Minimum Viable Club Set

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Dornenglanz

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I'm currently using my friend's old set of Callaway Big Bertha X12s. However, soon I should give them back, and I'll need to get something for myself. I'm thinking that it'd be interesting and worthwhile to think in terms of a bare minimum set of clubs that will allow me to learn the fundamentals, and then add more as I need them. For example, I doubt I will see any difference between 5,6,7 iron, given my complete novice swing. That way I could also buy clubs of decent quality, a bit at a time.

I've read about 4 and 5 club challenges, and these seem to be a very interesting approach. I also don't have a bag with wheels, so keeping weight down is attractive.

So, with that in mind, what 4 clubs would you recommend I get as my minimum viable set? From my research, I reckon:

- A hybrid (maybe circa 19 degrees)
- A middle iron (say a 6 or 7)
- A sand wedge
- A putter

I could then add a driver or fairway wood and augment irons as I start to need them.

Does this sound like a plausible approach?
 
Not really mate. If you are going to buy a set you might as well buy the full set of irons or adding to the set later on will be challenging. Does not mean you have to take them all out to begin with but they are there for when you need them. Welcome btw and good luck.
 
Buy second hand, put new grips on whatever you get and you're sorted.

It's not worth trying to buy new as once you've get properly bitten by the golf bug you'll want to replace everything you get as a beginner anyway.
 
You could pick up a set of Adams Blue, 5-pw in the region of £150 and add a £50 hybrid. They're fantastic clubs for a beginner and you won't need to change for a long time. Or buy a second hand set, plenty of 5 year old Ping sets available for a bargain price.

You're not going to pick up individual clubs at a package price, will struggle to get them, then they might have different shafts etc and this won't help progress.

I think you'd regret taking the above approach if I'm honest. You could always buy the clubs, then just take more out as you get more confident. But I'd take a couple more, say hybrid, 6i, 8i, PW, SW and putter
 
Set a budget and try and get something you like secondhand on eBay.

If if you look for 2013-2014 stuff you can pick up real bargains and it's just as good as the new 2016 stuff.

I I had my heart set on matching my hybrid to my M2 driver but funds didn't allow so got a SLDR from 2014 for a fraction of the cost and it's my favourite club at the mo.
 
Can easily get a decent set of irons for under 150 quid, doesn't matter how banged up the heads look can even go up to 10 years back, so long as the flex is appropriate and the grips are good that's what matters, same goes for a putter minus flex being irrelevant.

With a hybrid or wood I would want something a bit more recent, its only the wedge where I would particularly look at head wear.

Happy to help point you towards specific models if you want
 
Im about to sell my starter set of Nike CPR Irons which i will link you to later. they are 5 iron to PW with 2 hybrids aswell. i olny want £35 plus whatever the postage is on them and they would probably be ideal as a starter set. they are about 10 years old though but that doesn't really matter. they got me from 28 to 18 handicap and i could have kept them but new shiny ones caught my eye!
 
TheDiablo said:
You could pick up a set of Adams Blue, 5-pw in the region of £150 and add a £50 hybrid. They're fantastic clubs for a beginner and you won't need to change for a long time. Or buy a second hand set, plenty of 5 year old Ping sets available for a bargain price.

You're not going to pick up individual clubs at a package price, will struggle to get them, then they might have different shafts etc and this won't help progress.

I think you'd regret taking the above approach if I'm honest. You could always buy the clubs, then just take more out as you get more confident. But I'd take a couple more, say hybrid, 6i, 8i, PW, SW and putter
Click to expand...

Great shout. I bought the Adams Blue new in a set with 2 hybrids for £180 a few months ago. They are superb for the money, very forgiving.
 
Thanks, all.

A few questions, if I may:

- is there any value in "custom fit" clubs? Or is that definitely something for once I actually know how to play? Or will learning to play be made easier by having clubs that fit? I'm just below 5'8. Can any club be custom fitted after you buy them (eg 2nd hand)? Is that worth doing?
- where is good to buy 2nd hand stuff? Other than ebay, are there some reputable shops or websites that specialise?
- I'm a bit bewildered by the choice! Given that I am using Callaway Big Bertha X12 now, are these a reasonable place to start? Should I look for a set of these? How would others compare? I've heard about clubs being "forgiving" - where on the forgiveness scale do the clubs I am currently using sit?
- I've read that hybrids are easier to use than long irons - is it worth starting with these, or is it better to learn with traditional irons?
- Why do pros seem to start everyone with a 7 iron?
 
Plenty of Game improvement irons and sets to be had under £150. My brother in law got into golf for £90 with a complete set of wilsons, yes they are the cheaper end but having hit them back to back against a few bit brands... I'd game them!
 
