What Are The Different Types of Golf Clubs? [List]

• There are five distinct categories of clubs: woods (which includes the driver), the irons, the hybrids, the wedges and the putters- these are the most essential golf gear!
• The higher the number on an iron, the higher the loft. This means that a 3 iron will hit the ball much further than a 9 iron, but it will have a lower loft.
• You should use a higher number iron for shorter distances and a lower number iron for longer distances.
• There are different types of drivers used for golf. There are drivers used for teeing off, and there are also drivers used when a person needs to hit a ball a long way from the fairway.
• There is a sand wedge for hitting out of bunkers and a putter for hitting on the green.

Are you struggling to break 100? Do you find yourself in the sand trap more often than not?

It might be time to invest in some new golf clubs. In this article, we will discuss the different types of golf clubs and their purposes on the green. So whether you’re a beginner or a pro, read on for some valuable information.

For golf beginners, it can be unclear to remember and differentiate the different types of golf clubs. There’s something to remember about each club, and that’s exactly what this guide has broken down.

A golf club is a club that’s used to hit the ball in a golf game. It is typically composed of a head, a shaft, and a grip. Whether you’re new to golf or a seasoned pro, choosing the right club goes a long way in determining your success in the game.

This article dived deep to give you a concise understanding of the different golf clubs to know which one to use for the perfect shot- check out our list of the best golf clubs for a quick shortlist!

Types of Golf Clubs

There are various kinds of golf clubs for a player to choose from. These clubs are modeled to strike the golf ball at varying lengths and provide a certain degree of loft to get the ball flying.

Generally, a pack of golf clubs comes with different golf types, so players have the right club for each shot they want to make. Down below are the 5 most common types of golf clubs:

Woods

The woods are among the most popular types of golf clubs. They include the driver and the fairway woods and propel farther than other club types, usually about 250-350 yards.

In the olden days, the head of wooden clubs are made from wood, thus the name. Today, Wood Clubs are made from metals like titanium, steel, and alloys.

Wood clubs have a large rounded head with a plain bottom that skids over the ground when making golf shots. It has the longest shaft and a big club face.

These clubs also have an amount of loft, measured at 90 degress to the ground which is lower than that of other clubs.

Because they can swing faster, golfers use wood clubs for the longest shots. Also, they’re a great off-the-tee when trying to keep a driver straight.

The major drawback of using woods is it’s hard to hit a flush shot out of a rough lie.

The normal 3-wood distance for a male golfer is 210 yards, while for female golfers, it’s about 180 yards.

Irons

Iron clubs typically have a solid or hollow head and are used by golfers when the ball is less than 200 yards.. They come in numbered sets ranging from 1 to 9 and have a smaller head than wood clubs.

An Iron club has a shorter shaft and an angled face (lofts) that are etched with grooves that have a good grip on the ball. As the number of iron goes up, the length of its shaft decreases while the loft increases.

The common types of Iron clubs are:

• Long Irons: These are Irons numbered between 1-4. They’re generally not used by beginners because the lack of loft leaves no room for error. The normal distance for a 4-Iron is 170 yards for men and 140 yards for women.
• Mid-Irons: Iron clubs between 5 to 7 are considered Middle irons. The normal distance for a 7-iron is 140 yards for an average male golfer and 120 yards for a female golfer.
• Short Irons: These are 8 and 9 irons. They’re mostly used for approach shots and on short par 3’s. The normal distance for a 9-iron is 120 yards for an average male golfer and about 100 yards for a female golfer.

Hybrids

Hybrids, also known as utility golf clubs, have gained popularity around the turn of the 21st century though they’ve existed for a long time. As the name indicates, It is a cross between wood and a long iron.

Different types of hybrid clubs are named based on the iron they replace (e.g., the 3, 4, and 5 hybrids).

Many golfers love the hybrid golf club because of its versatility – it is ideal for the take-off of the tee on long par 3 and has a good design that makes good contact with the grass.

