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| ] is played with '''golf clubs''' of various types. There are four major categories of clubs, known as ''woods'', |
] is played with '''golf clubs''' of various types. There are four major categories of clubs, known as ''woods'', hybrids, ''irons'', and ''putters''. ''Wedges'' resemble irons and may also be counted among these. A golfer is allowed to carry up to fourteen clubs during a round. | ||
| While it is possible to play a range of different shots using only one club, modifying only the speed and direction of swing, this is not a particularly successful technique. |
While it is possible to play a range of different shots using only one club, modifying only the speed and direction of swing, this is not a particularly successful technique. It is much easier to keep the swing as constant as possible and achieve different lengths and characteristics of ball flight using a different club for each shot. To facilitate the choice of a club for any particular situation, all irons (and many woods and wedges) come in sets of similar clubs graded by loft (see below), shaft length, and weight. Clubs are numbered for identification with the smallest numbers indicating the lower lofts (a 5 iron has less loft than a 6 iron). | ||
| Various clubs are designed with the face having differing ''loft'' (the angle between a vertical plane and the clubface when the club is at rest). |
Various clubs are designed with the face having differing ''loft'' (the angle between a vertical plane and the clubface when the club is at rest). Loft makes a golf ball leave the ground on an ascending trajectory, not an upward direction of swing: with the exception of the tee shot, the club actually hits the ball in a slightly downward motion. The impact of the clubface compresses the ball. Grooves on the clubface impart a counterclockwise (from a parallel view of the swing) spin, known as backspin, on the ball, that when combined with the rebounding effect of the ball, give it lift. Typically, the greater the loft, the higher and shorter the resulting ball trajectory. | ||
| A typical set of clubs generally consisted of 2 woods, 2 wedges, a putter, and 9 irons, numbered 1-9. This has changed greatly in the last 25 years, as most players have opted to take 2, or even as many as 5, of the difficult-to-hit longer irons out of the bag in favor of higher lofted woods, known as fairway woods, and extra "utility" wedges. | |||
| A typical set of clubs may consist of irons 3 to 9, three wedges, woods 1, 3, and 5, and a putter. | |||
| ==Types== | ==Types== | ||
| *''Woods'' are long clubs for long shots, with a shaft length about 40- |
*''Woods'' are long clubs for long shots, with a shaft length about 40-46 inches or 100-115 cm, although some woods such as Black Rock's Killer Bee have been made with shaft lengths of up to 50 inches. Woods are used for the longest shots, ranging from 200 to 300 yards (180-275 m). The typical loft for wood faces ranges from 9 to 26 ]s. The 1 wood is usually referred to as a driver. They have large heads that are somewhat spherical in shape with a slightly bulging clubface and a flattened bottom that slides over the ground without digging in during the stroke. Originally the "wood" heads were made of persimmon or maple wood, but modern club heads are usually made of hollow ] or ]. The first steel metal woods were filled with foam in order to ensure structural stability. The shaft enters the at the top corner nearest the player through a hollow tube known as a hosel in such a way that the face of the wood is roughly at a right angle to one side of the shaft. Some companies, such as Callaway Golf, famously eschewed the hosel in order to place more useable weight in the head. This process resulted in far less of the shaft being affixed to a surrounding structure. This had the effect of weakening the bond between the shaft and clubhead while also exposing more of the shaft to direct contact with the ball on particularly poor swings and was often a culprit in shaft breakage in the more fragile graphite shafts. | ||
| *''Irons'' are used for shorter shots than woods, especially including shots approaching the greens. Irons typically range from 36 to 40 inches (90-100 cm) in length. Iron heads are typically solid with a flat clubface. The typical lofts for irons range from 16 to |
*''Irons'' are used for shorter shots than woods, especially including shots approaching the greens. Irons typically range from 36 to 40 inches (90-100 cm) in length. Iron heads are typically solid with a flat clubface. The typical lofts for irons range from 16 to 45 degrees. "Long" and intermediate irons (i.e. those with a lower loft) are usually played from fairway or other easy ground. These irons are typically a 1 iron up to a 5 iron. "Short" irons (with a higher loft) are played from difficult ground and especially for approach shots to the green. These irons are 5 irons to the very short and high loft 9 iron. | ||
