2023 Guide To Buying Golf Clubs

Golf is a fascinating sport to play and watch.

The modern game of golf came from Scotland during the 15th century, though its origins are unclear and much debated. Some experts trace its history back to the Roman era and their game of Paganica, in which the participants would use a bent stick to hit a stuffed leather ball. 

It’s not just about hitting the ball over short or long distances; it requires a segment of planning and scheming to be successful.

This game needs a great deal of energy, mental strength, incredible stamina, and chess-like thinking to outscore the opponents. But you may have seen legends like Jordan Speith and Tiger Woods making it look effortless and easy.

What do you need for a game of golf?

For a round of golf, you will need a driver, fairway woods, irons, putter, wedges, etc. Modern hybrid clubs are mixing the best of wood and iron clubs.

This article will cover all the factors, varying aspects, and conditions you need to know to buy golf clubs and when to consider buying them.

If you are looking to buy new golf clubs, there may be options and specific factors to consider to get the best deal.

Furthermore, getting the best purchase price may not come easy, as clubs are not cheap and can be complicated to understand.

So, you need to be careful and know the basics of the game to buy the best golf club.

Factors to Consider Before Buying a New Set of Golf Clubs

If you are looking to buy a new set of golf clubs, getting the correct shaft length is a primary consideration. Along with this, you need to take into consideration your height, body type, and physical strength.

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Furthermore, you will see the use of technology and advanced methods in manufacturing golf accessories, equipment, and other relevant products, making it easy to play this beautiful game. In other sports, your game technique is more important than the equipment you use.

Comparatively, in golf, the equipment you buy will eventually decide how well you can play. So be specific and get the best possible gear you can. 

You should pay a great deal of attention to golf accessories, whether it’s the driver, putter, wedges, or even the balls.

Though it’s highly recommended you start working with a professional, following some tips may help make you an informed decision. These tips are suitable for both beginners and professional golf players.

Explore your skill levels

Are you a beginner, intermediate, or advanced golfer? Players with different skill levels need various golf clubs to excel at their game. 

Beginners may not need an extra fitting program because you don’t know how to swing as well as someone more experienced, which means that you need less equipment.

A basic beginner club set will include a driver with a 10-13 degree loft, 3-, 5- or 7- wood, and irons like 5-, 7- and 9-iron. Including sand and pitching wedges. You may not opt for a complete set of clubs, which is fine while you refine your skills.

Intermediate golfers always look for new equipment to improve their game. You can get any club you need since you have a better idea of your playstyle and abilities. If you compare or test clubs, some are better and provide more features than others.

Advanced level golfers need all the various clubs available to have an effective round. Nonetheless, clubs that give some forgiveness may still be the best choice. 

What you need to play golf

On a scale of the standard count, a driver, putter, and a set of wood and iron clubs will get you started.

Not more, assuming you are past the beginner’s level and can now get a custom-fit for irons. This fitting procedure may give an insight into your game, which you didn’t know. 

Let’s say you were playing with a wrong shaft, as most average golfers would swing clubs with stiff-shafts and yet look for best results or a single shot that can get everything done in one swing. How do you know that the shaft is too stiff?

Well, if you can’t determine where the club-head is during the swing, this may be one aspect, but it’s what feels right to you.

You may improve your score without swing-change by getting hybrid or high-lofted woods in your bag.

Bigger is better

Even the best players worldwide have played with a shaft length of 43.5 inch or even 44-inch driver. So, go for a short shaft that will not get you any loss of distance while improving accuracy.

In contrast, as they say, bigger is better – you may have seen super-size drivers (the size of a grapefruit) for a great moment of inertia.

Nonetheless, a typical off-the-rack titanium diver may have a 45-inch shaft.

The more significant driver, mostly made from titanium, gives a spring-like effect for transferring momentum from the club-head to the ball, covering a more extended range. Sounds good!

Consider cost for a golf ball.

An average player will not lose anything for playing with the best and expensive golf balls in the market. At the same time, they won’t improve performance using inexpensive balls. So, consider the ball prices when it comes to choosing to enhance your skills.

Get A Launch Monitor

The latest technology will give you information about angles and spin from your swing. Use a good launch monitor as it can tell you the best launching conditions for a driver at 110 mph are 12-13 degrees above horizontal and a spin rate of 2200-2500 revolutions per minute.

