Golf Shopper

Golf Gift asked:


Golf clubs greatly affect the way you play the game. If you want to make sure that you would be making that killer shot, customized golf clubs might be just what you need. Golf club customization would include fitting your clubs in three different lies, which would be standard, upright and flat to improve your game. Having golf clubs that are custom-made also lets you select the materials and the grip and also help you in setting your driving range so that you would be getting the most out of your clubs.

You would also be able to select the materials for the club heads and the shafts. This would give you the ability to choose the flexibility you need for your drive and your swing. However, it is important that you consider some things when you have your golf clubs customized. These would be if you play with your left or right hand, if you wear shoes that have flat soles, if you have your arms on your sides, what the distance between the floor and your wrist is, what the size of your gloves is and what your present handicap on an 18-hole green is.

Other questions that they would ask before customizing your clubs would be your accuracy, your driving distance, chipping and putting techniques and your recovery and ball hitting. Additionally, you would need to know how far your ball goes with your 5 iron; if you do any of these more often than the others: hook, straight, draw, fade, slice; what the make and flexibility of your current driver and shaft are; and the type of golf ball you are using.



Anastassia

Lind Golf asked:


Ok. Here are the basics. A golf club has three parts - the head, the shaft and the grip. A standard set of golf clubs consists of three woods (the Driver, #3, and #5 fairway woods), eight irons (#3, #4, #5, #6, #7, #8, #9, and PW), and a putter - that’s twelve clubs in all. According to the rules of golf, and we should all play by the rules, you can carry fourteen clubs in your bag, so many golfers add a specialty wood or another iron.

Now, let’s have a look at the different types of clubs.

Drivers & Fairway woods

These clubs are used to hit longer shots. That’s a basic yet apt way to look at it. If a golf hole is a par four or five from tee to green, most golfers would choose to use a wood.

The driver, or the 1 Wood, has the lowest loft of any golf club. Loft is the angle of the club face that controls trajectory and affects distance. A driver has a loft between 7 and 12 degrees. Better golfers have traditionally favored drivers with less than 10 degrees of loft, which require a lot more skill to hit.

Most golfers also carry a #3 and #5 fairway wood as part of their arsenal. A #3 wood has a loft of 15 degrees, and a #5 wood has a loft of 18 degrees. The higher the golf club number, the higher the loft. The #3 and #5 wood are commonly referred to as fairway woods, because they are most often used during the second shot of play, when you are supposed to be on the fairway.

Hybrids

Hybrids are a recent innovation to golf. A hybrid is a combination of an iron and a wood and is an easier to hit alternative to a long iron. Hybrids are versatile enough to be used in any situation. Hybrids come in a range of four lofts - 16 (#2), 19 (#3), 22 (#4) and 25 (#5) Degrees. Hybrids replace their equivalent number long iron, e.g. a #3 hybrid will replace a #3 iron and a #2 hybrid can be used to replace a #5 fairway wood.

Irons

Irons are generally used for shorter distances and more control than drivers and fairway woods. The closer you are to the green, the higher the iron you will use. A standard set of irons consists of #3, #4, #5, #6, #7, #8 and #9 and the PITCHING WEDGE (PW). A sandwedge is generally a good option to purchase for shots out of sand traps. The #3 and #4 irons are harder to hit than the higher numbered irons. Many golfers choose to replace the #3 and #4 iron with higher lofted woods or hybrids which are easier to hit than traditional long irons, resulting in comparable distances.

Wedges

Wedges are really just specialty irons. The first wedge is the Pitching Wedge (PW), which is usually between 52 and 56 degrees in loft. The PW is the highest lofted iron in a standard set and lowest loft of the wedges. Lob wedges range from 58 to 64 degrees and are used for close range short and high shots to overcome obstacles close to the green. Wedges are extremely useful for your short game and it is beneficial to keep a selection of them in your bag.

Sand Wedges are another type of wedge and are designed to get you out of the dreaded sand traps. They have a shorter shaft and a more angled face to get under the ball in order to exit a bunker.

