Golf Gear Guide
How To Gear Up For the Links Without Going Over Par on Your Budget
Understanding Golf Equipment
Ah, the time-honoured game of golf. There’s nothing quite like hitting the green for a few rounds of putting, driving and enjoying the outdoors! Whether you’re a professional or an amateur teeing off for your first time, you’re going to need quality gear to ensure a safe and fun experience on the green. This buying guide will help you determine what clubs, accessories and attire will best suit your playing style, your level of expertise, and best of all, your budget!
When purchasing any sports equipment, it is very important to start from a knowledgeable position by knowing your limits: how proficient you are starting out, and your goals: whether you want to extend your skill base or simply have fun. What is your dominant hand and swing style? Are you a casual player or do you have professional experience? Are you looking to go pro, or are you a weekend golfer? What kind of courses do you like to frequent – what is the terrain like, and what kind of traps are you likely to encounter? Are you a “rain-or-shine” kind of golfer – if so, you’ll need appropriate gear to venture into inclement weather. Do you like to make a leisurely day of your golfing experience, or do you prefer to get through the course on a timetable? Answering these questions will give you a clearer picture of the kind of gear you will require to get the most out of your golf experience. To help you get the best gear for your budget, we’ll separate our price points into three sections: Value, for those just starting out; Economy, for casual players; and Luxury, for serious golfers who want top-notch professional gear.
FORE!
If you’re going to go golfing, the first thing you need is a solid understanding of clubs. If you’re reading this guide you probably already know there are multiple types of clubs for different parts of the course, but the distinctions can be confusing to new golfers, so let’s go through the rundown! The major categories of golf club are woods, irons, putters and chippers: a combination of wood and iron called a hybrid is also becoming very popular on greens the world over. Club types are typically available in male and female models: the female models tend to be shorter in length and lighter in weight than the male models, but the performance is comparable in both.
1.) Woods & Drivers
Woods are long-distance clubs, and despite their name, modern versions are usually made with a graphite shaft, and titanium, steel or composite head. Due to this change in material, modern woods are sometimes referred to as “metalwoods” or “fairway metals”. The most powerful wood club is the driver: commonly called the “one wood”, this club has the greatest length and is lighter than almost all other clubs. Though a driver can be used to shoot from the turf, they it is best suited for a drive directly from your tee-off, particularly for high-par holes of three hundred yards or more. Drivers are usually built of hollowed-out titanium for minimum weight and maximum flexibility. Typically you will have two more wood clubs in your arsenal: these are called fairway woods, or 3 and 5 wood respectively, and are used from the turf to close the distance on high-par holes.
Fairway woods are distinctive due to their higher loft – the angle at which the club strikes the ball – which provides generous lift for shooting over obstacles like hills, and their shallow face height, which provides maximum distance from a centered shot.While value wood models can be found for as low as fifty dollars a club, they are usually constructed from a single material and are balanced for basic shots only. Economy models feature fine-tuning that promotes higher ball velocity and drag reduction, and high-end luxury versions are composite-crafted with careful attention to weight distribution for maximum accuracy even over long distances.
2.) Irons
Unlike woods, modern iron clubs are still made of iron – or its stronger, alloy cousin, steel. Irons are by far the most diverse club type in your golf bag, and will comprise the vast majority of your golf kit. Irons come in two manufactured varieties: muscle back and cavity back. The muscle back is the more traditional design, consisting of a solid head with very little weight distribution around the perimeter of the head. The muscle back can therefore be challenging to use because its “sweet spot” – the perfect point for the head to connect with the ball for maximum distance and accuracy – is very small, but a skilled player who can hit the “sweet spot” will find the solid construction results in greater distance and more control. The cavity back is a newer, more expensive design, in which the head weight is more evenly distributed, resulting in a “cavity” in the center of the head and an enlarged “sweet spot”. Cavity backs are great for amateur golfers because they are more forgiving of error: hitting a muscle back off-center can send your ball into the rough, but cavity backs will allow greater accuracy even if your swing isn’t perfect. Iron clubs are usually numbered from one to nine. The “one iron” denotes the club with the lowest loft, smallest head and longest shaft; it is sometimes referred to as the “butter knife” due to the shape of the club head, or the “driving iron” for its functionality – one irons are typically used for drives too far for standard irons but not far enough to warrant the use of a wood. Clubs two through nine are identified by progressively increasing loft, larger head size, and shorter shafts. “Wedges” are specially designed iron club subtypes designed to propel your ball out of sand traps, over bunkers, and around hazards on the green. Wedges feature the highest loft and largest heads in your golf bag. Irons are widely priced depending upon manufacturing: simple wedges are usually cheapest, while super high-tech driving irons designed for precision often fall into the luxury category.
