Building an entire golf setup on a $1,000 budget takes some planning, but the used-club market can make the numbers work surprisingly well. Driver, fairway wood, hybrid, irons, wedges and putter all have to fit within the same total, along with a bag and a few essentials. The key is deciding where to devote more…
Putting begins before the putter ever moves. The shape sitting behind the ball, the alignment cues your eyes pick up and the way the head sets on the green can all influence how comfortable you feel over a putt. That helps explain the appeal of mallet putters. Their broader shapes give designers room to explore…
There are few shots in golf that feel quite like a well-struck drive. The sound at impact, the ball climbing into the air and the chance to start a hole exactly the way you envisioned are a big part of what makes the driver such a fun club to hit. Finding the right driver is…
The space between your longest iron and fairway woods can be filled in several different ways. A 7-wood, hybrid and long or utility iron can all occupy roughly the same spot on the loft chart, yet they can produce very different shots. Head size, center of gravity, shaft length and construction all influence how high…
When you’re buying a new set of irons, there’s an important choice to make: go with the manufacturer’s standard configuration or have the clubs professionally fit to your swing. For some golfers, the stock setup may already provide the right combination of length, lie, shaft and feel. Others may benefit from adjusting one or more…
You can learn a lot about a golf ball before you ever hit a driver. Roll a few putts or hit a short chip and the difference often shows up immediately. One ball may feel muted and cushioned off the face. Another can produce a crisper sensation and more noticeable feedback. The question is whether…
Getting into golf for the first time can make it seem like you need a garage full of equipment before you ever hit a shot. In reality, a beginner can get started with a manageable set of clubs, a bag, some golf balls and a handful of basic accessories. The rest can come later, once…
A good range session can tell you a lot. You can see where the ball starts, how high it flies and roughly where it lands. But some of the most useful information disappears with the shot. How fast was the ball traveling? How far did it actually carry? Was that towering 7-iron the result of…
A slice can turn a promising tee shot into a search party in a hurry. And while swing path and clubface position usually deserve some of the blame, they aren’t the only things influencing where the ball goes. Your driver can also help straighten things out. The right head design, weight placement, loft and hosel…
Finding the right driver starts with finding a club that works with the way you swing. One of the best places to start is swing speed. It influences everything from loft and shaft flex to launch angle and spin. When those elements work together, golfers often hit the ball farther, straighter and more consistently. Today’s…
