HumanGolf.com

By Peter Cunningham

Are you the type of golfer who blames every aspect of the game down to your swing, posture, balance, tempo, etc? If you are then you may have probably missed one vital aspect of the golf equation. You could very easily be spending hours upon hours practicing parts of your game that, in fact, may not require practice at all. Have you thought that maybe you are using equipment not suited to either yourself or your style of play?

Simple, isn’t it? I you are using unsuitable equipment, your game will be on the losing end right from the word go. Check out the following tips to ensure you are using the right tools for the job.

If you are a beginner/junior and have chosen to play this game using a set of pre-owned clubs, you must make sure that you fully check your “new” golf tools prior to purchase with a very keen eye. Every aspect of the clubs needs to be checked. The shafts, clubheads, grips are the initial parts that must pass inspection. Grips can easily be changed, but check the price first. If there is damage to the shaft or clubhead, this is a potential hazard, and you should seriously consider leaving the clubs alone.

Prior to purchasing a set of pre-owned golf clubs, always check how much they are to buy new — you will be surprised that some pre-owned sets are not much cheaper than a new set, especially if you have to regrip them or have some other defects rectified prior to being able to play them.

If you choose to purchase a set of pre-owned clubs or have a set of golf clubs that requires regripping, you need to be careful. The grip on a golf club is the only contact that you have with the club, therefore you need to be sure that they are gripped correctly. You can purchase kits that let you install new grips yourself; if you decide to do this, you’ll need to make sure that you align the grips correctly. If you are not comfortable with this work, your local golf shop should be able to accommodate you (for a price, of coures). When choosing a grip, ensure that your hand size is taken into consideration; having big grips with small hands or vice-versa can be disastrous to your game.

Always clean and change your grips regularly. You will shave shots off your round with this one tip alone.

Using golf clubs not fitted to you can and will lead to wayward shots. Every golfer is different; off-the-shelf golf clubs are designed for the average person of average size and stature. Are you sure that you are that “average” person? If not, get your golf clubs checked; measurements will be taken and the fitter should watch you take a few swings, normally with impact tape applied to the clubheads and a swing plate on the floor. At impact, the tape indicates where the club hits the floor, and the fitter would then be able to determine what lie angle is optimal for you.

The shaft will also be checked to ensure that it is the correct length for you. Having a set of custom fit golf clubs is like having a brand new set of golf clubs and is probably one of the best investments you can make in this game. At the end of the process, you will have a set of golf clubs that have been professionally modified for your individual requirements.

One thing that you need to look at is that all the golf clubs you play with — all your irons, wedges, woods and putters —must match your skill level. Of the wide variety of golf club models available on the marketplace, some are designed for low handicappers, some are designed for mid/high handicappers and some are designed for all skill levels. If you are a high handicapper, playing with a set of clubs designed for low handicaps probably won’t help your game.

One last, big point is that you must feel comfortable with the clubs you have chosen to use. If you feel comfortable with the clubs you are using, you won’t worry or think about it during play and will generally exedcute better swings. And it should go without saying, the better the swing the more enjoyable the game.

Peter Cunningham manages the Golf Review Center, where you can read and submit golf equipment and service reviews.

To learn more about top sources of pre-owned golf equipment, read Pre-Owned Golf Equipment: A Real Option »

Visit GigaGolf, Pinemeadow Golf and Hireko Golf for low-cost brand new golf clubs custom-built to your exact needs and abilities.