Golf Club Components
Golf has evolved greatly since it was invented in the 15th century, and so has club making. Contemporary clubs are designed based not only on height and gender but also on preferences and tendencies. Components are quite sophisticated and even adjustable on the fly.
What components are a gold club comprised of?Whether you’re referring to a wood or an iron driver, a wedge, or a putter, all clubs used for the sport of golf have the same fundamental parts. Clubheads differ from one club type to the next, but the basic premise is the same. These aspects include the:
- Grip: the part you hold in your hands
- Shaft: the part that connects the grip to the head
- Head: the part that makes contact with the golf ball
Yes. Not all parts have to be right-hand- or left-hand-oriented, but some do. The main part that’s like this is the head because the clubface must be situated based on the relative position of the player to the ball as well as the tee when using a driver. Another case when a part must be different depending on the dominant hand is putter shafts. Many putter shafts are bent, and that bend must be configured based on orientation to the golf ball.
Why are golf components available separately?Most golfers purchase whole clubs or even entire golf club sets, but parts are available so that club makers can design custom equipment, repair worn or damaged clubs, or convert hardware. A club maker can convert a right-handed driver to a left-handed one, for instance, or increase the length on junior golf clubs as a young person grows.
How do golf grips differ?According to the rules of golf as recognized by the two leading rule bodies, grips must be round and not feature any bumps or hollows. Golf grips can and often do have grooves and ridges that make golf clubs easier to hold. Grip sizes vary for different hand sizes, and there’s an array of materials available for different preferences. The most prevalent grip materials are:
- Rubber
- Leather
Modern golf club shafts are made of steel or carbon fiber. Carbon fiber is light and provides a different feel from steel. A shaft dictates club length, which is dictated by player height. A shaft also determines the stiffness of the driver, putter, or other golf club, and the six widely recognized degrees of rigidness are:
- R - Regular
- L - Ladies
- A - Seniors
- F - Firm
- X - Extra Firm
- S - Stiff