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Ball  The minimum diameter allowed for the golf ball is 42.67 mm and the mass of the same cannot exceed more than 45.93 gram. The modern day golf balls are four layered design constructed from various synthetic materials. The surface generally has a pattern of 300-450 dimples designed to improve the ball aerodynamics. The process of construction and material used greatly affect the characteristics of the balls like the distance, feel, spin and trajectory. Harder the materials, like Surlyn, generally result in the ball travelling a long distances. While softer covers, such as Urethane, tend to generate higher spin, more "feel" and greater stopping potential. The golf balls are mainly categorized into three groups depending on the manufacture: two-, three-, or four-piece covers. Generally four-piece golf balls tend to be the most expensive, though price is no assurance of quality.
Ball markers When on the golf court, the ball may be picked for cleaning or if it is in a way of putting line of opponent. Firstly, the position must be marked using a ball marker (usually a flat, round piece of plastic or metal, generally a coin). Tees This is actually an object (plastic or wooden) that is pushed into or placed on the ground to rest ball on top for easier shot, but this is only allowed for the first shot (drive or tee shot) of each hole. Traditional golf tee resemble nails with small cup on the hand and are mainly made of plastic or wood. The tees made of wood are very inexpensive and quite disposable. A player may damage or break many of these during the course of a round. The tees made of plastic are generally more expensive and they last longer as well. The length of tee also varies according to club intended to be used and by personal preference, longer tees (3-3.5") allow the player to position the ball higher off the ground while remaining stable when planted, and are generally used for modern woods. These tees can be planted deep for use with clubs, but tend to break more often. Shorter tees (1.5-2.5") are appropriate for irons and are more simply inserted and less easily broken than long tees. Clubs  During the game, a player generally carries several clubs (not more than fourteen). There are three important types of clubs, called irons, woods and putters. Wedges are irons that are used to play shorter shots. Woods are played for long shots from fairway to tee, and sometimes rough, while irons are for perfection shots from fairways as well as from the rough. A special type of club is named a hybrid combines the straight hitting features of irons with the easy-to-hit features of higher lofted woods.
A hybrid is mainly used for long shots from difficult rough. For players having the problem with getting the ball airborne with long irons, hybrids can be extremely useful. Wedges are mainly played from tough ground like sand or the rough and for approach shots to the green. Putters are generally played on green, but can also be helpful when playing from bunkers or for some approach shots. Putters have minimal loft, forcing the ball to stay on the putting surface when struck. Golf bag Golfer typically carries the golf club in a golf bag. It is generally made of leather or nylon and is cylindrically constructed around a plastic frame, but conventionally has been manufactured from other materials like; elephant's penis. This bag has several pockets designed for carrying different supplies and equipments required over course of a round of golf. These golf bags can be pulled or carried on a two wheel pull cart or harnessed to a motorized golf cart during the play. The golf bags have both a shoulder strap and hand strap for carrying purpose. Sometimes it also has retraceable legs that basically allow the bag to stand upright when put at rest. Golf cart These are motorized vehicle used to transport golf clubs and/or golfers along the golf court during the game. Conventional way to play was to walk, but the use of golf cart is becoming very common. Towels This towel is useful in wiping the club and the ball. In some cases, these towels can be specialized with a carabiner or other clip to attach it to the bag with a grommet used on the towel for durability, and incorporating rougher materials in certain sections of the towel for club and ball cleaning with softer weaves elsewhere for drying hands and balls. Clothing  Some of the common clothing in golf includes gloves, shoes, and other specialized golf attire. Specialized golf attire (including shirts, pants, and shorts) is designed to be non-restrictive to a player's range of motion and to keep the player warm or cool and dry while being fashionable.
Club head covers These are protective covers that help in protecting the cover from strikes and from bad weathers, and also from incidental damages that may occur while the club is in the bag. It also helps to provide a personal touch to the club. Ball mark repair tool This is used to repair a ball mark (depression in the green where a ball has hit the ground). In some cases, for pure convenience, such a tool contains at the end for some tees. In order to repair the ball mark, one pushes the tool next to the mark and pushes gently inwards from all sides, loosening the compacted turf to allow fast growth of grass, and then flatten the mark with smooth flat bottom of the putter to smooth the putting surface. Shoes  Golf has special type of shoes that players should wear. Some player of course wear shoes with spikes attached to the soles. These spikes are made of plastic or metal (plastic spikes are also known as "soft spikes) specially made to increase traction thus assisting the player to keep his balance during the swing on the court, or in wet conditions. In order to ensure there is no mark on the greens, many golf courses have actually banned the use of metal spikes, thus allowing only plastic ones.
Gloves The gloves used by the golfer assist in proper grip of the club and prevent blistering. Normally, only one glove is worn on the non dominant hand. The enhanced control and grip allows for harder swings to be made with more control and increasing distance. (Last Updated on : 15-02-2012) |
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