Δευτέρα 16 Νοεμβρίου 2009

Golf Tips - Grip

How to grip a golf club

A Game Golf Instruction HowTo Grip the Club like Tiger Woods

Tips for Choosing Golf Clubs & Equipment to Improve Your Golf Game

Tiger Woods Amazing Golf Shot


The Basics of Golf Clubs - Custom Fitting Golf Clubs

Custom Fitting Golf Clubs

Custom fitting golf clubs involves several easy measurements and a quick self-assessment of your game. You will see many fitting methods out there in the golf universe, but most of them center around the same pieces of information. This method is simple, accurate, and effective. To custom fit your golf clubs, you need to know:

  • Your gender (male or female)
  • Your height in your stockings or socks
  • The distance from your wrist (where it bends) to the floor (without shoes)
  • Your age
  • Your handicap or skill level
  • How fast you swing a golf club
  • What club you use at the 150 yard marker
Gender is used to put you into the correct fitting scale. The golf industry uses different definitions of "standard length" for men and women.
Your height and the distance in inches from your wrist to the floor are used together to determine the length of golf club that is appropriate for you. The starting point for club length can vary up to 3 1/2" ranging from ladies to mens plus 1 1/2". A tall person with long arms can very easily require shorter clubs than an average height person with short arms. About 80% of golfers are Standard length.
Your age, handicap (if you happen to have one), self-assessed skill level, estimated golf swing speed and club you use at the 150 yard marker are all combined to determined the shaft flex that is appropriate for you.
PinemeadowGolf.com has built an automated Custom Fitting Wizard that collects this information and quickly provides you with your custom fitting result.

Club Length & Flex

What should I know about golf club length? Length is simply how long the golf club is as measured from the butt end of the grip down the back side of the club down to where the club meets the ground. A longer golf club will hit further given the same swing speed — so length can be a good thing. However, since the swing arc is longer, it often is also harder to keep under control — so length can be a bad thing. All things being equal, most golfers will opt for longer length to the sacrifice of greater control.
The standard length of a steel shafted Driver for a man is 43 inches. Graphite shafted drivers are manufactured 1 inch longer than steel shafted clubs because graphite shafts weigh less than steel shafts allowing us to produce a longer club with the same swing weight (a fulcrum measurement of the proper balance and feel of a golf club). See Shafts (in Lesson #2) for a more complete discussion of the types of shafts we use and the length chart below for the different golf clubs that make up a set.
The proper length of a golf club is a function of your height and the length of your arms. We provide a Custom Fitting Wizard that determines the correct length for you with just two simple measurements.
How long is a golf club? There is no exact industry standard for golf club length. To make everything clear, we are letting you know our standard club lengths for men and women using both graphite and steel shafts. The measurement is made with the golf club in "address position" — club head resting on the floor, grip end in your hands. The measurement is made from the floor up the back side of the golf club to the butt end of the grip.
This information is optional information for golf wonks and is NOT necessary for buying our products or getting fitted using our Custom Fitting Wizard. It is reference material for those interested in comparing our golf club lengths to others.


Men's
Standard Length
Ladies'
Standard Length
Graphite
Steel
Graphite
Steel
Ti Driver
45"
n/a
44"
n/a
1 Wood
44"
43"
43"
42"
3 Wood
43"
42"
42"
41"
5 Wood
42"
41"
41"
40"
7 Wood
42"
41"
41"
40"
9 Wood
42"
41"
41"
40"
11 Wood
42"
41"
41"
40"
1 Iron
40.25"
39.75"
39.25"
38.75"
2 Iron
39.75"
39.25"
38.75"
38.25"
3 Iron
39.25"
38.75"
38.25"
37.75"
4 Iron
38.75"
38.25"
37.75"
37.25"
5 Iron
38.25"
37.75"
37.25"
36.75"
6 Iron
37.75"
37.25"
36.75"
36.25"
7 Iron
37.25"
36.75"
36.25"
35.75"
8 Iron
36.75"
36.25"
35.75"
35.25"
9 Iron
36.25"
35.75"
35.25"
34.75"
PW
36.25"
35.75"
35.25"
34.75"
SW
36.25"
35.75"
35.25"
34.75"
LW
36.25"
35.75"
35.25"
34.75"
Putter
n/a
34"
n/a
33"
What should I know about golf club flex? Flex is the torsional stiffness of the golf club, which is provided by the type of golf club shaft that is used. Generally, stiffer shafts are better for stronger hitting golfers. Common shaft flexes are Men's Regular, Stiff, Extra Stiff, Senior, and Ladies. Interestingly, graphite shaft flex terminology uses Firm and Extra Firm instead of Stiff — we don't know why, they are just the words the golf industry uses.
The proper flex of a golf club is a function of your strength and golfing skills. We provide a Custom Fitting Wizard that determines the correct flex for you in just two simple steps. Determining the correct flex is most important for your Woods and longer Irons. Short irons, wedges and putters are not impacted very much by the different flexes as the differences between flexes becomes very small in the shorter clubs.
Often associated with flex, is "kick-point" — especially with graphite shafts. Less experienced golfers generally benefit from lower kick-point shafts, which help get the ball up in the air. Better golfers tend to favor higher kick points.

Loft & Lie Adjustments

A word about loft and lie adjustments. Pinemeadow can adjust the lie on irons and wedges. The request needs to be emailed to us with your order number or noted in the special comments box in step #3 of the shopping cart.
A lie adjustment requires bending the hardened metal in which an iron is cast. We strongly advise getting your lie fitting done in person. Online fittings while accurate do not take into account your natural ball address. Some players are more naturally upright and some like to “lean into” the ball. Once you have lie adjusted a club it is usually not a good idea to re-adjust if you later find it was the wrong adjustment.
From years of building experience we find it rare to need more than a 2 degree adjustment upright or flat, therefore we only perform lie adjustments to either extreme.
Woods, hybrid clubs and putters can not be adjusted. The reason these clubs can not be adjusted is because the hosel of each is cast in a way where physically bending the head at all will cause damage. In woods and hybrids it will crack or bend the crown of the club, and putter hosels are not made with the strength required for adjustment after the casting process.
Loft adjustments require a different type of bend than a lie adjustment. Some people receive advice in which they require a certain loft adjustment. We have never understood loft adjustments since it merely changes the loft of the club. We recommend buying golf clubs matching loft you seek and avoid custom loft adjustments. Bending the loft of an iron weakens the hardened metal and can lead to future metal fatigue, since the actual bend twists the metal to an extent. If the loft of your 5 iron is too strong, use a 6 iron. If it is too weak, use a 4 iron.

