Full Answer
How has golf equipment changed over the years?
Golf equipment has changed dramatically over the past several decades. Manufacturers have hired top engineering talent and invested massively in research and development in an effort to win over consumers.
What's new in Shaft Technology in golf clubs?
Going from hickory to steel is still the biggest step up in shaft technology. Even though most golfers still play with steel shafts in their irons, graphite shafts in drivers and fairway woods have become the norm. Graphite shafts are lighter than steel, increasing club head speed and distance.
How does golf equipment affect your game?
If you listen to the manufacturers' commercials, you will be able to make huge strides in your game just by stepping up the equipment you use. It's not quite that simple but improved equipment will turn an average golfer into a good one, a good golfer into a great one and help the top amateurs consider making a run at the professional ranks.
Why buy new golf clubs from manufacturers?
Manufacturers have hired top engineering talent and invested massively in research and development in an effort to win over consumers. Compared with the persimmon drivers and blade irons of old, there is now a real opportunity to get clubs that are completely dialed in for your particular golf swing.
How has the golf club changed over time?
Golf Club Technology Golf clubs have changed perhaps more than any other single aspect of the game in the last 15 years. Factors like aerodynamics, component weight and better graphite shafts have allowed golfers to hit the ball longer and straighter. The head of the driver is now built with aerodynamics in mind.
What piece of equipment has caused the golfer to achieve the greatest increase in distance over the years?
Graphite shafts are lighter than steel, increasing club head speed and distance. Like the ball, but to a lesser extent, graphite shafts are responsible for much of the increase in distance off the tee.
What is the most important gear technological advancement in golf?
Sensor technology has helped golfers in a variety of ways. Distance-measuring lasers* instantly inform golfers of the distance required for any shot with a simple point and click. Golfers can also use swing sensors as teaching aids. Swing sensors can attach to gloves or clubs and measure swing speed, tempo and angle.
What is the most important golf equipment?
The 3 most vital clubs are the driver, putter, and wedge, in that order. If you were to look at pro golfers then I'd probably say that order is right.
Do new irons go further?
Year-over-year, distance increases in new equipment are generally minimal. If you bought a driver in 2019, the 2020 model may only be 1-2 yards longer. But, if you have a driver from 2004, then the 2020 model could be 20+ yards longer.
Are 20 year old irons too old?
There is no evidence that golf clubs deteriorate over time. Well maintained clubs will last a lifetime. 10+ year old clubs should be checked for better options but clubs less than 5 years old do not need replacing except for wear and tear issues to which wedges and forged irons are most vulnerable.
How has the technology of a golf ball changed?
The modern golf ball is much more technologically advanced than a ball from twenty or even ten years ago. The golf ball has gone from mainly being a two to three piece construction to sometimes having five pieces. Typically speaking, the more pieces a golf ball has, the higher the performance on the course.
How is golf changing?
Technology has also changed the equipment used to play. With drivers made bigger and more powerful than ever, driving distances are getting longer every year. Custom club fittings combine the innovation of launch monitors with the exciting technology built into the clubs to find that perfectly suited set every time.
What's trending in golf?
One of the more noticeable trends in golf is that there is a bigger push to move to short events, playing only 9 holes instead of a full round. More people are being drawn to shorter courses and the opportunity to play fewer holes because of work and family requirements.
What is the hardest club to hit in golf?
A 1-iron is the hardest iron to hit because it is the longest and has the lowest loft of between 14° and 16°. The rise of hybrid clubs to replace long irons however means in the modern game 1-irons and 2-irons are very rare indeed resulting in 3-irons and 4-irons in reality being the most difficult irons to hit.
What clubs do most pros carry?
Professional golfers generally carry: a driver, 3 wood, 5 wood, 4-PW, gap wedge, sand wedge, lob wedge, and a putter. Depending on the pro, these setups may change slightly, including the use of a driving iron, hybrid, or other longer club in place of one of the woods.
Does equipment make a difference in golf?
The equipment does matter, and it is going to need to be fitted to a person properly to see a difference in performance. Using great golf equipment that makes the game more enjoyable is not cheating, but it is taking advantage of the available tools.
Golfers Did Not Have Many Options
What Changed?
- A lot of advancements have been made over the past several decades. The golf world has attracted top-level engineering talent from places like aerospace industry. These brilliant minds have been able to design, manufacture, and measure club performance better than ever. Every manufacturer is investing major dollars each year trying to push things forwards in order to capt…
The Modern Blade vs The Classic
- The test I was most interested in was comparing an older-style blade iron versus a modern one. Truth be told not too much has changed in the looks of a blade iron over the years. Many companies are still producing the classic forged blade that is a symbol of craftsmanship. I purchased a McGregor Jack Nicklaus 7-iron from eBay, which is representative of a run of the m…
Persimmon vs The Modern Driver
- When you look at drivers you’ll see the most dramatic changes in design and performance. The old adage on persimmon drivers was that you had to “hit it on the screws,” which requires a bit of precision since the faces of the club are so much smaller. Modern drivers offer much larger faces, which allows golfers to increase their ball speed (and dist...
Ball Comparison
- The invention of the Pro V1 by Titleist marked a major shift in golf ball technology. It has allowed golfers to get the best of both worlds – longer distances with the driver and optimal spin conditions when you need them. Many of you remember the wound golf balls from Titleist. Older balls are hard to come by unused, but I was able to purchase a box of DT Wound 100 that were n…
Wrapping It Up
- I have learned a tremendous amount about golf equipment since I first started Practical Golf. What I can tell you with certainty is that the clubs and ball you play can have a large impact on your performance. As you know golf is a very challenging game, and playing the wrong equipment will make it that much harder for you. On the whole, the clubs being produced now are very impr…