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Golf Club Guide
Golf is a hard sport. Figuring out what clubs to buy can be even harder. This buyer's guide is aimed at making overall golf club selections a little bit easier. In this guide we hope to alleviate some of the difficulties in picking which clubs to buy and which not to buy. Golfers are allowed 14 clubs in their bag at any given time and all of them have a purpose and what's referred to as a “flex” (this will be explained below). These are our suggestions on how to go about picking clubs best suited to particular players and certain skill levels. We start with a brief overview of the relevant terms and then dive into what relates to whom and why.
Drivers
The longest club in the bag, and most typically used for tee shots, is called the driver. It has the largest clubhead and the lowest loft of any club used for ball striking. Drivers are used for long distance shots and feature steel/titanium heads and graphite shafts. The clubhead tends to be sized at 460cc, the largest allowed by the official rules of golf. This makes this sized head the most popular choice for nearly all players. Very advanced golfers may use a clubhead size somewhat smaller. In general the larger the head, the easier the club is to use. The face of the driver is the largest hitting area of any club. Many drivers, more specifically recent year models, will come with adjustable features such as loft, or moveable weights for shot shaping and trajectory. Moving the weights may allow a player to more easily hit a draw (to the left) or a fade (to the right) on command.
Fairway Woods
Fairway Woods also have steel/titanium club heads as well as graphite shafts. These are the second longest clubs in the bag. Players use them for longer shots in the fairway as well some daunting tee shots where accuracy is key. Fairway Woods usually come in 3 Wood, 5 Wood, and 7 Wood. The lower the number, the lower the loft, and the longer the distance shot the club will produce.
Hybrids
Hybrids are essentially a combination of fairway woods and irons, popularized in the last two decades. Shaped like fairway woods, and lofted like irons, these clubs will be a bit easier to hit and more forgiving than fairway woods. The shots they produce however will travel less far in terms of distance. Many players ranging from beginners to older golfers will definitely want to carry at least one hybrid in their bag in place of harder to hit longer irons such as a 2 iron or 3 iron. Hybrids may come especially handy on longer par 3s. The lightweight factor of hybrids makes them easier to get around, and for an amateur golfer to generate clubhead speed and distance, and thus makes them a very popular choice of club. You can typically find Hybrids starting at the 2 Hybrid and ranging all the way to a 6 Hybrid.
Utility Driving Irons
Utility Driving Irons have become a relatively new innovation, and more prolifically used over the last decade. They essentially take the place of longer harder to hit irons like the 2 iron and 3 iron. In comparison they produce higher ball speeds and launch angles. Nearly all major brands now offer them. They often have wider soles and can be easier to hit than their counterparts. Players will typically use them on narrow par 4s and par 5s as well as on longer par 3s.
Irons
Irons are used on every hole and are considered the main club so to speak. They cover long shots, mid range shots, as well as short shots from near the green. Irons are usually used on tee shots on Par 3s. Irons come in sets that are typically 5 to 9 clubs depending on the makeup. They will most generally include 4 iron through 9 iron, as well as a pitching wedge. Sometimes a 3 iron is included and sometimes a gap wedge is included. The 3 iron goes the furthest in distance, followed by the 4 iron, follow by the 5 iron, and so on. Irons come with both steel shafts and sometimes graphite shafts; it depends on a player's preference. Most golfers prefer the feel and feedback from a steel shaft while others prefer the forgiveness from a graphite shaft. Here at First Rate Golf we sell two types of Irons: Game Improvement Irons & Players Irons.
Game Improvement Irons:
Game Improvement Irons are suited for nearly all players. They have what's referred to as a “cavity back” which helps amateurs with forgiveness, distance, and ease of contact. The cavity back refers to the large cavity in the back of the club which is responsible for distributing more of the club's weight around the perimeter; essentially mitigating much of the damage on miss hits. A wider sole and club face also make this a popular choice for most golfers. These irons are typically “cast” irons, produced from multiple pieces of metal pressed together. They have a lower and deeper center of gravity which helps golfers get the ball up in the air. It can not be understated that we believe nearly all players, of every skill level (except the top echelon) will benefit from this type of iron.
