My husband wants to take up golf and is looking for a set of clubs. Which clubs–irons, woods and putters, and sizes–should he start off with?

When choosing ladies golf clubs, it’s important to consider the length, size and fit of the club. Choose the best clubs for yourself with advice from aprofessional golf instructor in this free video on golf clubs. Expert: Conan Elliott Contact: www.teacherofchampions.com Bio: Conan Elliott has been the director of instruction at Camas Meadows Golf Club since January 2004. Filmmaker: Lisa Fenderson

Techno Tips 2006 from Altitude Sports talks with Brad Ingermann from Dimension Z about the importance of custom fitting your golf equipment. Produced by Sam Allen Productions.

Let an AGCP member custom fit and build your custom putter for better results on the greens.

I have just started learning to play golf, and was recently given a golf bag and some old clubs. I was given 3 through 9 irons, a PW and a putter. What do I need other than a driver? Do I need a 3 wood or a SW? Also, how is the best way to go about getting old clubs that are good for beginners?

Golf clubs are manufactured to meet the demands of different genders, height and skill level – at one stage the same could be said regarding the aesthetics of golf equipment. Regardless of gender it’s important to remember that in the beginning it’s not necessary to purchase the most expensive range of golf clubs – what is important is selecting a set of golf clubs that match your skill level and purpose – for example clubs which are suitable for learners and/or infrequent players. The most practical advice is start playing with an inexpensive set of ladies golf clubs and advance to the next set of clubs when appropriate to do so.

The following sets of ladies golf clubs are suitable for players starting out in the game or until you can reach a decent handicap at your local golf course. After that goal is achieved it is worth considering the benefits of ladies golf clubs – valued in excess of a hundred pounds. At this stage of your career – it can be advisable to view any new golf equipment before purchasing; online retailers like The Sports HQ provide a factory direct outlet to sample new golf equipment before purchase.

The Chicago SGS set of ladies golf clubs includes a titanium fusion 3-wood with a hybrid rescue iron to replace the hard to hit long irons in addition to 7 cavity back titanium reinforced irons (5-6-7-8-9-PW-SW) and a heel-toe balanced putter. The 3-wood is fitted with a graphite shaft whilst all remaining clubs have ladies flex shafts in stainless steel. The entire set is pitched at the entry-level player and includes a 12-month guarantee for peace of mind. The Sports HQ currently offers the Chicago SGS ladies golf set for £49.99; the complete set features:

• Titanium fusion 3 wood with graphite shaft
• Hybrid Rescue Iron Wood 3/4 to replace the hard to hit 3 and 4 Irons
• 7 Cavity Back Titanium Reinforced Irons with steel shafts (5-6-7-8-9-PW-SW)
• All woods and irons feature oversized heads
• 3 Wood has graphite shaft – all other clubs have Steel Shafts – Ladies Flex.
• Bag has built in stand and is lightweight so can be carried or used on a trolley – rain-hood included
• Heel and Toe Balanced Putter

The Prosimmon Golf Model X ladies golf clubs set is brand new for 2008 and is recommended for any lady golfer looking to make significant improvements to their game. This Prosimmon ladies golf set is constructed from premium components including ladies flex graphite shafts on the 3-wood, hybrid rescue clubs and cavity back irons. The extremely deep cavity-backed irons allow for easier and more solid ball contact for improved flight and increased distance. All golf clubs are packaged in a deluxe Prosimmon trolley bag with a plethora of pockets for valuables and golfing accessories. Despite being a new set for 2008 the Prosimmon Golf Model X complete golf set is available from £89.99 and includes the following equipment:

• Woods: 460cc Titanium Matrix Driver & Oversized 3-Wood
• Hybrid Rescue Club: Replaces the difficult 3 /4 iron
• Deluxe head-covers supplied for woods and hybrid rescue club
• Cavity back irons: 5-6-7-8-9-PW-SW
• Prosimmon X Series Putter
• Deluxe Prosimmon trolley bag
• Woods, hybrid and irons all fitted with ladies flex graphite shafts

The GolfGirl FWS golf package offers a complete set of golf clubs designed specifically for women to provide stability, forgiveness and optimal distance. Combining oversized titanium woods (1-3-5) and a 21-degree hybrid rescue wood with 7 notch cavity irons (5-SW) – all fitted with low torque graphite lady flex shafts for dynamic launch performance for higher shots and all-weather grips as standard. The entire set is packaged in a deluxe trolley bag and styled in neon pink for the ultimate statement on the golf course. The GolfGirl series is available exclusively from The Sports HQ at £99.99 and features the following set-up:

