
Golf Club Lofts Chart
Club | Standard Lofts (Tour Level Irons) |
Driver | 9°-12.5° |
3-Wood | 15° |
4-Wood | 17° |
5-Wood | 18°-19° |
...
Club Monikers: Then and Now | |
---|---|
Modern | Old |
2 Wood | Brassie |
3 Wood | Spoon |
4 Wood | Wooden Cleek |
What are hickory shaft golf clubs made of?
Old Vintage / Antique Hickory Shaft Wooden Golf Clubs In times gone by, golf clubs used to have cool and creative sounding names, not numbers, woods were made of wood and irons were made of iron, but all bore a hickory wooden shaft.
What are golf clubs made of?
By the 1980s, even the clubs known as woods would become metal. Today club heads are made of light metals like steel or titanium that allow for bounce off of the club face, as well as keeping the total weight of the club down to increase the club head speed.
What kind of wood are club heads made of?
Club heads were historically made of beech, dogwood, apple or pear. For most of golf's history, the favored wood was persimmon.
When did golf balls become made of wood?
According to the Oracle ThinkQuest Education Foundation website, golf balls were also made of wood until the 17th or early 18th century. In Scotland, the type of wood used to make clubs changed with two American imports: hickory for club shafts in 1826 and persimmon for club heads in 1900.

Is a wood golf club made of wood?
Woods are typically so-called because the club makers made the clubhead from hardwood; from the early 1900s, typically, this was persimmon. Today's modern “woods” are no longer made from actual wood but metal. Titanium or strong stainless steel is the most common material because it's strong and lightweight.
What material are golf irons made of?
All cast iron clubs are made from stainless steel. Stainless steel combines iron with nickel and chromium and other trace materials. Most good quality irons are made from either 17-4 or 431 grade stainless steel.
What are woods clubs made of?
Today, many metal wood clubfaces (and most driver clubfaces) are constructed out of titanium. Titanium has a higher strength to weight ratio than steel and has better corrosion resistance, so it is an ideal metal for golf club construction.
What are fairway woods made of?
MATERIALS & SIZE. Fairway woods are usually made from one of three different materials, the most common being stainless steel. It's not too expensive and it's strong. Larger fairway woods predominantly used for hitting from the tee are often made from titanium.
What are most golf clubs made of?
Club shafts may be made from chrome-plated steel, stainless steel, aluminum, carbon or graphite fiber-reinforced epoxy, boron fiber-reinforced epoxy, or titanium. Grips are usually made from molded synthetic rubber or wrapped leather.
What are the best golf clubs made of?
Material. The two basic types of shaft materials are graphite and steel. Graphite shafts are best for players that want more distance and may lack some club head speed and strength. Steel shafts are best for the golfers that have speed, but they want some more control with their clubs.
When did woods stop being made of wood?
Metal “woods” came along in the 1980s and soon replaced wooden-headed clubs altogether. The introduction of the strong, lightweight metal titanium allowed clubs to be designed with larger heads that could promote both distance and accuracy. Cavity-backed irons were a major innovation at the end of the 1970s.
What is the best material for golf irons?
Stainless steel is the most used material in golf. The material is generally inexpensive and easy to cast into all the shapes that you see golf clubs made plus durable enough for everyday play. There are two main types of stainless steel used in golf club heads.
What is the difference between woods and irons?
Those with smaller, thinner heads made from steel are called irons. The big-headed clubs, usually made of titanium or steel and coated with paint, are called woods. (That's what they used to be made of.)
Is fairway wood same as wood?
Fairway woods have shorter shafts, more loft and impart more backspin, making them easier to hit straight and with added control despite their diminutive size when compared to a driver.
Is a fairway wood the same as a 3 wood?
The main difference between the 3 wood and 3 hybrid is that the 3 wood is used for longer distances, where as the 3 hybrid is better for more precise shots. Fairway woods are generally referred to as woods in common terminology, and they are used for shooting from the fairway.
What is the best 3 wood?
Best Fairway Woods - Best 3 Woods and Best 5 WoodsTaylorMade Stealth Fairway. Overall best on test. ... Titleist TSi2 Fairway Wood. Tour Favourite. ... Callaway Rogue ST Max Fairway. ... Ping G425 Max Fairway Wood. ... Tour Edge Exotics C722 Fairway Wood. ... Mizuno ST-Z Fairway. ... Titleist TSi3 Fairway Wood. ... TaylorMade Stealth Plus Fairway.More items...•
Is graphite the same as titanium?
