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6 Reasons Golf Pros Hit the Ball So Far (and How to Do It)

Written by Tony M. in Golf Swing,Golfing,How-to Guides

If you’re an avid golfer who also enjoys watching the pros on TV, there might have come to a point where you ended up wondering—how exactly do they hit the ball so much farther off the tee?

Questions surrounding a powerful long game have especially come into the spotlight after the 2020 US Open, with Bryson Dechambeau exhibiting a remarkable ability to drive the ball to a long distance. So, what are the reasons golf pros hit the ball so far?

Golf pros hit the ball so far due to a variety of factors. They maximize clubhead speed, make accurate contact with the ball while using their bodies with great efficiency during the swing. Additionally, data collection and analysis allows them to be coached with the greatest efficacy. 

In the rest of this article, we will explore the different reasons golf pros can hit the ball at such a great distance.

For these factors, we must both look at in-the-moment practices of actually taking the swing as well as what the pros are doing off the course and in training. Additionally, we will look at some tips to improve your ability to hit the ball farther without sacrificing accuracy. 

Maximized Clubhead Speed

When it comes to getting your ball to go long distances, the ability to increase your clubhead speed will bring more power to the impact you make with the ball. Clubhead speed is the measurable speed of your club at the moment before it strikes the ball. 

Pros are typically hitting a driver with a clubhead speed of 120-130mph (193-209 kph) (and occasionally even faster), while amateurs are much more likely to come in around 100 mph (160 kph) or less.

What to Consider to Swing at a Faster Rate

So, what’s the difference? What do pros do differently in order to consistently swing at a much faster rate than the average weekend golfer?

Speed of the Backswing

One of the answers to this can be found in the backswing. As the name suggests, the backswing is when the golfer raises the club up behind him in the initial movement of his golf swing. When the club reaches the top of the swing, the backswing ends, and the downswing begins. 

This is where physics comes in. It comes down to kinetic energy or the amount of energy that is created by motion. The more kinetic energy you can generate in your swing, the more you will be able to transfer to the ball and hit a farther distance. 

The idea is to generate as much possible kinetic energy before making contact with the ball. This can be done in two different ways—either by increasing the average force or the length of the path your hands are traveling in the swing. To put it simply, speed up your backswing in order to bring more power to your downswing.

To see this put into action, you can check out this Youtube video where golf expert Dr. Sasha McKenzie helps a golfer speed up his backswing to make significant gains in clubhead speed:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z3V8doDTXhc

Moment of Inertia and the Downswing

The next approach that pros take to increasing their clubhead speed has to do with the moment of inertia. This law of physics states that in order to rotate something, you will be able to perform this action better and more effectively depending on where the weight of the object is. The closer the weight of what you are trying to rotate is to the center, the easier it will be. 

If you try to rotate something where the weight is much farther out, you will not be able to harness the speed and power as effectively. In golf, the center can be considered your body, and the weight of what you are rotating is the club.

You will see pros using this law of physics to their advantage in the downswing. As a pro golfer lifts the club into the backswing, it will be significantly farther away from his body than when he brings it into the downswing. By keeping this closer to his body, the golfer is able to keep the weight of the rotation closer to the center, thus increasing the clubhead speed.

On the follow-through, you will see the arms and the club coming much farther from the body, but this after the club has struck the ball. In those moments leading up to striking the ball, it is important to keep the downswing tight to maximize clubhead speed potential.

How to Increase Clubhead Speed at Home

In order to put this into practice, you can try taking the ball out of the picture and removing the need to make contact with anything at first. Take your club and loosen up your body, preparing to practice without a golf ball. 

At first, simply practice the swinging motion, paying attention to how your body moves through this motion. Feel how you can manipulate where the club’s weight is in relation to your body at different moments in your swing. Notice the distance from your body in your backswing as opposed to your downswing. Then, notice again where the club goes in your follow-through.

Right now, the idea is to get used to how the swing feels and build some muscle memory around that. Sometimes the motivation to hit the ball can take the golfer away from how the swing is feeling in his body. Slowly, as you become ready to incorporate further challenges, add a tee so you can practice making contact with something without the added pressure of hitting a ball accurately. 

When you add the ball back into the mix, see if you are still able to move through your swing in the same way you could without the ball. Is your body still moving in an efficient way, making use of physics to maximize your clubhead speed? Or, are you becoming distracted by the goal of hitting the ball and losing form? Be sure to observe yourself and practice with and without the ball as necessary.

Accurate Point of Contact

Pro golfers are not just powerful hitters, but they are accurate when it comes to how their clubhead and the ball meet. They have acquired the skill of aligning themselves with the ball in a way that allows them to make contact accurately and send the ball where they want it to go. 

If you were to compare two golfers who are hitting with identical clubhead speeds but one of them was able to make more direct contact with the sweet spot between the driver and the ball, that player would be able to hit the ball farther. Not only would the ball go farther, but it would also go in a more accurate way.

In order to achieve an accurate point of contact, you will need to hit it squarely with the clubhead. When striking with your driver, you should be hitting the ball right in the center of the driver’s face. If you find that you are too often making contact on the heel of the driver’s head, try adjusting your positioning back a bit to make more accurate contact. 

Smash Factor

In order to measure the accuracy of the point of contact with the ball, pro golfers use a key metric known as the smash factor. This is the speed of the ball divided by the speed of the clubhead. The more accurately the ball was struck will translate to a higher smash factor. When using a driver, golfers are looking for this number to be around 1.5. 

This helps assess what happens after the clubhead hits the ball. If the clubhead speed was high, but the ball did not go as far as expected, it means that the energy transfer between the two was not optimum. The smash factor is lower without optimal energy transfer, meaning that the ball speed will be lower. This means that the ball will not travel as far as it could have with a more accurate strike.

If you’re interested in improving your accuracy, you can take some spray foot powder and lightly coat the face of your driver. As you hit the ball, the powder will come off where the ball made contact with the driver. This is a simple visual way for you to become more aware of where you are hitting the ball on the face of your club. 

Swinging With Ease and Efficiency

There is an intricate combination of body movements that occur when swinging a golf club. Typically, pros have an incredibly efficient way of coordinating their bodies to bring the clubhead in fast and strong. This involves their core, arms, legs, and various muscles throughout their whole body.

Pros have practiced this coordination extensively and under the watch of insightful and trained teachers. They have managed to get the sequence of events timed so perfectly that they are able to get the club where it needs to go with speed and power. 

However, amateurs will likely have some inefficiencies in their body movement that hasn’t been trained out of them. Without the drilling and coaching that pros get to refine their form, amateurs may be moving the club in a not maximally efficient way. 

These inefficiencies may manifest in different ways with different golfers. If you are truly curious where your weak spots are in your swing, taking some one-on-one training sessions with a golf teacher would be a great way to understand your own specific needs. Many golf clubs will also offer weekend seminars and other workshops where you can get some in-person advice and supervised practice to improve your game. 

However, let’s take a look at some common mistakes amateurs make in their body movement. These are mistakes you won’t see in the pros, and recognizing them here can be your first step in improving these inefficiencies for yourself. 

The Importance of Staying Close to the Ground

One specific way of thinking about this efficient body movement is how the pro golfers move their bodies in relationship to the ground. We can use the head position as a way to judge how the body is engaged in movement during the backswing and the downswing. 

Think about your own swing for a moment—does your head usually stay in one position throughout your swing? Do you feel it moving slightly down? Or, perhaps slightly up? 

Let’s turn now to the pros and their head position through the backswing and downswing. Typically, when you see pros who are very efficient strikers, you will see that their head maintains its general position or moves just slightly down. 

However, if there is movement, it is not much, and any movement should be directed towards the ground. Why is this important to notice, you might wonder. How does their head position translate into greater efficiency?

To summarize for the backswing, by keeping the head mostly still, it means you are maintaining your position and distance over the golf ball. This is key as we move into the next phase of the swing or the downswing. 

