UK Attitudes Towards Women in Golf 2023

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Are attitudes towards women in golf changing?

It’s undeniable that attitudes towards women in sport are shifting. The Lionesses’ triumph in 2022’s European Football Championships, for example, signalled a level of interest and excitement towards women’s football that had previously not been seen in the UK.

But when it comes to women’s golf in the UK, how much inequality still lingers? How rife is everyday sexism, both at a professional and a grassroots level? Do girls feel truly empowered to take up—and stick with—golf from a young age?

Ultimately, are we making any headway when it comes to championing women in the game of golf?

 

Women in golf: the research

We carried out a nationally representative survey of 2,011 UK residents across golf and 21 other sports, looking at opinions on a range of issues, from the role of female pundits to how often Brits watch women’s golf on TV.

We also delved into long-held stereotypes of what constitutes a “male” vs. a “female” sport and explored why one in five men has played golf in their lifetime compared to only 7% of women.

 

Inequality in women’s golf

Overall, survey respondents acknowledged that, in general, inequality exists within the game, with 77% of people agreeing this is the case.

Interestingly, though, 80% of women said there is inequality, vs 74% of men, showing differing perceptions even amongst those who agree there is an issue.

 

Women in golf: viewing habits

women in golf

More than a quarter (28%) of men told us they have watched men’s golf, compared to just 11% of men who have watched women’s golf. Just 12% of people, male and female, have watched women’s golf.

Almost half (45%) of all people, and 60% of men, say they generally prefer to watch men’s sport than women’s. Just one in 10 people have watched the women’s PGA tour compared to a quarter of people who have watched the men’s version.

When asked about major golf tournaments, 55% of those surveyed said there should be a female version of the Masters. However, one in 10 men disagree, arguing that the Masters should be a men’s only golf competition.

And it’s not just women out on the fairways who are discriminated against. Almost one in 10 people said that the opinions of female pundits are less valid than that of their male counterparts. This view was most prevalent among survey respondents aged 55 and over.

women in golf

 

The gender pay gap

Although recent BBC analysis found that 83% of sports now reward men and women equal prize money, a significant gender pay gap still exists, and runs into the tens of millions for some sports.

According to PGA data, the world’s highest paid male golfer is Phil Mickelson, who earned an eye-watering $138m (£114.6m) in 2022. You’ll find much smaller pay packets in the women’s game. For example, the highest paid professional female golfer in 2022 was Minjee Lee, who took home a total of $7.3m (£6m).

In addition, in the Forbes 2022 Highest Paid Athletes List, just two women—Naomi Osaka and Serena Williams – made the top 50.

Despite this clear discrepancy between men and women doing the same job, a quarter of people we surveyed agreed that male golfers deserve to be paid more than female ones. This rises to 35% amongst men.

 

Inequality in grassroots golf

With discussions around women in professional sport now much higher on the agenda, it can be easy to forget the importance of encouraging female participation in sport at grassroots level.

Whether at amateur level, in a local league or just amongst friends as a hobby, getting active through sports like golf plays a vital role in maintaining good public health—both physical and mental. A thriving grassroots scene has also been proven to deliver a range of benefits to society, bringing people together and building community spirit.

However, we found that men are disproportionately playing golf in their day-to-day lives, with 20% of men having played the sport in their lifetime vs just 7% of women.

 

Why are people put off playing golf?

To dig into this statistic a little deeper, we asked people why are put off playing. Around six in 10 (64%) of women said that it just “isn’t their thing”, with far fewer men (41%) giving this reason.

A quarter of people stated that their fitness levels hold them back from playing sport, with a lack of self-confidence, time and disposable income also cited as reasons for a lack of participation. Unfortunately, of course, physical sport isn’t always available to all, with almost 10% of people saying they have a disability which prevents them from playing.