The Basics of Golf Clubs - Golf Club Terminology & Definitions

Golf Club Terminology & Definitions

Golf has lots of jargon and it can be confusing. We have tried to include most of the terms we use and those you might see while shopping for golf clubs. If you find a new one or have any suggestions please provide them to us at golfersdictionary@pinemeadowgolf.com and we will add it to the list!
Alloy
Any combination of metals used to produce a club head or shaft. Alloys may contain aluminum, steel, beryllium, nickel, copper, titanium, or other metals in varying combinations. Less than honest descriptions of products often have the term "alloy" in them to hide the fact that the product may only contain trace elements of the desired metal. For example, "titanium alloy" may actually contains 98% aluminum and only 2% titanium which may be used to confuse the consumer with "real titanium" that has high levels of titanium. Alloy is often a code word for substituting a cheap metal for an expensive metal.
Back Weight
A weight, usually tungsten, brass or aluminum attached to the back of a wooden, graphite or titanium wood head. The back weight moves the center of gravity toward the back of the club to assist in getting the ball airborne.
Backspin
The backward rotation of a golf ball in flight around a horizontal axis as caused by the club hitting the ball. The more loft on a club, the greater the backspin. Certain finishes on a club face (e.g., milling, brass-blasting) can also increase backspin.
Balance Point
The point where a shaft's weight is evenly distributed in both directions when rested on a single point.
Belly Putter
Type of putter that positions the grip against the player's stomach in order to create a pendulum effect from a relatively stable pivot point. Most belly putters are about 40" in length. Belly putters generally are available in several lengths to accommodate different bellies.
Bent (or Curved) Shaft
A shaft designed for use in no-hosel putters, featuring a bend or bends within 5" from the shaft tip. The curved shaft creates offset and face balancing.
Beryllium Copper (BeCu)
An alloy used to produce heads for some irons. More dense than stainless and some players claim it has a softer feel. Beryllium heads are easily identified by their copper coloration.
Beta-Titanium
An alloy of Titanium both harder and heavier than typical cast titanium.
Big Butt Shaft
Any shaft with a butt size over .620".
Bi-Metal
Describes club heads constructed from two different materials, for instance, a stainless steel club head with a brass sole insert or brass sole rails.
Bi-Matrix Shaft
Patented by True Temper, the BI-Matrix is a shaft that contains both graphite and steel. BI-Matrix wood shafts have a steel tip section, with the remainder being made of graphite. BI-Matrix irons have a graphite tip for feel, with the remainder of the shaft being steel for control.
Blade (or Face)
The striking face of an iron head.
Blade Style Head
Blades are also known as muscle-back irons due to a possible concentration of weight directly behind the center of the club face. Predominately used by very experienced golfers.
Boron
A high strength element added to some graphite shafts to increase tip strength. Boron shafts are more expensive. Since the mid 1990's boron has become less common as the technology of manufacturing graphite shafts has improved their strength and reduced torque considerably.
Bounce
The measurement from the leading edge of the club face to the groundline. Wedges typically have the most bounce in a set of clubs. Bounce helps these clubs go through sand and high grass easily.
Bounce Angle
When looking at the sole of a wedge you will notice the trailing edge hangs beneath the leading edge. This angle in relation to the ground plane is called bounce angle.
Build-Up Tape
Masking tape applied to the butt end of the shaft to increase grip size. A single layer of masking tape (.005" thick) will increase grip size approximately 1/64".
Bulge
The curvature of the face of a wood or metal wood from heel to toe. Bulge helps give corrective spin to shots hit on the toe or heel of the wood face.
Butt (shaft butt)
The grip end of the shaft.
Butt Cap
The plastic or rubber cap at the top end of the grip. Also called the "End Cap."
Camber
The radius measurement of the sole of a club. A sole can be cambered from toe to heel, or from front to back, or both.
Cavity Back
An iron head with the weight is distributed toward the perimeter of the head. Cavity back irons are easily identified by their recessed area on the back of the head.
Center of Gravity (CG)
The point in a club head where all of the points of balance intersect. The lower the CG, the higher the ball flight. Higher CG clubs produce lower ball flight.
Center-Shafted
Hosel configuration where the shaft enters the head toward the center. Most common in putters.
Chrome Plated Finish
High-luster, shiny finish electrostatically applied to forged irons and to steel shafts.
Component
Parts used to assemble golf clubs. The three primary components of a golf club are the head, shafts and grips. Other components include ferrules, labels, tape, and epoxy.
Compression
The hardness of a golf ball, identified by a number - a higher number indicates a ball that requires more force to compress it. Lower compression balls flatten more when hit. 100 would be a high compression golf ball, 80 would be a low compression golf ball.
Compression Molded
Manufacturing method for graphite heads and face inserts where layers of graphite are placed upon one another and heat cured to create a clubhead or insert.
Conforming Club
A golf club that conforms to standards set by the USGA.
Core (Grip)
Inside diameter measurement of a grip, which determines the size of the grip. Core size does not match shaft butt sizes. The standard core size for a man's grip is .620", for a lady is .590", but both use the same shaft butt size.
Cover
Outside surface of a golf ball. The cover may be one of any number of materials, Surlyn and balata being most common.
Crown
The top of the head of a wood or metal wood. It's what the golfer sees at address.
Cubic Centimeters (cc's)
Measurement of the volume of a wood head.
Curved (or Bent) Shaft
