Tag Archives: fairway woods

How To Find The Right Golf Clubs

Posted on by

There are thousands, if not millions, of golf clubs on the market, so finding the right set or even just the right driver can be a hard decision. However, since the clubs serve as your core golfing equipment, you will significantly benefit from a wise and careful selection of them. Even used clubs can be right for you. But you need to patiently take the time to locate them and avoid the temptation to buy junk simply because the price is right.

Keep reading for some great tips on how to make great choices when selecting golf clubs and the basics on understanding the different types.

1. Work with a Budget

Before you step into a store, set a realistic budget for yourself and work within that. These days, the more a club costs doesn’t always mean that it’s the best. If you’re able to set a financial range for yourself, you’ll often find that there are usually one or two great sets in that particular market.

For advice on some of the better performing sets in your price range, try online customer reviews, ask the clerk at your local pro shop or scoure popular golf magazines for product reviews.

2. Work with your Level of Play

If you’re planning to golf once or twice a year at the company picnic, you don’t need a professional level set of clubs. In fact, you may be able to get away with borrowing a set.

A great option, especially for beginner players, is to purchase a mid-range or used set when you first start playing. If you find that you like the sport and want to continue pursuing it, then either upgrade to a high-performance set or upgrade each club individually.

3. Know Your Size

If you’re above or below average height, be aware that you may have to look into specialty clubs. Most clubs are designed for the average male height of 5’10″ and the average female height of 5’5″.

3. Know the Different Types of Clubs

Before you can purchase a club or a set, you should understand the different kinds of clubs and club terms that you’ll encounter while shopping.

Irons

Your irons are the clubs with thin clubheads and prominent grooves. There are two styles: cavity-back and blade-style. The choice is personal preference, but many beginners opt for the cavity back.

Irons include long irons (1-4), mid irons (5-7) and your short irons (8-9). Usually, the short irons are easier to use because the shorter the iron, the more loft it has, meaning beginners get a higher shot and more lift.

Woods

Woods are your driver and your fairway woods, and they don’t actually need to be made of wood. Today, drivers are typically made from titanium, steel and hybrid metal blends, though some golfers still prefer the feel of a wood driver.

A good club set should have at least a driver (1W or 1-Wood) and two fairway woods (3W and 5W).

Putters

Putters are for your short, on-the-green shots. There are hundreds of different clubhead styles (blade, mallet, etc), but the choice is usually personal.

Golf Club Review: Ping G10 Fairway Woods

Posted on by

A few months back, Ping came out with its new G10 line of golf equipment. Starting with the G2, then the G5 series, these clubs have a lot to live up to!

I decided to review their new line for myself so I could see what all the buzz was about.

The G10 Fairway Woods are an all stainless steel wood which is going back to what made the G lineup popular. The Rapture, a composite/titanium fairway wood did not live up to the hype in my opinion and was very expensive. The first thing you see when you set the G10 down is one, it keeps a fairly classic head shape, a nice black finish with the same half moon alignment graphic on the crown of the head that the G5 Fairways sported. The heads are fairly shallow and a little longer to help launch the ball a little higher and sooner than previous models. So whats the difference? I’ll tell you.

The G10 is basically a better version of the G5. It features a slightly higher MOI, promotes faster ball speed and a lot less spin than its big brother. This equates to not only longer and higher shots, but more forgiving ones as well. The shafts are a nice touch as well, Ping did a nice job making them a little heavier than in the past to keep a smoother tempo and more feel though the swing, and unlike in the driver, they were able to keep the lengths of these clubs fairly standard!

When I hit some balls with last month, I will admit, I was impressed. I was able to square it up and the ball just jumped off the face! The ball launches high and really stays airborne for a longer period of time than that of the G5. Working the ball was very easy with these woods and I was able to move it right or left at will.

Overall, I would suggest these fairway woods to anyone. I would also suggest using the Ping WRX club fitting service. Spend some time with your local pro or club maker and find a shaft and loft combination that will work best for you. There are many lofts available and your pro or club maker will get you fit into the right set up for you.

Give one a try over the Winter, you will be very pleased with the Ping G10 Fairway Woods! Check out my other reviews of the G10 lineup!

Hireko Golf announces debut of new Acer XDS React Hybrid clubs

Posted on by

CITY OF INDUSTRY, Calif. — Hireko Golf debuted the arrival of the new Acer XDS React Hybrids. The new clubs are perfect for golfers looking for hybrids that are not draw biased or ones that might be shank-proof. These fun-to-hit hybrids are available individually or as a complete full set all the way to a sand wedge for both right and left handed players.

