5 Best Uses for Hybrid Utility Clubs
 by: John Bolt

Have you seen those new hybrid utility cubs? They are showing up all over the place, rescuing golfers from all kinds of situations. The reason for this is simple; they open up opportunities for a number of great new shots.

Even the tour pros are using them to help them win big tournaments. (Todd Hamilton – British Open, David Toms – PGA Championship, Reteif Goosen – US Open) We have come up with what we believe are the 5 best uses for these hybrid clubs.

1. OFF THE TEE – These clubs are great for long par 3’s and short par 4 tee shots when you must carry a bunker or water hazard. Most long irons shots have a low piercing trajectory. These hybrids have a lower center of gravity that helps to launch the ball up into the air. Because of this high ball flight, the ball will come down on a steeper angle making it easier to stop on the green.

2. FROM THE FAIRWAY – They are good for long approach shots to the greens on par 5’s and long par 4’s. Because of their great distance control and accuracy, these hybrids will build your confidence. Hitting this club form the fairways will have you going for more par 5’s in 2 and leaving you short putts for eagle.

3. FROM THE ROUGH – Most long irons get caught up in the rough causing them to twist easily and produce mishits. The bigger size and mass of the hybrids over regular irons makes it easier for the club to drive through the rough while keeping the face square. This squaring of the clubface is also aided by the rudders and rails on the sole of the club going through the turf.

4. OUT OF A BUNKER - Move the ball back in your stance to promote a little steeper angle of attack. The bigger club heads and larger ruddered soles of hybrids make it easier to swing through the sand without catching it fat or heavy. It is very important on these long bunker shots to hit the ball first. This will help get the ball up in the air very quickly and out of the bunker.

5. AROUND THE GREEN – Hybrid utility clubs work great for bump and run shots around the green (just ask Todd Hamilton). They help to eliminate the chance for error by getting the ball rolling on the ground as quick as possible. Because the shafts are shorter you can play these shots almost like a putt without choking down on the shaft to gain control. This eliminates the chance of a skull, chunk, or a decelerating wedge shot.

We find these hybrid utility clubs to be one of the most versatile clubs you could have in your bag. Get more info about hybrid utility clubs from our website. Then try one out in your bag today!

More golf club grip information and tips can be found at:
http://www.golfequipmentsource.com/hybrid-golf-clubs.html

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5 Easy Steps To Replacing Your Golf Grips
 by: John Bolt

Replacing your golf grips is like servicing your car; you must do it on a very routine basis to keep them in top working order. We suggest changing your grips at least once a season, maybe even twice depending on where you live and how much you play.

People think that you must have your grips replaced professionally. This is incorrect because it can get costly. Actually replacing your own golf club grips is a really simple job. You will learn a lot about your clubs and save you some money.

Below we will walk you through the quick simple steps to doing the job yourself. But first there are a few things you will need:

• New golf grips
• Exacto or sharp knife
• Double sided tape
• Cleaning solvent
• Work bench vice

Follow these quick easy steps:

• Place the club in the work bench vice and tighten with the grip being fully exposed. Take the exacto or sharp knife and cut the grip from the shaft up to the end of club, cutting away from your body.
• Remove the old grip and clean the shaft of the club with the cleaning solvent using an old rag or brush. Then dry the club off completely.
• Wrap the double sided tape down the shaft the length of the grip. Make sure that portion of the shaft is completely covered and remove the backing on the other side of the tape.
• Pour some solvent over the tape. Line the grip up with the club and slip it towards the head of the club. Remove the club from the vice and place the head on the floor and make the minor alignment adjustments.
• Let grips dry for a few hours (3).

Give this a try; it is a very easy process and simple task to do. It can be a great learning experience and a lot of fun. It will help you learn a little more about your golf clubs and save you some money. So get the things you need and get busy.

More golf club grip information and tips can be found at:
http://www.golfequipmentsource.com/golf-club-grips.html

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5 Most Important Things to Consider When Choosing Golf Clubs
 by: John Bolt

Every golfer knows that having proper equipment is essential. Choosing golf clubs has become some what of a daunting task because of the enormous market out there. We have come up with 5 simple things to consider when choosing golf clubs.