During the downswing, or as the club comes down to hit the ball, you will see the professionals bringing their body slightly lower, coming just slightly closer to the ball sitting on the tee. This will continue until they make contact with the ball. Once the ball has been hit, it is at this point only that you will see the pros come up and straighten their bodies more upright.

Advantages of Staying Close to the Ground

There are several reasons why staying low through the backswing and downswing is advantageous. Staying close to the ground forces the player to keep a bend in the arms and wrists. By not allowing too much comfortable distance here, it is impossible to straighten out the arms too much, as some amateurs tend to do. Being close to the ground forces the bend that creates a better technique for striking the ball. 

Another motion that becomes necessary when staying close to the ground is the turn at the end of the downswing. If you are too vertical, you will not be forced to turn your body as you follow through with your swing. If you are maintaining a position close to the ground, you will have to turn as you come up. 

How to Swing With Ease and Efficiency

To summarize, being aware of your body position and maintaining the right distance to the ground will help the other pieces of the swing fall into place naturally. It will keep the right joints bent and support the proper motions needed for an effective swing. 

Stay close to the ground. Do not give yourself too much room to straighten out your arms or wrists. By paying attention to the distance between the ball and your body, you will be able to mimic the stances of elite ball strikers. 

So, how can this be achieved? The first part of the body that will help you get lower to the ground and more striking power is in the knees. You do not want to be standing straight, with legs locked. You want your knees to be generously bent to get you closer to the ground. 

The next part of your body that can help you is your hip region. By making sure you are tilting forward a bit at the hips, you will be able to get the upper body angle you need. Your hips will also tilt as you twist your body into the backswing and in the follow-through.

The last thing to remember is to keep these body parts engaged through the entire swing. As you rise up into your backswing and as you move into your downswing, let these joints help you stay low to the ball. 

If you are interested to see this in action, you can check out Eric Cogorno’s video on Youtube:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bcOc82Vm2z0

Using Technology to Gather Data

As we have seen, technology becomes commonly used in most aspects of our lives. It is no different when it comes to professional golfing. In the era before gadgets, golfers had to rely on their own observational powers and experience to judge shots as good and bad and why they would be considered that way. Now, there is technology to verify these judgments and explain why, in great detail.

Pro golfers have access to a lot of high-tech training and simulation tools that give hard and fast data about speed, distance, and accuracy, to name a few. While they might spend a lot more time and money on these tools, it doesn’t mean that these are out of reach for the casual weekend golfer. Here are a few affordable gadgets that can help you approach your game in a more data-driven way:

Blast Motion Golf Swing Analyzer

This easy-to-use kit lets any golfer gather data about their swing at an affordable price.

By attaching a few pieces to any club, you will be able to analyze both your long game and your short game on the green.

This swing analyzer will gather metrics on each swing and also comes with the option to record video.

All analytics can be accessed through your smartphone. In addition to the raw data, this program will provide analysis and even has a training center in the app with tips designed to help you with your golf game. It also features a social media link where you will be able to share your best moments with your friends easily on a variety of social networks.

Garmin Approach S40

If you prefer a wearable option, you may be interested in the Garmin Approach S40.

This golf GPS smartwatch features a touchscreen that is still visible even during midday’s bright sunlight.

It comes with data for over 41,000 golf courses worldwide, including statistics such as distances to various points on each hole and any hazards to be aware of. 

It will give you a visual image of the green, so you will know what it looks like before arriving. This watch is also able to alert you to personal calls and messages like any other smartwatch on the market. Its stylish appearance means that you can use it on and off the course as well.  

If you are looking for a more affordable price point, consider the Garmin Approach S40, Stylish GPS Golf Smartwatch, which is a refurbished version. This will give you all the same features as a brand new watch but will save you from paying the full price. Not to mention it is always a more environmentally-friendly option to purchase items that have been previously used.

Targeted Strength Training

A recent shift in the game of golf has to do with something that is happening off the course—and in the gym. Working out has become part of many pros routines. It is now commonplace for PGA pro golfers to be committed to a workout routine designed to enhance their ability to bring power to their striking. 

An interesting example of this is with the young, radical pro golfer Bryson DeChambeau. Referred to as the mad scientist of golf, this former engineering student brought a targeted version of bodybuilding to the game of golf in an effort to be able to hit the ball farther. 

Through his plan of bulking up, he managed to win the 2020 US Open, something many considered not to be possible by someone who was mainly concerned with their long game. However, he is deliberate in his approach and not blindly adding muscle mass. The approach he uses is called “Muscle Activation Techniques” or MAT. 

This approach involves examining the weak points in an individual’s muscular system. For DeChambeau, for example, working specific, underdeveloped muscles in his back allowed him to free himself from prior back pain and become more efficient by accessing the full range of motion for his previously untapped muscles. 

By specifically working out muscles that are underdeveloped but are used in the golf swing, the ability to swing becomes more powerful because what could be considered weak links get considerably stronger and are no longer a vulnerability for the golfer hitting off the tee. 

In the case of DeChambeau, it is obvious when looking at before and after pictures that he has bulked up significantly. However, it is important to realize that he approached this in a very targeted way. This allowed him to translate gym hours directly into increased power in his swing. 

If you are interested in this approach to hit farther, you’re in luck. This type of training is not just limited to the pros. Trainers certified in MAT are increasing in number and popularity and can be found all over the country. If you’re looking for something simple, let’s take a look at the highly-rated Orange Whip. 

Orange Whip Swing Trainer

While this gadget does not exactly qualify as MAT, it is still a tool that you can use to improve your swing muscles on your own.

It is designed as a type of toning and strengthening exercise for the muscles involved in your golf swing.

You will be able to increase your range of motion, strengthen relevant muscles, and develop your tempo when practicing with the Orange Whip.

Practice

For pro golfers, they are able to focus nearly all their time and energy on improving their golf game. For amateurs, this is typically not the case. When it comes to managing jobs and other responsibilities, it can become difficult to put in the practice to make a difference in your swing. 

If you’re only hitting the ball once or twice a month when you meet your golf buddies out on the course, your improvement will take much longer than if you are able to devote a chunk of time each day to your swing. 

Even if it is only 10 minutes each day, give yourself the challenge of practicing your swing on a daily basis. This may be getting over the driving range or simply practicing your swing without a ball around the house. 

Whatever you are able to do, try to stick to it for 30 days and see how much you can improve.

Final Thoughts

In order to hit the ball farther, golf pros have harnessed a wide range of factors that they have turned into power and speed. From smash factor to clubhead speed, swing analysis to muscle analysis, the pros are thinking through many aspects of the game both on and off the course.

It is an exciting time to be a golfer, both amateur and professional. With the increasing knowledge and resources of how to improve your golf game and the technological gadgets to analyze your own swing at home, anyone with an interest in striking the ball farther will be able to progress in their game by taking some of these tips from the pros.

How Much Does It Cost to Regrip a Golf Club?

Written by Tony M. in Golf Clubs,Golf Equipment,Golf Questions

Your golf clubs can make or break your golf game performance. So when the grip on one of your favorite clubs starts to tear or have issues, it can be a big problem. But you don’t have to replace the club for a simple grip issue.

It costs about $3 per club to regrip a golf club if done by a professional, and it would cost about $120 for a full set of clubs. A set of 13 golf grips costs about $80 on average, though the price can vary. It’s possible to regrip the club at home for no extra cost on top of the materials.

Whether you bought a used set of golf clubs or have used the same set for years, you may need to regrip them. Aside from the cost, you have to consider the process and when you might need new grips. Keep reading to learn all about regripping a golf club.

Benefits of Regripping Golf Clubs

A golf club can last for years if you take good care of it. But golf club grips can wear down quickly if you use the clubs a lot. Because of that, regripping golf clubs can be beneficial.

You won’t have to buy new clubs all of the time, and you can make sure your clubs work well for you.

While regripping a golf club does cost money for materials and possibly professional help, it’s worth the cost.

Consider how investing in your golf clubs now can benefit you in the long run.