• 1-3-5 Oversized Titanium Woods
• 21 degree hybrid rescue wood
• Woods & Irons have low torque Graphite Lady Flex Shafts
• Set of 7 notch-cavity, polished irons with oversized heads 5-6-7-8-9-PW-SW
• Heel and toe balanced putter
• All clubs fitted with all-weather grips, all woods supplied with free head-covers
• Golf Girl deluxe cart bag – detachable valuables pocket + matching zippered rain/travel hood
• Neon pink and black decals

These are three of the best starter sets available for lady golfers and come highly recommended. All three sets of ladies golf clubs are a great way to break the sport.

Bill Wright with Golf Outlets of USA provides you best information to choosing ladies golf clubs. He also provides you details on golf sets and golf equipment.

I am starting to play golf and am enjoying it very much. I’m thinking of buying some clubs, and I know some of the brands, but I need some help.
Which brand is the best, in you opinion?

Ok. Here are the basics. A golf club has three parts – the head, the shaft and the grip. A standard set of golf clubs consists of three woods (the Driver, #3, and #5 fairway woods), eight irons (#3, #4, #5, #6, #7, #8, #9, and PW), and a putter – that’s twelve clubs in all. According to the rules of golf, and we should all play by the rules, you can carry fourteen clubs in your bag, so many golfers add a specialty wood or another iron.

Now, let’s have a look at the different types of clubs.

Drivers & Fairway woods

These clubs are used to hit longer shots. That’s a basic yet apt way to look at it. If a golf hole is a par four or five from tee to green, most golfers would choose to use a wood.

The driver, or 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. Better golfers have traditionally favored drivers with less than 10 degrees of loft, which require a lot more skill to hit.

Most golfers also carry a #3 and #5 fairway wood as part of their arsenal. A #3 wood has a loft of 15 degrees, and a #5 wood has a loft of 18 degrees. The higher the golf club number, the higher the loft. The #3 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 on the fairway.

Hybrids

Hybrids are a recent innovation to golf. A hybrid is a combination of an iron and a wood and is an easier to hit alternative to a long iron. Hybrids are versatile enough to be used in any situation. Hybrids come in a range of four lofts – 16 (#2), 19 (#3), 22 (#4) and 25 (#5) Degrees. Hybrids replace their equivalent number long iron, e.g. a #3 hybrid will replace a #3 iron and a #2 hybrid can be used to replace a #5 fairway wood.

Irons

Irons are generally used for shorter distances and more control than drivers and fairway woods. 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 and #9 and the PITCHING WEDGE (PW). A sandwedge is generally a good option to purchase for shots out of sand traps. The #3 and #4 irons are harder to hit than the higher numbered irons. Many golfers choose to replace the #3 and #4 iron with higher lofted woods or hybrids which are easier to hit than traditional long irons, resulting in comparable distances.

Wedges

Wedges are really just specialty irons. The first wedge is the Pitching Wedge (PW), which is usually between 52 and 56 degrees in loft. The PW is the highest lofted iron in a standard set and lowest loft of the wedges. Lob wedges range from 58 to 64 degrees and are used for close range short and high shots to overcome obstacles close to the green. Wedges are extremely useful for your short game and it is beneficial to keep a selection of them in your bag.

Sand Wedges are another type of wedge and are designed to get you out of the dreaded sand traps. They have a shorter shaft and a more angled face to get under the ball in order to exit a bunker.

Putters

As the adage goes “Drive for show, Putt for dough”. The putter usually gets you in the hole, so it can be assumed, that choosing the right putter is critical to your game. Putters come in various styles and types.: short, belly, long, bent, center-hosel, heel-toe, mallet, and so on. When choosing a putter the main things to consider are the: weighting, balance and feel. Better putters provide alignment aids to help you visualize the line from your ball to the target.

I want to purchase my first set of golf clubs. I have not been golfing too many times but I am pretty athletic and a quick learner. I am not trying to be a pro but would like to have fun. I usually spend a little more than average on my sporting equipment because usually you can get better quality and if nothing else at least it makes you more confident. I want to spend around $1000.00 on clubs and I am wondering what else I should buy shoes, bag, glove, etc. I would also like to know the basics when it comes to club selection, offset, shaft length, stiffness, etc. Someone who could summerize for me would be great!!!