got the irons....now for woods and putter.....

[4bp]

Hi guys
posted last week asking for advice on which clubs i should go for as a fairly new golfer. Got loads of helpful pointers so thanks to everyone who replied.
i ended up going for a second hand set of callaway x18s - got them for £180....hopefully they should arrive tomoz so will let u know how i get on with them...i am very excited to dump my rubbish old clubs!!
now the next thing i need i a decent 1&3 wood and a decent putter.....
so again i would like your opinions on which ones i should look at....
thanks for the help....i have found everyone on here v friendly and helpful and appreciate all the advice

 

[Parmo]

Mizuno MX 560 Driver & F60 3 wood with choice of shafts for....

£223.50

http://www.cgdiscountgolf.co.uk/acatalog/Mizuno_MX_560_Driver.html

 

[USER1999]

If you are a beginner, I would steer clear of a driver, and get a bigger headed 3 wood with 15° or more loft. If you insist on getting a driver, get one with 12° loft or more.

If you are not a beginner, get what ever suits your swing. Try a few out, and see what you hit best, but remember when trying that it is not your best hits that you should count, but your worst. It is no good buying a driver where 1 in 10 is a screamer, and the other 9 are terrible, if there is one which is more consistent, even if it is shorter.

 

[viscount17]

depends on your budget, but even then the only solution is to try lots (more fun that way). New G5's have at last been reduced in AG, plus there are lots of good clubs in the £99 bracket.

Putter, these are too personal but for me Ping (£60+). Again you have to try lots.

 

[USER1999]

Probably the most popular putter is the odyssey 2 ball. All these people can't be wrong. Pick up a 2nd hand one from golf bidder and you won't go far wrong.

 

[GB72]

If you are on a budget, try a Benross VeloCT Driver and get a free Benross Pure Red Putter. Both clubs for £99.00. I have the 12 degree loft Driver and would think that it would be ideal if you are just starting out. I also use the Pure Red Number 5 Putter and that does as good a job for me as any I have tried.

 

[Stefano56]

Cobra made a line of fairway woods with a larger face than all the others (Speed F), they're a good alternative from the tee and can easily be found 2nd hand. For the same reason, you might want to try the Cleveland HiBore (not the XL or XLS) which is also available in 11.5 and 13 degrees lofts.
I think the putter is really a personal choice (I have 5!), you should try a few to find the one that fits you. I like the old BH Bettinardis (the bronze ones) that you can find on eBay quite easily.

 

[andiritchie]

good choice of irons 4bp,as for putters any odyssey putter will go down a treat get some good ones 2nd hand,fairway woods there always great offers online to get set up for good money its all good fun looking around

 

[RGuk]

I'd say try and pick up a Ping G5 or Callaway (anything) driver looking sad at a range or in the local rag.
t.b.h. the kit from all the main makes since about 2001 has been fabulous. TM/Titleist/Mizuno/Callaway/Ping....any of their old fairways are going to be great.....seriously....you can hardly go wrong.

As for putters....I'm very biased against Odyssey, despite the fact I love their putter design. Mostly they are too flat....ALTHOUGH, a 2 ball knocked a few degrees upright (as per 100s of tour pros) would be a great bet. Trouble is, that's not how they come off the shelf.
You'd do well to try out a few from the Ping Karsten Series.

If you want new but not too pricey.....Wislon Staff do some nice putters at AG.

 

[andiritchie]

you right about the odysseys being a bit flat i had to choke right down to get my old one to sit right they just have a nice face

 

[Cernunnos]

Everyones choices are different. As for two ball putters & mallet putters of that type. They are not for everyone. I tried that sort of putter out of curiosity in the past & really could not get on with that lump swaying behind the putting face.

Infact I'd go as far as to say everyone should start with a bladed putter of one sort or another as to play anything else is mearly a crutch & an unessesary one at that. They can help some people but. I'd recommend something like a John Letters bladed putter. I have one & it works every bit as well as my Yes putter or any others of my more expensive putters.

As for Driver. Everyone wants a driver in their bag. But the words of caution are well founded. Thed irony is that the larger face is supposed to be easierto hit, but in reality nothing could be further from the truth

Benross do do some great woods & drivers, certainly worth a go Their Trimass range was/is great Just see what deals are available on quality drivers when you go down to your local golf emporium. Try some out. For a beginner 12 degrees loft or similar is a good start, but some people might not need this, however your golf pro, or the pro at a golf store will be able to advise.