Putters

As the adage goes “Drive for show, Putt for dough”. The putter usually gets you in the hole, so it can be assumed, that choosing the right putter is critical to your game. Putters come in various styles and types.: short, belly, long, bent, center-hosel, heel-toe, mallet, and so on. When choosing a putter the main things to consider are the: weighting, balance and feel. Better putters provide alignment aids to help you visualize the line from your ball to the target.



Vax

Brad Myers asked:


Ladies, if you have recently bought any new equipment, you are very aware that the options for ladies golf club fitting is very small compared to the men. You can still receive a proper ladies golf club fitting however, you may need to look a little deeper. Let.s talk about if you need to have a ladies golf club fitting, why the golf clubs in the golf shop usually are not for you and how to find a qualified ladies club fitter.

No matter your skill level, you need to have a ladies golf club fitting done prior to any equipment purchase. A qualified club fitter will be able to match your swing speed and body type to the proper shaft, length of club, lie angle of club, grip, etc. Why does all of this matter? With a proper ladies golf club fitting the result will be a set of clubs that fit you. In turn this means that you will not need to manipulate the club and you will be able to swing it more freely. This will lead to more consistent golf shots, lower scores and more fun for you!

Do not blame your Golf Professional for not having your exact specs in stock. Here is a quick business lesson. The manufacturing companies are coming out with new sets of golf clubs and drivers quicker than they did just five years ago. This makes it more difficult for your golf shop to “sell through” the product. To combat this, golf shops have ordered more of the measurements that fit the “mainstream.” Most golfers are fit into a club that is a little longer and a little more upright than “the mainstream standards.” Another reason you probably will not find your specifications in the golf shop is that overall, golf shops have started carrying less inventory. Why? As club fitting has become more and more popular, the manufactures have stepped up to the plate and will build and ship the ordered product within three days! Thus, it makes more sense to carry a smaller inventory on high dollar low profit margin items.

You will need to find a PGA Professional who is qualified in ladies golf club fitting. How do you do this? You can go to PGA.com and look for a professional in your area. Call your local club or golf shop and ask for someone who is their expert with a ladies golf club fitting. In addition, ask your friends who they have used to receive a ladies golf club fitting. Once you find a name or two, call them or stop by to meet them prior to the ladies golf club fitting. Make sure the fitting will be held outdoors and they have fitting clubs that match the manufacturer that you are interested in purchasing.

Once the ladies golf club fitting is over, the PGA Professional should be able to explain how he or she came up with the correct club or clubs for you. This will include the proper length of the club, the proper lie angle of the golf club as well as the proper grip size.

This article has given you the information on a ladies golf club fitting, why the golf clubs in the golf shop usually are not for you and how to find a qualified ladies club fitter. Finding a qualified PGA golf club fitter that can get you into a set that matches you and your swing WILL make the game much easier for you!



Alexine

Simon Gelfand asked:


golfer’s physical capability and swing is distinctive. Many of today’s best golf clubs can be custom fit for lie angle, shaft type and length, grip type and size. Custom fitting golf clubs involves several easy measurements and a quick self-assessment of your game. This custom golf club has become more than a fad that even not so professional golfers test its waters.

Custom fitting is the process for tailoring a golf club to suit your personal swing.

Whatever your level, with a custom golf club the aim is to ensure that if you do make a good swing, the club will be square at impact and should produce a straight shot.

Custom Golf Club How To’s:

To custom fit your golf clubs, you need to know: your gender (male or female); your height in your stockings or socks; the distance from your wrist (where it bends) to the floor with your shoes off; your age; your handicap or skill level; how fast you swing a golf club; what club you use at the 150 yard marker.

Gender is used to put you into the correct fitting scale for custom golf clubs. The golf industry uses different definitions of “standard length” for men and women.

Your height and the distance in inches from your wrist to the floor are used together to determine the length of a custom golf club that is appropriate for you. The starting point for club length can vary up to 3 ½-inch ranging from ladies to men plus 1 ½-inch. A tall person with long arms can very easily require shorter clubs than an average height person with short arms. About 80 percent of golfers are standard length.

