Intro to Golf

I'm going to make a big assumption in this column, and it's this: You've been to a golf course, you've watched people play, you've decided you like it, and you're willing to make a certain investment of time and money to get started. Unlike many of the sports in this column, such as running or yoga, golf is equipment-heavy and can't be practiced easily in your backyard or local aerobics studio. It's a sport that, in my opinion, practically demands instruction. I'll assume that you know all of that and want to move forward. So this week, let's begin with the clubs.

Clubs come in a variety of sizes, shapes and materials. Each wood and iron is designed to make the ball react differently and to conform to a certain achievable loft and distance (loft is the height and arc of the ball; distance is how far it travels). The woods make the ball travel the longest distances, beginning with the driver, which is designed for the longest distance of all.

The lower-numbered clubs in any category are designed to hit the ball the longest distances. As the number of the club goes up, the distance goes down. As the distance the ball travels decreases, however, the loft (or arc) increases. Your two-iron, for example, will hit the ball 200 yards at an 18-foot loft, whereas the nine-iron will hit it 130 yards at a 46-foot loft.

The pros get very good at judging the distances needed and select the club best designed for that range. But few golfers can say for certain how far they hit with each club in their bag. You may never hit the same consistent distances as the pros, but it is possible to calculate your average distance for each club.

Try this: Take 20 balls to a practice tee. Hit them with one club. Walk over and pick up the five nearest and the five farthest. The 10 grouped in the center will give you your average distance for that club. Mark it down, and repeat the process using all the other clubs. This will help you determine which club to use for each particular shot, and it's a better way to learn about clubs and distances than reading a chart. Before you know it, you'll be picking the right clubs.

Next week we'll discuss purchasing the ideal "beginner's set" of clubs and some other information about clubs, putters and grips.

Is there a sport or activity you'd like to learn more about? Let us know!