With the advancements of modern day technology if you are not smacking drives over 250 yards, you are losing ground. (pun!).   If you observe the modern day tours most of the older players are having a great results in the stats and victories. Kenny Perry who is in his mid to late 40's is actually a few yards longer than Tiger Woods on average. Modern technology on an older head is useful.  Vijay Singh has had up to now 19 victories in his 40's.  Advances in sweet spot technology, size, launch angle, composition, ball speed and aerodynamics are just some of the categories that the top manufactures now spend millions of dollars researching and developing. The result to us is the vast array of drivers on the market. The following is a description of everything you need to know about drivers, and the drivers that we think are the best under certain criteria: 

Steel

Steel headed drivers are slightly less expensive but heavier than the more modern titanium drivers. More traditional looking and metallic, they have a smaller head due to the increased weight of the steel, and the relative limitation in stregth of the metal means makers had to limit the size of the head.  

In simple terms manufacturers have upped their game because players are putting a lot more of these types of clubs; perhaps the advent of the hybrid has spurred on the growth in this department, as well as technology improving the ability to hit this type of club.

Types of Fairway Woods

Lower Woods

These woods, 2 to 4,  are mostly employed as tee-shot alternatives to your driver as well as a 2nd shot to a par 5.  They will have a smaller head and shorter shaft than your. Also used from fairways, the smaller head design makes them simpler to get off the ground. Added to the 2, 3 and 4 woods range, some manufacturers offer plus sizes ie 3+ meaning the less lofted club like a 2 wood but the same size as the three. A newer innovation recently is the ‘draw’ version of the club: giving you the option of little extra draw shape giving a bit more distance with a little run on the fairway. The ‘draw’ (a subtle right to left) shape is renowned for those characteristics.

Higher  Woods

These woods, 5 and lower, were generally designed to replace the longer irons for those that have difficulty, and offer a better alternative out of rough, replacing the 3 to 4 iron and perhaps even the 5 iron. The construction of these woods typically involves the weight of the head being positioned, a lower centre of gravity, thereby creating maximum forgiveness. This will help produce a higher ball flight that is more consistent than a long iron. The size of the head will increase as the loft increases.

Head Construction

Steel

Almost all fairway woods heads are constructed from steel as it is not required to be large, the metal can offer a more forgiving feel.

Titanium

The basic lightweight nature of titanium makes it a useful face and is being used increasingly being used by companies in their fairway clubs. Due to its lightness the thin face means that the weight and centre of gravity can be moved lower, wider and further back to produce higher hitting more  forgiving wood.

Composite

Made from a combination of carbon material and steel or titanium this allows manufacturers to reduce the weight of the head which aids perimeter weighting. Less expensive than titanium, they are a cost effective alternative.

For the average golfer the grip is a vital piece of equipment. There are many professionals who play with out them. Freddie Couples comes to mind. As a kid he could not afford a glove and learnt to play without but for day to day golfers it is important - helps you feel comfortable on the club and less slipping and will help reduce the chance of a blister if you want to practise a lot and your hands are not used to that type of use. Lose your grip and ypu lose control.

There are a range of gloves from a  price from $7 - $30. The following descriptions will give you an idea of materials and what is best for you:

Leather

The most common material has many benefits to golfers. The texture of the material is perfect for golf; it offers great feel to a player and it grips like a second skin. Leather is also very moisture resistant and will remain soft for a long time if cared for correctly. Err on the smaller size when buying as the will stretch over time.  If the glove gets wet make sure you pull it to shape and let it dry naturally. Let in the bottom of the bag they will dry incorrectly and lose shape and dont leave in direct sun as the leather will harden and be ruined.

All-Weather
 
The all-weather glove does it exactly what it says. Targeted at the golfer that will play in humid or wet conditions, it is more water resistant than any other material and can offer extended feel in moist conditions. The light synthetic material is breathable and grips better the wetter it gets.  Some makes come with a warmer cover inside for colder climates, it is undoubtedly the best option for golf in the rain or if your are sweaty in warm conditions.

Synthetic

Synthetic gloves are stretchy, the extremely lightweight material that suits a golf glove perfectly. Some gloves in the market do use 100% synthetic material;  these will be more durable than a leather glove. Its lightweight, breathable and stretchy microfibres but does not offer as much feel as leather, but there are some makes that have a combination of leather and synthetic, the leather part being on the palm of the hand.

Winter and Mitts
 
There are two types of gloves aimed towards winter golf. The winter playing glove is a thick, often knitted or thermal material that is worn on one or both hands to play shots. It allows a player to maintain heat in their hands, which is useful for golf in cold weather. A mitt type glove will slide over a glove while not hitting to keep your hands warm.

