| When starting golf, many new players make a | | | | forward. Thirdly, a distance war amongst club |
| fatal error almost immediately. They borrow | | | | manufacturers has meant that all manufactures |
| equipment from their parents or grandparents. | | | | have increased the standard length of their clubs. |
| Even though they are only just starting, this has a | | | | For a testing robot, with all other factors the |
| massive effect on speed in which they can | | | | same an extra 1/2 inch means 2 1/2 yards extra |
| improve their skills. Professional golfers know that | | | | distance. This can increase depending on the golfer |
| not all clubs are created equal. Even the same | | | | and what it does for their swing, ball striking and |
| identical club on the rack at the golf shop is not | | | | ball flight. |
| the same identical club that it claims to be. | | | | Also the standard lie angle has changed over the |
| Beginner golf players read on for more revealing | | | | past 20 to 30 years. Lie angle is the angle formed |
| information. | | | | between the shaft and the sole of the club when |
| The past 20 years in particular has seen a | | | | placed in the playing position. The length of club |
| massive advancement in golf club design and | | | | has an effect on the lie angle. Making the golf club |
| technology. In fact the standards used right | | | | an extra 1/2 inch longer means that the lie angle |
| across the industry have changed several times | | | | is effectively 1 degree more upright. For a testing |
| that today's 5 iron is nothing like your | | | | robot, with all other factors the same this means |
| grandfather's 5 iron that you have borrowed for | | | | the ball will curve slightly to the left for a right |
| a game of golf or trip to the driving range. The | | | | hander. This can have positive and negative |
| things that have changed are: | | | | effects depending on the player. |
| The standard length of the shaft has increased by | | | | The loft on the club has also decreased by 1-2 |
| 1/2 inch for irons and by 1 inch plus for woods or | | | | degrees over the past 20-30 years. This has |
| metal woods. This means that the 5 iron of 1980 | | | | occurred due to a few reasons. Firstly this has |
| or 1990 was 37 1/2 inches long. It is now 38 | | | | been a tool in the distance war between |
| inches long. | | | | manufactures and helps new clubs travel much |
| This new length was created for a few reasons. | | | | further than the old clubs. For a testing robot, |
| Firstly the population is getting taller, many | | | | with all other factors the same this means that |
| youngsters aged 16 years old are much taller | | | | the ball should travel up to 5 yards further with |
| than their fathers and grandfathers at the same | | | | each iron. Secondly many golfers due to poor |
| age. Secondly many golfers with back pain have | | | | technique hit the ball too high and lose control of |
| trouble bending forward to hit short clubs, the | | | | their ball. The lower loft hits the ball on a lower |
| extra length means the golfer doesn't bend as far | | | | trajectory and seemingly more control. |