What's new

Starter clubs

Rating - 100%
40   0   0
Joined
Jul 12, 2010
Messages
904
Location
DC
So looks like I'm going to have to start playing golf as my wife has to attend several events every year and most of them are either at or near and involve.. golf. I'm looking for any advice you guys have on club selection ie ones that will make all my shots go straight :) I'd be looking for something that I won't have to replace real soon. I looked at the "whats in your bag" thread and its mostly all greek to me but it looks like a lot of you guys use different drivers, irons, putters in one bag. All suggestions will be appreciated. Looking to purchase within a week or so. G1
 
Rating - 100%
40   0   0
Joined
Jul 12, 2010
Messages
904
Location
DC
There is a golfdom near my wife's office. I've never been in it (never had the need) but it look like the size of a small walmart. As for budget, I'm assuming they'll set me back somewhere in the $5-700 range. G1
 
Rating - 100%
9   0   0
Joined
Jul 10, 2009
Messages
516
Location
Cincinnati
Look for anything considered a "game improvement" iron. These are better for high handicapper's or beginners because they are more forgiving. For a beginner I usually recommend the Adams Idea line.
 
Rating - 100%
9   0   0
Joined
Jul 10, 2009
Messages
516
Location
Cincinnati
There is a golfdom near my wife's office. I've never been in it (never had the need) but it look like the size of a small walmart. As for budget, I'm assuming they'll set me back somewhere in the $5-700 range. G1
With that budget I would also highly recommend the Callaway FT-i driver. It is extremely forgiving and totally changed my game. You lose distance but it is very straight off the tee which would be good for a beginner.
 
Rating - 100%
160   0   0
Joined
Jun 13, 2009
Messages
3,345
Location
Central Coast, CA
Not familar with golfdom but if it's that big a store they probably have swing analizer spot to help fit you with the clubs best for ya. Before you buy try to find someone who golfs and go out to the range so you can get some basics down. for that budget should be able to find some decent clubs, don't worry about the drivers/woods bulk of your money should be spent on irons. If your not really sure if your gonna pick up the sport see if they have used clubs, don't want to spend a lot and then find out you hate the game. Much more experienced golfers here that can probably give you more specific help
 

Craig Mac

BoM 4/10 7/11 12/14
Rating - 100%
446   0   0
Joined
Aug 25, 2008
Messages
9,494
Location
Hampton Roads VA
As someone who worked on a golf site for a few years I saw this question asked a lot and you will get more different answers than you need. I would recommend going to a golf galaxy or some place like that, that has the staff there for you to make an informed decision. Every swing is unique and they can best show you something that suits you best, they can also make any necessary tweaks to the clubs you may need as far as length and/or lie angles ect..... You should easily find many options under $700. You could just grab a set off the rack from almost anywhere but if you are serious about starting to play you want to have the right clubs to learn with or you'll just be buying another set in the near future.
 
Rating - 100%
47   0   0
Joined
Mar 13, 2011
Messages
632
Location
Greenfield, IN
I don't know if Dick's Sporting Goods is in your area or not, but they are having their yearly big golf sale. A complete set of Walter Hagen clubs with the bag and all is only $149.
 
Rating - 100%
47   0   0
Joined
Mar 13, 2011
Messages
632
Location
Greenfield, IN
Disregard ... just saw your budget. You shouldn't have a problem getting a nice set for that. Golfsmith also has a pre-owned section and the one around here has really good prices on those if you happen to go the pre-owned route.
 

NickThePyro

GO COUGS!
Rating - 100%
41   0   0
Joined
Jan 1, 2011
Messages
1,299
Location
Kent, WA
Asking around for other opinions will help you but the best thing you can do is go into a golf store and practice swing clubs. If everybody could use the same clubs then there would not be so many options. I know my local store you can practice hit the clubs which I would highly recommend doing before dropping a lot of money on a set. If you want a good cheap starter set Costco stores often get great deals. I picked up a really nice set of Jack Nicklaus Golden Bears for under $200.
 
