clubs

Choosing a New Wedge

/ The Grateful Golfer / 9 Comments

Today I received an email from a friend asking about wedges.  He is a good golfer and getting better all the time.  He was talking about which wedge he needed from 110 yards. As we had played quite often, I was familiar with his game and was able to explain that he required a 52 degree wedge.  As our discussion continued I realized that selecting the correct club is very important to all aspects of your game.  So I did some research and this is what I came up with:

Pitching Wedge

A pitching wedge has a loft of about 48 degrees.  This club comes with most sets and is used for long approach shots.  The distance varies, but I suggest that it is used by most amateurs from 130 yards or closer.

Gap Wedge

Gap wedges range from 50 and 54 degrees. The distance the ball travels varies from about 110 to about 75 yards.  It allows for a bit of action on the ball and probably used most of the time.

Sand Wedge

Sand wedges range from 54 to 58 degrees.  Many players use a sand wedge for some approach shots as well as sand shots.

Lob Wedge

Lob wedges range from 58 and 62 degrees. The lob wedge allows for a greater amount of spin and is used to fly over hazards or when you are pin hunting.

One of the things to be aware of when purchasing a wedge is the bounce.  The conditions of the course, especially the traps, will determine the bounce required when using a  wedge.  See Golfsmith.com for an explanation on bounce.

I use a 48 degree pitching wedge, 52 degree gap wedge, a 56 degree sand wedge and a 60 degree lob wedge.  I have experimented with different lofts, but I have found that these wedges work best for my game.

Now back to my friend.  Ultimately he made the best decision.  He decided to try out a few wedges before making his purchase.  He was going to try wedges with different loft, brand and bounce.  I suggested that it was a great idea and thus has sparked the reason for this blog.

When picking a club, I recommend that you go the to range, golf store, putting green and practice with your intended choice.  Most courses have demo wedges/clubs and will allow you to take them on the course for a test run.  By doing a bit of research before you buy, you will be happy with your choice and likely lower your score.

How you do you pick your clubs?

The Fall Blues

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It is cold and the courses have been closed for at least 3 weeks.  Northern Canada is beautiful, spacious, and has a short golf season.  So what to do in the fall to keep my spirits up and reduce the anxiety of not hitting the links.

The thing I like to do at this time of year is look at the new technology from last year.  I never rush to try any new club, bag, or miscellaneous equipment.  I research, ponder, check reviews and watch for sales.  I also prepare for the big Christmas sales.

I do not mean the Christmas sales before the big day, I mean the sales between Christmas and New Years.  That is when most places want to clear out inventory and make room for next years kit.  With a pocket full of money (well not really) I hit the stores to save money and buy new equipment for next year.

I know it does not sound like fun, but it helps pass the time until the courses open in April.  What do you do to pass away the time during the off-season?

Power, Push or Carry

/ The Grateful Golfer / 1 Comment

How do you enjoy your round of golf?  Using a power cart, push cart or carrying your clubs?  The great thing about golf is that any player, at anytime, can decide on how they want to enjoy their round.  But, are there really any benefits to choosing the right mode of transportation when enjoying this awesome game.

As everyone knows, 18 holes of golf is about 4 miles.  A carry back weights about 10 kg or 20 pounds depending on the size of your lunch and the number of golf balls in your bag.  A cart back will weight more to the tune of about 20 kg or 40 pounds.  This seems quite a bit of weight to be moving around for each round of golf.  However, experience tells most golfers that it really is not that big of a deal.

I believe that walking is the best way to go.   The Walking Golfer talks about the benefits of walking and has started a database on rating the walkability of courses.  About.com has an article on the benefits of golf.  The Harvard Medical School says that golfing is very good for your overall health.  Livestrong.com (quoting the Washington Post) says that walking 1 mile burns 322 calories; more if you carry or push your clubs.  Needless to say, there are many benefits to walking and I believe that is the best way to enjoy a round of golf.

“So What?” many of you are asking.  I have not really passed on anything new or unique.  Well let’s think about this topic a bit deeper.  I want to remove the discussion on the benefits of health and focus on the practicality of using a power cart, push cart or to carry your clubs.  As I previously stated, I love to carry my clubs, however I do use all three modes of transport while playing golf.

