Get Your Game Up To Par By Choosing the Right Club
With 14 different clubs in a golf bag, it’s natural for newbie golfers to be overwhelmed and confused at first.
Once you spend more time on the course, you’ll instinctively know which club to reach for. Still, getting there can be challenging — learning which situation calls for which club is the first step to becoming a better golfer. Luckily, there are some simple tips you can follow in the meantime!
The basics
The first thing you need to remember is that each club was designed with a distance in mind. When you’re on the green, understanding the distance between you and where the ball needs to go will be essential.
Each bag comes with a combination of clubs that aim to help you in any given situation. The numbers on your clubs correlate with the distance they’re designed to shoot.
The rule of thumb? The lower numbers help you hit the ball farther than the higher numbers.
Now, let’s take a closer look at some of the most essential “tools” in your golf toolbox!
Drivers
As the longest and largest club in your bag, a driver is used to give you distance off the tee. With the lowest loft angle of all the clubs, it can help you shoot farther.
Because of its size, however, the driver can be a tough club to use for beginners. It offers less control and consistency than shorter clubs, which have a smaller margin for error.
Wedges
If you need is to get your ball flying into the air, you’ll want to select a wedge. They help give you some lift if you need to shoot over tall grass or get over a sandtrap. There’s various types of wedges; some offer as little as 45 degrees of loft (i.e. a pitching wedge) and others as much as 64 degrees (i.e. a lob wedge).
Hybrids
Also known as “utility clubs,” hybrids are increasingly gaining popularity with golfers. As a combination of a fairway wood head design and a iron length shaft, they’ve been called “the best of both worlds.” Rather than reaching for longer irons (which are more difficult to hit), many golfers use hybrids to help with accuracy and distance. With their higher spin rate and softer landing, they’re more likely to get you right where you need to be.
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Putter
The putter is likely the club that you’re most familiar with. They’re used to gently roll the ball along the green towards the hole. They come in different sizes ranging from 34 to 35 inches tall. Additionally, there’s the Broomstick and Belly putters, which are above average height for those that have trouble with the usual sizes.
You can change out the head of the putter to be flat or mallet, depending on the shot you’re setting up for.
Fairway Woods
True to their name, fairway woods are typically used on the fairway. If you’re unsure which club to select, woods are a good bet. They tend to be the go-to club for golfers when they’re not entirely sure what distance they need or require some extra help at the start of a course.
Like other clubs, different sizes help with different distances. Here’s the general rule of thumb according to Dick’s Sporting Goods:
- 3-wood = 125 to 240 yards.
- 4-wood = 110 to 220 yards.
- 5-wood = 105 to 215 yards.
- 7-wood = 90 to 170 yards.
Iron
If you find yourself in need of more power to get out of a tricky situation, an iron club may just be your savior. These hefty clubs will put even more strength behind your swing when you need it most.
Usually, the irons come out when you’re less than 200 yards away from the green. The closer you are to the green, the higher the iron you will use. Here are some guidelines around which iron to use according to Dick’s Sporting Goods:
- 2-iron = 105 to 210 yards.
- 3-iron = 100 to 205 yards.
- 4-iron = 90 to 190 yards.
- 5-iron = 80 to 175 yards.
- 6-iron = 70 to 165 yards.
- 7-iron = 65 to 155 yards.
- 8-iron = 60 to 145 yards.
- 9-iron = 55 to 135 yards.
Improve your game at CA
Whether you’re brand new to the game or an experienced golfer looking for ways to improve, Hobbit’s Glen and Fairway Hills Golf Clubs offer a variety of different player development programs, as well as private and group lessons. Our PGA- and LPGA- certified professionals are here to provide you with excellent instruction, tailored to meet your specific needs and abilities.
In addition, we’ve added state-of-the-art technology to further grow your game. Hobbit’s Glen Golf Club features the FlightScope® Launch Monitor that measures the speed, spin and distance of your shots, while Fairway Hills Golf Club is home to the SkyTrak.
For more information on the Player Development programs, call 410-730-5980 for Hobbit’s Glen or 410-730-1112 for Fairway Hills.