Your age, handicap (if you happen to have one), self-assessed skill level, estimated golf swing speed and club you use at the 150 yard marker are all combined to determined the custom golf club’s shaft flex that is appropriate for you.

Custom fitting can fix your slice. If you slice the ball it means that the toe of the club is leading into the ball which opens the face of the club. That may be down to a swing fault, but it could be because the club is too flat. So as part of the custom fitting process you can make the custom golf club more upright to help with this. This will mean that the toe of the club will be slightly off the ground at address to compensate.

There are different methods of fitting according to custom golf club manufacturers but ultimately they are all trying to improve your game. To begin with simple measurements such as wrist-to-floor, height and hand size are taken and will point you to the right size club and at what angle it should be to the ground. Then you will take a club and hit some balls. One method is to place impact tape on the bottom of the custom golf club and an impact board on the floor.

As you hit the ball the board will leave a mark on the tape showing whether the heel or the toe of the custom golf club is striking the floor first. The resulting mark will show whether the club face needs to be flatter or more upright. Then things get a bit more advanced. Analysis equipment can measure everything from your club speed to the side spin of the ball so that you can get maximum distance from your shot. You can also measure the launch angle of the ball, how much backspin you generate and impact efficiency - all which affect distance. The angle in which the custom golf club approaches the ball and the sidespin of it can help fix your game too.

Rather than bringing down your old clubs, it might be better to start from scratch. It’s a big misconception that custom fitting is only for good golfers. Anyone can benefit. That said, if you plan to upgrade a new set of clubs with the same manufacturer they may be able to adjust your old set to become custom golf clubs.

Custom fitting won’t cure all your bad shots. Coaching will sort that out. But if you do make a good swing, then the custom golf club will arrive correctly at impact and should produce a straight shot at your target. That alone will save shots during a round.

Lastly, custom fitting is often free of charge. But it is usually on the condition that you buy some clubs once you’ve been fitted. So it really depends on what your budget is. If you’re prepared to buy a new set of clubs it’s definitely worth getting fitted.

Issie

Neil Bennett asked:


Attempting to source ladies golf clubs which are both practically and aesthetically designed for female players has until recent times proved difficult and expensive. If you’re a left-handed lady golfer the likelihood of finding a suitable set of golf clubs is even harder.

Lady golfers are unfortunately at a disadvantage in terms of suitable golf equipment in a sport that is predominately male orientated - therefore more equipment is designed and manufactured in relation to the size of the market.

Before manufacturers like Texan Classics, Confidence and Prosimmon Golf produced exclusive lines of ladies golf clubs, female players had to resort to purchasing junior or senior-flex golf equipment - although this is less likely in today’s market of online golf retailers like The Sports HQ offering a comprehensive range of ladies golf equipment in right and left-handed editions.

The physical differences between a male and female golfer leads to both genders having different requirements when it comes to selecting the perfect golf club. For example a stiff shafted golf club would be less suitable for lady golfer, whilst a club that is too flexible is not likely to match a typical lady’s golf swing. A lighter golf club with a graphite shaft is far more likely to produce the best results for lady golfer, unlike a stainless steel shaft with a heavier club-head which can lead to a slight loss of control. The actual golf club length is also important as lady players are typically shorter than their male counterparts and therefore 1-inch shorter clubs are the perfect solution. Before purchasing a set of ladies golf clubs it is recommended to view and sample the clubs in person. In the case of an online purchase it is also advisable to search for a retailer that offers a means to sample the clubs in person.

The custom fit option is another way to purchase a set of ladies golf clubs. The recent appearance of Internet based custom fit suppliers has increased accessibility to the benefits of custom fit golf clubs for both sexes. After starting out in golf with a beginner’s set of ladies golf clubs the easiest way to improve your game is to invest in custom built golf clubs which are designed and built to the exact criteria of the player. Unlike some suppliers of custom fit golf clubs - Forgan of St. Andrews does not charge extra for custom fitting ladies’ golf clubs. Forgan’s custom fit website automatically selects the optimum flex, shaft type, length adjustment and type of grip after entering the following attributes: sex, dexterity, height, wrist-to-floor length, swing speed and glove size. The benefits of custom fitting - especially for female golfers are indisputable.

