A beginner’s guide to golf clubs and shafts

Each club serves a different purpose, and the right shaft can significantly impact your control and distance.

Types of Golf Clubs:

• Drivers: designed for long-distance shots, primarily used off the tee. Drivers typically have large clubheads, which provide forgiveness on off-center hits but require precision to master.
• Fairway Woods: perfect for long shots from the fairway or rough, the most common being the 3- and 5-wood. Their smaller head compared to a driver allows for a clean strike from various lies, providing great distance.
• Hybrids: a mix between irons and woods, hybrids are versatile clubs. They offer the forgiveness of a wood with the control of an iron, making them great for long shots and tougher lies.
• Irons: typically numbered from 3 to 9, irons are designed for mid-range shots and approach play. The higher the number, the higher the loft and the shorter the distance.
• Wedges: specialised for short, high-loft shots, especially around the green. Wedges like the sand wedge or lob wedge help with bunker shots or chips.
• Putters: used on the green to roll the ball into the hole. Putters come in various designs to suit different stroke styles.

Understanding shaft flex:

The flex of the shaft refers to how much it bends during the swing. Matching the right shaft flex with your swing speed is crucial for optimizing distance and accuracy:

• Ladies Flex: best for slower swing speeds (below 72 mph), typically softer for better energy transfer.
• Senior Flex: ideal for swing speeds between 72-83 mph.
• Regular Flex: suitable for most recreational golfers, designed for swing speeds between 84-96 mph.
• Stiff & Extra Stiff: best for faster swing speeds (above 97 mph), offering more control at high velocities but requiring consistent accuracy.

Choosing the right flex can help ensure that the ball travels along the intended trajectory and provides maximum distance.