The gutter perch ball has come along way since its humble beginnings. Today the golf ball is embattled in a fight: ethical verus technological advancements. If you make a ball go a long way it may make the classic traditonal older golf courses obsolete, but selling the ‘longest ball’ is good for business. The key issue here is, though, that the ball may fly longer but it does not mean straighter. 300 yards off the tee box may now be more obtainable for quite a few players, but that maybe also 50 yards further into trouble and indeed out of bounds.

Golf ball technology has advanced enormously in modern times and now finding the right ball for your game could nearly be as advantageous as selecting the right clubs. A golf ball in today's marketplace is astonishing: the amount of money spent on research is incredible and the time and resources used to make ‘the little white ball’ is amazing. The new lingo  in today’s market is ‘multi-layered solid core balls’ .

Construction

The construction of a golf ball is vitally important to the way it will react to contact with a club. Manufacturers are constantly pushing the limits of golf ball construction. Below are the three most basic constructions.

One Piece


A one-piece golf ball is the most basic ball that is designed primarily for beginners and occasionally used as driving range balls, but seldom used as a playing ball. Made typically from a solid piece of Surlyn with dimples moulded in, it is an inexpensive and very hard-wearing golf ball, but does not give you the length when hit because of its lower compression, also has ofter feel on impact.

Two Piece

The two-piece is virtually indestructible and with its high roll distance, it is by far the most popular golf ball among ordinary golfers for its combined durability and distance. The balls are consrtucted with a single solid sphere, more often than not a hard plastic, inside in the ball's cover. The solid core is typically a high-energy  resin and is covered by a hard, cut-proof blended cover that gives the two-piece ball more distance than any other ball.

Three Piece

Three-piece golf balls have either a solid rubber or liquid core center, a layer of superior rubber or a liquid produced layer and over that is moulded cover of durable Surlyn, or balata. They are softer and create more spin, allowing a better golfer more control over the ball's flight.

Four Piece

A recent addition to ball construction is the four-piece golf ball. Not as common at the moment but could be the direction the ball is headed in the future. Each layer or piece of a golf ball has a specific and different purpose. All the layers come together to offer the longest hitting, softest feeling golf ball. The inner core, the first layer, of the ball is the solid rubber centre that is primarily designed to offer explosive distance. The next, inner cover, layer is in the ball to transfer the energy from the strike to the hot core. Next is the middle cover, which is the extra layer, compared to a three-piece ball. It offers the complete layer that tries to increase driver distance whilst also producing mid iron spin and feel around the green. The external cover is where the feel of a golf ball is delivered and contains between 300-500 dimples. The thinnest layer made from Urethane, it is soft yet  durable.

Spin

Low Spin Golf Balls

The lower spinning golf balls tend to decrease side spin of your shots, allowing the ball to fly straighter through the air. There are many low spin golf balls on the market suited for high handicap golfers that perhaps don't have the swing speed required to produce that 300 yard drive.Mid Spin Golf Balls
Trying to incorporate the best of both distance and feel. Aimed towards the widest range of players and suitable to most player's game, the mid spinning golf ball will offer solid distance with varied feel and softness depending on brand.

High Spin Golf Balls

This ball is designed to increase the balls spin in the air. If you are a player that hits the ball right to left with a draw, a high spinning golf ball could be the one for you.  The high spinning golf ball will not get the run on the fairway that either a mid or low spinning ball can, however its greatest advantage is around the greens. A high spinning ball will increase feel around and on the greens, which will help players improve control.

The feel of the ball

Firm Feel Golf Balls

Usually aimed towards distance golf balls, the hard cover will produce a more explosive hit than a softer feeling ball. Therefore choosing a firm feeling golf ball will produce the maximum distance from your driver and irons, but you will sacrifice a certain amount of feel around the greens. It is aimed towards high handicap golfers who place more importance on distance and iron play than spinning shots into greens.

Mid Feel Golf Balls

Similar to a mid spinning golf ball, the mid feel ball acts as a compromise between the explosive distance from a firm ball and the feel of a soft ball. Again suited to most players’ game, it is aimed towards mid handicap golfers that desire distance as well as improving their control by having a soft feel ball to use around the greens. Becoming a popular choice in today’s market as manufacturers are developing mid feel golf balls that contain dual qualities of feel and distance.

Soft Feel Golf Balls 

The soft feel cover means that a skilful player can add spin into their game and use the soft feel to help their game arround the greens. It doesn’t produce the distance of a firm feeling golf ball, but offers improved playability to those golfers that distance is not a weakness. The ball is not suitable for your typical amateur.