Rating - 100%
40   0   0
Joined
Jul 12, 2010
Messages
904
Location
DC
I know there is a golf galaxy next to the Petsmart I usually go to so I'll head in there and see what's out there. I did some searching and I did notice that as far as forgiving clubs, Adams always seems to be up there. I don't have a problem with distance, my brother used to play for Cornell many moons ago and I went to the range with him. I didn't have a problem getting the ball out 300feet(I think that was the distance , thats how ranges measure right, in feet?), he just did it effortlessly and I grunted every swing lol. I'll check out that driver while I"m there. Tomorrow's busy for me so I guess its Friday. G1
 
Rating - 100%
40   0   0
Joined
Jul 12, 2010
Messages
904
Location
DC
Disregard ... just saw your budget. You shouldn't have a problem getting a nice set for that. Golfsmith also has a pre-owned section and the one around here has really good prices on those if you happen to go the pre-owned route.
Just because I have a budget, definately doesn't mean I have to use all of it. I'm sure there are accessories as with everything that go with it just like any hobby. lol G1
 
Rating - 100%
9   0   0
Joined
Jul 10, 2009
Messages
516
Location
Cincinnati
Just because I have a budget, definately doesn't mean I have to use all of it. I'm sure there are accessories as with everything that go with it just like any hobby. lol G1
Accessories indeed. I recommend these beauties for your other sticks! The divot tool doubles as a cigar holder on the green. The big clip (cigar minder) is a cigar clip for the cart.

 

Jwrussell

April '05 BoM
Rating - 100%
105   0   0
Joined
Dec 12, 2004
Messages
9,828
Location
Tampa, FL
Fair warning: this is my opinion and worth what you paid for it. You'll get plenty of others, and they'll probably disagree with some of the below.

Your budget really is going to help define what you get. $500-700 is a decent budget, but I assume we are talking soup-nuts here, not just the irons? So you need, at a minimum:

Bag
Driver*
3 Wood
Irons
Wedges*
Putter

Now the above *'s may be something you can skip. You are only going to hit a driver 12-14 times in a round (and that's probably too many times) and for most people starting out a 3 Wood will do just as well. And as to the Wedges, it will depend on what kind of iron set you end up with. If it goes through SW then I would skip picking up anything else, but if it stops at PW or GW/AW, I'd look at picking up a sand wedge.

I would spend most of your money on the Irons. They will make up the majority of your shots on the course. A good set of brand new, brand name irons will go EASILY $500-700 by themselves. I would suggest looking for the best set you can afford from a major manufacturer looking perhaps at last year's clubs where they are still available. There is no substitute for hitting the clubs, so try to find some places that will let you take some clubs with you to a range to hit. It's great if they have one of those simulators in the store, but it's really not a substitute for hitting them at a range OFF GRASS. NO MATS.

Once you've decided on your clubs, don't forget that most manufacturers have "Certified Pre-Owned" sites where they sell their clubs used from barely to well-used. GlobalGolf.com is a great site for that and open box deals (significant savings on never hit clubs). Be sure to save some cash to get them fitted as well. That can be the difference from an OK set of irons to something that really works for you.

Don't go spending a ton on a putter. It will be the club you hit the most strokes with during a round, but putters are a very personal choice and different putters work for different people. In my most humble opinion, you will not notice a big enough difference from a putter you pick up at Play It Again Sports or somewhere like it and a brand spanking new $200-300 putter off the rack at a golf store. Find something that works for you and go from there. You will likely change your putter multiple times if you are like most out there. Drivers and putters seem to be the two clubs that get turned over the most. It's always the equipment that's the problem, ya know?

Driver/Three-Wood. Find a way to save money here if you can. You don't hit enough shots with the Driver for it to take up that much of your budget right now. For most people starting out, the Driver is just a source of frustration anyway. Again, look for used or open box or last year's close-out deals here.

That budget starts shrinking substantially when you start looking at all of the above, and I haven't even mentioned balls (lostgolfballs.com!) or golf shoes.
 

hdroadglide

BoM x 2, BoY 2011
Rating - 100%
514   0   0
Joined
Sep 23, 2008
Messages
10,486
Location
south of KCMO
and before you jump in too deep, play for a while and see if you really do enjoy it. if you do, you can upgrade. if you really dont', then you aren't going to be pissed every time you look at a bunch of money sitting in the garage collecting dust!
 

aquarich

BoM March '11
Rating - 100%
205   0   0
Joined
Sep 7, 2009
Messages
2,057
I would try 2nd swing. They sell used clubs and you can probably find a nice set for a reasonable price. Good luck and let us know what you end up buying.
 
Rating - 100%
40   0   0
Joined
Jul 12, 2010
Messages
904
Location
DC
OK, finally made it to GGalaxy. After spending about an hour in the big "video game", I came out feeling pretty good. The pro there who was watching me laughed and asked me if I really have never played before. I guess playing hockey helps. Its like taking a slap shot just holding the stick a little differently lol. Anyway, I went with the Adams A7OS which are a hybrid set. I went with the set, this way it was easy, I liked the driver and the irons and it came with the bag. I stayed within my budget. No one told me that there were a ton of accessories available lol. I'm figuring I don't need shoes right away. Got the clubs, off to the range with my BIL for lesson #1 tomorrow. G1
 
Top