One in seven people told us that they were never encouraged to play sport in school, so they haven’t played as an adult, highlighting the crucial role that school-age sport has to play in our lifelong participation levels.

women in golf

 

Inequality at school

Lastly, our survey explored the level of gender inequality amongst school-age children. We found that 70% of women and 55% of men believe girls face barriers when it comes to participation in golf.

women in golf

There’s also a clear difference between the number of men who have consider golf either as a hobby or a career choice compared to women. Nearly a third (30%) of men have considered playing golf as a regular hobby, while one in 10 has also considered a career in professional golf.

As for women, just 14% have considered playing golf as a hobby, with almost no women saying they have considered it as a career.

 

Where do girls face the biggest barriers to participation in golf?

Interestingly, there were differing views on this topic across regions of the UK. When asked “Do girls face barriers to participation in sport?”, 75% of respondents in Northern Ireland said yes. This was followed by 62% of people in the South East and 58% of people in the North East. Just 44% and 45% of people said yes in Wales and Scotland, respectively, pointing to a potentially more inclusive culture for girls’ sport in those areas.

 

Should girls be allowed to play golf?

We also uncovered some surprising and outdated opinions around which sports “should” be played by boys and girls. Around half (49%) of people stated that some sports are more naturally suited to men than women, with just 35% of those surveyed agreeing that women have the potential to be as good, or better, than men at most sports.

One in seven men surveyed (14%) think women and girls shouldn’t play golf, with this view perhaps surprisingly more likely to be cited among younger generations. A fifth of 16–24-year-olds don’t think women should play golf, compared to just 6% of people aged 55+. 

 

Summary

What’s evident throughout our research is that, despite some solid progress being made regarding attitudes towards women in golf and wider sport, true parity is still a long way off.

Championing positive role models, pushing for greater visibility, and delivering more output on TV will all support the advancement of women’s golf across the UK.

 

Methodology

We surveyed a nationally representative panel of 2,011 UK residents in January 2023 and analysed their responses.

 

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The 2023 Rules of Golf: all you need to know

Posted by & filed under Playing Tips.

The updates to the 2019 Rules of Golf were generally seen as fairly dramatic, with the number of rules being reduced from 34 to 24, and there were some relatively radical amendments which saw us dropping balls from knee height, putting with the flag in and only having three minutes to look for our balls.

This time around, the updates continue the trend of more common sense being applied with a simpler and less penal approach to the rules.

“It’s not quite the dramatic change of 2019, where everyone was having to completely relearn a lot of things, but we have been busy refining and hopefully improving in certain areas,” explains Grant Moir, the director of Rules at the R&A.

“What the last four years have shown is that, overall, we’re very pleased with what we did in 2019 with the modernisation process and it’s been a great success. Sometimes it’s hard to point to specific areas of success, but I think the fact that there have been far fewer penalties at the higher levels, and far fewer technical penalties, is what’s encouraging to us.”

The R&A and USGA have highlighted five key areas of change which we’ll look at in depth. It’s also worth pointing out that the Player’s Edition, which is distributed to golf clubs, is no longer being printed with a big push to using the Rules of Golf app and going online, something that ties in with the governing bodies’ approach to sustainability.

 

1. New Rule – Modifications for players with disabilities

rules of golf 2023

These modifications are now part of the Rules and are in effect for all competitions and all players who fall under the categories covered in new Rule 25.

Previously, the rules of golf for players with disabilities were not part of the 24 Rules. Instead, it was down to the committee running the competition to implement them if need be. Now, Rule 25 is part of the rule book and this is a sound move by the governing bodies to remove any grey areas such as this to help blind golfers, amputees, players who use assistive mobility devices and players with intellectual disabilities.

Depending on the category of disability, players will be allowed to set down objects to help with aiming, stance and swinging, as well as anchoring, and touching sand in a bunker with a club. 

What the R&A says…

“We’ve seen a great increase in the focus on, particularly, elite level competition among players with disabilities, which has been terrific. It felt like it’s absolutely the right time to make them Rules.”

 

2. Ball moved by natural forces

rules of golf 2023

When your ball is at rest after taking relief and then rolls into another area of the course due to natural causes, there is no penalty, and you must replace it.

Previously, if natural forces e.g. terrain, wind, rain, slope etc, caused a player’s ball to move then there would be no penalty and the ball should be played from its new spot.

