Returning to the game

[ShankyPants]

Firstly may I introduce myself. I'm seriously considering returning to the game after a five year absence, even back then I was only an occasional fairweather golfer. I'm now in the fortunate position of having quite a bit of spare time during the week due to working shifts. Therefore I feel golf would be the ideal hobby for me.

I currently have no equipment whatsoever. So my plan is to pick up a few cheap clubs from my local sports shop and get myself along to the driving range for a few sessions just to see how I get on, get back into the 'swing of things'.

So even though I've swung a few clubs in the past, I'd class myself as a beginner and am seeking advice from the wealth of knowledge and experience of this forum. What is the way forward?

 

[brendy]

Welcome aboard, best advice is to get along to a proshop and try a few different sets out.
Be careful with sports outlet clubs, they use custard for glue.
If you arnt in the slightest bit incontinent disregard pings
Seriously though, check the local papers for full sets being sold. Better to have a decent set of 2nd handers than new rubbish.

 

[medwayjon]

Good advice from brendy there.

These sets at sports-soccer or sports-direct arent up to much and should be avoided.

They say 70% off, rrp £399, our price £129 and the like. But seriously, they are never, ever, in a million years, a £129 set of clubs let alone £399 so swerve them.

As package sets go otherwise they can be a good starting point. A mate of mine bought a RAM set and they were half-decent and worth the £139 he paid for them.

Have a look on ebay and local small-ads for a package set bargain or see what a local pro is knocking out trade-in wise.

 

[HomerJSimpson]

My advice would be to go to a pro and have some lessons first and get back into it. Most will have a trial club you can use but I think unless you get a swing that at least has a chance of repeating then it won't make an iota of difference what set of clubs you use.

Once you have got the swing back again I guess it depends on budget etc as to how up to date you want to be. If possible though try before you buy

 

[brendy]

Hard tohave lessons and practice with no clubs homer!

 

[ShankyPants]

Many thanks for all of the advice received thus far. I can see the validity of suggesting my first step to be a visit to a Pro shop for advice on clubs and booking some lessons. However I still think that it may be a valid idea for me to visit my local Sports Direct and pick up a couple of £6.99 Wilson irons and taking them to the driving range for afew hits before I commit to anything more serious. I hope I don't sound like a time waster but I'd rather be sure in myself that I want to get back into the game on a more serious basis, rather than have an expensive visit to a pro where I buy a full set of clubs that I may not continue to use.

 

[HomerJSimpson]

Most ranges or pros will have a few demo clubs or hire sets to borrow

 

[Smiffy]

My advice would be to go to a pro and have some lessons first and get back into it. Most will have a trial club you can use but I think unless you get a swing that at least has a chance of repeating then it won't make an iota of difference what set of clubs you use.
Once you have got the swing back again I guess it depends on budget etc as to how up to date you want to be. If possible though try before you buy

Hate to say it Homer but top post and 100% the right way to go.

 

[Smiffy]

However I still think that it may be a valid idea for me to visit my local Sports Direct and pick up a couple of £6.99 Wilson irons and taking them to the driving range for a few hits before I commit to anything more serious.

A mate of mine who plays off 11 did exactly this. He has now got a full set of matching clubs (he just bought the ones he needed one or two at a time) and hits the ball very well. As I say, he plays off 11 and is usually "in the frame" when money is at stake.
He had one of the "cheapies" break on his a little while ago but just went to JJB and purchased exactly the same again for £8.00 or thereabouts and is once again firing on all four.
If you do go this route I recommend just buying a couple of the easier to hit irons first of all like a 7 and 5 or 6 and 8 and see how you get on. If after a few weeks of swishing around you don't feel you are cut out for it, then dumping them in the bin on the way out of the range has only cost you £15.00 or so, so not too costly.
Go for it