Golf clubs are the most expensive items that you have to buy as a golfer, so it's very important to know the difference between clubs and their functionality. This article will help you understand the lingo of golf clubs, so that you can make more informed decisions when shopping for clubs.
According to golf rules, you can carry up to 14 clubs (in your golf bag, of course), but most players carry the standard set which consists of 12 clubs, including Driver, Fairway Woods, Irons, Wedges, and Putter clubs.
1) Driver (aka the #1 Wood) - The driver is your power club and is used off the tee. Its head is larger and heavier than that of other clubs, which means you can hit the ball farther. Drivers have varying weights and loft angles. Most drivers have a loft angle of 9-13 degrees, which does the job for non-professional golfers.
2) Fairway Woods - Fairway woods are the 3 and 5 woods, as well as the 7, 9, and 11 woods, which are utility woods. In general, fairway woods have less loft angle compared to the irons. As a result, the ball stays lower in the air without sacrificing much traveling distance.
Hitting the ball properly with utility woods need more experience. That's why most golfers carry only the 3 and 5 woods in their golf bag. More experienced golfer may carry utility woods.
3) Irons - The irons are numbered 2 through 9 (iron number 1 is rarely used these days). The higher the number of an iron, the bigger the loft degree of the iron will be, which means the higher the ball will pitch upwards.
4) Wedges - Wedges come in various types. The pitching wedge usually has 48 degrees loft. The next type is the approach wedge with about 52 degrees of loft. The sand wedge has about 56 degrees of loft. The lob wedge has about 60 degrees of loft. And finally, the high-lob wedges have the biggest loft of between 64 and 68 degrees, depending on the model.
5) Putter - As its name suggests, putter is the club that you putt the ball in the hole with. Hitting the ball well on the green is vital for golfing success, so you should definitely take the time to pick the putter that best matches your needs. Make sure you try a few putters in your hand and get a feel for them before you choose one.