A Guide to Buying a Golf
Set
With the plethora of golf equipment and golf sets available on the market
today, choosing the correct golf set can be a bit of a minefield! This guide
aims to help you navigate all the terminology and technology so you can make the
right decision.
Buyign the wrong golf set, especially early in your golfing career, could
ruin your enjoyment of the game, so read this guide, and if you have any
questions, do not hesitate to ask us.
Brand
Golf is dominated by big expensive brands such as
TaylorMade and Callaway, but just because these are expensive doesn't make them
right for you. More often than not, these brands are building golf clubs
for world class professionals, and this is why they spend tens of
millions of pounds sponsoring professional players. However, these clubs simply
aren't right for a beginner player. At Voit, we specialise in easy to hit, value
clubs that are great for beginners and casual golfers. If you are just starting
out, buy one of our sets - it has all the clubs you need, plus a bag, and the
money you save in buying direct from us versus a big brand can be spent on
lessons - we guarantee you will be a better player at the end of it!
Flex
You should always look at the flex of the shaft when
choosing golf clubs. The more flexible the shaft, the more forgiveness you get
with your accuracy. Graphite shafts will be more flexible than steel. The more
beginner you are the more flex you will probably need with your clubs.
Starting Out
When you first start golfing, you will need a basic
set of clubs. This will include:
• Putters
• Irons
• Wedges
• Drivers
Each different type of club is designed
to improve the speed of the swing and should help to correct ant faults in your
game. Using the right club is vital and will speed up the learning process. When
choosing a set always consider your ability first and what handicap you are.
Low-handicap (Generally score less than 10 stroked over par)
Low handicap golfers would be wise to carry a fairway wood, a
driver and lower irons. They should carry at least three wedges as well, such as
the pitching wedge, sand wedge and lob wedge.
Mid-handicap (11-20 over par)
Should have most of
the above clubs but should think about adding a 7 wood or even a 9 wood to their
bag. The woods will provide more consistency and accuracy than the long irons
would. Mid-handicap golfers should stick to the 3 and 9 irons.
High-handicap
High-handicap golfers are usually
players that are very new to the game or just haven’t managed to master the
woods yet, they will tend to have scores over 100. The best clubs they should
use are the 3-wood for the tee off and use the 7 and 9 woods, as well as the
other wedges as mentioned above.
Hybrids
A lot of the newer golf
sets are coming with Hybrid golf clubs. These are a mixture between irons and
fairway woods. Many golfers use these to replace their 3 irons. They provide
added accuracy and forgiveness. They have a larger sweetspot and have a low
centre of gravity to ensure that the ball gains more altitude. Hybrids vastly
improve a golfers game and are especially useful for beginners.
Shaft
The newer clubs tend to
have graphite shafts, these are lighter and more flexible than steel meaning
that there is more flexibility, forgiveness and power. Graphite clubs will be
more expensive but will allow you to increase your swing speed.
Club heads
Players can choose
from wither steel or titanium club heads. Steel heads are cheaper and heavier
and will offer more control. They are more suited to more experienced players
who have more accuracy, the heads are usually smaller too so the sweetspot will
be smaller. Titanium heads are very expensive but as they are a lot lighter
material the heads will be bigger and so the sweetspot is bigger for added
forgiveness in the swing. It will also mean that as the heads are lighter you
will be able to have a faster swing speed for more power and longer
distances.
Bags
Golfers can either
have bags that will fit on to trolleys which can either be pull along trolleys
or motorised trolleys, or players can have stand bags which are lightweight and
can be carried around. It is personal preference as to which one to get, it all
depends on your physical fitness and how much you play. Professionals will have
a caddy or a trolley to save the strength in their arms to ensure they have more
energy for their swings.
Hopefully all of this information will help you with your choice when
choosing a new golf set.