Better players know that the secret to scoring well comes from being a better iron player. Better iron shots mean shorter putts, and shorter putts lead to more pars and birdies. What irons you put in your bag are important to your golfing success.

By far the most popular club in most peoples bag is their Driver. Nothing beats hitting a drive on the screws especially is it is right down the middle of the fairway! “Hitting it on the screws” is an old, but literal saying that dates back over twenty years ago to when golfers used persimmon heads with screws that held the clubface together. Drivers these days have really changed. Drivers don’t have screws in the front, now you will sometimes find them in the back or on the sides. In other models, you’ll find carbon, titanium, tungsten and steel, all designed to serve a particular purpose, which is to help you hit the ball farther and straighter than ever.

Putters are known as the most interesting and often the most colourful club in the bag, putters are more unique than ever. Want to try a new shape, a new material? There’s something new for everyone. Again go to your nearest golf store and try several putters as they really come down to your individual choice. I’m sure you have heard the old saying “Drive for show, Putt for dough”. So if you’re in the mood for a new flatstick, this is a good year to find one. This years models brings forth a slew of new shapes, sizes and materials that are visually appealing, feel great and are often adjustable for your specific needs. With the right putter in your bag and of course the right technique just see how much lower you can score.

Another way to get your golf gear back into great shape is to consider a new shaft upgrade. Choosing the right shaft is a matter of first determining what you need. Do you want more distance, more control, or both? The variations of shafts available are crafted to meet specific demands, and it looks like no demands are too great.

Another new category in golf is the hybrids and fairway woods. Theses clubs have improved from a ton of new technology, making them more playable and more useful than ever. Fairway woods have become longer, bigger and more powerful than ever. Hybrids, on the other hand, have become more specific, acting as either long-iron replacements or high-lofted fairway-wood replacements. The key is to begin analyzing your current set makeup in order to determine what’s missing. Need a club that goes 200 yards and stops on a dime? How about a 3-wood that flies almost as far as your driver, and maybe a little straighter?

Determining just what you require in your bag is crucial to hitting better shots. Choosing the right set of woods and hybrids isn’t as difficult as it looks. With fairway woods, try and look for models that resemble your driver, complete with the same or a similar shaft and look. That will ease the transition from driver to fairway wood and vice versa. With hybrids, simply determine whether you’d like to replace a long iron or a shorter fairway wood. If you opt for long iron replacements, you might favour a hybrid shaped more like an iron. And if it’s fairway woods you want to replace, try a hybrid that looks more like a wood. Anyhow try and have fun with these new clubs and remember to try lots of different styles until you find the right fit for you!

Any good golfer know that if you need a shot saver in your bag the wedge would be the top pick. Designed to be playable from literally anywhere on the course, the right wedge can be a real lifesaver on the golf course. Whether it’s a pitching, sand, gap or lob wedge, each can be used from a perfect lie in the fairway or a buried lie in the bunker. In fact, there’s a reason why the distance from within 100 yards is called the scoring zone. It’s the “make or break” area, where a great wedge shot can redeem a bad drive or poor approach to the green.

Custom fitting is made available to everyone, thanks to a new era of golf clubs that feature all kinds of equipment geared for various types of golfers. Also, club fitting has exploded beyond simple tape measurements and basic shaft flexes. Club fitters to help make sure you have the absolute best equipment for your swing use Doppler radar, launch monitors and laser-guided devices. I was lucky to be professionally fitted in Phoenix, Arizona by PING and it was a thoroughly enjoyable experience, which resulted in a whole new set of clubs! I must say I love my new clubs and feel quite confident that I have made the right choice for me. Happy golfing everyone!