James Michael Furyk

James Michael Furyk, born on May 12, 1970, is an American professional golfer who competes in both the PGA Tour and the PGA Tour Champions. In 2010, he claimed the titles of FedEx Cup champion and PGA Tour Player of the Year. His major achievements include winning the 2003 U.S. Open. Furyk holds the record for the lowest score in PGA Tour history, a round of 58, which he shot during the final round of the 2016 Travelers Championship.

What Does It Mean to “Whiff” a Ball?

When a golfer whiffs a ball, it means that they miss the sweet spot during their swing. This is something that can happen to any golfer and it’s a common thing around a lot of amateurs looking to have some fun on the course.

This can happen for a lot of reasons. But for many golfers, it’s usually a matter of commitment. When the golfer doesn’t fully commit to their shot, they tend to stand straight during the swing, which causes them to completely miss the ball.

Whiffing can be embarrassing and kill your mood on the golf course. On top of that, it’s something that can happen to any golfer on any hole or course.

And if you want to stop whiffing the ball, you need to learn the details of what causes a golfer to whiff in the first place. But don’t worry, we’ll get to that in the next section.

Why Does Whiffing Happen?

As mentioned earlier, whiffing happens for a lot of reasons. While a lack of commitment is one of the main causes, you could be whiffing the ball for a ton of other reasons. This includes poor technique, teeing the ball wrong, your posture, and even a fear of hitting the ground.

So, let’s take a close look at these causes so you can start working on correcting these issues and finding a lot more success on the course!

Poor Technique

The most common cause for whiffing the ball is poor technique. Golf is a sport that’s all about getting the right technique and developing a consistent swing. So, if you’re new to the sport and haven’t gotten the technique down just yet, this could be the reason you whiff the golf ball. Read our guide for swing sequence.

For example, a frequent issue with amateur golfers is standing up when they take their swing. It’s pretty common for amateurs to straighten their back or stand up right before the club makes an impact with the ball. This messes with the alignment, causing you to completely miss the ball when you swing.

Another example of poor technique causing a golfer to whiff the ball is if they grip the club too tight. When you do this, the muscles in your forearm contract, which could make it harder to properly align your shot.

So, if you’re new to golf, there’s a fair chance that you’ll whiff the ball from time to time. But don’t worry; the more you practice and develop your technique, you’ll find yourself making proper contact with the ball in no time.

Teeing the Ball Too Low

How to Stop Whiffing the Ball, Teeing the Ball Too Low

Another issue that causes golfers to whiff the ball is teeing it too low. It can take some time for golfers to figure out the right way to tee the ball in different situations. For example, some golfers like to tee the ball low on the fairway but tee it high when using the driver to get more distance.

However, keep in mind that you shouldn’t tee the ball too low, especially if you whiff your shots from time to time. If you have your ball too low on the tee, there’s a high chance of missing the ball and whiffing or topping it.

Using the Wrong Club

When playing golf, you need to have a fair collection of clubs for different situations. One of the biggest learning curves for beginners is choosing the right club for the right situation. However, regardless of which club you choose, you have to make sure to get the right size.

If the club is too short for you, it will be harder to hit the ball properly on your swing. So, always pay close attention to club size if you want to avoid whiffing the ball when on the course.

Incorrect Posture

Again, if your body isn’t in the right position at the point of contact with the ball, you might end up missing. So, when practicing, make sure to pay close attention to your posture to ensure that you have proper alignment and positioning right as you hit the ball.

Here are some tips for the proper posture when taking your swing:

Slightly flex your knees
Bend your torso at the waist
Keep your back straight
Hang your arms loose

When playing a round of golf, posture is crucial. This is why golfers need to spend a lot of time developing their posture when taking their shots. That way, they make sweeter contact with the ball and it flies exactly how they want them to.

The Reverse Pivot

When you take your shot in golf, you’re supposed to shift your weight to your back foot when you pivot. However, it’s common for some golfers to pivot off their lead foot, which is called the reverse pivot, another primary reason golfers whiff the ball when taking a shot.

If you don’t transfer your weight properly, it can lead to you missing the ball. This is why golfers need to focus on developing a solid base in their stance that allows them to pivot and transfer their weight when pivoting.