Then, in early 2019, Rickie Fowler, leading by five in Phoenix, saw his ball rolling down the bank, having placed it there under penalty, and back into the water—cue outrage from all corners and plenty of head scratching for the governing bodies.

Now, if a ball is moved by natural forces after being dropped, placed or replaced and ‘comes to rest in a different area of the course or out of bounds’, then the ball must be replaced and played from its original spot.

What the R&A says…

“We felt this was something we needed to look at. This was maybe a situation where the rules as they’re written are quite simple and straightforward but there was a concern that it just doesn’t provide the right outcome. It is quite a complex change and we took a little bit of time to work through it. Hopefully, this will mean the rules will avoid being part of the story where people think the outcome seems harsh and unnecessary.”

 

3. Simplified back-on-the-line relief

rules of golf 2023

When using this relief option, you are required to drop your ball on the line, and it may roll up to one club-length in any direction.

Previously, when taking a penalty, you took a reference line going straight back from the hole and dropped in a one-club relief area. A Model Local Rule, which has now been removed, meant that players could re-drop if the ball was outside the relief area but within one club length from where it first touched the ground—which gave the player another chance to drop again if they didn’t like their new lie.

Now, the ruling says that the player must drop the ball on the line and the spot on the line where the ball first touches the ground ‘creates a relief area that is one club-length in any direction from that spot’.

So, you can now play the ball even if the ball moves forward, which makes perfect sense given that you have already moved back from where the ball had finished.

What the R&A says…

“We agonised over the back-on-the-line rule in the lead up to 2019. I think what we just had to accept was that back-on-the-line is a unique relief procedure—its own relief procedure—rather than trying to finesse it into the standard relief procedure. It now does what it says on the tin. It’s back-on-the-line and then you drop on that line and it can roll up to one club-length in any direction.”

 

4. Replacing damaged clubs

If your club is damaged during a round (except in cases of abuse) you may replace it, repair it or continue to use it.

Previously, if a club was damaged, then you were unable to replace it with another club, something that is impossible at club level but is a part of tour life. Now, unless we’ve damaged a club in a fit of anger, we can replace it. 

What the R&A says…

“We were previously allowing repair, but not replacement. The fact is that when somebody damages their club, generally speaking, they’ve done that by accident. They haven’t damaged it to try and gain any kind of advantage and rather than agonising over whether it’s a situation where the club can be repaired but not replaced, we thought that—provided it wasn’t (done through) abuse—if that club has been damaged you have the opportunity to repair or replace it or to continue to use it.”

 

5. Handicap on scorecard (stroke play only)

You are not required to put your handicap on your scorecard and there is no penalty if you return your scorecard in a competition with an incorrect handicap, as this is now the Committee’s responsibility. This change is consistent with other penalty reductions, such as reducing the penalty for playing an incorrectly substituted ball from the general penalty to one stroke.

Previously, it was the player’s responsibility for ensuring that their handicap was shown on the scorecard, and if there was no handicap (or one that was too high), then they would be disqualified. If it was too low, then the net score stood using that number.

Now, a player does not have to show their handicap on the scorecard or to add up their scores. This is now down to the committee.

What the R&A says…

“It’s (about) simplification and part of the analysis of the necessity for certain penalties—particularly with this one potentially bringing in a very severe penalty of disqualification. Pretty much all our scores nowadays go through some kind of digital process where that machine tells you what your handicap is, and your principal responsibility is simply to enter in the correct scores for each hole.”

Driver shafts for 2023: all you need to know

Posted by & filed under Golf Equipment.

Driver shafts are important to any golfer—but they can also pose several questions, many of which are best answered by an expert.

Matt Johnson from AFGolfStore, an independent golf retailer and fitting specialist, knows a thing or two about driver shafts. Here, he takes us through the fitting process for a new driver, and what driver shafts are currently on the market.

 

Driver shafts: all you need to know

best driver shafts image

At AFGolfStore, we have no brand bias and only allow our customers to purchase clubs that offer true performance gains. I fit for Callaway, Cobra, Mizuno, Ping, Titleist and TaylorMade, and I’ve been a fitter for seven years, including five with Titleist. 