• First of all you have to be honest with yourself in deciding what skill level you’re at. Are you a beginner just starting out, an intermediate weekend golfer, or an expert golfer who plays all the time? This is critical because there are different types of equipment designed to help every level of player. Playing with expert equipment if you are just starting out will only hurt your game.
• Stay within your spending limits. You have to know what type of budget you are working with. Golf can become very expensive if you don’t stay within your means. There is equipment and accessories designed for every budget, you just have to know where to look.
• Figure out your strengths and weaknesses. Do you know hook or slice the ball? Are you a long or short hitter? Do you sink many puts when you have to, etc.? You must know these qualities of your game. When you go to your local shop or golf pro it will be easy for them to get you fitted correctly if you know this information.
• How often do you play? Are you a weekend golfer or an addict who plays all the time? This will determine what golf clubs and accessories you should purchase. Don’t go out and spend a fortune on complex equipment and other things if you only play the game on the weekend with your buddies. On the other hand if you travel all over competing and playing, you are going to need the quality equipment that allows that.
• Finally make sure you do your own research. Read golf magazines, articles, newspapers, and anything else you can get your hands on. Go to demo days at your local club or driving range and any local golf shows. Check online at manufacturer’s websites and other informative golf club websites. You can find anything online. Doing research is the key to getting what you want.

If you use these 5 simple tips to choosing golf clubs it will be simple for you to get fitted with exactly what you need. So go out and get those brand new clubs you have been thinking about for while.

More great tips on choosing your golf clubs can be found at:
www.golfequipmentsource.com/golfclubs.html

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Callaway ERC Fusion Driver - Long and Straight
 by: Ernie Horning

The ERC Fusion Driver is an ultra forgiving and accurate driver. This golf club is available through the "Callaway Golf Pre-Owned" website ( www.callawaygolfpreowned.com).

The ERC Fusion Driver is available in lofts from 7.5 to 12.0, and is great if you are looking to drive the ball "Long and Straight". The 360CC carbon composite head, with a forged titanium face, is actually 75% lighter. The ERC Fusion's 45" shaft is standard, with either a "Regular D-2" or "Strong D-3" swingweight. This enables both the male and female golfer to swing the club with ease, without experiencing a loss in power.

The ERC Fusion Driver looks and feels great! How many times has your foursome stood on the tee box waiting to hit, and you start comparing each others drivers? You compare grips, weight, feel, take a few practice swings, trying to get an overall feel for one anothers clubs. Put the ERC Fusion in your bag for your next round, and you will be the envy of your foursome.

I started playing with the Callaway ERC Fusion driver in the spring of 2004. I had previously played the Callaway C4, the Biggest Big Bertha, the Great Big Bertha, and the Big Bertha Warbird. Although I liked my previous drivers, and hit them fairly well, none compare to the success I am having with the ERC Fusion. I have become much more accurate off the tee, hitting more fairways, and driving much longer than my regular opponents. As you probably know, when you are longer and straighter off the tee, you score better. It is much easier to hit the green from 150 yds. out, from a good lie on the fairway, than it is from 170 yds. out, from the rough, or even the trees. The larger sweetspot provides me the accuracy and distance needed for tight par 4's and long par 5's. The ERC Fusion enables me to reach some of those par 5's in 2, cutting even more strokes off my game. It's great putting for an eagle every now then. The lighter feel allows me to slow down my swing producing much better contact. It is simply the best Callaway Driver I have ever played. And yes, although they might not want to admit it, my regular playing partners do envy me, especially as I am looking back at them from the fairway, waiting for them to hit first to the green.

The "Callaway Golf Pre-Owned" website offers these beautiful, powerful, slightly used golf clubs from $139.00 to $239.00. With a MSRP of $449.00, this is quite a Golf Bargain. Whoever thought driving a golf ball "Long and Straight" could be so fun, yet so easy.

(Copyright 2005-ehbvi- www.golfgodz.com)

NOTE: Find "Callaway Golf Pre-Owned" clubs, including the ERC Fusion Driver, HERE!

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Essential Information On Choosing The Best Golf Clubs To Suit Your Game
 by: Keith Kingston

Most golfers, whether a beginner or a pro, struggle when trying to decide which golf club to buy. The buying process becomes easier when the consumer has a good understanding of the types of golf clubs available and their specific use. Your playing (and thus your staying) power is greatly enhanced by choosing the proper golf clubs.

