Knowledge and Use of Golf Clubs and Equipment

Golf equipment – The most important golf equipment refers to the golf club, which includes three types: wooden, iron, and push. The main performance of a wooden club is to have a long hitting distance, making it suitable for use on tees or long-distance fairways. Relatively speaking, the accuracy of hitting targets with iron is much higher and can adapt to more environments, making it more practical to save the ball in obstacle areas or hit short distance targets.

On the green, only putters are allowed to hit the ball. A complete set of modern golf equipment typically includes three wooden sticks, nine iron sticks, and one putter, while in regular matches, a player can carry up to fourteen clubs.

Golf competition content – Golf mainly has forms such as stroke comparison, hole comparison, pairing, etc. Among them, stroke comparison is the most common. During a stroke by stroke match, each time a player touches the ball with their club during each hole is counted as one stroke. After completing the eighteen hole match, the player is ranked according to the number of strokes. The lower the number of strokes, the better the result. The different holes on the field are determined to be completed according to their difficulty as follows: Par 3, Par 4, and Par 5, known as Par 3, Par 4, and Par 5. A golf course is usually designed with four Par 3, four Par 5, and ten Par 4 holes, and the total 72 strokes required to complete a game are called standard strokes. Using par as a benchmark, a player’s actual performance can be expressed as x above par, x below par, or at par.

Knowledge Answers
Q: I often hear almost, what does it mean?
A: The player’s performance remains within a stable range of strokes for a certain period of time, representing the player’s level during that period, which can be expressed as the difference between the standard stroke and the handicap. For example, if the stable level is above par X, the player’s handicap is X, and if it is below par X, the player’s handicap is – X. The smaller the handicap number, the higher the level.
Q: What should I pay attention to when playing golf?
A: When playing golf, it is generally required to wear leading clothes, golf shoes, and some courses do not allow wearing shorts. In summer, it is also important to pay attention to sun protection, mosquito prevention, and hydration; When playing, one should control a certain speed. When it takes a long time, other players in the group should pass first. In addition, when other players are playing, they should avoid interference from sound and other methods; Finally, pay attention to safety.
Q: What do birds and eagles mean?
A: In a certain hole of the competition, it is used to describe the number of strokes required to complete that hole. Completing the hole with one shot below the standard is called a birdie shot, and two shots below the standard are called an eagle shot. If you hit the hole directly from the start, it’s called a one shot hole!

Club Structure – The club is composed of a grip, body, and head (Figure 1) (usually a wooden club Wood and an iron club Iron, a wedge will have a rubber sleeve at the connection between the body and head).
Players control the club through contact with the grip. There are two commonly used grip types on the market: rubber grip and cotton grip. The rubber grip has a softer and more comfortable feel, while the cotton grip has better slip resistance. The shaft is the connecting component between the grip and the head, and due to the lengthening of the force distance, it can amplify the force exerted by the player. The material of the shaft is also divided into two types: carbon shaft is lighter and more elastic, which is conducive to improving distance performance (Figure 2 below), while steel shaft is heavier and harder, which can better achieve the goal of player accuracy (Figure 2). When in contact with the ball, it is the club head that ultimately transfers the player’s force. Depending on the type and requirements of the club head, various materials and design shapes are used, which also have the greatest impact on the movement of the ball.

Types of Clubs – Clubs are mainly divided into four types: Wood, Iron, Wedge, and Putter
Wooden clubs can be further divided into: Diver Wood (number one) for the tee, Fairway Wood for the fairway, and Utility Wood (chicken leg Hybrid) for the ironwood club.
Iron can be roughly divided into: utility iron, cavity back iron, and blade iron.
Putters can be roughly divided into: traditional type (Pin) and hammer type (Mallet)
The basic characteristics of golf clubs – Overall, different golf clubs are used to control different hitting distances. The length of the golf club body gradually shortens from the wooden club to the iron club and the digging club, the angle of the club face increases, and the hitting distance also gradually approaches In addition to the push, the shorter the club, the closer the pitch angle, and the higher the hitting trajectory
1、 Basic knowledge of Wood:

