How To Know Which Golf Club To Use And When?

Every golfer sooner or later asks himself; how to know which golf club to use, which is the correct one? In the game of golf, it's one thing to be able to hit a golf ball well; it's another to play the game of golf well. If you want to be able to play a great round of golf, you must know what clubs to use and where to use them from. Take a look at our complete guide featuring what club to use and when to use it. 

Which Golf Club To Use For Different Shots

To decide which golf club to use for different shots, you must consider your abilities as a player, the lie of the ball, outside factors such as weather, and what your goals are on that hole. Let's take a look at how each of these things will impact your ability on the golf course. 

Know Your Distances

The most important thing that golfers can do for themselves is to learn how far they hit each of their golf clubs. In addition to learning the total distance, players should try and learn the carry distance. 

Sometimes a golfer will think that they hit their 7 iron 150 yards when in reality, they hit the ball about 145 yards and get about five yards of roll. This may not seem like a big deal, but it can be on the holes where you are trying to clear a hazard of some kind. 

Learn your distances and then be honest with yourself about them. It doesn't matter if your pitching wedge goes 80, 120, or 150 yards; the key is to know how far it goes. Just for the reference, here's the list of club yardages of the PGA Tour players: Trackman Tour average stats

Lie Of The Golf Ball

When you are deciding which golf club to hit, you must take a look at the lie. The lie of the golf ball has to be very clean in order to hit certain golf clubs. If your ball is in the deep rough, you will need a club with more loft or something like a hybrid that helps you get through the thicker grass. 

If your golf ball is below your feet, on a side slope, or simply in an old divot, you need to consider a more forgiving golf club. When the ball is in a perfect spot in the center of the fairway, choose a club based on yardage alone. 

Weather

It's important for golfers to know that on cold days the ball will not travel as far. In addition, on warm days you can expect some extra distance. The wind is also going to impact shots. If you are hitting the ball into a 10mph wind, you must add a club.  

The weather conditions on the golf course will impact your overall performance, and it makes sense to learn the way these things impact your game. 

Scoring Goals

To have a great round of golf, you must play strategically but not overthink it. With all of the technology and advice out there for golfers, it can sometimes be overwhelming trying to figure out which golf club to hit for different shots. 

Think about your scoring goals. Are you trying to make a birdie or just looking for a safe par? Don't always choose the club that gets you right to the pin; pick a club that gives you the best chance to reach your scoring goals. 

Get An Accurate Yardage

To get an accurate yardage, you may want to consider purchasing a GPS unit or a laser rangefinder. Pacing off yardages from the sprinkler head is also a good option to consider, but most of the time, your yardage will not be quite as accurate. 

Technology has come a long way, and many of these handheld devices for golfers are more affordable than ever. In addition, there are even some free apps that you can use to get yardages. 

The Percentage Shot

If you are looking at a 170-yard shot over water and you think that it's worth going for the green, try to think about how many times out of ten you would be able to accomplish the shot. If you think that 3 out of 10 times you can pull this off, it is not the percentage shot. 

When choosing the golf club to hit, always think about the percentage shot and if it makes sense to hit it. A bogey in golf is common, and you can quickly recover from it; mistakes with the wrong golf club being used to approach a green or off a tee will likely lead to a double bogey or more. 

Frequently Asked Questions 

Now that you have a better idea of how it is best to figure out your yardages, here are a few of the most frequently asked questions that golfers have about this topic. 

What golf club to use when teeing off?

On most par 4 and par 5 holes, a golfer will use a driver to tee off. Many players that struggle with accuracy on the driver will switch to a fairway wood to tee off with. Par 3 holes will require an iron, but feel free to put it on a short tee to make it easier. 

What golf club to use in the rough?

The best golf club for long-distance shots from the rough is the hybrid. For shorter shots out of the rough, the pitching wedge is a great option to consider. Something with lots of forgiveness is preferred from the rough. 

What golf club to use for chipping?

Chipping and pitching are typically best with a sand wedge or a pitching wedge. Some golfers have perfected a bump and run type shot that they will use with their 7 or 8 iron. This can be quite effective as well. 

What golf club to use in a sand trap?

The 56 degree sand wedge or 60 degree lob wedge are both great options for greenside bunkers. Fairway bunkers can work with almost any club, but you must be careful to choose something that will clear the edge or the lip of the bunker. 

Conclusion

As you can see, knowing which golf club to use and when takes a bit of trial and error and a greater understanding of the game. One of the most commonly asked questions from a beginner is, "Which club should I use?". Playing many rounds of golf and experimenting from different locations and in varying conditions will help you become better at choosing which golf club to use and when.