When you shift your weight, you get a proper arc on the ball, which is how to get more consistent and reliable shots!

Being Afraid to Hit the Ground

How to Stop Whiffing the Ball

The opposite of whiffing the ball is hitting the ball too high on the face. This is called a heavy shot and it means the golfer makes a lot of contact with the ground. This is another common problem for beginners.

And while it’s important to ensure that you don’t hit the ball too low and make contact with the ground, this can lead to overcompensation. A lot of the time, golfers are so afraid of making contact with the ground on their shots that they hit the ball too high, which causes them to whiff or top the golf ball.

Nerves

It’s hard to hit a proper shot on the course when you’re nervous. And when you have other golfers around you watching what you do, it’s easy to get nervous and mess up your shot. Staying calm and focused when taking your shot takes a lot of practice and patience, but it will ultimately lead to much better and more consistent swings.

Why Golfers Whiff Shots When Using Drivers and Irons

Whiffing is most common with drivers. This is caused by the reasons we mentioned above and has a lot to do with the golfer’s technique and positioning. However, teeing the ball too low and the golfer’s mentality can also cause you to whiff your shot when using a driver.

That said, whiffing the ball with your irons is still very possible. It’s a bit rarer than whiffing with your driver, but it still happens. The main reason this happens is that some golfers sway when they take their swing, which is something you want to avoid.

How to Stop Whiffing the Ball with Drivers and Irons

Whether you’re using a driver on an iron, the reasons you might be whiffing the ball remain the same. To start, poor technique is one of the main causes of golfers whiffing their shots. So, the first thing you need to do if you want to stop whiffing the ball is to work on your technique.

Aside from practicing the basics to develop a consistent swing, there are tons of drills you can practice to stop whiffing the ball, but we’ll get to those later.

Another thing you can do to reduce the chances of whiffing your shot is to ensure that you have the right golf club. This means that when buying your set, make sure to pay close attention to the sizing guide to ensure that the club isn’t too short. Remember, clubs that are too short might cause you to whiff the ball, which is why you want to avoid this as much as possible.

Here are some other things to keep in mind if you want to stop whiffing the ball on the course.

Keep Calm and Collected

A steady head can greatly improve your shot. What we mean is that you should stay focused on the task at hand and try to avoid getting distracted. When you’re calm, you’re more focused, which will result in you keeping steady and consistent throughout the entire swing.

Small shifts in your position can completely mess up your swing. This is why keeping steady and maintaining a solid stance is crucial if you want to develop your golf game. And if you want to stay steady when lining up your shots, you need to stay calm.

Look at the Swing as a Pendulum

Another way you can avoid whiffing the golf ball is to look at your swing as the pendulum. The club serves as your swinging arm while the top part of your grip is the fixed point. So, if you make sure that the fixed point stays fixed, you will avoid misalignment on your shot and ensure that your shot bottoms out in the same place during your swing.

To do this, you need to keep your head steady. If you have a steady head, it’s much easier to keep the fixed point in the same place, leading to a much better shot that you won’t whiff.

Hit Down on the Golf Ball

If you want the ball to fly, you need to hit down on it. This means that on your downswing, you make contact with the ball and then the ground, in that specific order. This is why you want the bottoming point of your swing to be a bit down and forward right before it hits the ball.

Again, to do this you need to keep a steady head and think of your swing as a pendulum. It might take some practice, but golf is a sport that requires a lot of patience. So, if you put in the time and effort to develop your swing and keep it consistent, you’ll find yourself whiffing the golf ball much less.

Drills to Stop Whiffing the Ball

As you play more rounds of golf and develop your swing, you’re going to start whiffing the ball less. However, that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t take active steps to stop whiffing the ball. And for most beginner golfers, the best way to do this while also developing your skills is to do drills to stop whiffing the ball.

Here are some of the drills you can try out to straighten your swing, develop your technique, and stop whiffing the ball:

Hit the Tee

To do this drill, you have to place the tee an inch or two away from the ball. Then, line up your swing but focus on hitting the tee in front of the ball and not the ball itself. This trains you to drive the swing through, which makes for more solid and consistent contact with the ball.

