Choosing the Right Equipment – Ladies Special
When choosing their equipment, women golfers have largely the same considerations to think about as men. Just as for men, we would advise starting with a club pack as your first set, with a combination of driver, fairway woods, hybrids to replace the long irons, irons from 5-SW and a putter. Most new golfers find that they rely on their 7-iron and pitching wedge at first, slowly gaining familiarity with the other clubs. Equally the same as for men, we would recommend cheaper cavity back, cast head on your clubs, as the more refined forged blades are really for the better player. And we’d recommend a set of two or three wedges, to play all the chip shots, and probably a mallet putter as these are easiest to align, and weighted to help you achieve a square, balanced stroke.
Women’s shafts are crucial to help you play your best
However, for the women’s game, there are special options to consider. The shaft is the axle of the club, so the better the shaft, the better the club. As your game improves, it is very much worth considering investing in decent ladies’ clubs, with ladies’ flex.
Ladies’ flex
Flex has a major effect on the feel of the club, and also makes a difference to the distance you will achieve. Most women struggle to really power down on the ball – when hitting a driver, they tend to achieve a swing speed of less than 60mph. This would give a carry distance of under 180 yards. If you use a driver with a ladies’ flex, then you will be maximising the carry of the ball, whereas if you tried to hit a driver with a stiff shaft, designed for swing speeds of over 80mph, you would probably find it difficult to achieve the momentum you desire.
Ladies’ loft
Loft angle has a major effect on distance off the tee, and generally the slower your swing speed, the higher loft you should choose, to really get the ball airborne so it can travel further. You should be looking at lofts of 13-15 degrees in a driver.
Graphite shafts
To help achieve a faster swing speed, women are also more likely to do well with graphite shafts in their woods, as these are more flexible and lighter than steel. You may also consider them for your irons, as you will probably find them easier to swing.
Get the length right
In terms of length, it is worth getting measured to make sure your clubs are right for your height. If they are too long, you will find your whole set-up is out of kilter and you are probably making lots of mis-hits. Do it yourself by taking a wrist-to-floor measurement from the crease of your left hand (for right-handed players) down to your feet and then making a simple calculation. For example, if you are between 5’4″ and 5’7″ in height, but your wrist-to-floor measurement is between 33 and 34″, then you will need shafts which are a quarter to half an inch shorter than standard. If however your wrist to floor measurement is 36 to 37 inches, you will need clubs half an inch longer.
Callaway and Ping both supply excellent ranges of clubs for women, with their Big Bertha ladies ranges (Callaway) and G5L (Ping). Wilson also has a substantial women’s range, with their L6 series of irons, hybrids, woods and more.
Choose the right golf balls
For women as much as men balls can make a big difference to your game, the more complex multi-layer constructions will provide more feel and control, whilst the simple two-layer offerings will give you the distance you need before you start to think about finesse. But for women, balls such as the Srixon Soft Feel for Ladies (pic) are designed to give a higher launch trajectory for greater overall distance, performing best in tandem with women’s slower swing speeds. They should also provide excellent feel around the greens.
Choosing the right golf shoes
There two different types are recommended for both men and women – a heavier-duty winter pair and a lighter summer one which allows the feet to breathe. For women, of course, style is all important, so why not consider something like FootJoy AquaLites which offer women golfers ultra-lightweight comfort with added stability. This performance waterproof golf shoe comes in a choice of styles, at affordable prices. Meanwhile, Hi-Tec has now brought out several shoes incorporating their excellent CDT (custom directional tracking) technology for women, for unbeatable stability.
Choosing the right golf bag
For women just as for men, golf bags have enjoyed a high-tech makeover in recent years with everything from lightweight parachute materials and graphite-friendly tops to ‘club management systems’ and mobile phone pockets revolutionizing the market. 2007 will see the bag scientists pushing the boundaries further, with ergonomic handles, adjustable dividers, elaborate trolley-fixing mechanisms, ingenious shoulder harnesses and more.
But for all that, your main options when choosing a bag are a sturdy cart bag (some are specifically designed for buggies, so be sure to check), a stand bag suitable for trolley or carrying; or the new generation of lightweight ‘pencil’ carry models for a quick nine holes. And when it comes to women’s bags, the idea is to make them as light-weight and easy to handle as possible, as well as colour-coordinated to go with the rest of your equipment. Sun Mountain, Wilson and Yonex all have excellent women’s bag ranges available.
Finally of course when it comes to clothing you want to look your best, and these days there are golf clothes that perform, keeping you cool in hot weather and dry in wet, without making you look like you’ve been stranded in the 70s! All leading manufacturers provide women’s options, from simple golf tops through to waterproofs, and there are even gloves, such as the Wilson Staff Grip Soft, which are designed for the shape of women’s hands.