Titanium is quite strong with better stiffness and helps the racket frame take a good impact. This makes titanium rackets ideal for players who tend to power serve. Graphite is also very strong as compared to some other materials. However, graphite is generally mixed with other materials when making tennis rackets.
Are golf clubs made of aluminum?
Golf club heads can be made from many materials. Zinc and Aluminum alloys are primarily used in beginners sets and putters. HST Aluminum is a much harder aluminum and is popular in very large drivers. 431 and 17-4ph stainless steel is commonly used in professional quality iron heads.
Are iron golf clubs made of iron?
Irons. Just like the woods are no longer made from wood, these types of golf clubs are not made from iron either. Instead, they are usually made from steel. Many golfers, however, prefer graphite irons over the now predominant steel irons due to their lightweight.
Is carbon better than titanium in golf clubs?
Because carbon fiber is lighter and less dense than titanium, causing less resistance and more flexure, it allows more energy to transfer from the clubface to the ball at impact, resulting in faster and more consistent ball speed.
What clubs do hickory golfers use?
"Hickory golf," where golfers use hickory-shafted clubs, is popular with many golfers. Ralph Livingston III recommends on his website, HickoryGolf.com, that hickory golfers assemble the following clubs: brassie, mid-iron, mashie, mashie niblick, niblick and putter. Some companies make modern clubs that have persimmon wood heads, and some companies sell and make clubs with wood shafts, wood heads, or both.
What wood was used in Scotland?
American Influence. In Scotland, the type of wood used to make clubs changed with two American imports: hickory for club shafts in 1826 and persimmon for club heads in 1900. According to the Antique Golf Club website, woodworkers in Scotland started using American-imported hickory instead of ash to make hand tools, ...
What wood was used to make golf clubs?
Beech and ash were commonly used to make golf clubs in the game's early days. Starting as early as the 15th century, golfers carved their own clubs. Several considerations -- including imported woods and the evolution of the golf ball -- influenced what types of wood were used to make club heads and shafts. Wooden antique golf clubs are popular ...
How many woods are in a long nose golf club?
A set of these early "Troon Clubs" -- also known as "long noses" -- consisted of six woods and two irons. According to the Oracle ThinkQuest Education Foundation website, golf balls were also made of wood until the 17th or early 18th century.
Where did Samantha Prust get her degree?
Samantha Prust earned a BA in English from Minnesota State University and an MFA in creative writing from Colorado State University. She has more than 15 years of experience as a professional editor and writer in book, magazine, academic and online publishing.
What are putter grips made of?
Grips. Originally grips were made of leather strips wrapped around the shaft. The leather outer grip is sometimes used today on putters and custom clubs. Wrap-style grips allow for custom designed diameters and textures for the club's owner.
What is graphite shaft?
Graphite shafts are different composites of graphite and other alloys which allow for different club weights and flexes. Shafts on "irons" are cast today from steel alloys that allow for cavity designs that lower the center of mass, making the club easier to hit.
What wood is used for shafts?
Shafts. Historically shafts were made of different types of wood including orangewood, ash and hickory; but, hickory became the wood of choice in the mid-1800s. The 20th century brought innovations in shaft construction including the development by Ping of laminated woods for increased strength.
Why do golfers use rubber grips?
This rubber grip is often preferred because it deals with moisture well and allows for a more consistent grip. The rubber grip can be found in a variety of thicknesses and textures, allowing the golfer to customize their grip. Some golfers prefer the feel of an outer wrap of leather or a faux leather sleeve.
Why are golf clubs not appreciated?
Golf clubs are not normally appreciated for the amount of technology and innovation that go into their design and production. Golf clubs are made of multiple materials and have multiple components.
What are golf clubs made of?
Club Heads. Club heads were historically made of beech, dogwood, apple or pear. For most of golf's history, the favored wood was persimmon. By the 1900s, forged iron clubs began to be seen. By the 1980s, even the clubs known as woods would become metal. Today club heads are made of light metals like steel or titanium that allow for bounce off ...
Who is Patrick Foley?
Patrick Foley is a writer from Phoenix, AZ. He is a sports fanatic and loves football, golf, and track. He has been writing for Golf Link for almost a year. He is a college football player at the University of Pennsylvania. He is enrolled in the Wharton Business School.He has have a wide set of skills in writing and marketing.
How to play hickory golf?
Hickory clubs can often be heavier than other clubs so get use to your club by holding on to it loosely and waggle the head to get a feel for the club weight, then take a practice swing as you feel the club head weight through the full swing motion.
What is a wood golf club?
