Can women play with men’s golf clubs? It’s a question that I have a particularly strong viewpoint on, as a single-figure lady golfer with a handicap index of 2.6, who has played men’s clubs in the past.
To be frank, I did so because the options available to me were very limited 25 years ago as a good junior, who was playing for my home county Dorset aged 15 and competing on the national amateur circuit. Back in those days using a hand-me-down set of my dad’s old irons was the best I could do in a bid to become a more accomplished player.
The smaller sized heads (like blades) suited my eye and allowed me to learn to shape shots with finesse and develop the skill required to compete at the top-level of the game. Custom-fitting was really in its infancy and only available to professionals and tour players.
Looking back on this era now, I realise that I did myself absolutely no favours. In fact, these clubs were TOTALLY WRONG for me. Wrong length, wrong lie, wrong grips, wrong flex…the list goes on. But I was (and still am) a strong player and the alternative was to carry on using the women’s set that I had learned to play golf with, which ballooned the ball too high into the sky because they were too light, too lofty and too whippy.
(Image credit: Carly Frost)
TOUR PLAYERS
Fast-forward three decades and golf equipment has improved dramatically. So much so that I’m certain less than 1% of female players will be using men’s clubs. The exceptions are strong Tour players like Lexi Thompson and Charley Hull who generate clubhead speeds comparable to male players (90mph+).
Let’s face it, manufacturers make men’s clubs to suit the average male, typically taller and stronger than women, with longer levers. They are therefore too upright and too heavy for most women. If you are an average height or short like me (I’m only 5’ 1”), then using a standard men’s club will dramatically reduce your ability to create clubhead speed, robbing ball speed and distance.
The lie angle will be too upright (as men’s clubs are longer and for every half…
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