Alignment

As your golf club grip wears down, it can be hard to see the lines and indentations on the grip. Those marks can help you align your club correctly, making it easier to line up your shot. If you have a lot of experience, you may not need that help.

But if you’re new to golf, you can use all of the help you can get. That way, you can make sure you know how to use the golf club to your advantage.

If you notice you can’t see how to align your hands and the club, you might want to change the grip. You don’t have to change the grip on every club you own, though, so you can take it one club at a time.

Better Grip

When it gets hard to see the alignment on your golf club, odds are the grip isn’t as secure either. Even if you don’t need the help aligning your shot, you want to control your golf club.

Regripping the club can restore a bit of grip and friction that helps you golf. You don’t have to worry about losing your golf club when you swing it. Then, you can swing more confidently, and you can continue to improve your golf game.

Preference

Sometimes, deciding to regrip a golf club may come down to personal preference. If you buy your golf clubs from a friend or get them used from somewhere else, the clubs may be fine to use.

The grip may be in good condition with enough friction and help with alignment. But some golfers prefer firm grips, and others prefer to use softer grips. You can test both types of grips, but you may want to pay to regrip your club with the grip you like if you do better with one.

Should You Take Your Club to a Professional?

If you want to regrip your golf club, you may consider having a professional do it. That way, you don’t have to worry about messing up the steps. You’ll get your golf club back, and it will be good as new, and you can use it during your next game.

Regripping golf clubs isn’t too expensive, so it may be worth hiring someone to do it for you. Consider a few ways a professional can help you.

Ease

When you regrip a golf club yourself, you have to worry about collecting supplies and following the right steps. But a golf shop probably already has the tools and expertise necessary to put a new grip on your golf club.

All you have to do is schedule an appointment and bring in any clubs you have that need new grips. The gripping process may take some time, but you shouldn’t have to wait too long to get your clubs back.

Time

If you need or want to regrip multiple golf clubs, the time can add up quickly. You may not want to take the time to remove all of the current grips and apply new grips. So taking your golf clubs to a shop can be the more efficient option.

You may need to pay over $100 for the regrip service, but you won’t have to spend hours on the project. The store can call you when they finish so that you can spend that time on other things.

Cost

Different golf shops may have unique rates for golf club repairs. The cost can depend on where you live, but you can shop around in your city to find the best deal.

That way, you can get someone to regrip your golf clubs without having to break the bank. If you live in a high-cost area, the cost can reach a couple of hundred dollars, but you can find other options outside of town.

How to Regrip a Golf Club

If you don’t want to pay someone to regrip your golf club, you can do it yourself. You’ll still need to pay about $80 or so for a new set of golf club grips. However, you won’t have to pay for labor or wait around for a shop to repair.

As long as you have some a straight blade knife, some double-sided tape, and grip solvent, you can regrip your clubs. You should also have a vise and rubber vise clamps on hand.

Here’s how you can regrip your golf club at home:

  1. First, you need to prepare the club by removing the old golf club grip. Use a straight blade or utility knife to take the grip off. Secure the golf club so that it doesn’t move, and make sure you stroke the knife away from you.
  2. Next, measure the shaft of your golf club so that you know how much double-sided tape to use. The extra tape can go over the end of your golf club. But you don’t want too much extra. You also don’t want to be short on the tape.
  3. Now, you should add double-sided tape to the golf club. Add the tape in a spiral shape from the top to the bottom of the grip. Make sure the tape is secure before removing the tape backing. You can then cover the end of the shaft with some tape.
  4. Set the club aside while you use grip solvent to clean the inside of the new grip. Ensure the solvent gets all over the inside of the grip before you put it on the club.
  5. When you’re ready, push the new grip over the club’s end until it doesn’t move anymore.
  6. Align the grip so that the pattern square matches the clubface to help with the alignment. Do that quickly so that the solvent doesn’t have time to dry before you adjust the position.
  7. You can then let the golf club dry for a few hours or overnight before you use it.

Final Thoughts

Regripping a golf club can extend the club’s life and make it easier to use. You should consider how much it costs to regrip a club yourself vs. paying a professional to do it. Then, you will know what to do next time you need to regrip your golf clubs.

Iron vs. Wood in Golf: 17 Key Differences

Written by Tony M. in Golf Clubs

If you are getting acquainted with golf, you may have heard the terms’ woods’ and ‘irons,’ both of which refer to different clubs used in the game. Each has its own strengths and drawbacks.

Golf woods have lower lofts, have heads with higher surface area, and low mass. This allows a golfer to launch the ball farther. Irons, on the other hand, are made of denser material, have small heads with higher lofts, and prioritize precision over distance, making them ideal for short-to-mid distances.

In this article, we look at the individual advantages and disadvantages of golf woods and irons. You will learn about how each category got its name and what types of woods and irons are on the market. You will also find out which irons and woods you should purchase to build the right set of clubs for your game.

Golf Woods: A Basic Overview

Woods in golf play quite a significant role; They are characterized by longer shafts and are made of a material that emulates the role previously occupied by larger, wooden heads.

Historically, these clubs emerged because a hardwood head could allow the golfer to hit the ball much farther than an iron head would.

However, the role and the name remained but advances in golf club manufacturing technology brought about titanium and other materials that serve the role better.

Alongside the long shaft, you will notice a rounder head that is much larger than a golf iron. This, of course, has to do with material density. A lighter material allows for a larger head and a faster swing.

Pros of Golf Woods

Below are some of the key reasons golf woods are essential to the game.

  • Reduce the score on larger scores. You can use a golf wood to shorten the distance between yourself and the hole, even if you are far from it.
  • Light to carry. You do not have to swing a heavy iron to send the ball as far. A golf wood is lighter on your arms.
  • A big head makes it easy to hit the ball. Since woods have larger heads, you don’t need to train too much to get the art of making the ball fly far with little effort. No more frustrating missed swings.
  • Significantly cheaper than the alternative. Because golf woods are made with less expensive materials, you can expect to pay as low as one-third the cost of irons.

Cons of Golf Woods

Now that we have discussed the pros of golf woods, here are some of the drawbacks you need to consider before using them.

  • Low precision. Since golf woods were initially designed to help the ball go further, when you are close to the hole, you aren’t able to make the distance without overshooting.
  • Rely on the motion for momentum. As the heads of these golf clubs are made of lighter material, they rely on the full motion of a swing to make the ball move. For a small distance, the head does not have enough weight to make the ball move the required distance.
  • You can overshoot the ball. In the game of golf, there is definitely the possibility to be too ‘good’ at a distance. If you overshoot the ball consistently and keep making it go farther than the hole, your score keeps rising, which can quickly become a losing streak.
  • Ease of use can become a handicap. If you use woods consistently and only get accustomed to larger heads, you reduce your ability to play with irons and putters.

Different Types of Golf Woods

If you try to shop for a golf wood, the first surprise will be that none of them are actually made of wood. But your second surprise will be that there are different woods that look drastically different. So which one should you buy?

Below are the different types of wood and what each wood is best for.

  • 1-wood/driver. This is the wood that can make your ball go the longest distance. A 1-wood is also known as the driver because it drives the ball. It can be identified by weight as it is the lightest and also by a smaller loft. It has the lowest loft in the material category.
  • 2-wood+/Fairway. This club starts a nomenclature trend that may go all the way up to 25. A 2-wood has a slightly higher loft than a 1-wood and a little more weight. From the fairway, you need a blend of precision and distance, which is why 2-wood onwards, the clubs are called fairways. 3-woods have an even higher loft, and the head is heavier than a 2-wood. By now, you get the pattern. There is no need to list each separately as the higher number adds precision and decreases the distance.

Things to Keep in Mind

Before you buy a golf wood, consider the following:

  • Don’t buy a 1-wood or a driver if you are going to use it as your only club. This club will make it nearly impossible to make a precise short distance hit.
  • Buy at least the 1-wood if the rest of your set will be made up of irons. If your clubs are all irons, adding a 1-wood will give you the highest advantage.
  • Get custom-fitted for woods before buying them. If you already have the specifications for the irons you bought, you will realize they don’t translate well to wood. You will need to get fitted not just for the woods but for specific types you plan to invest in.

