Greetings from another novice

[addyb]

Novice may be an understatement. I've never played before apart from hitting a few balls on a driving range around 20 years ago.

Ok so a bit of background. I turned 40 this year, married with 4 kids (1 boy, 3 girls) I've always had an interest in golf which was exclusively limited to watching and playing via videogames I need something for myself hobby wise and the wife always suggested I should start playing golf but I never did anything about it due to lack of time. Over the past few months I've been invited to play a round via work colleagues and in-laws but for one reason or another it just never happened. I was supposed to play last weekend but weather ruined it.

I thought enough is enough and contacted the local pro at my nearby driving range and booked my first ever lesson for this weds I'm really looking forward to it and kind of half know what to expect by reading at other people's experiences on here and elsewhere. I don't want to be a world beater. I simply want to learn the fundamentals and get some key things to work on so I can practice at the range and then go and see how I get on when I play one of my local courses.

I'd like to be able to just dive in the car with my clubs and go for 9 holes here and there when time permits.

Sorry I feel like I'm droning on here but the next logical step would be to buy my own clubs. I get the impression these beginner sets I see are pointless and I should be going for pre owned clubs from a reputable brand?

For instance I came across these:

http://www.onlinegolf.co.uk/clubs/p...3427.html?dwvar_303427_variantimage=stand bag

But something tells me mass produced sets like these would be poor quality and I would be better off buying used callaway, ping, mizuno etc .

If the latter is correct I still have no idea on what I should be looking for. I don't know what's a good deal and what's not really. Half set or full set? Do I get hybrids? Cavity back irons etc. I've been looking online for the past couple of weeks but I'm just more confused by it all so any advice would be appreciated.

So hi all and sorry for the war and peace first post.

 

[the_coach]

welcome along

started a good ways in getting some lessons in first

take the opportunity to ask the pro's advice over club types
but in general starting off looking at a club type that will offer some help so yep probably a cavity probably a more game improver model with a tad of offset
a real key factor is the lie angle & shaft length & weight of the irons & wedges
if you average height average length arms to body then most likely standard length & lie would likely suit

say if 6' 2" with either shorter arms or longer arms then standard lie/length probably not goin to suit
but average height or shorter a key to iron specs lie angle & length is arm length

so all stuff you can speak to the pro about to get some hands on advice is for sure the best ways to go - before you spend any $'s on clubs

in general would stay away from complete starter sets as you surmise better to go with the best quality used clubs from 'known' better quality oems so clubs a couple years old at a more reasonable price

if pretty sure you going to stick at it then some irons say 5i to 9i with PW & SW then a hybrid say around maybes 24º (could get an adjustable if budget allows) & a 3 metal at either 15º or 16º (again could get an adjustable)
to start off that & a putter club wise is all you really need - would stay away from a driver until maybes the lesson series has the pro thinking it might be a good idea - longest club lowest loft hardest to manage

as to what exact manufacturer after talking through with pro to get some more ideas - ultimately you also need to like the look of the clubs you have - something that when down behind the ball gives you some confidence & something you like the look of given that you'd be looking in the game improvement type club design - & not the sleek real small blade or blade type clubs that go under the handle of 'better player clubs'

but really would pick the pro's brains over clubs & talk through it

although you got to start with one lesson - one lesson not enough so see if there are any 'deals' to buy a number of lessons together - know to many folks it seems like 'dead money' but that couldn't be further from the truth

take just one lesson then go it alone & unless you not like the majority of folks you'll start to develop a bunch of 'bad' habits that further down the line will be a whole bunch harder to fix up

good luck

 

[Tashyboy]

Heyup eddyb and welcome to the forum. You are deffo doing the right thing by having lessons. Take your time buying the right stuff. coach gives a lot of the correct advice. Let us know what part of the world you are from there will be members on here that may go out with you.

 

[Face breaker]

I'd go with a 3-wood, 6-SW in yer irons and a couple of hybrids 18/19 and 22/23 degree should about do it 'oh yeah' and don't forget the putter...

