Golfer Newbies

Archive for November, 2009

So, back on the topic of the “right sticks,” (see previous post). One of the truly helpful things I learned in the book I talked about in the previous entry was the information on club length and loft. The author made the point that most of us are using drivers that are way too long and with too low a degree of loft. (Loft refers to the angle of the club face and has a bearing on how far the club can hit the ball.) Today, if you go to a sporting goods store and buy a driver, unless you are a really terrific pro-level golfer, you are buying a club that you will find very difficult to control and is not the best choice for you as a driver. The book suggests you consider a 3 Wood a better choice for a driver. Actually, when I made the measurements the author suggested (wrist to floor length, hand length, finger length, age, and estimated swing speed, it became apparent from the charts in the book that I should be using a 5 Wood as my driver. In addition, I learned that I should be using a “light” flex shaft. There are technically 3 kinds of shafts – Stiff, Regular, and Light. Sometimes you’ll see a Senior flex or Women’s flex as well, but these are basically “light” flex shafts. So, I purchased a 5 Wood with a light flex. This is a shorter club than the driver I had, by about 3 -1/2 inches, and has a loft that is twice as high. And, the book was right – I am able to hit with a lot more control and accuracy, and distance hasn’t suffered that much. The club I purchased is shown below, but there are many others that would be just as good or better.

See larger image Callaway Big Bertha Women's Fairway Wood (Sports) List Price: $199.99 USD Release date March 1, 2009.

If you’ve gone and looked at golf clubs at a sporting goods store, you’ve likely been overwhelmed at the options, the terminology, the brands, the sizes and on and on. Before I read this book I made several purchasing mistakes. The main point of the book is getting the clubs that are sized and weighted right for you. And though the author emphasizes getting custom made clubs, the information he gave on clubs proved invaluable. I did not go buy custom made clubs, but I did take the information and went and bought some clubs that were much more suitable for me — and, as the author promises, my game greatly improved. Right sizing is important! Check it out — you won’t regret it.

See larger image The Right Sticks: Equipment Myths That Could Wreck Your Golf Game (Hardcover) By (author) Tom Wishon, Tom Grundner List Price: $14.95 USD New From: $9.59 In Stock Used from: $8.98 In Stock