The Acer XDS React Hybrid features the same amount of face progression through the set, as well as conistent crown heights. This means that you won’t need to readjust your setup for varying clubs, resulting in a repeatable swing every time.

The railed soles glide across various types of terrain increasing solidness of contact. Plus, with the leading edge designed well forward of the hosel prevents the possibility of shanking the ball. The XDS React hybrids are the outcome of unconventional thinking for remarkable results.

To help understand how to breed consistency into your game, the Acer XDS React boasts a constant face progression throughout the set. Face progression is simply a term for the distance between the centerline axis of the shaft and the leading edge of the head. By having a constant face progression throughout the set, even into the matching fairway woods, it is easier to establish a single ball position that makes it easier to set up to the ball at address.

When you need more forgiveness the Acer XDS React delivers. The #3 hybrid is larger like a 7 wood which it would replace distance-wise. Gradually the size from front-to-back decreases as the loft increases so they not only look the right size but give the proper amount of for forgiveness.

The new Acer XDS React Hybrids are available in right hand 3-9, PW, AW, SW and left hand 3-9, PW, SW and can be purchased custom assembled online starting at $44.95 each at hirekogolf.com.

For over 28 years, Hireko Golf has served the golf industry through its direct mail, website and retail channels. Hireko and Hireko’s technical expertise has produced over a dozen nationally recognized publications and the Dynamic Shaft Fitting Index remains the dominant testing and development concept in shaft technology. Our brands include Acer, Apollo, Hireko, Dynacraft, iBella, Power Play and Karma. Hireko specializes in manufacturing and designing custom golf clubs.

For more information visit hirekogolf.com.

How to Choose and Use the Right Iron

Posted on by

There are many things that need to be considered when you choose a set of golf clubs. These things include how to choose the right set of golf clubs. You need to know the differences between the different types of clubs, the materials, and more.

Understanding these things can help you make a better decision which clubs are right for you. You also need to know how to use your irons which includes the different positions and more.

The first thing you need is a basic set of golf clubs. There is no reason to carry more than 14 clubs in your bag at a time and it is actually against USGA regulation if you do. Your bag should include two or three woods, two fairway woods and a driver, 8 irons, and additional wedges. If you want a putter these are usually sold separately.

The shaft of an iron can make all of the difference in how far you are capable of hitting the ball. There are two primary types of shafts which include the steel and graphite.

Steel shafts are strong, provide more durability, and they are cheaper clubs. A set of clubs with steel shafts will provide greater consistency from each shaft. You might even have more control on your shots.

The thing about steel shafts to remember is that they are best for golfers with a faster swing. If you want to generate a good distance with these types of shafts you should be a strong golfer who is looking for control in your game.

Graphite is lighter than steel and is actually made in different variations. These clubs are more expensive and they are not as durable as steel. Because of the light weight the graphite shafts allow for a faster swing which results in a bit more power.

You might be sacrificing a bit of control when you swing the club because of the speed. Graphite clubs are also much better if you want to absorb the shock sent to your wrist from the club after impact. Gloves also help with this.

Another thing to look for is something called flex. This is the bend in a shaft, also known as the whip. The flex of the shaft must match the speed of a golf swing. A flexible shaft is perfect for a beginner golfer who has a slower and less powerful swing.

The average golfer has a swing around 75 mph to 90 mph which requires a regular shaft. A stiff or firm shaft should be used for golfers who have a swing over 90 mph. The stiffer the golf clubs are the more control the golfer has over the ball.

Today there is a shaft called the uniflex that is designed to fit any type of swing.

Penetrating Flight TaylorMade R11 Fairway Wood Review « taylormade r11 fairway wood

Posted on by

TaylorMade, also notable for manufacture of fairway woods, has released the new TaylorMade R11 Fairway Wood which has been technologically improved as well as its looking. The R11 Fairway Wood features a new aerodynamic shape to promote faster speed and more distance off the tee. An adjustable face angle and loft allow you to customize the club to fit your game. A deeper face and front center of gravity allows for more penetrating flight while a white crown and black clubface make alignment easy. These super Woods are also a bit pricy, but you can save some money just by choosing golf wholesale online.

With many of the same features as the R9 fairway wood, the TaylorMade R11 Fairway Wood takes adjustability to the extreme with the addition of an Adjustable Sole Plate (ASP). The ASP allows the club to sit precisely at address the way the player desires, regardless of the club’s set up. Movable Weight Technology allows for either draw-biased or neutral weighting, while the Flight Control Technology provides up to eight different settings to adjust the face angle, lie angle, and effective loft, resulting in up to 60 yards of side-to-side trajectory change. The flat-white finish reduces glare and contrasts against the black face, resulting in easier alignment.

