Selecting Equipment for Women can often be a confusing task and so we have made it simple by getting you a view from one of India’s top coaches Romit Bose. Get to know how to begin and if you are already in the swing of things, get a chance to look at the next few steps in befriending your equipment.
[Q] Just starting out, how should women approach the game of golf? [/Q]
[A] The sport of golf involves finesse instead of brute strength; it’s social; it’s played in some of the finest and attractive settings on earth; its coed; the fashion is great; and cocktails and conversation await the end of every game. [/A]
[Q] How many clubs should women have in the golf bag? Is a full 14 club set imperative? [/Q]
[A] The rules of golf stipulate that 14 is the maximum number of clubs that can be carried, whereas, a standard set is made up of 13 clubs allowing room to add upto an extra club. A standard golf club set for women consists of three woods, seven irons, two wedges and a putter. The rules of golf don’t stipulate a minimum number and as such it’s purely the players decision to carry the number of clubs she wants. [/A]
[Q] What aspects should selecting the driver be based on? [/Q]
[A] In general, women typically have a swing speeds that range from 60 to 90 miles per hour. Driver loft should match your swing speed. The slower your swing speed the more loft you should have. Women with a slower swing speed of under 60 mph should consider a titanium clubface with more loft. At a typical woman’s swing speed of 60 mph, the optimum driver loft would be 13 to 19 degrees and could mean a distance increase of 16 yards over a standard off the rack 10.5 degree.
The correct shaft flex and length are just as important. If your swing speed is slower than 80 mph and you are playing with a men’s regular shaft, you’re probably losing distance and accuracy. Try getting a ladies flex for yourself. Another big factor is shaft length. Sure the longer the shaft the higher the clubhead speed. However it may lead to sacrificing accuracy over distance. Stick to standard ladies driver length. [/A]
[Q] Are hybrid clubs a good idea? [/Q]
[A] Experienced women golfers may be able to handle a 5-iron, but those with slower swing speeds are better off using a 6- or a 7-iron as their longest iron. In that case, a hybrid club can replace a long iron for distance. Nowadays, many women find that they prefer to exchange the lower irons with hybrids. You might swap the 3-, 4-, 5- and even 6-iron with a hybrid club, which is much easier to hit. [/A]
[Q] Is it a myth that Ladies must use lighter equipment for a better game? [/Q]
[A] The current trend on off the rack ladies golf clubs, those marked with an “L” on the golf shaft, have shafts that are very light…45 grams to 55 grams. These are intended for very slow swings that do not generate very high swing speed. In literal terms, these shafts are designed for a lady who swings at speeds below 70 mph with a driver. Shaft this light is easy to swing but harder to control for stronger lady golfers. Shafts too light typically result in lost distance and accuracy, but it all depends upon your individual swing. I’ve had students fitting into shaft weights from 45 to 125 grams, graphite and steel. It all depends upon the lady golfer’s build and how she loads the shaft during her swing. [/A]
[Q] Should Ladies use Ladies Clubs? [/Q]
[A] In an IDEAL world it should have been the case but I keep coming across stories of lady golfers not getting the correct “LADIES” equipment when looking for equipment specific to their games.
Today’s women golfers cover a very wide level of strength and ability and are stronger and more athletic. In fact nearly 90% of ladies who are fitted by me for golf equipment don’t fit into what is available on the retail racks. Unfortunately, the clubs, which are, marked “L” or termed as “LADIES” golf clubs either have shafts those are too light, too flexible or too short and hardly fit the average lady golfer. [/A]
