Complete set up..Advice needed.

[gtcarling]

Hi,

First post on the forum so go easy on me.

Well where do I start, been out of the game for a long time nearly 10 years. Kids are coming to an age where I can get out more so thought it was time to start up again.

I`ve been to the driving range a few times and I was pleasantly suprised. I can still hit the reasconably well but do need to get some new clubs for sure.

My question is really, would I be better starting up with a package set. AG have a Wilson set for £310 which looks perfect for me, going to have a look in the week and see how they feel.They also have a Jack Nicklaus set for £399, the guy at AG said this was a very good set for the money.

Or should I buy a set of irons, been looking at the Ping I3 or the Wilson Di7 both look suitable for me and then buy a Driver and hybrids.

My budget is around £400-£500 to begin with, I need pretty much everything irons, driver, hybrids, balls, glove, etc. My director has given me a bag he has never used so I can use that if I wasn`t to go for the package set.

Any advice appreciated.

Thanks

Alex

 

[bobmac]

Hi and welcome back to golf. Stand by for lots of advice, most of it to avoid American Golf

 

[gtcarling]

Hi and welcome back to golf. Stand by for lots of advice, most of it to avoid American Golf

Seemed ok to me, only popped in briefly thought they were very helpful.

Any particular reason why you would avoid them?

 

[medwayjon]

AG are only interested in selling what they make the most comission on and failing that, what they have in stock.

I have had several experiences that were a joke, my swing speed is bordering on X-Stiff shafts and I was told to buy r-flex as they would suit me.

They tried to bully me into buying Wilson gear, really really tried and pushed.

I have many mates who have been stitched up by them also.

Avoid AG like the plague.

check www.discountgolfstore.co.uk ot get down to your local direct golf who I think are a lot better.

 

[Robster]

Todays golfer has an article for gear for £500 and they choose benross irons ram driver etc. I have just brought a set of wilson fatshaft from AG and that came with a bag and hybrids. I didn't feel pushed into it they just felt right for me but he did look like a Jedi so your comment has made me think, I must admit I did go in to buy mx19's.

 

[GB72]

Would certainly go for a set of irons (new or second hand) over a complete set. MD and Benross are worth a go if you need a full set on a budget.

Look at some of last year's kit that is selling at ridiculous prices. Direct Golf were Selling Cobra FPs at £199 which are well worth a try and the DI7s you mention are a good buy at around £250.00.

Great drivers are also available sub £100, like last year's Nike SQ for about £80 or try the MD Superstrong or Benross VeloCT. Not tried one but can also pick up a Mizuno 560 for about £60 new.

As to Hybrids, last year's Cobra Bafflers are available for around £60.00 or MD Superstrongs are about the same price for this year's model.

With regards putters, Ping do a great range at about £60 or the current Taylormade range are great at £80. I am also a fan of the Benross Pure Red for about £40.

Plenty of options to buy great kit within your price bracket for your budget. Also worth looking at www.onlinegolf.co.uk their points system would probably cover the cost of your balls and gloves if you bought the rest of your kit from them

 

[gtcarling]

Thanks for the replies guys much appreciated.

I`ll have a look at online golf, one more question.

I have around 6, 18 hole golf courses all within a 5-10 minute drive from my house but strangely enough there is not one golf shop for 10-20 miles. I`d prefer to go to shop rather than order on the internet.

Would the pro shop at one the courses help me out with clubs etc if i wasnt a member at the course?

 

[HomerJSimpson]

AG will try and sell Wilson, Nicklaus, Hogan and Yonex as they are the biggest profit margins. The trouble with these starter sets is that they normally only come in regular shaft flexes so if you happen to need stiff you'll be buying a set that won't be working at optimum performance.

My advice would be to go to a demo day (or a good club pro)and see what is around and get your swing measured. Once you know what shaft etc you need have a look online or in local pro shops

 

[GB72]

Thanks for the replies guys much appreciated.

I`ll have a look at online golf, one more question.

I have around 6, 18 hole golf courses all within a 5-10 minute drive from my house but strangely enough there is not one golf shop for 10-20 miles. I`d prefer to go to shop rather than order on the internet.

Would the pro shop at one the courses help me out with clubs etc if i wasnt a member at the course?

The pro will help you out I am sure. Where abouts are you as I am sure someone on here will be able to recommend somewhere.

