Before you go to the 1st tee, be aware that there is a rule which specifies that a competitor may only carry 14 clubs in their golf bag. Which clubs, will depend upon how you intend to play, the course and the weather conditions.

Part of playing well is knowing which club will hit which distance. The distance is governed by the angle of the face of the club as it meets the ball - this is known as the loft.

Usually clubs have a number on the head by which they can be identified. The higher the number, the lesser the distance the club will hit. Each club has a grip made of rubber, a shaft made of steel or graphite and a club head made of steel or alloy parts.

Clubs can be divided into 3 types:-

* A Wood

* Irons

* The Putter

THE WOOD

When golf was first played, the original players used clubs where the club head was made from wood, and this is how the name stuck. With the advent of ever changing technology club heads have changed both in shape and size and are today made from hard metals such as steel or tungsten.

* Ladies woods can be from 1 to 15.

* Number 1 is called the driver and is used off the tee.

* Fairway woods are usually 3,4,5,7 and 9.

* Numbers 11,13 and 15 are usually of a much higher loft and are used to make specific shots (more of this in another article).

IRONS

Iron club heads are usually made from metal or alloys and have numbers from 1 to 9. The lower the number, the further it will make the ball travel. So for instance a 7 iron will not hit as far as a 4 iron.

Wedges, such as a pitching wedge or a sand wedge also come in the the iron catagory. A sand wedge is mainly used as the name would suggest to escape from bunkers, and generally wedges are used to get more height on the ball.

PUTTERS

Putters, on which there is very little loft, are generally used on or just off the green when the ground is smooth and firm. There is a vast range of putters available to the golfer giving wide choice of shapes, weights and sizes. In fact there is no right or wrong putter and you should choose whichever give you the best results.

HYBRID OR RESCUE CLUBS

Rescue or hybrid clubs have become very popular with lady golfers in recent years. With the characteristics of both a wood and an iron it is used mainly as a distance club and is useful when experiencing a tight lie. It is now an established tool in the range of clubs available to lady golfers.

CLUB CARE

Most golfers put head covers on their woods to protect the heads and stop them clanking against each other when on the move. You should dry woods off carefully if they become wet, wiping off any grass, mud or sand which accumulates on the head.

The grips, which are rubber can be washed in soap and water when they get dirty. However shinny grips are worn out and need to be replaced, this can usually be done by your club professional.

CHOOSING YOUR CLUBS

The most important factor when you are choosing clubs is that you should feel comfortable with them and they feel right for you. It really is personal choice.

When you decide the time is right to buy some clubs, go to a place where they allow you to try out 4 or 5 different types of clubs.

It may not follow that irons and woods from the same manufacturer suit your game. It could be prudent to buy some now and some later. Lots of players do not buy complete sets and will often add clubs at a later date.

It may not be necessary for you to buy a driver straight away, as this is a difficult club to use. Maybe buy just a 3 or 5 wood to start. It could be that to get you going, a half set of irons would be suitable, such as a 5,7,9,PW,SW. To add more in later when you know what is required is a simple matter.

About the Author,  Elaine Clarke:

Can you find a secret way to lower your handicap? Find some more great articles about skills and techniques to help you improve your golf. More articles on ladies golf sets and information on ladies golf clothes. RC Helicopters.

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