Golf bags have no influence whatsoever on the result of the game, however, they can greatly affect the players game by way of offering comfort as the player makes his round through the course.

As to how much load in your gear you are carrying and if you are carrying the bag by yourself or using a golf cart or the help of a caddie, can help you decide which bag is for you.

When planning on riding the golf cart on your rounds, then whether the bag is heavy or not does not matter. But if your plan is to walk, then a lighter bag that will be carried along easily is essential.

Types of golf bags:

Staff bags - These are the largest types of golf bags. They can accommodate a complete fourteen set of golf clubs and typically have many side pockets for other golf tools and equipment that one wishes to take along. Almost all professional golfers prefer the staff bags as they can hold a lot of equipment and since their caddy carries the bag for them, weight is never a problem.

A good staff bag is one made of quality leather or materials that are of high quality and are expensive.

Cart Bags - Are a lot smaller in size compared to staff bags, but are comparatively bulky and unmanageable for the golfer alone, without the caddy’s help. These bags are constructed for use on golf carts; they have lesser pockets and storage capacity.

Carry Bags - The smallest type, and are basically made from plastic, nylon and other materials. As these bags are constructed to accommodate the essentials such as the golf clubs, a few small golf accessories and balls they are the right choice for the golfer who favors to carry his own bag.

Choosing the right bag for you

Take into account the price and your budget.  How much you can afford can determine what kind of bag as well as what materials they are made of; the more expensive it is, the more complex the features of the bag.  Keep in mind however, that the bag is not used directly in your game; golf shoes, clubs and balls are more significant than the bag.

Features.  Know what type of features you need in your bag and what equipment you need to put in the bag.  You might consider a bag that can stand alone to make it easier to take out your golf clubs during your game. You might also consider bringing an umbrella along, so you need a bag with a slot for your umbrella. However, if you are the type to carry only the basic gears, then you might want to consider a simple and light bag that can accommodate just the basics.

When you feel that you are ready to get serious with the sport, you may decide to buy a brand new one. Here are some tips you should consider when learning how to play golf and choosing a set of clubs:

1. There are many brands of golf clubs available. Before buying one, it is best to feel the grip of each so one can choose the right set that the person will be comfortable with while playing in the green.

2. Shafts come in different lengths which are determined by the height of the person. If you are unsure of which is the correct one for you, it is best to ask the assistance of the salesperson.

3. A little knowledge of the various clubs will help you in choosing one even if these are usually sold in sets. A typical set of irons that you can buy are numbered from 3 to 9 and includes a pitching wedge.

4. Another thing you need to play golf is a putter. Just like choosing the right set, you should feel the grip and how comfortable it is from the brands available in the specialty store before buying it.

5. Errant shots are some things that can’t be helped, especially in the sport of golf. This is the reason why you should be familiar with the various club designs since some clubs have made restrictions on this.

Bladed clubs are the most recommended for golfers since it gives better precision in every shot that takes skilled hands to accomplish.

6. To maintain the golf clubs, it is best to use a wire brush or a small towel to keep these in good condition.

7.If you are just getting into the game, it is advisable to buy a cheap set of balls first rather than an expensive one since some shots might fall into the water or in the forest that will just get lost which is just like throwing money into the air.

There is a time when a blank mind will do you the world of good and that is just before you hit the ball.

This process is made easier through practice as the various actions become second nature and you don’t need to think about what you are doing.

This is the importance of the repetitive nature of consistently hitting the same shots at the driving range or on the practice tee.

What your body can do on autopilot; will negate the need to think, when thinking will only get in the way.

All those things that you learned, either from a golf pro, or through instructional books and videos, needs to be acted upon but not thought about to the extent that you can’t follow through effortlessly with your swing.

You need to switch off for success.

Imagine trying to hit a good shot after having to remember to get your feet in the correct position, and keep your eye on the ball, and get your hands and shoulders in the right position, and remember to hold the club correctly and not too tight - the list goes on and on but one thing is for sure…
Overthinking the whole list of actions you need to take for the perfect shot, you are never going to hit the golf ball well.

It’s not possible to play well if all these thoughts are whirring through your mind just waiting to explode the moment you try to hit the ball. There’s just too much to think about all at once.

That tension makes you grasp the club all the harder and before you know it, your golf ball is sailing through the air on a curving trajectory that you couldn’t reproduce if you tried.

Apart from the fact that good shoes will help you to have more control when you are swinging your clubs, a good fitting pair of shoes will be more comfortable and aid your performance.

Tired feet can cause a lot of fatigue, and that fatigue gets translated into a tired mind and reduced performance on the course.

Hot or wet feet will affect your game, as will feet that are uncomfortably tight in the wrong size shoes.

Golf is a game where all aspects of your performance are related, from the top two inches of your head (your mind control) right down to the comfort of your feet.

You are going to be spending a lot of time on your feet during a round of golf so you really do need to ensure your comfort.

There are many different types and styles of shoes allowing almost anyone to find something suitable.  Before you buy you will need to find out what types of shoes are allowed on the courses that you will be playing at, as some courses don’t allow cleated or spiked golf shoes.

Having cleats or spikes on your shoes can assist in stabilizing your feet during your swing and this can add a lot of power to your stroke.

Having the reassurance of knowing that your feet aren’t going to ‘break loose’ after you have just done a big drive will allow you to push the limits of your ability just a little but more and that can be the difference of winning or losing a game at the end of a round.