Most amateur golfers will find playing with a 4-hybrid easier than a 4-iron in most cases. The normal distance of a hybrid club is 180 yards for men and about 150 yards for women.

Wedges

The wedges are another category of golf club that is regarded as a subset of iron clubs. However, they’re more angled to provide a higher loft.

Wedges are relatively new to the golf world. They were first invented in the 1930s in response to the need for a club with a higher loft to provide more smooth shots.

They’re mostly used to hit a golf ball and send it high into the sky before landing on the putting surface.

Wedges are also used for sand bunkers and shorter approach shots into the grasses. They’re divided into 6 categories as follows:

• Pitching Wedge: This has the lowest loft that ranges between 45 to 48 degrees but hits the ball farther than other wedges. They are mostly used for approach shots and chip shots. Pitching wedges are mostly found in club sets.
• Sand Wedges: They have the widest sole to allow more bounce on the ground. Sand wedges have a loft angle of 54 to 58 degrees and can reach a distance of 70 to 90 yards, which makes them great for shooting out of bunkers.
• Lob Wedge: This category of wedges is designed for chipping around the green and has the highest loft angle, ranging between58 to 64 degrees. They’re mostly used for shots under 30 yards, but lob wedges can reach up to 70 yards on high-velocity swings. Golfers mostly use this wedge for the high arch approach shots.
• Gap Wedges: Also known as Approach wedges, they were recently invented to fill the gap between pitching and sand wedges. They have a higher loft than pitching wedges and hit balls further than sand wedges. Their loft ranges between 46 to 54 degrees. Gap wedges are mostly used for shots between 80 to 100 yards. It is also known as the Attack wedge or D-Wedge.

Putters

Putters are the most specialized golf clubs. They come in a wide range of sizes and shapes. But the standard inch of a putter ranges between 34 to 35.

As their name indicates, they’re used for putting on the greens. The tallest types of putter are the broomstick putter and belly putter, mostly used by golfers with problems with a regular putter.

There are a thousand and one types of the putter to choose from. This is probably because choosing a putter club is more personal than a standardized process. One thing to note is that irrespective of their club head and size, putters generally have a small loft and are designed to put the ball on a smooth roll.

How I learned about the game

When I was a teenager, I started playing golf with my dad. It was a lot of fun, but I quickly realized that I didn’t really understand the difference between the different types of golf clubs. My dad tried to explain it to me, but it was hard to wrap my head around- especially as I watched advanced players playing so effortlessly.

There were so many different kinds of clubs- the fairway woods, the irons, the hybrids, the utility clubs, and the different types of wedges. And each one of them seemed to serve a different purpose on the golf course. I wasn’t sure which ones I needed, or what the sweet spot was for each.

My dad tried to teach me how to use each club correctly, but it was all so confusing- he was one of the most skilled players I’d ever seen. The woods were for long shots off of the tee box, but I wasn’t sure how far they actually went. The irons were for shorter shots and getting the ball onto the green, but again I wasn’t sure how far they traveled- or how to leverage the category of irons most efficently.

The hybrids were newer to the game at that time, and I wasn’t quite sure what they were for. My dad said they could be used for both long and short shots, but I wasn’t sure if that was true or not. And then there were the wedges- which loft was best for getting out of sand traps? Or pitching onto the green from short distances?

It was all so confusing! But eventually I started to get the hang of it. After playing for a while being an average golfer and practicing with each type of club, I began to understand their individual purposes. And now, years later, I’m still continuing to learn and improve my game- especially with all the modern advancements like graphite shafts.

In Conclusion

The club you’re using says a lot about how far you’ll go in the game of golf. That’s why it’s important to understand the types of clubs so as to make the right choice.

Some factors to consider when choosing a new golf club include the loft, the club head, the shaft, and grip thickness. If you aren’t sure of the best type of golf club for you, consider asking advanced golfers for recommendations.