Stepping on the Club

For this drill, you need to place a club parallel to your back foot. Then, place your lead foot on top of the club and practice hitting the ball. We recommend doing this at around 50% speed and power.

The goal of this drill isn’t to hit the ball. Instead, it’s supposed to help you better feel how your weight transfers and moves around as you swing and how you can stay aligned.

How to Stop Topping the Ball

Topping the ball is similar to whiffing the ball. But instead of completely missing the ball with the club, golfers tend to graze the top of the ball. This causes the ball to roll just a couple of feet in front of the golfer.

This can be just as annoying as whiffing the ball and is something beginners need to work on early in their golf journey. If you want to stop topping the ball, it’s best to work on your swing and technique.

One thing we want to emphasize if you want to stop topping the ball is keeping a steady head. If you want your golf swing to remain consistent and always hit the ball right where you want it, you need to make sure your head stays in the same position throughout the swing.

You can also practice some of the drills mentioned above to stop whiffing the ball if you want to avoid topping the ball. Whiffing and topping the ball in golf are caused by the same general reasons, so golfers can use the same techniques to reduce the chances of that happening.

How to Stop Topping the Ball with Fairway Woods

When using fairway woods, one of the most common reasons golfers top the ball is because they place the ball too far away from them. If the ball is too forward in the golfer’s stance, their chances of topping the golf ball are much higher.

So, pay close attention to the position of the ball when teeing up before taking your swing. That way, you ensure that everything is placed correctly before you get into position.

What Are the Rules on Whiffing the Ball?

If you whiff the ball when you intend to hit it, that will count as a stroke. However, the exact rules on what happens when golfers whiff a ball depend on the golfer’s intent.

For example, if you didn’t intend to hit the ball or if you stopped the club right before hitting the ball, it won’t count as a stroke. There are some expert golfers like Tiger Woods who have mastered the art of stopping the club right before impact if they don’t feel right with their shot.

So, if it’s obvious that you whiffed the ball when you meant to hit it, that will count as a stroke. This is why if golfers want to improve their scores on the course, they need to make sure they don’t whiff the ball and waste a stroke.

What To Do If You Accidentally Knock the Ball Off the Tee

If you accidentally knocked the ball off the tee, it won’t count as a stroke. Just like with whiffing the ball, if you intended to hit it, the swing will count as a stroke. But if you genuinely hit the ball accidentally, then it won’t count.

However, if you’re golfing with friends, be ready for one of them to go “one” after you accidentally hit the ball. This is one of the most common and sometimes annoying jokes in the community, but it’s usually the only real penalty if you accidentally knock it off the tee.

Conclusion

Whiffing the golf ball can be embarrassing on the course and set you off your game. On top of that, it can also impact your scores as it counts as a stroke if you miss the ball when you intend to hit it.

And while it’s a common problem for amateurs, there are many ways to fix it. But since whiffing is most commonly caused by poor technique, the best way to reduce the chances of whiffing the ball is through practice.

You can hit the course to practice your swing, do some drills to stop whiffing the ball, and ensure you have the right equipment if you want to reduce the number of times you whiff the ball in a game.

It may take some time, but once you get the hang of it, not only will you have more fun, but your scores will improve as well!

Senior Shaft Flex – What Is It?

These golf clubs are outfitted with a lightweight graphite material shaft (in most cases) with Senior flex. Basically, all boxes are ticked when it comes to being slower-swing-speed-friendly. Lightweight feel and softest shaft flex – these combine to promote a faster swing speed for greater distance, launch angle, and accuracy.

Senior flex in golf shafts is not limited to just any one particular golf club. Meaning they’re available in drivers, irons, hybrids, and wedges.

Senior Flex Golf Clubs – Who Should Be Using Them?

If your swing speed is at its lowest (under 80-85 mph), then you seem to be the perfect candidate for Senior flex. Because it’s specifically designed for all of those who have a slower swing speed. And now this could be senior golfers, beginner golfers, or women golfers.