For the novice golfer, the basic set of golf clubs consists of drivers, wedges, putters and irons. Using the proper type of golf club will help the beginner learn quickly and achieve results. Each different type of club is designed to help with swing speed and to correct faults to improve your game – and your score.

In addition to clubs, a wide variety of accessories are also available, many of which are necessities and others that are “just for looks.” One absolute necessity is a golf bag to assist you or your caddy in moving from green to green, and of course, golf balls. Another must is a pair of golf shoes to help stabilize your body so you can achieve the perfect swing. Other accessories include golf gloves, a golf cap, clothing, and covers for your golf clubs to protect them from the elements or while stored.

There are many variations in the types and styles of golf clubs and their uses. For example, if you’re trying to make a shorter shot, irons may be your best bet. Irons are usually available in sets that include several different sizes. You must also take into consideration the style, size, and type of material used to make the golf club shaft. One of the less expensive materials is steel. Clubs with a steel shaft weigh more but can be longer-lasting than other types. The steel shaft may also give you more control over those fast swings. If you choose a graphite shaft, it will be lighter than steel but will be more costly. This type of club is used for long distance shots or for slower swingers.

Most golf clubs are available with both steel and graphite shafts.

The flexibility of a shaft is referred to as flex, or bend. The less the bend in a shaft, the more control the powerful swinger will have. On the other hand, beginners and those with less powerful swings generally use a shaft with greater flexibility. The average swing speed is from 65 miles per hour for the beginner up to over 100 miles per hour for powerful swingers.

The goal when buying golf clubs should be to own the best golf clubs you can afford, whether they are name brands, used, or a reproduction of one of the name brands. Golf clubs can be purchased at many different types of establishments such as discount stores, buying clubs, specialty shops, catalogs, or the Internet, which offers an almost limitless variety of clubs and bargains, including used golf clubs. The cost of the golf club depends on the type and where it is purchased. Retail stores and catalogs have pre-season, post-season and regular sales, but since someone, somewhere, has the perfect climate in which to play golf at any given time of the year, you may find it difficult to find a true bargain. Internet shopping offers excellent prices throughout the year, and in many cases shipping is free. Golf club replicas are very good bargains if you compare their features to the originals. Many, many types of merchandise are duplicated, or cloned, so be sure the set of clubs you buy have not been illegally duplicated.

Most anytime is the perfect time for most golfers and “wannabe” golfers to play, so take advantage of the large variety of clubs and bargains to be found, and don’t wait another day to start buying your golf clubs.

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Golf Equipment – The Most Expensive Is Not Always Correct For You
 by: Declan Tobin

The essentials of golf begin with the clubs you choose. Shopping on the Internet will save you time and money but choosing can be difficult, as there seems to be endless options. From our work with different golfing web sites we have seen sales for golf clubs dramatically increase in the past two years but do people really know what they are buying? I think the answer to this is yes if you have been playing for a few years and no if you are a total beginner. Some people starting out in the golf world have more money than sense. At the start of every golfing year (generally in March) you see new members on the first tee with thousands of dollars worth of equipment beside them and the golfing skills of a squirrel.

Excuse the expression from above but you really need to go back to the basics when starting golf. Golfing is a skill that needs to be developed, by having clubs worth thousands will not help you any more than the person starting with second hand clubs worth fifty dollars, I had that told to me from more than one Irish professional during my time. All the major club manufacturers are selling online at great prices, choose carefully and get well within your budget, the left over money can be well spent on other golf apparel.

What are the essentials to have?

Without being silly and mentioning the usual such as golf balls etc you should have the following:

Good waterproof golf shoes

Waterproof Jacket and Pants

Golf Cart (Manual or Battery)

Golf shoes are essential, and if they are not waterproof put them in the garbage. Your feet must be kept dry at all times. Golf is not always in great weather. If your feet are wet for a number or hours you will not feel comfortable and run the risk of catching a nasty cold or flu like symptoms. There are plenty of cheap golf shoes on the market along with cheap so called waterproof pants and jackets, but by spending carefully on the golf clubs allows you spend wisely on essential clothing.

