| Choosing the right golf clubs for your style of play | | | | much during the swing. This generally suits a |
| is an important part of playing the game. If you | | | | player who has a faster swing speed and who |
| are new to the game of golf you may think that | | | | prefers a slightly heavier club weight. Graphite |
| all clubs are the same, but you'd be totally wrong. | | | | shafts are a lot more flexible than steel and so |
| When watching golf on television it appears to the | | | | suit a player who has a slower swing speed and |
| untrained eye that all the golfers swing the clubs | | | | prefers a lighter weight. A faster swing speed |
| in the same way, but again you'd be totally | | | | should in theory send the ball further, but you |
| wrong. Each person will swing the club in a slightly | | | | may suffer accuracy, whereas a slower speed will |
| different way each time they use it, and each | | | | be more accurate but achieve less distance. |
| person will also swing the club differently to the | | | | Ideally every golfer is seeking a club that is both |
| next person. The better the golfer you are then | | | | lightweight and accurate (utopia!). You have to get |
| the less the difference will be (in your own swing), | | | | the 'feel' of a club to know if the weight, balance |
| with the top players reproducing shot after shot, | | | | and swing will suit you. The only way you will be |
| but there will still be a very slight difference (it's | | | | able to judge is to try some different ones out. |
| what makes the game so unpredictable ). | | | | Ask to look at different types at your local golf |
| Now if you can accept that even the best golfers | | | | store or pro's shop, and without actually using |
| in the world swing the club slightly differently, then | | | | them you should know if they 'feel' right. Then |
| it's not hard to understand that the average club | | | | you can see about using one in the nets or on the |
| player will also swing differently, but perhaps more | | | | practice ground. |
| so (now you know why two rounds are never | | | | On a personal note, I actually use steel shafts on |
| the same!). Without getting too technical, it's this | | | | my irons and graphite shafts on my woods and I |
| difference in the way the club is swung that | | | | find the combination about right. By having the |
| determines whether or not you should use steel | | | | graphite shafted woods, and knowing that |
| or graphite shafts on your clubs. | | | | swinging too fast with the more flexible shafts is |
| When people start playing golf they don't put too | | | | a complete disaster, it has made an enormous |
| much thought into the clubs they use. Quite often | | | | difference to my accuracy by having to slow the |
| they will use a second hand set they picked up | | | | swing down. It was only by doing a trial and error |
| cheaply or perhaps passed down from a relative. | | | | exercise and testing different types of club shafts |
| These sorts of golf clubs are fine to see if you | | | | that I came up with the right clubs for my game. |
| can hit the ball properly, and more importantly to | | | | If all this sounds a bit overwhelming don't worry |
| see if you like the game, but if you want to take | | | | too much. There is plenty of help available from all |
| it seriously you will have to choose clubs that suit | | | | sorts of places such as your local golf store or |
| you, and the way you swing. | | | | professional at your golf course. Take your time |
| The main choice you will have to make is | | | | and make sure you feel comfortable with the |
| between steel shafts and graphite shafts. Steel is | | | | clubs you choose, they must feel natural to you |
| much stiffer than graphite and will not flex as | | | | as you swing them. |