If it has been a few years since you’ve been to a golf course, you may think you have entered another dimension, drivers now look like balloons on the end of a stick, putters have more shapes and designs than seem possible, and this is just the tip of this iceberg.

The array of new drivers has taken “oversized” to such extremes that the USGA finally put an upper size limit on them. They still come with exotic names and they all seem to offer an array of specialized proprietary shafts that will do everything but swing the club for you. Now for anywhere from $200 to over $1000 you get a club with a titanium head and movable weights the will change the ball flight and promises of the longest drives of your life.

Hybrid irons, hybrid woods, rescue clubs, belly putters these are just a few of the new types of clubs that can confuse you…or really help your game. Hybrid Irons are purported to fly higher, straighter and land softer than the clubs they are replacing…and they are easier to hit. Skilled players can hit 3-4 different types of shots with the same club.

Belly putters allow a straighter putting stroke.

Shaft choices a few years ago were limited to a few steel offering, today’s list of graphite, steel and other composites is extensive. Which are best is open to much debate and the choice would also be influenced by the golfers skill level. Graphite shafts are lighter which would, in theory, translate to faster swing speed. Steel shafts on the other hand are said to transmit more of the feel in the shot to the golfer, something that better players would find beneficial.

As for fitting shafts to your clubs that will help your game, the choices seem to be endless. Shafts can be matched to the players size, gender, age, swing speed, desired ball flight, trajectory, and I am sure that I missed some. Shafts can be pured, and frequency matched, so that the entire set of clubs are matched to each other. Golf balls fly farther than they ever did, some say they fly to far. Drives of 300 plus yards are not all that unusual at the local course, and are almost average for top tour players. Almost all golf ball makers offer a variety of cover options that are purported to make the ball spin more, or less, stop quicker, have less side spin, get up quicker, go lower, go longer, and match your swing speed.

Gone are golf spikes (except for touring pros, who still have the option to wear them) now replaced by a few different styles of plastic cleats, most golf courses will not allow metal spikes at all. Pull carts are being replaced by high tech push carts, and remote control electric carts that now carry golf bags that are designed specifically for use on both push carts and power carts, with many pockets accessible from the front of the bag.Golf courses are also changing, many existing ones have been lengthened, courses or over 7000 yards are common, a new one in my area boasts 8200 yards from the “black tees” and over 9000 from the “back black tees”. Several touring pros have said it is to hard.Have these changes improved the game? In my opinion yes they have, you will probably need to consult your club pro, or a custom club-maker to help you sort out the club options, however you will end up with clubs that will help your game. If you enjoy watching the tour, it is much more exciting, unless you are not a “Tiger” fan.