A wooden club is a collective term for a tee driver, fairway wood, or hybrid. The fairway wood is slightly shorter, and the most commonly used ones are number three and number five. Wooden clubs are mainly used for teeing and long-distance hitting on the fairway, so the club head is designed as a hollow structure, with a larger and lighter volume, and a smaller club face angle. This not only benefits performance, but also facilitates the mastery of technical movements. The overall shape of a wooden pole is significantly different from that of an iron pole,
1. The volume of the golf club head is relatively large. Generally, the golf club head volume on the market is usually 460CC, and some professional models have a certain special case of 440CC or less golf club head volume. The head volume of the fairway wood and iron wood clubs decreases sequentially (please refer to the data table for details)
2. The length of the shaft is relatively long. Generally, the size of the first size wood on the market is usually 45 inches, and there are individual exceptions of 0.5 inches or longer extension for each model. The shaft length of the fairway wood and iron wood clubs is reduced in sequence.
3. The wooden pole body is mostly made of carbon material, and steel pole bodies are no longer visible in the market. Only a few exceptions of iron, wood, and steel rod bodies appear.
4. The inclination angle of the cue stick can be selected from various angles according to personal preferences and level. Generally, men need good swing skills to control the lower the angle from 8.5 degrees to 10.5 degrees. The inclination angle of women’s clubs is usually between 11 degrees and 13 degrees.

Name: Rod surface inclination angle Rod body length Rod head volume Rod body material
No.1 (tee wood) 8.5-10.5 degrees 45 inches (left and right) 460-440CC carbon
No.3 (Fairway Wood) 15-16 degrees 43 inches (Left and Right) 160-190CC Carbon
No. 5 (Fairway Wood) 18-19 degrees 42 inches (Left and Right) 140-160CC Carbon
No.3 (iron wood pole) 18-21 degrees 40 inches (left and right) 120-130CC carbon/steel
No.4 (iron wood pole) 21-24 degrees 39.5 inches (left and right) 120-130CC carbon/steel
No.5 (iron wood pole) 24-27 degrees 39 inches (left and right) 120-130CC carbon/steel

Explanation of the main parameters of each part of the golf club head:
Lie: The angle between the ground and the centerline of the club when the groove on the club head is parallel to the ground
Loft: The angle between the club face and the vertical line of the ground
Face Progression (F.P): The distance between the front edge of the club face and the centerline of the club body.
Roll: The vertical curvature of the club surface.

Bulge: The horizontal curvature of the club surface.

Method for measuring the club face angle of wooden Wood
Original inclination angle: refers to the angle between the club face and the centerline of the club body, with the bottom of the club head aligned with the ground as the reference point.
True tilt angle: refers to the angle between the club face and the center line of the club, with the center line of the club body perpendicular to the ground as the reference.

Center of Gravity of wooden pole head
Center of gravity angle: When the club head naturally droops, the angle between the centerline of the club body and the club surface
Center of gravity depth: the vertical distance from the center of gravity to the club surface
Center of gravity distance: The vertical distance from the center of gravity to the centerline of the pole.
Center of gravity height: The vertical distance between the point on the pole surface corresponding to the center of gravity and the ground.

Knowledge answer:

Q: Is wooden pole made of wood?
A: The heads of wooden and iron poles are both made of metal materials, but their structures are different. However, for a long time in the early stages of the club, it was indeed made of wooden materials, which were gradually replaced by metal materials later on. The materials of modern golf clubs include titanium metal, composite materials, and so on. The application of new materials enables wooden poles to be made lighter, providing designers with more choices and improving performance.

Q: What brands are doing well now?
A: In China, the largest brands on the market are mostly from the United States, such as Callaway, Taylormade, Titlesit, Ping, and Cleveland. Japan is also a country with a concentration of golf equipment brands. Brands such as Mizuno and Bridgestone have established a good image in the market, and brands such as Honma and Maruman have surpassed golf itself as a symbol of identity.
Fairway Wood:
Mainly used for long-distance hitting on the fairway, the club design is similar to that of No. 1 wood, with a slightly smaller head volume and a shorter body. The most commonly used are No. 3 and No. 5 wood.
Iron wood pole:
The characteristic is that it combines the advantages of both wooden and iron poles. The iron wooden pole is designed in the style of a wooden pole, but the bottom is narrower and sharper, making it easy to play and requiring lower technical skills. It can adapt to most environments on the court and has become an indispensable tool for players.