Players Irons:
Players Irons, also referred to as blades, are a great option for top level ball strikers. Like their name implies, these clubs have a blade like appearance and lack the cavity back. They will often be listed as “muscle back” irons. These irons are typically “forged” irons, produced from one piece of metal that's hammered into shape. The club head here has additional weight in the center, and a smaller more consistent and refined sweet spot. Golfers who will benefit the most from this selection are those who are looking for strictly accuracy, and most likely to be shaping their shots very often.
Wedges
Wedges are designed for short shots, typically anywhere from 100 yards and closer. They are used in both the fairway and the rough, and most often used around the green. Grooves on a wedge are very important as this is what generates the backspin needed to help control short shots. Keeping these grooves clean and sharp is key to prolonging the lifespan of a wedge one purchases. Wedges come in four varieties: Pitching Wedge (which will come with most standard iron sets), Gap Wedge, Sand Wedge, and Lob Wedge. The Pitching Wedge will be your first choice for mid to short range shots and will hit the ball the furthest of all the above options. As you get closer to the green you might consider a Gap Wedge and then a Sand Wedge, as the Gap Wedge goes the second furthest followed by the Sand Wedge. As its name implies, the Sand Wedge is the typical iron used in sand traps. It has just the right amount of loft to carry the lip of the bunker and also traverse the distance on the green towards the pin. If the pin is placed close to the edge of a sand trap one finds themselves in, then a Lob Wedge might be the better option here. Of all the wedges, the Lob Wedge is lofted the highest. Expect it to go the least far in terms of distance as well as the highest in terms of shot trajectory. Pitching Wedges will usually be in the loft range of 43’-47’ degrees. Gap wedges will typically be in the loft range of 48’-53’ degrees. You will find Sand Wedges lofted anywhere from 54’-57’ degrees and Lob Wedges lofted anywhere from 58’-61’ degrees. On a final note, players will often purchase wedges as a matching set. This helps promote consistency on shorter shots and those around the green. Additionally, golfers will find equivalent weighting in the shafts and the clubheads to be beneficial and harmonious in feel. These sets typically come with either 2 or 3 clubs and can be any combination of the above mentioned wedges.
Putters
Putters are the most important club in the bag. In golf, there is an old popular saying that goes “drive for show, putt for dough.” Putters are used to roll the ball once the golfer has made it onto the putting surface (the green). Having a good putter can be the difference between many strokes. Putters will sometimes have an insert on the face. This provides for a softer feel in terms of ball contact. There are two types of modern day putters: Blades and Mallets.
Blades:
Blades will look like their name implies and be a single piece of steel in the shape of a straight line. Some players prefer the traditional look and lightweight feel of them.
Mallets:
Mallets will also look as their name implies and appear almost like a half of a cookie. These clubs provide golfers with a bit more stability during their take back portion of the swing and thus will be preferred by many amateurs.
Putters typically come in three lengths for most heights: 33 Inches, 34 Inches, and 35 Inches. Players between 5’4 and 5’7 will usually prefer a 33 inch model. Players between 5’8 and 5’11 will find a 34 inch model most comfortable. Golfers between 6’0 and 6’3 will most definitely want to use a 35 inch putter. Anybody shorter or taller than these measurements is probably going to want to get a custom length putter (i.e. 32 inches or 36 inches). While these are approximate industry standards, keep in mind that feel and putting stance play a huge portion here as well, and will certainly play into the size putter one should be buying. Lastly, putters come with different size grips. Slim, Midsize, and Jumbo grips are the options available. This too, while clearly correlated to hand size, will also be related to pure feel and thus individual player preference.
Player Categories
Here at First Rate Golf we break players into four categories for club selection purposes:
Highly Skilled - Average Score Below 80
Skilled - Average Score Between 80 & 90
Some Skill - Below 100
Low Skill - Over 100
Highly Skilled:
- This group tends to have no problem getting the ball in the air, and can thus use drivers typically lofted between 8’-9’ degrees.
