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Golfers: Recommend a club set for a beginner

R

RaynorWolfcastle

Diamond Member
I'm thinking of getting more seriously into golf next summer, so I'll need a decent set of clubs. I was thinking of buying it now, since it's the end of season and stores will be clearing them out shortly. I've only hit the links 4 times this summer, and 5 times in my life (I hit a legit 102 + 1 mulligan on a pretty easy course today).

Anyhow, I've been using my friend's grandfather's old set and these things are relics. The woods are actually made of wood with a steel face, the irons are steel-shafted, forged. I also hate the putter's feel, but that's a different story.

Anyhow, I'm looking to spend about $300-$400 on a set of clubs. I need something that'll give me accuracy more than power, I can hit the ball about 270 yds with this old-school driver but I tend to slice the ball a little too often for my liking.

Any suggestions? Maybe point me in the right direction? I'll be going to a store tomorrow to try out some clubs.

Thanks in advance 🙂

Update
I went in to a local golf shop and hit some top flite clubs and they are a definite improvement on what the clubs I am currently hitting 😀. The 11-pc set was on sale from CAD $500 to CAD $300 (roughly US $230) so it seemed like a pretty good deal. I also hit the Jazz Fat Cat3's, they were nice but not worth the price difference in price IMHO, they were CAD $500.

On the other hand, I did some research on the web and I am seriously considering buying off eBay. I was looking at getting Tommy Armour 845u irons and Adams Tight Lies GT fairway woods and driver. Has anyone hit these? Supposedly these are some very easy to hit clubs, so they should be perfect for me (the driver is huge: 410cc@10 deg)

I think I'll buy them tomorrow 😀
 
Get custom fit knockoffs somewhere local. I picked up a full iron set of Ping G2 knockoffs earlier this year and they've worked fine for me. I play 5-6 times a week and have no complaints.

Edit: I'm no clubmaker, but I think most newer irons are perimeter weighted, so the power vs accuracy debate shouldn't be much of an issue. Just get irons that you like and learn to hit them.
 
This is one of the few situations where I wouldn't recommend getting custom fit. As a true beginner your swing is not nearly reliable or repeatable enough to have clubs built for it. At this point getting custom clubs would be like trying to buy shoes for a child having a growth spurt. No matter how well it fits today it might be wrong tomorrow.

The good news is that there's very little difference between a $400 set and a $200 set, so save the money and pick up something in the $200 range. Try something like this

Brands you should be looking at are Wilson, Ram, Dunlop and Golden Bear. All make perfectly acceptable beginners sets that are well worth the money.
 
I'd avoid graphite shafts if you decide to get a ~$200 set.
So far I've broken three clubs in the last two years on my cheap Wilson set.
I don't make huge divots or anything, they are just pretty cheap clubs I guess.
The golfsmith I took them to for repair said he gets a lot of these cheap graphite clubs in for repairs.
 
Originally posted by: RaynorWolfcastle
Anyhow, I'm looking to spend about $300-$400 on a set of clubs. I need something that'll give me accuracy more than power, I can hit the ball about 270 yds with this old-school driver but I tend to slice the ball a little too often for my liking.

Any suggestions? Maybe point me in the right direction? I'll be going to a store tomorrow to try out some clubs.

Thanks in advance 🙂
Click to expand...

You can't buy accuracy, that comes from you. Buy a set that is sized properly to you and practice practice practice. That is how you improve your golf game. If you have specific problems with your game perhaps a pro could help you change something you are doing wrong but in general clubs won't make your game better.
 
This is one of the few situations where I wouldn't recommend getting custom fit. As a true beginner your swing is not nearly reliable or repeatable enough to have clubs built for it. At this point getting custom clubs would be like trying to buy shoes for a child having a growth spurt. No matter how well it fits today it might be wrong tomorrow.
Click to expand...

