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GOLF RESOURCE GUIDE:
Equipment
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Success in golf depends on physical skill, but that’s only as useful as the confidence one has in applying it on the course. Frank Thomas, one of the game’s foremost authorities on equipment (the former United States Golf Association technical director formulated modern club testing procedures and invented the graphite shaft) wrote the following in “Just Hit It,” his book that hit shelves in 2008: “The golf club … you have confidence in is the one that works best. This is why new clubs always seem to do so well for us: We feel good when we take them out of our bags, they’re shiny and new, they don’t know our faults yet, and they’ve never dumped a shot into the lake guarding the green.” Advancements in equipment have given golfers the ability to derive more confidence than ever. Club specifications can be measured and fitted to the lowest decimals, while materials and design principles have maximized distance and accuracy. It’s always good to see if you’re using the best clubs possible. If it turns out a fresh set (or a new driver, hybrid or putter) is necessary to generate that confidence, make sure you ask the right questions before investing in your game. 1. How good are you? It’s easy to watch a PGA Tour event on television and aspire to emulate your favorite professional, right down to their swing, apparel and clubs. But unless you’re a scratch player or a single-digit handicapper with the time, resources and desire to get a lot better, it’s probably not the best idea to mimic the pros. Take a realistic assessment of your game, paying heed to the positives and negatives of your previous set. If you’re a mid-handicapper who’s shown flashes of brilliance, don’t automatically purchase a forged muscleback iron set and a driver whose sole is prominently stamped “Tour.” Forgiveness is a good thing because it can save you strokes, and that means lower scores — and, chances are, more confidence. 2. Where do you play? Do you tend to play shorter, narrower courses instead of longer tracks? What about windy venues? How about oceanfront properties where the air tends to be thicker and moisture more prominent, or in the desert where the air is drier? And don’t forget about the most common types of grasses you hit off of. Conditions aren’t the most important factors in the equipment selection process, but they can influence decisions like set composition (perhaps carrying an extra wedge if you play mostly shorter courses) and sole characteristics (varying the amount of bounce on irons and wedges depending on turf conditions). 3. What’s your budget? It’s important to get top performance, but value shouldn’t be underestimated. For the majority of golfers, a new set of clubs is an investment that should last a while, and it needn’t be so expensive that it depletes the future golf budget of playing regularly and/or buying more equipment in the future. If you have the ability to buy the most expensive and highest-performing clubs out there — or if those are the clubs that inspire the most confidence — buy them, but keep in mind that the best clubs for you might not be the most expensive. Be thorough in your research and testing to get the most from your investment.  4. What’s your style?These days, browsing the shelves at equipment shops is like recalling a textbook from middle-school geometry — it’s hard to keep track of all the different shapes of the clubheads, particularly in drivers. Some of the designs promote forgiveness, but again, it comes back to which clubs inspire confidence. The same goes for irons — it’s possible to gain distance and control from irons with wider soles and enlarged cavities, though such designs might not be as aesthetically pleasing to players used to a more traditional look. 5. What’s your set composition? New hybrids and wedges have a wider array of precise lofts, so set composition is more of a factor in today’s equipment because of the increased customization. With lower centers of gravity and larger hitting areas, hybrids are usually easier to hit than long irons. If you haven’t put at least one in your bag yet, check them out. Your wedge makeup is also vital, both from the perspective of versatility and yardage differential. No matter how your set is composed, it’s important to feel as comfortable with your yardage gaps as possible, especially when you get into the scoring area of inside 150 yards. 6. Are you sure about the specs? Just because you purchase an iron set whose shafts are labeled the same doesn’t mean they’ll perform uniformly at the desired level. It never hurts to consult a clubfitter or golf shop employee and request a double-check to make sure all of the lofts, lies and other characteristics are up to your specifications. It’s another step to ensure you’re getting the most value from your investment. 7. What technologies can help you? No matter how you swing the club, chances are there’s a set of irons or woods with specific technologies that can enhance your performance. For instance, a golfer with a shallow swing could benefit from irons that feature a wider sole, instead of older models, which largely feature thinner soles. For better players that demand precision off the tee, a pair of new drivers — TaylorMade’s R9 and Nike’s Dymo Str8-Fit — can be quickly customized to promote different shot shapes based on alterations in lie and face angles. Again, research and understanding of your game is important in determining what types of technologies could be most beneficial. 8. Do you really need new clubs? A new set of clubs is tempting, but it usually is a large investment. Make sure that you’re ready to take the plunge and that your current set is not up to snuff. If you like the design of your irons and the look of your woods, they can be enhanced by being refurbished and/or being equipped with new shafts. 9. Do you know a good clubfitter?  Have all of the previous questions been overwhelming? No problem — talk to a certified clubfitter. These are the equipment pros who make a living building clubs and analyzing whether certain clubs are right or wrong for you. Most clubfitters at courses have fitting stations from a variety of major manufacturers, while clubfitters at local stores have access to high-end brands and components. Whether you’re looking to buy a new set, checking to see if your current set needs replacing, or you just want to get your lie angles adjusted, it’s always good to know a clubfitter. Visit the websites of equipment manufacturers or golf courses to find one near you.  10. Have you performed consumer due diligence? Just as the right golf clubs will inspire confidence, trust in the equipment-buying process also is important. Almost all local and big chain golf shops sell reliable new clubs, and most sell good used clubs. There also are a variety of online outlets for new and used clubs, but if a certain website or service feels uncomfortable at first glance, then exercise discretion if you decide to purchase from there. Counterfeit clubs are not uncommon on the Internet, so be sure you search exhaustively for the most affordable and trustworthy sources. |
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