These kinds of players, more often than not, cannot consistently make their tee shots travel beyond 200 yards. So, at such times, the most appropriate shaft flex is Senior with its lightweight graphite feel and softest flex that allows you to swing faster to cover more yardages.

How To Decide If You Should Get Regular Or Senior Flex?

I can’t just say that Senior flex shafts are made for senior players. There’s a lot more to understand here in terms of factors that provide well-justified answers to the following question, should I get Senior flex shafts?

Your Swing Speed

What swing speed needs a Senior flex shaft? That would be a swing speed between 75 mph and 85 mph (the lowest indeed). So how about measuring your swing speed with a portable launch monitor in case you don’t happen to know what it is…

When your swing speed is between 75 mph and 85 mph, you can still gain a higher speed if you choose a shaft with Senior flex. So it’s completely alright and even natural for your swing speed to decline as you grow older but what matters more is that you compensate for that lack of speed and strength with senior-friendly equipment.

Your Driving Distance

Regular flex or Senior flex? Let your driving distance be the judge of that. Are you hitting your shots about 180 yards with a Regular shaft flex? If yes, time to make that switch to Senior flex. This one’s lighter, softer, and higher-launching too, which quite effortlessly adds an extra 15 to 20 yards just like that!

You certainly understand the importance of driving distance, don’t you? It’s what counts the most when it comes to achieving a low score. Just imagine covering enough distance on that first hole itself. You’re most likely then to reach that green in only 2 shots, which makes your whole round of golf so much easier for you.

Now you get why shafts with Senior flex are so highly recommended for increasing distance. Moreover, make sure that other specifications are also a part of your senior-friendly driver, such as an extremely forgiving clubhead, adjustable loft, etc.

Your Ball Flight

Here’s all you need to know about launch angle – the longer that golf ball stays in the air, the farther it’s bound to travel. So don’t expect a low-launching drive to cover more ground, even if that leads to the ball rolling for quite a few yards after landing. That is NOT going to increase the overall distance.

Instead, a higher loft in the driver helps, but then added loft tends to reduce overall distance. So simply just choose a more flexible Senior shaft that literally elevates launch angle while also maximizing distance.

But then won’t the trajectory end up being excessively high? Well, that only happens if your swing speed is very fast. In that case, seniors, with their slower swing speeds, have nothing to worry about here when using Senior shaft flex to achieve a higher-launching ball flight.

Your Age / Experience

I do not want to be guilty of over-generalizing or even generalizing as a matter of fact. My point here is that just because the shaft flex is “Senior” doesn’t mean all senior golfers (above the age of 50) have to use them.

Not every senior player, after all, shows a decline in his/her swing speed, strength, etc. It’s just that golfers who are older or even those just learning the game benefit more from a Senior shaft since its specifications (most lightweight feel and softest flex) are more slow-swing-speed-friendly.

On the other hand, if you’re still hitting your shots longer than 200 yards with an average (90 mph) or even higher swing speed, you really should be opting for Regular shaft flex.

Custom Fitting

Another very effective way to decide if you should get Regular flex or Senior flex is custom fitting. But then these fittings cost a certain bit of money. However, they’re super helpful if you ask me, especially if you really can’t make up your mind about choosing between Regular and Senior flex shafts.

The process involves using a launch monitor that offers specific, valuable data based on your ball speed, spin, launch angle, and distance. And then this computer system or software tells you exactly which shaft you should be choosing to get the most out of your swing speed and mechanics. Now, this could be a costly upgrade or just the stock shaft your golf club already came with.

Importance of Shaft Flex In Golf Clubs

Let’s just assume the workings of your golf swing are close to perfect. Nevertheless, you will not perform to the best of your abilities if you’re using the wrong shaft flex. Not just seniors and beginners but professional players too have to make it a point to get their shafts properly fitted based on their swing speed.

A more flexible or softer shaft, by default, gives you more distance. So if you’re an average golfer, Regular flex is the most suitable for producing higher clubhead speed and ball speed, along with creating a slightly greater ‘smash’ factor. And the same happens when you select Senior flex in case your swing speed is below average (under 85 mph).

So does golf shaft flex really matter? Of course, it does because it’s the very thing responsible for performance-oriented factors like ball speed and “kick”. The softest shafts (Senior flex) are the easiest to hit whereas the stiffest shafts are designed for faster swing speeds.