A shaft designed for use in no-hosel putters, featuring a bend or bends within 5" from the shaft tip. The curved shaft creates offset and face balancing.
Deep Face
A club face with higher than average distance from the sole of the club to the crown. Deep face clubs have a higher CG and launch the ball on a lower trajectory.
Diamond Face
A face coating containing fine diamond crystals to enhance backspin and face wear. Primarily used on wedges.
Die Cast
Injection of material into a pre-formed die to form club heads. This process is generally used on lower-priced heads such as zinc alloy irons and aluminum alloy woods. It is also commonly used on putters made from brass and zinc.
Driver
The club that used to hit the ball for the first shot on a par 4 or par 5 hole. The longest hitting club in the set. Drivers commonly have lofts between 7 and 12 degrees.
Driving Iron
A golf club with low loft and a muscle or hollow body similar to a wood. The driving iron is a utility club most commonly used by golfers who have difficulty hitting their long irons.
Face (or Blade)
The striking face of an iron head.
Face Angle
Position of the club face relative to the intended line of ball flight. For right-handed golfers, a square face angle aligns directly at the target; an open face aligns to the right, while a closed face aligns left.
Face Insert
An epoxy, graphite or fibrous material in the center portion of the face on a wooden, composite, or metal head.
Ferrule
Decorative trim ring, directly on top of the hosel on many woods and irons.
Flat Lie
A lie flatter than specification. For example, if the spec is 60 degrees, a 2 degree flat club would have a lie angle of 58 degrees.
Flex
The relative bending properties of a golf club shaft. Flex is usually identified by a letter: L for ladies, A for senior, R for regular, S for stiff and X for extra stiff. Graphite shafts commonly use the term Firm instead of Stiff for Firm and Extra Firm graphite shafts.
Flexible Face
A golf club face designed to "flex" upon ball impact, potentially propelling the ball a longer distance than if the face did not flex. See also "Spring-Like Effect" or "Trampoline Effect".
Flow Weighting
Head design where weight positioning shifts from one club to the next. For example, a #1 iron may have more weight concentrated on its toe, a #2 iron slightly less, and so on. Also called Progressive Weighting.
Form Forged
Iron club head manufacturing process in which a club is first investment cast from an alloy of carbon steel and then formed to shape through a series of forging dies.
431 Stainless Steel
Stainless steel used in iron and putter head construction, not more than 20% carbon, 15-17% chromium, and 1.25-2.5% nickel, with the remainder being iron and a few trace elements. The most common iron making material in high quality irons. Softer than 17-4 stainless steel.
Forged Titanium
A method of wood head manufacture in which the body and sole of the head is forged from 100% pure titanium. The face and hosels are usually cast from 6-4 Ti.
Forging
Producing a golf club head from a series of forging dies stamping the head to final shape. Forged heads are made of softer metals than cast heads and require hand finishing and chrome plating.
Gear Effect
The effect that tends to cause a ball hit toward the toe or heel side of face center to curve back to the intended target line.
Gooseneck
A putter (or iron) that has an extremely offset hosel.
Graphite
Synthetic filament material used for shaft and head production, produced through a series of heating steps. Graphite fibers may differ greatly in strength and modulus.
Grip Collar
Plastic collar used to secure the bottom of a grip in place on the shaft. Most commonly seen on leather grips.
Gunmetal
Dark, almost black, finish applied to the surface of iron heads for cosmetic reasons or to prevent rusting of a carbon steel head.
Heel-Toe Weighting
A type of club head design with weight positioned toward the heel and toe of the clubhead, resulting in stabilizing the clubhead (and produce straighter shots) on off-center impacts.
High-Modulus Graphite
A shaft material stiffer than standard graphite. The higher the modulus of graphite, the lower its compression strength.
High Polish Finish
Shiny (mirror) finish applied to stainless steel iron heads through a series of polishing operations.
Hook Face
A wood with a closed face angle. Hook face woods may help players who slice to hit the ball straight.
Horizontal Flow Weighting
Distributing weight from club to club in a set of irons, with the highest concentration of weight moving from the toe of the longer irons to the heel of the shorter irons.
Hosel
The entry point of the shaft into the head on any golf club.
Inset Hosel
A club design with the hosel toward the center of the club face in an attempt to reduce head twisting.
Leading Edge
The front edge of the clubface.
Lie
The angle from the shaft to the ground line when the club is measured in normal playing position.
Lift
Upward force on a golf ball as it flies.
Lightweight Shaft
A shaft that falls within 3.80-4.24 ounces in steel or alloy shafts and within 3.20-3.60 ounces in composite shafts.
Loft
The angle of the clubface that controls trajectory and affects distance.
Low Balance Point (LBP)
A shaft with a high percentage of its weight toward the tip.
Low Profile Head
An iron or wood head that is shorter from topline to soleline than typical.
Mallet
A type of putter head identified by its broad appearance from front to back when positioned at address.
Maraging Steel
A steel alloy harder than are non-maraging steels such as 17-4 and 15-5. Maraging steel is commonly used in club face applications, rather than in entire club heads.
Melonite
A black corrosion-resistant plating applied to some club heads.
Milled Face
A club face milled to .001" for flatness to promote smoother roll.
Midsize Wood
Any wood with a clubhead around 185cc in size.
Modulus
The measure of a fiber's stiffness or resistance to bending. The higher the modulus, the stiffer the material.
Muscleback Iron
See Blade Style Iron.
Non-Conforming Club
A club whose construction does not allow it to be played in any event (either professional, amateur or club-level) as sanctioned by USGA Rules.
Non-Conforming Club (Driver) List