Golf Irons: A Basic Overview

Golf irons started out as metal clubs with an iron head. Because of the material’s density, the head would be much smaller.

And since force is decided by mass and acceleration, the higher mass allowed golfers to make the ball move short to mid distances without swinging from too far back.

While not all golf irons are made of pure iron, the name still applies to golf clubs meant for short distances.

Nowadays, golf irons are made of various metals and alloys that give a different shape and purpose to each head. But you can recognize an iron by noticing a significantly smaller head and relatively shorter shaft.

If you tried to swing an iron, you would notice the inherent need to make a steeper swing, unlike the slop freedom afforded by woods.

Pros of Golf Irons

Below are some of the reasons that golf irons are a part of every serious golfer’s repertoire:

  • High in precision. Because they are denser than an average golf wood, they give you the power to swing at shorter distances and towards the hole.
  • Hedge against overshooting. When you use a golf iron, you are less likely to overshoot the ball.
  • More durable. Golf irons are made of durable material and require replacing less often than woods.
  • Transferrable mastery. Since irons help you get better at precision, you will naturally start prioritizing precision, which is what ends the game after all. Even though moving to new clubs might require getting used to or custom fitting, you will still have an eye for the hoe.

Cons of Golf Irons

As you may have guessed, no golf club comes without its drawbacks. Here are the drawbacks of golf irons:

  • More expensive than woods. If you are on a budget, paying almost three times as much as a golf wood will sting.
  • Heavier than woods. It might get exhausting when you are consistently swinging with an iron because the head is relatively heavier than that of a wood.
  • Harder to master. Because a golf iron’s head is smaller than a wood’s, you will find yourself striking the air quite a bit when you try to swing for long distances.
  • Can significantly overshoot. While a golf wood can overshoot the ball beyond the hole, using an iron with the same swing as a wood can send the ball into a lake. That is because an iron’s mass with a wood’s swing can generate multiple times the force.
  • Tough on the ball. Because there is a smaller point of impact, the ball receives a substantial beating each time it receives a strike from an iron.

Different Types of Irons

If you don’t already have irons and you search for them online, you will notice that just like woods, they too come in different sizes and shapes. Below is a short introduction to each significant category of irons:

  • 1 Iron/Driver. This is named following the same pattern and reasoning as 1-wood. A 1 iron is the driver that has the lowest loft and the largest head. This makes the ball go the longest distance and is just doing what a 1-wood does much better.
  • Long irons. This is a subcategory that covers two iron to 4 iron and functions similarly to golf woods. With a low loft and high surface area, these clubs prioritize distance over precision. The weight and the loft keep increasing with the numbers, and the surface area keeps decreasing.
  • Mid Irons. 5 iron to 7 iron clubs are the equivalent of fairway woods. They’re used for mid-distance shots from hilly fairways and other positions as well, with a range of 130 years to 210 yards. Staying true to the trends and the physics, the head becomes smaller, and the loft increases alongside the club head’s weight as you move from the long irons to the mid irons.
  • Short irons. The densest club heads in a standard golf irons set are the 8 and 9 irons that can be used for the short and mid-range high-precision hits. These are the most crucial irons in a set, and even amateurs investing in only two clubs are advised to have at least one short iron.

Which One Should You Buy?

Whether you are just getting acquainted with golfing or have a club already, you need to know when to buy a wood and when to invest in an iron.

You will likely buy both over your golfing journey since all professionals and serious amateurs have both woods and irons.

However, at the earlier stages, you can add a wood or an iron to your set or make a solo purchase of either based on your needs.

Who Should Buy a Golf Wood?

If the following descriptors sound relatable, you should buy a golf wood:

  • You are great at sending the ball inside the hole but still get a high score. If you have this problem, chances are you keep undershooting, and a golf wood can fix this very quickly.
  • You play on massive courses. Theoretically, if you make a course large enough, every player would get a 1 million score. This illustrates the importance of distance in getting your score down. If your score is low on a short course, that’s a precision problem. But if your score is low on a large course, you need to get yourself a golf wood.
  • You are on a budget. Unfortunately, many times, our buying decisions can be restricted by the budget we are on. This is where a golf wood can be a nice starting investment. While you may not get the best precision, it will at least make the game accessible to you on a budget.
  • Irons are too heavy for you. Golfing requires focus and precision, neither of which you can summon if your arm is aching all day. That is why, when you notice fatigue from using irons, it is better not to fight the pain and reduce iron use by opting for woods for long to medium distances. 

Top Golf Woods to Buy

Reaching farther with long-distance shots is crucial in keeping scores low in larger courses. If you have at least two clubs, one of them must be a wood. Here are the top golf woods to invest in.

TaylorMade M6 Driver

Drivers almost all have a great distance advantage, but if your ball spins on impact, you can find yourself scoring more despite shooting far.

TaylorMade M6 is engineered for straight shots in addition to distance. Available in both right and left-hand orientations, the M6 has a graphite head with a customizable configuration. 

You can get the club in a 10.5-degree angle configuration, a 9-degree configuration, and a 12-degree configuration. If you get fitted for a graphite driver, you will know which of these angles is best for you.

What is unique about this model is that each club is individually tested for speed and injected with material that adds to the head’s density.

The material injection is made up to the legally allowed maximum limit giving each club the maximum possible legal speed per strike.

You will also notice that the club head is not typical-looking when compared to average 1-woods or 2-woods.

It is custom-designed to have a maximum forgiveness and simultaneously make use of curvature and straightness to help you achieve straight distance.

With over four hundred reviews on Amazon, the product is collectively rated at 4.8 stars out of 5. 

More precisely, it has been given 4.6 stars for its sheerness, 3.2 stars for its warmth, and 3.2 stars for its thickness.

Ultimately, you do not want the driver to be too thick or the clubhead to be sheer. After all, you are relying on lower mass for a faraway shot.

This explains why with relatively lower ratings in these categories, the overall rating of the club is among the highest in the drivers’ category.

Callaway Rogue Driver (2020)

The reason most woods are not exactly made of wood is the advancement in golf club manufacturing technology.

And with the technological improvement trend, the general rule of thumb is that the later models are better than the prior models.

This gives Rogue its edge as the 2020 model comes with three loft angles ranging from a standard 10.5-degree loft to 13.5 degrees with a 9-degrees option as well. 

Obviously, when making your purchase of a driver, you want to minimize the loft, and that explains the popularity of 10.5 degrees rogue.

With a graphite head, this wood will help you achieve distance and speed. The club head has one of the largest club head surface areas within the brand’s line.

It also has a collaborative effort from Boeing, the technology of which it appropriates to optimize the airflow for maximum distance.

With over one hundred and forty-five reviews and ratings on Amazon, the product has a global average rating of 4.6 stars out of 5. 75% of the customers have given it 5 stars, whereas only 4% have given it a single star rating.

To make sure you are in the 75% and not the disappointed 4%, only purchase this if you would like to launch the ball far away and have clubs for mid-distance and short distance.

Ti Matrix Driver by King Par

It can be quite frustrating to browse for good clubs only to see professional clubs with pro-golfer prices populate one’s search.

Many golfers just getting started want a driver that does not cost an arm and a leg. With a great value-for-money proposition, King Par leads the way in this.

The driver has a graphite shaft and an alloy head that packs a punch on impact. 

The surface area of the club’s head is as large as is allowed for drivers in-game, and the loft is minimized to allow you to achieve a maximum distance in relatively little time.

With over four hundred ratings and reviews worldwide, the global average rating of the product comes to a 3.9 out of 5 stars. 69% of the customers have given it a 5 or 4-star rating while a minority have assigned it ratings of 3 stars and lower. 

To make sure you are not disappointed in this purchase, make sure you are ready to master precision with drivers as this design is built only for distance.

You will require some training before hitting straight long-distance shots with this. But for nearly one-fourth of a standard driver’s price, this is quite a bargain.

