Golf is not only a very intensive sport; besides time and physical activity, it also demands all kinds of mental strength and knowledge from its followers. It is not just physical fitness that brings a golfer success, but also many small and larger technical decisions. These include choosing the right golf ball, observing the rules and etiquette, and deciding on the right golf club and the right golf swing. To help you with the question of the right club, we would like to introduce the individual types of golf club here.
Tip for amateurs: For amateurs in particular, this is a closed book. But don't let it spoil your enjoyment of golf. After all, as everyone knows, every beginning is hard in any sport. We especially advise you as a beginner: don't let lots of questions about technique and equipment distract you during your first attempts on the course. Take in the information, but focus consistently on executing your golf shot. No type of golf club can improve your swing; quite the opposite. So always let technique come first: which shot do I master best? Which club can I use to play the next shot safely? In the next step, your golf pro will then practise all types of golf club with you. Be patient here too, it's worth it!
The driver
The driver is the most popular of all the types of golf club. It allows you to cover the longest distances, but of course only if you have already mastered the golf swing. After all, the driver is also the longest and therefore most difficult golf club. Although it looks very heavy, it is usually the lightest. This is, of course, down to the material of the whole club. Besides these special features, there is another one: the driver is always played in combination with a tee. This means this type of golf club is only suitable for the tee shot. No golfer should be without a driver, but you should learn to master it particularly well.
The woods
In appearance they closely resemble the driver. The difference is that they are somewhat smaller and can therefore also be played without a tee. As a result, they are mostly used on the fairway when long distances have to be covered. The usual numbers for this type of golf club are 3, 4, 5, 6, 7. The number indicates how far a shot can go. The lower the number, the larger the clubhead, so lower numbers can cover greater distances. The most common sizes of this type of golf club are the 3, the 5 and the 7. (The clubs are called woods because of the material used in the past: the clubheads used to be made of wood.)
The irons
Irons are used for medium distances. They are among the most varied of all the types of golf club. Irons come in the following versions: 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9. This number is always engraved on the head. The rule is: the lower the number, the smaller the angle of the clubface (loft). In addition, the shaft is longer. This affects the distance in that longer distances can be covered.
Hybrid clubs
This type of golf club is a combination of woods and irons. It is also called a rescue and is used mainly in the semi-rough or on the fairway. These types of golf club are not played quite as often as irons or woods, because many golfers do not really see the benefit. One of the advantages is said to be that long shots can be played with a high degree of accuracy.
The pitching wedge
After the 9 iron comes the pitching wedge. With a high loft and a short shaft, this type of golf club is used for approach shots. As already mentioned with the irons, the ball does not fly far, but it does fly high, which makes it possible to play a fairly precise golf shot.
The sand wedge
For even more difficult and precise shots, the sand wedge comes into play. It is also used for lies in the bunker. This type of golf club ranks in ascending order after the 9 iron and the pitching wedge.
The lob wedge
The final stage of the precise golf shot is the lob wedge. Here too, the rule is even shorter and higher, with very precise ball control.
The putter
Last but not least, we must not forget the most important of all the types of golf club: the putter. Up to this point we have overcome all the distances and obstacles from the tee to the green with all the golf clubs listed. Now only a few metres or centimetres separate us from the longed-for target: the hole. For the highest precision in golf, the putter is now brought into play. It also comes in all kinds of versions and shapes. The only advice we can give is to choose the putter that suits you best and that you feel comfortable with. So feel free to invest a little more time in choosing your putter and ask your golf pro or shop to let you try out several models.
The golf club set
But you don't have to buy the clubs individually. Many manufacturers offer the most common types in so-called sets. The big advantage here, of course, is the price. Beginners in particular are better off buying a set than putting together the types of golf club individually. In most cases, a golf bag is also included in the package, so amateurs can get started straight away without having to worry about their first equipment. Of course, sets are available for both left-handed and right-handed players. There are also sets and packages for advanced players. As well as the manufacturers themselves, golf pros or the golf shop can help you here.