Every little benefit helps and chipping away at all these factors will eventually lead to a lower handicap and a happier golfer.

A lot of games have been lost on the putting green and in most instances it has been due to the wrong distance, rather than the direction of the ball.

Most beginners quickly get a feel for the direction the ball will travel, even on sloping greens.
You’ve probably seen it yourself when a newcomer to the game places the ball within inches of the hole on a sloping green time and time again.

What you won’t see quite so often is the ball stopping a few inches past the hole when they miss.

There are many factors that come into account when determining the distance a ball will travel on the green, from the slope, to the preparation of the green and whether it is wet and slow or dry and fast. The time of the day with greens getting faster as they dry off in the afternoon sun can make a huge difference.

So reading the distance of a putt is what you really need to concentrate on to get your ball to drop in that hole.

Once again it all comes back to practice and there is no better practice than on the day of the tournament in the conditions that you will be playing in. Always take some time to have a few practice putts before you start play to ‘dial in’ your distance.

One thing you must always remember; the golf ball will never drop if it doesn’t reach the hole.
Sounds too obvious to even need mentioning doesn’t it, but more often that not putts will come up short. Always aim for the back of the cup so that, provided you have your direction right, you are going to have a chance of making the putt.

A good golfer will observe these three principles in mind while striving to advance thier game: physical fitness, practice, and etiquette.

Maintaining fitness of the mind and body is essential to reaching your golfing goals. The only way to achieve and maintain physical fitness is to eat a healthy diet and exercise on a regular basis. Taking care of your body and making a point to get or stay in shape not only helps you better your performance on the golf course, it also helps to ensure that golf will be a life long passion.

Just as important is mental fitness. The build up of stress and anxiety can hinder your performance at home, in the board room, and even on the golf course. Exercise is highly recommended for relieving stress. Developing a routine for meditation can do wonders for your stress levels. Other ideas to relieve stress are reading and doing puzzles such as Sudoku.

You didn’t reach this point in your golfing “career” without practice, and changes are you won’t get much further without it. But this is far better than the practice you had to put into the piano as a kid! What better way to spend an afternoon than at the driving range, or playing the back nine of your favorite course! Practice is essential in honing your technique and developing muscle memory. Try to maintain a two to one ratio of practice to play. Don’t hesitate to pickup a new book, take lessons with a qualified instructor, or even ask for tips from a more advanced player. Don’t settle for where you are at now, with a little time and a lot of dedication you can get better!

Lastly, is the topic of etiquette. While golf may be an individual sport, you will spend much of your time golfing with friends and coworkers. Regardless of how good you are, no one will want to play with you if you are disrespectful of other golfers and the game. Golf is a gentleman’s game, treat it as such!

Level of Play
• Some play for the weekend game and there are others who’d like to move up in the ranks. If the occasional game is your pace, a low- to mid-performance club can work for you, while a high-performance club is suited to those who’ll play more regularly.

Your Budget
• The notion that the more expensive the club, the better it is simply doesn’t hold water anymore. If you do enough homework and read reviews you’ll find a club that matches your level of interest. Don’t be afraid to check out used clubs as they can give you the best chances of getting the club you need at a good price.

Now that you know your interest level and have established a budget, here’s a brief run-through of kinds of golf clubs and what each one does.

Woods
• A typical golfer’s bag will have a driver (called 1-wood) and a couple of fairway woods (3- and/or 5-wood). A driver is the longest club (usually 45 inches) making it the toughest to control during a swing.

Irons
• Irons feature thin clubheads with grooves on it. Experienced players opt for a blade style iron while beginners get a cavity-back style. A blade-style has a clubhead with a full back, whereas a cavity back’s clubhead is hollow. It is hollowed out to create a perimeter weighting effect helpful for less-experienced golfers.
• Irons are categorized as long (1, 2, 3,4), mid- (5,6,7) and short (8,9). Short irons are the easiest to hit while the long ones are the hardest. The shorter the iron, the more loft there is and for beginners, the more loft, the better.

Putters
• Putters are the clubs most often used in the game and come in clubhead styles of blade, heel-toe and mallet. Lengths come in belly putters, standard and broomstick (long) putters. Which option to get is a personal choice.

Utility clubs/hybrids
• The clubs combine features of woods and irons and are best for beginners who may not want to buy too many clubs straight out.

A note before finalizing the purchase, most new clubs fit individuals at the average height of 5’10” for men and 5’5” for women. If you are significantly shorter or taller than these figures, you should get your club fitted to your height.

Compression is determined by how tightly the golf ball is wound. The softer the ball, the greater the distance, the greater the loss of control. There are three industry standard settings of compression. They vary in hardness, distance, and control.

80 Compression golf balls
• The softest golf ball available
• Travels further than other balls
• Slower swing speeds do not hamper ball travel as much
• Softer increases distance, but offers less ball control
• Suited for the newer golfer, or the golfer with a slower swing

90 Compression golf balls
• Mid-range golf ball
• Better control that 80 compression
• Less distance
• Suited for intermediate golfers

100 Compression golf balls
• Hardest golf balls available
• Best control of any golf ball
• Require a strong, fast swing for a productive distance shot
• Best for the experienced golfer

A point to keep in mind is that you should consider outside air temperature when deciding which ball to use. User a lower compression ball when the air is colder, as a high compression ball will feel rather heavy due to its density.

Compression ratings are there to help you, don’t hesitate to experiment with the different rating. Find the compression that maximizes your game and watch your handicap drop!

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