When fitting for a new driver, we’ll start by looking at how someone swings the club for a guide on their shaft flex. Generally speaking, anyone swinging the club under 95mph would fit into a regular shaft, 95-105mph would be stiff, and 105 mph-plus would be extra stiff.

But you also need to consider that some players will swing it quickly but not aggressively, with more smooth and natural power, so they might not fall into the right flex. Then, we’ll play around with the weight. A quick and smooth player may not load an extra stiff shaft particularly well—instead, a heavy stiff may be a better fit, but this is a good starting point.

Then, we’ll look at ball flight. You won’t typically change the shaft based on someone’s launch—instead, you would change the loft, as that will do more. Many people obsess about a high or low-launching shaft. Yes, this works on a robot, but humans can override that, or the centre of gravity location of the driver head will change launch and spin. And, of course, if you tell someone that it’s high or low, they’ll change their swing accordingly, so it’s not a true representation.

Next, we’ll look at whether they’re missing it left and right. If a player is struggling to release the head, we will go for something that’s more counter-balanced where the weight is predominantly in the handle, which helps the clubhead to release easier, which is good for those players with a bit of a cut or slice.

 

Driver shafts on the market in 2023

best driver shafts on the market

In terms of driver shafts available currently, TaylorMade has 6-7 stock options, as does Ping and Titleist, while Callaway and Cobra offer a bit less. This is generally fine, but the odd person might occasionally want something that’s not there.

The Mitsubishi Tensei is a very popular shaft, the black and blue model especially. The Mitsubishi Kai’li is a new range which has, in a sense, replaced the Diamana—they have three colours: red (high launch, mid spin), white (low launch, low spin) and blue (mid launch, mid spin), which has been gaining some great traction on tour. 

The True Temper Project X is another very solid shaft. It’s quite firm, so if a player is quite aggressive, that can often be a good shaft to go with. It’s worth noting there isn’t a tour version of the Project X, so all the shafts are the same.

There are also some excellent offerings from Project X with HZRDUS, which are in pretty much everyone’s stock option. 

The Fujikura Ventus has been a hot shaft for a few years now—there are two types of Ventus shaft, one for retail and one for tour level. TaylorMade offers the Ventus shaft in the Stealth and Stealth 2, but it’s worth noting that the tour offering has VeloCore patented technology. That’s what makes it so ridiculously good but also more expensive.

The technology essentially means the head twists less, so you get less gear effect and less curvature in the ball flight, which results in very straight shots. We offer the VeloCore options in red and blue at AFGolfStore, which can fit into any head for testing.

Some people know everything about driver shafts before they come to us for a fitting, while others just want something that works, and they won’t really ask about the shaft—rather just about the flex. There’s a lot of data and information out there which can be both helpful and confusing at the same time. 

Put simply, it comes down to a combination of launch and spin. If someone hits six degrees up on a driver, they probably don’t want too much loft. For example, Justin Thomas hits three degrees up, and uses a 9.25˚ driver. We use loft for ball flight, and we’ll generally optimise the flight in terms of launch, peak height and spin. Someone swinging the club at 80mph or 120mph can use the same lofts as long as they’re producing that same landing angle—we’re trying to get that around 35-37˚ for the driver.

 

Drivers on the market in 2023

driver shafts image

This year, we’ve seen a lot of new drivers come out, and the Ping G430 is ridiculously good, super stable and super quick. You wouldn’t generally think of a Ping driver for distance, more for forgiveness, but the G430 is very good for any standard of golfer.

There has been a lot of buzz for the Callaway Paradym driver, too, while TaylorMade repeatedly brings out good drivers. The hype hasn’t been quite as high as when the Stealth came out, though, and we’ve seen a subtle change with the carbon crown with the Stealth 2 this year, but it still performs very well. 

Titleist offers different heads, which makes fitting easy, and the new TSR3, in particular, is phenomenal—you’d struggle to find anything quicker than that. When you look at what the non-contracted players are using, that is normally a good barometer, and the TSR and the previous TSi are both very popular.

