What do the different numbers on golf clubs mean?
Golf club numbers refer to the loft, which is the angle of the golf club face. When you adjust the loft, you are changing the height and distance the golf ball will travel when struck. The lower the golf club number, the less loft, the less intense the angle on the golf club face; this means the golf ball will travel more distance at a lower height.
What is the maximum number of golf clubs?
Numbers The numbers stamped or marked on the heads of golf clubs relate to the club's loft. Fairway woods and irons are the clubs that are always stamped, although specialty clubs …
Do golf clubs come in different sizes?
The numbers on the club correspond to the loft, length and distance that you will get from each one. The higher the number, the more the loft, the shorter the shaft and therefor, the higher and shorter the ball will fly. The opposite is true as you go down in number. For instance, a 3 iron will fly lower and go farther than a 4 iron and so on.
Is a golf club and golf stick the same thing?
Jan 30, 2020 · Golf club numbers refer to the loft, which is the angle of the golf clubface. Adjust the loft and you change the height or distance the golf ball will travel when struck. The lower the golf club number, the lower the loft, the less intense the angle on the golf club face; this means the golf ball will travel more distance at a lower height.
What is a 7 iron used for?
The irons from 5 to 7 are typically called the "mid irons", and are generally used from the fairway and rough for longer approach shots, between 130-210 yards depending on the club, player and course. They are also used on hillier fairways to avoid hitting a low rise, which is a risk with long irons.
What are the numbers of golf clubs?
The closer you are to the green, the higher the iron you will use. A standard set of irons consists of 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9 irons and the pitching wedge (PW). The 3 and 4 irons are harder to hit than the higher number irons.
How far should you hit a 7 iron?
172 - 215 ydsThe average distance golfers hit each club varies widely. A PGA Tour player hits a 7-iron between 172-215 yards....Average Distances for PGA Tour Players.ClubAverage Distance7 Iron172 - 215 yds8 Iron160 - 200 yds9 Iron148 - 185 ydsPitching Wedge136 - 170 yds7 more rows
What club should I use on a par 3?
Use a 9-iron on a short par-3 of about 130 yards. The 9-iron will help you get loft on the ball, and that's important because you want the ball to come in high and soft. If you come into the green high and soft, your shot is much less likely to bounce off the green.
What are the numbers on golf clubs?
Numbers. The numbers stamped or marked on the heads of golf clubs relate to the club's loft. Fairway woods and irons are the clubs that are always stamped, although specialty clubs also carry some form of identification. A 4-iron, for example, has less loft than a 9-iron.
Why do golfers use clubhead covers?
Most golfers use clubhead covers to protect their driver and fairway woods from damage sustained in their golf bag. These covers are always marked with corresponding numbers so that even when a clubhead is covered, you can still identify the club with ease.
Who is William McCoy?
Toronto-based journalist William McCoy has been writing since 1997, specializing in topics such as sports, nutrition and health. He serves as the Studio's sports and recreation section expert. McCoy is a journalism graduate of Ryerson University.
What does the number on a golf club mean?
Golf club numbers refer to the loft , which is the angle of the golf clubface. Adjust the loft and you change the height or distance the golf ball will travel when struck. The lower the golf club number, the lower the loft, the less intense the angle on the golf club face; this means the golf ball will travel more distance at a lower height.
What are the different types of golf clubs?
The three golf club types are wood, iron, and putter. Wood – These are the long-range clubs used at the beginning of every hole when you tee off. For longer courses, they are also used in the second swing. Woods have large, circular club heads with a flat front where the golf ball is struck.
What are the best golf clubs for beginners?
As a guide for first-time golfers, a standard beginner golf club set would look like this: 1 Woods – 3 & 5 2 Irons – 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9 and a pitching wedge 3 Putter – only 1 needed
Why do golfers use clubhead covers?
Most golfers use clubhead covers to protect their driver and fairway woods from damage sustained in their golf bag. These covers are always marked with corresponding numbers so that even when a clubhead is covered, you can still identify the club with ease.
What does higher loft mean in golf?
The higher the golf club number, the higher the loft, the more intense the angle on the golf club face; these means the golf ball will travel higher but for a shorter distance. If that all sounds like more science and physics than you wanted to learn today, we understand.
Is golf complicated?
Golf can seem a little complicated to newcomers and first-timers, and understandably so . There are so many golf rules and regulations and learning to play golf is difficult. Though not the first question new golfers will ask, many amateur golfers will eventually ask what the numbers on golf clubs mean. The meaning behind various golf club numbers ...
What is the number on a golf ball?
In most golf balls, you will find a single number that is printed below the name of the manufacturer. The number is anywhere from 0 to 9. However, the most common will be 1 to 4. The truth is that they do not mean anything.
How many digits are in a golf ball?
When a golf ball has three-digit numbers, they will usually range from 300 to 500. These numbers are indicative of the dimples a golf ball has. This is a lot more common in older golf balls. For newer balls, this number is indicated on the box instead.
How big is a golf ball?
A golf ball has a diameter of 1.68 inches or 42.67 mm. Older golf balls, however, have a diameter of 1.62 inches. The diameter is standard across several manufacturers. This is important to make sure that it fits in standard golf holes.
How much does a golf ball weigh?
This is another important number you need to know as it is indicative of the weight of a golf ball. A standard golf ball has a mass of 1.62 ounces or 45.93 grams. Using a lighter or heavier golf ball will affect its performance, especially the way it travels.
