When you first start playing golf, you may easily start out with a package golf set. And you'll do this without giving much thought to what each club is made of. But as you become more serious about your game - and spend more time researching different clubs - you'll likely want to replace all your clubs. By then you would have a better understanding of how each club - and the materials used in it - can affect your game. Let's take a closer look at what golf clubs are made of, and how they can affect your swing speed, distance, and accuracy on the fairway.
Club Heads: The Impactful End of the Club
First up, the club head is where the magic happens. It's where club meets ball, and it has the most significant impact on your shot.
Woods - Despite their name, the heads of woods aren't made of wood anymore. Modern woods – including drivers – are typically made of titanium or composite materials. Titanium is light yet strong, allowing manufacturers to increase the club head's size without increasing weight. This results in a larger sweet spot – great for those of us who don't always hit the ball bang on. Composites, often featuring carbon fibre, offer similar benefits, plus the bonus of reducing vibrations that might interfere with your shot.
Irons - Irons were traditionally made from forged iron. Modern irons are now primarily stainless-steel casts, carbon steel, or other alloys. Stainless steel club heads are naturally more durable and heavier than other materials and can be less expensive. If you're serious about your game, you might still be able to find forged irons, though you should be prepared for a much steeper cost.
Putters - Although putters have been made using brass, bronze, aluminium, copper, zinc, and titanium, stainless steel is still the most common material used. However, you will find putters that use a different material for the putter face, even if the rest of the head is stainless steel.
Club Shafts: The Link in the Chain
The shaft of a golf club is the long, slender section that connects the grip to the club head. Shafts are predominantly made from steel or graphite, but there are shafts made using composites too.
Steel Shafts - These are the heavy hitters of the golfing world. Steel shafts provide accuracy and control, making them ideal for golfers with a fast swing.
Graphite Shafts - Graphite shafts are lighter, promoting a faster swing speed. They're often preferred by beginners, seniors, and those with slower swing speeds, as they can help to increase distance.
Club Grips: Holding it All Together
Grips are usually made from rubber or a synthetic material. Cord fabric can also be wound around the grip for a more tactile feel, particularly useful in wet weather.
Grips used to be made from leather, but aside from being less durable than rubber, leather is slicker when wet. If you like the feel of leather, you might be able to find grips that use a combination of rubber—or synthetic material—and leather.
Which Material is Best?
The "best" material for a golf club is highly subjective and depends on the golfer. If you're just starting out, a set of clubs with graphite shafts and composite club heads might help you hit farther and more accurately. More experienced golfers might opt for steel shafts for greater control, and forged iron club heads for precision. The grip is very much about personal comfort, so try out a few different materials and see what feels right in your hand.
The right golf clubs can make a significant difference to your game. And while what the clubs are made of plays a part in this, it shouldn't be what you focus on. Instead, look for golf clubs that suit your swing and style, even if they aren't made using your preferred material.
Selecting Clubs
Take the guess work out of choosing the right clubs for you. All Drummond Golf stores offer complimenary golf fitting sessions - It begins by gathering essential data about your physical characteristics, playing style, and golf habits. Using advanced technology and neutral test clubs, MiMatch precisely determines your ideal club specifications, including club length, lie angle, shaft flex, and weight. The system considers your budget and presents a selection of potential club matches from top-quality brands, ensuring you get the best clubs for your game. Custom fitting with MiMatch is available to all golfers, making it a game-enhancing opportunity for everyone.
Visit your nearest Drummond Golf store for a personalised fitting today.