Carrying clubs is faster and allows a player the opportunity acquire a better feel for the round they are playing.  There are no restrictions on where you can walk and your clubs are always with you if you want to change your club selection.  I carry my clubs early in the morning, on cool days and non-competitive rounds.  This is the majority of the time I spend on the links and thus I carry my clubs more often than not.

Push carts offer some of the same benefits as carrying and allows you to carry more stuff.  For example, when it may rain, I like to pull my clubs.  I can carry my rain suit and umbrella, extra towel, etc.  This is extra weight that I can carry if required, but would prefer not to.  In addition, on really hot sunny days (generally in the middle of the afternoon) I like to push my clubs because of the heat and I can carry lots of water!  I also use my push cart during tournaments.  I have found that most amateur golfers think they are pros during tournaments and normal 4-hour rounds turn into 5 or 6 hour rounds.  Additionally, I can carry food and water to get me through the long rounds.  Lastly, I conserve my energy for when I need it by using a push cart.

Power carts are best during fun tournaments like 4 person scrambles.  We can pick up balls from all over the fairway and return to one location to hit our next shot.  It enables us to spend a bit more time together talking, joking and laughing about something.  Also, I believe power carts are great for players how cannot physically walk 18 holes, but still want to play this awesome game.

Different modes of transporting your clubs during a round of golf has different benefits to each player.  There is no wrong answer; it really depends on what you want to experience while on the links.  Power, push, or carry really does not matter, what matters is that you are doing it.  I am a grateful golfer.

Which mode of transporting your clubs do you prefer?

Focused Club Selection

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What the heck!  You are playing the game of your life; you are in the middle of the fairway 130 yards from the par 5 – 18th green.  If you shoot par, you beat your best score ever…if you birdie the hole you won the lottery!  Then the thought hits you, 130 yards….you are in between a hard 9 or easy 8 iron.  What to do?

Thoughts go through your head like choking down on the 8 iron or hitting a normal 9 iron and rely on our short game to your goal.  Well, I suggest that most players would hit the hard 9.  There are less chances of error and if you come up short, it will not be by much.  If you hit the 8 too smooth, you will be over the green or worse.

Okay, let’s back up.  The problem of being in between clubs is not uncommon.  Additionally, it is completely preventable.  I would say that the problem started on the tee or as a minimum, the second shot was not played with a focus on club selection.

As you approach every tee box and start setting up for the hole; you should play the hole in your head before you even swing a club.  You know how far you can hit a ball with each club.  So use that knowledge to set the hole up and reduce your chances of being in between clubs.  Using a 3 wood instead of a driver off the tee or a 3 hybrid instead of 3 wood off the deck would make about a 10 to 20 yard difference in your overall distance; thus you are no longer in between clubs!

Focused club selection on the tee will help lower your score and improve your overall game.

What do you think?  Will it work?  See you on the links.

Keeping Golf Alive in the Dead of Winter!

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I have decide to create a new category for the winter bound golfers who are patiently waiting for spring.  I live in northern Canada and golf season is virtually over.  I now have the long wait until mid April when the courses will open again.  So how do I keep the spark alive and yet prepare for another awesome season on the links.

Well, my first suggestion is to have a grip changing party!  I know it sounds goofy, but let me explain.  I have to change my grips anyway, see my previous blog called “Is There a Difference in Grips” so I thought it would be fun and cheaper to do it in a group.

Right now I have 3 friends who are willing to participate.  I am aiming for 5-8 friends.  I will assume that 8 friends will attend.  Each player will be responsible for bringing their own grips unless we want to purchase the same type.  If only 5 of use want to use the same grips, the cost is reduced because we would order in bulk and get a much cheaper price.  The savings could be as much as 50 dollars.  Pays for the party.

I am going to put on golf movies, music or sports depending on what the guys want.  I will provide snacks and some thing to drink.  Everyone will come over, I will have the basic tools to change the clubs ready and wait to see where the party goes.

This idea is simply and fun.  I will have an opportunity to visit with my friends, talk about golf and prepare my equipment for next year.  Hopefully, I will be able to do something every month or so to reduce long wait until next years golf season.

Any ideas?