Any advice for buying golf clubs/buying online?

[UNCjigga]

I started taking lessons 3 weeks ago and its about time I got a set of clubs so I can play 9-18 holes (up to now I've just been practicing on demo clubs at the driving range.)

I don't have any special needs, just standard men's length and regular flex; no need to get custom-fitted for my first set.

A bunch of my friends swear by Pine Meadow Golf which sells "OEM imitations" of popular brand clubs. They have a starter set for $170 that includes driver, 3 & 5 wood, 3 & 4 hybrid woods, 5-9 irons and pitching wedge, putter, headcovers and stand bag for $169. Can I do better? Anyone have experience buying club sets online?

 

[Brackis]

I purchased a set of clone/immitation TaylorMade irons on eBay and am very pleased. I had them custom made by filling out a simple questionaire after winning the auction, with various questions of my height, skill etc...

They go about 35 yards longer on each club than my hand-me-down Callaways from the 80's.

 

[sonoma1993]

im not sure about a place to buy golf clubs online, but if i were you, id go to a golf store and looks for club there. You havea better chance finding clubs that are more comfortable anda better feel to you.

 

[purbeast0]

UNCJigga ... i recently was pointed to http://www.freegolfinfo.com where I started doing research because i wanted a new driver. i then realize that brand name clubs are WAY over priced and was pointed in the direction of component clubs. I then purchased a component club where I chose the head, shaft, and grip, and I got the driver built and shipped to me for just over $100. I have never hit a driver so damn well it isn't even funny.

I am now going to purchase irons from one of the sponsors of that site, most likely at http://www.lowprogolf.com . The stuff they sell is not brand name like titlelist, ping, nike, etc. My driver I got is Bang and this thing seriously owns . I am probably going to pick a set of irons up this week, pending my car parts get sold so I can get $$$ for it. The set will probably run me just over $200 or so. Also, if I purchase them from a sponsor site, you get 10% off.

I am no longer going to buy brand name golf clubs. its just not worth the $$$ just to have the name. i was laughing when my sister told me her boyfriend got the tiger woods edition nike driver for $400, and I had just gotten mine for $100. and her boyffriend JUST started playing golf, shoots in the 120's.

as brackis said, when you purchase from these component companies, they will custom build them to meet your specifications.

 

[purbeast0]

Originally posted by: sonoma1993
im not sure about a place to buy golf clubs online, but if i were you, id go to a golf store and looks for club there. You havea better chance finding clubs that are more comfortable anda better feel to you.

no, its actually the exact opposite. if you go in a store and just try their clubs and buy em, they are hardly fit for you. when you build them online, you can tell them the exact specs to build the clubs to, so that they fit your swing and stance.

 

[nitsuj3580]

www.rockbottomgolf.com is another site to check out.

 

[LeonarD26]

Component is a good idea.... but if you're looking for name brands check out 3balls.com . They sell both new and used equipment. Check out the Top Flite Tour irons... selling for a little over $100 Ebay sells tons of golf equipement... lots of good deals if you know what you want.

 

[purbeast0]

Originally posted by: LeonarD26
Component is a good idea.... but if you're looking for name brands check out 3balls.com . They sell both new and used equipment. Check out the Top Flite Tour irons... selling for a little over $100 Ebay sells tons of golf equipement... lots of good deals if you know what you want.

Honestly, after going to the site i posted earlier, i just do not see the point in spendiing $800 on a set of irons, even if they are titleist or whatever. i mean you REALLY are just paying for the name on brand name stuff. so if you can live without the swoosh on your clubs, you are dfinitely better off with components.

i had also heard breat things about those top flight irons as well, but i never tried them. i was JUST about to order some online for like $130 but decided not to and i'm glad because now my irons are going to play to my swing better I think since I'm picking out all the components of the club and getting them fitted just for me.

 

[UNCjigga]

As far as component sets go, I was looking into the Power Play Select 5000 clubs, but that's stretching my budget. Worth it to go for these over a standard beginner set? Like I said, I've been 'playing' only 3 weeks, and have yet to play an actual course.

 

[Slvrtg277]

Originally posted by: purbeast0

Originally posted by: LeonarD26
Component is a good idea.... but if you're looking for name brands check out 3balls.com . They sell both new and used equipment. Check out the Top Flite Tour irons... selling for a little over $100 Ebay sells tons of golf equipement... lots of good deals if you know what you want.

Honestly, after going to the site i posted earlier, i just do not see the point in spendiing $800 on a set of irons, even if they are titleist or whatever. i mean you REALLY are just paying for the name on brand name stuff. so if you can live without the swoosh on your clubs, you are dfinitely better off with components.

i had also heard breat things about those top flight irons as well, but i never tried them. i was JUST about to order some online for like $130 but decided not to and i'm glad because now my irons are going to play to my swing better I think since I'm picking out all the components of the club and getting them fitted just for me.

Yeah, but what if your entire golf experience entails a 9 hole scramble work tourny? Hell I have no idea what my stance, swing, etc is. I just need some cheap clubs that I can learn on.