| *''Wedges'' are irons with a loft of more than |
*''Wedges'' are irons usually with a loft of more than 45 degrees. ''Pitching wedges'' are rather similar to other irons, ]s have specially designed undersides, which utilize a feature known as "bounce", that make them suitable for shots from bunkers or from the rough. ]s have a very high loft and are used for approach shots, from sand, or difficult recovery shots requiring an extraordinarily high shot traveling a short distance. | ||
| *''Putters'' come in a variety of head shapes and have a very low loft and often a short shaft. They are used to play the ball on the green, but may occasionally be useful for playing from bunkers or for some approach shots. | *''Putters'' come in a variety of head shapes and have a very low loft and often a short shaft. They are used to play the ball on the green, but may occasionally be useful for playing from bunkers or for some approach shots on courses with tightly mown fringe and fairways. | ||
| ==Construction== | ==Construction== | ||
| The parts of a club are the shaft |
The parts of a club are the shaft, the grip, and the head. The shaft is a tapered tube made of metal, or graphite fiber. The shaft is roughly 1/2 ] in ] (12 mm) near the grip and between 35 to 45 inches (89-115 cm) in length. The end of the shaft opposite the head is covered with a rubber, synthetic leather (Winn Grips), or colloquially a leather grip for the player to hold. Each head has a face which contacts the ball during the stroke (but the head of a putter may have two faces). | ||
| Traditionally, most metal golf club heads were made by ], which involves the careful shaping of the club head through hammering and pressing of heated steel. Today, most modern golf club heads are ]. are still prized for feel |
Traditionally, most metal golf club heads were made by ], which involves the careful shaping of the club head through hammering and pressing of heated steel. Today, most modern golf club heads are ] through a process known as investment casting. This process allows manufacturers to redistribute the weight into the perimeter of the club, known as perimeter weighting, which helps to reduce the inaccuracy of mishit shots. are still prized for feel. | ||
| ==Regulations== | ==Regulations== | ||
| The ruling authorities of golf, the ] (R&A) and the ] (USGA) reserve the right to define what shapes and physical characteristics of clubs are permissible in tournament play. Several recently developed woods have a marked " |
The ruling authorities of golf, the ] (R&A) and the ] (USGA) reserve the right to define what shapes and physical characteristics of clubs are permissible in tournament play. Several recently developed woods have a marked "trampoline effect", a large deformation of the face upon impact followed by a quick restoration to original dimensions which acts as a slingshot, resulting in very high ball speeds and great lengths of tee shots. Current USGA and R&A regulations differ with respect to acceptable limits of the "trampoline effect". Therefore, a few club types may not be played in tournament or professional play under USGA jurisdiction, but are allowed elsewhere. | ||
| ==See also== | ==See also== | ||
Revision as of 19:50, 24 May 2005
Golf is played with golf clubs of various types. There are four major categories of clubs, known as woods, hybrids, irons, and putters. Wedges resemble irons and may also be counted among these. A golfer is allowed to carry up to fourteen clubs during a round.
While it is possible to play a range of different shots using only one club, modifying only the speed and direction of swing, this is not a particularly successful technique. It is much easier to keep the swing as constant as possible and achieve different lengths and characteristics of ball flight using a different club for each shot. To facilitate the choice of a club for any particular situation, all irons (and many woods and wedges) come in sets of similar clubs graded by loft (see below), shaft length, and weight. Clubs are numbered for identification with the smallest numbers indicating the lower lofts (a 5 iron has less loft than a 6 iron).
Various clubs are designed with the face having differing loft (the angle between a vertical plane and the clubface when the club is at rest). Loft makes a golf ball leave the ground on an ascending trajectory, not an upward direction of swing: with the exception of the tee shot, the club actually hits the ball in a slightly downward motion. The impact of the clubface compresses the ball. Grooves on the clubface impart a counterclockwise (from a parallel view of the swing) spin, known as backspin, on the ball, that when combined with the rebounding effect of the ball, give it lift. Typically, the greater the loft, the higher and shorter the resulting ball trajectory.
