When choosing the right golf club, there are many factors to consider. Many golfers are often confused by these wide options because they don’t know when to use which golf club.
According to the rules of golf, a golfer’s 14-slot golf bag can only hold 14 clubs. However, if a player has extra equipment, it can cause penalties.
And a golfer can’t ignore the penalty for different clubs. If you don’t want any hindrance in your golf shots and performance, then you need to know the right golf clubs.
According to the rules, golfers can carry up to 14 golf clubs in their bag, but that doesn’t mean you should only carry one type of club.
It’s best to keep a mix of clubs in your bags for obvious reasons on the course. In other words, a harmonious combination of golf clubs is necessary to ensure a top-notch game.
In this article, we will share a perfect guideline through which you can understand how to choose the right golf club for the situation. So, let’s get started.
Different Types Of Golf Clubs And Their Uses
One of the most common questions from golfers is the different types of golf clubs and when to use which golf club. A simple explanation is given here:
In general, there are six types of golf clubs: These are drivers, fairway woods, hybrids, irons, wedges, and putters. Each golf club is used for different purposes.
For example, a driver is used to hitting a golf ball off a tee and into the fairway. Woods, hybrids, irons, and wedges are used to hit the golf ball from the fairway. Finally, putters are used to hitting the ball into the hole.
Let’s learn about each type of golf club and when to use each golf club in the game.
| Types Of Golf Clubs | Main Use | Loft |
| Driver | drive the golf ball from a tee |
8 and 12 degrees
|
| Fairway Wood | great alternative when your ball is on the fairway, but you are still a significant distance from the green | higher loft |
| Hybrids |
the most versatile types of golf clubs
|
|
| Irons | Long Irons: hardest to hit and fly the lowest. Short irons fly higher and are more accurate |
lower the number of irons, the less loft they will have
|
| WEDGES | for shots from 50 to 120 yards. | high loft angle |
| Putters | when you get to the top of the green, a few feet from the green | 3 to 4 degrees |
1. Driver
A driver is generally used to drive the golf ball from a tee. You can also say a tee shot. Ideally, your tee shot will travel as far and accurately as possible and land in the fairway.
Most drivers are constructed of titanium, stainless steel, graphite, or a combination of these materials. The average driver is 45″ long and is the longest club in your golf bag.
The loft of the driver can be between 8 and 12 degrees.
When to use your driver in golf
Generally, drivers are used for tee shots. However, some expert golfers use them from the fairway when they want extra distance or to hit a low shot with lots of rolls.
If you’re a beginner golfer, you don’t have to worry – hitting a driver off the tee from the fairway is widely considered one of the most challenging golf shots.
2. Fairway Wood
The fairway wood is designed to hit the golf ball from the fairway. You could say the fairway uses the rough if the golf ball stays fair. You can hit the ball as far as possible with this club.
The fairway wood is called wood because it was made from hickory and persimmon.
These clubs are also made from the same material as drivers; however, they have a smaller clubhead and higher loft.
When to Use Fairway Woods in Golf
Fairway woods can be a great alternative when your ball is on the fairway, but you are still far from the green. They can also be used in the rough, but only if your ball is perfectly placed in the grass.
In addition, there are several times when you can use the fairway wood from the tee. The advantage of using this fairway wood is that it will allow you to hit a more reliable shot than when you use your driver while still getting some distance.
3. Hybrids
Hybrids are crosses between wood and irons. The idea behind this golf club is to combine the strength of the iron with that of the wood.
One of the biggest challenges for novice and older golfers is making solid contact with their long/middle irons.
Hybrids consist of half wood and half iron, giving golfers options for these delicate clubs and helping them get the ball in the air.
When to Use Hybrids in Golf
Hybrids are one of the most versatile types of golf clubs. Their fancy design makes them easy to hit from almost any lie.
They’re often called “back-up clubs” because they can help you eliminate the problems you may find in the dense rough of the fairway bunker.
You can use these clubs to make a push-and-run chip shot around the green.
4. Irons
In general, most clubs in a golf bag are made up of irons. These clubs typically hit the greens from the rough, fairway, or fairway bunkers.
The lower the number of irons, the less loft they will have and the further they will go. For example, when a 3-iron hits accurately, it will move much more than a 9-iron.
There are two main types of irons: long irons and short irons.
Long irons
The 2,3,4,5,6 irons can be called “long irons”. Long irons are the hardest to hit and fly the lowest.
Short Irons
Short irons are more comfortable to hit, fly higher, and are generally more accurate than long irons. However, with increased skill, remember that you’ll sacrifice some distance.
When to Use Irons in Golf
Like fairway woods, irons can generally be used in several scenarios. You can set a long iron off the tee to keep your ball in play.
You can also use them on the fairway, in the rough, in the sand, and on the greens. The closer you get to the green, the higher the number of iron you choose.
5. WEDGES
Wedges are a type of iron designed for a high loft angle to create high trajectory, short distance shots. It helps golfers produce different distance shots from various situations.
The pitching wedge, for example, allows the nibs with the lowest scaffold angle to be even longer.
This is an excellent option for shots close to the green. You can use the pitching wedge for shots from 50 to 120 yards.
When to use wedges in golf
There are several situations where wedges are useful:
From the fairway – Generally, beginning golfers use wedges when they have about 130 yards or a little more left of the green. These clubs can hit from the fairway, the outer rough, or the sand.
For example, you can use a pitching wedge from 130 yards, a gap wedge from 100 yards, and a lob wedge from 80 yards or less.
On the other hand, if you want to hit a shot that goes down to the green and rolls toward the hole, you can use a pitch with a low loft, like a pitching wedge.
6. Putters
The putter is the last club you can use on each hole. It has a very flat clubface and an average angle of 3 to 4 degrees.
When to use your putter in golf
It’s straightforward – use your putter when you get to the top of the green. If you’re on the fairway, you may decide to use the potter, a few feet from the green.
How To Pick Out Golf Clubs
How To Choose Putter Length
Knowing which golf clubs to use and when the length of golf clubs is crucial. The length of golf clubs depends on the golfer’s size and the club’s shaft.
We can describe heights in three categories. These three categories have different shaft length requirements.
The golfer whose height is less than 5 feet 5 inches must use a half-inch shorter than the usual length.
Golfers whose height is between 5 feet 5-inch and 6 feet must use a standard length of 1 inch.
Golfers taller than 6 feet 1-inch should use a club longer than the usual length.
How To Choose Driver Loft
Club loft can be different for different types of golfers. Novice golfers perform best with clubs that have a high loft. These clubs can offer more accuracy and distance.
However, clubs with less loft can be challenging to control because they offer more spin. But in modern times, things have changed a lot.
Skilled golfers now use higher loft clubs to maximize length and decrease spin. You can use higher lofted clubs if you’re trying to get spin and not hit it straight.
How many golf clubs should beginners have?
Answer: Beginner golfers do not need to have all 14 clubs. They should start with just a few. They should have just one driver, one wood, three or four irons, one wedge, and one putter.
What is the highest number of golf clubs allowed?
Answer: According to the USGA, players may carry no more than 14 clubs in their golf bag.
What is the minimum number of golf clubs allowed?
Answer: According to the USGA, no minimum number of clubs is required for a golf round. If you want, you can play a round of golf with one club. If you wish, you can play a round of golf with one club.
Conclusion
First of all, we can hope that you now know all about when to use which golf club? We’ve tried and done much research to explain it all and easily.
If you have any questions, don’t hesitate to contact us in the comment box. We’ll try to appreciate your requests.