Golf Carts:

Some people prefer still to carry their bags but most will purchase a golf cart. The carts can either be manual or battery operated. The manual speak for themselves and can be a folded away in the trunk of your car the battery are a little more complex and need some careful taught before purchasing. Battery operated carts need maintenance and constant recharging. Check out the battery life expectancy before you buy. Some are like buying a car, they have a speedometer, mirrors and a light, do you really need all that?

Golf Balls:

Yes the ball will make a difference to distance and spin but don’t be foolish, if you are a beginner you should expect to loose plenty so don’t go mad buying the latest and greatest, you need to improve you overall accuracy and game in general. The more experienced golfer should pay more attention to the ball they are using, you could be losing valuable distance from the tee meaning the difference on your next shot from an eight iron or a comfortable pitching wedge.

Golf Tee:

Short and simple, if you are using oversized heads allow for a higher tee. Plastic tees do not break as easily as the wooden type.

Golf Glove:

I have seen many a good golfer never wear one but in hot weather it gives you added grip and in damp conditions it could be your only grip. Should not cost you an arm and a leg.

Putter:

I’m not one for getting into graphite shafts and other related metal when purchasing a putter. I prefer something that I feel comfortable with, if that happens to be graphite and within my own budget, so be it. The putter today comes in all different shapes and sizes, from the standard height to the putter that tucks just under your chin. Beginners start with a basic putter and move on, basic meaning something that is not costing you an arm and a leg. Experienced golfers will have their own unique putter style they prefer.

Overall – Internet golf shopping:

The prices will seldom be beaten if you purchase online, do not worry about quality as the products are the very same as what you will find in your local sports store. The variety is very large and tempting and delivery is to your door. Before you do go shopping online make a quick list of the essentials that you need.

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How to Know What Defines the Best Golf Drivers
 by: John Bolt

Why is it considered the most electrifying club in your golf bag? Why is it the first club anyone talks about when equipment is brought up? Why is it what everyone wants?

The answers are simple - POWER. It’s all about the power of the long ball. The golfer who drives the ball the furthest is considered the man of the moment, and everyone wants to be that man. I guess it’s an ego thing.

This mind game is played among all golfers form beginner to professional. It is on of the main driving forces behind the design of today’s best golf drivers. The manufacturers are continually coming up with newer and better drivers that go further and straighter than the competition. They come in all shapes and sizes with the bigger is better attitude coming out on top.

A lot of the big oversized drivers are built to the largest legal size specifications under PGA rules and regulations. Combine that with the ultra thin super springy club faces. What you get is a kind of loaded canon. These clubs launch the golf balls high in the air and really long. We must emphasize really LONG.

A lot of the club makers have even taken the grooves off the clubfaces around the sweet spot areas. This is to reduce spin and allow the ball more distance with less resistance. What this also causes is less accuracy off the tee. But most golfers are willing to give up a little accuracy for more distance.

Now if you throw in the new technology in today’s golf shafts it gets a little crazy. With all the different types of graphite, the raised and lowered flex and kick points, and now even tipping it almost seems out of control.

Wow, that’s getting crazy. There is such a huge amount of possible grip, shaft, and club head combinations it can be confusing to the average golfer. But not to worry, there are a ton of great resources out there to get you fitted correctly. Check out our website for more of this article and other golf driver information at:
http://www.golfequipmentsource.com/golf-drivers.html

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The 4 aspects of graphite shafts for golf clubs
 by: tom erwin

Discount Golf Clubs - The 4 primary aspects of Graphite Shafts

In the world of custom golf clubs, not every graphite shaft is created equal. In the pursuit of creating the ultimate tee weapon of mass construction, you can now spend anywhere from $5 to $500 on a new graphite shaft. But before you dole out these precious dollars, it is vitally important to know what you are buying. At TourPureGolf.com ( http://www.tourpuregolf.com) shaft selection is a specialty we embrace and analyze extensively.

The 4 aspects used to measure a graphite shaft’s dynamics are the following:

• Torque
• Weight
• Flex
• Kick Point

Torque is a measure of lateral twisting a graphite shaft will experience when placed under stress i.e. playing conditions. The less a shaft/clubhead twists upon impact, the tighter the resulting shot dispersion which translates into greater accuracy off the tee. Therefore, the lower the torque value the better for the player. Typical graphite shaft torque values range anywhere from 1.8 to 7.2.

