MY GOLF BLUEPRINT

Golf club types and what they do

Golf clubs standing in a red golf bag under a blue sky. — Photo: Kindel Media / Pexels

A driver, fairway wood, hybrid, iron, wedge and putter solve different distance and lie problems. The number stamped on a club does not guarantee a particular carry distance.

Work through it

Identify each club in a borrowed or starter set before swinging.
Use a higher-lofted iron or wedge for short, controlled practice shots.
Reserve the driver for a tee while learning
use the putter to roll the ball on the green.
Measure your own carry after contact becomes reasonably repeatable.

A practical example

A hybrid and a long iron can cover similar yardage while producing different launch and landing behavior. Carrying both only makes sense if their jobs are distinct.

Practice task

Hit five comfortable shots with a wedge and five with a middle iron in a safe range bay. Note landing points rather than the longest roll. Enter the measurements in My Golf Bag.

Common mistakes

Do not choose a club only because a friend hits it a certain distance. Modern iron lofts differ between sets, and range balls may not fly like your playing ball.

Choose a comfortable movement and change one variable at a time. Stop if a movement causes pain; a qualified coach can adapt the task to your mobility and experience.