Nowadays, options are excellent for a new driver with a stock shaft. Generally, you can fit someone in 30 shots which is great, as people get tired of hitting a lot of drivers, and if people listen to you properly, you can easily do it in that amount of shots.

Many thanks to Matt for his time and insight!

 

About AFGolfStore

best driver shafts image


AFGolfStore was created from a small pro shop in Cambridge in 2019 and comprises three golf superstores in Cambridge, Milton Keynes and Peterborough. Operated by PGA professionals, the team is not commissioned or focused on selling specific brands or products, which guarantees them finding the right solution for the customer. AFGolfStore is also on Twitter at @AFGolfStores.

The 7 best hybrid golf clubs for 2023

Posted by & filed under Golf Equipment.

Little more than 20 years ago, the hybrid club wasn’t even a thing. Now, the large majority of golfers will have one in their bag. They are easy to use and versatile, whether as a replacement for long irons, a driving weapon, or even a chipping wizard around the green.

One of the most forgiving clubs you can put in your bag, with uses from almost every lie, the best hybrid golf clubs are shot-saving machines.

 

The best hybrid golf clubs for 2023

best hybrid golf clubs

Srixon ZX

Price: £229
Lofts: 2-16° / 3-19° / 4-22°
More: www.srixon.co.uk

They say: Compact, powerful, and incredibly reliable. These hybrids inspire confidence, strike clean, and keep you in the game.

We say: These hybrids are great when you sit them down behind the ball, and the performance is just as impressive. It’s long, yet its dispersion area is tight, with excellent forgiveness on off-centre strikes. It’s both style and substance from this sleek hybrid.

 

TaylorMade Stealth

Price: £229
Lofts: 19°-3 / 22°-4 / 25°-5 / 28°-6 / 31°-7
More: www.taylormadegolf.eu

They say: Combines Tour-validated designs with a new carbon crown construction to elevate performance for all skills. Powered by a redesigned V Steel sole with precision weighting, it is engineered for high launch and forgiveness.

New carbon crown construction allows for the relocation of 7g, transferring it lower in the head to better position CG for easy launch, optimal forgiveness, and better stability.

We say: You can expect high launch and smooth turf interaction with this speed-and-distance hybrid. Weight low in the head helps make it a weapon of mass destruction from all lies; the Stealth is one of the longest hybrids on the market.  Built from carbon DNA, the ability to transfer 7g lets you place it where you need it most. The mid-width body is easy on the eye.

 

Ping G430

Price: £229
Lofts: 2-17° / 3-19° / 4-22° / 5-36° / 6-30° / 7-34°
More: eu.ping.com/en-gb

They say: Ping innovations Facewrap and Spinsistency combine to deliver greater distance and spin predictability, so your approach shots reach and hold greens. A tungsten back weight on the extreme perimeter helps increase MOI for more stability and forgiveness.

We say: Ping clubs *always* deliver—and the G430 is no exception. As forgiving as they are well-built, the G430 is nicely compact at address, and delivers super feedback, feel, and lots of power. The head is compact and sits pleasingly flush to the turf, giving the impression this forgiving club is shallower than expected—thus increasing confidence. It sounds great through impact, too.

 

Cleveland Launcher XL Halo

Price: £169
Lofts: 3-18° / 4-21° / 5-24°
More: www.clevelandgolf.eu

They say: Rough isn’t all that rough with the new Launcher XL Halo Hybrid. It has Gliderail to glide through any lie, and it’s loaded with MOI for straight-shooting forgiveness.

We say: If you’re looking for a hybrid packed with forgiveness, the Halo is one to consider. It isn’t the longest rescue out there, but it’s incredibly easy to hit. It’s at its best when you’ve got 180-200 yards into a green, and when you turn to look into your bag, you’re so glad the Halo is looking back at you and not a 4-iron that looks like a butter knife.

Its head is bigger than others around, but it’s not unwieldy and sits sweetly behind the ball. A wider body, a higher spin rate, extra height and a steep angle of descent make this your green-holding club of choice.