I'd also suggest (as the_coach has already said) you leave the driver out fer now, nasty things they are, cause you nothing but trouble, rarely use one even now much preferring my 3-wood which I hit a country mile anyhoo...

 

[addyb]

Thanks for all the responses guys. Much appreciated. You know several people have mentioned forgetting about the driver and just using a 3 wood. Noob question but why is a 3 wood easier to strike the ball with? I'm in the North West btw. Leyland, Preston to be exact.
I'll more than likely be having a few lessons so I will pick my pros brains regarding clubs. I just don't want to spend the earth on new when I can get suitable pre owned but again don't want to buy crap.

 

[PJ87]

Thanks for all the responses guys. Much appreciated. You know several people have mentioned forgetting about the driver and just using a 3 wood. Noob question but why is a 3 wood easier to strike the ball with? I'm in the North West btw. Leyland, Preston to be exact.
I'll more than likely be having a few lessons so I will pick my pros brains regarding clubs. I just don't want to spend the earth on new when I can get suitable pre owned but again don't want to buy crap.

Shorter shaft and more loft , easier to control

 

[addyb]

Thanks.

So just familiarising myself with game improvement clubs. For a 3 wood would an example of that be a taylormade Adams blue 15?

Just looking at irons now. Don't worry I'm not splashing the cash, more just getting used to what's what. When I show an interest in something I'll hammer the internet for weeks/months to get clued up

 

[Face breaker]

Callaway's X2hot or XR would be a good place to start or if you wanna go down the adjustable route then the 'Big Bertha' would also make a fine choice...

I run an XR...

As for hybrids I've got an 18* 'Adams XTDti' a fine club indeed, I've also got a 'Macgregor DX' 22* hybrid which I picked up for 14 quid, most used club in my bag apart from the putter that is...

Good stuff can be had for not much money if you know what yer looking for...

Sometimes (as in the case of the Macgregor DX) you'll stumble across something that just hits the spot, I was on the hunt for something to fill a gap and happened across it on eBay and at 14 smackers it had to be worth a punt, that punt paid out big time...

 

[addyb]

Cheers for that. Some more food for thought. Not even thought about putters lol.

 

[badgermat]

Sounds like you're in almost exactly the same position I was two years ago.

Having made a complete prat of myself at a client's golf day, I vowed not to be so useless next time and took some lessons. Just a basic introduction to the game, but enough so I could actually hit the ball in the air, chip a bit and putt in more or less the right direction.

Club-wise I went the second-hand route and bought some tatty late 90s MacGregor irons (with a free Howson putter chucked in) and then some even older MacGregor metal-woods.

One thing to watch for with second-hand clubs is the grips. My MacGregors still had the original grips (by then more like bakelite than rubber). Re-gripping a whole set cost nz$100 which was four times as much as I paid for the clubs themselves. I imagine it would be much the same in the UK.

Since then, I've had brand new irons and woods (Cleveland 588TTs and Cobra Fly-Z), then returned to using the old MacGregor irons as I actually preferred them to the Clevelands. As of last week I'm playing some early 2000s forged Bridgestone irons that cost nz$140 and are completely lovely.

One side benefit of playing old clubs is that the low outlay means I feel marginally less bad about my dismal playing.

All that said, don't completely dismiss boxed sets if you fancy something shiny and new. Mark Crossfield was quite positive about the Wilson X31 set (see below), and it is an easy way to get all the bits and bobs you need.

bm

[video=youtube;hn6tmbh9B_A]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hn6tmbh9B_A[/video]

 

[MrC]

I wouldn't completely dismiss a box set either. Work out your budget and then work out your best option. You will be learning the game but most importantly is that you enjoy yourself and get something you will enjoy using.

 

[addyb]

My initial budget is £200-£300. I'd be happy to just have say 5-6 clubs from that to start things off (3wood, couple of irons, hybrid and putter)and add to it from there. I'm mainly going to be practicing in the range which also has a practice bunker and putting greens) and may not get out on a course properly until I've added more anyway. I'd also need a bag I guess.

