New to Golf - Irons Advice Please

[UnluckyXIII]

Hi guys,

I recently got in to golf (around 3 months ago) and I'm loving all aspects of it so far. At present I only have a small selection of clubs that the club pro has let me use for on the chipping area and driving range but I'm wanting to take things further and start building my own set which I can practice with throughout the winter ready to actually get out and play in the spring/summer.

Budgets not so much of an issue but I will need custom fitting because I'm not very tall and would also need graphite shafts because my swing speed is only around 70mph.

Hope you guys can help me pick a set of clubs to suit my needs, thanks a lot

 

[Billysboots]

If you're going to be custom fitted anyway the best advice I can give you is to let the fitter do his job.

Go to an independant retailer, rather than one tied to a handful of club manufacturers, tell him your budget, and let him do the rest.

The first time I was custom fitted I had an idea what clubs I wanted, but let the fitter select half a dozen irons within my price range and we chose together those which best suited me.

If you go in with a pre-conceived idea what you want, especially as a beginner, you may well end up opting for a club which isn't right for you.

Just my thoughts.

 

[UnluckyXIII]

Thank you for your reply.

I had been looking at Callaway Diablo Edge, Nike Matchspeed and Mizuno JPX-800 Irons but if what your saying is right then maybe I should just forget these and let the club fitter do his job.

The only golf store I know of in my area aside from the ones ran by the club Pros is American Golf, are these guys worth a visit? And will my lack of ability put them off fitting clubs for me..... or even worse have them laughing at me....

 

[Billysboots]

My last two fittings have been at American Golf and I've been really happy with them. They see all sorts of shapes, sizes and swings so don't worry about that!

By all means tell them what you have in mind, but be open to their suggestions if you are really after what's best for you.

 

[forefortheday]

Look for a "game improver" set and look for some kind of hybrid replacement for the longer irons.

Be prepared for AG to push certain brands but they have a good stock and if you can find one with an outdoor range then spend as long as possible trying clubs.

You won't get "custom fit" by AG either, if you have the budget look around there are many club pro's with a good range of stock and far more ability to find you the right clubs.

 

[HomerJSimpson]

AG will push Wilson, Yonex, Nicklaus (in a big way) and Hogan as these are their biggest mark ups. Personally I wouldn't touch AG for a custom fitting. End of.

If you want to go down the C/F route, then go somewhere that you can try a number of different makes. Where do you live? Don't go with any preconceptions about what you want, but let the guy guide you through the options and let him narrow the search down. You should end up with a couple of head and shaft options and then its all about personal preference.

As an alternative, ask a local PGA pro or your teaching pro as they may also be able to offer a C/F service although they probably won't have quite as many shaft options as a dedicated C/F resource. Nonetheless there should still be enough choice and the teaching pro in particular will have the advantage of already knowing your eveolving swing and your aspirations and can make choices based on that rather than a one off session

 

[UnluckyXIII]

My Pro has recommended I get a set of the Benross clubs that he sells with a custom fitting. I'm not too sure though, I'd never heard of Benross Golf until I noticed it plastered everywhere in his Pro store.

I live in the North of England on Teesside in Co.Durham

 

[HomerJSimpson]

Benross are actually a decent make. They don't tend to advertise much but are definitely worth a look at especially if he can offer a C/F

 

[fat80b]

Personally, I wouldn't spend too much on a first set - I'd look to pick up a second hand set possibly off ebay. You can get a whole set inc bag & balls etc for almost nothing by searching just in your local area.

I also think that custom fitting is a bit of a waste early on as your swing will probably change a lot as you progress.

I reckon spend money on lessons first and gear second - that is what I have been telling myself anyway...

I have been playing for a few years and use a set of Titleist dci's from sometime in the 90's and the pro I am with reckons that they are more than adequate until my swing is rock solid.

Bob

 

[Ethan]

Don't go to AG.

Go to a few of the pro shops and ask about a decent second hand set, and ask if the pro will take a look at you hitting a few balls to see what is suitable.

 

[UnluckyXIII]

Benross are actually a decent make. They don't tend to advertise much but are definitely worth a look at especially if he can offer a C/F

Well he had offered me a custom fit set of Benross Innovator XXX with graphite shafts, a bag and a putter to get me started for around the £320-£350 area.

Personally, I wouldn't spend too much on a first set - I'd look to pick up a second hand set possibly off ebay. You can get a whole set inc bag & balls etc for almost nothing by searching just in your local area.

I was looking to budget around the £600 mark for my first set, is that too much?

I also think that custom fitting is a bit of a waste early on as your swing will probably change a lot as you progress.

I thought custom fitting was also based on height and other factors aside from just your swing, I'm only 5'6 so thought an off the shelf set of Irons would be too big?

I reckon spend money on lessons first and gear second - that is what I have been telling myself anyway...

Since I took up the sport I've been having 1 lesson a week, should I increase this over the winter and think about gear sometime in the late spring early summer? I haven't played a hole yet, only practiced which I do twice a week outside of my lessons, do I need to keep at this for the next 4-6 months before I try and play?

Don't go to AG.

Go to a few of the pro shops and ask about a decent second hand set, and ask if the pro will take a look at you hitting a few balls to see what is suitable.

I was looking in to this and between the 5-6 courses that are within 5-10 mins drive from my home I should be able to test 90% of the most well known brands in golf.

Thanks for the input guys,

 

[RGDave]

If you are desperate for some irons, I'd recommend getting a few more lessons/practises/games under your belt. Depends on your budget etc. but I'd think long and hard about throwing £500+ on something that might only suit you for a very short time. The longer you can resist, the better the chances of getting a realistic long-term C/F set.
Up to you of course.

