There’s a certain air about golf that very few other sports give off. Combining accuracy, spatial awareness, calculations, skill, and elegance; golf is a sport for the body, mind, and soul all at once. Despite its simple basics, playing the sport can be far from easy – especially if you fail to use the right equipment. However, there’s more to practicing golf than investing in thousand-dollar equipment; you can use a hand-me-down club and score so much better than the times you play with the same club your favorite player uses. 

To figure your game out, there are a few pointers you can take from a pro-golfer. Here’s what they have to tell you.

1. Swing Velocity and Shaft Length Matter

Many golfers believe that to get better, they need to invest in expensive state-of-art clubs. The truth is that it’s not really about how high-tech the club is, but rather how well and fast you can swing your club. Instead of wasting time and money trying to keep up with the latest trends, it’d do you so much better to get a club you can swing accurately. If you’re just getting started, it’s safer to start with a shaft of longer length. That way, you can maximize the chances of hitting the sweet spot and minimize penalties. 

2. Try Before You Buy

Don’t just take anyone’s word for it; be sure to try the equipment first before making the purchase. Take your time visiting different stores, or just seek a larger one where your options will be diverse. Once you’re there, ask for a couple of clubs to experiment with, making sure to try both a regular-flex and a stiff-flex shaft so you can figure out which one you can control better. Once you get the hang of it, you can up your game with club fitting to maximize the potential of your equipment. 

3. Choose Adequate Gear

There are a few must-have pieces of equipment for any golfer. If you’re just getting started, make sure to get well-equipped with the following items:

  • Clubs

Having your own club is a no-brainer, but how many clubs should you really start with? Honestly, you don’t need a full set of 14 clubs at all. Start with the one that gives you the most control according to your style and then work your way up from there. If you want to start with a set, then all you need are a driver, sand wedge, putter, and a couple of hybrids. 

  • Golf Bag

A golf bag is another obvious item, but that’s something you’ll choose according to the equipment you want to carry around. Depending on your golfing style and preferences, you’ll want to choose the best golf cart bag for cart riders to maintain an air of elegance at all times. You’ll need to consider a few factors when choosing a bag, such as the weight, divider system, storage capacity, pockets, putter well existence, padding, towel rings, and rain hood. 

  • Balls and Ball Markers

You won’t always have to get your own balls, but getting a few can be a good idea. What you do have to get through are ball markers, like circular pieces of metal of plastic, to accurately place your balls. 

  • Tees

You’ll definitely need tees as well to hold your ball so you can swing it properly. You can choose tees that are either made of plastic or wood. 

  • Divot Tools

You’ll quickly notice that playing golf can have a detrimental effect on the grass. To fix the damage done to the grass by the golf balls and tees, you’ll need divot tools (aka pitchforks and ball marker-repair tools) to level the grass at the depression areas. 

4. Dress Up Accordingly

Everyone knows that you have to show up in style for a game of golf, but what does a good golf-style entail? There are three items you’ll have to get, which are t-shirts, trousers, and shoes. Most golf courses require wearing collared t-shirts made of cotton, polyester, or microfiber. Jeans are usually not permitted, with cotton or polyester trousers and shorts being the common option. Perhaps the most important of all is to wear the right golf shoes. These shoes are usually spiked with plastic or rubber on the soles, which serve in stabilizing you and giving you better swing control. 

At the end of the day, you’re the best judge of your ability and skills. Give yourself some time to experiment with your equipment until you either grow your skills or realize that you need an equipment upgrade. After getting a good grasp of different materials and how they affect your usage of the equipment, you’ll be able to up your game and move onto the next level.