Weight, as assumed, is simply a measure of a particular shaft’s weight in grams. Typically, one might think well why not look for the lightest shaft available. While it’s true that this can and will help a player generate greater club speed this is oftentimes at the sacrifice of increased torque and shaft flex.

Flex is a measure of the amount a shaft will bend under a given amount of stress. The more flexible a shaft the easier it will release for the player swinging said shaft. For example, a player with a slower swingspeed should look for a more flexible shaft to assist in generating a release and greater club head speed. Just the opposite, a player with a faster swingspeed would seek a stiffer less-flexible shaft. Generally speaking, there are 5 common values associated with flex: Ladies, Senior, Regular, Stiff and Extra-Stiff commonly referred to as (L,A,R,S,X). A players’ measured swingspeed is the determining factor when choosing the appropriate flex. Manufacturers often differ in what they consider these values to represent but solve this dilemma by providing the swingspeeds by flex.

Kick Point refers to the point in the shaft where the majority of shaft flex is experienced. The three values typically assigned to this measure are low, mid, and high. Why is this important? Kick Point has its greatest effect on ball flight. For instance, a low kick point shaft will kick or release lower and closer to the club head during the downswing. This makes it easier for a player to release and tends to fire the ball at a high trajectory. Vice-versa, a high kick point shaft releases higher and closer to the grip during the downswing producing a lower more boring trajectory.

When deciding which graphite shaft is right for your custom golf club, one can surmise that the common tool used as a starting point for proper shaft-fitting is swingspeed. Players with lower swingspeeds should gravitate towards, lighter, more flexible, lower kick point shafts. The opposite should ring true for those with higher swingspeeds – heavier, less flexible, higher kick point shafts.

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The Golf Shaft Mystery
 by: Jason Carter

The Shaft Mystery

During this modern era of golf club technology, the big mystery among golfers is what golf shaft will maximize their efforts. If the average player tries to sift through all the “mumbo jumbo techno shaft lingo” his head just might explode. And determining the right shaft for me can be extremely confusing.

“There are just so many shafts that are available to golfers that can really benefit the player that it is critical that club fitters have a good grasp of what the player needs” says Tom Erwin, co-founder of TourPureGolf.com ( www.tourpuregolf.com).

Most shaft companies are now offering over 100 different types of shaft and in turn, most consumers are clueless of what “engine” they need to run their golf clubs.

“As experienced clubfitters, we use what we’ve learned through hands-on assembly and customer feedback to provide each customer with a proven solution. Shaft selection is the key ingredient to crafting the perfect performance weapon” says Travis Carter Co-Founder of TourPureGolf.com. He further stated, “This problem is easily solved by answering 4 basic questions”…

The first answer needed is what material should the golfer play, steel or graphite? Graphite is generally lighter than steel, therefore, the average player will hit a graphite shaft a little further than a steel shaft. Graphite also has a much greater shock dampening effect, which is very helpful for those players who have nagging injuries that sometimes prevent them from playing. Alternatively, steel shafts are heavier than most graphite shafts so distance may be sacrificed. What is lost in distance though is gained in accuracy. Steel shafts differ from graphite as they do not experience torque or the lateral twisting found in all graphite shafts. Most players would benefit by having steel shafts in their irons, because accuracy has a greater emphasis than distance, where as graphite shafts are very helpful in getting greater distances from today’s oversize titanium drivers.

The second question to answer is shaft flex. A common fitting flaw is the belief that stiffer shafts will be more accurate because the shaft will not torque as much as a more flexible shaft. (torque is the twisting of a shaft because of a miss hit shot). However, with today’s technology many manufactures make a softer flex shaft without sacrificing torque. Players can determine what flex they need by simply knowing what club they hit from certain yardages.

The third question to answer is determining what kick point would best benefit that player. Most golfers would love to hit the ball a little higher. A lower kick point would achieve a higher ball flight. Alternatively, if the player tends to have a rather steep outside-inside swing, a mid to high kick point shaft would help them keep the ball flight lower.