When you change the club head’s loft using FCT, you’re also forced to change the face angle – increase loft and the face angle closes; decrease loft and the face angle opens. Adjustable Sole Plate solves that problem by allowing you to adjust the face angle of the TaylorMade R11 Fairway Wood independently of the loft, which is controlled by FCT.

TaylorMade R9 Series Features Flight Control Technology

Posted on by

Innovation has always been a hallmark of TaylorMade golf clubs, and the TaylorMade R9 Series introduced in early 2009 is no exception. The new series includes R9, R9 TP, R9 460 and R9 460 TP drivers, as well as R9 and R9 TP fairway woods. (TP stands for Tour Preferred.) And they’re arguably the most customizable and adjustable clubs on the market.

The major innovation of the R9 series is a feature TaylorMade calls Flight Control Technology (FCT). FCT allows the golfer to set the loft, lie and face angle to eight different positions. Combine FCT with TaylorMade’s movable weights technology (available on TaylorMade R9 drivers, except for the R9 460 model), and golfers have the ability to affect side-to-side ball flight by up to 75 yards.

That’s a lot of customization possibilities. In fact, with the eight positions and three weight options, some have called the TaylorMade R9 24 drivers in one. According to TaylorMade, adjustments can be completed in seconds.

A few turns of the bolts with the special TaylorMade white wrench can help straighten out an ugly slice or seemingly uncontrollable hook. Or, as TaylorMade says at its Web site, Adjust the head. Adjust the weights. Totally optimize you.

Marketing hype? Perhaps. (Is any golfer but Tiger Woods ever totally optimized?) Yet early reviews from independent golf and golf equipment Web sites and comments from PGA Tour players such as Kenny Perry and Pat Perez (see below) would indicate the TaylorMade R9 Series is the real deal.

Another touted feature of the TaylorMade R9 series is the Fujikara Motore graphite shaft with a High Intertia Tip (HIT), technology designed to give the shaft extra kick for more distance. The clubhead size of the R9 drivers is comparable to other TaylorMade drivers such as the r7 SuperQuad. However, the R9 is not as large as the TaylorMade Burner.

Also featuring FCT (but not movable weights), TaylorMade R9 Fairway Woods are available in both right- and left-handed models and include loft options of 13, 15, 17 and 19 degrees. They also come standard with a 70-gram Fujikura Motore graphite shaft.

What PGA Tour Pros Say

When Taylor Made recently added the R9 460 to its R9 Series of drivers, Kenny Perry, the world’s No. 7 ranked player, gave it a test drive on the practice range at Colonial Country Club in Fort Worth, Texas. Perry experienced an immediate power surge.

I jumped up five miles per hour in ball speed immediately, he told Golf.com’s David Dusek.

I’ll go to Bethpage early and I’ll take both my drivers, Perry added. My regular R9 and this one [the R9 460]. If I feel like I need to hit it straight, I’ll use the R9. If I feel like I need to bomb it, then I’ll use that one [R9 460].

PGA Tour pro Pat Perez is also a true believer. Perez won the 2009 Bob Hope Classic with a TaylorMade R9 driver in his bag. It was the veteran’s first PGA Tour victory.

I’m telling you, it’s the best driver I’ve ever hit, Perez said. And I’ve tried a lot of them.

Ladies Golf Clubs

Posted on by

When you start a round of golf its worth being aware that you are only allowed to carry a maximum number of 14 clubs. The range of clubs will depend upon your game and the course that you play.

Now you have to be able to decide which club to use and when. When trying to decide the length of the shot, you also need to be aware of the height the ball will travel – this is called as the loft.

Most clubs can be identified by a number on the sole and a 7 iron will not hit as far as a 4 iron. Each club has it component parts. The rubber grip which can be any color, the shaft which is made out of either graphite or steel, and the club head which can be made of steel, tungsten or other alloys.

There are 3 types of clubs:-

Woods originally got their name because the club head was made from wood. Today with new technology, club heads are made of many different types of alloys, steel or sometimes tungsten.

* Ladies woods range from numbers 1 to 15.

* The Driver is used of the tee and is sometimes call No.1.

* Fairway woods are usually 3,4,5,7 and 9.

* Some shots are more challenging in terms of loft for example getting over trees with shorter distance control, and numbers 11, 13 or 15 woods can be used here.

Iron club heads are usually made from metal or alloys and have numbers from 1 to 9. The lower the number, the further it will make the ball travel. So for instance a 7 iron will not hit as far as a 4 iron.

Wedges, such as a pitching wedge or a sand wedge also come in the the iron category. A sand wedge is mainly used as the name would suggest to escape from bunkers, and generally wedges are used to get more height on the ball.