TaylorMade RBZ Fairway

No game of golf ends without coming down to precision. In fact, it is possible to play without drivers (on small courses), but it is nearly impossible to get a low score without a fairway.

RBZ is a fairway wood that requires serious consideration. The 3 wood comes with a 15-degree loft and a smaller surface area than driving woods.

It packs a punch on impact but requires a lower swing from a steeper angle, which makes it possible to prioritize precision while retaining some distance.

It has a shallow profile, with the shaft being significantly lighter than the head to allow the impact to register with a degree of forgiveness. 

The product has over 300 reviews on Amazon, and the global average rating comes to 4.6 stars out of 5. RBZ has also gained a 4.1-star rating for thickness, which becomes significant at a fairway stage since you want smaller swings to result in longer distances.

It also received a 4.1-star rating for its value for money proposition, which can be a deciding factor for many.

Who Should Buy a Golf Iron?

If you can relate to any of the following, you need to purchase a golf iron:

  • You have mastered the long-distance put. If you find out that your score rises as you get closer to the hole, you have a problem that irons can fix. By adding force behind short strikes at a steeper angle, you will have the ball in the hole in no time (except the time it takes to master an iron)
  • You plan to start taking the game more seriously. If you are a golfer who does not have an iron, chances are you are just starting out. If your hobby has the potential to become a regular practice, you should get yourself an iron.
  • You are not constrained by physical or monetary limitations. Irons are hard to master, but for short distance precision swings, wood will require much more training. So the difficulty of irons is not an optional obstacle. Even on the point of higher price, if a golf club membership is within your budget, chances are you can afford an iron and should buy one. The only reasons, then, to play exclusively with woods are medical. If you are allergic to certain materials or can’t physically carry a heavier club, you can try mastering woods for a shorter distance.

Top Golf Irons to Buy

Fairways and drivers can decrease one’s score, but without the right short-distance club, it is nearly impossible to finish a game.

Irons have been a cornerstone of the game for this very purpose. And below are the top irons to invest in.

Callaway 2020 Mavrik Iron

Irons have come a far way from what they used to be historically. Today, with each new design advance, they bring more precision into the game.

Callaway leads the way in this innovation, and its 2020 9 iron is among the highest precision short distance irons available online. With an alloy steel build, the club has a 36-degree loft.

Mavrik is the closest thing to a custom-fitted club you can get without actually getting customer-fitted. The brand is built around using artificial intelligence to optimize head-shape for each loft.

Therefore the heads are all designed to carry the ball further with precision and serve the irons’ purpose, be it to drive, hit a mid-distance, or, as is the case with the 9 iron, to go a short distance with a minimal swing.

While the 9 Iron is recommended for short distances, you can make use of this build and technology in any of the models available starting at a 4 iron. It is advisable to get an 8 or a 9 iron and leave the fairway, and drive shots to the woods.

The Callaway Mavrik has over one hundred reviews despite being rolled out in a year where leisure and sports have been largely restricted.

Its global average rating comes down to 4.6 stars, with 72% of people giving it 5 stars and only 8% giving it 1 out of 5 stars. To make sure you are not in the latter, use the irons for short to medium-short distances only.

Lazarus Premium 9 Iron

For beginners in golfing, the high prices of individual irons are perhaps the biggest turn-off. After all, the prospect of purchasing an iron only to see it have little precision seems risky.

Lazarus removes this risk by bringing as premium a golf club as any new hobbyist would need and with an 80% smaller price tag.

You can purchase the Lazarus irons as a set of 4 to 9 irons or simply opt for a 9/8 iron based on the clubs you already have.

Though the brand also offers driving irons, it is much better to use woods for launching the ball. The heads are built with the same alloys used by many name brands, but the design is not exactly revolutionary. 

With over 180 reviews and ratings, the product still has managed to receive a 4.7 out of 5 stars rating. Interestingly enough, it is among the highest in the golf irons category despite the product having a smaller price.

4.8 stars were given to its value for money proposition, which is great for beginners. Interestingly, it also received 4.7 stars for accuracy, which is crucial in higher irons since that is the point of having a higher loft club.

Conclusion

You can win at golf games without having a single wood in your set. Sets made entirely of irons can work for long, medium, and short distances. But adding a wood is more practical to make the ball go farther if you play on a large course.

The game of golf is about making the ball travel a distance and then aiming it precisely enough to help the ball get in the hole. For this, both woods and irons are useful, respectively.

17 Places to Sell Golf Clubs for Cash

Written by Tony M. in Golf Clubs,Golf Ideas,Golf Self Help,How-to Guides

Whether you’re done with golf or you’ve improved your equipment, it’s always nice to get a return for your investment.

Golf clubs are far from cheap, but you might be surprised about how much money you can make by trading or reselling them. There are countless online and in-person places to get rid of them.

To sell golf clubs for cash, try 2nd Swing, PGA, Dick’s Sporting Goods, or Golf Galaxy. There are many lesser-known websites as well, including 3 Balls, Swing Em’ Again Golf, and World Golf & Sand Creek. You can choose the club, compare to others, and get the most money for every sale.

Throughout this article, you’ll also learn the following info about selling golf clubs for cash:

  • Numerous online suggestions to get more money for your clubs
  • Details about every company, including the step-by-step sales process
  • How quickly you can trade or sell golf clubs online

Professional Golfers’ Association

Anyone who knows the slightest bit of details about golfing knows about the PGA Tour. It’s more than a high-stakes tour; PGA (Professional Golfers’ Association) keeps track of records, rules, and equipment.

If you want pro-grade equipment, there’s no better place to find it. Similarly, you can trade or sell them your gear.

They have a familiar trade-in page that allows you to input the make, model, year, and other information about the clubs.

Once you get through that process, you’ll have to be honest about the quality. Needless to say, every club will be thoroughly inspected to ensure that they’re up to the rating that you gave them.

You can get an instant quote from the company for free. Trade-in your old clubs for a massive discount off of a new set or get cash-in-hand.

Either way, the process is as simple and quick as possible. All you have to do is ship the clubs to the provided address and wait for the payment to go through.

Swing Em’ Again Golf

If you want to get another quote (which is always a good idea to get the best offer), try out Swing Em’ Again Golf. They have an incredibly detailed sales process that covers all of the basics.

The interface allows you to choose the make, model, quality, club type, and more. Everything you need to know is listed on the page.

You’ll be able to sell, trade, or buy new clubs from the menu. It’s like shopping at a store, but without all of the hassle of dealing with other customers.

When you go through the process, they ask numerous questions to keep you on track. Note that all sales less than $100 will require a $10 shipping fee.

If you decide to trade in your clubs for another set, the shipping is free. Furthermore, they offer special seasonal bonuses and other deals that can’t be passed up.

Pro Clubs

Pro Clubs claim that they have the best offers in the industry, so why not give them a try? Even if you only get a few extra bucks, it’s more than worth the time.

They try to beat the other competitors by giving up to 15% more for trade-in deals and sales from you to them. You’re also allowed to buy new clubs if you’d like.

Another benefit of choosing Pro Clubs is that they have a top-of-the-line 24-hour payment process. Rather than waiting a few days or weeks, you can have your money within one day of the transaction.

It’s hard to beat such quick payments that you can choose via PayPal, trade-in credit, or cash to your bank account.

The Golf Club

The Golf Club offers unique payment methods and a three-step transaction process.

No need to get caught up in all of the drama of sales if you go through this company. Let’s break down the step-by-step method below.

  1. Get a free quote from the company. Input the details about the golf clubs, including the make, model, size, and so on.
  2. Request a shipping label. You can print it right off of their website, so you don’t have to wait for stickers or go to a printing store.
  3. Choose how you want to get paid. Among the numerous payment methods is the option to get it through a gift card. If you choose this selection, you’ll get a 10% bonus on top of the gift card. Note that you can only use it through their online store.

Golf Stix

Golf Stix is the go-to source for golfing equipment for many beginner and pro-level golfers. You can find everything you need in one spot.