The final question to answer is, “what length should the golf club be?”. Most graphite wood shafts come 45”-46” and once installed, the overall golf club will be over 47”. So determining the appropriate length for that golfer is critical. With titanium drivers, a lot of folks subscribe to the “as long as you can control it” mentality. However, it is critical that the irons be cut at a length that is suitable to that particular player’s height & distance from their hands to the floor. With today’s technology and vast amount of products to examine, an experienced club fitter can truly solve the shaft mystery.

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What A Load Of Golf Balls
 by: Clay Morris

Through out the history of golf the golf ball has evolved more than any other piece of equipment used in the game. From the very first wooden balls followed by the feathery to the latest 4 piece, high energy core, tungsten weighted, titanium, super thin covered, go further go straighter last forever golf ball, advances in science and the materials used in manufacturing has taken that little white thing to a new level of performance.

At the moment in my shop I have 36 different balls to choose from and there are plenty more types I could stock. This being the case it is difficult for a golfer to choose which is the right ball for them especially when they all claim to be the best thing since the couch potato was given the remote control.

The Number one

Titleist golf balls have been known for many years as ‘The Number 1 Ball in Golf’ and it is true that more tour players across the world use a Titleist ball. Some golfers think that if Ernie Els is playing with a Titleist then they should play with a Titleist as well, however, that is not necessarily the case. Believe it or not in amongst this huge selection there is the right ball for you and the ball you choose to play with needs to suit your requirements and level of skill.

In my opinion the huge range of golf balls on the market can be broken down into 5 categories.

• Budget
• Hard
• Medium
• Soft
• Swing speed

If you are a beginner, or lose a lot of golf balls, then buying budget balls is the best thing to do. These are often packaged in 15 ball boxes and are a hard durable ball that will generally go further when you hit them. The draw back of this ball is that it is very lively off of the club face and when it comes to chipping and putting can lack some of the soft feel that some golfers prefer.

The harder golf balls such as Topflite XL 3000, or Callaway CB1 are perfect for the golfer who doesn’t lose too many balls but could do with more distance off the tee. These balls are not as hard as the budget type, but are durable and offer some feel around the green although they still won’t stop very quickly on landing.

If you want the combination of distance, feel and durability then balls such as the Titleist NXT Tour, the Callaway Hex 2 or the Strata Tour Straight are ideal. These are all what I call a medium ball giving the golfer consistent performance in all areas.

The top players in the world all use soft golf balls. Up until about 4 years ago the cover of the ball was actually soft enough to mark with your finger nail and marked very easily when miss hit. This meant that only the best ball strikers, or golfers with more money than sense, would use them. These days the covers on these balls are very durable and the ball will spin and stop very quickly on and around the greens.

The leading balls in this category are Titleist Pro V1, Callaway Hex, Strata Tour Ace, Hogen Apex Tour and the Maxfli M3. These balls are manufactured to the highest specification and quality and every golfer could play and enjoy them. They are however very expensive at about £10 for 3 balls if you are a bit wayward with your shots then it could cost a fortune in golf balls.

When it comes to swing speed some players just cannot swing the golf club very quickly. If this is the case some manufacturers are now making balls specifically for those of you who struggle to get any distance because you just can’t hit it hard enough! The Maxfli Noodle ball is perfect for anyone who has a slow swing and they are durable and affordable.

Whichever ball you choose, try to stick with that ball every time you play. You will get used to the feel and performances of the ball, which in turn will help, play more consistent golf.

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What Are Custom Golf Clubs
 by: Trevor Austin

Custom golf clubs are anything from a single club to a full set of woods, irons and putter which have been custom specified and assembled just for you. They may work for somebody else and other people will probably love your custom built golf clubs, but they are yours.

To make an analogy that most of you will be familiar with we will compare buying a new set of golf clubs to buying a new suit or dress, there are three ways you can go about this;

Option 1 - You go to a clothes shop and browse around until you see something fashionable and then buy it and hope it fits you OK and is comfortable. That is the normal way most people buy their golf clubs.

