New to Golf - need some advice

[SwFsnapper]

Hi,

I've just taken up Golf... I borrowed some clubs and played a round today with some work mates and did very badly but enjoyed myself. I intend to get some lessons but I have a few questions.

I'm 6'3" and have been told that I could benefit from some longer clubs. Is this something I need to get fitted for?

I live in Surrey, where is a good golf center that I could try out some clubs?

Where is the best place to buy some clubs/gear etc?

What is it you wish you knew when you were starting out?

Many thanks in advance for your replies.

Mark

 

[Rooter]

What is it you wish you knew when you were starting out?

Hi Mark, welcome!!

I will answer this one, some guys will be along soon with ideas of where to go etc, being a short arse, i wouldn't know about longer clubs!!

What do i wish i knew? fancy shiny equipment is no replacement for good fundamentals, ie grip, posture, stance etc. My suggestion would be find a local driving range or golf club that are doing introduction lessons and make sure you get the basics right before you get into bad habits.

In fact, here is a website that may help you find somewhere to go: http://www.getintogolf.org/

Good luck!!

 

[Alex1975]

Your height may not be an issue if you (for example) have long arms. A pal of mine is taller than me but uses shorter clubs and his wrist to ground measurement is less than mine.

Can you keep borrowing the clubs you had today for a while? As has been said, you cant buy a swing so might be best to explore the swing before the clubs.

 

[road2ruin]

I live in Surrey, where is a good golf center that I could try out some clubs?

Doug McClelland Shop @ Silvermere Golf Club
American Golf @ Addlestone or New Malden

Both have ranges so you can get out and hit balls plus have a decent selection of clubs.

 

[NorfolkShaun]

To start with don't spend much on clubs, a good second hand set would be perfect or Dunlop etc can be had for a good price. Quite a few pro shops stock second hand clubs.

I'm 6'2" my clubs are 1/2 inch longer but I played for two years before getting fit. Gives you time to grove a consistent ish swing through lessons etc.

If you get fit too early your swing may change quite a bit when you first start playing I know mine did

 

[London mike 61]

Welcome to the forum!

As rooter said earlier , learn the grip , posture etc first with a good pro and practice what you are taught and that will stand you in good stead for the future.

EYG

 

[delc]

Hi,

I've just taken up Golf... I borrowed some clubs and played a round today with some work mates and did very badly but enjoyed myself. I intend to get some lessons but I have a few questions.

I'm 6'3" and have been told that I could benefit from some longer clubs. Is this something I need to get fitted for?

I live in Surrey, where is a good golf center that I could try out some clubs?

Where is the best place to buy some clubs/gear etc?

What is it you wish you knew when you were starting out?

Many thanks in advance for your replies.

Mark

Try the Ping.com online custom fitting guide, which should give you a rough idea of your ideal spec.

http://www.ping.com/fitting/nflightweb.aspx

 

[HomerJSimpson]

Welcome along. Which part of Surrey are you in. I would recommend Pachesham Golf Centre in Leatherhead

 

[SwFsnapper]

Wow, Thanks for all the great advice - will check out http://www.getintogolf.org/ for sure.

I'm in Dorking so Pachesham sounds ideal.

Thanks again and I'll let you know how I get on.

 

[adiemel]

Welcome to the forum. I would also second what has been said, learn the grip and posture. Get some lessons and just enjoy yourself.

 

[G1BB0]

as has been said, good fundamentals is the way forwards.

There are some great vids on Youtube look for Shawn Clements and Mark Crossfield (I prefer Shawn and just bought his video set which I feel is excellent value for $34.95 canadian)

Now to order my tablet for taking vids up the range :thup:

Most of all enjoy it and dont put too much pressure on yourself early doors, it can be very rewarding but just as quickly kick you in the nuts so a sense of humour is a must

 

[Doh]

Once you have had a lesson ask the pro to give you drills that you can work on before the next lesson. It is important to practice. Don't forget about how important the short game is. Any range time you put in should be balanced between the long and short game.

 

[SwingsitlikeHogan]

My advice for a complete beginner would be to ignore anything 'technical' about golf and such as 'club fitting' as IMO these things just confuse the new player and complicate the game. My lad is almost 6'4" and has learnt to play with a basic set of Dunlop 65s that cost £49 and he gets on just fine - can play to 1 or 2 over par on most holes. If he decided to take up the game seriously he might look at buying longer clubs - but he's fine. My advice as given by others is grip, stance and address - and swing it.