Senior Shaft Flex – What Impact Does It Really Make?

Too heavy or too stiff shafts are not for slow-speed golfers. Period. I have been there and done the opposite, multiple times that too! But it never worked. Shots hit with a stiff, heavy shaft feel hard with zero amount of feel or feedback when your swing speed is slow.

You’re most likely to almost always fail to square that clubface at the time of impact. Consequently, pushed shots start to become more and more common.

So how about then switching to too soft or too flexible shafts? Well, to be honest, even these do not exactly help because they might end up feeling excessively ‘whippy’ and there’ll be no such thing as ‘tight dispersion’ anywhere to be seen during your round of golf.

Instead, go for Senior flex since this kind of shaft actually lets you launch your shots more easily, meaning it gets the ball airborne (with a higher launch) more easily. At the same time, you finally are able to control and feel the impact of striking the golf ball like a pro.

How It Affects Distance.

Softer, more flexible shafts carry the ball farther in the air, hence improving distance consistently.

How It Affects Accuracy.

If you’re a golfer with a slow swing speed (beginner, senior, etc.), then only the right shaft flex can get you to hit more greens and fairways. Because only with the correct flex would it become possible as well as so much easier to square the clubface through impact. And when that happens more consistently, your shots take on a straighter flight path.

How It Affects Ball Flight.

Senior flex shafts launch the golf ball higher the most effortlessly. So you don’t really have to struggle with lifting that ball off the ground, the more flexible shaft, on its own, gets the golf ball not just airborne but also takes it higher.

When’s the Right Time to Switch to Senior Shafts?

When your driving distance is around 180 yards

Regular shafts, when they can’t hit the ball beyond 180 yards, need to be swapped with Senior shafts. This sort of lighter, softer flex in the shaft increases distance by an additional 15 to 20 yards easily.

When your swing speed falls in the lower range of 75-85 mph

So what if your swing speed is below the average mark or is declining even? You can still shoot LONG with lots of speed with a Senior shaft flex.

When you’re launching the golf ball low

When Regular flex is producing a lower ball flight and you’re obviously not liking that because the longer the ball stays airborne, the farther it goes, then it’s time to bring on the Senior flex. This ‘extra’ flexibility in the shaft can increase the launch angle of your shots to boost overall distance.

When you’re new to golf or are older

Is senior flex good for beginners? Senior shaft flex is specifically made for all golfers with a slow swing speed. Now, these could be beginners and/or seniors or even women golfers.

You can be a senior or older golfer getting back into the game after a long gap or someone wholly new to the game (old or young). And that’s enough to make you want to pick the Senior shaft flex.

Senior Shaft Vs. Other Shafts – How Do They Compare?

Senior Flex vs. Regular Flex

Both come very close to each other in terms of flex. But then Senior flex is much easier to swing than Regular flex. Golfers entering their “senior” years (above 50) often switch from Regular to Senior, which is considered to be a kind of “step down.”

But then many older players carry a mix of both Regular and Senior shaft flex golf clubs. And that’s mainly because most of these golfers hit drivers and woods with increased speed (between 85 mph and 95 mph), for which Regular flex is indeed suitable. While Senior flex is perfect for those with a swing speed between 75 mph and 85 mph (so these would be golf irons for seniors).

As you can see, there is that common range between Regular and Senior shafts (lower end of Regular and higher end of Senior) that overlaps. In such times, you decide Regular or Senior based on your experience. If you’re a senior golfer experiencing a dip in your swing speed, choose Senior flex. Otherwise, if you’re a new player likely to learn how to increase speed, then Regular flex is the better option for you.

Senior Flex vs. Ladies Flex

Almost everything about Ladies flex shaft and Senior flex shaft is the same – lightweight graphite construction, softer flex, and higher-launching capacity. The only difference is that ladies’ golf clubs are shorter, and Petite women’s golf clubs are even shorter.

So you can be a senior golfer, male or female, and still choose Ladies flex. Just check if the shaft length is right for you!