Option 2 - You can go to the same shops and try a few different designs, maybe even mix and match top and bottom of the outfit, and eventually you will get something that fits OK but you may need to have altered, within the leeway the existing clothing gives on sizes and lengths and quite a lot of people will get a reasonable fit. This is very similar to custom fitting your new golf clubs, you are still limited to the small number of shafts and flexes that that manufacturer provides and most will only extend or reduce by 1/2" and at the most 2 degrees loft and lie. The shaft flexes will only be those stamped on the side of the shaft and are different for every shaft manufacturer, very rarely are these actually measured and you better match one of the five or six flexes available. For a lot of people that just isn't enough, and this can still take many weeks.

Option 3 - If you wanted something that would last a long time and fitted really well from day one you would go to a bespoke outfitters, they would take all your measurements, find out exactly what you wanted the item for, how often it would be used, etc. This would cost a relative fortune but gives great results every time. This is the same as custom club building, but the good news is, unlike the clothing market this is normally less expensive, and rarely more expensive, than the first option. So how does that work?

Well, almost all golf club heads, with very few exceptions - if any - are made in the far east, mainly China. We believe that all heads are made there but several of the big manufacturers just will not give a straight answer, try them!

Shafts, the most important part of the club, are made by a very few companies, but normally China, Bangladesh, Japan, etc. None of the big names make their own shafts, the majority fitting True Temper shafts, sometimes branded with their own name but never manufactured by them.

Now when you pick up the magazines or discount shop offers are you looking for what suits you best or, more likely, the same clubs you thought Tiger or Vijay or Ernie or Annika were winning with last weekend?

This is a good time to dispel a widely held belief, the only similarity between the clubs you can buy and the clubs winning major pro tournaments is the branding. These pro golfers are paid anything up to seven figure sums of money to use these brands, they and their coaches specify every head, shaft and grip that makes up that set and somebody has to pay for that. So when you buy your set of Z43 Super Pingaway irons you are paying for the components, the plush headquarters and the massive advertising and endorsements that made you notice them in the first place.

A good custom club builder will use components made from at least as good raw materials as the big boys, often from the same factories to produce the heads, they offer the same shafts and grips AND take the same sort of time to analyse your game and physique as those top pros get, but because they don't pay for the names on their components, that set of clubs, designed just for you, is an affordable possibility.

Again a good clubmaker, and there are bad ones as in any walk of life, will be more concerned about the results of your fitting than you spending money.

There are many ways of fitting but during the fitting ask your clubmaker what they think of your game, does it match with your and your friends impressions of your shot shape and distance or are they just telling you things to make you sepnd money. If it doesn't meet expectations can they justify their statements without resorting to technobabble?

The best part about about custom building should be when you go back to your clubmaker and tell them "I've just shot my lowest ever score" or "I've just won my first ever competition" or "I've just hit my best ever shot" or, and my favourite, "That's the most I've enjoyed a game of golf for years".

Please let me have any questions or comments to trevor@1offgolf.co.uk and see how we custom build at http://www.1offgolf.co.uk

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Where can I find Discount Golf Balls
 by: Discount Golf Club 4u

There are a number of websites that provide all the information on golfing products and services that one could possibly need. Any avid player craves for quality sport equipments and these websites are all flooded with quality information on how to purchase discount golf ball and other golf equipments and accessories. These sites provide excellent customer service and low prices on all golf equipments. So if you want information on discount golf balls, equipments, a new putter, lake balls it can all be made on various online golf portals.

Every week number of brand new golf balls hit the market. All this can be ordered by visiting these sites where it is available discounted and affordable prices. Some of the brand names for new and used Golf Balls include Titleist, Nike, Strata, Callaway, Maxfli, Wilson, Top Flite, and others. Titleist Pro V1 X 332 utilizes large core, multi-component urethane elastomer technology. The Pro V1 became the number one non-wound golf ball in just its first week on the PGA Tour. The Pro V's tour-proven higher ball speed, lower spin, results in longer drives and iron distances. This ball is best suited for players with the highest swing speeds and exceptionally high spin or high lift launch conditions.

Dunlop model in the golf ball is the Advanced Titanium, which promises enhanced distance. With a suggested retail price of just $18 for a 15-ball pack, Dunlop's Advanced Titanium ball has an oversized, titanium-enriched core encased in a Surlyn cover. Slazenger with a suggested retail price of $52 per dozen, has launched the Black Label ball. A multi-layer product, the Black Label ball features an oversized solid core, an interlocking layer of polyurethane between the core and outer cover, and a soft urethane outer cover. With a Hybrid 402 dimple pattern, the Slazenger ball promises distance, spin, feel and durability.