- Should probably be playing “players irons” as accuracy will be a main concern of theirs.
- Will want to carry longer irons like the 2 iron or 3 iron as ball striking will be one of their primary strengths.
Skilled:
- This group also has ease getting the ball in the air but might not have the same caliber swing as the previously mentioned group and can thus be best suited with a driver in the 9’-10’ degree loft range.
- Could go either way regarding “players irons” versus “game improvement irons” depending on their ball striking capabilities.
- May consider longer irons depending on their wood/hybrid setup.
Some Skill:
- This group will sometimes have a tough time getting the ball in the air, particularly on off days, and can certainly benefit from using a driver lofted between 9.5’-10.5’ degrees.
- Should be playing “game improvement iron” as the focus on forgiveness will definitely help them.
- Probably don't want to be carrying longer irons and should opt for the easier to hit hybrids.
Low Skill:
- This group usually struggles mightily to get the ball in the air and can thus benefit from a higher lofted driver anywhere in the range of 10’-11’ degrees.
- Most definitely need to be playing “game improvement irons” as these will by far be easier to hit.
- Will not want any of the longer irons and should seriously consider a 5 or 6 iron as their lowest iron till ball striking improves significantly.
Swing Speed & Shaft Flex
When choosing the right equipment your swing speed is a key component. This is the number one factor in determining which shaft flex will optimize the distance and trajectory you get from each club.
In general, the faster you swing, the stiffer your shafts should be. Golfers with slower swingers speed should use more flexible shafts, which can help add distance and height.
If you can hit 150 yards with: | Optimal Shaft Flex: |
|---|---|
Pitching Wedge | Extra Stiff Flex (X) |
9-Iron/8-Iron | Stiff Flex (S) |
6-Iron/7-Iron | Regular Flex (R) |
5-Iron/Hybrid | Senior Flex (A) |
Typical Loft & Distance by Club Type
Club | Loft | Average Amatuer Distance |
|---|---|---|
Driver- | 10 Degrees | 220 Yards |
3 Wood- | 15 Degrees | 200 Yards |
3 Iron- | 19 Degrees | 180 Yards |
4 Iron- | 23 Degrees | 170 Yards |
5 Iron- | 27 Degrees | 160 Yards |
6 Iron- | 31 Degrees | 150 Yards |
7 Iron- | 35 Degrees | 140 Yards |
8 Iron- | 39 Degrees | 130 Yards |
9 Iron- | 43 Degrees | 120 Yards |
PW- | 47 Degrees | 110 Yards |
GW- | 52 Degrees | 100 Yards |
SW | 56 Degrees | 85 Yards |
LW | 60 Degrees | 70 Yards |
Used Golf Club Price Advisory
At First Rate Golf we aim to steer all of our customers in the right direction on every purchase. This is regardless of whether or not they are buying from us at any given time. As such, we have compiled suggested prices for what an individual should pay for a used golf club. Keep in mind these prices refer to strictly the type of clubs we sell, which includes only premium brands, as well only clubs in excellent or like new condition. These are approximate prices and grouped into three categories of clubs: Value Budget, Great, & Cutting Edge. The following prices are per golf club except for the irons, which are priced as a set. Remember, these are general guideline values, not exact numbers.
Drivers:
Value Budget – $80
Great – $160
Cutting Edge – $240
Fairway Woods:
Value Budget – $60
Great – $120
Cutting Edge – $180
Hybrids:
Value Budget – $50
Great – $100
Cutting Edge – $150
Utility Driving Irons:
Value Budget – $75
Great – $125
Cutting Edge – $175
Iron Sets:
Value Budget – $300
Great – $450
Cutting Edge – $600
Wedges:
Value Budget – $50
Great – $75
Cutting Edge – $100
Putters:
Value Budget – $70
Great – $140
Cutting Edge – $210