Wood golf club descriptions help to Identify and validate that you do in fact possess an authentic antique golf club. Establishing the identity of a golf club can include a history for the specific club itself. Was the club used by a famous celebrity or golfer or, was it used at a famous tournament or on a historic golf course.
What is a Niblick club?
The niblick a shorter hitting club similar to the 9 iron or a pitching wedge. It has a hitting range of around 70-100 yards. Use this club for pitching lofted shots around the green and approaches where you need to carry, or out of a bunker. Niblicks are often found to have sharp “digging” leading edges and are a little tricky off a thin lie. It's an easiest club to “chunk” because of the thin leading edge and loft.
What is a hickory shaft putter?
Hickory shaft putters are usually made of forged steel and have a great feel when struck in the sweet spot. Hold them lightly in your hands and practice a smooth swing for comfort and accuracy.
What were golf clubs made of?
Early golf clubs were made entirely of wood. Not only was this material easy to shape, but it was also soft enough not to damage the stuffed leather golf balls that were used until the mid-1800s.
When were steel shaft golf clubs invented?
The first steel-shafted golf clubs were made in the United States in the 1920s. It was about this time that some club makers started using the current numbering system to identify different clubs, rather than the old colorful names.
Do hickory shaft clubs hit the ball lower?
These wooden golf club heads will naturally hit the ball lower than today’s drivers. These hickory shaft clubs will torque or twist more than modern club shafts, so keeping your swing as smooth as possible will help hit more accurately. You can hit the woods from a good lie in the fairway or short rough.
What is hybrid club?
In recent years hybrid clubs -- those that blend key characteristics of woods and irons -- have become popular choices, replacing long irons in a player's bag. The hybrids provide the distance the golfer needs, along with accuracy similar to irons -- but allow him to play with the same confidence he does with his woods.
How many irons are in a golf putter?
Most golfers carry several woods -- although they're actually made of metal -- and the rest of the 14 are irons plus a putter. As a golfer becomes more skilled, he learns how to use these clubs to improve his accuracy, play more strategically, get down in two more often from off the green, and lower his scores.
What is a golf club?
Golf clubs can be employed creatively in situations that may seem quite different from their intended uses. A fairway wood or a hybrid club can be an effective tool to chip the ball from the fringe instead of the iron you might normally use, allowing you to take a lower, smoother swing and have better contact with the ball.
How many clubs can you carry in a golf bag?
Advice on What Iron or Wood Golf Club to Use. A golfer may carry up to 14 clubs in his golf bag under the official Rules of Golf. There's no rule he has to carry that many, though, and within the 14-club limit there are many variations in the types of clubs he can carry. Some golfers prefer to carry three or more wedges, for example, ...
What is the common mistake when hitting a golf ball out of the rough?
When confronted with a lengthy shot to the green out of the rough, a common mistake is to try to hit the iron that matches the distance to the green instead of considering the effect of the ball laying deep in the grass.
What happens if you take a 5 iron?
By taking a 5-iron, as called for by the distance, the golfer runs the risk of getting the club tangled in the rough and not making solid contact with the ball.
Is it better to use a 7 iron or a long iron?
Most golfers are more accurate with their irons than with their woods. And short irons -- those from the 7-iron on down -- are easier to use than long irons. On a par-4 with an extremely narrow fairway or trouble such as water on one side, a golfer may elect to tee off with an iron to be more certain she can hit the ball in the fairway.
Why People Replace Their Fairway Woods And Irons
If you’re a millennial golfer, chances are you have never seen 1 or 2-iron. These are the longest irons and are practically extinct from the golfing world. Only a handful of senior golfers and traditional golfers prefer using these two irons.
Which Fairway Woods Replace Which Irons
If you reached this far, it means you’ve made up your mind and are serious about swapping your irons with fairway woods.
Golf Club Lofts Chart
We'll explore the lofts of each golf club in more detail below, but here is a chart summarizing each club's loft.
Wood Lofts
Woods typically have lower lofts than their iron and hybrid counterparts. For example, a standard 3-wood has around 15 degrees of loft, while most 3-irons have 19-21 degrees of loft.
Hybrid Lofts
Like irons, hybrids have more loft than their wood counterparts. Most 3-hybrids have 19 degrees of loft, while the most common 3-wood loft is 15 degrees.
Putter Loft
Unless you're Bryson Dechambeau, chances are a putter is the lowest lofted club in your bag. A traditional putter loft is 3 to 4 degrees.
Golf Clubs Loft Comparison Table
The table below compares lofts of irons, woods, hybrids, and drivers. We've gathered data from top manufacturers like TaylorMade, Cobra, Callaway, and Mizuno.