 

[thecraw]

Why not do the online Ping fitting then look for a second hand set on ebay in your spec!

 

[Andy]

Any club pro would jump at your business in the current climate.

Bob wil back me up I'm sure.

Do you not have a local range where you can try different clubs with a range of shafts?

Andy

 

[gtcarling]

Why not do the online Ping fitting then look for a second hand set on ebay in your spec!

Funny you should say that I`ve already done that and it could be what I go for, how accurate is it?

As for my local pro, I was looking on the Cobra website there irons look good and there local supplier/pro fitter is the course that runs behind my house.

http://www.ifieldgolf.com/

 

[gtcarling]

Any club pro would jump at your business in the current climate.

Bob wil back me up I'm sure.

Do you not have a local range where you can try different clubs with a range of shafts?

Andy

I`ve been to the local driving range and they don`t stock any clubs there. However there is another range that I could try might pop there one evening in the week. They have a course/shop etc so hopefully I can try some clubs there.

 

[Whereditgo]

Not wanting to be a defender of AG as the one local to me is not too hot, that said, I went to AG in Lincoln to upgrade my irons after reading one of Bob's posts on the forum somewhere, they have 2 PGA pro's working there, didn't try to push me towards any manufacturer at all and even made a couple of constructive pointers with regards to my swing!

I settled for a set of MX200 irons in the end, regular flex, 1/2" longer than standard. I reckon I got a cracking price too!

So might be worth checking if your local AG has a pro there?

 

[HomerJSimpson]

I have to be fair and say where a PGA pro is attached AG aren't as bad as where there is no pro affiliated. Even so if you don't get seen by the pro, the sales teams will (in my experience) still try and push certain makes and models.

My advice is to either a) insist on only dealing with the pro, b) go to a local PGA pro and see what deals they will offer (my preferred option as you should always support the pros) or c) look at online stores

 

[Whereditgo]

HJS is bang on - hence the comment about my local AG, there they do indeed try and push the brands that have for them the greatest profit margin (they are sales people after all I guess).

In my case, knowing there was a pro at Lincoln, I phoned a few days ahead and made an appointment to see the pro.

I am normally a believer of supporting the smaller specialists, in whatever field, against the 'big boys', if we don't they won't be there for long!

 

[M1tch]

the wilson set are very good for money my mates got them and he said they are the best irons he has had.

 

[RGDave]

Hold your horses gtcarling....

If I get the irons I'm after, then my Irons/Wedges (MacGregor) Ping G5, MD rescue, Callaway 5 wood and Odyssey putter will all be rolled up into bargain of the century.....

Welcome on board.....

 

[andiritchie]

IMO with 4-5 hundred to spend it might be best to buy everything separate rather than a starter set where the woods are terrible and i a couple of months you will want to change

Off the top of my head you could get

Mizuno mx19s for £200
Mizuno mx560 driver for 60-70 brand new its loud but its good
Taylormade r7 cgb max rescue wood for 80
a good sand iron like Mizuno etc you could get for 50 then putters of choice for cheap too

Its good to pick every club one by one to get a set of clubs that you like and will last many years

 

[CrapHacker]

Any club pro would jump at your business in the current climate.

Bob wil back me up I'm sure.

Do you not have a local range where you can try different clubs with a range of shafts?

Andy

I`ve been to the local driving range and they don`t stock any clubs there. However there is another range that I could try might pop there one evening in the week. They have a course/shop etc so hopefully I can try some clubs there.

Pros make maoney selling gear.

So they would welcome you with open arms.

£500 is reasonable, but not a fortune, so what I'd do is go to all the courses near you and chat to the pro. Get a feel for how well you get on with him, and ask him how close he can get to internet prices. If you find one that can get reasonably close, I personally would be willing to pay a small premium to buy from him, rather than the net, in order to pick his brain.

I'd also have a couple of lessons with him, to let him see what sort of shape your swing is in, so he can advise you on what type of club suits.

The Benross stuff can be purchased dead cheap, and is good if you want GI irons, but I think the woods are pretty decent up to a reasonable standard.

Ben Sayers Benny range is highly rated in the GM equipment mag this month too. But he might well be attached to other suppliers and be able to point you in another direction.

With half a dozen pros in a small radius, I bet there's one that will look after you better than the others. You are in a strong position, some pros will try to bully you, others will try to serve you. Be honest with them, and I'm sure you'll find the right guy.

GL, and good hunting