HumanGolf.com

By Robert Cummings

There are many different styles of golf clubs on the market today, which can make it difficult to know where to begin when making a choice. What’s important to note is that it’s not about the right irons, but choosing the right golf irons for you.

The bottom line is that you need to choose a club that will work with your current level of skill and one that will suit your preferences. For example, you may have problems with your elbow, which would then mean that you’d probably want a club with a graphite shaft and a rubber or polymer insert in the club head to help reduce the transmission of the impact of the ball. While this may work for you, others may think it’s crazy.

Choosin the right irons for you is subjective, and you’ll need to consider these three main factors: the shaft flex, the shaft type, and finally the head design. When these factors are merged together, they form the character of your club, one that will directly affect your game.

Let’s examine each factor.

Club Head Design

The club head is considered the most important part of the club; it is the epicenter of impact. If this is off, your ball flight will likely be off.

There are three distinct club head styles: the traditional blade style head, the oversized head, and the midsize head. The oversized head is good for beginners, the midsize intermediate players, and finally blades would be better for the more advanced player.

If you are just starting to play the game, the oversized head may be better for you. These heads have a deep cavity back, which makes the club more forgiving if you do not hit the ball dead on the sweet spot. These club heads also consist of a lower center of gravity, which enables you to get the ball into the air easier.

The midsize head is sort of a compromise; it also consists of a slightly larger cavity back allowing for forgiveness and a slightly larger sweet spot, but not as wide or deep as that of the oversized head.

The blade head on the other hand gives you far more control over the ball, and that is why it is more suited to the advanced player. You need to be able to strike the ball first, and then you can learn how to control it, as the blade head is far less forgiving than the other club head styles.

Type of Shaft

There are two main types of shafts: steel and graphite. The steel shaft makes the club feel heavier, and being that it is steel, there aren’t many options when it comes to flex; however steel is the most durable. With a graphite shaft you have more flex options, but it is not as durable and doesn’t feel as heavy.

When choosing the shaft, it is important that you try them out to get a feel, and then decide which is best for you.

HG EDITOR’S NOTE: Many golfers feel that steel shafts provide them with more precise control, while graphite shafts aren’t as accurate, but since they’re lighter, allow for higher swing speeds and make your shots go farther.

Shaft Flex

When it comes to shaft flex, the important factor to remember is that the flex of the club influences the trajectory of the ball and is also linked to your club head speed. The flex will determine how much bend you get once you swing the club, so choose wisely when it comes to flex. You want to ensure that the club head connects with the ball correctly.

For example, if your club head speed is 105+ mph, you will then need a stiffer shaft. Basically the slower your club head speed, the more flexible the shaft needs to be.

To help with the decision you can hit some balls with a golf coach, and they can help determine what’s best for you, or get different clubs, try them out at the range and see which ones give you the best ball flight based on your swing characteristics.

The key to getting the right golf clubs is to test a lot… golf is “feel,” and that is why numbers alone will not cut it. Keep trying different equipment until you find what’s best for you.

Robert Cummings writes for Full Swing Golfer where you can get golf tips for beginners, expert articles and reviews.

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