Having a good golf bag can be the
difference between a great game and a frustrating four hour ordeal. Anyone
that’s suffered beneath the weight of a heavy, poorly built golf bag that lacks
the pockets, pouches and compartments needed to properly store the many items
of paraphernalia so intrinsically useful to any seasoned golfer will attest to
the sheer inconvenience of it all, and any golfer lucky enough to own a good
bag will be the first to tell you about how much it’s improved his game.
If you’re in the market for a new stand
bag, it’s important that you know how to pick the best you can afford,
otherwise you’re likely to be left feeling swindled, and your golf will only
suffer as a result.
So what should you be looking for?
Generally speaking, there are three important aspects to consider when looking
for the perfect golf bag: Size, durability, and utility.
- Size
Your bag has to be big enough for the task
at hand, and size is probably the first thing you’ll notice about any
prospective stand bag, so it makes sense to deal with that first. You’ll want
something roomy enough for your favourite clubs, but light enough to carry on
your back. Too big and it becomes unwieldy; too small and it becomes a hassle.
Generally speaking, Hybrid stand bags like
Calloways ‘Alpha’ fall into the former category; they’re big enough to hold a
spare set of irons, but they’ll turn your game of golf into an arduous chore,
and they’ll sit so heavy on your back that the walk to the eighteenth hole will
feel like
Ultra-lightweight stand bags have the
opposite problem; they barely weigh anything, but the added convenience comes
at the cost of reduced space, and a restrictive lack of features. Bags like
Izzo’s ‘Neo’ range fall into this category, and while they’re perfectly
adequate constructions, they tend to lack the durability and space of their
larger cousins.
The best compromise tends to be lightweight
golf
bags, which are normally well constructed, relatively light, and perfectly
roomy. Models like the Cleveland lightweight stand bag have almost as much
space as a hybrid, but weigh in at just 7lb.
- Durability
Cheap golf bags tend to be made of low-grade
polyesters, which have an unpleasant habit of tearing along the seams when you
least expect them to. Low quality golf bags are also very prone to general
wear, and most will rip very easily if subjected to any significant
stress-testing.
Since you probably don’t want to see your
clubs go tumbling across the green, don’t be tempted to skimp. Pick a
high-quality bag that’s made of reliable, hard-wearing materials like luggage
grade polyester or nylon, that way you can rely on your equipment to keep functioning
properly for years to come, and rest easy knowing that your clubs are properly
protected.
- Utility
Utility is an important aspect to consider
when picking your golf bag. Many of the cheaper models don’t have many pockets,
which can make carrying all your paraphernalia a real chore
Since you’ll be storing all of your balls,
tees, towels and drinks in your golf bag, you want to pick one that has deep,
roomy pockets, and an abundance of small pouches. You might think that such
things are too trivial to factor into your decision making process, but the
last thing you want is to be left struggling to dig your balls out of an
overstuffed pocket on the fifteenth hole.
To avoid this, pick a bag that has all the
features you need, and make sure you carefully consider everything you’ll need
to carry before purchasing an ultra-lightweight stand bag like the
aforementioned neo, which has a single, rather meagre pair of pockets.
You should also make sure your new golf bag
has an adjustable, comfortable strap that’s been built with comfort in mind.
Good padding can make all the difference when you’re carrying heavy weights
over a long distance.
