GOLF TIP
by Kay McMahonA player is permitted to carry a maximum of fourteen clubs to play golf. all golfers do not use a full set, and those using a full set do not all select the same clubs. However, the usual set of fourteen clubs consists of one putter, nine irons, and four woods.
The putter has an almost vertical clubface and usually has a relatively short shaft. It is used principally on the putting green (and near the green) to stroke and roll the ball into the hole. The design and construction of putters vary greatly: The shaft may be attached to any part of the clubhead, the size and contour of the grip may be different from the standard grip of the woods and irons, and the clubhead may be formed in a variety of shapes.
A matched set of irons consists of eight or nine clubs. Due to the differences in shaft lengths and clubface lofts, the distances and trajectories of shots hit with the irons vary considerably. Wedges have heavier clubheads and greater lofts than 9-irons. Although these clubs are designated as pitching or sand wedges, both are used to hit shots either from the turf or the sand, depending on the player's preference.
Besides the wedges, other special irons are made for hitting the ball short distances. Irons with medium loft and relatively short shafts are used to play low trajectory shots (run-up or chip shots) to the putting green. These clubs are marketed under various names but are generally called chipping irons. Wedges and chipping irons are often sold as separate clubs, not necessarily part of a matched set of irons.
Matched sets of woods are usually made up of four clubs, numbers 1, 3, 4, and 5. The shafts of the woods are longer than those of the irons, so you can expect to hit the ball farther with these clubs than with the irons. Like the irons, the different-numbered woods vary in shaft length and clubface loft. The almost vertical face of the 1-wood, the driver, usually restricts its use to hitting the ball from a tee.
Wood clubs with greater lofts that the 5-wood are gaining in favor. some players prefer to use these clubs in place of the long irons. Distinct changes have been made in the materials used for the clubheads of woods. Besides being made of wood, the clubheads are also made of such materials as stainless steel, graphite, titanium, and boron, or a combination of any of these materials. For want of a better name, they are called metal woods.
Reprinted in part with permission of Nance/Davis/McMahon authors of GOLF, eighth edition