| There are so many different styles and makes of | | | | cavity which enables you to work the ball more and |
| clubs nowadays that it can be hard to know where to | | | | get it to do what you want, but it is also the least |
| begin. The most important factor is not if these are the | | | | forgiving if you hit the ball wrong. |
| best golf irons on the market, but if they are the best | | | | Shaft type |
| golf irons for you. | | | | The two main types of shaft are steel or graphite. |
| You see you need to choose the club to suit your skill | | | | Steel shafts make for a club with a heavier feel, and |
| level and your particular preferences, if you have | | | | they don't have as many options for shaft flex, but are |
| elbow trouble you may want to get a club with a | | | | the most durable. Graphite shafts are a lot easier to |
| graphite shaft and a polymer or rubber insert in the | | | | get the flex you want with, but are not as durable and |
| head to reduce the transmission of the impact with the | | | | don't give that heavy feel some people like. |
| ball, but other people may be horrified by that selection. | | | | The best way to choose is to go and try out |
| There are three main factors you should take into | | | | variations of both and see which you like so you can |
| account in your club selection, the club head design, the | | | | find the one with the best 'feel' to it for your playing |
| shaft type and the shaft flex. Combined together | | | | style. |
| these will form the 'personality' of your club and directly | | | | Shaft flex |
| affect the quality of your game. Let's look at each in | | | | The shaft flex affects the balls trajectory and is linked |
| turn: | | | | to how fast you swing your club. As you swing your |
| Club head design | | | | club you will get a certain amount of bend, so choosing |
| The club head is the most important part of the club, | | | | the right stiffness of shaft ensures that the club is at |
| after all that is what makes contact with the ball! | | | | the optimal shape when it connects with the ball. |
| There are three distinct styles of head, the oversized | | | | Typically if you swing at 105mph + you need extra |
| head, the midsize head and the traditional blade style | | | | stiff, 90 - 105 then you need a stiff, 80 - 95 would be |
| head. You can think of these pretty much as beginner, | | | | regular, 70 - 85 would be senior rating and less than 70 |
| intermediate and advanced heads. | | | | would be ladies rating. |
| When you are just starting off then you may want to | | | | You can either go out with a golf instructor and get |
| try an oversized head, these are purposely built with | | | | them to suggest what type of shaft flex you need, or |
| deep cavity-back designs to give a bit of forgiveness | | | | borrow some different clubs from the golf shop at the |
| if you don't hit the ball right. They also have a lower | | | | course and see which one suits your swing style |
| centre of gravity which enables you to get the ball into | | | | better. |
| the air easier. | | | | The key to choosing the best golf irons is to test, |
| Midsize heads are a compromise, they still have a | | | | seeing figures and result on paper is not enough to |
| slightly over accentuated cavity-back design which | | | | choose something so important to your game, get out |
| gives forgiveness and a wider sweetspot, but are not | | | | there and try the different types and you will find your |
| as deep or wide as the oversized head. | | | | ideal clubs in no time. |
| The blade head is the true golf club with a shallow | | | | |