Any Golfers out there.............I need help

g4string · #1 02-08-2009, 06:10 PM

I have golfed a total about ten times my life.........nothing within the last 5 years. I am looking at getting into the game. If I do, I would like to take some lessons from a local pro this summer this well. However, I need a good set of clubs......my last set was a $200 set from Wal-Mart. This time around I would like a nicer set. I have about $1000 to play with (+ or - a few hundred). The gut at my local sporting goods store has Taylor Made drivers on sale for $199 (orig. $299). He recommended Taylor Made, esp for drivers. He recommended me a set of Calloway Big Bertha irons (steel), 4-9 + pw. They are $599. The putter I was looking at was about $120.

I figured I would ask you guys what would you recommend a new player in regards to clubs, irons and woods, with $1000 to spend. Thanks!

Grizzly700 · #2 02-08-2009, 06:20 PM

Yay, another golfer. It's good that you are getting new clubs, because unlike bass, in golf, it is very hard to be better than your equipment.

My bag has this in it.
Driver - http://www.edwinwattsgolf.com/golf-e...ate=slisystems

Irons - http://www.edwinwattsgolf.com/golf-e...33_-1_1106.htm

Putter - http://www.edwinwattsgolf.com/golf-e...ate=slisystems

Ripper · #3 02-08-2009, 06:36 PM

go to dicks or a similar store and get a decent full set... that will get you a good set to start off with... taylormade or callaway are good.... i'm also a fan of nike.

as far as shafts go... probably go with graphite... and also get a driver with around 10-10.5 loft... much easier to control

MJ5150 · #4 02-08-2009, 06:51 PM

With $1,000 to spend, buy a custom set. That is if you are going to take your golf playing seriously. It looks like you already know you like the game, so might as well get you a set of custom clubs now, you won't regret it one bit. If you're only going to play a couple times a year, then the packages are fine.

For the manufactured sets, I really like Mizuno hybrid irons. The Nike drivers are awesome and the best out there in my opinion. Hard to argue with the TaylorMades you mention though. I'd go with an Odyssey or Ping putter. But dang, those new TaylorMade Monza's are dead sexy.

As you may know, golf is a mental game. Work on mastering that now, or you'll hate going to the course and probably stop playing.

-Mike

Dano59 · #5 02-08-2009, 07:10 PM

IMHO- you are better off going to the pro for a few lessions with a borrowed set and get your swing down a bit. Just give it 2 or three lessions and then get your swing checked out by a pro so you can get the right shaft and head offset.
There are so many shafts available with a wide variety of shifness and the point that the shaft bends can be tunned to get the ball up in the air more or down more depending on your swing.
If you get a factory set which most people do stay away from a stiff shaft as 90% of the players (non-pro) don't need a stiff shaft and infact will get worse performance and less forgiveness of bad strikes.
I accualy have sent quite a few people to a good pro shop to get a set of Ping Irons, they will simi-custom fit them with shaft type and head angle and not one person has been disapointed.
Woods I usaly recomend Callaway. The loft of your driver will depend a lot on your swing speed and more inportantly your wrist transition through impact but I would not go any shallower than 10-10.5 and even a bit more loft might cost you a few yards but keep you in the fairway and I will take 280 yard in the fairway over a slice 300 yards in the rough anyday, you will more than make up any lost yardage on your second shot from the fairway.

Just my oppinion.
Dano

whoatherechunk · #6 02-08-2009, 07:45 PM

a ping set may be right up your ally so they can fit you and get the right degree of flatness or uprightness. my favorite brands have been titleist, taylor made, ping, and cleveland. you can't go wrong with any of those four.

you don't have a handicap yet...but like dano59 said.....get some lessons first.

Pilgrim · #7 02-08-2009, 07:53 PM

Dano59 is right.

DO NOT just run out and buy new clubs. First, you need to develop a consistent swing; after you get there, you can have a pro fit you with clubs that are right for you and will play well.

My advice: buy a used set of Callaway irons (they are a forgiving club and will help you become consistent) for around $200-$300. You can also find usedd Pings around. In either case, you can have the pro shop adjust the lie so it's accurate for you. For woods, again you can shop used - Callaway is a good general line of woods. Many golf shops have electronic driving ranges and can help you select used woods and irons from their stock by using that electronic range.

Trust me, you can find good used clubs if you look around. I just bought a set of X12 Callaways for $125 from Ebay - and bought my wife a used set of Callaway Ladies' Gems for $200 at a local golf shop. Used Pings would run higher, as there aren't as many of them around.

Bank the rest of the money and save up a bit more - and figure that if you play a couple times a week for a year and take lessons, you'll have a pretty consistent swing within a year. Either at the end of the year or during that period, you'll be ready for a step up in clubs. Even then, unless you buy custom-fit clubs, you may consider used, as you'll probably go through at least one more set before you really refine your game.

derelicte · #8 02-08-2009, 09:05 PM

dude, you don't necessarily NEED new clubs to play well. Good clubs do give a slight edge (and playability increases as well), but to fully harness the advantage of the technology, you should be at a certain level. For example, a newbie who uses a Scotty Cameron putter will pretty much fare the same with a beat up Titleist.

