A Beginner’s Guide to Golf Clubs

Several types of golf clubs are used to play the game. Which ones to buy and when to use them can thus be very challenging if you’re new to golf. Listed below are all the main types of golf clubs including when they are used on the course:

Woods

They are not actually made from wood but from metal or carbon fibre instead. Woods are used to hit long distance shots – 175 yards or more from the green. There are several types of woods with different lofts. The Driver or 1 wood has the lowest loft of all golf clubs – 7 to 13 degrees. Then, there are 3 and 5 woods (also known as Fairway Woods) with the loft of 20 to 22 degrees, with 5 wood having a higher loft. They are typically used during the second shot or when being in the fairway.

Higher lofted woods – 7, 9 and 11 – are available as well but they are rarely seen in men’s golf. They are, however, quite common in ladies’ and seniors’ golf where they are used as an alternative to lower lofted irons. Higher lofted woods are also known as Utility Woods.

Irons

Irons are all-metal golf clubs that are used for long distance shots as well – when being 175 yards or less from the green. Again, there are several numbers indicating the loft – from 3 to 9. As you are getting closer to the green, the higher number you will use. As mentioned earlier, sometimes 7 or 9 woods are used instead because they are easier to hit and yield approximately the same distance.

Wedges

Wedges are actually a type of irons with a higher loft – 48 to 60 degrees. They are used to hit short-distance shots requiring higher accuracy. Wedges are especially useful for approaching hits (getting the ball onto the green), chipping (getting out of hazards and rough) and lay-up shots (creating a better position for shot on the fairway).

Putters

Putters are used for hitting the ball into the hole when being on the green.

Hybrids

These golf clubs have become increasingly popular over the last few years and are used by many golfers, both recreational players and pros alike. They are somewhere in between woods and irons as they have a wood-like club head and iron-like shaft length.

Golf Club Sets

A standard golf club set has 14 clubs – as many as are officially allowed to play with on a tournament. They are very popular, especially with beginners because they include all the most useful clubs and are less expensive in comparison to buying each club individually.