More importantly, you’ll be able to sell or trade your golf clubs for money or in-store credit. They also have a membership program that offers discounts and access to 50+ clubs around the country.

You can get a quote by navigating to their trade-in page. Some details indicate how much each club will get you, as well as what you can use the credit towards.

If you intend to keep golfing, then it’s worth getting the bonus credit payment option for hats, shirts, clubs, and more.

Golf Stix might not be the first company that comes to mind, but they’re definitely worth checking out.

Dick’s Sporting Goods

On the other hand, Dick’s Sporting Goods is one of the world’s most popular sports stores. You can buy and sell all sorts of equipment, including your golf clubs.

Their four-step process makes it quick and easy for anyone to sell or trade their golf clubs for a reasonable price. Note that the price will drastically drop for low-end clubs.

Here’s what you’ll need to do:

  1. Select the club type. Choose between fairway, driver, wedge, and a few other common golf club options.
  2. Pick the brand. There are many club brands, but keep in mind that Dick’s will only accept golf clubs that they typically sell.
  3. Choose the model. Here, you’ll have to look through a handful of clubs to figure out the exact number. You should be able to find the model by researching the serial number on your golf club set.
  4. Select the bonus options. You can choose male or female, left-handed or right-handed, and many other options to impact the price of the club.

Once you get the quote, you can select your payment options and get a shipping label to initiate the process.

Golf Galaxy

Golf Galaxy uses a very similar interface to Dick’s Sporting Goods. You have to follow the same step-by-step method, but you need to know a few extra details before you pick it.

For example, if you decide to get trade-in credit for a bonus percentage, you’ll receive the gift certificate code via email.

All shipping and handling charges are free if your trade-in value is over $99. They’ll send you a label, you place it on the box, and ship it out to the company.

It’s as simple as that! No more frustrating calls or wondering where your clubs are when they’re in transit. Once the company receives the clubs, you’ll receive a payment.

Sell-a-Club

Just like the simple name, Sell-a-Club’s transaction process is a breeze. Get your club’s details, select a payment method, and ship the golf clubs.

If you don’t care about low prices and you want to get the cash in your bank as soon as possible, you might not find a better deal on the internet.

The only issue that you might encounter is that they only buy and trade major brands. If your clubs aren’t from one of 5 to 10 well-known companies, then you might not be able to get much of an offer for them.

That being said, it’s worth getting a quote to know if you could get store credit to purchase other golf clubs and gear.

Global Golf

Are you interested in getting a better set of golf clubs, but you don’t know what to do with your current set? Global Golf lets you get 10% bonus cash when you trade your old clubs.

Look through their vast selection to find the gear that fits your play style, then go through the quick process to get a quote.

They sell and accept all major brands, so you shouldn’t have a problem finding a home for your clubs. Trading them online should give you a bonus for the short wait time, and that’s exactly what you’ll get when you go through this company.

They also have many seasonal deals for an additional portion off of your total price.

Mikey’s Golf Shop

Do you want to skip the details and get straight to the cash? There aren’t many places that work like a pawn shop, but Mikey’s Golf Shop does it in a way, unlike many others.

Click the sales tab, input your information, and print the provided shipping label. The only two downsides of this method are that you won’t get loads of cash and the shipping takes longer than usual.

However, it’s as simple as it gets. If you’re not pressed for cash and want to get the clubs out of your house, this is an excellent option.

You can contact customer support for details, but it’s not too complicated to learn by yourself.

Seen Ray

If you have a unique golf club set (or other golf memorabilia) that you’re trying to get rid of, Seen Ray should be near the top of your list.

They offer decent rates for a variety of golf gear, so get your autographed, special equipment ready and start looking for a quote from the company. For the best results, contact them via phone or email.

For those of you who are curious about how the sales, trade-in and shipping processes work, check out their YouTube channel or Facebook page for more details.

Note that it’s not a massive company, so it might take a while to go through the whole deal. However, many customers have found that it’s worth the wait.

World Golf & Sand Creek

World Golf & Sand Creek takes the complexity out of golf sales and trade-ins by giving you a chart to use. They show the trade-in condition level with the estimated price that you can use for in-store credit.

As recommended by the company, downgrade one condition level to figure out how much cash you could get for your clubs.

They also suggest that you clean your clubs before you ship them out. This tip is recommended for every company, so make sure you wipe them down with a cloth to make them look as good as possible.

You never know when you might get more money by taking a few minutes to clean every golf club in your order.

3 Balls

Simple sales processes are always a welcome surprise, especially when you’re dealing with online transactions.

3 Balls make it easy for you to detail your clubs to get the most money offered by the company. There’s a simple method, so let’s cover all of it below.

  1. Choose the style of the club (hybrid, putter, an iron set, etc.).
  2. Pick who makes the clubs. Remember that the manufacturer always influences the price.
  3. Select the model name. There are many model names, so if you’re not about yours, check with the company that made it. You should be able to find a serial number on the set.
  4. Choose additional specs. These could include hand orientation, materials, and more.

Golfing Exchange

Golf has been around for ages, but it’s important to stay updated with modern technology.

For convenience purposes, Golfing Exchange allows you to use their website or app to choose how you want to buy, sell, and trade your golfing gear.

The app is as easy as it gets, allowing you to cycle through multiple modes to decide what transactions you want to do.

Golfing Exchange is very similar to eBay in the sense that there’s no major company buying and selling the products. Everything on the page is bought, sold, and traded by customers.

If you want to put your clubs up for a bidding war, you can make quite a bit of money. Take photos of the clubs and set the quality and price to get started.

Cash for Golf Clubs

Cash for Golf Clubs focuses on the basics of the transaction. As their name implies, they get straight to the point. That being said, this company offers competitive rates, so you might want to think about comparing their quote with others.

You could report back to them to see if they’ll raise the value of your clubs.

There are dozens of brands that they sell, buy, and trade, so don’t worry if your clubs aren’t made from the most reputable source.

Head to their trade-in page, input the details of your clubs, and select a payment method. You can get paid by check or PayPal, but they also allow you to trade your golf clubs if you’d like to.

Golf Club Brokers

Golf Club Brokers is known for its excellent ratings, customer feedback, and quick sales processes. They let you choose precise details to ensure that you’re getting the most for your golf clubs.

To make it even better, they offer selective price matching with other companies in the area.

Their payment methods include Check and PayPal, with the former option available in Next Day shipping for a few extra dollars.

If you choose PayPal, you’ll find the payment in your account within one business day, which is one of the many impressive features offered by the company.

2nd Swing

If you don’t want to risk it with an unknown company, try 2nd Swing. They offer competitive rates, but more importantly, you’ll get the peace of mind that your money and golf clubs are being handled with care.

You can use your store credit for more golfing memorabilia or convert it to cash straight to your bank account.

If you decide to get in-store credit, you should expect it to show up on your account within 7 to 14 business days. For those of you who have additional questions, feel free to contact their customer support team.

They also have a lengthy FAQ page covering the most common questions about buying, trading, and selling your golf clubs.

Regardless of which company you choose to sell or trade your clubs, make sure you read the fine print. Are you getting store credit, or can you expect a PayPal/check transaction?

Conclusion

As you can see, there are countless options for you to choose from. Whether you prefer a detailed sales process, a bonus for gift card credit, or instant cash offers, there’s something for everyone on the list above. You don’t even need to go into a store to sell your golf clubs anymore!

How Much Are Custom Golf Clubs? A Complete Guide

Written by Tony M. in Golf Clubs,Golf Equipment,Golf Questions

You have likely heard about the benefits of custom golf clubs. At some point, you may even think, “Is this something I need?” With this thinking, your next obvious question may be, “how much are custom golf clubs?”

Custom golf clubs cost between $200 to $2,500 (or more) on average. The cost of your set of custom golf clubs depends on many factors, including the brand, custom fit facility, club quantity, and more. 

Are you ready to learn more about the cost of custom golf clubs, the factors that impact the price, and if it is worth the investment? If so, keep reading. Here you can find all this information and more.