Point taken. But the reality is that decent custom fit clubs aren't really more expensive than ones you'd buy in a store (unless you get real cheapos). If you have someone fit the clubs for you they can at least get the correct length and shaft stiffness. Sure, your swing speed and form will change, but I can't possibly see how getting custom fit clubs would hurt you.
 
Originally posted by: JulesMaximus
You can't buy accuracy, that comes from you. Buy a set that is sized properly to you and practice practice practice. That is how you improve your golf game. If you have specific problems with your game perhaps a pro could help you change something you are doing wrong but in general clubs won't make your game better.
Click to expand...

I said that to mean that I need clubs that are forgiving. With that being said, I'm not looking for an oversize head.

I've been told that I should avoid graphite shats since:
A) I'm not looking to increase my distance
B) Graphite shafts are expensive
C) Graphite shafts flex more and are harder to control for a beginner.

I've been told that the Jazz Fat Cat3's are good at this price point. Has anyone here ever hit with them?

I should mention that I play baseball somewhat competitively, so that's where I get my bad habits from 😛. I have a decent swing IMHO, I just need to work on conisistency. I've been told that shooting a 102 is pretty good for someone who's only played a handful of times, so that's encouraging 😀.
 
C) Graphite shafts flex more and are harder to control for a beginner.
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Both graphite and steel shafts come in different flexes. Graphite is not necessarily more flexible than steel. Graphite is usually recommended for people with slower swing speeds. If this isn't an issue I'd go with steel.
 
Originally posted by: CubicZirconia
This is one of the few situations where I wouldn't recommend getting custom fit. As a true beginner your swing is not nearly reliable or repeatable enough to have clubs built for it. At this point getting custom clubs would be like trying to buy shoes for a child having a growth spurt. No matter how well it fits today it might be wrong tomorrow.
Click to expand...

Point taken. But the reality is that decent custom fit clubs aren't really more expensive than ones you'd buy in a store (unless you get real cheapos). If you have someone fit the clubs for you they can at least get the correct length and shaft stiffness. Sure, your swing speed and form will change, but I can't possibly see how getting custom fit clubs would hurt you.
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Not necessarily. It's true for woods since OEM woods are VERY overpriced. For irons it's different as they're a set and have to match not only the swing of the player, but they need to match each other. Building a good set of irons is very labor intensive, which is why it's impossible to find a good set in a pro shop. Even using very cheap heads mated to very cheap shafts, it's still cheaper to get an inexpensive OEM set rather than an inexpensive custom set. It's around the $300 mark for a set of irons alone that customs become cost effective. Cheaper than that the lowline OEM sets are a much better buy.
 
Originally posted by: RaynorWolfcastle

I've been told that I should avoid graphite shats since:
A) I'm not looking to increase my distance
B) Graphite shafts are expensive
C) Graphite shafts flex more and are harder to control for a beginner.
Click to expand...


1) That's a fairly valid point because lighter shafts offer more distance, but are harder to control for most people.
2) Nope, in many cases OEM graphite shafts are cheaper than steel.
3) Very wrong, material has nothing to do with flex. You can get graphite shafts that are stiffer than an oak tree and steel that's like a piece of licorice.

For male beginners of under age 50 or so, you should probably stick to steel shafts in your irons to start. Graphite is preferable for kids, women and seniors because of the weight savings, men do better with steel for control. Look for a graphite shaft in your driver, steel in the irons, wedges and putter. Your fairway woods can be either graphite or steel, it's less important in those clubs.
 
GagHalfrunt, points well taken. I'm 21, FWIW
What about second-hand clubs? There's a bunch of the big-names' second-hand clubs on ebay that are decently priced. Is that a viable alternative?
 
Originally posted by: biffbacon
i would get something like these link

they are nice clubs that would last for a long time.
Click to expand...

I concur, Tommy Armour 845 sets are great quality and relatively inexpensive.

