Golf club
A golf club is a long-handled implement used to strike a golf ball. Its head shape and loft determine how the ball is launched and controlled.
Clubhead: The part of a golf club that contacts the ball, shaped to produce a particular launch and flight. Its shape, mass, and face govern impact with the ball.
Golf swing: The coordinated motion used to propel a golf club through impact with the ball. The swing delivers the clubhead’s speed, path, and orientation to the ball.
Golf club set: A collection of golf clubs selected for use during a round, within the rules’ limit of fourteen clubs. A set combines clubs with different distances, trajectories, and roles.
Blade iron: A compact iron design with a relatively small head and thin profile, often favored for its feedback and workability. It represents the compact, less-forgiving end of iron-head design.
History of golf: The development of golf as a game, from its early forms to the modern sport. Golf clubs evolved alongside the game’s courses, rules, and playing styles.
Shaft (golf): The long connecting component between a golf club’s grip and clubhead. Its length, stiffness, and weight affect how the club moves through impact.
Clubhead speed: The speed of a golf club’s head at the moment of impact with the ball. It is a key measure of how quickly the club transfers energy at impact.
Driver (golf): A low-lofted wood, usually the longest club, designed primarily for long tee shots. Its large head and long shaft suit powerful shots from the tee.
Cavity-back iron: An iron with mass redistributed around a hollowed rear cavity to increase forgiveness on off-center strikes. Its perimeter weighting contrasts with the concentrated mass of blade irons.
Featherie: A leather golf ball stuffed with feathers, used before the gutta-percha ball became common. Its fragility shaped the demands placed on early clubheads and play.