 

[purbeast0]

Originally posted by: Slvrtg277

Originally posted by: purbeast0

Originally posted by: LeonarD26
Component is a good idea.... but if you're looking for name brands check out 3balls.com . They sell both new and used equipment. Check out the Top Flite Tour irons... selling for a little over $100 Ebay sells tons of golf equipement... lots of good deals if you know what you want.

Honestly, after going to the site i posted earlier, i just do not see the point in spendiing $800 on a set of irons, even if they are titleist or whatever. i mean you REALLY are just paying for the name on brand name stuff. so if you can live without the swoosh on your clubs, you are dfinitely better off with components.

i had also heard breat things about those top flight irons as well, but i never tried them. i was JUST about to order some online for like $130 but decided not to and i'm glad because now my irons are going to play to my swing better I think since I'm picking out all the components of the club and getting them fitted just for me.

Yeah, but what if your entire golf experience entails a 9 hole scramble work tourny? Hell I have no idea what my stance, swing, etc is. I just need some cheap clubs that I can learn on.

Yes, but the OP is taking lessons, which means he wants to atleast get decent at golf. If he's taking lessons, then he knows his swing pretty well and probably could even get fitted by his teacher. Or he could just find a club fitter to fit him, and purchase clubs based on that.

It's just all about how serious you wanna take the game. If you don't want to play to get pretty good and play golf like 1 time a year, then yea, there is no need to get fitted and getting a cheapo set that is right/left handed and regular flex will be fine for you.

 

[Uppsala9496]

Originally posted by: purbeast0
UNCJigga ... i recently was pointed to http://www.freegolfinfo.com where I started doing research because i wanted a new driver. i then realize that brand name clubs are WAY over priced and was pointed in the direction of component clubs. I then purchased a component club where I chose the head, shaft, and grip, and I got the driver built and shipped to me for just over $100. I have never hit a driver so damn well it isn't even funny.

I am now going to purchase irons from one of the sponsors of that site, most likely at http://www.lowprogolf.com . The stuff they sell is not brand name like titlelist, ping, nike, etc. My driver I got is Bang and this thing seriously owns . I am probably going to pick a set of irons up this week, pending my car parts get sold so I can get $$$ for it. The set will probably run me just over $200 or so. Also, if I purchase them from a sponsor site, you get 10% off.

I am no longer going to buy brand name golf clubs. its just not worth the $$$ just to have the name. i was laughing when my sister told me her boyfriend got the tiger woods edition nike driver for $400, and I had just gotten mine for $100. and her boyffriend JUST started playing golf, shoots in the 120's.

as brackis said, when you purchase from these component companies, they will custom build them to meet your specifications.

This is great advice. I've been going to that site for a couple years now, and have purchased clubs from almost all the sponsors. Bryant at lowpro makes some great clubs. I've had him build two drivers for me. Also check out customclubsales.com. I recently bought another driver from them (all the drivers I have a fine, I just like to get new ones all the time for no particular reason - it's addictive to try new equipment).
Feel free to call those shops and talk to them. They will guide you in the right direction.
By the way, lowpro is in Gastonia, NC.

 

[HumblePie]

Actually, why bother? You don't usually need many clubs in the first place. A 3 wood works for almost all driver needs on most par 3 and par 4 courses. So investing in a good 1 wood isn't going to help you much. Also, when you get to the good enough and strong enough to smack balls too hard with a 3 or 1 wood for the course and need 4 or 5 wood.. well chances are that'll be far off in the future as well.

Same thing with the irons, 3 and a 5 iron are all you need. Maybe a 7 iron for a bit more chipping.

Then a putter and you are all set. You can use a 5 iron to fish balls out of sand traps so you don't need a sand wedge right away either.

All in all, you need only 3 or 4 clubs to play golf with proficiently. Spending good money on 3 or 4 clubs instead of the same amount for a complete crapy club set you may never use all the clubs out of is much better. You only need to spend alot of the driver as well and maybe a good 5 iron. Putters are putters, are putters no matter what anyone tells you. A good putter is the one that feels the most comfortable in YOUR hands to give you the most control. Not what some wanker who thinks he knows golf behind a counter is telling you. I spent $10 bucks on a used putter that I love to this day and puts better for me then anything else I've ever tried.

So, at the bare minimum get a good 3 wood, 5 iron, and a putter that feels confortable to you. Pick up a 3 or 7 iron, depending on your style of game play if you need to because you are playing longer or shorter courses.

 

[purbeast0]

Originally posted by: Uppsala9496

Originally posted by: purbeast0
UNCJigga ... i recently was pointed to http://www.freegolfinfo.com where I started doing research because i wanted a new driver. i then realize that brand name clubs are WAY over priced and was pointed in the direction of component clubs. I then purchased a component club where I chose the head, shaft, and grip, and I got the driver built and shipped to me for just over $100. I have never hit a driver so damn well it isn't even funny.