I should also note that I'd recommend buying a used set of high-quality clubs (Tommy Armour, Titelist, Callaway, Cleveland, Ping, etc) vs. a new set of low- to mid-quality clubs. Both methods end up costing around the same price and you will be much better off.
 
Originally posted by: RaynorWolfcastle
GagHalfrunt, points well taken. I'm 21, FWIW
What about second-hand clubs? There's a bunch of the big-names' second-hand clubs on ebay that are decently priced. Is that a viable alternative?
Click to expand...


Yes. At this point your objectives should be:

1) Price.
2) Basic fit and functionality
3) Price.

What you're looking for is a simple, playable set to get you over the hump from beginner to the point where you can get fit with some degree of accuracy. Any set you buy now has to be viewed as disposable, something to use until you can find exactly what you need. Use it for a year or two and then get fit when your swing begins to groove and repeat. E-bay and garage sales are certainly options, but be careful about the sort of player the set is designed for. Many of the sets you see will be for experts, women, seniors or some other sub-group that makes them completely unsuitable for you. If you buy a set designed for really good players it could greatly curtail your progress and make it harder to learn the game. That's why I like those prebuilt $200 sets for beginners, they're designed for beginners so you know what you're getting.
 
Originally posted by: RaynorWolfcastle
Originally posted by: JulesMaximus
You can't buy accuracy, that comes from you. Buy a set that is sized properly to you and practice practice practice. That is how you improve your golf game. If you have specific problems with your game perhaps a pro could help you change something you are doing wrong but in general clubs won't make your game better.
Click to expand...

I said that to mean that I need clubs that are forgiving. With that being said, I'm not looking for an oversize head.

I've been told that I should avoid graphite shats since:
A) I'm not looking to increase my distance
B) Graphite shafts are expensive
C) Graphite shafts flex more and are harder to control for a beginner.

I've been told that the Jazz Fat Cat3's are good at this price point. Has anyone here ever hit with them?

I should mention that I play baseball somewhat competitively, so that's where I get my bad habits from 😛. I have a decent swing IMHO, I just need to work on conisistency. I've been told that shooting a 102 is pretty good for someone who's only played a handful of times, so that's encouraging 😀.
Click to expand...

Yes, 102 is decent for a beginner. I don't know that I've ever hit a 102 quite frankly and I've played many more times than you. I'll play like once or twice a year though so I never get any better. I'd rather go surfing than play golf.

BTW-I like your sig. I also voted for the 2"x4" in that post. 😀
 
Originally posted by: vi_edit
I bought a used set of Ping Eye 2's (3-SW) for $240 from a local pro-shop. Clubs were newly shafted and gripped. Great set of beginner irons.

Also - a coworker and my wife has these. They're a great starter set too.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=3692257716
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I second finding a used set of quality clubs.

Look for steel shaft; you should be able to get a reasonable set of name-brand clubs for less than a new set of knock-offs. My current set are some mid-range wilsons that were being sold of 3SW for $150, and retaled in the $400-500 range new. Sine I've played about 100 games with them now with no problems, I still can't figure out why they were being sold so cheap!
 
I went in to a local golf shop and hit some top flite clubs and they are a definite improvement on what the clubs I am currently hitting 😀. The 11-pc set was on sale from CAD $500 to CAD $300 (roughly US $230) so it seemed like a pretty good deal. I also hit the Jazz Fat Cat3's, they were nice but not worth the price difference in price IMHO, they were CAD $500.

On the other hand, I did some research on the web and I am seriously considering buying off eBay. I was looking at getting Tommy Armour 845u irons and Adams Tight Lies GT fairway woods and driver. Has anyone hit these? Supposedly these are some very easy to hit clubs, so they should be perfect for me (the driver is huge: 410cc@10 deg)

I think I'll buy them tomorrow 😀
 
The 845u is a very good beginners-to-internediate iron and the Adams GT are also good FW woods for beginner-to-intermediate players.