I actually learned on many sets of clubs, but what helped me the most was using old steel shaft blades (think Ping Zing black dots), I've also used oversize headed clubs with graphite shafts. I would summarize my experience playing consistently with 10+ club sets as this..

Irons: The steel shaft and blade clubs are the hardest to hit with, but it will make sure you hit the ball correctly. If you shank it, you FEEL it.. and you learn. The graphite shafts help a lot to 'match your swing tempo', but is often expensive and generally for senior citizen players or women. On drivers, you can even custom order one to optimize 'snap-back' with the flexibility adjustments. A nice luxurious touch for the indulgent golfer. Irons come with different club sizes as well as clubhead shapes. Midsize clubs are standard, afaik. For head shapes, you have the standard 3: Blades, half-cavity, and cavity back. The blades are most unforgiving and are the hardest to hit right, but I find it gives the sweeeeetest feel when hit correctly. It just feels so solid and effortless. The other 2 are fairly similar... cavitybacks were introduced to give a lower center of gravity to give more lift, resulting in more forgiveness.
In the beginning you're pretty much limited to the 5, 7, and 9 iron so I usually ask to try 2 of those 3 when demo-ing new sets.
My recommendation: Ping, Cleveland, Nike

Drivers: Can I just preface by saying I prefer more of an 'old-school' club... With that, I have a strong bias against those over-size monster 8000+ cc-square-shape-whathaveyou driver. It's really just a matter of feeling I think. But having gone through many drivers and testing out many many more, I find that Callaway is an all-around great driver brand.. in fact, I have 4 callaway drivers.. they're that solid! But since you're just learning, drivers will probably be taught last in the bag so take your time with this one.. they can get expensive quick!
My recommendation: Callaway (any model), Taylor Made (r7!), and Cleveland Golf

Putters: Geez, oh geez, I think this is honestly a choice best made on feel alone. Most decent golf stores have a 'putting green' with a vast array of putters lined up. I really don't believe a $250 putter differs much from a $50 putter (assuming base shape/weight is similar). Roll-optimized grooves? gimme a break.. Some are more gimmicky than others and it will be clear.. I'd just stick to a basic design, but that's my preference. In the end, whatever feels good in your hand will be the one for you. "how does this feel in my hands as I free-swing?", "how does this feel as I line up a ball?", "how does this feel as I hit a ball from long and short?" These are basic questions you should ask yourself.
My recommendation: Odyssey, Ping, Titleist

Wedges: This is IMO the most beautiful part of the game!! It can be used to light chip onto the green, get out of the rough, escape a sand trap, or make it over a small hazard. In all cases, it comes down to pure finesse and feeling! I doubt you'll realize the difference between a 56 deg wedge as opposed to a 60 deg wedge as you play, but getting a good wedge is just key. I have one and only one wedge recommendation to have in your bag, and that's the Cleveland Golf wedges!! They're nothing short of phenomenal!!!

With that said, take all this with a grain of salt.. I'm not a pro, but i've played since I was 10 and taught from time to time. In the end, it will really boil down to what feels good in your hand and how you feel about your swing. I didn't put money into new clubs until I played at least 10 years.. this is b/c you really don't need fancy clubs at all, but we gotta keep up with the Jones' as they say.. All this is IMO and IME, enjoy and I hope this helps! Let me know if you have any questions, I'd be happy to help any way I can!

----------------------------------------------------------
For $1000, i'd get..
Bag: let's say you already have one.
Irons:
$450 Ping G5 Iron Set 4-GW with Steel Shafts

Driver:
$200 TaylorMade PREOWNED R7 SUPERQUAD DRIVER

Wedges:
$70 Cleveland 588 Wedges - RTG
$70 Cleveland 900 Form Forged Wedges - Gunmetal

Putter:
$240 Scotty Cameron PREOWNED 2005 STUDIO STYLE - Newport 2

$1030 Total. I like this bag!!!

Obviously it's not complete, you still fairway woods, and may want to invest in "utility/rescue" clubs, etc.

Dfinch · #9 02-08-2009, 09:54 PM

Former 2 handicapper who used to eat, sleep, and breath golf here.

If you think GAS is bad with bass, just wait until you get serious about golf.

That said, you have opened up a huge can of worms especially with that kind of budget (high for a typical beginner). My advice would be to wait. A good player can hit anything. A beginning player can't hit anything, and in the beginning as you develop you'll hit everything equally enough that it won't matter. The golf equipment industry survives on people with money who think they can buy a game.

Once you have a swing, you'll be able to hit and judge for yourself what different equipment does or doesn't do for you. Prior to that, you'll just be guessing or buying based on brand. Here are some examples:

Shaft: Stiffness (your swing will change as you develop). Steel or graphite (you're generally better off with steel, but graphite will tempt you with it's softer feel). Length and lie (both of these may change as your stance changes).

Woods: Loft (your ability to hit the driver will change, which can change what you want/need with loft). Weighting (many woods these days are available with toe or heel weighting and various centers of gravity).

Irons: Loft/Lie (can change as you get better). Forged or cast (beginners can't feel the difference). Offset or no offset (this can be huge).

