Entries Tagged as 'Golf Clubs'

Where to Buy Golf Clubs Online

When buying golf equipment online many people think of eBay (particularly for used clubs) and the ‘major’ online golf stores as the main places to buy golf clubs. However, there are many more options available to buy golf clubs online. 

AUCTION SITES WHERE YOU MAY BUY GOLF CLUBS

Yes, there’s eBay, and it really can’t be beaten for online auctions. eBay is unmatched for choice and volume. However, it’s possible to get stung on eBay if you’re not careful (see the tips section below). Here are some other auction sites you might want to try:

o Online Auction (US) – I found about 200 golf items available for auction here. Mainly golf balls, gloves and other bits and pieces…..not much in the way of golf clubs. May be worth a look as a place to buy golf clubs.

o Golfbidder (UK/Europe) – mainly sell secondhand golf clubs, sourced from golf club professionals from around the UK (a small % are sourced directly from the public). While most golf clubs are sold as ‘Instant Buys’, some are auctioned. There are usually 30-odd items being auctioned at any one time and you may be able to pick-up a good deal

o Grays Online (Australia) – sellers on this site are mainly manufacturers, distributors or retailers trying to move excess or slow moving stock……not consumer to consumer auctions. Not necessarily a bad thing as this reduces some of the risk, but it also reduces the range. While there were only about 40 golf items for auction when I last looked, there were some good deals. Worth a look

I would generally avoid buying new golf equipment through online auctions. While you can take some precautions, it’s difficult to know whether you’re getting the genuine item or just a knock-off. Large, recognized eBay sellers are probably an exception.

MAJOR ONLINE STORES

There are quite a few well established online golf stores that stock a huge range of equipment and have a lot invested in their brand. Some are better than others, but you shouldn’t get any surprises and you should expect quality service, prompt delivery, a refund policy and plenty of information for buyers (eg buying guides). Some of the better ones include:

o Golfsmith
o The Golf Warehouse
o Callaway Golf
o Rockbottom Golf
o Golf Outlets USA
o Golf Discount
o Austad’s Golf
o Golf Galaxy
o Snainton Golf
o Online Golf

ONLINE GOLF FORUMS

Some great online golf communities have formed over the past few years and you can now choose from literally dozens of online golf forums to be part of. Some of the larger ones have an area for buying, selling and trading golf equipment.

Because golf forums are small communities of people with a shared interest, it’s a pretty supportive and safe environment in which to buy and sell equipment. If you’re not sure whether the seller of the golf clubs is genuine, you can simply ask other forum members.

There’s a lot of combined knowledge in these forums, so the bad apples get found out quickly.

I reckon these are the best and they have a very active buy/sell/trade area:

o Golf WRX – approx. 79,000 members (primarily US)
o Golf Magic – approx. 77,000 members (primarily UK/Europe)
o iseekgolf – approx. 75,000 members (primarily Australia)

USED GOLF EQUIPMENT STORES

Stores that sell used equipment are a very good alternative to eBay, classifieds and other online auction sites. The larger used online stores will often have: (1) a used club inspection and certification process, (2) no questions asked returns policy, (3) 12 month warrantee; and (4) shipping damage guarantee.

While many of the big online golf stores sell used golf equipment as well as new, there are a few online stores that sell only used:

USED ONLY

o Callaway Pre-Owned – sell other brands too, eg Nike, Titleist, Ping, TaylorMade. Offer 12 month warranty, money back guarantee and 90-day buy-back
o TaylorMade Pre-Owned -14 day money back guarantee and 12 month warrantee
o Golfbidder (UK) -7 day ‘no quibble’ returns policy, 12 month warrantee and some good buyer’s guides to help you choose the right clubs

USED & NEW

o Golfsmith – 30 day returns policy. No warrantee – they defer to the manufacturer’s warrantee (which has probably expired!)
o Edwin Watts Golf – 30 day returns policy. No warrantee – they defer to the manufacturer’s warrantee
o Direct Golf (UK) – used clubs sourced from trade-ins at Direct Golf stores. 14 day money back guarantee. No warrantee

AMAZON: A GREAT PLACE TO BUY GOLF CLUBS

The Amazon marketplace is big……..very big. And there’s a good range of new and used golf clubs and other gear here.