A list of clubs (particularly drivers) that do not conform to USGA equipment requirements. The list, updated regularly, is available at www.usga.org.
Offset
The distance from the forward most point of the hosel to the leading edge of the blade. Offset will help a player to align the club face with the target, reducing a slice, and may produce higher ball flight.
Oversize Iron Head
Any iron head larger 43 millimeters and a blade length of 75 mm.
Oversize Wood Head
A wood head with volume greater than 200 cc's.
Perimeter Weighting
Redistributing weight on a club head to the heel and toe in an attempt to stabilize the club on all types of impacts.
Progressive Offset
Iron sets with longer irons having more offset and shorter irons having less.
Progressive Weighting
Head design where weight positioning shifts from one club to the next. For example, a #1 iron may have more weight concentrated on its toe, a #2 iron slightly less, and so on. Also called Flow Weighting.
Rails
Raised areas on the soles of metal woods, lowering the center of gravity of the club and providing less resistance as the club travels through the turf.
Rescue
A name given to any number of clubs that combine features of a wood and an iron. "Rescue" is also the trademarked name of this type of club from TaylorMade that began the trend. See also "Hybrid."
Roll
The measure of face curvature from crown to sole on woods.
Sandblast
Light gray finish applied to the some iron and wood heads. Applied using an air compressor and sandblasted with aluminum oxide sand.
Satin Finish
"Brushed" finish applied to some stainless steel iron heads and metal wood soles by finishing belts.
Scoring Lines
Lines or grooves on the face of an iron or wood club.
17-4 Stainless Steel
Stainless steel alloy used in Iron and metal wood head construction. 17-4 is no more than 0.07% Carbon, between 15 and 17% Chromium, 4% Nickel, 2.75% Copper, and 75% Iron and trace elements. Harder than 431 stainless steel.
Shallow Face
Any wood or iron having a face height shorter than normal.
6-4 Titanium
Titanium is used in wood heads manufactured with the formula 6Al-4V: these are 90% Titanium, 6% Aluminum and 4% Vanadium. Titanium is often used in oversize and larger heads.
Sole
The bottom or underside of any type of golf club. It is where the club rests on the ground in playing position.
Sole Weighted Iron
An iron head with the majority of its weight concentrated near the sole of the club, producing a lower center of gravity.
Sole Width
The measure of a sole from the leading edge to the trailing edge. A narrow sole is better from firmer ground; wide soles are helpful in getting the ball airborne from softer ground.
Sole Camber
The curvature from the leading edge to the trailing edge.
Spring-Like Effect
A golf club face designed to "flex" upon ball impact, potentially propelling the ball a longer distance than if the face did not flex. See also "Flexible Face" and "Trampoline Effect".
Square (Box, "U") Grooves
Face lines or grooves pressed, cut, or cast into a rectangular shape.
Standard Size Wood
Any wood head with volume of around 150cc.
Standard Weight Shaft
A steel shaft within the range of 4.25-4.62 ounces.
Step
Where the diameter of a steel shaft "steps up" noticeably to a larger diameter.
Stepless
Steel shafts without"steps up" in diameter. FMC Rifle and Apollo Balistik are stepless shafts.
Step Pattern
The pattern made by the sequence of steps of a steel shaft which vary by manufacturer and shaft model.
Strong Loft
A club, usually an iron, with loft that is less than the standard specification for that club. Stronger lofted clubs tend to hit the ball lower and longer than standard lofts, but may sacrifice some control.
Super-Steel
Alloys of steel that are stronger and lighter than 17-4 stainless.
Swingweight
A club's weight distribution around a fixed fulcrum point. The fulcrum point is typically 14" from the butt of the club. It is measured in alpha-numeric units such as D-1, D-2, and so on with higher letter-number units indicating more weight in the head relative to the grip.
Ti-Alloy
Alloy used for wood heads that contains some Titanium, but a much larger amount of less expensive (generally Aluminum) alloys.
Tip Stiff
A shaft with a tip stiffer than the rest of the shaft. Tip stiff shafts are generally designed with harder swinging players in mind.
Titanium
Club head metal primarily for woods with a higher strength-to-weight ratio than most steel alloys. See also Forged Titanium and 6-4 Titanium.
Topline
The top part of an iron blade, running from heel to toe visible to the golfer at address.
Torque
Measure of a shaft's resistance to twisting. Low torque shafts twist less and are recommended for stronger players.
Total Weight
Weight of the entire assembled club as expressed in ounces or grams.
Trajectory
The shape and height of a golf ball's flight in relation to its direction.
Trampoline Effect
A golf club face designed to "flex" upon ball impact, potentially propelling the ball a longer distance than if the face did not flex. See also "Flexible Face" and "Spring-Like Effect".
Trailing Edge
The back edge of the sole.
Tri-Metal
A club head comprised of three separate metals.
Trouble Club
Clubs used to play the ball from a difficult lie. Trouble clubs often have unusual sole construction - perhaps rails - that lower the center of gravity. Trouble clubs may be irons, woods or hybrids.
Tungsten
A heavy steel/tungsten compound is used to add weight to a club head, either as a swingweighting material in the shaft or as a defined weight attached somewhere in/on the head.
U-Groove
Used in iron face structure, more pronounced than "V" grooves. See "Square Groove."
Ultralight Shaft
Composite shafts weighing less than 2.00 ounces or 65 grams.
Upright Lie
A club's lie that is more upright than the standard specification for that particular head.
V Grooves
Face grooves pressed, cut, or cast into a "V" shape during club manufacture.
Velocity
The speed of a golf ball.
Vertical Flow Weighting
Club set weighting with weight shifting vertically from a concentration of weight toward the sole of long irons to more traditional weighting on short irons.
Volume
The measurement of the size of a wood head as measured by liquid displacement.