Do golf balls have compression?
If you have a slower swing speed, then you will need a lower compression, and that is the old purpose of the two-digit golf ball numbers. Today, however, it is rare that you will find compression ratings in golf balls.
What does the number on a golf club mean?
The numbers refer to the loft – which is the angle of the golf clubface. Adjusting the loft adjusts the height or distance the ball can travel on impact. The lower the number on the golf club, the lower the loft. This means the angle on the clubface is less intense, making the golf ball travel further but at a lower height.
Why are golf clubs called woods?
The head of the club is hollow-bodied and is larger than other clubs. You’re probably wondering why they’re called woods when they’re made of metal . Well, they were made of wood before the ’80s. The woods changed from wooden to metal a few decades ago, as metal became more favorable for many reasons.
How to remove rust from golf clubs?
You’ll need fine steel wool, a hard bristle brush/ toothbrush, wet and dry sandpaper, white vinegar, metal polish, a bucket, and some rags. Put the white vinegar into your bucket, and wet the steel wool in the vinegar.
What is a putter in golf?
Every single golf club set will feature a putter. A putter is usually fitted with a steel shaft and includes a grip on the shaft where you can rest your thumb.
How to keep golf clubs shiny?
If you want your clubs to remain clean and shiny, be sure to make a golf towel part of your golfing equipment. Whenever your clubs get moisture on them, simply wipe it off with your golf towel.
Can golf clubs get dirty?
Golf clubs can get quite dirty on the course, especially if you’ve been chipping away at the turf. Make sure you give them a thorough clean before putting them away.
What is the difference between a 3 wood and a 5 wood?
A 3 wood has a loft between 15 and 18 degrees, whereas a 5 wood can have between 20 and 22 degrees.
What is the swing direction of a golf club?
Swing direction: Swing direction is the orientation of the club face in relation to the target line at the lowest point of the swing. This concept is different from club path, which is measured at the point of impact.
What is the angle of attack in golf?
Attack angle: Attack angle is the angle the club head takes, relative to the ground, to hit the golf ball. If the angle of attack is negative, you're hitting down on the ball, which you typically want to do with irons.
What is the swing plane?
Swing plane: Swing plane means the angle made between the ground and the plane of club head trajectory at the bottom of the swing arc, as measured down the target line. The higher the value, the steeper the swing. The lower the value, the flatter (or less upright) the swing is.
What does it mean when the number is negative?
If the number is negative, it measures a ball landing and stopping to the left of the target line. Landing angle: Landing angle refers to the angle at which, relative to the ground, the ball first lands and hits the ground after a shot.
What is the spin axis?
Spin axis: Spin axis is the measurement of the axial tilt, when applied to the ball at impact, causes it to spin one direction or the other. A ball tilted to the right will spin to the right, while a ball tilted to the left will spin to the left.
What to know about golf shafts?
In today’s guide we will review everything you need to know about golf shafts. Picking out the proper golf shaft is very important as it will impact several components of your golf swing. For example, picking the wrong golf shaft flex can cause you to hook or slice the golf ball. It also can hinder the total distance the ball flies by having too much spin or too low of launch. But don’t worry, at the end of reading today’s guide you’ll be much more educated on the buying process and how to pick out the right golf shaft. Lets Get Started!
What shafts do golfers use?
For most golfers, a graphite shaft works great. Most iron sets are made with graphite shafts as well so you get that material type by default usually unless you specifically seek out steel shafted irons. With steel shafts, you may find that golf shots are easier to control.
Why is shaft weight important?
Shaft Weight is important because it can help you generate club head speed and increase the distance you hit the golf ball. Lighter weight shafts tend to be swung faster (since they are lighter), increasing club speed. However, we don’t recommend looking automatically at the lightest shaft and disregarding heavier shafts.
How much does a graphite shaft weigh?
Graphite shafts are also much lighter weight (50-85 grams) while steel shafts can start at 120 grams in most cases.
Why use steel shafts in golf?
With steel shafts, you may find that golf shots are easier to control. Steel shafts place a greater focus on accuracy as opposed to distance. Since they don’t get as much distance as graphite shafts, steel shafts require faster swing speed to make up for the loss of distance compared to graphite.
What is titanium shaft?
Titanium Shafts – this is a newer material type being used to build golf shafts with. It’s much lighter in weight as compared to steel but still offers that same strong support you get from steel compared to graphite.
What is the best shaft for golf?
Steel – A steel golf shaft is usually stronger and more durable (less likely to snap) than a graphite shaft. It’s also less expensive and sometimes stainless steel is used in the creation of the steel shaft. There is also two variations, stepped steel and rifle steel.
What happens if you mismatch your golf shaft?
If your swing is mismatched to your golf shaft flex—if you are using an X flex shaft, for example, when you should be using an R flex shaft—you will have a harder time squaring the clubface at impact. The way your shots are flying can clue you into the possibility you might be using the wrong flex.
When were steel shafts invented?
Alas, no. Golf industry veteran Tom Wishon, of Tom Wishon Golf Technologies, explains: "Shortly after steel shafts were introduced in the 1920s, steel shaft makers discovered they could change the diameter and wall thickness of the tubes to create shafts with different amounts of stiffness to better match to the different swing speeds ...
Who is Brent Kelley?
Brent Kelley is an award-winning sports journalist and golf expert with over 30 years in print and online journalism. Golf shafts are designated with a letter code, the letters most commonly being X, S, R, A, and L.
