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Equipment and Fitting All clubs Beginner ⏱ 9 min 🇬🇧 Video in English, summarized

What Golf Clubs Do I Need? The 8 Essentials to Start

Have you never played before and aren't sure which clubs to put in your bag? Donal from Golfbidder explains the three main types of clubs in simple terms, then outlines the selection of eight clubs you'll need for your first round.

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Golfbidder · his YouTube channelFree lesson selected by Fred P.

To be continued

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What the lesson shows

The regulation permits A maximum of 14 clubs, but a beginner doesn't need one. There are three families. The wood, with large heads, send the ball the farthest: the largest is the driver, played off a tee at the tee box; fairway woods, with smaller heads, are often easier to hit and can be used both off the tee and on the fairway. The irons are numbered: the higher the number, the more open the face (the loft) and the shorter the distance the ball travels. After the 9-iron comes the pitching wedge, followed by the sand wedge, whose sole glides through the sand in bunkers. The putter is used to roll the ball toward the hole on the green.

For the first part, Donal follows the advice his father had given him: eight clubs. A driver for fun, a fairway wood in case the driver gets too difficult, the 7-, 8-, and 9-irons, the pitching wedge, the sand wedge, and the putter. Without the long irons, the bag stays light enough to carry. To choose from: a large-headed driver, some rear-cavity irons Choose a club with a thick head rather than a blade, and a putter that helps you feel well-aligned. And make sure you have enough balls to finish the course.

The Exercise, Step by Step

  1. Put a driver in your bag, and place the ball on a tee to hit it off the tee.
  2. Use a fairway wood—it's easier—if the driver becomes too difficult.
  3. Take irons 7, 8, and 9, and set the long irons aside.
  4. Use the pitching wedge for short, high shots.
  5. Add the sand wedge for bunkers and short shots.
  6. Choose a putter that makes it easy for you to align yourself.
  7. Slide enough balls to last the entire game.

Key Takeaways

Three families: wood, irons, and putters.
The higher the iron number, the greater the loft and the shorter the shot.
A fairway wood is often easier to use than a driver when you're just starting out.
Eight clubs are all you need: driver, fairway wood, irons 7 through 9, pitching wedge, sand wedge, and putter.
Rear-cavity irons rather than blades.
Make sure you have enough balls to finish the game.

Mistakes to Avoid

  • Setting out with 14 clubs that we don't know how to use.
  • Insisting on using the driver when it's not working: a fairway wood or an iron will do just fine off the tee.
  • Buy thin, blade-style irons, which are more difficult to play.
  • Keep the long irons in the bag from the start.
  • Setting out with too few balls.

Driving Range Mode

Keep it in plain sight, on the rug.

  1. Determine the distance your 7-iron travels before the others do
  2. Compare the driver and the fairway wood at the tee
  3. A Few Bunker Shots with a Sand Wedge

Your Questions

How many clubs does it take to play the first part?

Eight, according to Donal: driver, fairway wood, 7-, 8-, and 9-irons, pitching wedge, sand wedge, and putter. The rules allow for 14, but a beginner doesn't need that many.

Why isn't there an iron 10?

After the 9-iron comes the pitching wedge, marked P or PW. It is used for short, high shots toward the green. Next is the sand wedge, marked S or SW.

Should you use the driver right from the start?

You can try it just for fun, but it's not easy to control. If it gets too difficult, Donal recommends using a fairway wood—or even an iron—to get off to a good start on the hole.

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