Golf Clubs: Choose Your Weapons

Arguably the most important part of your golf equipment is your clubs. Official rules declare that a player can have no more than 14 clubs in his or her bag, 1 of which is your putter. That leaves you with only 13 weapons to take to war, so it's in your best interest to choose carefully.

Know Thyself

Arming yourself with the right clubs requires that you be honest with yourself about

(a) your playing level,

(b) the quality of your swing, and

(c) exactly what kind of player you are.

This knowledge will do more than help you select irons and woods that match your game. It will also end up saving you money. You can save hundreds of dollars if you are a beginner golfer, realize this, and buy a cheap set of starter clubs.

Match Equipment To Skill Level

You'll want to match your golf equipment with your skill level, so the first order of business is to determine which category of player you are. There is the low-handicap, mid-handicap, and high-handicap golfer. A handicap measures how well you typically shoot compared to the average par of an 18-hole golf course.

The Low-Handicap Golfer

A low-handicap golfer is defined by the experts as someone who usually shoots less than an 82 on an average course. That equals 9 or fewer strokes over par, or a single-digit handicap. If you're in this camp, you'll want to pack your bag with high-performance clubs that can take full advantage of your abilities.

Which Clubs To Take

The best choice of golf equipment for the single-digit handicap player would include a driver and at least 1 other wood, such as a 3 wood. Pack your low irons, too, such as the 3 or 4 iron. Golfers with your skill can accurately hit with these normally difficult-to-use clubs.

With these clubs it can be a cinch to reach the green from 200-plus yards out. With high trajectory irons, you'll be able to manage mid-range approach shots with, say, your 8, 9, and pitching wedge. And, unlikely though it may be, you could sail 1 onto the beach, in which case you'll also want your sand wedge.