Golf Clubs and Golf Club Components

Golf Clubs and Golf Club Components

Your golf clubs can really make a difference in how well you play the game of golf. New advancements in golf club technologies make lighter, bigger, and better golf clubs available to the experienced as well as inexperienced golfer. How do you know what to look for in golf clubs?

For the novice golfer, the basic set of golf clubs consists of drivers, wedges, putters and irons. Using the proper type of golf club will help the beginner learn quickly and achieve results. Each different type of club is designed to help with swing speed and to correct faults to improve your game – and your score.
You must take into consideration the style, size, and type of material used to make the golf club shaft. One of the less expensive materials is steel. Golf clubs with a steel shaft weigh more but can be longer-lasting than other types. The steel shaft may also give you more control over those fast swings. If you choose a graphite shaft, it will be lighter than steel but will be more costly. This type of club is used for long distance shots or for slower swingers. Most golf clubs are available with both steel and graphite shafts.

Keep in mind that graphite shafts will not only be lighter and easier to handle, they will also be more forgiving if you have a bad shot. They absorb vibration and allow for a much better feeling shot. Plus, you will pick up some distance because the speed of the swing will be greater due to the lighter materials.
The flexibility of a shaft is referred to as flex, or bend. The less the bend in a shaft, the more control the powerful swinger will have. On the other hand, beginners and those with less powerful swings generally use a shaft with greater flexibility. The average swing speed is from 65 miles per hour for the beginner up to over 100 miles per hour for powerful swingers.

When it comes to selecting a golf club driver, especially as a beginner, you will probably want one with a head made out of titanium. Titanium is stronger, denser, and lighter than steel so the club head can be made larger with the same amount of materials. The advantage to having a large head driver is there is a larger “sweet spot” giving you more area to hit the ball with. With this type of golf club head, the club will be much more forgiving if you miss hit the ball or have a bad shot.

The goal when buying golf clubs should be to own the best golf clubs you can afford, whether they are name brands, used, or a reproduction of one of the name brands.

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Golf Apparel

Golf Apparel

When it comes to golf apparel, you really have many choices available. What to wear isn’t always first on the golfer’s mind, but choosing the right golf apparel can make a difference in playing well and playing not so well. It’s true!

Many golf clubs have rules as to what golf apparel is acceptable on their course. This usually means no tank tops or short shorts, all players must wear shirts with collars, and no jeans are allowed. Other courses are less restrictive in their clothing and you can choose what you want to wear as long as it is tasteful.

Generally male golfers will wear khaki pants and a collared polo shirt. In warm weather, fitted shorts are generally permitted as part of the golf apparel. Most men will also opt for a hat to keep the sun out of their eyes.

Golf apparel for women, however, can run the gamut. Golf skirts are very popular for female golfers because they are less restrictive, but others opt for shorts or loose pants. Polo shirts are also worn by women – some sleeveless polos are also allowed on upscale courses. Women tend to opt for visors to keep the sun away although hats are another option.

When choosing your golf apparel, you should take care that the clothing is not too restrictive. You will want plenty of room to move around because your golf swing depends on your body moving in a fluid, smooth motion. There’s nothing worse than clothing that is too tight – especially on the golf course.

When choosing pants or shorts, it’s convenient to have pockets. Many golfers like to have pockets so they can carry golf tees, divot fixers, ball markers, and even extra balls, although we don’t recommend the latter as it can throw off your swing quite a bit.

You will want to choose clothes that are made of lightweight, breathable fabrics – especially if you golf primarily in cold weather. Many manufacturers of golf apparel know this and keep it mind during production, so it shouldn’t be difficult to find clothing like this.

You can find adequate golf apparel in many places. Golf course pro shops will carry specific lines of golf clothing that will conform to their dress code, but they will be a bit more expensive than buying them in a store. Find a golf store and you will find a great selection of golf apparel to choose from. Finally, you can get some great deal on golf apparel on the Internet in many, many places, often at discount prices.

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Golf Schools

Golf Schools

So you’ve decided to take up golf and think that you may want to attend a golf school to learn about the game and the mechanics of the game. There are many, many golf schools to choose from that you may find yourself overwhelmed and unsure which way to turn. How do you find the best golf school for your needs?

First, consider the cost. Obviously, you won’t want to “break the bank” on a golf school that you can’t afford. See what they charge and compare that cost to what they offer as well as what’s included in the price. The more perks included in the package, the more valuable the golf school will be for you.

You may want to find a golf school that caters to your specific situation. They do have specific schools that teach only women, only seniors, or only youth. These types of golf schools are located all over the country and can be great if you want someone to specifically address the problems or limitations that your situation might include.

What type of credentials does a particular golf school have? Are they sanctioned by one of the major golf associations? How are their instructors taught? A good golf school doesn’t have to be run by a famous golfer, but it should have instructors who have taken accredited courses on the effective teaching strategies that they need to know.

