Critical Golf Equipment- Why You Need It at Duntroon Highlands

This Golf Equipment Makes a Difference  At Duntroon Highlands

By Head Golf Pro Tony Rubes

 

Grips – If you haven’t changed your grips in over two years and you play fairly regularly it is time to get new grips. Worn out grips cause tension from holding on too tight and tension is a swing killer. If your grips are frayed or very slick this is a sign that it’s time for something new. We have a wide range of grips in different price categories and the installation is always included.

 

Balls – There’s just something nice about the look of a new ball not to mention the performance. Playing balls that are several years old, have spent the winter in a cold environment, were pulled out of a pond or are scuffed and scarred doesn’t help your golf game. Finding the right ball for you will also help your game. Try some putts and short shots around the green to see which ball feels the best to you. Most balls will fly close to the same distance off the tee and from the fairway it is around and on the green that they will differ most. Once you find the right ball for you play that ball all the time. Don’t just use whatever you might find or be given by a friend or spouse. You deserve a quality ball! And, don’t think that because you are not a great golfer that you can’t benefit from a higher priced ball. They typically perform better on every shot.

 

Gloves – Are you using an old, crumpled, dried out glove with a nicely worn hole in the palm? If so you might as well not be wearing a glove at all. Like worn out grips, a glove that has no tackiness will cause you to grip your club too tightly and reduce your club head speed resulting in shorter shots. Find a new glove that fits correctly, quite tight as the leather will relax with use, and then buy two of them.

 

Alternate wearing them so that you are not pulling on a moist glove and over-stretching it. On wet or very humid days it is smart to change your glove mid-round to maintain a good grip. When your round is over pack your glove away carefully in its original case or a ziplock bag. This will increase the life of your glove and make it easier to put on the next time you play.

 

Outerwear – Even if you say you don’t play in the rain you are going to experience some inclement weather out on the golf course.  It may be a light mist, wind or cooler temperatures that blow in during your round.  Having a lightweight rain/wind shirt in your bag gives you the option of layering to give you the best feel for the conditions.

 

Gap Wedge – Many sets of clubs do not include a gap wedge.  These are clubs that have become a must to have in your bag.  The loft on your pitching wedge, depending on its age, is probably between 43 and 45 degrees.  Sand wedges have not changed their loft the way other irons have and remain 56 degrees.  This means that the gap between your Pitching Wedge and your Sand Wedge is over ten degrees and can result in a yardage gap of 20 to 30 yards. When you are playing shots from 120 yards and in you don’t want to have big gaps in your full swing yardages.

 

These are your scoring clubs and trying to hit partial shots with them causes inconsistency in contact and distance control.  A gap wedge does not have to be the same brand as your other irons and it can have a loft between 48 and 52 degrees depending on how far it carries compared with your Pitching Wedge and Sand Wedge.  You just want something to fill the gap.

 

Sand Wedge – As with the Gap Wedge some sets do not come with a Sand Wedge. This club is even more important than the Gap Wedge.  Some people think that Sand Wedges are only used to get out of greenside bunkers.  This is only one of the uses for this club.  The Sand Wedge should be used from the fairway for full shots, from closely mown area around the green and from the rough around the green. 

 

The Sand Wedge is designed differently from other wedges to make these shots easier and give you more spin to stop your shots quicker. If you have a Sand Wedge that is many years old, more than likely, the grooves are worn out and you are not getting the spin you need on your approach shots.  If this is the case then treat yourself to a new Sand Wedge. You can spend as little as $80 or as much as $280 on a new wedge but even the cheaper ones will perform better than your Trusty Rusty.

 

Golf Shoes – Do your shoes feel like a comfy pair of slippers.  They feel great but they are doing the job of a golf shoe.  Once your shoes get to this point they are not providing you with the proper support that you need when playing golf.  Even if you don’t swing your club 100 mph you still need the support that allows you to transfer your weight during the swing.  Old shoes have also lost their cushioning under foot and can cause tired feet and injury. 

 

You should also have two pair of shoes that you can alternate from one round to the next.  If one pair gets wet from rain or even sweat it is a good idea to let it dry out completely before wearing again.  A pair of cedar shoe trees helps with this job. You can have one pair of spikeless lightweight shoes and one pair of sturdier waterproof shoes with soft spikes.  If you have a pair of shoes with spikes that are worn down have them replaced.  It’s the next best thing to new shoes.

 

Headwear – Protection from the sun is very important for all of us and unless you are slathering you whole head and face multiple times a day you need some form of headwear. If you have a healthy head of hair then you can choose a visor to protect your face from the sun. I recommend a ball cap or wide brimmed sun hat or bucket hat for better protection. When wearing the ball cap remember to put sun screen on your ears as they are not protected like they are with the other two styles.