2、 Basic knowledge of iron iron iron IRON
From a physical perspective, irons are a group of clubs with a larger inclination angle, and the balls they hit are more likely to stop on the green. In most cases, irons are used to attack the green on the fairway. Each brand model is configured with a set of iron rods ranging from 8 to 10 according to different effect requirements. The larger the number, the shorter the shaft and the greater the angle. The design of irons is directly related to the player’s level, and can be divided into concave back type, knife back type, and so on. The types of irons suitable for players at different levels of skill vary greatly, and only suitable clubs can help improve their level.
The 3-p pole configuration (3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, P) often appears on professional iron poles.
The 4-P S pole configuration (4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, P, S) often appears on intermediate or entry-level iron poles.
Of course, each brand will have differences in Japanese and American standards. The general specifications for configuration are 8-10 pieces.
The head of an iron rod is mostly made of stainless steel, with a few high-end heads made of titanium metal or partially made of titanium metal.

According to the length of the shaft and hitting distance, irons can be divided into long irons (3, 4, 5), medium irons (6, 7, 8), and short irons (9, Pw, Gw, Sw)

Japanese men’s steel club body club specification table (reference)

Club number: 34567 8 9 PW FW SW LW
Rod inclination angle: 20 24 28 32 36 40 44 48 52 56 60
Rod length: 38.5 38.0 37.5 37.0 36.5 36.0 35.5 35.0 35.0 35.0 35.0 35.0
(Note: Currently, the number of iron rods on the market is equal, but there is a slight difference in angle. When selecting, the parameters of the iron rods purchased at that time should be taken as the main consideration.)
Parameters and explanations of iron bars:
Off Set: The distance from the front end of the club neck to the front edge of the club face
Leading Edge: The leading edge of the club face
Top line: Refers to the edge of the upper edge thickness.
Goose Neck
Bounce Sole: The angle between the bottom and the horizontal line is counterclockwise
Scoop Sole: The angle between the bottom and the horizontal line in a clockwise direction

Flat Sole: The bottom is flat with almost no Bounce or Scoop

3、 Basic knowledge of Wedge:
A digging pole, also known as a special iron pole, is a pole with an angle of around 45-62. It is mainly used for rescuing balls in obstacle areas or attacking the green. In the market, many brands also sell digging poles as an independent series, and players can purchase individual poles according to their own needs.

In the bags of professional players, there are at least two different angles of digging rods, some even more, which is enough to show the importance of this rod. After all, in a game, more than 70% of your shots are made within 100 yards or even shorter distances. With the same level of technical skills, choosing the right digging rod can also effectively reduce your total number of strokes.
Major brands put a lot of effort into the design of digging rods, and their product categories are also quite detailed. Cleveland and Titleist are currently the most famous digging rod manufacturers in the market. In terms of classification, the main coatings are based on the different materials of the rod surface. Common coatings include three types: Tour Chrome, Oil Can, and Black Nickel. At the same time, each layer of raw materials and each inclination angle of the rod surface will have a different Bounce selection. How to choose and match so many types?
Distinguish from distance! The common feature of all digging rods is the large inclination angle of the rod surface (45-60 degrees), and the rod head is very heavy, but each digging rod also has its own characteristics, which is to create a unique distance and landing angle. From the order of distance, it is the splitting rod (Pw), the relay digging rod (Gw) or (Aw), the sand pit rod (Sw), and the high throwing digging rod (Lw).
PW: The angle is usually 45-49 degrees, and the hitting distance is approximately 110 yards for men and 90 yards for women.
GW: The angle is usually 49-54 degrees, and the hitting distance is approximately 100 yards for men and 85 yards for women.
SW: The angle is usually between 54 and 57 degrees, and the hitting distance is approximately 90 yards for men and 80 yards for women.
LW: The angle is usually above 57 degrees, and the hitting distance is approximately 65 yards for men and 60 yards for women
In principle, the selection and matching of the angle of the digging rod is based on the P-rod angle of a set of rods, which is gradually added in units of 4 degrees. For example, if the angle of the P-pole of a set of poles is 48 degrees, then the other digging rod angles that should be matched should be 52 degrees, 56 degrees, and 60 degrees.

