Do Ladies Need Ladies Golf Clubs?
There aren’t many things that are certainties when it comes to golf but one thing that is for sure is that women’s golf clubs are far fewer than men’s.
There has been a lot of talk recently about how women are under-represented in the sport and while there are plenty of excellent ladies golf clubs out there, a lot of us girls are still using equipment designed for men.
But what does it really matter? Surely, a golf club is just a golf club and we don’t need to worry about which gender it was designed for?
In short, the average woman would likely benefit from using ladies clubs but this is definitely not a hard and fast rule across the board.
In this post, we are going to be exploring what sets ladies clubs apart from their men’s counterparts and whether you need to concern yourself with investing in this gender-specific equipment to find out ‘do ladies need ladies golf clubs?’
In most cases yes, you should be using golf clubs which have been designed for us girls.
Golf is hard enough, so if we can benefit from technology to help us hit the golf ball a little further, and help us hit the fairways and greens, then why wouldn’t we use them.
Is There A Notable Difference Between Men's And Ladies Clubs?
One thing that a lot of female golfers don’t realise, especially those who are new to the game, is that there is a genuine design difference between clubs made for men and those that have been designed with women in mind.
You could be forgiven for thinking that the only difference is the aesthetics of the golf club; many female golf clubs are fashioned with a typical female personality in mind.
By this, we mean that the grip tends to come in a nice pastel shade and there are typically pink markings on the club head.
But of course, this design is merely to make the clubs look more feminine, it certainly doesn’t have a bearing on how the club will perform.
That being said, there are some clear differences in the build of a ladies club that makes them far easier for a woman to use.
Having this unique design enables female golfers to make the most of their natural abilities and for the most part, they will notice a difference in how well they play when using clubs designed for female players.
If you want to buy a new set of golf clubs we have reviewed the best golf clubs for a lady beginner.
Why Is There A Difference Between Men's and ladies Golf Club's?
The main reason that ladies golf clubs are different to men’s club is that, as much as we might like to contest the fact, men are not in all cases but can be typically a lot quicker, a lot stronger and a lot taller than us.
This means that when we use equipment designed for them, it doesn’t play to our natural abilities.
Women’s golf clubs are designed in such a way that it makes it a lot easier for us to swing them, and deliver the required power.
Men typically have a much greater swing speed than women and besides, they are often taller which means that they require a longer shaft, and much more rigid or ‘stiff.
Furthermore, women generally need something a little more lightweight, so you will find that most women’s golf clubs are made from less heavy materials to cater to this need such as graphite.
What Are The Differences Between Men’s and Ladies Golf Club’s?
Ladies clubs generally come with a shorter shaft. Men’s golf clubs are normally made from steel, although there are some that are made from graphite.
However, golf clubs for women are almost always made with a graphite shaft; this material is far more lightweight but just as durable as steel.
It is also a lot more flexible.
Another key difference is that the club heads on a ladies golf club are larger.
This enables for better contact but surely, this could add weight where it is not welcome?
Fortunately, that is not the case and ladies clubs are designed in such a way that this larger golf club clubhead will not result in any additional weight.
Furthermore, having a bigger clubhead makes the club a lot more forgiving for women golfers.
Everything has been considered when manufacturers create golf clubs or a golf set for ladies, right down to the grips.
This may not seem like a huge consideration for the lady golfer but when you think about the size difference between men’s and women’s hands, it becomes apparent that the grips need to cater to this.
For this reason, the grips on a female golf club tend to be much smaller and not quite as thick as those found on male clubs.
Having the right grip size means that you will be able to get a much better hold on your club.
One of the key differences between men’s and women’s golf clubs is that those made for men are generally much heavier.
This is because women tend to be less physically strong and deliver a slower swing speed than men and with the combination of a lighter shaft and more female-suited design, you end up with a club that is much easier to manage.
What’s more, these lightweight clubs will enable you to improve your swing speed so even if you are competing against a male, there should not be an unfair advantage.
Finally, the loft in a woman’s club is generally higher than that of a man’s. Once again, this is to do with gaining more distance and getting the ball higher into the air. On women’s clubs, the loft tends to begin at 11.5º on the driver whereas men’s can start at just 8º.
There are, however, some women, that do possess a swing speed that rivals a man’s and who are much taller.
In these cases, it might be a good idea for ladies to consider a man’s golf club, but in all cases it can be a really good idea to get fitted by a professional.
Do All Ladies Need Ladies Golf Clubs?
Something that may come as a surprise is that all of the competitors in the LPGA use golf clubs designed for men.
This then makes you wonder if ladies golf clubs are something of a gimmick and begs the question of whether you really need to invest in a set of clubs made just for us girls.
However, it is also worth keeping in mind that the women who play at a professional level tend to have a much greater swing speed than your average weekend golfer, so they may be more suited to using men’s clubs.
But there aren’t typically any rules that are set in stone when it comes to choosing whether to use men’s or women’s golf clubs.
When making your decision, you should think about two key factors; your height and your swing speed. Since ladies clubs are much shorter than men’s, by two inches, on average, it stands to reason that they would suit someone with a shorter stature.
Petite ladies might find that female clubs are easier to handle since the average male club is made for golfers starting from 5’7″ upwards, which is a lot taller than the average lady.
Furthermore, some women find that they do not have the strength to manage a male club and since ladies clubs are much more lightweight, they will likely find that these are a lot easier to play with.
In addition to this, you must think about your swing speed.
It can be easy to let pride stand in the way and many women will refuse to admit that their swing speed is less than a man’s but it is true; most of us have a slower swing and that’s OK. But it does mean that you need to use the correct equipment in order to maximise how well you play.
If you attempt to use a man’s club when your swing speed is below 80mph, you will notice that you end up losing a lot of distance and height, which of course, is not what you want. If your swing speed is above 80mph, you may find that you work better with a man’s golf club but some women find that these are too heavy.
It also must be mentioned that a lot of men who have slower swing speeds would benefit greatly by using a set designed for lower speeds.
At Eat Sleep Golf Repeat, we believe that golf should not be about what sex you are, but about ability.
Fortunately, there are a lot of modern clubs that come with a graphite shaft, similar to those that are used in the production of women’s clubs.
This enables you to get a club that you can handle but will also work with your abilities.
Conclusion
Golf is a game that is becoming more and more popular with women but when it comes to choosing your equipment, you have two options; use men’s clubs because they are easier to come by or source a good set of ladies golf clubs.
Many women are tempted to use a set designed for man because they are easier to come by but this could be detrimental to how well you play.
Ladies clubs are designed with the unique build and ability of a female golfer in mind.
However, this doesn’t apply to all women since some have a taller stature and higher swing speed which means they would benefit more from using a male club.
The best way to test this is to try out the golf clubs and see how you get on.