Amazon’s marketplace is a bit like eBay in that sellers (big and small) register with Amazon to sell their new or used golf equipment. The difference is that the items aren’t auctioned, they’re sold at the advertised price. It’s also a bit less risky with Amazon’s purchase guarantee – they’ll refund your money if you don’t receive the item you paid for, or if it’s not what you expected.

Amazon also offers a free subscription to Golf Digest or Golf World if you spend more the US$25 (US only).

Check out Amazon Golf.

EQUIPMENT MANUFACTURER SITES

There’s really only one top club manufacturer selling online, and that’s Callaway. The others, such as Titleist, Ping, Nike, etc obviously have websites to market their gear, but generally sell golf clubs through retail stores.

A few manufacturers (listed below), while not selling equipment online, provide information and tools that would be helpful to online buyers:

o Titleist – Titleist provides really comprehensive description of their products (incl. Vokey wedges and Scotty Cameron putters), as well as a catalogue of their previous models. There’s also some information on spotting fake Titleist gear
o Ping – the Ping site has an online club fitting tool that would be useful if planning to buy Ping equipment online elsewhere. Ping also has some information about spotting fake gear
o Odyssey – here you can find a pretty good online tool to find the right putter. You can buy Odyssey putters from the Callaway website
o Callaway – can buy golf clubs and other golf equipment direct from Callaway at their online shop

ONLINE CLASSIFIEDS

Online classified sites are another option, mostly for used golf clubs. The local classified paper has moved online, so it’s very likely that you’ll find a classifieds website for your local area. While you may not find the biggest range of golf clubs, if the seller is close by you can drive over to check the golf clubs out.

Craigslist hosts classified ads that service the entire globe, so you should also have a look here. It’s the 8th most popular website in the US, with around 50 million unique visitors per month and plenty of opportunities to buy golf clubs!

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The Longest Hitting Driver in Golf

What is the longest hitting driver in golf? All the major golf manufacturers claim they make the longest hitting driver. The Internet is filled with all sorts of ads about finding the driver with the most distance off the tee. Even your local paper golfing magazine has features about special products that guarantee you can drive like a champion. So, what’s the great secret to finding the longest hitting driver?

The answer may already be in your bag or as close as your golf professional or online Internet golfing store. But, before dashing off to purchase that magical driver, lets look at what really makes drives go long and straight.

A longer club shaft – Conventional wisdom suggests that a driver with a loner shaft will hit a golf ball farther than a shorter shafted golf driver. The pun is intended. The bad news is that not everyone can hit a long shaft driver and the results can often be disappointing. Tests have shown that if a golf ball is mis-hit by as little as ½ inch, driving distance can be reduced by as much as 20 yards. The more you miss the sweet spot, the shorter the drives. And we’re talking about distance, not accuracy. Unless you are a low handicap golfer, by itself, a longer shaft could, in fact, hurt your distance off the tee.

Lighter club – It certainly helps, but it depends where the weight is removed. The theory is that the lighter the club, the faster the swing. The faster you swing your driver, the farther the golf ball flies down the fairway. Since the shaft has the most weight, that is the best place to remove club weight in order to speed up the swing. Here is where shaft flexibility enters the picture. If the driver’s shaft is too stiff, a lighter shaft weight may cause your shot to be short and a bit to the right. If you want to lighten the shaft, make sure shaft flexibility is part of your calculations.

More loft – Conventional wisdom also weighs in on loft. Simply put, the slower your swing speed, the higher the required trajectory necessary to keep the ball in the air. Check this out by comparing the distance with a three wood, versus the driver. If they are about the same, a common occurrence, consider a driver with a little more loft with the CG (center of gravity) slightly back from the club face.

Club head Design – This is where modern technology and strong club head design can really help the average golfer and is the place where technology has really helped long hitting drivers. Most of the above techniques work great if the ball is struck directly on the sweet spot. Unfortunately, only PGA golfers do that almost every time. Perimeter weighted clubs like the Callaway Big Bertha and drivers from Ping (who pioneered the technology), King Cobra and TaylorMade have become extremely popular driving companions for golfers, worldwide.

The Grip – The grip is one of the most overlooked aspects when choosing a driver, but one of the most important. This is the connection for you to the club and if everything isn’t comfortable and natural, your swing, and the resulting distance off the tee, hasn’t a chance.
The size of the grip is totally dependent on the size of your hands. The bigger the hands, the thicker the grip. If the grip is uncomfortable or irritates your hands, change it quickly. This is where totally comfortable is really good.