 

[JT77]

Try shaun cowell at south moor golf club, not sure if it too far out of your way.
Before I moved back to northern ireland i played at ramside in durham and a lot of the chaps reccomended his place.

they do new and second hand sets too.

JT

 

[UnluckyXIII]

If you are desperate for some irons, I'd recommend getting a few more lessons/practises/games under your belt. Depends on your budget etc. but I'd think long and hard about throwing £500+ on something that might only suit you for a very short time. The longer you can resist, the better the chances of getting a realistic long-term C/F set.
Up to you of course.

Maybe your right, I haven’t been playing very long (just over 3 months) and I have only been having lessons one weekly and practicing, I am yet to step out on to the actual golf course so my swing is sure to change a lot over the next few months/years, just out of curiosity how long did you other guys wait before you bought your first set of Irons? Am I jumping the gun so to speak thinking about getting some this early on??

Try shaun cowell at south moor golf club, not sure if it too far out of your way.
Before I moved back to northern ireland i played at ramside in durham and a lot of the chaps reccomended his place.

they do new and second hand sets too.

JT

It’s not on my doorstep by any means (about an 40 mins drive in fact lol!) but I don’t mind travelling if the clubs are going to be fitted and work well for me, I don’t mind going New or Second hand either I just want to buy a set that are perfect for me so I don’t want to change them in just a few weeks. I haven’t visited Ramside but most people I know who have played there say it’s a good course and worth a visit.

 

[RGDave]

just out of curiosity how long did you other guys wait before you bought your first set of Irons? Am I jumping the gun so to speak thinking about getting some this early on??

I started with an old set of ancient blade clubs, which lasted about 6 months. The first proper set I bought were some Mizunos, 2nd-hand out the paper for £80. I didn't get any C/F clubs for years, but in your case I think it does make sense.

 

[JT77]

Its a great course, very enjoyable. You should try and get a round in there.

If its 40 mins, maybe give them a call and see what they say, you wouldnt want to get there and find it not suitable for you.

My first set were a dunlop boxed deal for a 100 quid.
2nd set were nike pro combo off ebay for 150, the got tmlt2 off ebay for 200quid, first custom fit came after 4 years.
But I cant see how it would hinder you. I'm only 5'8, but my swing speed is greater than yours, how do you know you swing speed? have you been on a monitor?

 

[Billysboots]

I'm surprised at the across the board condemnation of American Golf. There are good and bad franchises, and I have known the manager at my local store several years. He gives a really good service.

It boils down to personal experience I suppose, but I have known club pros down the years who I wouldn't buy a bag of tees from. I would be very wary of a pro pushing a certain brand of club which, lo and behold, he carries a large stock of.

I would tend to agree with the advice to maybe reconsider custom fitting this early in your golfing life - my advice was given primarily on the basis that you already appear to have chosen to go down that route because of your physical characteristics. Your swing will change greatly early on, so in that respect custom fitting at some expense may not be wise.

If you DO go down that route, don't rule out AG just because a few here have had bad experiences. I know any number of low single figure players at my place who wouldn't go anywhere else.

 

[UnluckyXIII]

Its a great course, very enjoyable. You should try and get a round in there.

If its 40 mins, maybe give them a call and see what they say, you wouldnt want to get there and find it not suitable for you.

My first set were a dunlop boxed deal for a 100 quid.
2nd set were nike pro combo off ebay for 150, the got tmlt2 off ebay for 200quid, first custom fit came after 4 years.
But I cant see how it would hinder you. I'm only 5'8, but my swing speed is greater than yours, how do you know you swing speed? have you been on a monitor?

Well once I finally get things sorted and I'm confident enough to play a real round of Golf I think I will look in to a round at Ramside

Yeah maybe I would be best to phone them in advance because it is a lengthy trip there and back if its not to my liking.

I asked my Pro how a club fitting was done so one day after my lesson he showed me what it would entail and after several different swings of different clubs and stuff he came back to me with a swing speed that was worked out by the computer. Is my swing speed really that slow?? The Pro seemed shocked at how slow it was.....

 

[Ethan]

I'm surprised at the across the board condemnation of American Golf. There are good and bad franchises, and I have known the manager at my local store several years. He gives a really good service.

It boils down to personal experience I suppose, but I have known club pros down the years who I wouldn't buy a bag of tees from. I would be very wary of a pro pushing a certain brand of club which, lo and behold, he carries a large stock of.

I would tend to agree with the advice to maybe reconsider custom fitting this early in your golfing life - my advice was given primarily on the basis that you already appear to have chosen to go down that route because of your physical characteristics. Your swing will change greatly early on, so in that respect custom fitting at some expense may not be wise.

If you DO go down that route, don't rule out AG just because a few here have had bad experiences. I know any number of low single figure players at my place who wouldn't go anywhere else.

I know a lot of single figure golfers and none of them would go to AG.

You may have a good relationship with your local store, and they may know you are not a mug, but there are many, not just a few, examples of appalling advice or lies being dispensed by AG stores. The new golfer may not be well enough informed to make discerning suggestions, so, in my opinion, is better to stick to a decent pro shop.

 

[Billysboots]

Fair comment, Ethan. I suppose my mates and I are lucky in that not only do we know this guy well (he plays with us occasionally), but his brother-in-law is a work colleague who puts a lot of business his way, so it wouldn't pay for him to mess us around!

I can only speak from personal experience, that being several years of top sevice since he took the store on.