A Snapshot of Golf Club Types

A Beginners golf bag will consist of the following club types:

· Driver

· 3 Wood

· 4 Hybrid

· 5 Hybrid

· 6 – 9 Irons

· Pitching Wedge

· Sand Wedge

· Putter

Just a reminder, a set of clubs is limited by the rules of golf to a maximum of 14 golf clubs, and while there are traditional combinations sold at retail as matched sets, players are free to use any combination of legal clubs.

Novice golfers are well served with a unified set of clubs from a quality manufacturer (Callaway, Taylor Made, Ben Hogan, etc.) You can purchase a beginner set from any big box store or reputable vendor. The more experienced players will have an assortment of clubs in their bags. Generally, Woods from one maker, Irons from a different and a Putter from yet a third maker, all geared for specific play styles. Once you learn to hit the ball a golf fitting is advisable.

Below is a list of all of club types and distances. Please take these yardages with a pinch of salt because it varies from person to person. When you practice please write down your yardages and find your averages. Keep this information as a cheat sheet when you are on the course. In short time you will have this information committed to memory and will be off playing with great confidence in your club selection.

Driver

With a Driver you can hit the ball farthest, but it can be less accurate.

Drivers have the longest shaft and biggest club head.

Drivers are used primarily for tee shots, never on the fairway, green or rough.

Yardage: Men (200-230-260)

Women (150-175-200)

Fairway Woods

With a Wood your ball travels far, but not at far as the driver.

Woods have more accuracy than Drivers.

Woods can be used from the tee or in the fairway, never on the green and rarely if ever in the rough.

3 Wood

Yardage: Men (180-215-235)

Women (125-150-180

5 Wood

Yardage: Men (170-195-210)

Women (170-195-210)

Irons (Short Irons, Mid Irons and Long Irons)

Irons have a wide range of distances.

You have more control with Irons than Woods.

Irons are used for shots off the tee (short par 3’s), into the green or out of the rough (light rough-fringe, heavy rough or woods).

The smaller the Iron number the longer the shaft (for instance, the 3 Iron has the longest shaft of all Irons and the 9 Iron has a shaft that is nearly approximating the length of the wedges, in other words a shorter shaft).

2 Iron

Yardage: Men (170-195-210)

Women (105-135-170)

3 Iron

Yardage: Men (160-180-200)

Women (100-125-160)

4 Iron

Yardage: Men (150-170-185)

Women (90-120-150)

5 Iron

Yardage: Men (140-160-170)

Women (80-110-140)

6 Iron

Yardage: Men (130-150-160)

Women (70-100-130)

7 Iron

Yardage: Men (120-140-150)

Women (65-90-120)

8 Iron

Yardage: Men (110-130-140)

Women (60-80-110)

9 Iron

Yardage: Men (95-115-130)

Women (55-70-95)

Hybrids

Hybrids are easier to hit and great for beginners. Start with a 4 Hybrid to hit your shots off the tee, from the light rough-fringe and off the fairway.

Hybrids are essentially a replacement club. They combine characteristics of both Woods and Irons. They are a new interim club that sits in that margin of the 3 wood and 5 iron.

Hybrids offer more distance than Irons and they let players hit shots that fly farther and higher, even though the loft on the hybrid is the same as comparable Iron.

Hybrids have a smaller clubhead than a Wood, and a shorter shaft.

Hybrids are meant to compliment or replace long Irons. Bear in mind, as noted above you get distance with a Hybrid in exchange for ball control.

When you use a Hybrid make sure you account for the roll at the end of the arc just as you would when using a Wood.

4 Hybrid

Yardage: Men (160 to 210)

Women (120 to 170)

5 Hybrid

Yardage: Men (150 to 200)

Women (115 to 160)

6 Hybrid

Yardage: Men (140 to 190)

Women (110 to 150)

Wedges

Wedges are for special-use situations.

Wedges are the most lofted clubs (you get the highest arc when you hit it).

Wedges are used when you get close to the green (short distances).

Pitching Wedge (PW) - most often used by golfers trying to hit the green.

Yardage: Men (80-105-120)

Women (50-60-80)

Gap Wedge (GW) - used on shots that are too short for a pitching wedge, but too long for a sand wedge.

Yardage: Men (110)

Women (85)

Sand Wedge (SW) – Used to get your ball out of the sand.

Yardage: Men (60-80-100)

Women (40-50-60)

Lob Wedge (LW) - are most useful in situations around the green that call for precise shots.

Yardage: Men (40-50)

Women (25-40)

Putter

Used to roll the ball into the hole on greens

Comes in many varieties

Most used club

Golf Bag Tip

If there is one note that most people overlook, it is that most of your time is with a club striking the ball on a golf course will be with a putter in your hand. So, practice your putts as much as you practice your drives. The old saying, “Drive for Show, Putt for Dough” isn’t just a saying, it has a lot of truth to it!