Dan's Papers - June 22, 2007 - The Y-Factor with Christian McLean

Instead of spending last Saturday on the links, carving up fairway after fairway, shagging balls from behind cedar trees and praying for stiff gusts of wind to equalize my otherwise shoddy tee play, I spent hours on the Internet looking for a new set of clubs to blame my atrocious golf game on. Maybe I just have to accept that I am not a good golfer, but for one reason or another I refuse to do so, and, like 95 percent of the other golfers in the world, I blame my play on my clubs. Well that's not exactly true. I just know that if I had a better set of irons, I would play better. Or would I?

Trying to weed through the dense forest of irons and woods available is a true nightmare. I know people who buy the most expensive set of clubs they can find just to keep up with their friends, and others still who go on the Internet to buy clubs without ever taking a practice swing, let alone hitting a bucket of balls.

So there I was, sitting in front of my computer, looking for a new set of clubs, but the problem was, I found thousands of sets. There were "Player's Irons," "Compromise Irons," and "Game Improvement Irons." What did it all mean?

Game Improvement Irons (Callaway Big Bertha Fusion, Titelist 775.CB, Ping's G5) are great for the golfer looking for consistently accurate shots without having to work too hard. They have a great amount of give when it comes to errant shots, making the ball go straighter. It seems like a no-brainer. Buy the clubs that make you hit the ball straight and long, right? Maybe. Although there are some top notch Game Improvement Irons, and although these clubs will make it appear that you are a good golfer, it's similar predicament to relying on spell check on you computer. It's a great help, but it won't make you a better speller in the long run. The other downside to these irons is that working the ball (drawing and fading) is much more difficult because the club's shape is designed to correct such shots.

If I'm looking to improve my actual ability to play golf, and not just my scorecard, I will eventually need to learn how to draw and fade shots.

Compromise Irons (Ping i5) are the best of both worlds. These are cavity-back designed clubs, which offer a certain degree of forgiveness, but also offer some Players' Irons features including a degree of ball control.

And finally, the Players' Iron (Ping S58, TaylorMade R7TP Titleist Forged 695CB), which for the majority of golfers out there are useless. They're great for slicing the ball into the woods, but unless you are a golfer of a serious skill level, these probably aren't the clubs for you. These are the clubs that top golfers use, players who are looking to control the ball and not just knock it straight down the fairway.

So now you have a little background about the types of irons out there. After deciding what kind of golfer you are, whether it be one who is just looking to get the best shot with the littlest practice or one looking to improve their game, and not just their lie, your next step is to visit a local pro shop or golf store. Explain to the sales person your situation, your skill level, the amount of golf you play and your intentions regarding practicing and lessons. He or she will direct you to several different sets of clubs, but in the end the decision rests in your hands. The salesperson may also recommend being fitted for custom clubs. A custom club has a length and type of shaft particularly tailored to your game. If you're 6' 4" tall, the traditional set of sticks might not do it. Having clubs that are the proper length is important when it comes to all aspects of the game. Custom shafts can run around $200, but they may significantly improve your game.

If you've done all the legwork and still cannot decide on the clubs you would like to see in your bag, visit www.topswingleasing.com where you can lease clubs at a monthly rate. Lease several varieties and take them out on the course before you buy. After all, that's where you're going to be using them. Some people lease a new set of clubs each year and return them when they're finished for the season, only to lease a new set the following season.

The right clubs are a big decision, an undertaking that you should allocate at least an entire weekend for, if not a week. In the end, whatever path you decide to go down, make sure you've spent enough time and research on your clubs, otherwise you'll be spending even more time in the rough.