Senior Flex vs. Stiff Flex

Now, these are poles apart as far as shaft flex and weight are concerned. The whole charm of Senior shafts is that they’re lightweight, flexible, and easier to launch. As for heavy, stiff shafts, these are better suited for golfers with an above-average or faster swing speed (over 95 mph).

When your swing speed is higher, getting the golf ball to launch higher is no concern. But what seems to be the problem instead is controlling those shots. So with the help of Stiff flex, this problem gets solved because players then can very easily manipulate or control the ball flight.

Stiff golf club shafts can be made of graphite or steel. As for Senior shafts, these are mostly graphite since this material is more lightweight and forgiving. Hence, much easier to swing.

Senior Shaft – Graphite or Steel, Which is Better?

Seniors don’t really get the option of choosing steel shafts because, as already mentioned before, lightweight graphite is more suitable for slower swing speeds. Only with a lighter graphite shaft can an older or starter golfer gain the launch angle, ball flight, as well as distance he/she desires.

But then if you’re used to swinging Regular flex, you may want to choose based on your golfing skills and personal preferences.

As for the difference in performance between graphite and steel, the former travels farther. On the downside, it’s not really very accurate. Steel, on the contrary, is so much easier for golfers to control simply because it’s heavier than graphite. But then steel shafts don’t go as long. Each has its pros and cons indeed.

So it actually depends on your goals. For distance gains (seniors and beginners), pick graphite shaft. Whereas for more control over your shots (more skilled players), go with a steel shaft.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Will I Lose Distance If I Switch to Senior Flex?

It’s only natural to think you’re going to lose distance when you decide to swap shafts, any shafts. But then you don’t have to worry about this if Regular flex is not the most fitting choice for you. You can unhesitatingly switch to Senior flex at this point to increase your distance potential.

The only time you will lose distance with a Senior shaft is if you have a fast swing speed.

Is Senior Flex Good for Beginners?

It would be a horrible idea to equip someone who has never ever played golf (for example, a college kid into marathons and baseball) with Senior golf clubs. These are more geared toward someone who’s a beginner and older or a golfer whose strength is a bit lacking.

Golf clubs for beginners are a better choice instead for brand new golfers since these are designed explicitly with more forgiveness and all that a beginner demands. Now you can easily choose Senior flex since it’s suitable for beginners with a slower swing speed. These are more like senior-friendly hybrid golf clubs that feature technology that benefits slow-speed players.

What Happens When the Shaft Is Too Stiff?

Distance loss is unavoidable if you combine a too stiff shaft with a slow swing speed. Even accuracy takes a hit, not so surprisingly. Therefore, mis-hits leading to slices become common. I mean you could look up plenty of ways to fix the problem of slicing the ball, but if your equipment (in this case, shaft flex) is not right, no remedy will work.

Shafts that are too stiff also make it more difficult to launch the ball. And keep in mind that only a higher, longer flight results in carrying the ball farther. So it doesn’t really matter how much that drive rolls on the ground after landing!

Should My Driver, Irons, and Wedges Have the Same Flex?

Your driver shaft flex and iron shaft flex need not be the same. Mostly, irons are equipped with steel, Regular flex shafts. Because with irons, you have to establish better rhythm and tempo since they’re more difficult to launch, and it doesn’t matter if this is accompanied by a slight loss in clubhead speed. While drivers and woods, because they need to be hit with faster speed, feature lighter graphite, Senior flex shafts.

However, if your swing speed is very low and distance very poor as a senior golfer, make sure ALL your clubs have Senior shafts. Otherwise, if you’re able to hit long drives on your own but could still use some speed, opt for Regular flex in the driver and Senior flex in the irons.

Moving on to the wedge shaft. Generally, wedges have a standard wedge flex. And unfortunately, this is stiff steel. Now if you normally play Regular flex, then this standard wedge flex is not a problem for you. But if your golf clubs are mostly Senior flex, you might find this wedge flex a little problematic.

Can I Get New Shafts or Do I Need to Buy New Clubs Altogether?

Your current or old golf clubs can be re-shafted indeed but then ask yourself if you’re okay with spending so much money on the re-shafting process. You might as well buy a brand new set entirely at the same price!