Wedges: Loft (your distances, and therefore loft/distance needs will change as your swing changes).

Putter: Alignment or feel? What length? The putter quest will never end. It haunts even the pros.

Feel free to pick a putter that feels right to you. Although there is technique to putting, most of it is feel and how naturally the putter sets up and swings for you.

Beyond that, for now, unless your current set is completely beat up, I'd say use those for your lessons so you can really understand what you're looking for when it's time to buy.

Titleist, Nike, Taylor Made make great drivers. I'm not a Callaway fan but there are plenty of fans out there.

I play forged MacGregor blades, but if I was buying today I'd look at forged blades from Nike and Mizuno. If you want forged, I'd look at cavity back forged from those two brands. If you want cast irons, there are a lot of options out there since that's the most popular style for amateurs (and generally less expensive than forged).

Can't go wrong with Cameron putters. Ping and Callaway make great putters. I own about 10 putters but I've always gone back to my old Arnold Palmer blade that's shaped like a Wilson 8802 because I am absolutely a feel putter and not an alignment putter.

Good luck! :P

Dfinch · #10 02-08-2009, 10:07 PM

BTW my current bag:

Driver : Titleist 983E 9.5 degree
3W : Sonartec 14 degree steel shaft

(swapped for the course/conditions)
Hybrid : Sonartec TRC 18 degree steel shaft
2 iron : Macgregor VIP forged cavity back steel shaft

3-PW : Macgregor VIP forged blade steel shaft

Wedges : Callaway forged 52/58 degree steel shaft

Putter : Palmer "Original" blade (swapped with 2 Camerons, 3 Pings, and a Callaway 2-ball)

NJL · #11 02-08-2009, 10:33 PM

man this is bringing back memories!!!

MakiSupaStar · #12 02-09-2009, 01:58 AM

Nice. A golf thread. I have a Taylor Made Driver. It's an R7 draw. Love it. All my other clubs are Calloways. My irons are X-20's. Although, I bought a set of the bertha's for my brother in law and I must say they're pretty sweet. I would also recommend getting some hybrids to replace your 3,4, and 5 irons. I really like my Callow FT hybrids. These things crank. Although, my 3 hybrid is a Calloway heavenwood with a steel shaft. The only oddball in my bag is a 3 Cobra wood. I can hit that thing about 230 from the fairway. Nice to have a club like that in your bag. Hope this helps. Have fun. Many places like, Roger Dunn gives you a 30 day trial period. If you don't like your clubs you can return them and try another set. I would also recommend getting your clubs adjusted when you purchase them too.

MJ5150 · #13 02-09-2009, 07:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MakiSupaStar

All my other clubs are Calloways.

These are the ones you get from the swap meet in Chino, right? From the guy in the pleather jacket who is also selling the Oakly shades for like $10 a pair, right?

-Mike

NJL · #14 02-09-2009, 07:29 AM

LOL hahahahaha

NJL · #15 02-09-2009, 07:30 AM

meskin joke only i will understand:

maki, are you sure they don't have "Calloguey" written on them?

fo shizzle · #16 02-09-2009, 11:38 AM

To quote one of my wise-ass buddies after I hit a tee ball sideways.

"Maybe you should take a couple of weeks off........... and then quit."

Lot's of good advice here already. Although I don't know why you would subject yourself to this frustrating, soul sucking pursuit.

Unless you've already experienced the wonder that is the perfectly struck golf shot. If that's the case, I understand fully.

Brief hijack: Anybody else have a hole in one?

Grizzly700 · #17 02-09-2009, 12:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fo shizzle

To quote one of my wise-ass buddies after I hit a tee ball sideways.

"Maybe you should take a couple of weeks off........... and then quit."

Lot's of good advice here already. Although I don't know why you would subject yourself to this frustrating, soul sucking pursuit.

Unless you've already experienced the wonder that is the perfectly struck golf shot. If that's the case, I understand fully.

Brief hijack: Anybody else have a hole in one?

Golf is 90% mental, if you can deal with the stress, you will be good at it......eventually......lol.

Hijack - I hit one about 6 inches away from a hole on a 170 Par 3. I missed the putt for a par.

MakiSupaStar · #18 02-09-2009, 12:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MJ5150

These are the ones you get from the swap meet in Chino, right? From the guy in the pleather jacket who is also selling the Oakly shades for like $10 a pair, right?

-Mike

Hahaha wiseguy. I'm typed that response on my iPhone.Callaway, not callaguey either carlos. LOL.

NJL · #19 02-09-2009, 12:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MakiSupaStar

Hahaha wiseguy. I'm typed that response on my iPhone.Callaway, not callaguey either carlos. LOL.

then are they the "Ya Guey" clubs?? LOL

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i-rUUOKVQBc

Ripper · #20 02-09-2009, 05:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fo shizzle

Brief hijack: Anybody else have a hole in one?

no... almost eagled a 470 yd 5 dogleg though... was on the front side of the green about 20 ft away from the pin in 2... wound up 4 putting...

i've gotten a lot better at putting since then... but i lost about 20 yards off my drive due to lack of practice.