Why Do You Need Custom Golf Clubs?

If someone was asked to identify the fundamentals of golf, most would say things such as keep your head down, left arm straight, and be sure your swing is on a plane.

It is true that these are the fundamentals of any good golf game. While this is true, there is something else to think about.

One of the most important factors of any golf game that must be considered before stepping onto the course—the clubs. Having custom clubs is one of the best ways to improve your game and enjoy a better score.

While many humble players claim they are so good, there is no need to customize their clubs.

Still, if you are using clubs without loft/lie angles, length, weight, and shaft flex that have been properly matched, it can cause cases of overcompensation and, eventually, prevent you from learning the proper form.

When your handicap is higher, it is essential to have golf clubs that fit properly. Regardless of if you are new to the game or a veteran, professional player, at all stages of your game, you may wonder—is it time to get custom clubs? Some of the top reasons to make this investment include:

  • If you are starting out, having clubs that fit your body and your swing means you can practice in line with your specific playstyle when you are taking lessons.
  • If you are over beginner level, custom clubs will provide virtually everything you will need. With custom clubs, you can fill in gaps while helping to eliminate cases of subpar shots, helping you achieve your full potential.
  • Advanced golfers have real-world knowledge to figure out the specific shots they are trying to hit.

With custom clubs, you can make better contact with the ball, and you will be able to practice and achieve better strokes. Over time, this results in better scores, which is something all golfers appreciate.

Some golfers use professional club fitters’ services because they have years of training and high-tech equipment to help analyze a player’s swing, body type, impact speed and angles, ability, and more (more about this below).

While properly fit clubs will help you hit your ball further, they will also help your swing be more accurate.

When you can tighten your shop dispersion and find more fairways, you can stay out of trouble and achieve better golf scores. If you golf, you require clubs that will allow you to hit closer to the pin and further.

Thanks to the demand for custom fit clubs, many top club manufacturers have been prompted to invest in custom club design.

This means you can easily find the right/best golf clubs for your needs and game. Thanks to this demand, there are various options for custom clubs for all golfers, regardless of their ability or level.

After acquiring the specs for your clubs, you will have an idea about the grip, shaft, lie, and length you need to get the best fitting clubs possible.

Important Custom Golf Club Specs to Know

When having custom golf clubs fit, there are a few specs that must be known. These include:

  • Length: A club with a proper length will help you remain in an athletic position and let you achieve a swing you can repeat.
  • Lie angle: The lie assists the club as it moves through the golf course turf, providing more consistent results, and helps counter the misses.
  • Flex and shaft: Make sure to ask the fitter to ensure the shafts have the right flex and weight to achieve consistency and distance from your shots.
  • Grip: Grip is somewhat of a personal preference. You need to know what option works with your preferred feel and hand size, along with the weather you are usually playing in.

When it comes to the look of your clubs, the head is the most important. This is where the history of golf meets innovative computer design. The result is a club that combines innovation and tradition.

No longer are you limited to woods made of iron? You can find heads in an array of designs, materials, and weights. Before you are overwhelmed by the selection, consider the main components of the golf club head.

  • Shape and size: When choosing a wood or driver, size is important. The club heads with higher CCs (cubic centimeters) and bigger sweet spots are more forgiving and provide additional control as they make solid contact.
  • Loft: Consider the loft angle wanted on the driver’s face, which is typically between 8-14°. The proper loft is determined by how you strike the ball and if you hit up or down.
  • Offset: The amount the leading edge of your clubface trails the shaft’s leading edge when connecting to the clubhead.
  • Lie angle: This feature makes sure the club can sit on the ground squarely and prevents the club’s toe or heel from digging in during impact.

With a proper fitting for your custom clubs, you can find out which ones you need to have. While all sets require a putter and driver, your style and ability will determine the other clubs required.

Important Things to Consider When Buying Custom Golf Clubs

When it comes to golf, there is no “one-size-fits-all” solution. Your game is shaped by several factors, ranging from distance to accuracy and more.

Now it is time to dive deep into the costs related to being fit for custom clubs. Remember, several factors will impact this price.

  • Brand and purchase location: The cost related to having a set of golf clubs custom fit to you depends on the brand you choose and where you purchase the clubs. Today, you can find an array of club manufacturers who have custom club options. The prices for these are higher compared to some of the other facilities that offer custom fitting options. The cost depends on where the custom set is being purchased from.
  • Fitting type: You can choose to have your golf set fully customized, or you can do it for one or just a few clubs. An average player will likely select a few clubs for customization. The main reason for this is because the cost of a custom fitting is not low. Some facilities offering custom fitting options require a payment of $100 per custom club being created. However, if you play in tournaments, you will likely invest in a complete custom club set.
  • Club quantity: The cost of your golf clubs is dependent on the number that makes up a full set. This is true regardless of if you have the basic nine types of clubs or if you use a more advanced set. The more clubs you have and use, the more the set will cost and the cost of the club fitting.
  • Retailer markup: Most retailers are going to markup clubs by about 33.3%. However, this is going to vary from one retailer to another.
  • Corporate costs: This refers to the money spent on marketing, sales, and corporate expenses. It is estimated to be around 24.3% of the total cost that you pay.
  • Research and development: Approximately 2.3% of your clubs’ total cost will be spent on the research and development process.

How Many Golf Clubs Are There in a Set?

There is no limit regarding the number of golf clubs you can have in your bag for amateurs. Essentially, the number is whatever you are willing to carry.

While it may be annoying and heavy to carry 20 clubs, you have the option to do this if you like. You should also note that your clubs cannot be swapped—at any time. That means you need to consider the clubs you are going to use and pick them carefully.

However, with competitive golfing tournaments, you are restricted to just 14 clubs per golf round. Usually, it is a good idea to have one wood as your driver. However, you may want two or more than that depending on your current skill level.

If you have a higher handicap, you may struggle with the true drivers (i.e., one wood), and as a result, it may be a good idea to bring along a five or three wood.

Other expert golfers find three woods (one, three, and five) are best; however, it all depends on the driving situation that you are in. However, if you carry this many woods, it will limit you on the total number of wedges, hybrids, and irons you can carry in your bag.

Most skilled golfers do not need more than two wedges (in most cases)—sand and a pitching wedge. However, some can make it with just a pitching wedge, even in an overly sandy situation.

This means you should spread out your clubs between your irons and hybrids. You have more control and distance with the four, five, or six hybrids and are smart options for amateurs.

While this is true, the one, two, or three iron offers more distance by requiring someone with more precision to their hit.

It is important to note that the lower the number is on the golf club, the more distance it will provide; however, this increased distance will negatively impact precision.

Usually, a standard golfer will require seven, eight, and nine irons for more precise, shorter shots around and on more challenging parts of the green. Also, you cannot forget you need a minimum of one putter. This is necessary for any golf tournament.

It is possible to put with a different club; however, you will likely discover this choice does not pan out very well. In most cases, you will just wind up frustrated.

You may wonder if you need more than one putter in your set. This is unnecessary for amateurs, but many professionals carry more than one of these during a tournament.

If you have a custom set of clubs created, purchasing a specialized putter gives you more control. These specialized clubs may help on valleys and hills and help you stay competitive longer.

If an average golf club (not customized) costs $150 per club, you can purchase the entire set of 14 clubs for $2,100. This does not account for the fitting or customization process.

What Is the Cost of a Fitted Set of Golf Clubs?

The cost you are charged to have a set of golf clubs custom fit depends on your needs and the clubs you want.

Using the services of a trained fitter, you can determine the specs needed for your new clubs. This includes things like:

  • Grips
  • Head design
  • Shaft flex
  • Lie angle

To find these specifications, besides the help of a trained professional, a fitting facility must also have the needed tools. This includes a suitable studio and launch monitor.

These are some of the reasons the product and process are so expensive. At this point, you are likely wondering—what is the actual cost of a fitted set of clubs?

