AT Golfers: Help a newbie!

[murphy55d]

I appreciate everyone's help, I decided to go with the RAM set that Dual700s linked to. I will put the money I saved compared to the Knight and Orbiter sets towards a nice putter, and that's only if I don't like the one that comes with my set. Even then, the $50 I saved will pay for some rounds of golf at the par 3 course/driving range, which will provide more of what I REALLY need, and that's practice.

Thanks again guys for all your help.

 

[FoolishMcNasty]

make sure to take some lessons...

 

[SethK28]

Dual700's do you own that golfshop/website?

 

[FrogDog]

I just bought a set of RAM clubs (my second set, I've been playing for 4 years) and I love them. They were only $200 too.

 

[Parrotheader]

Good luck. I don't play near as much as I used to either (only play a few times a year now, played almost weekly in college), but I'm actually much better now. I'm still a bogey golfer, but it's a far cry from my total duffer days. Spend a lot of time on the putting greens in addition to the driving range. It's easier to shave strokes from good putting IMO if you're not a regular golfer.

One of the biggest things that helped me (besides lessons and taking it in college) was getting a set of clubs custom-fitted to my swing instead of just buying an off-the-rack set. It made a WORLD of difference in how I hit the ball. Previously I would top a lot of shots no matter how much I tried to adjust my swing and hit balls far below the club's intended trajectory. Once I got the new irons, I was suddenly hitting each club the way it was meant to be hit and then some. I've actually got more than one 'go to' club now when I'm in a pinch. It doesn't cost a lot to have clubs custom-fitted. I bought a decent quality set of knock-off irons (2-PW) custom-fitted for about $150. I've always struggled with woods so I still use my cheaper/older ones for that (will pick up better ones if I play regularly enough) and recently picked up a driving iron which I absolutely LOVE. I can crush balls with that thing and actually can outdrive most of my friends with it. The driving iron is actually supposed to be much easier for most people to hit since the shaft length is shorter (usually roughly equivalent to a 4-iron) as opposed to a long wood/driver which has a longer shaft and has much greater room for error in an undisciplined swing.

 

[DuallyX]

Originally posted by: SethK28
Dual700's do you own that golfshop/website?

My Dad and his two brothers co-own it. Actually, IMG (sports firm) now owns 70% of the company. (Investors with deep pockets=good.)

I am but a poor graphics lackey.

 

[GagHalfrunt]

Murphy, if you're just starting you're a long way away from being able to tell the difference between a $200 set and a $2000 set. Once you get to the point where you can ask again and I'll give you the full rant on why $2000 sets are not any better than $200 sets anyway

If you really like the game and plan to stick with it, go ahead and get a complete set for $200 or so. Just keep in mind that it's a 2 year investment tops. Sometime soon if you start to improve you're going to want clubs that fit you better, but getting custom fit is a step you want to take a bit down the road, not now. Until you groove your swing a little so that it repeats itself fairly well a fitting won't offer much benefit. At this point you really have only 2 options:

1) Borrow a set from friends for a year or two, then move up to a good set.
2) Buy a cheap set and use that until you're ready for something better.

Obviously option #1 is better as it requires no money, but if you can't borrow a set you're left with option #2. Of the 3 links you provided, I'd suggest the first one, the Orbiter set from FogDog. I've hit Orbiter clubs and they're not that bad, certainly plenty of club for a beginner and they're good enough that they're not going to fall apart on you. For $200 that looks like a good buy.

 

[LunarRay]

Wait... don't buy yet... Clubs have to be fitted for lie angle etc... you don't know what shaft you'll need.. grip size..

but, the biggest is the mind... if you think there is something better you'll want it.. get some junkers and have em fitted for lie angle and all.. the go see if you really want to invest in what your mind may not want.... at least think about it... a two yd difference in a driver will cause you to want to spend 500$..