Finding the best ladies golf clubs was historically a difficult task before online retailers like The Sports HQ developed exclusive ranges for lady golfers. Exclusive brands like Prosimmon Golf, GolfGirl and Confidence offer specifically designed and manufactured golf equipment for the female player. To progress from a beginner’s set of ladies golf clubs a player should consider the benefits of custom fitted golf clubs - with manufacturers like Forgan of St. Andrews



Nerte

Robert Riles asked:


Why spend that much on golf clubs when you can buy used golf clubs instead? You can enjoy a thrilling day with the lush greens and fairways of your favorite golf club without having to shell out lots of dollars from your pocket.

Used golf clubs are good buy not only for their relatively cheap price but for their quality, as well. Contrary to common notion, used golf clubs arena substandard in terms of quality. In fact, they have been proven to stand average wear and tear.

Slightly used golf clubs are comparable to brand new golf clubs. They are well-crafted and durable to suit the hard-hitting sport of golfing. Whether you are a pro or an amateur in this exciting sport of golfing you can always rely on the durability of used golf clubs.

Another good thing about used golf clubs is that they are sort of social equalizer. They provide people from all walks of life and from all classes the opportunity to enjoy golf without the necessity of spending lots of money. They bring closer the sport of golfing which is regarded by many as sport of the elite class within the reach of the not so elite class of society.

There are used drivers, wedges and all sorts of clubs available to avid golf fans and enthusiasts. They come in styles and designs of various kinds. Used golf clubs come also in sets. There are clubs for professional and amateur golfers, as well. You can likewise customize them if you like.

You can buy used golf clubs from stores near you or online. Buying used golf clubs online is as reliable as buying clubs from actual stores. Many online shops offer free shipping once you purchase clubs from them. There are special offers, too. This may take the form of free or discount accessories and gifts the shops will give you upon purchasing specific units of equipment.

In addition, when you buy used golf clubs online you are actually saving yourself from the inconvenience and expenses that go along with traveling. This is because you can transact with shops online. You can also compare prices of clubs as offered by various shops with ease. In turn, you are given more control and power in terms of purchasing your golf equipment.

Once you have purchased your very own used golf clubs you can definitely refurbish these clubs and give them a new look. You can employ your creativity and resourcefulness to make your clubs trendier. And you will be convinced that you really made the right choice in buying used clubs than new ones.

Experiencing the fun of golfing does not have to be too expensive, in fact. You can spend a refreshing and relaxing moment with the picturesque sceneries of nature while hitting that hole-in-one without incurring so many expenses on your golf equipment. All you really need is to open your mind and consider buying slightly used golf clubs and tools. So, grab your very own used golf clubs now and feel the difference.



Tonu

Marty McGuire asked:


Cheap Golf Clubs

There’s definitely a good reason why golf is considered to be a millionaire’s game. Not only is this the most well-loved sport of those who have a lot of time to learn and play the game, but the equipment you’re going to use don’t come cheap. They can run from hundreds to thousands of dollars, depending on the brand. Nevertheless, you can still get yourself cheap golf clubs?if you know what, how, and where to look for them.

What You Need to Know about Cheap Golf Clubs

1. Shopping for cheap golf clubs isn’t easy. Don’t think that searching for cheap golf clubs is going to be a walk in the park. The searching will definitely force you to spend a lot of time scouring through the World Wide Web or in various sports shops in your area. However, with sheer patience, there’s huge possibility that you can find cheap golf clubs that are perfect for you.

2. Cheap golf clubs are the ones that aren’t used much. The rich people can always afford to find new sets of golf clubs, but they would also like to capitalize on their investment. Hence, they are going to sell them to small sports stores and online, such as in auction sites, at a much lower price. On the average, cheap golf clubs will cost one-half or one-fourth of their original purchase price.