 

Mizuno ST-Z 230

Price: £279
Lofts: 16º / 19º / 22º / 25º
More: www.mizunogolf.com/uk/

They say: A throwback profile—with curves for the purist and performance for the pragmatist. Mizuno’s 3rd generation MAS1C face is Mizuno’s most powerful to date. A balanced package of low spin performance and stability—not common in most fairway woods, with an adjustable hosel in both 3 and 5 wood.

We say: Mizuno is noted for making aesthetically pleasing clubs, and the ST-Z 230 certainly falls into that category. Its gloss black crown’s sleek looks will have you feeling like a Tour pro at address, but thankfully there is also forgiveness built into it, with the sweet spot deep and low for extra playability. This also makes it a brilliant option if you want a rescue that performs well off tight lies. It’s a dream for links and heathland lovers.

Oh, and did we mention the consistency of speed and spin and the elegant head’s performance through rough? Versatile and beautiful.

 

Callaway Paradym

Price: £219
Lofts: 18° / 20° / 23°
More: eu.callawaygolf.com

They say: The Paradym Hybrid is for golfers who want a mid-sized, wood-shaped hybrid that’s long with excellent versatility and control. Our Cutwave Sole design improves performance through the turf, making this our most versatile hybrid.

We’ve adapted our best fairway wood technologies for maximum distance. Our new A.I. designed Jailbreak with Batwing Technology increases stiffness in the body for more face flexure. The result is fast ball speeds and exceptional distance.

We say: Arguably the most exciting hybrid club on the scene for 2023, the Paradym has a mid-size head that offers exceptional levels of forgiveness on hits across the face. It launches high with a strong, neutral flight. It’s versatile, too, ripping through rough as well as sweeping the ball away off tight lies. Looking down on its traditional gloss black crown, it will inspire confidence in the mid-range handicapper and above, yet sits squarely and neatly enough for the better player to fancy it, too.

 

Cobra King TEC 2023

Price: £249
Lofts: 16º / 18º / 20º / 23º
More: www.cobragolf.com

They say: Our most technologically advanced hybrid is designed to bring maximum distance, forgiveness, and versatility to your game. A player’s hybrid packed with technology, the KING TEC Hybrid has the versatility to fit every player’s game while maintaining the distance and forgiveness golfers have come to expect from a hybrid design.

Three adjustable weight settings allow you to position two 12g weights in the front for lower spin and launch, in the back/heel for draw-bias, or in the back/toe for fade-bias.

We say: Forgiving but elegant, classy yet powerful, stable but lightweight, the King TEC offers confidence and workability in a great-looking club. The higher handicapper will enjoy the flatter face and longer heel-to-toe shape, but the cleaner aesthetics—a one-tone matte black finish—will also appeal to the better player looking to visualise their shot shape. Moveable weights provide easy customisation to allow you to produce a certain ball flight.

Blade vs mallet putters: a complete guide

Posted by & filed under Blog.

We can categorise putters in certain ways—the most obvious being the shape of the putter head.

Tiger Woods has won 14 of his 15 majors with the Scotty Cameron Newport 2-blade model, while, in 2022, 62 per cent of the world’s top 50 players were using a mallet putter.

Scotty Cameron is one of the leading putter manufacturers in the world. He explains the difference in the shape of the putter head as follows…

“A blade is a traditional putter with a straight club head and a narrow, or non-existent, flange (back cavity/area of the putter). It can also have heel and toe weighting. Blade putters can be designed with various neck set-ups such as plumbing, flare, round, mid-slant or mini-slant necks. Blades are usually favoured by the player with a bit of an arced putting stroke, as they promote a swinging gate, more flowing stroke.

“The putter-making world of mallets is where designers can be the most creative with materials, shapes, sizing and set-ups. A mallet putter favours the player who is striving to make a straight-back-straight-through stroke. Usually, heavier weighting is moved to the perimeter and toward the back of the mallet to increase MOI (Moment of Inertia), stability and forgiveness.” 