The parameters and explanation of the Wedge head of the digging rod:
Sole Angle: The angle between the bottom and the horizontal line when the neck is vertical
Bounce: Bounce angle, the angle between the bottom and the horizontal line in a counterclockwise direction.

Scoop: Cut in angle, the angle between the bottom and the horizontal line in a clockwise direction

Knowledge Answers
Q: I feel like the two digging rods in that set of iron bars are not enough now, but I don’t know how many degrees need to be added?
A: The digging rods inside the iron rod sleeve are generally around 45 degrees and 56 degrees, and it is reasonable to maintain a distance of about 4 or 6 degrees between every two digging rods. Therefore, if there are no special requirements, a 50 degree one can be equipped first.

4、 Fundamentals of Pusher Putter
Putters are the only equipment that can be used on the green, with completely different technical movements and required effects compared to other shots, and are also the most independent in design. The angle of the push rod surface is very small, usually below three degrees. Steel rod bodies are used to ensure stability, and the conventional lengths are 33, 34, and 35 inches. There are many different designs for the shape of the push rod head, the material of the contact surface, and the joint method between the rod body and the head, which can be combined with each other. Therefore, there are many specifications for the push rod to choose from.

The putter is used for the final procedure of each hole – on the green, players can only use the putter to put the ball into the hole cup. Mainly used on the green or in areas near the green to push the ball into the hole, the rolling path of the ball will not cause jumping or bouncing when the putter hits the ball.
The classification of push rods is very complex. If you want to clearly understand the classification of putters, you have to start with the history of putters. The earliest formed push rod style was the blade Putter called Calamity Jane, which was used by the legendary golf master Bobby Jones. In the 1970s, Ping introduced an improved Anser type push rod based on the blade push rod, which added extra weight to the back of the push rod surface. The Anser type push rod quickly took over the market due to its unique high fault tolerance. However, it was soon discovered that there was a fact that many golfers did not want to accept in the successful design of the Anser push rod, which was the balance problem of the Anser push rod. When you support the Anser push rod with one finger and maintain balance, you will find that its push rod surface cannot be kept parallel to the ground. Its toes will point towards the ground. During the putting process, the club surface always moves like a door, with the neck of the club as the axis. When swinging back, the club surface is open, and when hitting the ball, the club surface may be square. When the club surface continues to move forward, it is closed, and the entire putting rod moves continuously, running in an arc. Therefore, people soon invented a new type of mallet, which was easier to master. Effectively solved the above problems. There are various types of push rods with different designs on the market now. However, no matter what changes are made, they are improvements based on the three types of push rods mentioned above. The improvement mainly involves two aspects: changes in the shaft and changes in the goose neck.

There is a problem of shaking left and right. Professional knowledge may have the least impact on the selection of a putter, and often relies on one’s own feelings to accurately select the appropriate putter. There is a certain proportional relationship between height, putter position, and putter length. Generally, a height of 170-180cm is chosen as 34 inches, while other lengths can be chosen according to actual conditions. Regardless of the position, as long as the ball can be steadily pushed into the hole, the original intention of the putter is achieved.

Knowledge Answers
Q: What are Japanese and American regulations?
A: Due to differences in physical characteristics, brand owners have made corresponding adjustments to the specifications of the ball equipment sold in the Asian market. As a differentiation, products adjusted for the Asian market are called Japanese standards, while prototype products for the European and American markets are called American standards. The main difference is that the Japanese rules are relatively lighter, the shaft is longer, and the inclination angle is generally slightly larger, which is more conducive to distance improvement, but the price is also slightly higher.
Q: What does TP mean?
A: TP is an abbreviation for Tour Preferred, which can be understood as a style favored by tour players and used to distinguish between regular versions sold in the market. The TP version of the club is generally more finely crafted, with a heavier body and smaller tilt angle, making it more suitable for high-level players to have a faster swing rhythm.
Q: How to distinguish a COPY club?
A: Technically speaking, it is very simple to make the appearance exactly the same. If it is not for cost considerations, most factories can even make the technical parameters exactly the same, so don’t trust the naked eye too much. The best way to protect consumer rights is to choose a distributor designated by the brand, bring friends with a certain level of playing skills to try it out, and save purchase invoices. Also, please believe in the following truth: small gains are temptations, big gains are traps!

