Golf Tips: Understanding Your Equipment

What could be so hard about golf? You hit a ball into a hole; it looks so easy on television. But what professional make look effortless often seems impossible for beginners.

The beautiful, green courses hide water hazards, sand traps, and other obstacles through which you must hit a tiny golf ball. Your goal is to hit this ball, make it through the dangers, and ultimately land it in a correspondingly small hole. It can be frustrating for people who have a hard time even hitting the ball off the first tee.

Not only is this overwhelming to a novice player, but add in the giant bag of clubs that are all different shapes and sizes, and the game of golf becomes an anxiety-driven punishment. What is a “driver”? What is a “club”? When is each supposed to be used?

In the game of golf, there are three clubs available for you to use: drivers, woods and putters. Each club serves a different purpose and will cause a ball to travel differently from a tee or the ground.

You can begin with this basic knowledge, and suddenly the game of golf will make much more sense. You can actually enjoy yourself instead of worrying about what to do.

The first step is to find clubs that fit your body. If the length is incorrect, it will affect your swing. This in turn can cause you a backache or the course to have big tufts of dirt being chopped out of it.

To become comfortable with the game of golf, you must begin with the proper equipment. A professional golf shop will be able to size your clubs accordingly.

But first, a bit about when to use the clubs: When you see the long shots of professional golf players, they are using either drivers or woods. A driver is typically used to start the game so you can put the ball as close to the hole as possible.

When you are on a green, you can pull out your putter to closer shots. These three clubs are the most important to the success of your game, so it is a good idea to practice and feel confident with each.

A driving range is an excellent way to become familiarized with your golf equipment before you start golfing on the course.

Just as important as which club to use is how to hold the club. Your dominant hand should be positioned under your opposite hand to guide it. The flat part of your weaker hand should lie at the end of the club handle. This is where proper fit comes into play and can make a big difference in your game.

Stand tall to the side of the ball and pay attention to your posture. This will influence how you swing. If you have poor posture, your swing will not be as powerful or smooth.

Keep your arms bent slightly and place the club at the back of the ball. This is the perfect distance between you and the ball.

Practice your posture and your swing by setting up an empty tee in your yard. As with a driving range, doing this is an unintimidating way to get familiar with the clubs and the proper stance and grip. Feeling comfortable and relaxed will help you with your game.

Besides knowing when you use your drivers, woods, and putters, there are also clubs to help you out when you get to the hazards. You can practice with these at a driving range or in your backyard. When you encounter a sand trap or water hazard in your real game, you will be prepared.

For instance, if you have the misfortune (and you probably will as a beginner!) of landing in a sand trap, you will know to use your sand wedge. These help hit the ball correctly on this type of terrain. Your knowledge of the clubs and the game will help you get out of this trap.

With practice, you’ll gain understanding of your gear. As soon as you understand how each golf club operates, and just how you need to use them, it is possible to change the often bewildering game of golfing right into a relaxing and enjoyable activity.

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