Golf King Trivia – The Golf Equipment

There are other types of golf equipment other than the club and the ball. Each of them is equally important to aid the players as well as maximize game play. In this article, you’ll learn more about golf equipment and its role in the sport.

 

Golf ball- History

The golf ball is considered the most common golf equipment. It has come a long way before it became what it is today. Accounts from 1550 stated that wood was used as material to make golf balls. In 1618, the feathery golf ball was introduced. It was handcrafted by stuffing goose feathers into a tightly packed cowhide sphere. The guttie ball came into picture come 1848. It was made of a rubber-like sap heated and molded into a ball. It wasn’t only cheaper; it could also be repaired through reheating. The only downside is the feathery ball provided greater distance than the guttie ball. In the year 1898, the one-piece rubber core ball was created. It was in the year 1905 that the dimples were used as ball design and to improve the ball’s flight.  It is still the material used until today, only with various types.

4 basic types

There are 4 basic types of golf ball, depending on what is best to play with. The more pieces a ball has, the better it is. Not to mention more expensive. Below are more details about each type of golf ball.

1. 1 piece ball- This is recommended for beginners. It is made of one solid piece of Surlyn with dimples molded into it. When hit by a club, the ball has a softer feel to it. It is quite durable and affordable.
2. 2-piece ball- This is mainly used by everyday golfers. It’s made of hard plastic and covered in Surlyn. It solid core is made of combined rubber and filler which gives the ball good weight and great distance. The 2-piece ball is the most popular of all golf balls. While it gets you a long way, it doesn’t really provide a good spin on the grass.
3. 3-piece ball- This ball has a softer core made of urethane. Under the core is a layer of Surlyn and rubber core which makes it a softer ball than the 2-piece. The 3-piece ball is either made of a solid rubber or liquid core covered by yards of elastic windings. It gives the ball a very good spin and better control.
4. 4-piece ball- The 2 piece core of this ball is surrounded by a thin layer of mantle and urethane. It’s like a more recent form of the 3-piece ball. It gives a ‘drop and stop’ effect to the ball because of the urethane cover.

Measurement

The minimum measurement permitted is 42.67mm diameter and a weight not exceeding 45.93g.

Golf club

History

Another golf equipment most common is the golf club. It was in the early 1500’s that golf clubs were used by King James IV. It was a standard set of longnoses for driving, fairway clubs for nearer range, spoons for shorter ranges as well as a putter and niblick. Come 1618, the popularity of handcrafting clubs using wood grew. Hardwood like hazel, apple and pear were the most favored materials. It was in the 1800’s that the iron shafts were used. Hybrids of wooden shaft and steel heads were eventually created as well. To this day, both wood and iron are still used for club making.

Types of clubs

Pro golfers know which club to use at a certain distance. Wooden ones are used for tee-shots (first swing) while iron is used in just about any shot. Putters are mainly used to get the ball rolling into the cup. They are used for short distances.

The maximum number of allowed golf clubs is 14. The standard set comprises of about 4 wooden clubs, 9 iron ones and a putter.

Parts of a golf club

This golf equipment is mainly divided into three parts: the grip, shaft and the head. The grip is the top most part of the club. This is where you place your hands when you play. There are three basic golf grips: the overlapping grip, interlocking grip and the baseball grip. The overlapping grip places the club in the fingers. The player takes his little finger on the trailing and positions it between the index and middle finger on the lead hand. The interlocking grip locks the hands together. The player takes the little finger of the trailing hand and entwines it with the index finger of the lead hand. The baseball grip drives the player to clamp the club in the most basic way.

The shaft connects the head and the grip. It is mostly made of steel and graphite. The head of the club is the bottom part that hits the golf ball. The length, weight and form of the head depend on how it should be used. That’s why it’s important to be well-educated about the right head to use.

Tee

The tee is another golf equipment vital to the sport. It is basically the nail-like tool where the ball rests. It is used for the first stroke only to give the players the best possible tee-off. The golf tee is usually made of plastic or wood, the former being a better choice. The height of the tee varies with the length of the club. Wooden clubs are compatible with longer tees (3-3.5 inches) while iron clubs are better with shorter tees (1.5-2.5 inches).

Ball marker

A ball marker is used to mark the position of the ball before it’s moved, cleaned or picked up. The most common ball marker used is a coin. But there are other forms of it, like a giant drawing pin made of plastic or metal. Players need to be careful when using this golf equipment. Even professionals get penalties out of marking balls wrongly.

Golf bag

A golf bag contains the golf clubs and other golf equipment used. This is what players carry around during play. It’s commonly made of leather or nylon and is cylindrical in shape. A golf bag has a shoulder strap and a hand strap. At times, it even has retractable legs to let it stand on its own.

It’s important to know each kind of golf equipment since each is vital to the sport. If you’re interested on making golf as your sport, it’s best to learn more about these equipments so you have an edge.