Judging Golf Equipment With Common Sense

Proper stance, grip, posture, and swing are essential elements of the game. You do all these things with golf equipment and, like any other product, some are better than others. Below are a few things you need to consider when looking for clubs and shoes.

Equipment comes in all shapes and sizes to match those of people who use it. Golf is played by people of all ages, races and builds. Many manufacturers offer products to match this variety.

Golf clubs

There are shorter and lighter clubs available to younger players who cannot perform well using an adult set. Many women as well fall into this “less-tall, less-strong” category and need equipment to suit them. These clubs have lightweight shafts and smaller diameter grips.

It is very important to have a set of clubs that fits you perfectly. Clubs that are too heavy will be difficult to control. A club that’s too long or too short will throw off your stance and your swing.

Check out the reasonably priced certified preowned Callaway golf clubs. You can get great clubs and save a lot of money when you buy used equipment.

Too long and the toe of the club will tend to point further up causing a tendency to hook. Too short and the iron will have a toe that points toward the ground causing slicing.

The best way to judge length is by holding at least three different length clubs and checking to make sure a natural swing contacts the club head at the sweet spot.

Besides length, clubs have flex and torque ratings.

Contrary to popular belief, shafts do not tend to lose stiffness over the years, therefore buy the most expensive clubs you can afford. Worn grips are relatively inexpensive to replace.

If you’re an adult and continue to play, you’ll use them for years before technology compels you to upgrade. If your clubs are more than five years old, you may want to consider getting some of the newer clubs.

Flex is the amount a club will “pendulum” back and forth in a plane. If the shaft is too flexible, you have less control and will tend to hook. If the shaft is too stiff, your shot will lose distance and slice. The only way to know what’s right for you is to experiment with different clubs.

Torque ratings measure the degree the shaft rotates counter and clockwise as you look down on the shaft toward the head. When the ball compresses against the clubface, as a result of the impact, the shaft is rotated slightly.

Decompression of the ball as it comes away from the head and rotation of the shaft back to the starting point contribute to a controlled, long flying ball. Start with 2.5, hit some long drives, and experiment to find what’s best for you.

Modern clubs are being produced in design variety. Various materials, longer, heavier, or cavity-backed heads, titanium vs steel vs. graphite vs aluminum shafts, and head inserts make subtle differences.

Picking a club that fits you depends critically on your swing speed and style and other personal factors. Be patient and investigate which clubs that you can afford, give you the best results. Read all product reviews with a skeptical eye.

Golf shoes

An average recreational golfer spends a few hours once a week walking about a couple of miles. While playing, a golfer will be tensing feet and hoping for a solid footing, twisting, and springing. All these actions require quality footwear.

There are many online retailers that carry a wide selection of golf shoes. You get free shipping when you buy shoes at Zappos.com.

As with golf clubs, buy the best you can afford. Your shoes will wear out much more often than clubs so buy a little better than you can afford. A better pair of shoes will usually last enough longer to justify the expense. Leather tends to shape itself to the foot and helps to keep moisture out.

When buying shoes with spikes which are not allowed at all courses, ensure that there is no spike directly beneath the ball of your foot. That spike tends to produce sesamoiditis - pain in the ball of the foot very common among golfers.

Wear the same size and thickness sock that you’ll wear on the course when trying prospective shoes. Naturally, you shoes should not bunch at the toe, nor tend to slip inside the shoe.

Check the foot by putting weight on one side and wiggling your toes. On tiptoe, the shoes should bend where your foot does, across the toes. There should be about a half-inch of space from your big toe to the inside of the shoe.