The shaft of the golf club is more than just a stick with a head glued to the end. The shaft is the engine of the golf club. And it’s quite unfortunate how little most consumers pay attention towards them.

Shafts usually come in two different types of materials: stainless steel and graphite. There are essentially five different criteria in a shaft: weight, bend-point, tip stiffness, and frequency.  The weight of the shaft is its total weight, often in grams. Typical driver shaft weights range from the mid-fifties to the low-seventies. Woods and hybrids range from high-seventies to the mid-nineties. Irons, wedges, and putters usually range in the high-nineties up to one hundred and forty grams. You will notice that the shafts progressively become heavier. The reason is that usually a heavier shaft will improve accuracy by aiding the swing tempo. Hence, the scoring clubs will usually have the heaviest shafts.

A brief definition of the bend point is the point on the shaft where the club most bends, during the golf swing. This most affects the initial trajectory of the golf ball. The language can be a bit confusing because there is an inverse in description. So, a high bend point will produce a lower ball flight. A low bend point will produce a higher ball flight. Usually, steel shafts will produce lower ball flights than graphite shafts.

The lower third portion of the shaft, near the head, is called the tip. Shaft makers, producing stiff, medium, and soft tips, can alter the tip’s stiffness. Those that struggle with slicing the ball will want to have a softer tip, as it will aid in correcting the ball flight pattern. Golfers that struggle with a hook will want to look for a stiffer tip.

The frequency of a club determines its overall stiffness. This is singularly the most often misdiagnosed element in a fitting.  A recent survey discovered that a majority of golfers unknowingly misgauge how far they hit their clubs by ten percent. This often leads to mismatched frequencies because club fitters often ask how far a golfer will hit their eight-iron, and determine a suitable shaft stiffness. Try taking an honest friend to the range first to figure out what club you need to use consistently to fly a ball to the 150 yard post. If you’re using a nine iron or pitching wedge, you should be using an extra stiff shaft. If you are using a seven or eight iron, use a stiff shaft. If you are using a five or six iron, use a regular shaft. If you are using a 4 iron, four or five hybrid, or a seven wood, you should be using a senior/mature flex. Anything beyond that should be a ladies flex.

Almost all shafts in ladies golf sets will have graphite shafts that are lightweight, with a soft tip, low bend point, ladies flex and high-torque. If any of these characteristics don’t fit your golf swing, talk to your local club fitter to find the right shaft for you. No one should be driving a lemon…

The way a club feels and how it performs are intimately connected. The weight, the flexibility, the grip’s tackiness and thickness…all these contribute to performance. But at impact, the defining factor is the material/method in which the head of the club was produced. And there are essentially two different types of heads: forged and cast.

Forged clubs are generally reserved for the better player. It is not often that you will find a forged club designed for the higher-handicapped golfer. The reason is essentially twofold: first, the type of metal that is used for forging a club is softer than that of a cast club. Low handicappers prefer this because it results in a slightly softer feel at impact—one which higher-handicappers cannot sense. Secondly, the forging process is time-consuming and expensive, resulting in a pricier golf club—which often repels new golfers. Casting allows massive amounts of heads to be produced at a fraction of the cost.

When forging a golf club head, manufacturers take a billet of soft steel, heat it up to an extremely high temperature, and hammer it into shape. It is then hand ground to soften the edges, stamped, and then shipped out so that it can be shafted and gripped. The casting process is vastly different in that manufacturers take metal, melt it, and pour it into a mold. It is then cooled, ground down, stamped, and shipped off. While the forging process requires each head to be individually hammered, multiple heads can be poured into molds during the casting process.

The casting process not only requires a harder metal, but when the metal moves form a solid to liquid state, and then back to a solid state, tiny bubbles develop within the head of the golf club. This creates inconsistencies throughout the club, resulting in a more varied feel. And the last thing that lower-handicappers want is their equipment to be inconsistent. Forging, on the other hand, remains in a relatively solid state, resulting in a more consistent head. The major drawback to forged clubs, besides the price, is that because a softer metal is required, the clubs are much more prone to dents, dings, and groove wear. Furthermore, extra care is required in not just protecting forged clubs, but frequently checking and correcting the lie angle and lofts (as they are prone to minutely alter after long sessions at the range).

