Choosing proper golf clubs for fairway rookies<\/p>\n
Sudibyo M. Wiradji, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta<\/p>\n
A common myth is that the fancier the golf club and the higher
\nthe price, the better one's game will be. If a beginner strongly
\nbelieves in this myth, then he might say, \"This highly
\nsophisticated club cost me Rp 10 million (about US$1,175) and so
\nI must be playing great!\"<\/p>\n
However, this myth appears to be mostly believed in by
\nrookies, who often choose a club more for prestige reasons rather
\nthan based on considerations about their game.<\/p>\n
\"It is unnecessary for beginners to have expensive and
\nsophisticated golf clubs because they are at the learning stage.
\nThe important thing for them is to acquire the basic skill of
\nhitting a ball and making it fly,\" said Avie K. Utomo, a golf
\nexpert.<\/p>\n
According to Avie, the ability to hit the ball and send it the
\nright way is the No.1 prerequisite in golf. \"This means that one
\nshould first be able to use the golf club properly, no matter
\nwhat the model, technology used or the price,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Therefore, it is also unnecessary for the beginner to have a
\nfull set of clubs, he said.<\/p>\n
Golf clubs are among the most sought-after items of sporting
\nequipment in Indonesia given the increasing number of beginners
\nwho have started playing the game over the last three years.
\nSports equipment shops are hard pressed to keep up with the
\ndemand for clubs from enthusiasts, including beginners.
\nMeanwhile, driving ranges in town are packed with rookies on
\nweekends as they offer clubs for rent on an hourly basis.<\/p>\n
In general, a full set of clubs will include 1, 3 and 5 woods,
\n3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8 and 9 irons, pitching and sand wedges, and a
\nputter. For instance, Avie said, a 9 iron is used for short
\ndistances. \"The higher the number, the shorter the distance of
\nthe ball's flight,\" said Avie, currently chairman of the
\nIndonesia Professional Golf Association.<\/p>\n
When playing a real game, most golfers carry a full set of
\nclubs as they have to cope with varying distances and conditions.
\n\"But it is enough for beginners to have two or three clubs,
\nespecially 5, 7 or 9 irons, as they need to learn the basic
\nskills first,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Many beginners get the feel of the game by participating in
\ntraining courses. \"But once they become amateurs with good
\nskills, they should really pay attention to the golf clubs they
\nuse,\" Avie advises.<\/p>\n
Many beginners decide to choose a particular brand of golf
\nclub based on the advice of their friends or trainers. But many
\nof them also obtain helpful information from golf shops.<\/p>\n
Among the golf shops that are seeing increasing numbers of
\ncustomers seeking advice regarding the right golf clubs they
\nshould use are Golf House, Hari Bros and Raja Sports. Even though
\nthey provide a wide range of internationally renowned golfing
\nequipment and accessories, they also sell golf clubs for
\nbeginners at relatively affordable prices.<\/p>\n
The price range for a set of golf clubs is between Rp 800,000
\n(about US$94) and Rp 10 million (about US$1,175), depending on
\nthe model and the brand.<\/p>\n
The Golf House provides golf equipment to meet the needs of
\nbeginners, starting with woods, fairway woods, irons, wedges and
\nputter. \"Spalding and Touredge are preferred brands among
\nbeginners but many of them also pick Mizuno and Wilson golf
\nclubs,\" said Golf House's general manager, Ratih D. Gianda.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, Hari Bros' marketing manager Murali said that many
\nof the beginners who initially sought cheap golf clubs in his
\nshop come back looking for better clubs after they had improved
\ntheir game. \"And when they do so, they are looking for the latest
\nmodels and technology,\" he said.<\/p>\n
He said that the golf clubs popular among beginners at Hari
\nBros included Tsuruya's \"Progical\" from Japan, and Tigershark,
\nCallaway and Arnold Palmer from the USA. \"We allow new golfers to
\ntry out our clubs first before buying them,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Even though most amateurs do not select their golf clubs as
\nmeticulously as professional golfers do, they should at least be
\nfamiliar with the components of a golf club, including the club's
\nhead, shaft and grip, and really check these out before deciding
\nto choose a particular club. The shaft, for instance, should have
\nthe feel of a golf club.<\/p>\n
Players should also consider aspects like the length of the
\nshaft, weight of the club head, total weight of the club, shaft
\nflex, loft and materials so that they really get the club most
\nsuited to their game.<\/p>\n
\"This is important for them, especially when they improve
\ntheir game and later want to take part in professional golf
\ntournaments,\" Avie explained.<\/p>\n
Avie said that the shaft, one of the most important parts of a
\ngolf club, is usually made of titanium, stainless steel, graphite
\nor a mixture of these. The material will indicate the degree of
\nflexibility of the shaft. For instance, a shaft made of titanium
\nis usually stiffer than one made of graphite. \"A graphite shaft
\nusually is lighter and suits amateurs with weaker strikes,\" he
\nadded.<\/p>\n
Graphite-shafted irons allow beginners and amateurs to get
\nmore distance from their shots provided they choose the right
\nflex for their game. \"Beginners and players with less powerful
\nswings will benefit from a more flexible shaft,\" he said.<\/p>\n
He also said that it was necessary for an amateur to pick a
\nshaft that gave him the right amount of flex to suit his unique
\nindividual swing. \"Some players require different shafts to
\ncontrol where the ball is going and to gain distance at the same
\ntime,\" he said.<\/p>\n
\"In general, the stiffer the flex of the shaft, the more
\naccurate the shot will be, and the farther it will go,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Golf is a sport that greatly emphasizes precision. \"So, the
\nability to use a golf club properly is what matters most, not the
\nprice,\" Avie concluded.<\/p>",
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