A very noddy question

[rd_se3]

Dear All,

Back into golfing after a long time out. Played as a teenager and had a decrepit old set of irons from 2-9, PW, SW. Had a couple of rounds recently that went spectacularly better than I imagined they would so fancy getting some clubs. Just noticed that most for sale are 4-SW.

What's happened to the 3 and 2 irons? Do people use fairway/rescue woods typically instead?

Am looking at Mizuno MX-100 or Taylor Made Burner Plus or Callaway Big Bertha that "felt" nicest and also based on reviews. I'm guessing I can't go far wrong with these !

Cheers
Richard

 

[Smiffy]

Most people can't hit a 4 iron properly, so 3 & 2 irons are almost unheard of now.
Hybrids are the "in thing" and are supposedly easier to hit, but if you saw me over the week-end oinking my hybrid left, right and anywhere but centre you wouldn't believe it.

 

[rd_se3]

Thanks - so people simply have 4-SW and then what - driver, 3W, 5W, fairway/rescue wood/some sort of lofted wedge (oh - and putter!) ?

Cheers,
Richard

 

[Smiffy]

Thanks - so people simply have 4-SW and then what - driver, 3W, 5W, fairway/rescue wood/some sort of lofted wedge (oh - and putter!) ?

Cheers,
Richard

That's about the long and the short of it Richard, although with some of the "higher end" sets of irons you can usually buy a 3 iron, maybe even a 2 if you feel fairly confident with them and don't mind paying extra.
A driver is a matter of choice, but most people would consider a 3 wood a necessity. 5 wood? Maybe, but a well struck 3 hybrid will go almost as far and some people are happy with that.
You are going to want a sand wedge, (in other words a wedge around 55 degrees), and maybe a "gap" wedge to fill the gap between your pitching wedge (which will normally be about 46 degrees) and the 55 degree sand wedge.
Confused yet???

 

[rd_se3]

No, no - all useful. Am surprised at 3 wedges, though! I've noticed from sifting through the various clubs how many of the rescue type fairway woods all seem to have different angles now which is mildly confusing in terms of "what is standard" !

Anyhow I guess a 3-wood, rescue wood, 4-SW and putter will start me off nicely !

 

[RGDave]

Am looking at Mizuno MX-100 or Taylor Made Burner Plus or Callaway Big Bertha that "felt" nicest and also based on reviews. I'm guessing I can't go far wrong with these !

You guess right (sort of). SO much depends on the type of player you are. Personally, I wouldn't go within 100 yards of any of these 3 clubs and certainly not new......

If you are determined to buy new, go for Callaway X series irons, or some Pings or preferably Titleist depending on your ability.

Cheap Mizunos are horrid. Anything by Taylor Made is going to pretend to be forgiving, but won't be and Big Berthas are...um...um...the Ultimate sin.......

Sorry. But I have to speak my mind.

 

[rd_se3]

I guess that as a "starter" (although I somehow managed a score of 30 off 14 holes playing of an allocated 24 handicap, 2 weeks ago) I'm looking for fairly forgiving clubs.

Why do you call the Big Bertha clubs the ultimate sin - so forgiving it's almost cheating? Why would you steer clear of all those clubs? I'm confused.

 

[RGDave]

Why do you call the Big Bertha clubs the ultimate sin - so forgiving it's almost cheating? Why would you steer clear of all those clubs? I'm confused.

Good question. The current big berthas are just too much in my opinion. The wide soles might lower the centre of gravity (even more) and play a little like a hybrid/rescue club, but they are no more forgiving than X-20s. Around the greens, they are simply impossible to use like a "real" golf club. Good chipping and pitching with X-series irons is hard enough, but big berthas?.....must be hell.
I.M.H.O. the whole design behind the big berthas suits lush american courses with a grass cushion on every fairway lie.....this just won't happen in the UK.

 

[RGDave]

Let me add. I use a BB 4 iron (2002 model) and I find believable excuses to hit this club time after time. I've been known to use it more than once on a hole....but, if I find the ball on anything less than a super lie, it's out with either a 5 iron or 3 rescue. Great clubs, but there is a downside.

 

[HTL]

Don’t take offence here RGDave but you have given the basic guide but not explained what this accurate knowledge is based upon. Hope you don’t mind but this is my attempt to do so:-
Many people on the forum follow the Maltby http://www.ralphmaltby.com/ guide to how playable / forgiving clubs are. Taylor made are advertised forgiving but are not really.

 

[rd_se3]

Thanks everyone - this is all very useful stuff. I will devour the Maltby stats !

 

[viscount17]

No, no - all useful. Am surprised at 3 wedges, though! I've noticed from sifting through the various clubs how many of the rescue type fairway woods all seem to have different angles now which is mildly confusing in terms of "what is standard" !

Anyhow I guess a 3-wood, rescue wood, 4-SW and putter will start me off nicely !

come now rd, when was anything in the golf world standard?

the only answer is hit a lot of clubs and use what suits you best (though I'm guessing you're not old enough for Pings ).

 

[Oddsocks]

im definately going to agree with the taylor made statement being not forgiving, woods yes, but irons definately not. I tried some wilson DI9's when i tried my taylor made burners. i still kick myself now for not buying the wilsons, Ive seen them for less than 300 now and they were a really easy nice club to hit, even with a swing that suits an axe murderer.

 

[HomerJSimpson]

The simple answer is to see what sets your pro has to try, go to a local range or an large retailer ideally with a range attached and basically try as many as you like. A word of warning if you use American Golf, they will try and move you towards certain brands ignoring any other ideas you have (they will offer, Wilson, Yonex, Nicklaus and Hogan). If you have your eyes on say Callaway, Ping or another make stick to your guns and ask to try what you want.

Other than that there is nothing better than shopping for shiny new sticks so enjoy the process and keep an open mind