| A top quality set of golf clubs is essential | | | | Some golfers may choose to remove one of the |
| for the advanced golfer. A complete set of | | | | wedges in lieu of a 2-iron. Also worth |
| clubs consists of woods, irons and a putter. | | | | noting, there are two primary types of irons |
| | | | available. Forged irons are precision clubs |
| The rules of golf, as set forth by the United | | | | that can give experienced golfers a greater |
| States Golf Association (USGA), dictate that | | | | ability to shape their shots. |
| a golfer'sbag may hold 14 clubs. Most golfers | | | | |
| will carry a driver, two fairway woods, 7 | | | | Gravity-back irons are considered to be more |
| irons, 3 wedges and the putter. | | | | forgiving, with a larger sweet spot and |
| | | | primarily for golfers who want to focus on |
| A driver is a long-shafted club with a full | | | | hitting straight shots. A set of 10 irons can |
| head used to strike the ball that is set upon | | | | range in price from as little as $250, to as |
| a tee. | | | | much as $1,500. |
| | | | |
| The club head does not have much lift to it, | | | | The final and perhaps most important golf |
| to achieve maximum distance off the tee. The | | | | club, is the putter. The putter is also known |
| fairway woods have club heads that are | | | | as the money club because it is the club used |
| slightly more lofted than the driver, and are | | | | to tap the ball into the hole. The purpose of |
| used for long shots when the ball is lying on | | | | the putter is to roll the ball, so there is |
| the ground. | | | | no loft on the club head. |
| | | | |
| Most brand name drivers cost between $200 and | | | | There are many varieties of putters in all |
| $400. Fairway woods normally retail from $150 | | | | shapes and sizes. Some of the putter shafts |
| to $300. | | | | are so short that the golfer grips it near |
| | | | his knees, and some are so long that they are |
| Golf irons are the essential part of a set of | | | | gripped at the golfer's chest. |
| golf clubs. Two thirds of the shots in a | | | | |
| normal round of golf will utilize an iron. | | | | Many golfers spend their entire lives |
| | | | changing putters to find the one that feels |
| Irons are used to hit the golf ball off the | | | | right for them. Simple putters can cost as |
| ground from distances of 125 yards to 225 | | | | little as $20 but some of the more exotic |
| yards. Each iron is assigned a number based | | | | putters can cost as much as $300. |
| upon the loft angle of the club head. The | | | | |
| 9-iron has the most loft, and is used to hit | | | | Some players opt to avoid some of the more |
| short, high shots. A 2-iron has very little | | | | difficult-to-hit longer irons in favor of |
| loft, and is used to hit low, long shorts. | | | | higher-lofted "fairway" woods and extra |
| | | | "utility" wedges. In part, this reflects a |
| Wedges are normally included in the purchase | | | | pattern of design of clubs in which club |
| of a set of irons. The most common wedges are | | | | manufacturers have reduced the lofts of the |
| the pitching wedge, the sand wedge and the | | | | irons so that they can be used from longer |
| lob wedge. These golf clubs are used for | | | | distances. |
| short, controlled shots, normally very close | | | | |
| to the putting green. | | | | In effect, today's 3-iron has a loft that is |
| | | | equivalent to a 2-iron of years ago. |