Putters have very little loft and are used when the ground is smooth on the green or just on the fringe. The range of putters are infinite with various head sizes and shapes and weights, different lengths of shaft and grip. You should choose whichever produces the correct ‘feel’ for you.

RESCUE CLUBS OR HYBRIDS

The hybrid or rescue club as it has become known is a combination of the wood and iron, and is a big hit with lady golfers. Mostly it is used as a distance club, being more forgiving than a wood off the fairway. It has quickly become a standard part of the range of ladies clubs.

Head covers are available to protect woods from banging against other clubs in the bag and prevents damage. Make sure that your woods are dried off carefully and any grass, mud or sand is wiped off the head.

Soap and water can be used to wash rubber grips when they become dirty. Shinny grips are no use and do need to be changed, this can be done by your club professional.

There are many factors which can be taken into account when choosing clubs, but the most important is that you are comfortable with them. There are many brands to choose from, but some practice shots with demonstration clubs will help you decide.

After making the decision to buy new clubs you should try to find a seller where you are allowed to try out the types of clubs which you are considering purchasing.

It may not follow that irons and woods from the same manufacturer suit your game. It could be prudent to buy some now and some later. Lots of players do not buy complete sets and will often add clubs at a later date.

It may not be necessary for you to buy a driver straight away, as this is a difficult club to use. Maybe buy just a 3 or 5 wood to start. It could be that to get you going, a half set of irons would be suitable, such as a 5,7,9, PW,SW. To add more in later when you know what is required is a simple matter.

Where to Position the Golf Ball on Various Golf Shots – Iron Play, Tee Shots, Short Game, & More

Posted on by

The set up is one of the most important aspects of your golf game and many golfers don’t realize how important it is.

Placing the ball in an incorrect position can truly make an otherwise great swing into a poor shot. Let’s discuss the various ways to position the golf ball when you are setting up.

Tee shots: Let’s say you pull out the big dog – the driver and you are setting up. Go through your process/routine and then take a quick look at your stance/positioning of the ball.

Is the ball settled directly across from the inner heel of your front foot? If not, this is where it should be. Personally, I’ve never hit a good shot when the ball was placed anywhere but here on my tee shots.

Next, after you have hit a monster drive because you set up properly, you will perhaps have an iron shot into the green. Fairway woods will follow the same guidelines as the driver by the way.

If you are hitting a 5 or even 6 iron down to the 2 or 3, you’ll want to stay consistent with what we described for the driver. Inner heel. This is for your standard shot.

If you want to hit the ball with a lower trajectory or under a tree or something that alters your shot, you’ll want to position the ball back in your stance a bit. Swing a bit steeper and perhaps choke up on the club a bit for some shots. Your swing on these shots will be a bit altered, so this takes some practice to get comfortable with.

Mid irons to short irons, I recommend positioning the ball in the middle of your stance and you will be closer to the ball. This enables you to get the ball up in the air producing more back spin and control.

Half shots and chip shots can vary based on how your comfortable and how you are taught. Feel comes into play when it comes to those shots 50 yards out or so. Follow the same principles with positioning as with a full wedge shot.

Sand play finally brings in a whole new set of stances. I have learned a number of ways to play out of the bunker including opening my stance completely and leaning my body forward. I’ve also tried to put the ball near the front of my stance and make a smoother motion, but full swing through. This is one area that I try to stay out of. Although I love the beach, that doesn’t ring true in golf.

These are just some simple tips on how to position the golf ball for the various clubs you’ll use during your round. Hope they help you remember to pay attention each time you step up to the ball.

Toy Box: Donald seeks consistent feel in club shafts

Posted on by

When Luke Donald signed with Mizuno in 2004, he wasn’t among the top 100 players in the world. Now, after eight years with Mizuno, he is a solid No. 1 – No. 1 in the world, No. 1 on the PGA Tour money list, No. 1 at the season-ending Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals Classic.

Donald’s bag: Mizuno MP-62 irons (3-PW with True Temper Dynamic Gold S300 steel shafts), Mizuno Fli-Hi CLK hybrid (17 degree with Aldila NV 85X shaft), Mizuno MP T-11 wedges (54 degree with Dynamic Gold S300 shaft and 60 degree with True Temper DG Spinner shaft), TaylorMade R11 driver (9 degree with Accra XC 65 shaft), TaylorMade R9 3-wood (13 degree with Accra XC 75 shaft), Odyssey White Hot XG No. 7H putter and a Titleist Pro V1x ball.

The True Temper X100 is the most popular Dynamic Gold flex on the PGA Tour, but Donald elects to use the softer S300 shafts.