3.) Putters
Once your woods and irons have gotten you to the final stretch, it’s time to pull out your trusty putter to finish the job! Putting requires far more precision than any other aspect of your golf game, so while you might swap out irons and woods depending on your preference, a putter is one club you absolutely can’t be without. Putters are designed for accuracy and control at close ranges: advances in production, including the same investment casting used in cavity back irons, have allowed manufacturers to create putters with low centers of gravity: reducing backspin, lowering loft, and increasing the size of the “sweet spot”. Some manufacturers have “padded” the sweet spot with a soft polymer compound, increasing rebound and providing greater distance for the same swing. Putters are also the only club with a bent shaft: this design lines up the shaft with the sweet spot, allowing amateurs and professionals alike to swing “through” the ball and increase accuracy. As with most modern clubs, putters are built of composite materials: less-expensive putters often have soft aluminum shafts with detachable steel heads, whereas high end models feature stepless steel shafts seamlessly melded to weighted heads for exemplary performance.
4.) Chippers
Similar in design to a putter, chippers are specialized clubs with a very high loft, designed to propel your ball in a high, short arc: out of traps and over obstacles. Chippers can also be used from the green for “lagging”: a lag is a long-distance putt from green to green for the purpose of setting the ball up for a more precise second putt (usually right into the hole). Many professional golfers prefer to use a wedge for lagging and escaping traps, thereby freeing up a space in their kit for a more versatile club such as an iron, but for amateurs and medium-level players, the chipper is a very useful tool. Chippers are unique in their construction: they are the only club that can be used “two-way” or on either side of the body. This afford the chipper flexibility of movement in cramped quarters, allowing the player to strike the ball from the most advantageous angle to get it out of trouble and back on the green. Chippers are among the least expensive club types: a value chipper can cost as little as seventeen dollars, though most mid-range models are typically priced at around forty dollars. Luxury chippers are the best of the best: they feature polymer inserts to improve glide, high-definition alignment to increase accuracy, and high degrees of loft.
5.) Hybrid Clubs
For the best of both worlds, more and more golfers are picking up hybrid clubs that combine the best qualities of an iron and a wood club in one package. Long irons (1-4) tend to be more challenging for non-professional golfers because of their small club faces – this shrinks the “sweet spot” and decreases accuracy. Players who find the iron difficult tend to replace them with fairway woods that have larger club faces, but the elongated club shaft on a fairway wood makes it difficult to shoot from cover. Hybrids help to bridge this gap by combining the hollow steel or titanium convex face of the wood with the lie and length of an iron club. Other hybrid models bear more in common with irons: flat club faces with a wood-like shape, forgoing the muscle or cavity back shape in favour of a high-mass, bulging head back. This decreases the speed of the swing, but increases the applied force, making the iron hybrid an excellent choice for chipping out of turf or sand. Depending on the quality of hybrid that will best suit your game, you can choose a value model for under fifty dollars, an economy version with a low center of gravity designed to make each hit count, and the ultimate luxury model precision designed to maximize the sweet spot and built with a zero roll clubface that produces the highest possible launch angle.
Club Components
Like any well-oiled machine, your clubs need to be kept in good repair if you’re going to get the most out of your game. This section will walk you through purchasing the best components to replace or augment your existing club gear, and we’ll also take a look at the best in golf bags to keep your club collection safe, secure and stored.
