| Maybe you didn't realize it but there are many | | | | higher. |
| different designs for irons these days. Each type is | | | | Hosel Offset |
| made for a different kind of golfer. Some clubs are | | | | The feature were the clubface is slightly behind the |
| for advanced players that need maximum feel and | | | | hosel (where the shaft enters the clubhead) is called |
| responsiveness from their clubs. Thankfully, others | | | | offset. The advantage of offset is that the face of |
| are made for golfers that need a little help and | | | | the club will strike the ball a fraction of a second later |
| forgiveness from their clubs...and make it easier to | | | | than a non-offset face. The face will therefore be a |
| find the sweet spot and get the ball up in the air | | | | bit less open to the target line causing less slice spin |
| easier. Which type is right for you? | | | | being applied to the ball. If a golfer has a tendency to |
| First you have to ask yourself some questions. And | | | | leave the the face open then shots should fly |
| be honest now. | | | | straighter with an offset hosel. |
| Do you hit the ball with the center of the clubface | | | | Thick Topline |
| consistently? | | | | The advantage of a thick topline is not only added |
| Do you tend to hit the ball fat? | | | | perimeter weight and more MOI but also more |
| Do most of your shots go left to right (slice)...when | | | | confidence. Clubs with thick topline just look easier to |
| you don't want them to? | | | | hit. That effect may be mostly mental but who cares |
| Do you play less than once a month? | | | | as long as it works. |
| Do you have trouble getting the ball up in the | | | | Low-back Center of Gravity |
| air...even when you hit it solid? | | | | The lower the center of gravity the easier it is to |
| If you answered yes to any of these questions you | | | | strike the ball below the center. This always helps get |
| are a good candidate for game improvement clubs. | | | | the ball up in the air and will also impart more |
| So what makes a golf club "game improvement"? | | | | backspin to the ball. The more back spin the less the |
| A game improvement club offers features that help | | | | influence of side spin. The result is...the shot should fly |
| golfers with many of these problems. These features | | | | higher and straighter. |
| include perimeter weighting, wide sole width, hosel | | | | So what if you feel you don't need these features? |
| offset, thick toplines and a low-back center of | | | | If you are a player who has no problem hitting the |
| gravity. How do these features help? Lets take a | | | | center of the clubface and gets the ball up in the air |
| closer look at each of these features. | | | | easily then these features might not be right for you. |
| Perimeter Weighting | | | | So called "players clubs" are made by most every |
| All golf iron clubheads weigh about the same and | | | | manufacturer and feature less of the the design |
| have for many years. The 5 iron head of a Callaway, | | | | characteristics above. But we all should realize that |
| a TaylorMade, a PIng or even a clone iron all weighs | | | | even the pros are moving to cavity back irons with |
| about 255 grams (give or take 5 grams). How that | | | | game improvement design features. The handwriting |
| weight is distributed is the key to making any iron | | | | is on the wall. |
| head more forgiving. If the weight is distributed more | | | | So how do you find game improvement clubs? |
| towards the "perimeter" of the club...the toe, sole, | | | | Any good golf store will display clubs by various |
| heel, and topline...the club will have a higher Moment | | | | manufacturers. Typically each manufacturer will have |
| of Inertia (MOI) and will have less of a tendency to | | | | a selection of clubs ranging from "players clubs" to |
| twist on mishits. In other words, when the ball is hit | | | | "super game improvement". The Callaway Big Bertha |
| on the toe, the clubhead won't twist as much. That | | | | irons, the Ping G5s, the Taylor Made CGB irons and |
| and the added mass will mean the ball will still fly just | | | | the Nike Slingshot OSS clubs all fall in the category of |
| about as long and as straight as if was hit on the | | | | game improvement. But there are really many great |
| center of the face. | | | | forgiving clubs to choose from. |
| To create this weighting, club head designers move | | | | Golf Digest has a great yearly evaluation of clubs and |
| weight from the middle of the clubhead. This creates | | | | the 2006 Editors Picks divide irons nicely into Players, |
| a "cavity" behind the face, thus the term cavity back | | | | Game Improvement, and Super Game Improvement. |
| iron. The details of where the weight is moved is | | | | Go to their website at and click on the left on |
| were the "science" of iron head design comes in. | | | | Equipment: Hot List to learn more. |
| Suffice it to say that the center of gravity (CG) and | | | | It's a great time to be a golfer. 40 years ago the big |
| the MOI are both affected by the details. | | | | manufacturers only made clubs for the best players. |
| Wide Sole Width | | | | Today, you can find clubs for any level of golfer. |
| A wide sole does two things. It adds more weight to | | | | That means that golf can be more fun. And more of |
| the bottom of the club lowering the CG. And it | | | | those great shots we love are within reach. Give |
| makes the club less likely to dig in to the turf causing | | | | Game Improvement clubs a try and you'll see for |
| fat shots and lowering the clubhead speed through | | | | yourself. |
| the ball. Wide sole clubs tend to make the ball fly | | | | |