Buying Golf Clubs - 11 Things You Need to Know By Michael M Lewis At Isnare.com Ezine Articles

For most golfers buying a new set of clubs is as important as buying a car. It's important to get it right because you can spend a lot of money and you'll be using them for many years to come. If you haven't realised it already golf equipment gets very technical. For the very best players a misplaced 'C.O.G' or 'M.O.I' can severely affect their game. For the rest of us a few simple decisions will help you select the right golf clubs for you and avoid wasting your hard earned cash. Lets take a look at what you need to know.

How much you spend is obviously up to you. Golf equipment can cost a small fortune especially if you opt for custom made stuff. If you're a beginner its probably a better idea to look for a less expensive range or even buy second hand (check for signs of rusting and degradation if you do). This game is a tough nut to crack and not everyone develops an addiction to it. You don't want a thousand dollars worth of golf clubs gathering dust in the closet! When you get to a decent level or are already there it then becomes more cost effective to go for the higher end products.

The majority of your golf bag will be taken up by the irons - generally 3 through to 9. The quality of the shaft is key for these clubs and industry standard is for the irons to be made out of steel. Take note - if your swing speed is slow or your swing speed is decreasing due to age consider buying graphite shaft irons. They are lighter and can help you get back some distance.

The flex of the shaft is another key component. Again slower swing speeds require a more flexible shaft. The extra whip generated helps add yards to your shots. This is not helpful to the golfer who is hitting their 7 iron 150 yards or more as flexible shafts tend to be harder to control at that level. These types of golfer should look at the stiffer range.

A feature of the 21st century golf bag is the hybrid clubs. A mix between the fairway wood and standard iron this club is known to be easier to hit than long irons and can be used in many situations. Generally considered a must for high handicappers and beginners you will also find that the pros have adopted them also. Its certainly worth considering having these in your bag rather than the long irons. If, like me, you tend to spend a little too much time in the rough then these golf clubs can be your saviour.

When you are making your selection be mindful that golf clubs are generally made to a standard length. When you set up, the club head should sit flat on the ground and the club should fall below your waist. The standard length is acceptable for most golfers but if you're particularly small or tall it might be a better idea to go for a custom made set. This will give you a better chance of solid contact.

The club head comes in all shapes and sizes. You hear much about the debate between cavity backed or blades. The cavity backed club head has a larger sweet spot so is easier to hit but at the cost of feel and control. This is why better players tend to prefer the blades.

The driver and fairway woods usually have graphite shafts to assist in generating club head speed. As with irons the amount of flex you need depends on how much speed you tend to generate.

Loft of the driver head is often overlooked. Slow swingers want a higher loft as it helps get higher trajectory off the tee and ultimately more carry down the fairway. Loft tends to range between 10 and 15 degrees. Better players should opt for the lower end of that range.

Fortunately for some of us you can select the angle of the face of the driver to offset any tendencies such as slicing or hooking. If you slice go for a closed face and if you hook go for an open face. The difference can be between hitting the rough regularly or getting down that fairway.

The putter is all about feel. You need to be able to produce a smooth stroke to get the right contact on the golf ball. As a result there are a great many variations in the type of putter you can buy. See which one sits right with you. The heavier putters can help beginners because they promote a less jerky technique and reduce the chance of the golfer giving up on the putt as they hit it.

The grip has to feel comfortable. You can have golf clubs regripped and this may come in useful if you have small or large hands.

Everyone has their own tastes so not all the tips will apply but its certainly worth bearing these pointers in mind. Buying clubs can be a sizeable investment and the last thing you want is to find you've chosen a set that you simply cannot get on with. One final tip is to make sure you are honest about your game with the store attendants when selecting clubs. Yes, they are trying to sell to you but they will want you to get the right clubs. Its no use saying you hit the ball dead straight and play off a 4 handicap when you really have a horrendous slice and struggle to break 100. The needs of these two types of player are very different!

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