 

Toe hang vs face-balanced putters

blade vs mallet putters

Another consideration you’ll often hear regarding putting is whether you’re better off with a toe hang or a face-balanced putter.

The blade putter is generally considered helpful on fast greens, good for arc stroke putters, great for feel, and for those who want a lot of precision in their putting stroke. On the downside, they aren’t as forgiving as mallets and are often harder to line up. Historically, the blade was regarded as the ‘player’s putter’ given the lack of mallet options and the success of players like Woods. 

The mallet putter is more forgiving, easier to line up, and is available in various designs. It’s easy to customise and is ideal for someone with a straight back/straight-through stroke. On the downside, though, it might not suit an arc stroke, and some players may struggle on fast greens.

 

What the expert says…

James Jankowski is one of the leading putting specialists in the UK and has coached a number of elite players. His job is to help golfers hole more putts, help more of us understand what we should look for in a putter, and the benefit of being fitted for what we use on the greens.

“One of the biggest myths in a putter fitting is if you have an arcing stroke, then you need toe hang, and if you have less arc and less face rotation, you need a face-balanced putter.

“But it is more about matching the torque (twist) profiles of how a player reacts when they have the putter in their hands.”

 

Blade vs mallet putters

“A mallet will give a player the possibility of a more in-plane stroke, and it’s going to be a bit more stable. It’s a bit like a bike with two wheels and a bike with stabilisers. Because more weight is situated around the perimeter and further away from the face, it can stay more stable. A mallet can help someone if they struggle with controlling the face, and their rotation is inconsistent. It can give them some stability here.

“Generally, we would fit more club golfers into mallets to help with a more consistent rotation and strike out the middle. Blade putters are less forgiving, but highly-skilled players might like the feel and ability to manipulate them more—that’s the theory, but it doesn’t always work like that for everyone.

“I’ve had cases where someone will come in, and their rotation will be all over the place with a blade putter. Then, you put a mallet in their hands, and the difference is huge. But it may make no difference to others. The reality is that you can have a mallet that has toe hang and a blade that is close to face-balanced, and that’ll make a difference too. All I’m trying to do in a fitting is to deliver the putter as consistently as possible.”

Dr Paul Hurrion specialises in biomechanical analysis using high-speed cameras, force platforms and computers. He works with tour golfers as well as UK Athletics, International Cricket Council and the English Cricket Board.

According to a recent study, Hurrion explains that a mishit putt with a blade putter will stay more online than with a mallet.

“It is still theoretical, but because the centre of mass is closer to the face on a blade than a mallet, when you hit it off-centre with a blade, you will lose more ball speed than with a mallet, but you don’t get the ball deflecting as far offline. It’s not the twisting that makes the ball go off line, it’s the deflection away from the centre of mass, so the ball deflects offline as a result,” Jankowski adds.

“If you mishit a short putt with a mallet, you will see the ball go further offline than you would with a blade. That will happen with any putt, but it will be more noticeable on a short putt.”

The bottom line is that you should be fitted by a putting specialist to see how it performs in your hands.

“So many golfers understand the importance of having their equipment custom fitted to suit their needs and technique. This should be no different when it comes to a putter. Using specialist software, I will help you understand your stroke and recommend on putter specifications based on your stroke consistencies and tendencies.

“It’s not as simple as ‘your stroke suits a face-balanced putter.’ Instead, we’ll measure which type of putters you aim with the best and test how your stroke reacts with different putter styles, shapes and weights.”

The benefits of 9 hole golf

Posted by & filed under Blog.

The pandemic was disastrous for sport, golf included—there’s no doubt about that.

Courses were closed, social mixing banned, and professional tournaments postponed left, right and centre. However, now that all of this is behind us for good (touch wood), the uptake in 9 hole golf is arguably one of the industry’s most notable trends—and it’s growing quickly.

For many people, life is a lot different now to how it was pre-Covid. Be it daily routines, how and where we work, or the time we spend with family—our priorities have changed. This means golf has also changed, and we golfers have had to adapt in order to keep on playing the game we love.

