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you welcome in Gear Questions Afraid to Ask is a series by GOLF.com produced in partnership with Cleveland/Sricison Golf. This week we cover what you really need to know when it’s time to buy new gear and also, how to distinguish between language that matters and what doesn’t.
How can I sift through the marketing hype and know what really matters when it comes to new golf equipment? – Josh B, California
You are not after our work, are you? Knowing what’s important and what’s not is a big part of what we do here at GOLF.com. Our main goal is for our readers to make informed decisions when it comes time to buy, sell or even trade golf equipment. But since you’re asking, we’ll give you some pointers for considering it a legitimate fact (i.e. the stuff), as well as letting you know what we think you should probably take with a grain of salt (i.e. the fluff).
Let’s start with fluff:
“This product will instantly heal your chip and get you even.”
As much as we want that to be true, it’s highly unlikely that a driver, no matter how biased he is in the draw, will completely eliminate your chip and turn it into a draw. The slide is a by-product of the club face’s open angle relative to the club’s trajectory, and the only way to truly rid yourself of a banana ball is to work on your swing mechanics.
But a graphic biased driver can certainly help you better tune the face at impact and make it easier for you to correct the angle of the club face at impact and prevent the ball from curving to the right. But to break even, you have to fix your swing trajectory, not just the angle of the club deck at the moment of truth.
“With this hybrid, you can go up and down from anywhere.”
The hybrids certainly made it easier to get longer shots out of perilous lies. But from where? Yes, maybe not. If you find the ball lodged deep in some thick grass or thatch, you may need the power of the wedge digging to get the ball out, not the hybrid, which usually requires some space behind the ball to be an effective club selection. Although hybrids are designed to deliver strikes to the ball, they are not the right choice for every type of lie.
“It’s possible that a loose-fitting iron is just right for you.”
Whether this is something you tell yourself or something an arrogant salesperson said to get you to make a purchase, for many golfers it just isn’t true. Even worse, many golfers who assume an unfamiliar specification is right for them never bother going to a club fit anyway, so they’ll probably never know if they’re using the wrong clubs on their swing. Now we’re not saying you shouldn’t buy nightclubs – by all means, do so if you can get a good deal. Just be sure to take them with you to see the club attendant after you’ve done this to order to your specifications. On the rare chance an unfamiliar specification is close to a great fit, a good fitter will tell you some adjustments you can make to make it work better.
“This racquet will make you play like a pro.”
We’ll call this partially true. A new racket with stroke-matching characteristics would probably help (more on this below), but the reality is that racket placement comes down to how well you rate speed and break. No racquet can do this work for you, but a good racquet that makes you more confident in your stroke can certainly help.
“because [insert someone else] You use this ball, so you should.”
Just because your favorite player uses a certain golf ball doesn’t mean you have to do the same and play the exact same ball. The golf ball should match your ability, swing speed and desired shot shape – not someone else’s. The good news is that many golf balls are now available in groups or families of balls, which means that there may be a ball that is slightly different from your favorite player’s ball and is actually right for you.
Now to Things:
“This driver is very forgiving/designed for bullet making versatility.”
This statement is true. Most drivers can be categorized as either game-enhancing software/distance drivers or drivers designed to enhance bullet-making capabilities. A forgiving driver typically features a shallower front and weight placed farther back and lower in the clubhead, resulting in a higher launch. On the other hand, the player driver has a more neutral left/right weight distribution with the CG positioned forward. In addition, they often have a deeper face and a higher center of gravity, making the ball easier to handle. It’s not a complete comparison since both are still drivers, but there is definitely a difference between how the two driver classes perform.
“This iron has a smooth, buttery texture.”
Don’t feel like it can’t be faked, and when an iron manufacturer claims they have a “smooth” texture, they are probably being accurate. A softer feel in irons is usually achieved through construction methods such as forged carbon steel or the use of mixed materials in the club head to dampen vibrations and provide a softer feel. Regardless of the approach, when an iron is described as “smooth,” you can generally be confident that it lives up to that description.
“This wedge will help you in the cellar.”
When a wedge manufacturer asserts that a particular wedge will help you escape efficiently from bunkers, it is because the wedge is specifically designed for that purpose. Most of these pegs are built with extra bounce to prevent excessive digging, making it easier to lift the ball out of the sand. One example is Cleveland’s Smart Sole 4, which features a three-layer oversized wide sole, allowing for easy hitting the ball out of the sand and challenging lying in the rough terrain. In essence, if a wedge is designed for one purpose, like the Smart Sole 4’s anti-part design, you can trust that it will deliver on that promise.
“This racquet is designed to fit your stroke.”
This is what is required. As mentioned earlier, a new putter alone can’t solve your putting challenges, but having one that matches your stroke can definitely be helpful. For example, if you have a straight back and through stroke, you may prefer a face-balanced mallet putter. On the other hand, if you have a heavily bent stroke, a blade putter with a wide toe hold may help your stroke flow more smoothly.
“This ball might help you hit it more.”
The key word here is “power”. Not every golfer will experience the same distance benefits from using the same ball, as some balls are tuned specifically for players with specific swing speeds. However, if you are realistic and choose a ball that matches your swing speed, you can expect the distance to increase when switching from using the wrong type of ball to the correct one.
All of our market picks are independently selected and curated by our editorial team. If you purchase an associated product, GOLF.COM may earn a fee. Prices may vary.
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