Picking the perfect golf clubs – everything you need to know

The simple secret to choosing the perfect clubs is making sure they’re perfect for you, not someone else. 

Less is more
If you want your golf clubs to be perfect, don’t just buy on a whim for convenience. Instead, spend time researching your investment. Don’t just go for the brand your favourite pro uses either – everyone has different needs on the course. Consider things like your experience level, the scenarios you tend to struggle with, your predominant hand, and start by aiming for five to six clubs – less really is more.

Getting a grip
The thickness of your club’s grip has a considerable effect on your swing. Too small, and the increased hand action can pull the ball. Too big, and the restricted hand movement might affect your distance. A suitable grip will let you hold the club using your middle and ring fingers and with your thumb barely touching the pad. You want your finger to touch your thumb, otherwise the grip might be too big. It’s also important to test out a grip’s material, firmness, texture, and whether it’s weather resistant.

Shaft length
Don’t get the basics wrong. Before considering buying anything, it’s important to know your height, body type and strength level. Taller players, for example, will most likely need a longer shaft to find their optimum performance. The flex of the shaft is also worth looking into, as its ability to bend needs to be suited to you. A shaft that’s too stiff can affect the ball’s flight height and distance, and too soft can affect the ball’s spin, sending it high rather than long.
  


  
Loft luck
The loft is the angle of the club face that affects the ball’s height, trajectory and distance after being hit – so it’s a biggy. Advanced golfers used to prefer lower lofted drivers, as these call for more skill. However, these days, some experts tend to favour higher lofted drivers, because maximised distance can be achieved from less spin and a higher trajectory. To assess the loft, look at both the upward and away angle of the face of the club from the shaft. A higher loft angle will be more horizontally angled.

The head
It’s common for club manufacturers to have standard, midsize and oversized heads for their clubs. Choose which sizes are best according to your playing style and level, but also take advantage of the variety. Your swing speed is key to deciding on your club head’s perfect weight. A faster swing warrants a heavier head for more control, whereas a slower swing needs a lighter one for increased velocity. If you’re a beginner you might also find a deeper face harder to use, as it has a lower launch and higher spin. There’s no harm in picking a cover too if you want your clubhead to look good and stay protected.