Nonetheless, use it with great care and caution as this is a set of information only to support you; you have to execute it.

Helpful Guides:

• Best Golf Simulators Under $5000
• Golf Simulator: 8 Best Options For Your Home

Fill The Gap – Wedge Game

Space your wedge lofts the right way, but always make sure the sand wedge (56 degrees) has a decent bounce angle.

Nowadays, iron lofts are 1.5 times stronger than they were earlier. Their weight distribution and weight allows for a golfer to hit the ball farther. The situation is complex when the loft on the sand wedge is still at 56 degrees. Probably there’s a gap in your wedge game? 

It would help if you fixed the loft on your 9-iron or pitching wedge. It would be best if you further decided whether you need a wedge with a loft between your sand and pitching wedge, as you may not be looking for anything over 4 or 5 degrees loft difference between both wedges. Else, you can land in a situation with no entire swing club covering that distance. 

However, if you opt for a lob wedge, then do not get the one with much bounce, as it’s helpful in rough or soft sand only. In contrast, with a tight lie, you might end up having blade shots over the green.

Clubs with proper Lie Angle

If you are at an intermediate level, getting fitted or iron clubs is essential. Your well-planned approached shot may miss the green if your club doesn’t serve you. 

Well, the issue may be with the lie angle. The club sole should contact when the ball is level with the ground. If the toe gets up, then even a well-struck shot will go left, and you need to flatten the lie. If the toe is down, then the shot will go right. Ensure you are fit for a good swing. Here is another shortcut: if the lie angle is off, its effects will be evident in short-term accuracy.

Putter

A good putter gets you about a fraction less than half of your total score, so invest in it. It is essential for good scoring. It would be best to understand its shape and weight distribution to determine its forgiveness. There are three head shapes for putters.

• The Blade

• The Mid mallet 

• The Mallet

Unlike the blade, the last two types are most forgiving, which is less tolerant.

A putter’s length by height is crucial as many golfers will putt with long putters. You may ensure to get the putter of the right size and fit for you.

Lessons

A good lesson is the best gift a golfer will yearn for. Its cost, regardless of who pays, is about 1/5th of a good driver and around 1/10th of the price for a new set of clubs. Its strength and flexibility will do wonders to improve your game. It may not be interesting once you compare waggling the driver. Good health and strength will improve your game.

How to Determine the Best Time to Buy Golf Clubs

It would be best if you considered levels and needs when you go to buy golf clubs.

You may have borrowed your friend’s clubs and found out that you want to play golf more often with your very own set of clubs. You went to buy it and returned clueless about what to buy and whatnot.

Few would suggest buying used or secondhand clubs. The problem with such options is that you realize these are not correct for you once you play or use them. Else, they could be old, and the grooves have worn or maybe a too-stiff shaft. 

Buying and Upgrading Golf Clubs

Upgrading your golf clubs is for those already having a handler on the game of golf. If you are a pro golfer and maybe fancying a modern club, then there’s always a particular time of the year you could pick a good buy.

You should start the search for new clubs in January or February. This is the right time as club manufacturers release alternative models, designs, thus reducing prices for previous or older sets of clubs.

That is a remarkable way to save money. There’s no significant technology shift in golf clubs, certainly not within the last twelve months. And if you have had your existing set for some years, then a 12-months-old buy will make it worthwhile to replace your current clubs.

You may not know when your clubs need changing or upgrading. Let’s discuss some options:

Club Condition

Deterioration of clubs is the primary sign that it’s time to change them. Some clubs wear down quicker than others, which will lower their performance level. So, to keep them in top-performing shape, you may look to invest in a groove tool that will increase the longevity of your clubs and ensure a high level of performance?

It is recommended that the grips on the clubs get changed every 12 months to control the clubs better.

On the other hand, a putter in the club line of your bags may not need a quick change like others. You may not change it for long. Putting is more of a feel as golfers will get used to the same putter for better results, so keep it clean and dry to make it last decades.

Current Game

There is a chance that you may use the wrong equipment. This may lead you to see no improvement in a season or two. Or maybe you were hitting a useless shot with your wooden clubs. This may be a time to change clubs.

A new club will increase your excitement and love for the game. Plus, this may help you improve your skills.

Age

Growing age or getting older may be another reason to change clubs. You may find your swing speed has slowed down with old age and using the wrong shaft in the club will make you lose on distance count. Growing age would need you more flex shafts to speed as you swing.

