Should You Use Offset Golf Clubs?
If you're unfamiliar with the term offset, it's a term used to describe how far back the leading edge sits in relation to the shaft when at address. Think of it this way, if you were to draw a straight line down the shaft, in an offset club, the hitting surface (the clubface) would be slightly behind that line.
There are a few major benefits to using offset golf clubs and those golfers who are a mid-high handicap range will likely benefit the due to usually having less clubface awareness and control. In essence, offset is a clever design feature that provides a bit of "help" to golfers, making it easier to hit straighter, higher, and more consistent shots, particularly for those who are still refining their swing.
So who should use offset golf clubs and what are the benefits?
1. Squaring The Club Face
Squaring the golf club is the primary benefit of having offset golf clubs. Because the clubface is set back, it arrives at the ball a split second later in the swing. This extra fraction of a second gives the golfer more time to rotate their hands and "square up" the clubface at impact.
2. Higher Launch
Offset can also help golfers get the ball up in the air more easily than clubs with little offset. By moving the club's CG further back from the shaft, it promotes a higher trajectory. This is particularly helpful for golfers who struggle to get enough loft on their shots. Even some of the game's best players such as Rory McIlroy uses a longer iron with more offset than the rest of his set to help increase launch and carry distance, so if you feel some of your irons don't quite reach an optimal height, then finding some irons with offset could be a huge help.
3. Reduces a Slice
An open clubface at impact is a common cause of slices (when the ball curves significantly to the right for right-handed golfers, or left for left-handed golfers). This open face, combined with an over-the-top golf swing, can be extremely destructive for higher-handicap golfers. By helping golfers square the clubface, offset clubs can significantly reduce the tendency to slice the ball, leading to straighter shots or even hitting draws, which often will help produce more distance.
So should you use offset golf clubs? Well, if you struggle to square up the face at impact, struggle with a slice and need to hit the ball a bit higher, then offset clubs could most definitely help your game.
