If you are new to the game of golf, choosing the golf clubs to carry in your set can be quite confusing. A knowledgeable friend or a golf instructor can provide some help, but you still need some guidelines that will cover what to look for before you make a purchase. The consistency and efficiency of your golf game is going to be largely determined by the set of clubs that you have.

The following is a overview on frequently used golf clubs to help make the buying decision easier:

The rules of golf state that a golfer cannot have more than 14 clubs. Each golfer will have his or her own indiviual set consisting of a combination of drivers, woods, irons, wedges and putters. Many golfers also carry extra clubs like hybrid clubs which are generally thought of as more versatile and easier to work with than typical clubs.

The different types of golf clubs are:

• Drivers • Woods • Irons • Wedges • Putters • Hybrids

Driver The driver is the very first club that you use when you "tee off" (i.e., your first shot) and is the club that will get you off the tee and onto the fairway. This club is usually the tallest and largest in your bag. Drivers are available in both left hand and right hand versions as well as those that are more suited for ladies. Most manufacturers design their drivers so that ball speed is increased, launch angles are optimized, and spin is minimized once contact is made with the golf ball.

Woods

Golfers use golf clubs known as "woods" to hit the ball over a long distance and to bring it closer to the hole. The clubs are numbered in numerical order and an average golf set typically includes the one (being the driver), three and five woods. The combination of a woods large head and long shaft enables a ball to achieve optimal speed after contact is made. Woods are so called because they traditionally made from laminated hardwood. This changed, however, in the 1980s when the golf world was introduced to woods made from steel. These days, woods are composed of different materials: carbon fiber, scandium or titanium. Despite the non-wooden materials being used, they are still commonly referred to as woods as a nod to both their original composition and what they are used for on the golf course.

Irons

Irons are so named because the heads of the clubs are made up of metal, which historically have been cast-iron. They are marked by their flat angle faces and shorter shafts. Golfers typically use them when approaching the green as they work really well with difficult to hit shots such as those in the rough or when hitting the ball over trees or hills.

When it comes to irons think 90 degrees as the general rule of thumb with the higher the number, the lower the angle difference from 90 degrees. Irons can be either hybrids, cavity-backs (where a small to medium quantity of metal is removed from across the back of the head) or muscle backs (irons that have no cavity at the back of the head which means that the weight is evenly distributed at the back of the head).

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