The Basics of Golf Clubs

The Basics of Golf Clubs

Golf clubs are the tools we use to strike the golf ball. A golf club has three components — the Head, the Shaft and the Grip. The rules of golf constrain golf club designs, but the goal of clubmakers is to create golf clubs, within those rules of golf, that maximize the physics of the golfer's swing while allowing for a range of swing error to provide an accurate, long, yet forgiving shot. The better your swing, the less forgiving club you require.
A standard set of golf clubs consists of three woods (the 1-driver, 3, and 5), eight irons (3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, and PW), and a putter — twelve clubs. The rules of golf allow you to carry fourteen clubs in your bag, so many golfers add another iron or a specialty wood. After all, the more tools we have in our toolbox, the easier it is to do our job!

Woods

Woods are used to hit long shots. If a golf hole is 450 yards from tee to green, most golfers use a wood to hit off the tee. A wood is a hollow-bodied large headed golf club. Use your woods when you are 175 yards or more away from the green.
The Driver (also called the 1 wood) has the lowest loft of any golf club. Loft is the angle of the club face that controls trajectory and affects distance. A driver has a loft between 7 and 12 degrees. Experienced golfers have traditionally favored lower lofted drivers (less than 10 degrees of loft), which require much more skill to hit than higher lofted drivers.
A dramatic development has occurred over the past several years - professional golfers are throwing out their low lofted drivers and opting for large-headed, higher-lofted 10 and 11 degree drivers. Their argument is that the longest drives are achieved by combining a high launch angle with lower spin. The newer, higher-lofted designs for large-headed drivers provide the higher launch angle; the new solid core golf balls provide less spin on the golf ball. This results in the longest drives. So the professionals are increasingly moving to larger headed higher lofted drivers. They get more carry with less shot error. Just like you should do!
This change is a huge reversal from prior years. During the mid to late 1990's, the average loft on the PGA Tour was around 7 degrees. However, those were difficult shots for the pros to make and the ball flight from such a low loft created lots of spin. The experts in ball flight analysis showed that the longest golf drives are achieved with a high launch angle combined with low spin. The new solid core golf balls provide that low spin which was not available in the golf balls of yesterday. A higher lofted club gives the golfer the higher launch angle.
Most PGA pros now carry drivers with lofts of 8.5 to 10 degrees or more. Non-pros should probably play drivers with lifts 10 degrees or higher. So our recommendation is follow the advice of the PGA pros and increase the loft of your driver.
Most golfers also carry 3 and 5 woods in their bag. A 3 wood has a loft between 15 and 18 degrees, and a 5 wood has a loft between 20 and 22 degrees. The higher the golf club number, the higher the loft. In addition, the higher the golf club number, the shorter the club. A 3 wood is generally 1/2" shorter than a Driver and so on with each successive club. However, we build all our woods higher than a 5 wood the same length as the 5 wood. This is because the shorter the club, the smaller the arc of the swing. The smaller the arc of the swing, the less speed the golf club will have when it strikes the ball — ergo the less distance the ball will travel. We believe that a 5 wood is short enough and while the 7 and 9 woods provide more forgiveness, we also want longer distance in our shots. Arghh, the physics of golf!
Why aren't woods made of wood? They used to be, but since the 1980's woods have been made of metal. Metal has many advantages over wood — the most important to the beginning golfer being the ability to precisely mold metal to create a golf club that has perimeter weighting and low center of gravity (LCG). Both of these design technologies result in golf clubs that are much more forgiving than wooden woods. Perimeter weighting helps create a larger sweet spot — a larger area on the face of the club that will result in a good hit. Low center of gravity creates mass at the right place — increasing the height that the ball will launch off the club and reducing the likelihood of miss-hits into the ground.
What about 2 and 4 woods? These woods actually exist and were popular 20 or more years ago, but they have fallen out of favor as newer technologies have improved the performance of woods. Today, most golfers prefer 7 and 9 woods in their bag (which can only have fourteen clubs) than a 2 or 4 wood. In fact, there is now a trend to include higher numbered woods and eliminate the traditional low numbered irons in your set of golf clubs. That will be discussed in greater detail when we talk about irons. The 3 wood and 5 wood are commonly referred to as Fairway Woods, because they are most often used during the second shot of play, when you are supposed to be in the fairway of the golf hole (as opposed to in the woods!). All higher lofted woods (7, 9, 11, and so on) are commonly referred to as utility woods.

Irons

Irons are generally used when you are less than 200 yards away from the green. The closer you are to the green, the higher the iron you will use. A standard set of irons consists of 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9 irons and the Pitching Wedge (PW). The 3 and 4 irons are harder to hit than the higher number irons. Many golfers, especially ladies, seniors and higher handicap golfers, are changing to a modified standard golf set that replaces the 3 and 4 iron with higher lofted woods like the 7 and 9 woods. We think this is a sensible trend and one that a beginning golfer should consider. Higher lofted woods, like the 7 and 9 wood are easier to hit than a 3 or 4 iron and result in comparable distances.

Wedges

Wedges are really just specialty irons. The first wedge is the Pitching Wedge (PW), which is usually about 48 degrees in loft. Wedges generally increase in 4 degree loft amounts. So wedges commonly come in 48, 52, 56, 60 and 64 degree lofts. We manufacture a very special wedge called the Last Wedge — which has a 68 degree loft. The PW is the highest lofted iron in a standard set and lowest loft of the wedges. Following the PW with higher lofts are the Approach Wedge (AW), Sand Wedge (SW), the Lob Wedge (LW), the High-Lob Wedge and, finally, our Pinemeadow Last Wedge at 68 degrees.
Wedges are extremely useful to your game and most golfers have a few of them. Wedges are generally designed as "blade clubs" because you are close enough to the green that the game improvement design elements (discussed below) are less important. The need for increased shot control and shot shaping, which blade design encourages, becomes the more important technology for a good wedge design.

Putters

A putter is a golf club with a special purpose: getting the ball into the hole. After you have slammed your drive 250 yards right into the middle of the fairway, hit your second shot 175 yards into the sand trap, and then wedged out onto the green, it is time to "putt for dough." The putter is used on the green and there are many style of putters: short, belly, long, bent, center-hosel, heel-toe, mallet, and so on. At Pinemeadow Golf, we provide you a huge selection of putters and we have a good reason for it, which we explain next.

The Psychology of What You Carry in Your Golf Bag

After decades of experience in the golf club manufacturing business, building millions of clubs for huge numbers of happy customers, we have noticed one thing. Most golfers have as their minimum arsenal one set of irons, multiple wedges, several drivers and a variety of putters. This is because your foursome all gets together at the tee where you use your driver. The pressure is high to perform well. Hopefully you end up in the fairway, spread out all over the golf course. As you work your way through the hole using your fairway woods and irons — eventually, you all come back together again on the green.
So, where do you need the most weapons at your disposal? It is where the stakes are highest and the pressure to perform reaches its zenith. That is at the tee and the green — they don't say "drive for show, putt for dough" casually. And that is why most golfers we know have multiple drivers and putters and one set of irons.

