Advice on Clubs for my Son starting out

[ThePs]

Hi
My son has definately been bitten by the golf bug and has been playing for 6 months most weekends with his mates. For Christmas I bought him some golf lessons with the local pro who has advised him to get some new clubs (currently using his grandad's hand me downs which are about 30 years old).

I know nothing about golf and as a 17 year old I don't want him to get ripped off by buying the first thing he sees so am looking for suggestions. He is about 6' 1" and even with the old clubs can hit the ball a long way as he is very strong.
As well as club recommendation, I have read on here that it may be worth getting him 'fitted' for the right clubs. Any advice on that would also be appreciated.
His budget is around £350.

Thanks in advance for your help.

Liz (his mum)

 

[TonyN]

have wu spoken to the pro who is teaching him, most pro do custom fitting and would advise on what clubs he would best suit. My personal opinion would be to try american golf or somewhere like that. Get your son to try out loads of different clubs and see what he feels right with, confident with, and what he hits most consistantly, also depends on how well he is hitting the ball i suppose. Tip, do your research on the chosen clubs and get the best price, most places will match it, if he doesnt need custom fitting and standard sets are fine then check out the discount stores too.

 

[HTL]

Hi mate welcome to the forum. I hope you stay around and get bitten by the (Golf) bug yourself.

I agree with Tony, speak with the pro then go to American Golf or similar and try loads of Irons, you can get a real good quality set of irons for that money.

At 6.1 he might need custom fitting (MVP pick your chin up off the floor) so again speak with the people at American golf, just make sure you dont get a spotty teenager that only works weekends, ask for the manager or custom fitting specialist.

Dont go crazy and try get the woods, wedges + a putter for that money build the set gradually of quality equipment.

 

[TonyN]

and i agree with htl dont try rush the bag full of clubs, only add a club when he is totally satisfied with it, dont let him do what i did and buy off the shelf because i never had a driver, i now play with a 4 iron and my driver is pretty much extinct untill i find one that is right for me.

 

[Parmo]

I think American golf do a Wilson for a couple of hundred and you get everything and a great brand.


http://www.americangolf.co.uk/navproduct...s/7-Steel-Irons,-5-SW)

http://www.americangolf.co.uk/navproduct...tra-432-Package

and this ben sayers is pretty good

http://www.americangolf.co.uk/navproduct...kage-(Cart-Bag)

 

[Basher]

Mr P's,
Some good advice given already. I would echo htl's comments re sets.
When I started the game last year I went out and bought a set of "Beginners/ Improvers clubs" The set had everything, Driver, 3 & 5 woods, irons and putter, all housed in a stand bag.
I have recently upgraded my irons, been trying out putters with a view to buy, and look enviously at drivers and woods in the knowledge that I will make a purchase before very long.

Nett result being..... For my £200 outlay only last year I will soon be venturing onto the golf course with a cheap stand bag that technically cost me £200 (If you get the logic behind it.)

Let your son try out several makes of iron until he settles on his preferred make. Next, buy his woods and putters individually. Putters are an "individual" item in the golf bag. You cannot recommend a putter to anyone. Like the irons, your son must try them and settle on a putter that is right for him. With your son being a big lad (6'1") I imagine he'd suit a 35" putter (putters may be purchased in different lengths)

He's been bitten by the bug that will probably stay with him for ever.
It certainly beats the hell out of hanging round on street corners. Teaches the young 'uns to play fairly and courteously and have respect for others.

 

[GB72]

Agree with the comments made so far. I would liken buying golf clubs to buying a stereo, far better off buying quality separates one at a time that will last a long time than buying a cheap stack system that will need changing in 12 months. I started with a set of Hippo OSIV that were OK but I had changed them within 6 months. When it came to selling them on/trading them in they had little or no value at all. Wish I had taken the advice that is being given here.

 

[HTL]

NNNNOOOO!!!!

I beg of you dont buy one of those complete sets recomended by Parmo, they are not value for money unless you only play once a year and are too lazy to do any research.

Go out buy some magazies, read the equipment reviews

http://www.golf-monthly.co.uk/equipment/Irons_review_index_528.html

And have fun putting your own pesonal set together using equipment that works for your son.

 

[GB72]

Agreed, I have a mate with a Wilson beginners set and the quality is nowhere near what you would expect from a company like this and nothing like the quality fo the separate clubs that they sell. All of these beginners such are much the same and I would not be surprised if they were all built by one company and then had the various company names stamped on them. If cost is an issue, there are plenty of good quality separates available and I would be willing to bet that careful use of sales, ebay and such like you could put togeether a good set for the £160 that is charged for a beginners set. Could be a good challenge for the magazine, see what is the best set of clubs that you could put together for the cost of a beginners package.

 

[DCB]

You could do worse than look at the MD Irons or the Benross irons. Both reasonably priced and good value.

 

[viscount17]

From personal knowledge of the Ben Sayers MX7 set, the irons are OK and the putter is basic but usable. The woods will almost certainly give him trouble as the shafts are not first quality and have too much torque.

I'm in a similar position to Basher, started out with a package set, the woods and putter have been replaced, irons are next.

My pro shop sell PGA clubs as the lower end of the market range, which they will also fit. I trust the pro's at my club and they would not sell rubbish; it's possible your pro shop does something similar.

Don't be misled by online fitting guides (no matter what brand)

 

[billyg]

My other half has that Wilson 432 set in one of parmo's links. She bought them on spec. and against my better judgement.

For a start the bag is pretty rubbish- badly made. The head cover didn't even make it out the shop(I know , I tried my best but she wouldn't have it)

The putter is some sort of cheap mallet thing and just awful.

You get a 1,3,5 wood and 4 hybrid which are ok but for the money poor value. They have chipped and cut along the face already. The irons are fine for an absolute beginner(and such she was) but if I could have dragged her out of the shop without buying I would have encouraged her towards the Benross or MD gear which get very good ratings in many respectable magazines.

I know you said yur budget was £350 for the lot but FWIW I would consider looking at a set of irons, say 4 or 5 through to pw and maybe a 3 Wood. Your son will end up wanting to fund his own driver if he sticks with the game and a putter is just too person to prescribe. I think I would encourage my other half to look at quality pre-owned putters and get them adjusted/re-gripped rather than 'shiny and sh1t' if she is needs to save a few bucks.


Honestly, stay away from these packages if you can avoid it. Fewer, better-made tools beats a big bag full of puss hands down.