1.) Shafts
The shaft is the main body of any golf club. Shafts on modern golf clubs are made of tapered steel or graphite, and typically measure between 34 to 48 inches in length. Shafts are measured in terms of “flex”, a term referring to how much the shaft will bend when a load is placed on it (and how much it will bend when you swing it!). A stiff shaft will not flex very far, meaning more power is required for distance shots, while a flexible shaft will provide more distance on slower swings, but will sacrifice accuracy if you swing too hard. The amount of flex your shaft has is determined by its designation: “L” (Lady), “A” (Soft Regular, Intermediate or Senior), “R” (Regular), “S” (Stiff) or “X” (Tour Stiff, Extra Stiff or Strong). Which shaft you choose depends on how fast your swing is. An “A” shaft suits those with a slow swing (110-127 km/h), while an “R” shaft will handle between 130 and 151 km/h swings. The “S” and “X” flex shafts are designed for the pros: players whose swing measures upwards of 160 km/h. Putter shafts are built standard across the board, as they do not require the flex capacity other shafts do, and are therefore very inexpensive. Indeed, low-end steel shafts for woods and irons are not expensive either: some come in at under ten dollars. Economy shafts incorporate a graphite core to dampen vibrations along the range of the shaft and steel fibre outlay for precision accuracy, and luxury shafts pay close attention to graphite-steel ratios in order to create the perfect balance of dampening without sacrificing weight and control.
2.) Heads
Club heads are unique to the type of club they complete, but they share certain characteristics in common. All club heads, with the exception of putters and some chippers, have a single striking face where the club impacts the ball. The size of the striking face and the construction of the head depend upon the club type. Wood heads are typically made of titanium, which has a higher strength-to-weight ratio than common steel and is more resistant to corrosion, making it ideal for outdoor play in any weather conditions. Wood heads are typically large with a deep center of gravity, although the USGA prohibits use of wood heads larger than 460 cubic centimetres. Unlike other heads which attach to the shaft by way of a hosel, most metalwoods find the heads attached directly to the shaft, lowering the center of gravity and boosting power on contact. Iron heads are usually manufactured by way of investment casting, which creates a stiff and inflexible head ideal for power but more difficult to control. Iron heads use a hosel to attach to the shaft, but they are designed to mimic woods in that they lower the center of gravity as much as possible to ensure more power per shot. Hybrid heads share much in common with wood heads, including the “trampoline” effect which allows the striking face of the head to “give” slightly, increasing the power of the shot. Putter heads are L-shaped and flat, sometimes with two striking faces (one on each side) and manufactured using investment casting as well. Heads tend to vary wildly in price, depending upon the model of shaft to which they’re being paired. A basic women’s head with high handicap, for example, might run as low as a dollar, while a high-end driver head featuring an adjustable hosel and removable rear weight for the professional player to customize will run as high as one hundred thirty dollars per head. Adjustable weighting is common in mid-range heads, though these will lack the adjustable hosel.
3.) Grips
So you’ve got your ideal shaft and head ready to go – but in order to take that perfect first swing you’re going to need a solid grip. Regardless which hand is dominant, you will want a grip that doesn’t slip. Keep in mind that grips must have a circular cross section (except for putters), and while they’re allowed to taper, they can’t have any waisting (a thin section flanked by thicker sections) or bulging (a thick section flanked by thinner sections). Basic grips are inexpensive and easy to attach: modern replacement kits use double sided tape and a water-based adhesive that is slippery when wet but very strong when cured. Better-quality grips are ribbed or otherwise scored for better handling, but grips don’t typically cost more than a few dollars, meaning they’re available for all budgets.
Get Rolling
Golf Balls
A ball by any other name will not roll as cleanly! Golf balls come in an extraordinary variety of sizes and designs, and it’s a good idea to know which one will suit your playing style before you hit the green. Golf balls are typically divided into two categories: recreational and advanced.
The recreational golf ball is designed to cater to a lower level of skill than the advanced models: they are made for the amateur or mid-range golferwhose swing speed is around the 120 km/hr mark. These golfers are out to have a good time and improve their game, so they’re ready and willing to lose balls in water traps and out of bounds, so recreational balls tend to be less expensive. They are made in two layers of composite materials, usually surlyn or urethane, with the softer inner layer protected by a harder dimpled shell designed to be as symmetrical as possible. This construction allows for low compression and a minimum of spin, which suits the amateur player’s style. These balls make great gifts and are often patterned with sports team logos, congratulatory messages or other fun styles.