Thanks to the information above, you have a general idea of the cost of a custom set of clubs. You also know the basic factors that will impact the price. However, besides buying a whole set of fitted golf clubs that may start at around $2,000, you also have to pay for the fitting session.

It is completely up to you if you will pay for the custom golf clubs fitting. Some golf OEMs provide a direct golf club fitting. 

There are some facilities, such as the Titleist Performance Institute, that charge $100 up to $125 for each golf club you have fit. Others only require a payment for the entire session.

For example, Foregolf charges $110 per hour for club review, and Callaway Performance Centres charges $150 for a session.

Some even offer fitting sessions for no charge, as long as you purchase the clubs from them. Or you may have to pay the session rates but not have to purchase the clubs.

Put simply, each facility is going to charge differently for the club fitting session.

How Much Are Quality Golf Clubs?

What is considered a good set of golf clubs is dependent on your level of ability and expertise. While this is true, there is typically a standard set needed for individuals who are just starting out.

If you are worried about the cost of a good set of clubs, you must think about your skills. Should you choose a basic or a higher-end set?

Usually, professional clubs will cost more than the off-the-rack clubs sold in most golf stores. You can typically find a basic set for approximately $200, while higher-end clubs will cost around $1,000.

It is clear, as you gain more experience, and as your performance improves, you can invest in a higher-quality set of clubs. Also, a fitted set is often recommended, and you can find out the average cost of this above.

Even if the club fitting is expensive, you can bet many advantages from it. Buying custom clubs is an effective way to improve your overall performance.

However, if you do not have the budget for a customized set now and want to improve your game, there are an array of high-quality clubs you can purchase as an alternative.

Are Custom Clubs Right for You?

It does not matter if you are new to golf or on the professional circuit; having a set of custom golf clubs offers an array of advantages.

While this is true, making sure you get the right fit is essential. From the information above, you can easily see an array of factors that go into the final price you pay for your custom clubs.

If you are in the market for your own custom clubs, it is important to note that they can be quite an investment.

Be sure to figure out what you can spend before moving forward with this purchase, which will help you avoid overspending on the custom clubs you ultimately purchase.

Being informed, knowing what custom clubs offer, and why this is a smart investment can help you see why you should make it.

Conclusion

Before you spend top-dollar for a new set of customized golf clubs, it’s important that you know what you’re looking for. The brand, style, size, and many other features can influence your decision.

High-end golf clubs can cost well over $1,000, but that doesn’t mean that you have to spend that much money to get a good set.

In the end, it’s all about choosing which set of golf clubs allows you to maintain proper positioning while you drive and put down the green. Good luck, and remember to test multiple clubs before making your decision.

Can Golf Clubs Be Fitted After Purchase?

Written by Tony M. in Golf Clubs,Golf Equipment,Golf Questions

There are two ways to get better scoring at golf. One is to get a club and adjust your swing to match it; the other is to get a custom-fit golf club that matches your prior swing.

This makes many golfers wonder if they can get their previously purchased golf clubs fitted for better performance.

Golf clubs can be fitted after they are purchased because the loft, the grip, and the shaft of a pre-owned club can all be adjusted to optimize your performance. However, if an alternate head is required to make your performance even better, you will need to replace the club.

This article goes deeper into what happens at a fitting, how long it takes to get fitted, and what materials are best to bring down your score.

It also covers how you can improve your game regardless of the fit or the material.

What Happens at Golf Club Fitting?

The concept of golf club fitting is to adjust one’s club to match their natural swing.

This reduces the learning curve and does not force one to adjust their swing to a standard golf club but focuses on picking and adjusting the club to match a golfer’s swing.

For this, the golfer is given a club with a head of choice to try his swing at a golf screen with a program that monitors the score.

Multiple lengths, angles, etc. are tested, and the fitter comes up with the specifications that would be ideal for the golfer. If ordering a custom-fitted club, the specifications are noted for the manufacturer to produce the exact club.

When getting fitted before purchase, the player has the added advantage of trying multiple heads, including different types of wood and iron pick the best head.

If you already own a club, you will let the fitter know which head the club has so he or she can only test with the same head.

This will restrict how much your fitted-club will reduce your score, but it will still be significantly better than trying to adjust to a standard golf club.

After you receive your specifications, you have to give them to a facility that can customize your club.

Of course, you also have to part with your club while they re-forge and adjust the club to match your needs.

How Long Does It Take to Get a Golf Club Fitted?

It can take anywhere between thirty minutes to an hour to get your club fitted, depending on the variety of heads you are testing for.

If you already own a club, it will take significantly less time as you will not test for different heads.

However, this does not include the customizing time, which can depend on the number of adjustments that need to be made.

Is Golf Club Fitting Considered Cheating?

Novices might feel that getting fitted makes the game easier; hence, it might be unethical or equivalent of an easy mode.

However, professionals have never debated the ethical status of club fitting.

It is considered a must in the professional community because golfers replace their clubs too often, and it would be unfair to expect to adjust to a new club every time one is worn out. 

Even amateurs get fitted because the fitting is just an extension of picking the right size. You would not force yourself to adjust your swing to a golf club that is clearly too large for you.

If you pick a club based on what is convenient for your height and the weight you can swing, getting fitted is just a natural step in making this more precise and is not considered by anyone in the community as unethical.

Should a Beginner Get Fitted for Golf?

While you may read about professionals getting custom fitted golf clubs, beginners may wonder if it is wise to get used to customized clubs before getting used to standard clubs.

Beginners should get fitted for golf because everyone has a natural swing, and unlearning it is counterproductive. If you get custom-fitted, you can learn how to make the most of your natural swing. 

In sports like basketball, there is a universal ball that one should master handling, and if a person changes his ball to adjust to his playing style, he will face a handicap when facing off in standard games. However, in golf, there is no universal golf club.

So putting yourself on the harder path of learning to swing an off-the-shelf club will give you no added advantage in a regular game.

How Often Should You Replace Your Golf Clubs?

How often you should replace your golf clubs depends on how frequently you use them.

If you regularly use your golf club, even the highest quality material will need replacing every four years, but lower use-frequency and durable material can add up to ten years to your club’s longevity.

What Is the Best Material for Golf Club Heads?

The selection of golf clubs can get confusing because it is not as simple as picking a wooden head or a metal head. The head of a golf club varies the most between different clubs. To reduce the confusion, here are the top three materials used for golf club heads:

Stainless Steel

If you see a metal club, chances are the head is made of steel. It comes the closest to being called the standard metal head. Manufacturers often use it because it is cheaper to make, relatively durable, and can be easily cast into different shapes. 

Titanium

This is aircraft metal, which means it is durable and light yet has enough drive to become the most popular golf club head of all the materials. Professionals often use this club head and get exclusively fitted for titanium. That said, it is much harder to master than wood and aluminum. 

These factors make it a rare purchase among beginners who want to invest in inexpensive clubs that they can easily play with.

Aluminum

They are among the lightest ones in the metal head category but also the least durable. You can buy them for much less than titanium head clubs but should expect to replace them more often. These clubs are also pretty easy to master but may later become a handicap.

Once you learn how to swing with aluminum heads, you are confined to getting fitted for aluminum heads and thus replacing your golf club often.

How to Improve at Golf Without Getting Fitted?

Peter F Druker said, “One cannot build performance on weakness.” Though the quote was for business management, it has since become an important part of game theory.

If you wish to improve your golf swing without getting fitted, you are playing with the odds stacked against you. 

However, there is one thing that will improve your game and remain transferrable to other clubs as well, and that is, focusing on precision over distance. 

Do not get good at blindly hitting the ball farther when your score comes down to your ability to get the ball in the hole with the least hits.

Train yourself to prioritize precision over distance, and you will get good at the game regardless of the club head, length, and material.

Final Thoughts

Just like choosing a club that matches your height contributes to reducing your golf score, getting a club customized to your natural swing will strengthen your game. Selecting the head based on your natural ability is ideal, but if you have already bought a club, you can still maximize your performance by getting your club fitted and customized.