Believe it or not, grip weight is also a distance factor. A light grip increases the relative weight of the club head. This is good for players with good strong swings. A heavier grip decreases the relative weight of the club head and makes it feel lighter. This helps the golfer with a slower swing.

There are many answers to the question of what is the longest hitting driver in golf. Almost as many as there are golfers. Modern technology can help you find the best driver for your game. It also wouldn’t hurt to work on your swing so you can take advantage of the advanced weight and flexibility features on the big name clubs. Match your driver to your skills and play within yourself. That old sports saw really fits finding the longest hitting golf driver.

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Golf Gifts For The Golfing Fanatic

Golf Gifts

Golf gifts are significant gifts for men or women because of the popularity of golf in the United States. Do you have a golf enthusiast on your gift list but not quite sure what to look for? Let me put your mind at ease, there are plenty of different and unique gift ideas to choose from relating to golf, everything from desk accessories to ceramic mugs to handbooks, and in various price ranges to fit your budget. Many online retailers will even gift-wrap the item for a small fee and ship directly to the recipient, but remember to fill out the correct name and address.

Golf Gifts

Monogrammed golf apparel and gear adds that personal touch. Travel bags and covers can be especially handy for the golfer who vacations often, as well as accessory organizers and cleaning kits. A friend of mine loves to tell the story of the time his Dad, who always insisted on having his golf paraphernalia monogrammed arrived at a busy airport on a Friday evening. Fellow travelers were hunting like crazy for their travel bags when they came through the baggage claim area all looking the same. Since his was the only one that had initials on it, he nonchalantly picked his luggage up and walked away, leaving everyone scurrying around in a cloud of frustrated chaos.

In summary, golf gifts are ideal gifts for avid golfers. You can select from golf gift basket, gift bag, personalized putter set, personalized golf towels, ball marker, and shoe bag. The golfer in your life will appreciate your thoughtfulness for the Golf Gifts while they are out playing their games.

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Golf Club Putters – Six Factors to Consider When Selecting a Putter

Golf Club Putter

These six factors must be taken into consideration so that you make an informed choice of Golf Club Putter type and to make sure that it feels as it should be.

1. The lie angle. It is an angle between the shaft and the ground. This factor determines if the putter head is sitting perfectly flat on the ground when you are putting. Get one that lets the head of the club rest squarely on the ground when you take your stance.

2. The length of the putter. The standard length for a putter is 35 inches. The right length for you depends on how you stand when you address the ball. A longer putter is better if you like to stand upright. A shorter putter is better if you prefer to bend over and be closer to the ground.

3. The total weight of the putter. Get one that does not feel too heavy. In general, use a lighter putter if you play on fast greens. A heavier putter may give you better results if you play on slow greens.

4. The size and shape of the head. A perimeter-weighted putter is the best. This type of putter has a recess in the middle of the head, with most of the weight distributed on the heel and toe. This will provide you with more solid putts on off-center hits.

5. The head material. This factor is often overlooked when choosing a good putter. Typically the cheaper putters will have heads made of PCS plastic, Aluminum or Zinc. Because the head material is light, you will be required to hit the ball harder to get it to go the same distance as you would if your club-head was made from a more expensive material. Generally, these putters cannot be adjusted for lie, loft angle or other variables.

Golf Club Putter

On the other hand, the more expensive putters often use stainless steel, brass, titanium, wood or a mixture of these. You can find special displays of these putters with different lie angles and lengths already built in. These putters will feel more solid when you strike the ball, look much better at address and perform more consistently over time.

6. The grip type and size. Putters come with standard-size grips installed. This is not ideal for everyone. The larger your hands, the larger the width of the grip should be and, conversely, you should have a smaller diameter grip if your hands are small.

These six factors must be taken into consideration so that you make an informed choice of Golf Club Putter type.

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r7 Driver TaylorMade Clone Golf Clubs

TaylorMade Clone Golf Clubs Guide

This is your guide to find TaylorMade clone golf clubs, specifically r7 drivers, to suit your game, save you money, and utilize technology used by professional golfers Sergio Garcia, Retief Goosen and Darren Clarke, among many other touring professionals.