Advanced golf balls come in three- to four-layer designs: where recreational balls had a hard shell encasing a soft core to minimize spin, advanced balls are soft on the outside with a hard core to allow professional players the most control over spin and lift. However, this design means a stronger swing will be required to effect the compression necessary for a long distance shot: if the ball is hit too hard or too softly, the soft exterior of the ball will either not compress enough or compress too much, resulting in a loss of distance. These balls usually boast twice the number of dimples as their recreational counterparts, which aid in aerodynamics, and are considerably more expensive: a pack of three dozen advanced balls can range as high as a hundred and twenty dollars, so these balls are for professionals only – you don’t want one of these to disappear into a water trap!
Club Bags
Different golf excursions will call for different carrying apparatuses. If you’re an occasional golfer or in high spirits, you might not mind carrying your gear with you throughout the day: or, if you happen to prefer a golf cart for long walks to the green, your golf bag can be considerably simpler. Value golf bags start at around forty dollars, and they are the simplest of options: external zippered pockets, a seven-inch diameter to hold the minimum number of clubs, a glove tab with various attachments including a towel ring, umbrella holder and lined pockets for your watch or other valuables. Economy golf bags are similarly equipped with a higher waterproof rating, more external pockets for balls, tees and other golf necessities, and are the type used by entry-level tour players. Also at an economy price, you can back up your main golf bag with rolling duffel bags to keep incidentals for long days on the green. And for the true golf enthusiast, luxury bags are made of the finest Italian leather, buffed to perfection with solid waterproofing and weatherproofing with a variety of velvet-lined pockets and is designed to be carried by a caddy.
On Your Feet
Amateur golfers might be surprised to know that your shoes are just about the most important part of your attire for a day on the green. An eighteen-hole game with no cart is an awful lot of walking, so you want footwear that is comfortable, durable and weather resistant. And since most clubs have outlawed metal spikes because of the damage they can do to the green, a pair of shoes with either soft plastic spikes or power-grip soles will give you the traction you need for your three-hundred yard drive! As with most athletic footwear, golf shoes come in a variety of styles to suit every budget: for the occasional golfer who just wants a suitable pair of shoes for the odd day on the green, pricing starts at around thirty dollars. Recreational golfers who enjoy hitting the green in summer will also enjoy a selection of sandals that are golf-safe and stylish. Mid-range shoes made of waterproof leather bound to rugged rubber that will provide maximum traction without damaging the green are suitable for a value to economy budget. High-tech athletic golf shoes for men and women will fall into a high economy budget, and the true professional will opt for luxury shoes made for golf touring: made from high quality leather and designed to add class and style to your golf attire.
Look Your Best
Golf attire has historically borrowed heavily from the Scottish roots of the game, but modern golf wear has adopted a much sleeker athletic aesthetic. Advancements in athletic apparel have led to the adoption of wick-away and dry-fit fabrics that channel sweat from the body through a porous material that allows sweat to dissipate rather than collect and dampen clothing.
Perhaps the most important place to use these fabrics is in socks, where a long day walking the green can turn footwear damp and uncomfortable. Thankfully there are men’s and women’s options available for wick-away and dry-fit pairs including low-cut versions to be worn with shorts.
The golf shirt is so ubiquitous it’s worn for fashion as well as on the green, and like most athletic wear it comes in men’s and women’s versions at a variety of price points. Basic cotton shirts are generally inexpensive and come in a variety of colours; the classic polo versions are fitted and are usually worn in a more formal playing environment. Wick-away tees are very popular for summer climates, and more expensive versions are even designed to resemble classic polo styles.
For cooler days on the green, there are a variety of windproof and dry-fit options for men and women, including half zip long sleeve tops, long sleeve polos, half-sleeve jackets, zip up vests and more.