Κυριακή 15 Νοεμβρίου 2009

GOLF - Τεχνική Ορολογία

ΓΚΟΛΦ - Τεχνική Ορολογία



Αce : όταν μπαίνει η μπάλα στην τρύπα μόνο με ένα χτύπημα (hole-in-one) από το tee (εκκίνηση). αυτό μπορεί να επιτευχθεί μόνο στις τρύπες των 3 χτυπημάτων.
Αddress    : στάση παίκτη όταν είναι έτοιμος να χτυπήσει την μπάλα.
Αmateur   : ερασιτέχνης
Approach : χτύπημα γύρω από την περιοχή του green.
Apron       : περιοχή ακριβώς γύρω από το green.
Air shot    : όταν το μπαστούνι δεν βρίσκει την μπάλα κατά το χτύπημα.
Away        : μπάλα που είναι πλασαρισμένη πιο μακριά από την τρύπα και που πρόκειται να παιχτεί πρώτη.
Back door : όταν η μπάλα μπαίνει από την πίσω μεριά της τρύπας.
Backspin  : η μπάλα γυρνάει πίσω αμέσως μετά το χτύπημα.
Ball out     : να μπει η μπάλα στην τρύπα με ένα χτύπημα (putt) για να διορθωθεί το προηγούμενο κακό σκορ.
Ball            : κατά τις νομικές προδιαγραφές της ένωσης γκολφ των ηπα, μία μπάλα του γκολφ δεν πρέπει να έχει διάμετρο μικρότερη από 1,68 ίντσες, βάρος όχι περισσότερο από 1,62 ουγκιές και ταχύτητα όχι μεγαλύτερη από 255 πόδια το δευτερόλεπτο σε θερμοκρασία 75 βαθμών.
Banana ball  : το λεγόμενο slice. χτύπημα με το οποίο η μπάλα ξεκινάει από αριστερά και καταλήγει δεξιά.
Best ball     : όρος που χρησιμοποιείται σε παιχνίδι όπου μετρούν και οι 4 μπάλες (βλέπε four-ball).
Birdie         : ένα χτύπημα κάτω από το par που είναι το ιδεώδες σύνολο χτυπημάτων για κάθε τρύπα.
Blast           : χτύπημα μέσα από το bunker.
Blind hole   : η περιοχή του green που δεν φαίνεται καθώς οι παίκτες παίζουν μια τρύπα.
Bogey         : ένα χτύπημα πάνω από το par.
Brassie       : παλαιό όνομα για το (μπαστούνι) ξύλο νούμερο 2.
Bunker        : παγίδα με άμμο.
Bye              : όρος που χρησιμοποιείται σε αγώνες putt.
Caddie         : άτομο που κουβαλάει το σάκο ενός παίκτη και έχει δικαίωμα να του δίνει συμβουλές.
Chip shot     : κοντινό και χαμηλό χτύπημα.
Cut shot       : κοφτό χτύπημα της μπάλας.
Divot            : λέγεται το τμήμα του γκαζόν, το οποίο βγαίνει κατά τη διάρκεια του χτυπήματος.
Dogleg         : ονομάζεται μια τρύπα της οποίας ο διάδρομος δεν είναι σε ευθεία γραμμή, αλλά έχει γωνίες, μία ή περισσότερες.
Dormie          : όταν ένας παίκτης κερδίζει τόσες τρύπες, όσες υπολείπονται για το τέλος του παιχνιδιού.
Down            : αριθμός τρυπών ενός παίκτη ή ομάδας παικτών που χάνει ή χάνουν, μέχρι το τέλος του παιχνιδιού.
Duck hook    : χτύπημα όπου η πορεία της μπάλας ξεκινάει από δεξιά και καταλήγει αριστερά.
Duffer           : αρχάριος
Eagle             : δύο χτυπήματα κάτω από το par.
Explosion      : το δυνατό χτύπημα στο οποίο ο παίκτης βγάζει την μπάλα από το bunker.
Fairways        : οι δεκαοχτώ διάδρομοι του γηπέδου που οδηγούν από την εκκίνηση στις τρύπες.
Flush              : χτύπημα της μπάλας με ακρίβεια.
Fore               : κραυγή παίκτη προς άλλους παίκτες που είναι μέσα στην τροχιά της μπάλας.
Four ball        : αγώνας όπου παίζουν ομαδικά δύο παίκτες και διαλέγουν το καλύτερο σκορ από τα δύο, σε κάθε τρύπα (αλλιώς best ball).
Foursome      : ομάδα παικτών που αποτελείται από τέσσερα άτομα.
Frog hair       : κοντό κουρεμένο γρασίδι γύρω από την περιοχή του green.
Grain             : η κατεύθυνση του γρασιδιού πάνω στο green.
Grass cutter  : χαμηλό χτύπημα της μπάλας, που περνάει ξυστά από το γρασίδι.
Grass score   : σκορ ενός παίκτη μετά από ένα γύρο, προτού αφαιρεθεί το handicap του.
Handicap       : ο αριθμός των χτυπημάτων που παίζει ο παίκτης πάνω από το στάνταρ του γηπέδου. καθορίζει το επίπεδο του παίκτη.
Hazard           : χαντάκι, ρυάκι, λίμνη, λάκκος με άμμο, γενικά εμπόδιο.
Hole high       : μπάλα στο green, στο ίδιο επίπεδο με την τρύπα.
Hole out         : το τελείωμα μιας τρύπας με το τελικό putt.
Honor             : το δικαίωμα του παίκτη να χτυπήσει πρώτος σε μια τρύπα. καθορίζεται από το σκορ της προηγούμενης τρύπας.
Lie                  : πώς κάθεται η μπάλα πάνω στο γρασίδι. επίσης η γωνία μεταξύ της κεφαλής του club και της βέργας.
Links              : γήπεδο γκολφ κοντά στη θάλασσα.
Lip                  : το χείλος της τρύπας που βρίσκεται πάνω στο green.
Match play     : αγώνας μεταξύ δύο παικτών ή ομάδων, στον οποίο μετριούνται τα χτυπήματα της κάθε τρύπας χωριστά. ο αγώνας τελειώνει όταν ο παίκτης ή ομάδα έχει κερδίσει περισσότερες τρύπες από όσες απομένουν.
Mulligan        : χτύπημα δεύτερης μπάλας από έναν παίκτη στην εκκίνηση, αφού το πρώτο του χτύπημα δεν ήταν καλό. δεν επιτρέπεται σε αγώνες.
Net                   : σκορ παίκτη, αφού αφαιρεθεί το handicap του.
Out of bounds  : εκτός γηπέδου.
Par                    : ο προκαθορισμένος αριθμός χτυπημάτων για κάθε τρύπα.
Pitch shot         : χτύπημα μικρής απόστασης με το οποίο η μπάλα φεύγει ψηλά και όταν προσγειωθεί πάνω στο green έχει κράτημα (δεν τρέχει).
Preferred lies   : βελτίωση θέσης μπάλας. επιτρέπεται μόνο μέσα στους διαδρόμους με απόφαση της αθλητικής επιτροπής του γηπέδου. (winter rules)
Press                 : 1) να βάλει ένας παίκτης τα δυνατά του να πετύχει ένα πάρα πολύ καλό χτύπημα. 2) είδος στοιχήματος.
Punch shot         : χαμηλό, δυνατό χτύπημα κόντρα στον αέρα.
Rainmaker        : πολύ ψηλό χτύπημα που διανύει μικρή απόσταση.
Rim the cup       : όταν η μπάλα κάνει ολόκληρο κύκλο γύρω από την τρύπα χωρίς να μπει μέσα.
Rough                 : περιοχή γύρω από τους διαδρόμους του γηπέδου με ψηλά αγριόχορτα.
Rub of the green: όταν η μπάλα που είναι ήδη πάνω στο green μετακινηθεί ή σταματήσει από εξωτερικό παράγοντα.
Scratch player    : παίκτης με μηδέν handicap (πολύ καλός παίκτης).
Shank                  : όταν η μπάλα με το χτύπημα φεύγει τελείως λοξά.
Scotch foursome : όταν δύο παίκτες παίζουν την ίδια μπάλα (είδος αγώνα).
Sky                      : ψηλό χτύπημα που διανύει μικρή απόσταση.
Snake                  : μακρύ putt με πολλά ανεβοκατεβάσματα.
Stroke play         : αγώνας στον οποίο τα χτυπήματα σε κάθε τρύπα μετριούνται και αθροίζονται στο τέλος του παιχνιδιού.
Texas wedge      : χτύπημα με το putt έξω από την περιοχή του green.
Tee                     : σημείο εκκίνησης της τρύπας.
Toe                     : το άκρο της κεφαλής του μπαστουνιού.
Top                     : όταν η μπάλα χτυπιέται στο πάνω μέρος της (αποτυχημένο χτύπημα).
Waggle               : μικρές κινήσεις του μπαστουνιού κατά την εκκίνηση πριν το χτύπημα.
Whiff                   : όταν ο παίκτης αστοχεί να χτυπήσει την μπάλα.
Winter rules       : κανόνας που ισχύει κατά τη χειμερινή περίοδο.