In recent times, TaylorMade Golf has introduced its r7 line of drivers: r7 Quad 460 Driver, r7 Quad 460 TP Driver and r7 Quad 425 Driver. This is no surprise as all golf manufacturers must keep inventing new driver styles and technology advancements to stay competitive. Below you will find great choices of TaylorMade r7 clone drivers.

The TaylorMade r7 Quad 460 Driver offers the highest moment of inertia of any TaylorMade driver. This results in tremendous forgiveness and long, straight results on off-center hits. The Inverted Cone Technology in this driver dramatically expands the portion of the clubface that delivers high Coefficient of Restitution (COR) producing higher ball velocity and greater distances in drives. This driver comes with adjustable weights to alter the launch and face angle at impact to customize trajectory and maximize distance.

TaylorMade Clone Golf Clubs Guide

The following driver golf clones offer you great alternatives to the TaylorMade r7 Quad 460 Driver at a fraction of the price:
Tour Model T-8 460 Titanium Driver — The newly engineered beta titanium face of the T8 driver possesses the spring effect to help launch your ball to distances most golfers aren’t used to. The direction and the trajectory are determined by how the golfer places the 3 adjustable and interchangeable weights located throughout the head. Power Play System Q 455cc Driver — The increased volume and broader shape makes this one of the most stable drivers in golf. Thin Beta Titanium face produces exceptional distance with control. Turner T5 Titanium Driver — The SP 700 Beta Titanium face offers the latest technology in variable face thickness to maximize drives. This driver has technology that allows players to optimize the driver with a weight configuration that is best for each player’s game.

TaylorMade Clone Golf Clubs Guide

The TaylorMade r7 Quad 460 TP Driver incorporates all the benefits of the r7 Quad 460 Driver with the added benefit of two additional weights. These 6-gram and 10-gram weights can be used for added control and shot manipulation. This driver is the current choice of professional golfer Sergio Garcia.

Two other great choices to harness this technology and can save you money are:
Power Play System Q Tri-Port Driver — This driver is a massive 460cc adjustable weight driver to help shape your shot in order for you to find more fairways to help lower your score. Each head is equipped with three interchangeable weights (two 3.5g and one 12g). Turbo Power Ti7 460cc Ti Driver — Features a shallower, wider clubface to generate a higher trajectory and longer carry for extra distance. It also incorporates the moveable weighting system of Launch Control Technology. A 3-weight port system concentrates mass at the rear and to the sides, ideal for improving head stability and optimizing launch angle.

The TaylorMade r7 Quad 425 Driver offers exceptionally high moment of inertia and forgiveness for consistently long, straight results. You can set this driver up to have six sets of launch conditions by utilizing 28 grams of movable weight using the four TLC ports. Inverted Cone Technology provides a larger area of the clubface to deliver higher ball velocity and greater distance, even on mis-hits. Professional golfer Retief Goosen used this driver to win the 2007 Commercial Bank Qatar Masters.

Other great TaylorMade r7 Quad 425 Driver clones include the following:
Turbo Power T9 Titanium Driver — Pushes driver technology to the outer limits. The T9 Titanium Driver also includes two 4 gram titanium weights and one each of the 6 and 8 gram tungsten weights and one tool that is used to insert and remove the weights. There are numerous ways to configure your driver to optimize the trajectory and direction of each drive. Dynacraft Genesis Titanium Driver — Allows for complete customization for both swingweight and directional control. Each driver includes an installed 10g tungsten steel in the heel, 6.5g stainless steel in the center and a 3.5g stainless steel in the toe. These screws are completely interchangeable to achieve desired swing weight and to fine tune for draw or fade bias.

These are a few of the many TaylorMade clone golf clubs on the market today.

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Ping Hybrid Golf Clubs

Ping Hybrid Golf Clubs

There are two product lines in the Ping Hybrid Golf Clubs lineup. These are called the Rapture hybrids and the G5 hybrids. The Rapture is the newer of the lines, and as you will surmise from the discussion below, Ping club designers were working to obtain a center of gravity (CG) that is lower and farther back in the club face to make the ball easier to get up into the air.