Nonetheless, it’s time to change clubs as losing distance is not part of golf. 

Full-time golfers (entering adulthood) may also consider changing clubs and play with equipment giving the same result.

End season

Winters and early spring are the right time to buy or replace the golf clubs at their lowest prices. All the alternative models are about to hit the markets, so older clubs immediately see a drop in their value. In a cold-weather climate, people will hardly think about golf; hence, you can get a good deal during this time of the year.

Amateurs and Casual Players

They should change their golf gear every 2 or 3 years for amateur and casual players. This will get casual players to putt a lot on the golf course. New technology has given golfers many areas to improve for changing the clubs because of different conditions and needs.

So, these are the reasons you may need or desire to change golf gears. Keep in mind that there’s no conclusive or formulated condition or want that can dictate golf clubs’ change. That said, you can change them depending upon their wear and tear, diminishing grooves, and maybe loss of balanced shape.

When Should You Buy Golf Clubs?

You may be interested in buying new clubs. 

Therefore, thinking about the best way to buy new golf gear and getting an ideal golf club to refine your potential are two different aspects. Read on to know when you should purchase golf clubs?

Research 

Golf is a different game from other activities. Unlike other sports, its equipment will drive your game. Thus, understanding its equipment is a more fundamental way to buy a club than buying a club that your uncle or friend bought. This will lead you to buy the wrong club.

Factor-in your Strengths and Weaknesses

If you have a handicap, it will give you an idea about your ability to perform. Maybe you are a good striker but lack distance coverage and need a driver and a ball built for slow swing. So look for ways to improve on. That will include improving on getting the right gear for your game.

Seek Experts’ Advice

Remember, no two golfers are the same and cannot be. So you may need to know your skill level, game style, preferences, and equipment needs.

This may be one way to get started with some interactive selection tools that may help you focus on some searches based on your performance preference. 

There’s another way to get an expert’s guidance. You can always get professional advice from companies giving online golf equipment unless you opt to buy tees instead.

Using the right launch monitor is the best way to make an informed decision. 

Furthermore, a golf club should not be an impulse or spontaneous buy. Getting an expert’s advice or a word of wisdom from experts will make it convenient. 

Collect Information

Clubs are not cheap, and buying the right one is crucial to your game.

If you are looking for a new set of golf clubs, make sure to search for the best options and have details about launch angle, club and ball speed, angle of attack, and much more. It would help if you did not ignore advice on what shafts are suitable, what length is good for your game, etc.

Trust Wits

Buying a new club or switching to a new ball will demand you to try the purchase. Your knowledge and buying sleeves for on-course testing may tell all you need to know for a new golf ball. For clubs, your options may be limited without going for a fitting. 

Demo

Due to the pandemic, it may not be possible for you to get a physical demo of some swing. You can book an appointment to check a club of your liking. Nowadays, demos are becoming more safe and efficient. You may also opt for online demos.

Clubs matter in Golf

Golf clubs for beginners come with large club faces to give them an extra area for hitting the ball and retaining new golfer’s interest in the game. These clubs will be more forgiving if the swing and contact are not quite right. Your golf club matters when it comes to the time you spend searching for the best for yourself.

Defining Clubs

These are the different types of clubs you have read about in the article.

• A driver is the longest club and one with the most prominent head. 

• A fairway wood club is mostly most used when on the fairway, as the second par-5 or long par-4 hole shot. It will help you lift the ball out of the turf on the fairway.

• Mid-Short irons are used to get the ball in green. Manufacturers usually number these with 6, 7, 8, and 9. This becomes easier for beginners to go with the highest number to loft ball in the air.

• Pitching wedge helps to approach shot close to the green.

• Sand wedge help you escape from sandy region or bunker

Conclusion

You may use 14 clubs on the golf course maximum. However, you may not need to use them all most of the time. 

If you play or just started playing golf, you surely know how to a course. It’s about the new clubs hit at the start of every golfing season. Despite the pandemic, the craze for buying sports gadgets and equipment has not subsided, not for golf enthusiasts. 

This may be an exciting time to give serious thinking about new golf equipment. Just consider all the important factors and tips and tricks mentioned above when buying new golf clubs.

References

Links Magazine

Lost Golf Balls

Frankly Golf