Most golfers, after hitting a forged club and a cast club, can’t tell the difference between the two. If that’s the case for you, go with the cast club. It’s more durable and more forgiving, both on the score and the wallet.

With the likes of young women’s golf phenomena like Michelle Wie, Natalie Gulbis and Lorena Ochoa, golf is slowly becoming a sport that isn’t relegated to the non-physical. It is rare to see anyone on the LPGA that isn’t in track-runner shape. Physical strength is absolutely necessary, and the average driving distance of the LPGA show it, being almost twenty yards farther than those of only ten years ago.

Given, it is one of the last remaining non-contact sports, but with its new induction to the Olympics (beginning in 2012 at Rio de Janeiro), golf demands an entirely different set of skills in need of honing.

After winning the 2008 U.S Open at Torrey Pines, CA., Tiger Woods was asked why anyone should show any respect for golf? His response was startling. He had said that it is the only sport in which there is absolutely no element of reaction. Golf is one of the only sports where the player must exert energy onto an absolutely stationary object. This may sound simple, until you begin exploring the realm of mental toughness this requires. Golf is completely autonomous, in that the results are almost entirely dependent on the performer, not his opponents.

Furthermore, the benefits of golf are profound in the expectations of etiquette required throughout, and after rounds of golf. It is the only sport that is almost completely self-regulated, with every golfer being her referee. This demands qualities such as honesty, sincerity, and respect for the rules. There are also elements of respect for other players, patience in waiting for your turn, and good sportsmanship in both celebration and defeat.

These are just a couple of things that really no other sport offers other than golf. More so, these are all qualities that everyone can use a bit more of.

Not only do these things make golf a sport that young people ought to play and learn from, but it is also one of the few sports where parents and kids can often equally participate in, and compete against each other in. It is the only sport where I can take my mom and she can participate in it, not just watch me.

Golf is a sport that finally needs to overcome the cultural, gender, and financial barriers that have accrued over the years. There are several foundations out there that bring the sport to areas that otherwise could not afford it. Several non-profit organizations take old clubs so that they can teach kids how to golf. There are also foundations set up to support ladies golfers.

One of the best feelings is giving to someone, and what better ways than to give to someone something that you’re passionate about, like golf? Maybe then, it won’t be considered a grandma sport anymore.

For ladies golf club sets, there are essentially two different types of sets: complete sets that usually come with a driver, woods, hybrids/irons, putters, and a bag. The other type of set are individual sets—sets in which all the components are sold separately (irons are comprised of eight pieces).

Within the first sub-category, complete sets, remain two more divisions: traditional sets and hybrid sets. Most golf companies oversimplify their advertisements for hybrids by claiming that hybrids are merely long-iron replacements, meant to be easier to hit. But that is not the case because there are certain cases where players will have more difficulty with hybrids (and should opt for replacing their long irons with woods). There are two different types of swings—diggers and sweepers. Diggers have a steep arch, often taking large pieces of earth for divots, and if/when they miss, they undercut the ball too much and severely lose distance. Sweepers, on the other hand, have a shallow arch and have a tendency to hit it thin, without taking any divots. Generally speaking, golfers with a shallow, sweeping swing are better wood-players, while the diggers excel with irons. Hybrids are good replacements for the digger-sort of golfer. Golfers with a shallow swing will have difficulty getting the ball off the turf with hybrids, and so will benefit more with woods.

The major benefit in purchasing a complete set is consistency in shaft lengths, shaft strengths, and lofts throughout the set. But with consistency often comes lower quality material. Purchasing individual clubs usually means that you will have a higher quality club, but at a heftier price.

A good suggestion would be that higher handicappers purchase complete sets, and progressively replace pieces of equipment as you develop and improve your golf game. Tiger Woods was once asked how his father taught him golf, and answered by saying, “from the green to the tee.” In other words, he learned how to putt before he learned how to use the driver. So when purchasing replacements, the best route would be to start from your scoring clubs to your distance clubs. In other words, your first replacement ought to be the putter, then the wedges, then the irons, on to the hybrids/woods, and lastly the driver. The reason is because, despite most golfers’ infatuations with gaining distance, the single most often used clubs are your putter and wedges. They most affect your score, and should be the center of your attention.