Titleist, HP Eclipse MINT is for golfers seeking extremely low driver and iron spin for long, straight, more accurate distance. High partial wedge spin provides added greenside control. Advanced dual core technology, very low spin for long, straight driver distance is the trademarks of the ball. .

Designed specifically to improve playability for Low to Mid handicappers, the Titleist NXT has been engineered to deliver high, soft approach shots. The NXT takes advanced solid core technology to a new level. The resilient, soft compression core is complemented by a thin, soft, Fusablend cover. This ball delivers long, two-piece driver and iron distance, soft responsive feel and exceptional short-game control. Titleist Pro V1x delivers very low driver and iron spin combined with very high speed. The result is exceptionally long distance and a straight flight, particularly for the game's hardest hitters. Discounted golf balls are available for these brands on various sites.

The other option apart from discounted golf ball is of the used golf balls. Besides having so many varieties to choose from among Wilson, Top Flight, Dunlop, Titleist, Maxfli, Pinnacle, Strata, Slazenger, Taylor Made, Callaway, Nike and more the golfer can buy a specific brand and color of his or her choice. The used golf balls rescued from the rough and water hazards are the means of satiating the demand for expensive balls. Like, the Golfballs.net is the home of the used golf ball. Golf Ball Zone is one among Chicago's bestseller of used golf balls. It makes use of online selling of golf balls. Many sites offer high quality, brand name, used golf balls to the sports lovers. Significance of the used balls can be seen in the light that other golfer's loss becomes other’s gain. The used ball may have scratch or other shortcomings but to the many who cannot afford, it provides a good opportunity to purchase these branded discounted golf balls.

Golf Discount stores are the other way for the largest collections of the best names at the lowest prices. These golf stores have a plethora of golf equipments, golf gifts, customized items, popular balls, balls by category and other ball brands at affordable discounted rates and prices. These golf stores provide the opportunity for choosing from a massive collection, cheap prices and fast delivery under one roof. All the golf equipments both branded and non-branded that enhances a player’s game could easily be found in these golf stores at discounted rates. All golf equipments consisting of iron sets, complete sets, wedges, drivers, putters, fairway woods, junior golf, golf umbrellas, golf shirts, golf shoes, golf socks, golf gloves, golf caps, golf bags, golf tees, golf sunglasses, golf watches could easily be found out at one place— in golf stores.

The discount stores make possible the purchase of golf balls at low prices including Titleist and American Lake Balls at big discounts. All possible benefits like quick forty-eight hour delivery and a considerable selection along with low prices are available. For example in irons, choice is made among Cobra SS-I, Ping G2, Adams UC-10, Nike Pro-Combo; in Hybrid Irons it is to be among 845 Hybrid Woods, Idea Hybrid Irons and CPR Hybrids.

Similarly in case of packages choice could be made among Power Bilt TPX, Precise Packages and more. For putters it could be among 2-Ball Putters, Rossa Monza, and Nike Oz. Similarly a wide variety of choice could be made among golf shoes and golf bags.

Discount golf balls with savings up to 60%, by comparing hundreds of retailers on one of the UK's leading independent comparison sites could be easily found. Another big online buying opportunity for discount golf balls is through one of Europe’s largest online golf shops ( http://www.onlinegolf.co.uk), which provides excellent and inexpensive services on all the golf equipments. Comparison of prices could also be made between different retailers on all types of branded sports and outdoor gear. Deal Time ( http://www.dealtime.co.uk), makes it easy for one to find great deals from across the Web.

The American Golf Discount stores are also well equipped with all the golf equipments, be it clubs, balls, bags, tees, clothes, shoes, umbrellas or any other. These stores have all the accessories, which the golf player could be in need of and that too at reasonable, affordable and knock down rates. What makes these stores all the more remarkable is the staff, which is well equipped with knowledge and is willing to discuss the sports and offer advice.

Certainly, with so much facilities and amenities at discounted rates available on these sites it is hard to resist the temptations.

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