Golf Tips: Learning About Your Equipment

What could be so hard about golf? You hit a ball into a hole; it looks so easy on television. But what professional make look effortless often seems impossible for beginners.

The beautiful rolling green hills of golf courses belie the hazards that lurk there: Sand traps, water hazards, trees, and more stand in between your ball and the tiny, far-off hole you are trying to get it into.

Not only is this overwhelming to a novice player, but add in the giant bag of clubs that are all different shapes and sizes, and the game of golf becomes an anxiety-driven punishment. What is a "driver"? What is a "club"? When is each supposed to be used?

In the game of golf, there are three clubs available for you to use: drivers, woods and putters. Each club serves a different purpose and will cause a ball to travel differently from a tee or the ground.

Understanding this difference will transform the game of golf into a pleasurable pastime.

The first step is to find clubs that fit your body. If the length is incorrect, it will affect your swing. This in turn can cause you a backache or the course to have big tufts of dirt being chopped out of it.

It is worth a trip to the pro golf shop to get a professional fitting for clubs. This way, you can be sure you have the proper equipment with which to enjoy the game of golf.

But first, a bit about when to use the clubs: When you see the long shots of professional golf players, they are using either drivers or woods. A driver is typically used to start the game so you can put the ball as close to the hole as possible.

When you are on a green, you can pull out your putter to closer shots. These three clubs are the most important to the success of your game, so it is a good idea to practice and feel confident with each.

A driving range is an excellent way to become familiarized with your golf equipment before you start golfing on the course.

Grip the club with your prominent hand below your other hand. The butt of the upper hand should rest at or near the end of the club assuming your clubs have been appropriately fitted to your height.

Posture-wise, you should stand to the side of the ball. Do not hunch over it or the fluid motion of your swing will be severely impacted.

Your arms and clubs will help you determine the correct distance between you and the ball, which can help your swing. Your arms should be bent at a slight angle. Keep them loose and relaxed. The club should be positioned at the back of the ball. This gives you a great set-up, and if you can maintain your posture, you should have a nice shot.

To develop your swing, you can practice without a ball and swing at the empty tee, learning the feel of your club and how to control the club so it is be within the ideal strike zone.

Besides knowing when you use your drivers, woods, and putters, there are also clubs to help you out when you get to the hazards. You can practice with these at a driving range or in your backyard. When you encounter a sand trap or water hazard in your real game, you will be prepared.

There are a lot of factors that go into deciding which club to use and how to hit the ball. You even have to take into consideration the consistency of the sand as well as other elements. You will want to use a wedge for sand traps. They are designed to help you hit the ball in this type of terrain.

Practice with your equipment and understand their capabilities, and you will soon be on your way to enjoying the wonderful game of golf.