Class size, practice time, and techniques taught should also be considerations when you choose a golf school. If you will be put into a class of a hundred students, you won’t get as much one on one time with the instructor as if you were put in a class of 5.

Golf schools are often affiliated with country clubs and run through them. Some are resort based where students stay at the resort in a vacation setting and receive daily lessons. Some instructors will travel the country making stops at various country clubs where they will conduct week long schools for instruction.

There are many places you can go to when you are looking for a golf school. Many golf publications will feature golf schools prominently in their advertisements and they generally list the itineraries of the traveling instructors. Your local golf club will probably have information about golf schools in the area and even out of the area. Of course, you can also utilize the Internet when you are looking for a golf school. There are all sorts of websites that can guide you toward a golf school that will fit your needs and get you well on the way to a great golf game.

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Hybrid Golf Club

Hybrid Golf Club

The hybrid golf club is also referred to as a utility club and is a relatively recent addition to the variety of golf clubs golfers can choose from. They are growing in popularity because they are designed to be easier to hit for recreational golfers. In fact, they are easier to hit for all golfers and most touring pros now carry hybrid golf clubs in their bags.

Hybrid golf clubs are a category of club that combines elements of both woods and irons into their design. This combination adds up to having technical features that aid in getting the ball airborne, that dampen the effects of miss hits, and many other pluses.

Most hybrid golf clubs are designed to replace long irons (2, 3, 4, and sometimes 5 irons) in a golfer’s bag. When you hear it said that hybrid golf clubs are easier to hit, this is almost always meant in comparison to the long irons that these hybrids replace.

So why are hybrid golf clubs advantageous over regular irons?

A normal iron doesn’t have much of a back on it. You can make an iron that has perimeter weighting but you can’t have it further back unless it has a bigger back side. You can’t move much weight back into the air? Therefore, to make an iron easier to hit manufacturers have started to “fatten” the back of them. So hybrid golf clubs that look more like an iron have what seems to be a bulge on back of them. This is just moving the weight further back on the iron. Now they can have weight along the outside of the club and further back.

On the other hand, manufacturers who have made their Hybrid Golf Clubs look more like a fairway wood have been able to move the weight back a little more since the club is larger. Not large enough to be the size of a harder to hit fairway wood but large enough to do the trick.

Hybrid golf clubs also have a lower center of gravity. If you move the center of gravity down then the ball gets up in the air easier. It helps increase the launch angle of the ball without having to increase the actual loft of the club. This may not be visible but the result is.

If you have a three iron that is 20 degrees and a hybrid golf club that is the same loft, but has the weight further back (perimeter weighted) and the center of gravity lower then the club will launch the ball higher. That is why it is important to realize that when making a purchase of a hybrid golf club that the lofts are not directly comparable to the club you are replacing.

There are some players who swear by hybrid golf clubs and others who think they are just junk. But the simple fact is that a hybrid golf club is easier to get into the air, down the fairway and onto the green

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Golf Galaxy Golf Stores

Golf Galaxy Golf Stores

Golf Galaxy, which opened its first store in 1997, quickly and easily differentiated itself from other golf retailers by becoming the world's first and only interactive golf store. By offering superstore selection and pricing with pro shop knowledge and service, Golf Galaxy became the “Everything for the Game” golf retailer.

Today, Golf Galaxy prides itself on its world-class selection of brand name golf equipment, golf apparel, golf accessories, and golf gifts for golfers of all ages and abilities. Premier merchandise brands include Callaway Golf, TaylorMade, Cobra, Cleveland, PING, Titleist, Ashworth, Greg Norman, Nike Golf, Adidas, and FootJoy. The retailer also sells pre-owned clubs and offers club trade-ins good toward any in-store purchase.

But it's more than merchandise that sets Golf Galaxy apart from other golf retailers. Golf Galaxy also offers a comprehensive array of golf services and interactive golf features. Some of these features include:

* on-staff PGA and LPGA professionals who offer lessons and computer video swing analysis and answer questions about equipment and club fitting;

* on-site certified club technicians who use hi-tech ball launch monitor technology to ensure a proper club fit and who re-grip, re-shaft or simply adjust existing club loft, lie and swing-weight to give customers custom-fitted brand name clubs;

* an electronic, state-of-the-art golf course simulator that allows players to test their skills on the world's most famous courses;

* an indoor driving bay that enables customers to test merchandise so as to make the best purchase possible;

* an on-site, full-sized bent-grass putting green featuring elaborate contours to create the pace and feel of a real golf course.

With 65 stores in 24 states, each averaging 17,000-square feet in size, Golf Galaxy is serving an ever growing golf market and is continuing to grow itself to meet the increasing demand. Recent statistics from the National Golf Foundation indicate there are currently an estimated 26.2 million golfers in the United States who spend approximately $24.3 billion on golf equipment and fees annually.