Above all these things, the most important step is to continually be fitted for your clubs. Golf swings naturally change throughout time, and so the clubs specifications should as well.

In comes here the new sheriff in town, and his name is Michael Whan. He is the new LPGA commissioner and his goal is singular and weighty: to develop and expand the fan base of ladies golf. He was hired mainly because of his experience in developing a slumping franchise and more than tripling its revenue in only a couple of years. But this may seem much more difficult than expected, unless the LPGA understands that simply marketing the young, up and coming stars as mere models and not serious golfers will not develop a loyal fan base. That only cheapens the sport.

The reason why it is healthier for both men and women to watch LPGA events is because it offers realistic expectations. The average golfer benefits from watching the club selection, strategy, technique, and course management, LPGA pros showcase. This is not to be understood as implying that an average golfer can compete against the best female golfers in the world. There is no shadow of a doubt that a lower-tiered LPGA pro can outplay a scratch golfer (man or woman). But the PGA (men) showcases players of uncommon strength and technique. PGA players get away with many different swing faults and unrealistic course management because of their sheer athletic ability—the sort that few have. For example, Tiger Woods hit a shot from a fairway bunker, 220 yards from the pin, carrying over a water hazard the entire way, with a 5-iron, to within 15 feet of the pin. He made that putt to win the 2000 Canadian Open. These are the sorts of feats that exist only in our wildest imaginations. 99% of golfers cannot make that shot if their life depended on it. Even with the wind from our backs, downhill, a 5-iron will not fly more than 190 yards. These are the sorts of shots that create public-course-pipe-dreams for most golfers. And this is one of many: John Daly’s over-swing, Jim Furyk’s figure-eight backswing, Ernie Els’ mind-boggling tempo, and Camilo Villegas’ uncanny flexibility.

Michael Whan must communicate to the masses that all recreational golfers will learn more by watching ladies golf than the PGA. Only then will the LPGA be honored for what it really is: extremely talented women that play golf the way it ought to be played…not by shear brawn but by brains.

This is the first speed bump that must be passed—this idea of investment. Golf clubs can no longer be seen as an investment. It is not like a diamond ring that is passed down from generation to generation. Because of the increase in research and development, companies are now offering clubs that are more specific to levels of skill. Now, a beginner has a set specifically designer for her, and amateur has a different sort of iron, and the pro has something else. Golf balls are designed for different swing speeds and wedges have different sole grinds that accommodate to different skill levels. As we said earlier, Golf clubs are no longer investments. Think of Golf clubs being more like ovens. Beginner bakers start off with an easy-bake oven where options are limited for the sake of ease of use. But as bakers progress, they move on to a better oven with more options. Eventually, as their skill level increases, they move on to better ovens with broilers and so forth. The same goes for golf clubs.

It would be wise to purchase a complete set for beginners. Complete sets are nice because manufacturers properly provide equal loft spacing between each club; giving beginners much needed consistency in distance. The problem with complete sets is the inability to fully customize clubs, such as shaft choice, driver loft, and wedges.  Quality is also often an issue and alternative shaft flexes are usually not offered. Also, generally, manufacturers reserve newer technology for higher price-points, individual clubs and sets. If a complete set is purchased, it would be advisable to purchase a separate putter, since it is with the putter that the golfer takes the most strokes, and money spent on customizing this club, even for beginners, is well spent.

Once a player begins consistently shooting under the 100’s, it is then advisable to consider purchasing a new set of irons that can be custom fitted to the golfer’s specifications. Every 10 strokes a player consistently shaves off her average, a new set of irons should be purchased, to utilize the reformed swing of the golfer.

Purchasing women’s golf clubs shouldn’t be a hassle by any means. Nor should it be something that can be done in a matter of minutes. It is a process that requires much self-awareness and consciousness of goals.

More than multi-layered golf balls and oversized drivers, the hybrid is the single most beneficial piece of equipment. Today, it is rare for companies to release iron sets with anything more than a 5 iron. Almost every golf club manufacturing giant offers some sort of set where the longer irons (3-5 irons) are replaced with hybrids. This is even more common in stes for women’s golf clubs. But the questions remains, what exactly is a hybrid and what are the benefits?

