The History And Design Of Golf Clubs
By David Walters

A short history of golf clubs

By the 1930s players were using so many clubs that caddies were suffering under the weight of carrying up to 25 clubs in huge bags. It was then that the Royal and Ancient and the United States Golf Association agreed a maximum of 14 clubs.

For the average club golfer, the ideal full set would be as follows: a driver (1 wood), 3 and 5 woods (and possibly a 7 wood), irons from 3 to 9, and pitching wedge and sand wedge, together, of course, with a putter. Some players prefer a 2 wood to a driver. The added loft is rather more forgiving. Others will leave out the 3 iron and prefer to add a 9 wood to take its place and that of the 4 iron. Others prefer to leave out one of the lofted woods (the 7 or 9) and opt for two sand wedges one of 58 or so degrees and the other a high loft 64 degree wedge to make bunker shots.

When starting, beginners are usually advised to buy a half set. This could be a 3 wood plus a 5 or 7 wood, with either the odd or even numbered irons. If this is your choice, look for a club which is sold as 'open stock' so that you can add to the half set as you become more proficient. The woods need not be the same model as the irons. But do buy a matched set of irons, both in balance and weight.

The design of golf clubs

Knowing how golf clubs are designed will help you select the ones that are best for you. Choose a club with a suitable shaft. With irons, this can be less important than with woods. With the driver, the correct shaft is essential. If you use a shaft that is too stiff, the tendency is for poor height and shots finishing to the right. If the shaft is too weak and flexible, it may lead to erratic direction.

Shafts are generally graded as follows: S = stiff, R = regular men's, A or senior shaft (suitable for older men and top class or tall women) and L = ladies'. Some shafts are graduated more in numbers, but your professional can tell you how this numbering relates to the regular men's and ladies' shafts. Don't use a stiff shaft unless you are sure you can cope with it.

The regular men's shaft is suitable for almost all male club players. The ladies' shaft is right for most women. Taller women golfers using a longer shaft are advised to choose the senior (or A) shaft and not the regular men's one unless very young and strong. Similarly, a tall man may need a stiff shaft with extra length.

Graphite shafted clubs are becoming increasingly popular, because they are lighter and stronger than traditional ones. Not only do the clubs help players hit the ball further, but the shafts vibrate less after striking. Tournament professionals tend to use clubs with more weight at the back, although these are not necessarily right for the club player, because they require a very good strike.

Irons come either with a standard blade, in which the weight is evenly distributed along the clubhead, or with heel to toe weighting, such as the design of Pings. This extends the sweet spot and gives a larger hitting area, being more forgiving if the ball is struck off centre on the clubface.

Iron heads can either be made of stainless steel, which will wear indefinitely, or mild steel and chrome plating, which can produce better feel and are therefore preferred by tournament players. But they do not have the durability of stainless steel.

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