Ping Hybrid Golf Clubs: Rapture Hybrid Golf Clubs

Three different materials are welded together to make the Rapture club head. The body of the head is made of 17-4 stainless steel. A tungsten nickel sole plate is welded onto the bottom of the club head adding weight to the sole and lowering the CG while also forcing the CG farther back from the club face. This is a design goal for every make of hybrid club and helps provide a higher launch angle. The face plate is made from what is called 475 super steel, and this is said to produce a “hot responsive hitting area”. The appearance of the Ping hybrids is pleasing with a sloped crown. This feature also helps to produce a CG that is low and back in the club face. The club head itself is fairly large and forgiving of off-center hits. The Rapture line offers 3 clubs, 2-4H. There is a good selection of standard graphite shafts, and of course steel shafts are also available. All 3 Rapture clubs are available for lefties. The MSRP for the Rapture is $225 with graphite and $195 with steel shafts. This club does not have a ladies version, but the G5 line, to be discussed next, does.

Ping Hybrid Golf Clubs: G5 Hybrid Gold Clubs

The G5 hybrids were the precursors of the Rapture line, and they look similar, since both sport the pleasing sloped crown look. The main difference in the two clubs is that the Rapture has the tungsten nickel sole plate and the G5 does not. Another difference is price. The MSRP for the G5 is $175 in graphite and $150 with steel shafts. The face plate of the G5 hybrid is machined from 455 stainless steel, which is used in most of the hybrids in the industry at this point. The club head is compact and a bit smaller than the Rapture. There are four versions of the G5, 2-5H. Once again there are a number of graphite standard shaft choices, and steel shafts can also be used. All the clubs are available in left-handed versions. For the ladies a 5H and 6H are available.

As is the case with most of the name brand club makers, Ping is recognizing the trend and the need for custom club fitting. There are so many hybrid golf clubs to choose from that one should invest $50-$150 or so in a custom club fitting session, preferably with a certified professional club maker who has all the needed equipment to provide a top notch fitting experience. After all, if you are going to purchase a new set of clubs, you can easily spend $1,500 or more, and you might as well have clubs that fit and will allow you to get the most out of your game. Once you have a proper club fitting and know the technical characteristics of the clubs that would be best for your particular swing, you can make an informed choice about whether to choose Ping hybrid golf clubs or some other brand. To get started with this and get a feel for what a proper club fitting entails, you can fill out the web fitting form on the Ping web site. I also strongly recommend that anyone planning to buy new clubs should read the excellent book by Tom Wishon, “The Search for the Perfect Golf Club” to get some idea about Ping Hybrid Golf Clubs.

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Funny Uses For a Golf Club

Funny Uses For a Golf Club

This article seeks to make fun of the humble Golf club as some players have taken to using the Golf club as a weapon of death and destruction. It should not be taken seriously and is intended to offer uses for frustrated golf players.

With golf catching on in high schools, inner cities, and the family based mini putt, all over the United States the time has come to appreciate the game of Golf.

At the same time, many players (and maybe the wives of players) struggle with the skill and understanding, needed to master this game. It can become a passion that is testing to the impatient. Lets look at other, lesser-known uses for the Golf clubs:

The Home Security Device

The muscles used for swinging a golf club could be used to act as defense against home invasion, however keeping mind, that you may do more damage to your own belongings and yourself, rather than the intruder. Not recommended for those with fitted ceiling fans.

Funny Uses For a Golf Club: Children’s toys

Imaging if you have children that have become board with the high tech video games. These are the same games that create a little moving, couch-based life. Give them a Golf club each and many over ripe oranges and you have a source of free entertainment. On the side of caution, this idea would most likely be applied by a father, and could result in mess to clean up afterwards and possibly a screaming wife. Also should only be done outside.

Cat Teaching

If you have even owned a cat, you will know that at times, they like to please the owner be showing how they are a great hunter. This results in the loud meow and the discovery of a dead bird or mouse. In most cases, this would need the owner to handle the almost dead creature. Never again, now take that, Golf club and send the dying creature to its next life- by airmail!

Need the exercise- but can’t afford Gym fees?

A golf club would also make an inexpensive weed wacker for your lawn and the process of removing weeds with your golf club can also act as your exercise for the day. It all rolls together into one nice little package if you really let your mind go. At the same time a firm Grip would be needed on the club.

House Maintenance

You can use it to remove that nasty hornet’s nest from under your roof although you may want to wear long sleeves for that. It can also be handy at removing icicles from your roof as well but this requires some caution if moving above the ground.

There are many users for that high priced set of clubs sitting in the back of the garage. Put Golf Club to use before your wife or partner decides they were a bad idea, and sells them to make room for other storage items.

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