 

[delc]

My advice for a complete beginner would be to ignore anything 'technical' about golf and such as 'club fitting' as IMO these things just confuse the new player and complicate the game. My lad is almost 6'4" and has learnt to play with a basic set of Dunlop 65s that cost £49 and he gets on just fine - can play to 1 or 2 over par on most holes. If he decided to take up the game seriously he might look at buying longer clubs - but he's fine. My advice as given by others is grip, stance and address - and swing it.

On the other hand, he will struggle if trying to play with clubs that are a total mismatch to his physique. A quick eFit on the Ping website and then he can buy a suitable set secondhand on eBay.

 

[Jake O'Reilly]

Hi,

I've just taken up Golf... I borrowed some clubs and played a round today with some work mates and did very badly but enjoyed myself. I intend to get some lessons but I have a few questions.

I'm 6'3" and have been told that I could benefit from some longer clubs. Is this something I need to get fitted for?

I live in Surrey, where is a good golf center that I could try out some clubs?

Where is the best place to buy some clubs/gear etc?

What is it you wish you knew when you were starting out?

Many thanks in advance for your replies.

Mark

Hi Mark, welcome aboard!

I'll give my take in order of what you asked first:

- Fitted clubs will improve your game, but only once your technique is repeatable, so don't bother until you start breaking 100.
- I'm not local to Surrey, but it looks like you've got lots of good advice on that already.
- As a beginner you're best off picking up something cheap and suited to your ability, so I'd recommend scouring golf superstores and ebay for game improver clubs from a few years back, such as Ping G20, TaylorMade Burner, Mizuno MX25 or Callaway X18.
- I wish when I was starting out I knew that swinging slower and focusing on strike = more distance. A great strike with average power will always be straighter and longer than an average strike with great power.

Good luck!

 

[Jake O'Reilly]

Also, check out our Golf Monthly YouTube channel, which has hundreds of great video tips you can watch for free, like this one on the key fundamentals of chipping: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lLMrTskZErs

 

[SwingsitlikeHogan]

On the other hand, he will struggle if trying to play with clubs that are a total mismatch to his physique. A quick eFit on the Ping website and then he can buy a suitable set secondhand on eBay.

Except he doesn't think about whether he has the right length of club, shaft stiffness etc. He's a beginner and is only really figuring out how to play the game, not miss the ball and make a half decent score on each hole. But if you don;t have any clubs and are a taller guy then you may as well look for slightly longer shafts. Not convinced of the need to go for fittings and that sort of stuff though - but if you can do it on-line fair enough,

 

[delc]

Except he doesn't think about whether he has the right length of club, shaft stiffness etc. He's a beginner and is only really figuring out how to play the game, not miss the ball and make a half decent score on each hole. But if you don;t have any clubs and are a taller guy then you may as well look for slightly longer shafts. Not convinced of the need to go for fittings and that sort of stuff though - but if you can do it on-line fair enough,

I think the right length and lie angles are important, if nothing else. You only have to feed in your height and floor to wrist measurements into the Ping eFit to get these. Also he should start off with regular shafted clubs and only change if he turns out to hit the ball a long way or is very short. A proper custom fit is probably a good idea once he has played for a couple of years or so.

 

[SwingsitlikeHogan]

I think the right length and lie angles are important, if nothing else. You only have to feed in your height and floor to wrist measurements into the Ping eFit to get these. Also he should start off with regular shafted clubs and only change if he turns out to hit the ball a long way or is very short. A proper custom fit is probably a good idea once he has played for a couple of years or so.

Right length - I guess so - absolutely correct lie angle - not so sure that really matters when you are a beginner. But then I'm just catching up with using these new fangled metal woods things

 

[londonlewis]

I live in Surrey and have been to multiple ranges in the area.
The A3 world of golf is very good and has an excellent American Golf shop attached.
The driving range at Sandown Park is very good but the shop attached is not as good as my suggestion above.
Top Golf - if that is your thing in Addlestone (I've been but don't really like it)

And I've played at numerous clubs which have facilities to use.
someone mentioned Silvermere, they have a 2 tiered driving range and an excellent shop.

The benefit of using American Golf facilities is that they often have a virtual golf machine giving you all your stats (launch angle, carry, total distance etc...) and they will tape up a load of clubs and let you try them on the range.

Best of luck.
Lewis