I am now going to purchase irons from one of the sponsors of that site, most likely at http://www.lowprogolf.com . The stuff they sell is not brand name like titlelist, ping, nike, etc. My driver I got is Bang and this thing seriously owns . I am probably going to pick a set of irons up this week, pending my car parts get sold so I can get $$$ for it. The set will probably run me just over $200 or so. Also, if I purchase them from a sponsor site, you get 10% off.

I am no longer going to buy brand name golf clubs. its just not worth the $$$ just to have the name. i was laughing when my sister told me her boyfriend got the tiger woods edition nike driver for $400, and I had just gotten mine for $100. and her boyffriend JUST started playing golf, shoots in the 120's.

as brackis said, when you purchase from these component companies, they will custom build them to meet your specifications.

This is great advice. I've been going to that site for a couple years now, and have purchased clubs from almost all the sponsors. Bryant at lowpro makes some great clubs. I've had him build two drivers for me. Also check out customclubsales.com. I recently bought another driver from them (all the drivers I have a fine, I just like to get new ones all the time for no particular reason - it's addictive to try new equipment).
Feel free to call those shops and talk to them. They will guide you in the right direction.
By the way, lowpro is in Gastonia, NC.

:thumbsup: for Bryant.

he's the guy I've been dealing with. I am actually going to be getting a demo iron from him of the infiniti 422's. They are the first mid-sized irons I have hit. If I like the demo, I'm going to order a set of 422's. If I don't like them, I'm going to go with oversized cavity backs, probably the MX7's. I've never hit mid-sized irons so this will be my frist time trying them. We'll see how they go.

I am in Maryland, about 8 hours away from Gastonia. I wish I could drive down there and get him to fit me personally and then build the club for me, but 8 hours is a little too much for me .

Here's the driver Bryant built for me.

 

[GagHalfrunt]

Originally posted by: UNCjigga
As far as component sets go, I was looking into the Power Play Select 5000 clubs, but that's stretching my budget. Worth it to go for these over a standard beginner set? Like I said, I've been 'playing' only 3 weeks, and have yet to play an actual course.

You SHOULD NOT be buying clubs at this point. Beg, borrow or steal a set for a little while until you get better and play regularly. Give it 6 months or so and use that club money on lessons instead. After enough time and enough lessons your swing will become somewhat grooved and you'll have a decent idea of what sort of clubs you'll need. At that point go get a set custom fit for you. You don't have to spend a lot, the fit is a lot more important than the name on the bottom of the club.

 

[Otaking]

Wow, cool info in this thread. :thumbsup:

I'd say get the complete set. $200 for everything, wow :Q

I spent just a little more...

 

[z0mb13]

some advice:
1. buy used
2. buy irons first, a set should be fine
3. buy easy to hit irons such as callaways or pings
4. buy at golf forums swap shops, its cheaper than ebay


a good forum is GEA (golf equipment afficionados)

 

[Otaking]

Originally posted by: z0mb13
some advice:
1. buy used
2. buy irons first, a set should be fine
3. buy easy to hit irons such as callaways or pings
4. buy at golf forums swap shops, its cheaper than ebay


a good forum is GEA (golf equipment afficionados)

I wouldn't recommend buying callaways as a beginner. Total waste of money, unless you're 100% sure you're going to grow with them. No sense in spending that much money when you'll have plenty of time to get the money later.

 

[david46675]

Originally posted by: Otaking

Originally posted by: z0mb13
some advice:
1. buy used
2. buy irons first, a set should be fine
3. buy easy to hit irons such as callaways or pings
4. buy at golf forums swap shops, its cheaper than ebay


a good forum is GEA (golf equipment afficionados)

I wouldn't recommend buying callaways as a beginner. Total waste of money, unless you're 100% sure you're going to grow with them. No sense in spending that much money when you'll have plenty of time to get the money later.

True. Have you tried looking around at your local Sports Authority? They usually have pretty good deals on some sets.

 

[jerryjg]

I dont know, dont you gotta have em fitted?

 

[KK]

I'd buy the cheapest ones you can find. That way when you get pissed and try and beat the hell out of that tree, you won't be losing much. Although that just may be my thing.

 

[Otaking]

Originally posted by: jerryjg
I dont know, dont you gotta have em fitted?

Yes, that's the ideal thing to do.

 

[UNCjigga]

Okay, now I'm thinking about getting a set of Calloway knockoff irons (Excel) and a Power Play 5000 Select 3-wood (will worry about a driver later, since right now I can't hit ANYTHING further than 150-180 yards.) Thinking about some hybrids too, since I'm still working on my swing and I'm a lot better with irons than woods.

 

[Otaking]

Originally posted by: UNCjigga
Okay, now I'm thinking about getting a set of Calloway knockoff irons (Excel) and a Power Play 5000 Select 3-wood (will worry about a driver later, since right now I can't hit ANYTHING further than 150-180 yards.) Thinking about some hybrids too, since I'm still working on my swing and I'm a lot better with irons than woods.

So how much money are you spending?

 

i play with a set of nike slingshots

they're not mine, but i love em

i looked into getting the knockoff's on ebay, but decided against it

you guys just convinced me to reconsider