A hybrid is essentially a long iron replacement. Long irons are traditionally one of the most difficult clubs to play effectively. But hybrids offer a specific head design that utilizes a deeper face, lower center of gravity and higher moment of inertia. This translates into a head design that produces a higher ball flight, that is more forgiving and stable on impure hits, and is easier to hit off of flat surfaces (as opposed to tees).

Hybrids differ from fairway woods not only in head shape, but hybrids match the shaft length of the iron that it replaces (so, a 3 hybrid will be the same length as a 3 iron). Having a shorter shaft length dramatically increases accuracy. That is why the single club that requires the most accurate shot, the putter, also has the shortest shaft length (with the exception of belly and long putters).

Compared to men’s hybrid golf clubs, ladies hybrid golf clubs have higher lofts, softer and lighter shafts, larger heads, shorter shaft length, and thinner grips. But be warned, do not purchase hybrids based on their lofts. Many companies will take loft off of a club to produce a lower ball flight. For example, a typical 3 iron has 20-21 degrees of loft. Many companies will manufacture a 3 hybrid with 19 degrees to compensate for the naturally high ball-flight from the head shape. Wise counsel suggests that consumer purchase hybrids according to the designated iron it replaces, not off of the degrees of loft. Companies spend countless hours in research and development to produce the right combination of loft and head shape to produce the right distance.

Getting fitted for a driver often involves not only a trained eye, but machines that digitally track four specific measurements. The first is the club head speed. This is the swing speed at the moment of impact (not the average, since the lowest point of the swing is also the fastest). The second measurement is the ball speed. This is the initial ball speed directly after contact. Because of wind friction, gravity, and backspin, the golf ball progressively slows down throughout its hopeful voyage to the fairway. The third measurement is the initial trajectory of the ball flight. This obviously most directly affects the overall height of the ball flight. The fourth and probably the most important measurement is the back/side spin. Too much backspin means a ballooning ball flight that seems to stall midway, and results in a serious loss of roll and overall distance. Too little backspin produces a knuckleball effect that is both inconsistent and also results in a serious loss of roll and overall distance. To be fitted for a driver means to find the right loft, shaft strength, shaft type, shaft length, and even correct grip thickness to maximize distance and control.

Getting fitted for an iron set is quite different from a driver fitting. It often does not involve heavy machinery. Rather, all it really takes is a plastic board (called a lie board) and some sole-marking tape (quite similar to carbon paper, but sticky). The most important measurement is the lie angle of the club. The lie angle determines how high from the ground, or low to the ground, the toe of the club is.  Often, iron fitters will stick some sole-marking tape on the bottom of the club and have the player hit some balls off of the lie angle board. The resulting marks on the sole will inform the fitter how many degrees upright or flat the golf club needs to be adjusted. Too often, golfers will see that when addressing the ball, prior to hitting, the toe of the club is raised off the ground and expect that their irons are too upright. But it must be understood that the shaft bends in two different directions during the golf swing causing the lie angle to both flatten at contact, and the loft of lessen slightly. So, a proper fitting should have the toe raised just a little bit at address (since it will flatten at the point of contact).

Last but certainly not least, the putter! Getting fitted for a putter requires the most expertise from the fitter. The two major measurements made, other than the obvious length, is the lie angle and the loft. At address, the putter should be flat to the ground. There should also be approximately 4 degrees of loft (since the ball rests in a tiny indentation, caused by gravity and the weight of the ball). Some golfers de-loft the putter at address, and so will need a bit more to maintain the optimal 4 degrees at impact.

The most obvious question is, “why do golfers wear a glove?” The reason why golfers wear a glove is to improve grip. There are rather serious implications with improved grip. When a golfer is able to maintain a solid grip on a golf club with ease, this relaxation inadvertently causes a faster swing speed by engaging the quick-twitch muscles. Chefs do this all the time when chopping celery. They relax their wrists so that they can chop at a faster tempo. If they were to grip the handle tightly, they would naturally flex their forearm and bicep, causing a slower, less rhythmic chopping action. The reason golfers wear one glove is because, at address, the hand closest to the body is the hand that actually grips the golf club (for right-handed swingers, the glove is worn on the left hand, and vice-versa for left-handed swingers). The other hand is primarily used as the trigger as to when to turn the club over during the swing.