The techniques of golf are quite complex, and it is difficult to master them proficiently. When players first learn, their movements are unstable and they are more likely to encounter various unfavorable situations such as not being able to hit far or hitting wide. The main direction of club design is to help players resist such situations and flexibly apply these basic knowledge, which can be helpful for understanding and selecting clubs.
5、 Basic knowledge of grip
Golf is a sport that places great emphasis on sensation, and the grip is the only place where you come into contact with the club. So a grip of appropriate size and a comfortable touch are the prerequisites for any golfer to confidently and perfectly swing. A reasonably sized grip not only provides a comfortable touch, but also helps you accurately control the club during the swing process. A grip that is too large or too small can directly affect the movement of the wrist when passing through the hitting area. This affects direction and distance.
The accurate and appropriate grip should be three or four fingers of your left hand (a normal right-handed athlete) lightly touching the area below the thumb palm muscles, as shown in the following figure.

The grip can be divided into rubber, half cotton thread, and full cotton thread according to the material
The size of the grip can be divided into two types: the inner diameter of the grip and the outer diameter of the grip
The inner diameter of the grip is generally divided into three diameters,. 560, 580, and 600 inches. Generally, men measure. 580 and. 600 inches. The inner diameter of the lady’s grip is. 560 inches.
The outer diameter is related to the feeling you feel when holding it. The specific measurement point for the outer diameter (using a caliper) is about 5 centimeters from the upper end of the grip, with a specific value of 22.8mm for women and 21.6mm. The general grip size can refer to the glove model. (Please refer to the attached table for details)

There are two different styles of grip inner diameter:
Round (no Back Line on the inside of the grip)
The main function of the Reminder (with a Back Line on the inside of the grip) is to grip the club with the palm of the hand

Palm size Golf glove size Grip size Suitable for crowd Grip inner diameter size
15CM-16.5CM S 22 Japanese Ladies. 560
16.5CM-18CM M 23 Japanese men’s and women’s sizes. 580
18CM-19CM ML 24 US Men. 600
19CM-20CM L 25 US Bold. 620
6、 Basic knowledge of shaft
With the continuous improvement of golf production level, the importance of the club body has become increasingly prominent. Currently, major brand equipment manufacturers have shifted the focus of club design to the development of the club body. In the case of similar club head craftsmanship, a good club body can allow players to experience significant differences in club performance
Nowadays, it is common to see in the market that almost every club has two or more club bodies to choose from. Although this is only a personalized service in the early stages, the diverse selection of club bodies not only brings a professional image to the brand, but also provides more diverse choices for players. More and more club body brands are also familiar to many players, such as Fujikura, Mitsubishi, Nippon Shaft, Graphite Design, etc
The primary and only condition for the quality of the shaft is the use of raw materials
Starting from the steel shaft, the most famous early one was the Dynamic Gold shaft made by True Temple,
Model X100/X200/X300 Body Soft and Hard X Weight (g) 130/134/137
Model S200/S300/S400 Body Soft and Hard S Weight (grams) 127/130/134
Models R200/R300/R400 Body Soft and Hard R Weight (grams) 124/127/131