3. You can go for discount sales for cheap golf clubs. If you don’t like to purchase used ones, you can settle for those cheap golf clubs that are sold at discount prices. The discount rate may range from 10 to 50 percent. However, as the common rule in shopping malls, the higher the discount the longer the items have been around and not bought. These cheap golf clubs may already be somewhat outmoded once you decide to buy them.

4. Watch out for new models of golf clubs. The question here is why. You see, real golfers are very serious about their games that they’re willing to spend a lot for newer, much better, and more advanced golf clubs. In exchange, these sets are sold as pre-owned and thus come out as cheap golf clubs in the market. Monitoring the trends of golf clubs will allow you to spot for new outmoded cheap golf clubs. This way, you can still have more time to enjoy the extensive features of your club sets without spending a lot.

5. Check the quality of your cheap golf clubs. Quality should always be your concern even if you’re trying to acquire cheap golf clubs. Make sure that they have passed through 17-point inspection, which basically verifies the strength and reliability of the shaft and the head. Also take note of the length, loft, as well as the weight of the swing. Reconditioned and cheap golf clubs should be properly issued with an authenticity certificate to confirm that the clubs are authentic and are not imitations.

6. Purchase cheap golf clubs by piece. When golf clubs appear to still be too expensive for you even if they’re already used or reconditioned, learn to purchase cheap golf clubs by piece. You can simply ask someone to assemble them all together or you can do it yourself if you know how.

7. Don’t settle for clones. There are some cheap golf clubs that are actually clones, which means they are exact replicas of the original ones. Though you can save a lot from them and they share the same features, you are not guaranteed of their quality. Moreover, these supposed cheap golf clubs tend to not last longer.



Toss

James E Obrien asked:


What are they and are they legal?

Golf Club Clones are called knockoffs, pirated golf clubs and other things nasty. Many people think they are made in some impoverished country from inferior materials and shoddy workmanship.

Some even think they are illegal. In most cases, that’s not quite right.

Clone golf clubs are marketed under their own name and are promoted as similar to a specific name brand club.

True clone golf clubs are manufactured from similar premium materials used by brand name golf club manufacturers. They are similar to the brand club style, but do not infringe on the brand company’s design patent. They are manufactured by legitimate companies, many located in the United States and sold for a much lower price than their brand counterpart.

And, it’s all about price. In a recent article, Golf Digest® analyzed the manufacturing cost of a brand name $500.00 driver. The club head was the most expensive part. It cost about $55.00. The graphite shaft was $15.00 The grip cost $3.00 and about $4.00 went into the assembly process. That’s about $77.00 for a $500.00 golf club.

Where did the rest go? Well, nobody is going to buy a brand golf club until the holy grail of golf, the professionals, endorse and recommend it. In today’s golf world, promotion and endorsements are the life blood of the industry. Companies like Acer, Callaway, Cobra, Nike, Ping and Taylor Made spend millions of dollars on advertising and promotion of their excellent golf clubs.

As you can see, it’s a very expensive proposition and somebody has to pay the bill. Guess what, it’s the everyday golfer.

Clone golf clubs are like generic drugs. The brand drugs are expensive because all the research and development costs for that drug and a few that failed need to be recovered while the new “hot drug” is dominating the market. The real cost of manufacturing the drug is a tiny fraction of R&D costs, so once the drug is available in a generic formula, the price drops substantially. Think about that the next time you watch a commercial for your blood pressure drug or for a golf club.

However, without the research and development by the drug and brand name golf club manufacturers, we wouldn’t have our life saving drugs and those high tech golf clubs. The question of who to support is up to the individual golfer. The decision to use clone golf clubs is strictly up to each golfer. We are here to provide information that can help you decide for yourself.

Like most manufacturers, the big golf equipment companies buy materials from suppliers. These are the same suppliers that sell to the clone golf club manufacturers. The clone golf club engineers analyze branded clubs to determine how they are made and then design a clone club that closely fits those specifications, without violating existing patents.

