrees) and a sand wedge (56-58 degrees). Sand wedges are designed to be hit from bunkers but can also be used on the fairway. Putters are known to be the most personal clubs of all. The key characteristics of putters are their design, balance, and material. Design styles include blade putters with blade putterhead designs; anser putters with back cavity putterhead designs; center shaft putters with shafts placed in the center of the putter head; mallet putters with clubhead designs that look like croquet mallets; offset putters with putter faces positioned farther from the hole than the shaft; and starting putters with putter faces adjusted even with the shaft. The United States Golf Association (USGA) limits players to no more than 14 clubs in their golf bag.
If you're on a budget, you can check out golf stores or places like Play It Again Sports to find a good set of used clubs. Now that you know about all four major types of golf clubs—woods, irons, hybrids, wedges, and putters—you can decide which ones you need for your game. Beginners don't need to spend thousands of dollars on golf clubs when they start playing; Wilson's used and new golf clubs are definitely worth a look.