The torque is greater than 2.0 because it is suitable for the physique, swing speed, and explosive power of European and American players. So it quickly occupied the steel shaft market in Europe and America, and to this day True Temple remains the world’s largest manufacturer of golf steel shafts. In recent years, with the maturity of the Asian golf market, Nippon Shift has successfully launched a functional lightweight steel shaft, changing the impression of Asian golfers that steel shafts are too heavy and have poor elasticity. Nippon Shaft has obtained good raw materials from its parent company, Nippon Steel, which has completely improved the shortcomings of the reduced weight of the steel rod body and the need to thin the plate, resulting in easy fracture and deformation of the rod body. Therefore, shafts weighing less than 100 grams have become popular in the golf market. Since 1997, N S. Pro 950GH (94.5g), 2003 N S. Pro 850GH (87.0 g), by 2005 N.S. Pro 750GH, it is expected that lightweight steel shafts will become a new trend in the world in the future.
Carbon fiber shaft – began to rise in the 1970s,
Similarly, to judge the quality of a carbon rod, raw materials are still a very important factor. It is often heard that this carbon rod is made of XX tons of carbon fiber fabric, where XX represents the carbon content per unit area. The higher the value, the stronger the relative rigidity of the rod. Early high tonnage carbon fiber fabrics were mostly used in aviation technology and defense weapon systems, and raw material prices were high and difficult to obtain. And the adhesive technology at that time was not up to par. To avoid breakage, the produced rod body has a thick pipe wall and a high torque between 85-100 grams, making it easy to break. With the development of technology, high tonnage raw materials are widely used (commonly 30-50 tons). More and more lightweight carbon rods are being developed by different manufacturers. Carbon fiber rods ranging from over 100 grams to 35 grams can now be found on the market.

The correspondence between swing speed and shaft

Body hardness, swing speed (miles/hour), swing speed (meters/second), suitable for crowds
Female athletes below 75 miles per hour and 34 meters per second in L Flex
A/R Flex 75-85 miles per hour 38 meters per second, older or slower swinging male athlete
R/S Flex 85-95 mph 43 m/s average male athlete
S/X Flex 95-108 miles per hour 48 meters per second male or professional athlete
X/XX Flex professional athlete above 108 miles per hour and above 50 meters per second

Knowledge Answers
Q: Just started learning golf, I recommend a more durable club. I don’t plan on constantly changing it.
A: Golf is a gradual process, and correspondingly, clubs need to be selected and replaced according to the different needs of each stage, without a one-time solution. Suitable for beginner stage clubs, some of the more fixed ones include Callaway’s RAZR series, Taylormade’s Burner series, Mizuno’s Zephyr series, and Ping’s G series.
Q: Big brand clubs seem to be very expensive, and I’m most afraid of wasting money if I don’t choose them properly. It’s too heartbreaking.
A: The simplest and most economical option for beginners is to use a set of sticks. Novice pole sets are not the main competitive products of brand merchants, and important technologies and materials are often not used. Good technologies and materials may not necessarily be experienced in the early learning stage. The combination of pole numbers is also simplified and simplified, resulting in practicality and affordability. In terms of professionalism, clubs specially designed by brand merchants for beginners naturally do not have to worry about performance suitability. The most important advantage of learning how to set up a golf club for beginners is that there is no need to consider splitting it for sale. The overall consistency in design and performance of the club is higher, which is very beneficial for beginners.
There are many beginner gear sets on the market, among which Mizuno’s Zephyr, Callaway’s Bigperth series, and Taylormade’s Burner have the highest cost-effectiveness.
Q; My friend said that you can just buy the No.7 iron and use it together, which is more cost-effective?
A: Buying a No.7 iron is only suitable for two situations: it is uncertain whether you are interested in golf, and you can try playing a golf club for a period of time before proceeding; I’m not very interested in golf, I just want to occasionally swing at the practice range. It is not appropriate to treat golf as a form of interest development. It is not very realistic to practice all the movements of golf with a single No. 7 iron. When getting started with golf, it is best to have a basic grasp of each stroke from the beginning, which can have a twice the effect of half the effort on improving the level. On the other hand, when adding another pole, an additional No. 7 iron was added, which actually deviated from the original intention of saving money.
Q: I have a crush on a set of Copy poles, they are so cheap. I really can’t see any difference between them and genuine poles?
A: Apart from the appearance, there is a significant difference between the Copy rod and the real rod, which has been mentioned a lot and will not be further elaborated. Simply put, if you only ask to hit the ball, copying can be done, but that’s all. If you want to play the ball well and help your future level, it’s better to honestly buy genuine clubs.
Q: Is it better to tailor it to fit my characteristics better?
A: Since it is tailored for oneself, of course, it is more suitable for oneself than market standard ball equipment, and tailoring is also a service project that should be promoted. However, novice players have not yet developed their own movement characteristics, so the significance of tailoring them is not significant. If it weren’t for the significant difference in body characteristics and market product specifications, customization may not be considered for the time being.