Dornenglanz said:
Thanks, all.

A few questions, if I may:

- is there any value in "custom fit" clubs? Or is that definitely something for once I actually know how to play? Or will learning to play be made easier by having clubs that fit? I'm just below 5'8. Can any club be custom fitted after you buy them (eg 2nd hand)? Is that worth doing?
- where is good to buy 2nd hand stuff? Other than ebay, are there some reputable shops or websites that specialise?
- I'm a bit bewildered by the choice! Given that I am using Callaway Big Bertha X12 now, are these a reasonable place to start? Should I look for a set of these? How would others compare? I've heard about clubs being "forgiving" - where on the forgiveness scale do the clubs I am currently using sit?
- I've read that hybrids are easier to use than long irons - is it worth starting with these, or is it better to learn with traditional irons?
- Why do pros seem to start everyone with a 7 iron?
Click to expand...

The only benefit that a 'custom fit' done now will give is to ensure you are using the right length clubs for your physical attributes. Unless you are particularly tall, short or otherwise 'deformed' you will almost certainly be fine with standard length clubs - and 5'8" seems about normal height. Whatever you eventually buy, you should get the 'lie angle' (that's the angle between the shaft and the sole of the club when ball is struck) checked/adjusted though. It's amazing how much better results when this, supposedly minor, attribute is set correctly!

Callaway X12s are deemed 'forgiving' clubs, as are others in the 'X' series.

Hybrids are definitely easier to hit well than long irons, but getting the right one(s) can be tricky! However, there will be something in the Adams range that will suit! Certainly

7 iron is used because it's neither too long nor too short to hit 'normally'. It's also the one where there is a particularly large differences in loft between 'distance oriented' and 'feel oriented' (terms I've just invented) clubs! The clubs that would seem best for you (currently) will be 'distance oriented' ones - designed to be forgiving and go a long way!
 
Playing with a half set in a pencil bag is how many of us started in the game and I still think it's one of the most enjoyable ways to play. Nowadays it's all about having a full matching c/f bag! Half sets and individual clubs aren't easy to come by but a few on e-bay, usually older models. Maybe easier to get a full set and select what you want for the bag. 3w, 5w, 3/4h 5, 7, 9 irons, pw and sw and putter will see you right and you'll learn to play a variety of shots. Go for it!
 
Last edited:
Hosel Fade said:
Something like this would be a good place to start

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/252418756515

I used to have a set of these and really liked them until i fully grew into stiff shafts. Plus theyre forged which always scores forum points

Add a hybrid somewhere around 20-22 degrees and a putter and job done
Click to expand...

Good shout. Those are from the days when MacGregor were still making great clubs.
 
My normal set for years was
Driver
Hybrid or 1 iron
7 iron
pw
lw
putter

This was not from time to time, there really was not a situation where anything else was needed
 
Hosel Fade said:
Something like this would be a good place to start

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/252418756515

I used to have a set of these and really liked them until i fully grew into stiff shafts. Plus theyre forged which always scores forum points

Add a hybrid somewhere around 20-22 degrees and a putter and job done
Click to expand...

After procrastinating for a while, I took the plunge, and have purchased these very clubs!

What does one look for in a putter? The one I am using is a hickory-shafted one - looks very primitive! I quite like it, but I've not tried any others.
 
Dornenglanz said:
After procrastinating for a while, I took the plunge, and have purchased these very clubs!

What does one look for in a putter? The one I am using is a hickory-shafted one - looks very primitive! I quite like it, but I've not tried any others.
Click to expand...

Go into an AG and just hit a few with some different looking shapes.

As a top end example this looks a good price for a high spec milled putter and is very classic in shape http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Ping-Anse...498625?hash=item2112183b01:g:43oAAOSwM4xXcBVq

More basic and much older http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Ping-Anser-Putter-/291794335194?hash=item43f04c35da:g:vYIAAOSwjXRXYuM1 Don't worry they clean up really easily with some fine sandpaper if you don't like the colour, can even get them really shiny with other methods but I never bothered with mine that I still use from time to time, if you end up getting one of these there is every chance the grip will be old,hard/cracked and need replacing for about a tenner incl the new grip

On the other end of the spectrum you have these http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/ODYSSEY-W...366054?hash=item3d1e5c3b66:g:g9sAAOSwZ1BXcu6t


But essentially the message is have a go with some stuff in a shop and go from there. Most common putters to be available used (and at a low price) will be Ping and Odyssey.
 
Yup, I also have a set of the MacGregor M455s. They are fantastic, very forgiving and they have a really soft feel to them. A bit ugly, though. Actually, I had bought them for pretty cheap and just wanted to play them for a little while before getting a "real", better set, but now I can't be bothered to change them for anything else.
 
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