Αμμόλακκος : Χαρακτηρίζεται σαν τεχνητό εμπόδιο, μια κοιλότητα καλυμμένη με άμμο που βρίσκεται στα φέργουεϊ και γύρω από τα γκριν.
Ανάποδο στροβίλισμα  : Το ανάποδο στροβίλισμα της μπάλας, που επιτυγχάνεται με κοντό, με μεγάλο λοφτ κλαμπ.
Ανώμαλες περιοχές  : Περιοχές με ψηλό χορτάρι, γύρω από τα φέργουεϊ και τα γκριν.
Απομάκρυνση  : Η έναρξη της κίνησης του σουίνγκ.
Αριστερόστροφες (σλάις)  : Όταν η μπάλα διαγράψει στον αέρα καμπύλη από αριστερά προς τα δεξιά (για δεξιόχειρες).
Βάρντον, λαβή  : Τρόπος κρατήματος του κλαμπ, που προτείνεται από τα εγχειρίδια και έχει πάρει το όνομα από τον πρώτο που τη χρησιμοποίησε.
Γκριν  : Η περιοχή με το καλά φροντισμένο χορτάρι όπου βρίσκεται η τρύπα.
Γκρος-σκορ  : Ο συνολικός αριθμός των βολών που έγιναν στις 18 τρύπες.
Γραμμή του στόχου  : Η νοητή ευθεία γραμμή από την μπάλα προς τον στόχο.
Γωνία κλίσης  : Η γωνία της σπονδυλικής στήλης και του άνω κορμού, όταν βρίσκεσαι σε θέση σκόπευσης.
Δείκτες  : Κάθε αντικείμενο που χρησιμοποιείται για να μαρκάρει την ακριβή θέση της μπάλας στην περιοχή της τρύπας, όταν χρειαστεί να τη σηκώσεις.
Δείκτης εκκίνησης  : Υποστήριγμα της μπάλας που χρησιμοποιείται στην αφετηρία.
Δεξιόστροφες (χουκ)  : Όταν η μπάλα διαγράψει στον αέρα καμπύλη από δεξιά προς τα αριστερά (για δεξιόχειρες).
Επίπεδο τόξου του σουίνγκ  : Η γωνία του τόξου από και προς την μπάλα.
Ευθυγράμμιση (προσώπου του κλαμπ)  : Η κατεύθυνση προς την οποία κοιτάζει το πρόσωπο του κλαμπ, από τη θέση σκόπευσης ή κατά την πρόσκρουση.
Ευθυγράμμιση (σώματος)  : Η κάθετος νοητή γραμμή στις γραμμές που διαπερνούν τις μύτες των ποδιών, τα ισχία και τους ώμους, όταν ο παίκτης βρίσκεται στη θέση σκόπευσης.
Θέση  : Η στάση που υιοθετεί ο παίκτης όταν βρίσκεται στη θέση σκόπευσης.
Θέση ανοιχτής γωνίας  : Η ευθυγράμμιση του σώματος αριστερά από τον στόχο (για δεξιόχειρες).
Θέση κλειστής γωνίας  : Η ευθυγράμμιση του σώματος δεξιά από τον στόχο (για δεξιόχειρες).
Θέση σκόπευσης (άντρες)  : Η στάση του παίκτη όταν «σημαδεύει την μπάλα».
Ιγκλ  : Η βαθμολογία όταν κάνεις 2 βολές λιγότερες από το παρ.
Κάβιτι μπακ  : Ονομασία σιδερένιου κλαμπ (ιδανικού για αρχάριους).
Κεφαλή του κλαμπ  : Το κάτω άκρο του κλαμπ.
Λοφτ  : Η γωνία της επίπεδης επιφάνειας πρόσκρουσης του προσώπου του κλαμπ.
Μάρκερ  : Αυτός που καταγράφει τη βαθμολογία του παίκτη στους αγώνες.
Μετά την πρόσκρουση  : Η κίνηση του σουίνγκ από την πρόσκρουση στην μπάλα και μετά.
Μεταβατικός στόχος  : Οποιοδήποτε σημείο στην ευθεία του στόχου, που βρίσκεται περίπου 1 μ. μπροστά από την μπάλα και μπορεί να διευκολύνει στην ευθυγράμμιση του προσώπου του κλαμπ.
Μπάιτ  : Όταν η μπάλα σταματάει αμέσως μόλις προσγειωθεί στο γκριν.
Μπέρντι  : Η βαθμολογία, όταν κάνεις 1 βολή λιγότερη από το παρ.
