There is so much choice when it comes to clubs and shafts that golfers are heading into a mine-field when it comes to making a change to their weapons of choice.

But it needn´t be as daunting as you may think.

If you head to your local golf store with an understanding of how golf clubs and shafts work you will be better prepared.

Cavity back clubs are designed with more weight placed lower in the club head and around the perimeters to create a more forgiving club.

Now although this may be true in the sense that they are easier to hit, it doesn´t mean that you will be hitting the ball straighter.

In fact, I find that my blades (which I have always used) go straighter than the cavity back irons that I have tried.

The major difference is when I miss-hit the cavity back the shot is generally slightly, but only slightly better.

I feel that you should consider every style of club, and the one which you like the look and feel of the most is the right club for you to buy. Confidence or at least the feeling of confidence is paramount when playing.

You need to set a budget and take a look at all the clubs that fall within that budget (woods, irons, putters).

Once you have narrowed your selection to 3 or 4 clubs go and try them on the range.

Nowadays you will be offered custom fitting by one of the professionals at the store.

If you want to take them up on the offer, then by all means do so, but remember a couple of important factors;

If you are a beginner, high handicapper or a golfer in the process of improving (perhaps taking a series of lessons) custom fitting may not be the right move as you will have an inconsistent or changing swing.

The next step, once you have decided on your favourite club head is to choose the shaft.

For irons I would always recommend steel over graphite, there are a few exceptions, those being young juniors, ladies and the mature gentleman, but this is where the club fitting can be useful.

For hybrids and woods, unless you are ridiculously strong, graphite is the way to go.

When choosing a driver please do not be dragged into the belief that the lower the loft the further you will hit it mind-set as this is completely wrong.

It has come from the fact that top touring professionals use lower lofted clubs, but that is because they can, although that trend has gone by the wayside, with many tour professionals using a higher lofted driver than they did 10 years ago.

As with the irons, the shaft is possibly the most important decision you make, as choosing the wrong shaft could cause problems that you just don’t want.

You need to check the bend point and flex of a shaft, for some people a regular shaft with a low bend point may produce better results than a stiff shaft with a mid-bend point.

When buying a new club try a couple of times, you may find that you don´t like it as much as you did the first time you tried.

Never rush the decision, take your time and make the right choice.