 

[Hosel Fade]

My initial budget is £200-£300. I'd be happy to just have say 5-6 clubs from that to start things off (3wood, couple of irons, hybrid and putter)and add to it from there. I'm mainly going to be practicing in the range which also has a practice bunker and putting greens) and may not get out on a course properly until I've added more anyway. I'd also need a bag I guess.

The important things to consider are that you will want a putter, a specialised wedge (54 or 56 with 10+ degrees of bounce would be sensible) and some chunky irons. Can always add distance clubs at the top end of the bag later. Condition and age of the heads is fairly unimportant as it doesn't really affect performance within reason, what you do want though are grips in good condition as they make a big difference.

Think 30 for a putter
30-40 for a wedge and 150-200 for irons and you can get something fairly decent

 

[YamiKuriboh]

I'm not sure about the Woods suggestions. For a complete novice I would suggest just getting some irons, wedges and putter and concentrate on those. Aim to be able to hit the ball 100-150 yards relatively consistently without duffing every other shot before you think about using your Woods. A decent putter is £40 and you can get good second hand iron/wedges sets for £200.

Also, within your initial budget you should get a golf bag, golf shoes (some courses insist), a glove and some tees. I lost a tonne of balls when I first started playing so suggest you scour the internet for cheap balls. Once you get better invest in some better balls.

 

[GG26]

For cheap balls, the Dunlops at Sports Direct work out at around 40p a ball and are fine to start out with. If, like I did, you lose around 4 to 6 balls a round to start out with you don't want anything expensive.

Good luck with with the lessons.

 

[addyb]

Thanks. I think I've confused myself even more with all the stellar advice I've had from you good peeps lol.
I will get the pros opinion tomorrow as well.

 

[Orikoru]

Yeah just get a five or six year old set of game improver irons, that's probably going to be good value and give you the most forgiveness. Your local American Golf probably has some cheap second hand sets you can go for. Get a cheap box of lake balls or something to be starting off with as well (you'll probably find enough lost balls in trees and bushes to supplement you as well once you start playing).

 

[addyb]

Sounds like you're in almost exactly the same position I was two years ago.

Having made a complete prat of myself at a client's golf day, I vowed not to be so useless next time and took some lessons. Just a basic introduction to the game, but enough so I could actually hit the ball in the air, chip a bit and putt in more or less the right direction.

Club-wise I went the second-hand route and bought some tatty late 90s MacGregor irons (with a free Howson putter chucked in) and then some even older MacGregor metal-woods.

One thing to watch for with second-hand clubs is the grips. My MacGregors still had the original grips (by then more like bakelite than rubber). Re-gripping a whole set cost nz$100 which was four times as much as I paid for the clubs themselves. I imagine it would be much the same in the UK.

Since then, I've had brand new irons and woods (Cleveland 588TTs and Cobra Fly-Z), then returned to using the old MacGregor irons as I actually preferred them to the Clevelands. As of last week I'm playing some early 2000s forged Bridgestone irons that cost nz$140 and are completely lovely.

One side benefit of playing old clubs is that the low outlay means I feel marginally less bad about my dismal playing.

All that said, don't completely dismiss boxed sets if you fancy something shiny and new. Mark Crossfield was quite positive about the Wilson X31 set (see below), and it is an easy way to get all the bits and bobs you need.

bm

[video=youtube;hn6tmbh9B_A]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hn6tmbh9B_A[/video]

You know there is part of me that's tempted by that. It does seem to have a few favourable reviews and is certainly an attractive starter option and then if I'm still keen on my golfing after 12 months start replacing it with better kit. I guess the plus points of that set is I have nothing to compare it to having never used any kit before.

Another thing to think about I guess.

 

[HomerJSimpson]

Welcome along. Enjoy the lesson and speak to the pro who will give you some good pointers towards what to buy

 

[Face breaker]

Seem to do exactly what it says on the box to a point !...

Nothing wrong with 'Wilson' stuff even though most frown upon it, I run a set of 'Deep Red II MDS' and 'yes' that's the 'Fatshaft' variety...

Big, roomy heads with LARGE sweet spots and a shaft that's the best part of a half inch in diameter at the hozel which admittedly looks a little strange until you get used to it but I hit'em well enough which is what really matters... :thup: