Ladies Golf Clubs 

The buying process for lady golfers is much the same as men, however there are a few main differences to consider. Women's golf clubs are shorter, have thinner grips and more flexible shafts. Most lady golfers will use graphite shafts in their clubs as the material is lighter. This translates to a higher club head speed, thus making it easier to get the ball airborne and hit it further.

Considering Driver Loft

Another important consideration is the loft of drivers. Due to the slower swing speed, female golfers will benefit from a higher lofted driver, such as 13 or 15 degrees. This will enable a better trajectory on the golf ball and maximise the distance travelled.

Women Specific Golf Clubs

Proficient lady golfers will generate sufficient club head speed and may prefer to use the same equipment as men. As female golfers are generally shorter, attention must be paid to the shaft length and lie. Custom fitting is recommended for lady golfers below the height of 5' 8".

Ladies Drivers / Woods

As with all ladies' clubs, the primary difference between these woods and drivers when compared to the men's versions is simply a case of size. The shaft length, weight and even the size of the grip are reduced to accommodate the smaller stature of an average female player. Therefore you can still benefit from the technological excellence that has been developed for years in men's golf clubs, but with sizes and designs that suit you.

Lighter Clubs with Greater Flexibility

Whilst many men favour the bulky heavyweight driver to play off of the tee, in the women's game woods are often used as a like-for-like replacement. The lighter weight and impressive accuracy make them a formidable part of any lady golfer's armory. Of course drivers do still play an important part for women who are comfortable with the increase in size and weight; as with the men's models they produce excellent carry when struck sweetly.

Benefits of Ladies Woods

The multi-purpose aspect of a wood also plays a part in its popularity amongst women golfers. Lugging around a driver for the occasional tee-shot can seem a little like overkill for some; so a good range of woods - 3, 5 and 7 possibly - is often preferable. These can be used from the tee, the rough and the fairway, giving the flexibility of an iron with a slightly different dynamic.

Another difference between men's and ladies golf clubs can be found in the flexibility of the shaft. Typically a ladies driver or wood will have a higher kick point - mostly due to the shortened shaft size - which gives far greater whip on the ball on impact. Greater whip then allows the ball to travel further with less energy, again reducing the stature handicap faced by some female golfers.

Advanced Women's Golf Clubs

Top golfing manufacturers such as Callaway, TaylorMade and Nike produce highly sophisticated and technologically advanced drivers and woods for the female market. With all the attributes of those found in their male counterparts, these specialist golf clubs will help your game progress whilst also catering for your physique. Therefore you should be showing up the men on the course in no time - if you're not already that is - with your own set of woods or driver.

Ladies Irons

As any golfer will tell you, irons are an indispensable part of the game. Fairway woods, drivers and rescue clubs are all well and good, but without a decent set of irons you'll be lost out there on the course. For ladies players there is a great selection of clubs from the top manufacturers, specifically designed suit the unique requirements of the woman's game.

Irons Designed Specifically for Ladies

The ladies game is booming; as a consequence elite golf manufacturers are becoming more involved in developing high specification clubs purely for female players. So rather than simply accepting a generic mid-size club, why not invest in a full set of clubs that'll help shape and improve your game?

The differences between a men's iron and a ladies iron are, on the face of it, reasonably subtle. They both have the same traditional design, same club head and a pretty similar look and feel; however below the surface there are numerous subtle changes, helping to optimise the strengths of the women's game whilst reducing any weaknesses caused by stature imbalance.

Physical Differences in Golf Clubs

Aside from some attractive pink shades on a selection of the club head designs, the most obvious visible difference between the two styles can be found in the shaft length. As ladies are, on average, shorter than their male counterparts, it makes sense that their golf clubs should reflect this. By shortening the club shaft by just an inch or two you can improve the quality of stance and therefore the accuracy and power of the shot.

Understanding Moment of Inertia

Moment of inertia may sound like an unfortunate euphemism; however in golfing terms it is one of the fundamental aspects in creating a successful shot, as well as a decent club. Along with refined club head designs, the reduction in shaft length allows for a greater moment of inertia whilst striking the ball. By minimising the moment of inertia the golf ball spins more, whilst the opposite is true when it is increased. So in golfing terms, it's a case of the more the merrier, and it is certainly something to look out for when purchasing your new set of irons.