Which Top Flites were you hitting? The Top Flite Tour 2003 and T-F XL 2000 irons are REALLY well-regarded and famous for being incredibly easy to hit well.
 
Originally posted by: GagHalfrunt
The 845u is a very good beginners-to-internediate iron and the Adams GT are also good FW woods for beginner-to-intermediate players.

Which Top Flites were you hitting? The Top Flite Tour 2003 and T-F XL 2000 irons are REALLY well-regarded and famous for being incredibly easy to hit well.
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To be honest, I don't recall which model the T-F's were. Whatever it was, they were closing them out. Shafts on the woods were graphite, while the irons were-steel shafted. They were perimiter-weighed but without a large, heavy sole like the the Fat Cat's have http://www.jazzgolf.com/images/products/fatcat3_iron_lg.jpg">here</a>[/L]

The Tommy Armour / Adams combo from ebay looks like nice value, I'd get graphite shafts for all the clubs and I could get a club with a lower loft (all he had in Top-Flite was a 10.5 degree loft, I was looking at maybe getting 10 or 9.5).

The only thing I'm not too crazy about is the the huge driver, I think I'd feel like I was cheating if I hit with that for more than a year. Everytime I see someone golf with a driver that has a face the size of Texas, I tell myself "That person prbably isn't a very good golfer" and I don't want to be one of those people 😱. bah, I figure I can always change the driver a year down the road if I become more consistent off the tee. 😀
 
Originally posted by: RaynorWolfcastle
Everytime I see someone golf with a driver that has a face the size of Texas, I tell myself "That person prbably isn't a very good golfer" and I don't want to be one of those people 😱.
Click to expand...

Everytime you see a person with a driver with a face the size of Texas you should tell yourself "That person is a smart golfer". The average driver size on the PGA Tour is over 400cc and those guys are the best players in the world. The simple fact is that bigger is easier to hit solidly and consitently. If you intentionally play a driver smaller than 360cc or so you're just costing yourself strokes. The rules allow you to use a driver up to 460cc, you should be using one as close as possible to that limit. You're a beginner, even if you bought a driver with a head the size of a Volkswagen you're still going to play poorly. The game is about getting the ball in the hole. The top 3 players on the PGA Tour are Vijay, Phil and Ernie, all are playing drivers in the 400cc range, yet none is ranked in the top 80 in fairways hit. And you think using a big club will make the game too easy for YOU?. Time for a reality check, you could be using a tennis racket on a stick and you still wouldn't drive the ball well.
 
Originally posted by: GagHalfrunt
Originally posted by: RaynorWolfcastle
Everytime I see someone golf with a driver that has a face the size of Texas, I tell myself "That person prbably isn't a very good golfer" and I don't want to be one of those people 😱.
Click to expand...

Everytime you see a person with a driver with a face the size of Texas you should tell yourself "That person is a smart golfer". The average driver size on the PGA Tour is over 400cc and those guys are the best players in the world. The simple fact is that bigger is easier to hit solidly and consitently. If you intentionally play a driver smaller than 360cc or so you're just costing yourself strokes. The rules allow you to use a driver up to 460cc, you should be using one as close as possible to that limit. You're a beginner, even if you bought a driver with a head the size of a Volkswagen you're still going to play poorly. The game is about getting the ball in the hole. The top 3 players on the PGA Tour are Vijay, Phil and Ernie, all are playing drivers in the 400cc range, yet none is ranked in the top 80 in fairways hit. And you think using a big club will make the game too easy for YOU?. Time for a reality check, you could be using a tennis racket on a stick and you still wouldn't drive the ball well.
Click to expand...

I dunno. I'm a self admitted hack (usually shoot around 50 for 9 holes) and myself and most people I golf with can actually play better if we tee off with our 3 woods than if we use our drivers. A couple of the people I golf with are worse than me, and one guy is about a 4 handicapper. We all tee off much straighter with the modest three wood than we do with the big ass 400+cc drivers we have.

😕
 
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