There are a few things that are worth your consideration before you immediately blame your golf club set for your performance on the course. The old saying "a bad workman blames his tools" is not always true, but it certainly can be the case in the game of golf!

How many times have you heard someone t-off only to mutter "I have to get a better 5-iron!" or the like? If the clubs you have aren't the best for you, or you have even outgrown them through improving your game, it could well be time to trade in or up.

Has Your Game Outgrown Your Women's Clubs?

If you were playing with consistent improvement and you recently noticed you have hit a hump, you may have outgrown your old golf clubs. Ladies golf clubs are designed to suit certain level players, and the set you began playing with five years ago most likely isn’t for you anymore. In this scenario, you would look for a set that is geared for professional or better players.

Often, as you age you need to convert from a steel shaft to a graphite one: Graphite offers a much softer flex, and is also useful if you are weaker or slower with your swing.

Women golfers commonly struggle with clubs that are too stiff for them, and if you feel like you are always in a battle with your clubs, graphite could provide the change in flex you need. It is a common mistake made especially by male golfers to struggle by starting out with clubs that are too stiff.

Have you had a professional club fitting?

If the answer is no, then your clubs could very well be your problem. When you visit the golf shop to discuss your perfect clubs, they will ask you a few questions to help them determine which ones would be right. You must bear in mind that, often, their recommendations will be sales commission driven as well, so you could end up with a set that is less than perfect.

The best way to guarantee your clubs are correct is to book a session with a professional who will spend at least half an hour assessing your physical make-up, swing, distances and measurements. At the end of the session they will advise you as to what clubs they recommend that should enhance your performance in the game.

Double Check Your Techniques

If there is a particular area of your golfing that you are experience problems with, it is a good idea to discuss it before blaming your clubs. Talk to others you play with and you could find they have overcome the same issue in the past and can advise you on a way to work through it.

Alternatively, you can book a lesson or two with an instructor who will undoubtedly be able to work out where you are going wrong. In this case, they will also be able to see if it could be your golf club set that is causing the difficulty.

If, after taking all of the above into consideration, you still feel it is time to buy new clubs, there are many options available to you. Your local golf club pro shop will have a small selection of club sets and clubs sold individually, any sports store and, of course, on the internet.

Once you know exactly what you need, shopping online will be much easier for you, and you can compare prices across websites with little effort. If you are lucky, you may even be able to find a set that is on sale when a new line is about to be released, so shopping around is very important.