I know that it only makes sense to swap your Regular flex shaft with a Senior flex. But then if your club has been through 5-6 years of use, it’s better to just purchase a new one with the correct shaft. And if money is tight, consider buying one of the brand’s older models because the latest ones often cost the highest.

What Is the Wilson Profile SGI?

Wilson is one of the quintessential American sports brands. Founded back in 1913, the company has been known for making very high-quality products geared toward beginners. They gave people starting out with a sport a nice set of gear that was affordable, accessible, and offered a lot of functionality.

With that in mind, it’s easy to see the goal of the Wilson Profile SGI club set. All of these clubs are really high-quality, offering a good grip and a lot of balance. On top of that, it contains all of the essentials you need as a beginner. So, you can find the following clubs in this set:

#5 Fairway wood with a graphite shaft
#5 hybrid
#6 – #9 irons
Pitching wedge
Sand wedge
Putter
10.5° driver with a graphite shaft
Carry bag with three head covers

Granted, this set is missing a couple of clubs that you might find in a more experienced golfer’s bag. But for the price, this set offers a whole lot of value, and since these are all the clubs you’ll need when starting out, they’re a great pick for anyone beginning their journey into the world of golf.

Key Features

While this is a beginner set, it comes with a fair amount of features, which is why we found this set to offer a lot of value. As a beginner, this set has everything you need; but on top of that, all of the clubs come with great features to help you get a more consistent and reliable swing.

Here are some of the key features of the set:

Comes in various sizes and colors
The driver has a black PVD finish to reduce glare and increase durability
Graphite shafts on the wood and the driver for a larger sweet spot
The heads have a lower center of gravity, offering more balance and maximum control
Has a bunch of visual features to promote a strong alignment
Offers a lot of value for the price

This is overall one of the best sets for the money on the market today. However, keep in mind that it isn’t perfect. But we’ll get to that a bit later.

Who Is This Club Set For?

As we’ve mentioned throughout this review, this is a beginner’s set. So, keep in mind that we are judging this club set based on how well it works for beginners. Comparing this to a high-performance set for experienced and competitive golfers would be unfair. But when you compare this to other club sets for beginners, you’ll quickly see why it’s one of the best picks on the market.

To start, all the clubs have visual indicators to reduce glare and promote good alignment on your swing. They also have a lower center of gravity, giving you a lot of control, which might be hard to acquire if you’re a beginner golfer working on their swing.

Additionally, the set contains all the essentials. While it lacks a #5 iron, you get all the clubs you’ll need for a casual round of golf.

That said, keep in mind that these clubs also run a bit short. This can make it hard to figure out which size is right for you, which is why it’s very important to look at the sizing chart before choosing your size.

Lastly, these clubs aren’t the most durable options. For the price, they hold up pretty well, but you have to be careful and make sure to care for these clubs properly if you want them to last you a while.

But aside from those tiny flaws, this still makes a great set for any beginner. You won’t be lacking any clubs when you choose this set, and you’ll find that all the clubs allow you to establish a good grip and get proper alignment on your swing without that much trouble!

What Are the Clubs in This Set?

The Wilson Profile SGI Set has all the golf clubs you need, and all of them are made pretty well. Here are the details of the different clubs you’ll find if you choose this set and bring it with you to the course.

Driver

Wilson Profile SGI Complete Set-Driver

The driver is probably the highlight of this entire set. The “SGI” in the name stands for “Superior Game Improvement”, and it truly shows in the driver. One of the main features of this club is its low, rear weight.

This is great for beginners as the low rear-weighted construction allows you to develop a stronger and faster swing. And since you usually use the driver for long shots towards the green, this is a great feature.

The driver is made of composite forged titanium and the degree of loft is at 10.5, which is a great launching point for beginners. This club also features a great black finish that helps reduce glare.

It even has a graphite shaft which helps increase the “sweet spot” for longer and straighter shots.

Wood

This set doesn’t contain long irons. The reason for this is that it comes with a #5 fairway wood, which serves the purpose of the long irons while also being a better fit for most beginners. We really enjoyed this club as it has a large sweet spot, which is hard to find with long irons, making it a great option for beginners to have on the course.