 

The benefits of 9 hole golf

9 hole golf

There are many benefits to 9 hole golf, some of which you may not have necessarily considered before now. Well, that’s why you’re here, right?

 

Time

This is an obvious one. Playing a 9 hole round is much quicker than a full 18, and that’s arguably why it’s become so popular so quickly.

The time factor is one of the biggest benefits of playing 9 hole golf. With flexible, remote working now the norm for lots of us, a 9 hole round can be easily squeezed into a lunch break or before the work day even starts if you’re lucky enough to live near a course.

A full 18 is serious business and can take five hours plus to complete, even on a good day, once you’ve also factored in all the walking between holes. The sad reality is that most of us probably don’t have this much time spare each day.

Instead, however, a shorter round gives you your precious time back, making golf a much more feasible day-to-day option rather than just at the weekend or on special occasions.

 

Money

Playing 9 holes works out much cheaper than a full 18.

For a start, having new and expensive clubs and other equipment is less important on shorter rounds, especially if you’re using them for practice. Second-hand clubs will do the job here.

Also, some clubs won’t require you to be a fully paid member to play 9 holes, and there are many pay-as-you-play options out there. As we all know, yearly membership fees can be expensive, but it’s important to remember they aren’t always necessary.

Related: 15 ways to play golf on the cheap

 

Game improvements

Golfers tend to be less bothered by their score when playing 9 holes instead of 18, which makes it a perfect opportunity to practice and work on your weak points.

For example, let’s say you’ve been trying to perfect a tricky lob shot for a while but feel too pressured to give it a go in a full 18 setting when you’re up against it. A shorter, more relaxed round is the ideal time to bring it out.

Many golfers use a 9 hole game merely as practice, especially if squeezed into a lunchtime or even a quick after-work round—so it’s perfect for experimenting. Put in the hours on the 9 hole course, and you’ll reap the rewards the next time you play a full 18—trust us.

 

Beginners

A full 18 can be pretty intimidating if you’re new to golf and just starting out. If you haven’t quite caught ‘the bug’ yet either (you’ll know when you have), you might find you get bored after a while, too. However, shorter rounds are a great way to ease yourself in and stay motivated.

After all, 18 holes can be a struggle if you’re a novice.

On the other hand, 9 holes are great if you’re an experienced golfer looking to get your family more involved. Young children, for example, are far more likely to stay engaged for longer when not being dragged around a larger course.

Put it this way—you’ll probably have better luck pitching golf to the kids as a one to two-hour activity as opposed to five or six!

 

Scoring

We touched on this a little earlier on, but your score is less of a focus in 9 hole golf. While this is indeed true, playing 9 holes can still be highly satisfying for those who like to score well regardless.

With fewer shots and holes, the greater the opportunity to accumulate a competitive score. The average score for a typical adult playing 9 holes is around 45—or bogey golf. But, of course, scores depend on various factors, such as weather conditions and the difficulty of the course.

However, decent amateur-level golfers can expect to record scores in the 30s if they’re playing 9 hole rounds regularly, so it can be a good confidence booster.

Related: What is a good golf score for 9 holes?

 

Less pressure

It’s easy to feel the ‘heat’ on a full 18, especially if you’re playing in a competition, but much of this stress is eased on a 9 hole round.

Not having to constantly overthink your score on every hole allows you to feel cool, calm and collected out on the course.

 

How long do 9 holes of golf take?

9 hole golf

The time it takes to complete a round of golf ultimately depends on you and your game. Some golfers like to take things slow and steady, while others will race around the course lightning quick.

You’ll know which one of those categories you fall into yourself. However, those already acquainted with 9 hole golf say completing a round in less than two hours is more than doable.

Related: How long should it take to play a 9-hole round of golf?

 

9 hole golf courses

9 hole golf

In a world where a full 18 is often the norm, a 9 hole round might seem hard to find, but that’s not the case. Many full-service golf clubs and ranges now offer the option to play shorter rounds—and the choice will only grow as the trend continues.

It’s arguably never been easier to get into 9 hole golf. Check out this interactive map of some of the UK’s best 9 hole golf courses and find your nearest one.