The rigidness of the shaft can also have an effect on the distance a strike achieves, as well as the quality of connection. In the ladies game the shaft is often more flexible, allowing the smoother stroking motion to achieve greater distance. A stiffer flex is ideal for quicker, jerkier motions, which in turn lends them to many in the men's game. There are advantages and disadvantages to all levels of flex, but as a general rule of thumb if you are a smooth striker of the ball and perhaps not gaining the distance you'd hope for, it may be worth considering purchasing some irons with a more flexible shaft.

Selecting Your Iron Set

The makeup of irons in general has changed markedly in recent years; with the rising of other popular clubs such as the hybrid/recovery replacing the lower range 1-4 clubs. Many iron sets now run between a 4 or 5 iron through to a sand wedge. This offers the optimal diversity, particularly when combined with a driver and hybrid wood, to cover all distances and any hazards you might encounter on the course.

Ladies Putters

Precision and deftness of touch is never needed more on the course than when lining up a putt on the putting green. Continued development in golf clubs has continued at apace, with putters particularly experiencing their fair share of weird and wonderful creations. Varying head sizes, extra long shaft lengths and various other developments have seen the putter progress leaps and bounds, with increases in accuracy and ball control coming as a direct result.

Enhanced Ladies Putter Design

Technology and design of the putter has been developed in tandem between men's and women's golf clubs. Manufacturers, ever-aware of the similarities as well as differences in the playing styles, have developed entire new lines or customised existing designs with the women's game in mind. The most obvious difference is often found in the length of the club's shaft. Due to difference in the average male and female's stature, ladies clubs, including putters, are invariably built with a slightly shortened shaft.

The leading golf club manufacturers have been quick to develop their ranges of ladies clubs, including of course, putters. Wilson and Odyssey lead the way in terms of developing a truly refined, dedicated putter for women. The Wilson Staff Kirk Currie II Ladies and Odyssey Ladies Divine Line putters are amongst the best currently available. Technologically advanced, these putters are developed with the ladies game firmly in mind. This is achieved because, rather than simply replicating and altering an existing men's club, these top grade pieces of golf equipment are in fact custom built solely for the ever-growing women's market.

Choosing your Putter

So what should you look for in a ladies putter? Well, as with all putters, there are two distinct club head styles - those with slender yet solid heads and those with large bulbous heads, or mallets. The larger headed clubs break away from the more traditional slim styled putter, offering, what some see as greater ball control through a more cushioned ball striking action.

However, weight distribution, regardless of the style of club, is usually the key factor in ensuring quality strokes with increased regularity. Milled grooves and the angle of the club face must also be considered, as both help the accuracy and smoothness of shots. Even entry level putters have a decent strike quality; however, as you progress through to the high end clubs you increasingly discover a greater ease of shot, which is incomparably beneficial to your short game.

Ladies Rescue Clubs

Hybrid club or rescue club, however you wish to term it, these golf clubs have revolutionised the game and are lightening the load of golfers around the world. Performing the duties of both the lower irons and fairway wood, they provide a fantastic all-round club capable of getting you out of some tight squeezes on the course. Featuring the trajectory and shaft length of the iron alongside the clubhead of the traditional fairway wood, it solves a number of the misgivings many golfers have about both these club types.

Multi-Functional Rescue Club

As the rescue club is a comparatively new addition to the world of golf, the ladies club has grown and developed very much in line with the men's alternative. Leading manufacturers like Mizuno, Nike and TaylorMade have all developed a range of these fantastically versatile clubs, each varying in design to maximise the strengths of the ladies' game. This includes shifting the weight in the head of the club, often favouring a greater load towards the rear heal for greater control of the ball.

A Versatile Addition to any Golf Bag

The main selling feature of a rescue club is its exceptional flexibility. When you're carrying, or at the very least wheeling your golf bag around the course, the last thing you want is to have excess clubs. Of course you don't want to be short either in this department, so the hybrid wood is a perfect compromise. It effectively negates the necessity for any iron up to a 4 or 5, depending on your ability, meaning you can leave your 1-4 irons at home.

Tournament players are restricted to 14 clubs in their bag at any one time; this makes the rescue club a particularly invaluable addition to your arsenal, as you can easily lose some irons and even a fairway wood, freeing up additional space for extra drivers or other specialist clubs.