When choosing a glove, one of the most important considerations one must make is choosing between the two different types of leather—synthetic and premium Cabretta leather. There are pros and cons to both types.

The advantage to synthetic Cabretta leather is its durability. One glove can easily last a weekend golfer for the entire season. But there is a dramatic cost for such durability—feel. The synthetic leather does not have the same give and suppleness as premium leather, and sometimes has a plastic-like feel to it. At impact, in the golf swing, the vibration from the club is seriously dampened, and often creates a very dull feel. On the other hand, premium Cabretta leather is highly sought after for its ability to mimic a natural vibration, while providing the much-desired tackiness. The premium leather is often thinner and more breathable, but is quite susceptible to wear and tear.

A good fit is as important as the material in which the glove is made. The glove ought to fit tightly on the hand, not loose like a winter glove. It is better to have a glove that is too tight than too loose, because a session or two at the driving range will both soften the leather and stretch it as well. Furthermore, there are two size sub-categories, regular and cadet. You may think a cadet glove is not intended for youth, but its not! Rather, it is a special fit for those that have larger palms and shorter fingers. If the regular size leaves any extra room at the fingertips, then it would be prudent to purchase the cadet version (a loose glove leaves room for blisters and unnecessary calluses).

So, go and use this knowledge to get the right glove for you! Enjoy your next round!

Especially considering today’s tumultuous economy, investing in golf clubs are no longer a one-stop purchase. The golf industry has expanded to the world of custom fittings, custom golf clubs, a plethora of different golf balls, and boutique putters. But the glaring question remains, “Which golf club is right for me?”

Please note that there are remarkable differences between clubs specifically engineered with men in mind, and those for women. Generally speaking, women’s golf clubs offer lighter and more flexible shafts, higher lofts, shorter shaft lengths, thinner grips, and heads specifically designed to launch the ball higher.

Just as anything else, a properly fitted club is entirely dependent upon the golfer. There is no such thing as the perfect club—rather, the right club. The process is very similar to picking out a proper coat— one’s size and intentions are dually important. It would be unwise to purchase a down-coat for the spring. It would be wise to purchase one that not only fits comfortably, but also is appropriate in how one intends to use it. In the same vain, someone who is new to the sport shouldn’t be playing with the same model as the pros. This will only make the sport less enjoyable. Conversely, the better golfer will shy away from more forgiving clubs, because this prevents them from intentionally producing different sorts of shots. But if all one is looking for is a high and straight shot, the general rule is the larger the head-shape, the easier it will be to make solid contact. Furthermore, a higher lofted club will produce more backspin on the ball, leaving less room for sidespin (the cause for hooks and slices). This means the more backspin the ball has, the straighter it will travel. This is why it is more difficult to hit a straight shot with the driver than the pitching wedge

Now, imagine trying to throw a tennis ball. If one were to try to throw the ball with absolutely no flexibility in their arm, the trajectory would probably be quite low and the ball wouldn’t go very far; conversely, if one were to throw the ball, but with a completely relaxed, noodle-like arm, the direction and distance of the thrown ball would be horribly inconsistent. The most consistent and farthest thrown ball would require a fair combination of a relaxed but firm arm. The same goes for the flexibility of the golf shaft. The right shaft strength must be accurately matched to the golfers swing speed.

Companies spend millions in research and development when designing a proper shaft for their clubs. This ought to cause the consumer to pay careful attention to the shaft flex when purchasing a new club. For the majority, there are four different levels of flexibility in a shaft: stiff flex, regular flex, senior flex (sometimes called “mature flex”) and ladies flex.  Most women would normally use a ladies flex (although women who are either taller than average, or swing a bit faster, are often fit with either a senior flex or even a regular flex). Your pro can advise you.

Hopefully, the process of choosing golf clubs has become a bit easier and more manageable. But above all, have fun with it. Imagine having a super round with your shiny new clubs!