| Just as the people who play golf today come in a | | | | tend to lose stiffness over the years and so you |
| range of different sizes and shades, so too does golf | | | | should buy the most expensive clubs that you can |
| equipment. Gone are the days when a golf club was a | | | | afford and plan to hang on to them. Grips will of |
| golf club and nowadays the variety of golf clubs on | | | | course wear out, but these can be easily replaced. |
| offer from a wide range of different manufacturers is | | | | Technology will of course lead to improvements in golf |
| quite astounding. It is now commonly accepted that a | | | | club design, but these tend to be slow in coming and |
| young teenager is not going to do as well playing with | | | | you're certainly not going to need to change your clubs |
| a set of adult clubs. Similarly, the needs of both men | | | | regularly. |
| and women are also quite different when it comes to | | | | Modern clubs come in a variety of designs with such |
| choosing a suitable set of clubs. | | | | things as longer heads, heavier heads, titanium shafts, |
| Golf clubs today come in a variety of different lengths, | | | | graphite shafts, head inserts and much more. At the |
| weights and grip diameters. Controlling a club that is | | | | end of the day, the clubs that are right for you will only |
| too heavy is not easy and playing with a club that is | | | | be found by trying out a wide variety and seeing |
| either too long or too short will throw off your stance | | | | which suits you best. |
| and your swing. If the club is too long the toe will tend | | | | Believe it or not, probably your next most important |
| to point upwards, creating a tendency to hook the ball. | | | | item of golfing equipment will be your shoes. Most |
| Similarly, if the club is too short the toe will point | | | | recreational golfers will spend several hours once a |
| towards the ground and you'll tend to slice the ball. | | | | week walking around the golf course and will spend a |
| The easiest way to judge whether or not the length of | | | | lot of time adjusting their position to get the best |
| a club is right for you is to try out clubs of several | | | | stance in a variety of different positions. It is essential |
| different lengths and check to see that you have a | | | | therefore that you buy good quality footwear. |
| natural swing and that the club head contacts the ball | | | | As with clubs, you should buy the best shoes that you |
| on its sweet spot. | | | | can afford. They will of course wear out and need to |
| As well as the length of the club, its flex and torque | | | | be changed a little more frequently than your clubs, but |
| are also important. The flex of a club is the degree to | | | | buying a cheap pair of golf shoes can turn out to be a |
| which it will pendulum back and forth in a plane. If the | | | | very bad investment. |
| club shaft is too flexible you will have less control over | | | | If you decide to buy shoes with spikes (which |
| it and will tend to hook the ball. If it is too stiff you will | | | | incidentally are not allowed on all courses) ensure that |
| lose distance and also have a tendency to slice the | | | | there are no spikes directly beneath the ball of your |
| ball. Once again, experimenting with different clubs is | | | | foot. Wearing shoes with spikes under the ball of your |
| the only way to know which is right for you. | | | | foot for any length of time can create considerable |
| Torque is the degree to which the club shaft will rotate. | | | | pain. |
| As the club face impacts the ball its shaft will be | | | | Finally, remember that the leather tends, in time, to |
| rotated slightly by the impact and, as the ball leaves | | | | shape itself to the foot and that it also helps to keep |
| the club face, will then rotate back to its original | | | | moisture out. |
| position. As with the flex of the club, this is something | | | | These of course are just two of the many items that |
| you need to experiment with. | | | | are golfer will need to buy but, get these two items |
| Contrary to popular opinion, golf club shafts do not | | | | right, and you'll be off to a very good start. |