Μπλειντ  : Όρος που χρησιμοποιείται για να περιγράψει το παραδοσιακό σχέδιο του σιδερένιου κλαμπ.
Μπότζεϊ  : Η βαθμολογία όταν κάνεις 1 βολή παραπάνω από το παρ.
Ντιμπλ  : Λακκουβίτσες πάνω στην επιφάνεια της μπάλας του γκολφ, που ενισχύουν την αεροδυναμική της.
Ντράιβερ  : Το μακρύτερο και με το λιγότερο λοφτ κλαμπ, που χρησιμοποιείται από την αφετηρία για μακρινές βολές.
Ξύλινα  : Κατηγορία κλαμπ που χρησιμοποιείται σε μεγάλο εύρος βολών. Η κεφαλή τους μπορεί να είναι κατασκευασμένη είτε από ξύλο είτε από μέταλλο.
Ολοκλήρωση  : Η ολοκλήρωση της κίνησης του σουίνγκ.
Ολοκλήρωση της τρύπας  : Όταν η μπάλα καταλήξει στην τρύπα.
Ορθή γωνία  : Όταν το πρόσωπο του κλαμπ ή το ανθρώπινο σώμα σχηματίζει ορθή γωνία με τη γραμμή του στόχου.
Όρια  : Τα περιφερειακά όρια ενός γηπέδου γκολφ.
Πάτερ  : Το κλαμπ που χρησιμοποιείται για την ολοκλήρωση της τρύπας.
Πέλμα  : Η βάση του κλαμπ, που ακουμπάει στο έδαφος.
Περιοχή εκκίνησης  : Η αφετηρία για κάθε τρύπα.
Προσανατολισμός στόχου  : Αυτοσυγκέντρωση με τη σκέψη στον στόχο.
Πρόσωπο του κλαμπ  : Η επίπεδη επιφάνεια της κεφαλής του κλαμπ• έχει σχεδιαστεί για να χτυπάει την μπάλα.
Πτήση  : Όρος που χαρακτηρίζει τη μεταφορά της μπάλας στον αέρα.
Ραβδώσεις  : Οι ραβδώσεις που βρίσκονται στην επιφάνεια πρόσκρουσης ενός ξύλινου ή ενός σιδερένιου κλαμπ.
Σαντ γουέτζ  : Το κλαμπ με μεγάλο λοφτ που χρησιμοποιείται στους αμμόλακκους.
Σημείο κέντρου βάρους  : Το σημείο του προσώπου του κλαμπ όπου επιτυγχάνεται τέλεια επαφή με την μπάλα.
Σκαφτές  : Όταν το κλαμπ χτυπήσει το έδαφος πριν από την μπάλα.
Σκρατς  : Ο παίκτης που παίζει με μηδενικό χάντικαπ, δηλ. με το παρ του γηπέδου.
Σόλιντ  : Τύπος μπάλας, η οποία αποτελείται από ένα ή δυο μέρη και έχει μεγάλο εσωτερικό πυρήνα και λεπτό εξωτερικό περίβλημα. Είναι επίσης όρος που αποδίδεται σε μια τέλεια επαφή με την μπάλα.
Στάνταρ σκρατς σκορ  : Όταν η βαθμολογία βασίζεται στο βαθμό δυσκολίας του γηπέδου.
Στάση  : Η στάση που υιοθετεί ο παίκτης πάνω από την μπάλα.
Στέιμπλφορντ  : Σύστημα βαθμολογίας.
Στέλεχος  : Η ράβδος που συνδέει τη λαβή με την κεφαλή του κλαμπ.
Στροβίλισμα  : Ο τρόπος που περιστρέφεται η μπάλα γύρω από τον εαυτό της.
Στροκ-ίντεξ  : Πίνακας που δηλώνει το βαθμό δυσκολίας κάθε τρύπας.
Τροχιά μπάλας  : Η τροχιά που διαγράφει η μπάλα στον αέρα.
Τροχιά τόξου του σουίνγκ  : Η τροχιά που διαγράφει το πρόσωπο του κλαμπ, στο σουίνγκ.
Φέργουεϊ  : Η περιοχή ανάμεσα στην εκκίνηση και το γκριν όπου το χορτάρι είναι κουρεμένο.
Φορ  : Προειδοποιητική κραυγή όταν εκτελείται μια άστοχη βολή.
Φριντζ  : η Άπρον Η περιφέρεια του γκριν.
Φτέρνα  : Το πίσω μέρος του προσώπου του κλαμπ.
Χάντικαπ  : Βαθμολογικό σύστημα εξομοίωσης των παικτών. Βασίζεται στο μέσο όρο του γκρος-σκορ του παίκτη και του παρ του γηπέδου.
Χρόνος  : Η ταχύτητα του σουίνγκ.