Drivers

Many people believe the driver is the most fun club to hit, but it can also be the most frustrating. It has the lowest loft of all clubs and will also be the longest club in your bag. Loft is the main factor to determine how high in the air the ball goes, also know as the trajectory. The loft can vary anywhere from 7 to 15 degrees. The main thing to keep in mind is that the lower the loft, the more difficult the club is to hit accurately. See the Driver section for more information on choosing the right driver for you.

Fairway Woods

Fairway woods refer to either a 3 wood (15-18 degree loft) or a 5 wood (20-23 degree loft). These are not quite as long as the driver. Fairway woods are a vital part of the game and can be used off the tee on short par 4 holes and as your second shot if you are in the fairway (assuming that you are far enough away from the hole). For more information on fairway woods, check this link out.

Irons and Wedges Irons and wedges are the two types of clubs most likely to get you to your destination...the green. The most common set include the 3-9 irons (7 clubs) and the Pitching Wedge (PW). Some manufacturers still make the 1 and 2 iron, but these clubs are decreasing in popularity because these low loft irons are very difficult to hit. The 9 iron is the easiest to hit. This has the highest loft. Hopefully you are beginning to see a trend: the higher the number of the club, the higher the loft. In some sets, the 3 and 4 irons are even being replaced with hybrid clubs. See the Iron section for more information on choosing the proper set for you. Wedges look similar to irons, but they have even higher lofts to help you approach the green with minimal roll. Though the Pitching Wedge comes with a standard set, you can purchase other wedges such as a Sand Wedge (SW) or a Lob Wedge (LW). The Pitching Wedge is usually around 48 degrees while the Sand Wedge and Lob Wedges are 56 and 60 degrees, respectively. The Wedge section goes into greater detail regarding these clubs.

Putter Finally, you need to get your hands on a good putter. If you ever played miniature golf, then you know what a putter is designed to do...get the ball in the hole. There will be times where you reach the green in two shots, but then take three or even four shots to make it into the cup. This should illustrate how important this club is. See the Putter section for more info.

Different Strokes For Different Folks

Beginner Sets Beginners sets often focus on providing an oversized clubhead so that the sweet-spot is much larger and so that there is additional forgiveness on off-center shots. Specifically, clubs that provide these benefits are known as game improvement clubs. With regards to a driver, bigger is usually better for beginners. You should look for the legal-limit of 460 cc when trying to find a driver. With regards to a putter, it is best to look at cavity-back mallet designs. A good beginner set might include a driver, 3 wood, 5 wood, 2 wedges (PW, SW), and replace the conventional 3 or 4 irons with a hybrid #3 and hybrid #4. Intermediate Sets A Mid-Handicap golfer is someone who has a handicap in the 10-20 range. If you are someone who averages a bogey per hole (shoots around 90), then you would fall in this category. While you will periodically make mishits, it is much less frequent than beginners and high-handicap golfers. If you are consistently hitting in the 80's or low 90's, you have a decent to good understanding of proper swing mechanics. This allows you to swing the club faster with better accuracy and farther distance. They will typically have a similar set to the one described above, but are much more confident about using a driver and might prefer a traditional 3 and 4 iron in their set (as opposed to hybrid clubs). In addition, adding a lob wedge is definitely something that you should do to help with certain approach shots. In summary, you will have a similar set to a beginner set but you might have a 3 iron, 4 iron, smaller size irons, and a lob wedge. Advanced Sets If you are someone who has a low-handicap (single digits), you are probably an experienced golfer who knows what clubs that work best for you. You most likely have a customized set to help you as much as possible. You will usually prefer the low irons (2/3/4) because they have better shot-making ability than hybrids. The majority of low handicap golfers have blade irons for better maneuvarability. Also, you will likely have at least 3 wedges.

New, Used and Clone Sets With all of the technological improvements in the past few years, there is an endless supply of choices for golf clubs. You can choose to buy new clubs, used clubs and even clones. For a comparison, see the Used Club section. Hopefully these Gear Guides will help you determine what makes you a better golfer.