Golf Galaxy is an innovative, state-of-the-art interactive golf retailer. Designed to contain everything for the game, the stores boast comprehensive collections of golf equipment, apparel, accessories, and novelties for all ages and skill levels, as well as a host of interactive features.

Golf Galaxy also has an amazing website at www.golfgalaxy.com that offers visitors all sorts of information about the game of golf, golf equipment, and even online seminars. You can even order equipment online if there isn’t a Golf Galaxy store near you. For everything golf, be sure to check out Golf Galaxy.

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St. Andrew Golf Course

St. Andrew Golf Course

St. Andrews is located in Scotland and is commonly thought of as the birthplace of golf as we know it today. St. Andrews is home to the Royal and Ancient Golf Club, founded in 1754, who exercises legislative authority over the game worldwide except in the U.S. and Mexico.

The beautiful golf links in St. Andrews (acquired by the town in 1894) is the most frequent venue for The Open Championship, the oldest of golf's four major championships. Visitors travel to St Andrews in great numbers for several courses ranked amongst the finest in the world, as well as for the sandy beaches.

The St Andrews Links occupy a narrow strip of land along the sea. As early as the 15th century, golfers at St. Andrews established a customary route through the undulating terrain, playing to holes whose locations were dictated by topography.

The course that emerged featured eleven holes, laid out end to end from the clubhouse to the far end of the property. One played the holes out, turned around, and played the holes in, for a total of 22 holes. In 1764, several of the holes were deemed too short, and were therefore combined. The number was thereby reduced from 11 to nine, so that a complete round of the links comprised 18 holes.

There are six golf courses in St. Andrews including The Old Course which is where the game was first played. The clubs are open to the public as are the courses, but be prepared to wait! The Old Course has over 40,000 rounds of golf played on it every year. In fact, as of this writing, the official St. Andrews website reports that tee times for April through October of 2007 are completely booked.

You may have the best luck on one of the other courses, but you will need to make reservations well in advance. St. Andrews allow you to book tee times online, so check out their website and make a reservation as soon as you know when you’ll be there.

Be prepared to pay to play St. Andrews, however. Greens fees during the prime season between April and October are $235 for an adult on the Old Course. Of course, the other courses are slightly cheaper and you’ll save some money in the off-season as well.

There are plenty of places to stay when you want to golf at St. Andrews. There are over 500 hotels and numerous dining places nearby. There is easy access from local airstrips, so you won’t have much problem actually getting to the links on your scheduled day to play. In the meantime, you’ll enjoy some of the most beautiful countryside in the world complete with old castles and historical sites!

You can visit the official St. Andrews Link website at www.standrews.org.uk.

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Taylor Made Golf Club

Taylor Made Golf Club

Taylor Made Golf is one of the largest companies that manufacturers golf club, balls, and accessories for the serious golfer. Founded in 1979 by Gary Adams, an entrepreneur who also started Founders Club and McHenry metals, Taylor Made has grown into a name synonymous with golf greatness.

While working as a salesman for Witteck Golf, Adams noticed that the new two piece balls performed better on irons than on true woods. This led him to develop the Taylor Made metal wood. The driver caught on quickly and Taylor Made has been a leader in hollow metal woods ever since.

Taylor Made continues to make innovations in the area of golf club design. They have come out with new hybrid golf clubs that are lighter and easier to swing. The drivers that Taylor Made produces are made of materials that make them easier to hit and as the club faces get larger and larger, Taylor Made has also joined in on the craze.

Many golfers, amateurs and professionals alike, swear by Taylor Made clubs. Their constantly improving design and performance have made them favorites on the pro circuit. Golfers are finding that they can get some real distance with Taylor Made drivers and their irons perform very well too.

Besides some of the greatest golf clubs in the world, Taylor Made also manufactures its own line of golf balls as well as producing Maxfli golf balls. Their two-piece balls come in a variety of specialized weights and compressions which can help you hit the ball farther and with more accuracy. Of course, that does depend somewhat on your swing as well!

Recently, Taylor Made acquired the Adidas corporation and are now adding golf shoes to their lineup of products. Their bags are durable and are a favorite among many golfers today. The present company is known as Taylor Made-Adidas Golf.

If you want to own a set of Taylor Made golf clubs, be prepared to pay quite a price for them – especially if you are buying them new. But know that you are making an investment in your golf game and will be paying for quality clubs that can last you for a very, very long time.

Taylor Made’s drivers, hybrids, and fairway woods are used by more professionals than any other brand. There’s a reason why the pros choose Taylor Made for their club selections. If the pros think Taylor Made is worthy of playing, shouldn’t you too?

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