Do not confuse clone golf clubs with illegal knockoffs. These clubs deliberately try to fool the consumer by claiming to actually be the name brand, often right down to the logo. These are not cloned golf clubs and people who purchase them are actually violating the law. Since they are not what they claim, these illegal clubs can adversely affect your game. Many clubs like Callaway’s Big Bertha, the King Cobra, and the Tommy Mann Bummer were knocked off by these rip off companies. The golfers that purchased these inferior knockoffs paid a stiff price in performance and club durability.

If you liked this article, you can learn more about clone golf clubs and get discounted prices on clone golf clubs by visiting Golf Club Clones

Click here for Discounted Golf Equipment and Free Golf Tips



Jaquith

Robert Riles asked:


Why spend that much on golf clubs when you can buy used golf clubs instead? You can enjoy a thrilling day with the lush greens and fairways of your favorite golf club without having to shell out lots of dollars from your pocket.

Used golf clubs are good buy not only for their relatively cheap price but for their quality, as well. Contrary to common notion, used golf clubs aren’t substandard in terms of quality. In fact, they have been proven to stand average wear and tear.

Slightly used golf clubs are comparable to brand new golf clubs. They are well-crafted and durable to suit the hard-hitting sport of golfing. Whether you are a pro or an amateur in this exciting sport of golfing you can always rely on the durability of used golf clubs.

Another good thing about used golf clubs is that they are sort of social equalizer. They provide people from all walks of life and from all classes the opportunity to enjoy golf without the necessity of spending lots of money. They bring closer the sport of golfing which is regarded by many as sport of the elite class within the reach of the not so elite class of society.

There are used drivers, wedges and all sorts of clubs available to avid golf fans and enthusiasts. They come in styles and designs of various kinds. Used golf clubs come also in sets. There are clubs for professional and amateur golfers, as well. You can likewise customize them if you like.

You can buy used golf clubs from stores near you or online. Buying used golf clubs online is as reliable as buying clubs from actual stores. Many online shops offer free shipping once you purchase clubs from them. There are special offers, too. This may take the form of free or discount accessories and gifts the shops will give you upon purchasing specific units of equipment.

In addition, when you buy used golf clubs online you are actually saving yourself from the inconvenience and expenses that go along with traveling. This is because you can transact with shops online. You can also compare prices of clubs as offered by various shops with ease. In turn, you are given more control and power in terms of purchasing your golf equipment.

Once you have purchased your very own used golf clubs you can definitely refurbish these clubs and give them a new look. You can employ your creativity and resourcefulness to make your clubs trendier. And you will be convinced that you really made the right choice in buying used clubs than new ones.

Experiencing the fun of golfing does not have to be too expensive, in fact. You can spend a refreshing and relaxing moment with the picturesque sceneries of nature while hitting that hole-in-one without incurring so many expenses on your golf equipment. All you really need is to open your mind and consider buying slightly used golf clubs and tools. So, grab your very own used golf clubs now and feel the difference.



Talya

Golf Swing Genius asked:


Swinging on plane is a big key to hitting solid golf shots.  The first thing that needs to be correct is your setup.  A good setup position with a correct grip, good angles, and proper alignment will all aid you in swinging on plane correctly.  

Starting your backswing on plane requires a slow smooth takeaway with the arms and shoulders.  At the point where the golf club is parallel to the ground in the beginning of your backswing, the golf club should cover up your hands if you were looking in a mirror or someone was standing behind you this is what you would see.  If the clubhead is too far in front of your hands, it is too far outside the plane line.  If the clubhead is too far behind your hands, the club will be inside too much.  Both of these incorrect positions will cause problems with keeping the club on the correct swing plane during the rest of your swing.  

Halfway into the backswing, your hands should be set in the middle of your chest.  Also, from this halfway back position, if you drew a straight line down from your left elbow (for the right handed golfer), it should point right at the golf ball.  If your left elbow is pointing more towards your feet, your swing plane is too steep.  If your elbow is pointing too far out away from the ball, your swing plane is going to be too laid off or flat.  This is a great drill you can use to make sure you are starting your backswing on plane correctly.



Marcella