A typical set of clubs generally consisted of 2 woods, 2 wedges, a putter, and 9 irons, numbered 1-9. This has changed greatly in the last 25 years, as most players have opted to take 2, or even as many as 5, of the difficult-to-hit longer irons out of the bag in favor of higher lofted woods, known as fairway woods, and extra "utility" wedges.
Types
- Woods are long clubs for long shots, with a shaft length about 40-46 inches or 100-115 cm, although some woods such as Black Rock's Killer Bee have been made with shaft lengths of up to 50 inches. Woods are used for the longest shots, ranging from 200 to 300 yards (180-275 m). The typical loft for wood faces ranges from 9 to 26 degrees. The 1 wood is usually referred to as a driver. They have large heads that are somewhat spherical in shape with a slightly bulging clubface and a flattened bottom that slides over the ground without digging in during the stroke. Originally the "wood" heads were made of persimmon or maple wood, but modern club heads are usually made of hollow steel or titanium. The first steel metal woods were filled with foam in order to ensure structural stability. The shaft enters the at the top corner nearest the player through a hollow tube known as a hosel in such a way that the face of the wood is roughly at a right angle to one side of the shaft. Some companies, such as Callaway Golf, famously eschewed the hosel in order to place more useable weight in the head. This process resulted in far less of the shaft being affixed to a surrounding structure. This had the effect of weakening the bond between the shaft and clubhead while also exposing more of the shaft to direct contact with the ball on particularly poor swings and was often a culprit in shaft breakage in the more fragile graphite shafts.
- Irons are used for shorter shots than woods, especially including shots approaching the greens. Irons typically range from 36 to 40 inches (90-100 cm) in length. Iron heads are typically solid with a flat clubface. The typical lofts for irons range from 16 to 45 degrees. "Long" and intermediate irons (i.e. those with a lower loft) are usually played from fairway or other easy ground. These irons are typically a 1 iron up to a 5 iron. "Short" irons (with a higher loft) are played from difficult ground and especially for approach shots to the green. These irons are 5 irons to the very short and high loft 9 iron.
- Wedges are irons usually with a loft of more than 45 degrees. Pitching wedges are rather similar to other irons, Sand wedges have specially designed undersides, which utilize a feature known as "bounce", that make them suitable for shots from bunkers or from the rough. Lob Wedges have a very high loft and are used for approach shots, from sand, or difficult recovery shots requiring an extraordinarily high shot traveling a short distance.
- Putters come in a variety of head shapes and have a very low loft and often a short shaft. They are used to play the ball on the green, but may occasionally be useful for playing from bunkers or for some approach shots on courses with tightly mown fringe and fairways.
Construction
The parts of a club are the shaft, the grip, and the head. The shaft is a tapered tube made of metal, or graphite fiber. The shaft is roughly 1/2 inch in diameter (12 mm) near the grip and between 35 to 45 inches (89-115 cm) in length. The end of the shaft opposite the head is covered with a rubber, synthetic leather (Winn Grips), or colloquially a leather grip for the player to hold. Each head has a face which contacts the ball during the stroke (but the head of a putter may have two faces).
Traditionally, most metal golf club heads were made by forging, which involves the careful shaping of the club head through hammering and pressing of heated steel. Today, most modern golf club heads are cast through a process known as investment casting. This process allows manufacturers to redistribute the weight into the perimeter of the club, known as perimeter weighting, which helps to reduce the inaccuracy of mishit shots. Forged clubs are still prized for feel.
Regulations
The ruling authorities of golf, the Royal and Ancient Golf Club of St Andrews (R&A) and the United States Golf Association (USGA) reserve the right to define what shapes and physical characteristics of clubs are permissible in tournament play. Several recently developed woods have a marked "trampoline effect", a large deformation of the face upon impact followed by a quick restoration to original dimensions which acts as a slingshot, resulting in very high ball speeds and great lengths of tee shots. Current USGA and R&A regulations differ with respect to acceptable limits of the "trampoline effect". Therefore, a few club types may not be played in tournament or professional play under USGA jurisdiction, but are allowed elsewhere.