This week on the Fully Equipped podcast, we opened up the phone lines for the very first Hotline segment, where listeners could call in and ask questions or comment on recent discussions from the podcast or golf in general.
One of the first questions for the hosts was a common one about the best way for regular golfers to better understand their equipment when they don’t have a lot of time to practice, and how they could use that knowledge to reduce big numbers and save shots during their next round.
Kris McCormick, True Spec Golf‘s VP of Tour and Education, kicked off the answers.
“One of the best things a golfer can do with their clubs is look at set composition (how the clubs are gapped for distance and shot) and understand what each clubs does and how it can help in certain situations on the course.” McCormick continued, “From a player perspective the next thing to focus on is using that information to help make better decisions on the course to eliminate big numbers and use the clubs that you are most confident in — for example, if you struggle with your 3-wood don’t use it in a situation that could quickly add penalty shots.”
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GOLF’s Ryan Barath added to McCormick’s point by emphasizing that golfers should eliminate hard-to-hit clubs from their sets altogether to help achieve scoring goals
“Stats show that the best way to shoot lower scores isn’t about making more birdies (especially for higher handicap golfers), it’s about eliminating big numbers from scorecards by making smarter decisions and reducing penalty shots,” Barath said.
“Another way to help hit better shots on the course is to utilize the tools already available to you by adjusting the hosel settings on your clubs to reduce dispersion,” added Barath. “All it takes is a quick Google search to find out exactly how your adjustable clubs can be tweaked, and once properly set they can make a world of difference”
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Last but not least GOLF’s Managing Editor for Equipment Jonathan Wall offered up one of the most overlooked options for golfers learning to set up their clubs, and that is to play with a half set.
“The reason I really like a half set for beginner golfers is that it forces you to be more creative on the course and be more decisive in club selection,” Wall said. “So many golfers believe that because you can carry up to 14 clubs, that they need to go right to the max, and it’s just not the best case for golfers learning to play. A half-set helps golfers learn to be confident with the clubs they have and as needed they can always add more.”