Beginner advice needed on selecting a full set of new clubs

[Watermark]

Thanks SolarBear.

Yes, I'm definitely learning a lot in this process and enjoying it all too! My wife often tells me that I tend to enjoy the 'hunt' more than the goal or the endpoint, and I think she's probably right on that score. I do enjoy the pre-purchase research that goes into such an adventure, and there's no doubt that it can yield some dividends. When I was a younger man, I didn't bother to put much research into things before I bought them, and as a result, I stepped in a few puddles along the way, so I consciously approach things a little bit differently these days.

Anyway, this week ended-up being busier than expected, so I still haven't gotten a proper fitting, but I'm looking forward to getting it done this weekend or early next week, and I believe I'm getting closer and closer to the right choice of irons. None of the local dealers have the actual clubs (or heads) in-stock, and they're probably still considered by most to be a tad too far in the GI/Player direction for a beginner like me, but I'm leaning towards the Mizuno MP-53s. A young neighbor friend of mine (16-18 handicapper) has a full set, and although they seemed a bit short for me, I hit 100+ balls with them yesterday at the driving range and they felt pretty sweet - good-looking club too! I didn't care for the PW much, but I've already got a set of three (46/08, 52/08, 58/12) Vokeys, so if I go with the MP-53s, I'll probably just get 4-9 or maybe even 5-9.

Anyway, my neighbor has graciously agreed to let me take a couple of them with me to the golf shop when I go in for the fitting, just in case they want me to use them there in the fitting process somehow. They're apparently still being made by Mizuno and available via custom order, but they're a 'cavity-back' (which is good), and the young man who owns this set doesn't seem to think they're overkill for me, so who knows? I guess I'll see what the guys at the golf shop all say.

[Watermark]

And frankly, that raises yet another key question that I forgot to ask earlier . . .

If a guy's irons are all supposed to be custom fitted with respect to length, shouldn't his wedges also be custom fitted for added length? I'm being told 'no' by virtually everyone I've asked. In fact, I've been told repeatedly that regardless of their skill level or their personal dimensions/measurements, most players simply buy standard length wedges right off the shelf, but something about this just doesn't seem logical to me. For example, if a proper fitting leads to the conclusion that you need irons customized to +1" added length, I would have thought that you would need +1" on your wedges as well. Can someone address this topic for me?

Many thanks

[Golfingdad]

Originally Posted by Watermark

And frankly, that raises yet another key question that I forgot to ask earlier . . .

If a guy's irons are all supposed to be custom fitted with respect to length, shouldn't his wedges also be custom fitted for added length? I'm being told 'no' by virtually everyone I've asked. In fact, I've been told repeatedly that regardless of their skill level or their personal dimensions/measurements, most players simply buy standard length wedges right off the shelf, but something about this just doesn't seem logical to me. For example, if a proper fitting leads to the conclusion that you need irons customized to +1" added length, I would have thought that you would need +1" on your wedges as well. Can someone address this topic for me?

Many thanks

Mine are all longer than standard, however, they don't have the exact same added length.  My longest iron is a 4 iron and it is 1 1/4" longer than standard and 3 degrees upright from standard.  My shortest club is my lob wedge which is only 1" long and 1.5* upright.

So if you needed 1" extra on your long irons, you may only need 3/4" or 1/2" on your shorter irons, but I'd say it's likely you'd need something extra.

[Watermark]

Originally Posted by Golfingdad

So if you needed 1" extra on your long irons, you may only need 3/4" or 1/2" on your shorter irons, but I'd say it's likely you'd need something extra.

Ah-ha! That makes more sense to me, but I wonder why I've been told otherwise by so many sales people? Very weird. I knew in my heart the second I heard it that it didn't sound quite right, and it seemed to be confirmed when I tried out a couple of display putters - I felt way more comfortable with a couple of Odyssey putters as long as 38"-39" than I did with any of the standard length (32"-33") putters made by others.

Oh well! Sounds like I'll need to take my three new Vokey wedges with me when I go in for the fitting, so that I can have them fitted with the proper length shafts too. Boy, this little proposition is startin' to get pretty deep! ;-)