Building Your Golf Bag: The Clubs, Marion Ricordeau
Are you just starting out and not sure what each club is used for? Marion Ricordeau, a world university champion, takes a look inside a golf bag: how many clubs there are, the different types, what the parts of a club are called, and why a short club is more accurate.
To be continued
What the lesson shows
A golf bag contains up to 14 clubs, consisting of woods, irons, and a putter. Woods are the long clubs with large heads; the driver is the No. 1 wood, the club that goes the farthest. Marion Ricordeau takes this opportunity to name the parts of a club: the shaft, made of graphite or steel (which is grayer and shinier); the grip, where you place your hands; and the head, with its face.
The irons have a slimmer head; the putter is shorter, with a head that varies in size depending on personal preference. Aside from the putter, The longer the club, the farther it goes. The driver has the most closed face, almost perpendicular to the line of play, whereas the face of a short iron is almost pointing toward the sky. The shorter the club, the more open its clubface is, and the more accurate the shot.
The Exercise, Step by Step
- Count your clubs: 14 at most.
- Organize them by type: woods, irons, putter.
- Find your driver—the No. 1 wood—which is the longest club in your set.
- For each club, identify the head, the face, the shaft, and the grip.
- Look at the shaft: graphite, or steel—which is grayer and shinier.
- Place a driver and then a short iron in front of you and compare the angles of the clubfaces.
Key Takeaways
Mistakes to Avoid
- Beat 14 clubs in the bag.
- Believing that all clubs are meant to help you go far.
- Use a long club when the shot requires precision.
Driving Range Mode
Keep it in plain sight, on the rug.
- Compare the clubface of a driver with that of a short iron when they are resting on the ground
- Match each club in your bag to its category: woods, irons, putter
- Count your clubs before you tee off: 14 at most
Your Questions
How many clubs can you fit in a golf bag?
"A maximum of 14 clubs, divided among woods, irons, and a putter," explains Marion Ricordeau.
Which club will go the farthest?
The driver, also known as the No. 1 wood. It is the longest club and the one with the most closed clubface, which is almost perpendicular to the line of play.
Why use a shorter club?
With the exception of the putter, the shorter the club, the more open its clubface is, and the more it is used for precise shots. The longer it is, the farther it goes.
Learn More
Video posted on YouTube by its creator (Marion Ricordeau). Best Golf Tips selects and summarizes the best free lessons, without hosting them.
