Consumer Reports Golf Article
Making The Choice between Graphite Golf Clubs And Steel Golf Clubs
If you want to improve your game of golf, the right kind of golf club makes a big difference to the game. You choose the right kind of club and you can be sure your game will get better. In fact, if you have been using the wrong kind of club, a change to the right one will see immediate improvements. The trouble is that golfers when they are beginners don’t really think about the clubs they are using because they just don’t know better. You could have inherited the clubs, or borrowed them from a friend or had them passed on to you from someone who doesn’t want them. Or maybe you picked them up at a garage sale. So they were really just a means to get you into the world of playing golf. However, if you mean to continue to play the game and become better at it, you need to look at your choice of clubs. The clubs need to be chosen to fit your game and to help you improve it.
How do you choose your clubs if you want to get serious about your game of golf? You can do this by paying attention to the details. Like the head size, the shaft length, the flex rate, etc. You will also have to look at what material your club is made of. This choice could make the difference in your swing. The cheapest material is steel and it is inexpensive so people tend to look upon it as inferior. This couldn’t be further from the truth. If your style works well with steel, go for it. You don’t really need to buy the more expensive clubs. Steel is very durable and so you can expect these clubs to last longer than the others. Steel, you will find is stiffer than graphite which is much more flexible. It is also heavier. Now this in no way means it is inferior as certain people swing better with a steel club. If you are a fast swinger, steel might just be better for you but this is if you have a good grip, otherwise it could be dangerous. A lot depends on your personal preferences as well.
The other material is graphite – more expensive, more flexible and not as long lasting. No, this is not the choice for all but if your swing is not as fast, or rather, slow, you might want to go in for the graphite option. Clubs are classified by their flex rate as Regular, Senior, Ladies and Extra Stiff. Graphite is never extra stiff – it’s just too flexible for that. So if you want a club that is extra stiff, opt for steel. You have to choose a club not because everyone is using it or to show everyone that you can afford an expensive one but because you feel comfortable with it. Do a few test swings before you decide. Ask a few experts before you make up your mind.
Does all this sound overwhelming? It really isn’t. It’s just that when you are a beginner, you need to know a bit more about the game before you can make an informed choice. The guys at the store are usually pretty good when it comes to giving advice, so are the golf experts so don’t shy away from asking. Take a few swings in front of these people so they can see what kind of style you have and advise you accordingly. Looking at the way you swing and the speed you do it at will be pointers to them as to what decision you should take when you want to buy one. For you, it should be a choice that makes your game a comfortable one, from the beginning to the end. When you chose right, your swing should be as natural as it can possibly be.
