| p>If you spend much time around golfers you | | | | So here goes, if you are happy with your current |
| have probably heard Single Length Golf Clubs | | | | clubs or have played the game for a number of |
| talked about, or have seen a group standing | | | | years and are comfortable with the conventional |
| around gawking at a set on the driving range. I | | | | incremental shaft lengths I see no reason to |
| had heard quite a bit about them, lots of talk in | | | | switch. It is a little like the latest Driver or Putter |
| the club house and driving range, but the | | | | that hits the market. Sure there are features of |
| information all seemed a little confusing to me. So | | | | the clubs that might help improve a golfer's game, |
| I decided to conduct my own research and see | | | | but more often than not the club isn't the Holy |
| what I could find out single length golf clubs, and | | | | Grail and will not make you a champion overnight. |
| get the straight scoop on whether they were | | | | If you are not in the market for a new set of |
| something the beginning golfer should consider | | | | clubs then I would not recommend you run out |
| purchasing. | | | | and buy a set of single length golf clubs. |
| What Are Single Length Golf Clubs? | | | | What many people don't realize is that these clubs |
| The length of traditional golf clubs varies between | | | | have been around for a long time. Commercially |
| clubs, typically there is ½ inch difference | | | | they were available back in the 1980's when |
| built into the set. So for example, the length of | | | | Tommy Armour golf manufactured them under |
| your 8 Iron is ½ inch shorter than your 7 | | | | the name EQL irons. The golf clubs were popular |
| Iron. Single length golf clubs eliminate these | | | | but the company found it difficult to make these |
| differences so your entire set is the same length, | | | | custom clubs in the face of a low cost/high |
| your 5 Iron is the same length as your 7 Iron as | | | | volume environment. |
| your 9 Iron. In fact, single length golf clubs have | | | | Which leads us to reasons that you might want |
| the same club length, the same swing weight, | | | | to try these clubs, you are in the market for a |
| provide the same momentum, and the same | | | | set of custom fitted clubs. Single length golf clubs |
| shaft flex throughout a set of golf clubs. | | | | cost more than a standard set you pull off of a |
| Why are Conventional Clubs Different Lengths? | | | | store shelf, and are comparable in price to |
| This is the obvious question that we all ask when | | | | custom fitted clubs. So, if you are planning to |
| considering whether single length golf clubs make | | | | make an overhaul to your equipment or are just |
| sense for us. Ironically, before the introduction of | | | | entering the golf market and are considering the |
| steel shafts into the sport of golf all clubs were | | | | Custom Club route...then single length clubs may |
| built the same length. Hickory shafts were the | | | | be just the answer for you. |
| shaft of choice during this time period and each | | | | The Benefits of Single Length Golf Clubs |
| set of clubs was custom made for each golfer | | | | Ok, so let's get down to it. Why should you |
| based upon their individual requirements, their | | | | consider purchasing a set of single length golf |
| wrist to floor static measurements. Well, as you | | | | clubs? What are they going to do for your game? |
| can imagine building clubs in this manner was very | | | | Manufacturers of these same length clubs claim |
| time consuming and very expensive, and require | | | | two primary benefits; improved distance and |
| that a person had measurable wealth to afford a | | | | improved consistency. What golfer would not |
| set of hickory shaft clubs. | | | | want to see improvement in these areas of their |
| The introduction of steel into golf allowed the golf | | | | golf game? I surely would! |
| shafts to be produced mechanically, at a high | | | | The marketing material claims an increase in |
| volume and lower cost than the hickory golf | | | | distance of 5 yards for every club in the bag, |
| shafts allowed. Large sporting goods companies | | | | achieved from only having one swing for each |
| jumped into the golf market eager to supply | | | | iron and therefore greatly increasing muscle |
| loads of cheap steel shaft clubs. There was one | | | | memory. This deeply ingrained swing becomes |
| problem however, these manufacturers could not | | | | much more repeatable than the swing(s) needed |
| produce single length custom fitting to their | | | | with conventional clubs, your confidence increase, |
| customers but rather, needed to mass produce | | | | and you see greatly increased ball striking which all |
| thousands and thousands of homogenous clubs. | | | | adds up to greater distance. |
| The solution was to produce clubs with a ½ | | | | According to 1 Iron Golf a leading manufacturers |
| inch difference in length...the thinking being that at | | | | of single length golf clubs, golfers using their golf |
| least a couple of clubs may fit their customers. | | | | clubs will see the following results: |
| So the irony is that conventional clubs differ in | | | | · Greater power and distance. |
| length because of a manufacturing decision that | | | | · Extreme ball striking improvement. |
| was made almost 80 years ago. | | | | · Stunning accuracy and control. |
| Which Clubs Are Better: Conventional or Single | | | | · Mid/High handicapper: average 10 stroke |
| Length? | | | | reduction in handicaps. |
| I apologize in advance, but I think the answer is "it | | | | · Low handicapper: the dramatic increase |
| depends". I you want to learn how to play golf | | | | in swing consistency eliminates those last few |
| like Tiger Woods, purchasing either set of golf | | | | strokes bringing handicaps down to zero and |
| clubs will probably not deliver this dream. And | | | | below. |
| speaking of Tiger Woods, he seems to play | | | | All of this research leads me to believe that single |
| alright with conventional golf clubs. Sure, sure the | | | | length golf clubs are worth trying out for yourself |
| argument might be made that he would play even | | | | to determine whether they would benefit your |
| better with a set of single length clubs...but nobody | | | | golf game, now if only someone could fix my |
| knows the answer to that argument. | | | | putting. |