Need advice on my first set of clubs

[Theraker007]

Hi everyone, I am new to the forums but I thought this would be a good place to seek some advice. I am currently in the market for my first set of clubs but I don't know the first thing about the differences between models, what makes a club better and what is just a price hike due to brand name.

Before I get started, I want to emphasize that I am not really a flat out 'beginner' per se. I just don't own my own clubs. I have been using my dads clubs that he had custom made for him because he never plays but I am moving away to another part of the country now and I cant take his with me unfortunately. I have been playing for about 8 months now though.

Anyways. Ill start off by saying that I took this set home today: http://www.sportsauthority.com/produ...bx=0&fbn=Brand


I tried them out in the store today and I felt like the irons were satisfactory and I liked the putter and the fact that it included a bag as well. I wasnt a huge fan of the driver though, it had a little too much give for my liking. My fear though is that this whole set was only $299 (100 less @ the store than on that web link) and im afraid maybe these clubs arent very good and not worth buying. Id also most certainly have to replace the driver.

So I guess here are my basic questions to get started and hopefully a dialogue can get somethings going:

1) Are these clubs good?
2) What kinds of drivers should I be looking at, I'm more willing to put money into a good driver than I am into irons as I feel the same with most irons i use (the only irons that blew me away at the store were the calloway big bertha set but it was MSRP $599 and I cant afford that for irons right now.
3) Am I looking at the wrong clubs entirely?

Any direction or questions directed at me to help you guys help me would be much appreciated. Thank you all so much in advance.

[mickey]

Something went wrong with your link, so I can't see the clubs. Can you try pasting it again?

[Beezer]

The link you provided pointed to the Sports Authority home page, so I can't see the specific ones you are looking at.

When I was first starting out (about 4 years ago), I purchased a relatively cheap set of clubs (Hippo's) and that's actually the set that I still use. There's a couple of things to keep in mind when purchasing your first set:

1) As a new player, clubs aren't going to make a huge difference in improving your game. They will have some impact, but they won't take ten strokes off your game. So you want to find a good, inexpensive set that you feel comfortable with. Once you've improved your game, then improve your clubs.

2) Before I spend a bunch of money on something, I want to make sure that I'm going to keep at it. It doesn't make sense to spend a ton on clubs only to find out a few months form now that you really don't like golf or just don't play any more.

Keeping those in mind, here's what I'd look for in a set of golf clubs for a beginner.

1) Forgiveness - Get a driver with a huge club head and irons with cavity backs. If you're anything like I was when I started out, control is an issue. I spent more time in the woods than in the fairway. Clubs with forgiveness will help reduce the amount of time you spend in the woods. The big club head on the driver will make it much easier to hit the sweet spot and in a lot of cases reduce the amount of slice or hook that you have. Same with the cavity back irons. They make it easier to get the ball off the ground and reduce the chance of a bad strike.

2) Get a full set - Most beginner sets come as full sets, but there a few that don't. Get something that comes with the driver, 3W, 5W, 3 - PW, putter and a bag. If you buy them piece meal, you'll spend way more. And you can see my reasons above for not spending a ton on the first set.

3) Try several different sets - Most stores will let you demo clubs before you buy them. Take advantage of that fact. The best way to find clubs you like is to play with them first.

If you are dead set on buying some super expensive ones, there are a couple of ways to get nice clubs on the cheap. The first is to buy used. Golfsmith, Edwin Watts, PGA Superstore and most other golf retailers will have an extensive used club section. And most of the used clubs are ones that only a year or two old. You'd also be surprised how many folks trade in clubs after only one or two uses. You can get good deals buying used.

Ebay is another good source. I've got friends that have bought full Callaway and Taylor Made iron sets on Ebay for about 60% less than in the retail stores. You can also get some good deals on used clubs.

Lastly, if there is a PGA Supersore near you, they give away gift cards for all sorts of random things. My favorite are the demo days they do. You get a $25 gift card for demoing a certain manufacturers clubs. That's right, $25 to go and swing a few clubs. There is also the added benefit that you are trying out multiple clubs and finding the ones that are best for you. I attended several of them last year (since there are several PGA Superstores near my house) and I was able to score a new Callaway driver for $80 , since I had about $200 in gift cards. I also got my swing analyzed during the demo process and found out that I had been using a driver with the wrong degree loft for my swing type. Anyway, here's a calendar of the demo days coming up (http://www.pgatoursuperstore.com/demo_calendar.asp) at the PGA Superstore in Roswell and link to the locations (http://www.pgatoursuperstore.com/sub_inside_stores.asp) (that's the downside - not many stores).

With all of that said, the real key is to try out a bunch of clubs before you settle on a set. Find the ones that feel good to you and you are comfortable with. Don't buy a set just because it on sale or just because a friend brags about how much his game has improved after buying a particular set.

That's my $0.02. Hope it helps.

[Market11]

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