Golf pants need to be functional and stylish: allowing room to move with your swing but projecting a clean-cut image at the same time. Standard golf trousers available for men and women tend to run concurrent in price to standard slacks, while certain patterns and brands are more expensive depending on your taste in style. Waterproof options are available for the rain-or-shine golfer, and for summer weather, a variety of short styles are available including dry-fit, knit shorts, flat front for men and wick-away Bermuda shorts for women, and a range of skorts in dry-fit and other fabrics.
A long day of drives and putts is hard on the hands: many golfers swear by gloves to improve grip and accuracy while protecting against friction and irritation. Basic padded pairs for men and women are effective and inexpensive for amateur golfers, and come in all sizes. More expensive models include wick-away and dry fit fabrics to avoid excess perspiration and improve grip on all club types. Stylish and efficient, gloves are a must-have for players expecting a long game.
A sunny day is ideal for a game of golf, but it’s important to stay safe in the heat. A sturdy ball cap will help keep the sun off your face and out of your eyes, protecting your skin from exposure and shading your vision to help keep your eye on the par. If you find yourself sweating in a standard cap, many companies produce wick-away and dry fit fabric hats to keep your head cool and dry on even the hottest day. Or if baseball caps aren’t your cup of tea, why not pull on a trendy visor or even a classic straw hat – both options are breathable and inexpensive.
Par for the Course
Now that you have your clubs in order in your new golf bag, your balls have been chosen to suit your style, and you’re dressed to the nines in all the best gear, it’s time to round out your collection with all the accessories you’ll need to get the most out of your game, and head for the course!
Where would a golf game be without the cry of “fore” and the first tee-off? Amateur golfers can buy tees in bulk packages of a hundred so they’ll never run out no matter how much practice they need, while the pros will gravitate toward custom hardwood tees that minimize friction.
Professional players who want the most accurate possible information about the course they’re playing rely on golf GPS systems to plot their shots down to the yard. These devices can provide critical course information on an easy-to-read display that functions much the same way as the GPS in your car. Basic models will store up to ten courses at a time, drawing from a database of over twelve thousand courses worldwide, and will display hole information as you progress through the course. More advanced models will bundle this same technology into a stylish wristwatch, and top-of-the-line range finders are waterproof with sun-readable displays, updating your progress on a virtual map. Pinpoint precision will help you plan a great game!
During a hot summer game it’s very important to stay hydrated. Pack plenty of water and sport drinks along with sandwiches and snacks in a handy cooler bag from as low as nineteen dollars for a six-pack carrier, or bring enough for all your friends with a deluxe bag designed to complement your golf rig.
Speaking of your rig, take a load off (or give your caddie a break) with a cart to carry all your clubs, balls, tees and everything else you’ll need for a day on the green. Get a collapsible hand-pulled cart that will easily make its way over most terrain, or go for the flexible choice and invest in a multi-cart dolly that will support both your golf bag and your cooler at once!
And if inclement weather should interrupt your game, make sure you have a durable, waterproof golf umbrella with you. These umbrellas are oversized to accommodate you and your gear in the event of a rainstorm or even to cover up from the hot sun: they come in a variety of patterns to suit your style, and are vented to ensure airflow without compromising weather protection.
If your golf clothes are already waterproof and you don’t mind a little rain, make sure your gear stays safe from harm with a rain cover that will seal your golf bag in a waterproof shell, preventing rain from damaging your clubs and incidentals, as well as the bag itself. And if you plan to travel abroad to play on the best ranges the world has to offer, ensure your gear is protected throughout your trip with a hard-shell case that will prevent damage from baggage handling and other travel-related dangers. Most cases even have wheels to make traveling with your golf gear – whether to your local range or the great greens of Scotland and beyond – safe, easy and fun!
Tee Off!
Golf is a great tradition: a game of skill and athletic prowess that appeals to young and old. Regardless whether it’s your first time on the green or you’re a PGA pro, you’ll find everything you need in our Golf and Equipment section. You have the freedom to build your golf collection from the ground up – picking the equipment that best suits your playing style and the kind of game you want to enjoy.
No matter where your golf adventure takes you, this is a great place to tee off!
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