Additionally, the club face’s perimeter is weighted. This allows more accuracy when you take an off-center shot.

Hybrid

When buying a beginner’s set, a hybrid club is essential. Irons can be one of the hardest clubs to use for beginners, so it’s important to have a hybrid that bridges that gap between your woods and irons. In this set, you get a #5 hybrid with a shallow face and a higher loft degree, which makes it easier for beginners to make their way through the fairway.

Irons

While irons can be hard to use for beginners, it’s still important to have them in your bag. This set comes with #6-#9, which are the mid and short irons. Since this set comes with wood, you won’t need the long irons anyway.

Additionally, these irons have a deeper perimeter weighting, making for a larger sweet spot. This can help beginners figure out how to effectively hit and use their irons when on the course.

These are also cavity-backed clubs. This means that you get a bit more distance on your shots, which could be a huge help if you’re a beginner golfer trying to learn the ropes.

Wedges

This set comes with a pitching and sand wedge, which are great tools for beginners to have and are very effective on the course. The pitching wedge has a narrower profile than usual, which allows for more control.

The sand wedge is also called the “Easy Launch” wedge as it has a wider sole. This makes it easier to control the ball on the green when getting out of the sand trap, which can do wonders to your scores.

Putter

The last club in this set is the putter. Wilson engineered this putter to work great for beginners as the heel and toe of the club are weighted. This allows for more balance and control, while also making it easier for golfers to hit a straighter shot.

Specifications

Check out the table below to learn more about this set’s specifications.

Wilson Profile SGI Complete SetSpecifications

What’s Included in the Set?

● #5 Fairway wood with a graphite shaft
● #5 hybrid
● #6 – #9 irons
● Pitching wedge
● Sand wedge
● Putter
● 10.5° driver with a graphite shaft
● Carry bag with three head covers

Pros & Cons of the Wilson Profile SGI Set

Pros:

Comes with all the essentials
Engineered to be easier for beginners
The irons are relatively easy to use
Comes with a very balanced putter
Relatively affordable
Made by a trusted beginner’s brand

Cons:

The clubs aren’t that durable
Doesn’t come with a #5 iron

FAQs About the Set

What Degree Is the Wilson Profile Sand Wedge?

This sand wedge has a 54-degree loft, which allows golfers to really get under the ball and get out of traps. However, it does have a large gap between the loft of the pitching wedge, which means you lose a bit of versatility.

What Is Wilson Custom Fit in a Box?

Custom-fit in a box refers to the various sizing options for Wilson clubs. With over 13 different options, it can be very easy for golfers to find a set that perfectly fits their needs.

Is Wilson Profile SGI good?

For a beginner’s club set, the Wilson Profile SGI is a good option. With all the essentials and tons of features specifically geared toward beginners, you’ll have a much easier time learning the basics of the course with this club set.

Is Taylormade better than Wilson?

This depends on which clubs you’re getting and your personal preference. Wilson and Taylormade are great options for beginners, with Wilson known for having a bit more accuracy and a better feel. However, the Taylormade options are also known to be a bit more forgiving and give you more distance, which could be what you’re looking for.

Conclusion – Is It Worth the Money?

After testing it out and doing tons of research, we found that the Wilson Profile SGI Set is one of the best options for the money. This is almost a perfect set for beginners, containing all the essential clubs and sporting a bunch of features that will help you out as you figure out how to effectively use the clubs.

Granted, you will lack a #5 iron and these aren’t the most durable clubs, but just about all options in this price range sport similar problems. And when compared to other beginner sets on the market, the Wilson Profile SGI set offers some of the best value for the money.

If you’re in need of your first golf set and want to make sure that all clubs are high-quality and are something you’ll use on the course, this is probably one of the best picks available!

Nickname: Mr. 58

Born: May 12, 1970 - West Chester, Pennsylvania, U.S.

Height: 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m)

Weight: 185 lb (84 kg; 13.2 st)

Sporting Nationality: United States

Residence: Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida, U.S.

College: University of Arizona

Website: https://jimfuryk.com/

Tags : #jimfuryk, #9iron, #8iron

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