The DG Spinner has ripples in the steel that are designed to increase spin in the wedges. Donald has used the shaft all year. Among more than two dozen PGA Tour players to use the Spinner in ’11 are Bill Haas, Jonathan Byrd, Jason Dufner, Brian Gay and Carl Pettersson.

Donald and several other players use the Spinner shaft in a lob wedge, while matching a lower-lofted sand wedge with the irons (in this case, a 54 for Donald).

Sergio Garcia uses all TaylorMade gear

Sergio Garcia, who won the Castello Masters by 11 strokes on his home course, had a bag full of TaylorMade equipment. His clubs: R11 driver (9 degree), Burner SuperFast 2.0 3-wood (15 degree), Burner SuperFast 2.0 5-wood (19 degree), Tour Preferred MB irons (3-PW), TP xFT ZTP wedges (50 and 58 degree), Maronello 8-01 Ghost putter and a Penta TP ball.

Garcia uses the same model of shaft in his driver, 3-wood and 5-wood. The shaft is an Aldila RIP 90X, which weighs about 100 grams.

Most players go lighter in the driver and then use slightly heavier shafts in the fairway woods. A 100-gram driver shaft is extremely rare in today’s world of lightweight graphite.

Short shots

In two weeks since switching to an Odyssey 2-Ball belly putter, Trevor Immelman has finished solo fifth and tied for sixth. At Disney, Immelman tied for first in greens in regulation. His irons: Callaway Razr X Tour (3 and 4), Callaway Razr X Muscle Back (5-PW). . . . Retief Goosen went back to his belly TaylorMade Ghost Spider. . . . After an opening 75 at the Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals Classic, Ryan Palmer switched to a TaylorMade Ghost 770 putter. He shot 64 in the second round, then added two 70s to tie for 20th.

UST graphite shafts rack up win at Zurich Classic of New Orleans

Posted on by

FORT WORTH, Texas — A world leader in innovative graphite shafts, United Sports Technologies (UST) scored another victory on the PGA Tour, winning the Zurich Classic of New Orleans. This week’s champion in the ‘Big Easy’ captured his first PGA win playing UST high-performance graphite shafts in his Nike driver and fairway woods, a combination that delivered accuracy and performance throughout the tournament.

UST has repeatedly surprised the graphite shaft industry with one innovation after another, and the company’s commitment to manufacturing graphite shafts to incredibly tight tolerances has established UST as a world leader in shaft quality and consistency. The winning graphite wood shaft of this week’s Zurich Classic of New Orleans— the Accra™ SE80 — is a great example of the performance generated through innovative engineering coupled with tight tolerance controls.

“In today’s highly competitive field, PGA players need a winning edge, and for the second time this year, UST graphite shafts have helped a player achieve their first PGA Tour victory,” says Gene Simpson, vice president of sales and marketing for UST brands. “Just as we saw at this year’s Masters, usage of UST graphite shafts at the Zurich Classic was up strongly — 15 percent — from the previous year. More players than ever before are switching to UST shafts and we’re confident that our shafts’ consistent performance in both distance and accuracy and our manufacturing to such tight tolerances are big reasons why.”

Simpson explains that UST maintains a mandate for tight tolerances by administering a vigorous testing process that incorporates computer testing, analytical lab testing and player testing programs. Not only are shaft designs completed using sophisticated proprietary software design, UST shafts undergo laboratory tests, including: Flex testing and methodology, torque testing, durability bending, impact testing, air cannon testing, frequency testing, and paint adhesion and durability testing. Finally, there is no better place to validate product performance than the fiercely competitive PGA Tour, and UST utilizes PGA pros and an advisory staff of club professionals and accomplished players to thoroughly assess the playability of every shaft.

With so many shaft designs as proven winners on the PGA and other professional tours around the world, UST shafts have become one of the most popular graphite high-performance golf shafts in the world. For more information on UST or UST products, call 800.277.0534 or visit ustgolfshaft.com.

United Sports Technologies makes graphite golf shafts for golf consumers and many original equipment manufacturers, such as Callaway, Cleveland, Nike, Ping, Sonartec, Titleist, Wilson Sporting Goods and many others. UST also produces and distributes such world-renown graphite shaft brands as Proforce, ACCRA, IROD and HTD which are played in more than 100 tour events on the PGA, Champions, LPGA, Nationwide and European tours. Headquartered in Fort Worth, Texas, UST operates four manufacturing facilities throughout the world and produces more than four million graphite shafts a year for original equipment manufacturers and custom clubmakers. For more information about UST, please visit our website at ustgolfshaft.com.