New to golf - I need everything

Hello everyone.

The last time I hit a golf ball was approximately 14 years ago on the Sawgrass golf course in Ponte Vedra Beach, FL. I have several friends that have been playing for a few years that have been asking me to get into the game with them.

What would you suggest? In the beginning I was looking at buying a "box set" of clubs like the Top Flite XL 7000 or Adams Tight Lies, etc. After reading some reviews, those won't last very long. I want something that will last for several years. I'd rather spend more now on something that will last me longer than spending $200 on a box set that will only last me a year, then have to go out and spend $500 next year. So, I'd rather go ahead and get into the game right.

I've been looking at the Acer XK irons a little online, but never have held one. I've also been looking at the normal brands you see in the stores and online; Callaway, Taylormade, etc. However you're getting into some high dollar clubs there.

If you were in my situation, what would you get? They say body type makes a difference; I'm 6' tall, weighing in around 220. I'm not the most athletic person, but I feel I'm above average. I exercise approximately 2 to 4 times a week.

I like the idea of Hybrid clubs from what I've read, so keep that in mind for me.

Thanks in advance everyone!!! I appreciate your time.

I have a set of Ping G10 blue dot irons stiff flex 3-SW (9 clubs) you can have em for $350 they are in great condition as are the grips...just bought a set of Mizuno forged irons

I started this year and for the first several months I used junker clubs from the 70's that a buddy of mine found and started working on my swing with an instructor. Once I got to the point where I could hit the irons ok most(ok some) of the time, I went out and started hitting clubs at the golf store and got a feeling for clubs and brands that felt good to me. I loved the Adams A7's and but ended up picking up a new Adams A3 hybrid set that was a couple years old on closeout for under $250. At my level I couldn't tell any difference between the newer model and the one 2 years old, and found a lot of value in this. Golfers are like clothing •••••s, they want the latest and greatest, and you can find good savings by looking at last years models and saving big $$$. I love the set I picked up and I am sure they will last me many years. As for hybrids, I love the 3 and 4 hybrids that came in my set. Do I hit them any farther than my 3 or 4 irons from my disco era set, not really, but I like the feel and look standing over them and I think they give me confidence in that department. They just feel really, really, nice when you get a hold of one, and if you don't toe it too bad they will always go pretty straight. To me, so much of this game is mental I tend to spend more time working on my swing than looking for the club to save me but I did want a decent set of clubs that I can grow into.

Do yourself a favor and find a pro shop that has used clubs. Hit as many as you can. You will likely find a set that you love and as someone else stated, buying an older model will save you big bucks. Once I demoed a bunch of clubs I finally bought a set of Nike's 2-3 weeks after on ebay for only $200.

I just got back into golf after a long time away so I was in a similar situation as you. I researched a lot online, including GolfDigest.com, GolfGalaxy.com, this forum, etc. I came up with a list of clubs that were in my price range and began to narrow down the choices. I have a Golf Galaxy in town so I spent a lot of time over the course of a few weeks hitting with different clubs in their simulator room. I thought I knew for sure which clubs I wanted before I even swung one, but after trying all the different clubs and comparing them, I ended up with Nike MachSpeed irons (4-S) and fairway woods, Cleveland HiBore Monster driver, and a Adams 3DX 3 Hybrid. I got the Machspeeds on sale for $200 back to spend on other Nike products.

Do a Google search for Golf Digest's 2009 Hot List and see what rated high last year. These can be had for a pretty good price since they are last years models.

I see that Taylor Made has a sale on the Burner clubs at Golf Galaxy. The irons were $599 and are on sale for $399. If my clubs weren't still so new and shiny I would go try them out myself.

You can also check out RockBottomGolf.com for some pretty good prices.

You really should go somewhere and hit several different brands of clubs before you decide. Even if their prices are too high, at least you know how the club hits and then you can just order in online cheaper.

For what it's worth, I think you'd be well-served to get a "boxed set" and work on your swing for awhile. Then when you get your game in good shape (be it a month, year, 5 years), you can buy a set that fits your swing. No point in going to the store and trying out a bunch of stuff if you're just starting back and your swing might not be the same from one hole to the next, much less one round to the next. I think you'd be hard pressed to do much better than buying an Adams boxed set, if you really want something new. I'd definitely go with them over Top Flite. Their irons, wedges and hybrids are top notch, and you can replace the driver after awhile if you really hate it. Just my $.02.

Check craigslist you can get some amazing deals. About $50 will get you a bag and some clubs (which is cheaper than the price of a bag you would need to buy anyway) and you will be ready to play with your friends or go to the range this weekend. Whats $50 anyways thats greens fees or 12 supremo balls.

Then make sure to have a putter you really like and a wedge because you will hit those two clubs on every hole. You friends might have a bunch of clubs lying around too. I literally have a trunk full of clubs but I like to play these old ones in my signature that I spent maybe $200 total on.

If you play twice a week all summer long, a boxed set might start to wear out in a couple of years. But, Top Flite and Adams make sturdy clubs, so it's likely you'll switch out after your swing stabilizes, not because they break.

In this Bag Drop , see comments by teaching pro Sabrina Tate. http://thesandtrap.com/bag_drop/club...der_boxed_sets

DONT BUY BOX SETS! Take that 200 dollars and buy a set of used clubs! My friend fell into the box set and is already buying G10's (ping) and is so mad !

Thanks for all the replies everyone!

What about the Acer XK irons and hybrids? Any opinions on those?

A few pointers, since you asked.

Don't spend a ton of money on what's basically a beginner's set. Buy used, take some lessons, be willing to practice, and then spend a little more when you have a much better idea of what will work for you. All the major OEMs and most of the component companies all sell top quality gear, so it's more a matter of what you like the look of and how it sounds. Performance won't be much different from any brand to any other, with the mandated specific limits on various elements of club-design, you really only need to worry bout finding clubs you like!

I'd say, get a driver, a 4 or 5 wood, an iron set that has 5-PW in irons and a couple hybrids, a putter and a sand wedge. Any more than this is just going to add confusion. Don't worry bout mow many wedges, or what lofts. Get a SW you like and practice with it lots, to learn what you can do with it. Definitely get a hybrid set for you irons, very few (and usually only the most-skilled) players use a strictly 3-PW set. Hybrids will improve you shots from 3i or 4i distance by a lot!!

Not sure what it's like to try to find used gear around where you are, but the BST on this and similar forums is great for getting used stuff for a great deal.

I ended up getting a "box set". I bought the Adams Golf Tight Lies Plus 1014 Stiff set. For a beginner, I think this will last me awhile. It came with a driver, a 3 and 5 fairway wood, a 3 and 4 hybrid, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, SW, PW, and putter. And of course a hybrid bag. At Dick Sporting Goods, they had it for $500, the golf shop down the road sold it to me for $430. I couldn't pass this up.

Several years ago I went to a demo day at a local grass driving range. I had several clubs in mind that I wanted to try. Some of them were okay, a couple that I would have bought online without trying them first I changed my mind and did not like them at all, and a couple of clubs I had "absolutely" ruled out based on their looks and what I'd read I really liked once I hit a few balls with them.

Bottom line is either just buy something to get started with and don't worry about what they are and plan to upgrade in a year or three, _or_ demo as many sets as you can to get a better feel for what you personally like and what works for you.

Just my two cents worth of opinion without any specific recommendation.

Completely agree. Only thing I would add is getting a lesson with your local pro, and ask his advice after he sees your swing.