As to whether to go for a large headed 3 wood or a small headed fairway wood. my preference is for the small headed as they can be used both off the fairway, out of the rough & off the tee. The smaller head will also focus your concentration better on a good swing.

Oh and I would be tempted to leave the driver in the bag unless the fairway is wide or the course open. But learn to use it & practice with it along with the other clubs in your bag.

 

[RGuk]

As to whether to go for a large headed 3 wood or a small headed fairway wood. my preference is for the small headed as they can be used both off the fairway, out of the rough & off the tee. The smaller head will also focus your concentration better on a good swing.

I have one of the bigger 3 woods made recently (180cc) and I would say for a beginner/novice that this is the way to go. Use it off the tee and don't go anywhere near it off the deck. If you are either brave or half decent, it can work off the deck.....but it's taken me nearly a year to get 90% decent with it.

It's a hard one the call.....I get a bit depressed playing with guys who can't hit it (3w off the grass) properly even 2 or 3 times out of ten......I feel that a beginner would do best to use either a high launch driver and a 5 wood OR a big 3 wood and 5 wood/rescue.

I'm surprised that no manufacturer has developed a 400-460cc 15 degree club specifically for beginners (most of whom would do well to quit the 3 woods off the fairway).

As for me, the 3 wood off the deck only comes out when it gets me home. If I'm 300 yards away from a 550 par 5, I'll hit 5w, 3h or 4i, every time, then deal with what's left.

 

[GB72]

I have had all sorts of problems with 3 woods until I changed to my Adams XTD. It is designed to be used more like a hybrid though it easiy travels the same distance as a 3 wood. Have found this a pleasure to use off the tee and the fairway.

http://www.direct-golf.co.uk/fairway_woo...way_woods/p7638

 

[USER1999]

I am with Dave on this, the three wood is for tee shots only. Off the deck it is too risky, given the variety of strikes I can put on it. 5w max off the fairway, more often than not it is hybrid time.

 

[Cernunnos]

I must be odd in liking hitting my 3 wood & 5 wood off the deck..There again it is a shot I practice off the deck on the range with my Yonex cyberstar mII steelheaded fairway woods.

As it happens I also don't get on that well with my hybrid club, much prefering to either hit a long iron or use the 5 wood. Thogh depending upon what yardages are on the coure it will depend on what combination of 3 iron 3 hybrid & 5 wood I carry as the 3 hybrid is slap bang in the middle of my 3 iron & 5 wood distances.

And also why I have an aversion for large headed 3 woods, much prefering the solid feel of the small headed steel headed fairway woods. If I could get a legal small headed steel headed driver I think I would.

 

[HomerJSimpson]

For my 2p worth I'd suggest starting with a heel/toe weighted blade putter. If you can putt with a blade then there is nothing much wrong with your technique (unlike me who has tried 2 ball and now the Rossa Spider).

I think the idea of finding a forgiving 3 wood instead of a driver is valid as it will definitely keep you straighter and if you can manage to work it off the deck too will still make long par 4's and shorter 5's reachable.

 

[Suths]

I would disagree with alot of the advise on here. I have been playing for over 10 years and when I first started I hit a terrible driver that went about 10 yards off the ground and swerved with an horrendous slice, but by being so terrible with it and lots of practice and perseverence I now carry the ball 280-290 and can work the ball both ways. I have recently invested in an R7 CGB Max 9.5 with stiff shaft, but before that I had an old knackered taylormade burner (about 12 years old).

Everyone shoul get the big stick out of your bag's and practice until you start to hit it properly. If you don't you'll never be able to hit it.

Also you'll find loads of decent balls while you're looking in the woods.

 

[TonyN]

Much better to do it on the range than on the course, if you keep hitting them in the woods it shatters your confidence plus if you aint doing something right, persivering(sp) could do more damage than good.

 

[RGuk]

The thread is re-born, with an argument about drivers! Fantastic.....bring it on.

f.w.i.w. I don't think persevering with a driver when you are completely crap with it is a good idea.

I put my driver away for a few months after starting lessons (1993-ish) and then bought it out once my 3 woods were going ok-well. Somewhere in my golfing history, I decided to only use it when absolutely necessary and still follow that plan now. The short and medium par 4s at mine never get the driver treatment, why blast one down to a 20 yard wide fairway with trees/rough catching anything off line? I'd rather have 110 to go than 80 or 90 in the rough.

 

[TonyN]

Thats what am talking about Davey Baby! You guys should really listen to him.