Deciding on next set of clubs.

Hey  guys,

I've been reading this forum for a while and I've decided to finally post. I'm a very high handicapper still learning to play the game. I started playing a several years ago to get out on the course with old friends, hack around, and have a good time. I bought a cheap set of "Knight" clubs from Walmart because I new I was going to beat them to heck. Now, however, I'm finally reaching a point in my career where I'll have a little more time to take the game more seriously. I've improved to some degree, but still have a ways to go. However, I often feel a bit embarrassed carrying these around, especially when I'm traveling or meeting new people from work.  I just got a bonus and I think its time to upgrade from my old Walmart clubs. I don't want to go $1000+, but I want to buy a set that will last me for years to come as I take lessons, practice regularly, and improve. I've basically narrowed it down to four options (plus a fifth from you guys):

1) Giga Golf custom set - A friend of mine (very tall guy) plays with a custom set from these guys and loves them. I know they aren't "sexy," but they do seem to be pretty affordable for a custom set. I've read a lot of good reviews on the quality of their clubs and customer service. Although they are somewhat controversial, there does seem to be quite a few people that live and die with these. Custom sets interest me to some degree because I'm a shorter guy (5'6") and I wonder if having a more custom fit would be good for me.

2) Callaway Warbird set (on sale at Rockbottomgolf.com for $699.99) - From what I've read, these have a high degree of forgiveness (also important to me at this point). I've supplemented my original Walmart clubs with a couple Callaway X-series Fairway woods and loved them and would be interested in more from Callaway. Obviously, Callaway has a great reputation and produces high quality clubs. I imagine I could be carrying these for a long time.

3) Adam Tight Lies set (on sale multiple places for $399) - I've heard some good things about Adams as a mid-quality producer. These would be a cheaper option, but I don't see myself adding additional Adams clubs to my bag down the line. Definitely an upgrade over my Walmart clubs, but probably something I'd change again if I started consistently hitting much better.

4) Used clubs from Callway Pre-owned - I priced out a set of X-22 irons, a driver, another fairway wood (same make as my previous fairway wood purchase), some hybrids, and a bag. These would cost within my price range, especially if I leave off wedges (I have a Taylormade Burner Sand wedge and Lob wedge) and a putter (I actually like my Walmart putter. My putting is my best game - I very rarely require more than 2 puts).  It appears that Callaway will change the shaft length for a price, so these could be customized as well. This would be a bag to grow with, as I could add additional clubs down the line (replacing putter or wedges to match, for example).

5) Another option you guys would recommend.

I'm taking my time with this. I plan to go demo various sets to make sure one of these is what I want. I also plan to spend some money on more lessons either later this summer or in the spring. Let me know what you guys think. Thank you ahead of time for your help!

Get a static fitting so the clubs fit your body for the swing you want -- not the swing you have.

Don't dismiss Adams. Adams makes first quality clubs and some excellent better player clubs, including continuing to lead in hybrid design. The Tight Lies "complete set" idea would be great if you fit their standard clubs or simply needed clubs 1" longer. Because you can not custom order this set, I'd pass.

Your clubs will never serve you well if they do not fit you. Junk clubs that fit are better than "the best" clubs that do not.

Most clubs can be custom ordered, and therefore found used, in the length and lie you need. Some clubs can be bent to the correct lie. Once you know your specs, you can find many great used sets including the ones you mentioned above.

Callaway used may be a super option and would look good in a business foursome.

If you have decent clubhead speed and can hit a 7 iron 140 yards or more, you might try out the Callaway X20 irons. Lots of used sets available, plus some X20 NG (new grooves) -  these are a "reissue" designed to compete at the below-$400 price point.

Good time to look for drivers also. Lots of slightly used items and 2010 models with a second price cut are available.

As rustyredcab advises, get at least a static fitting on the clubs. Make sure they have proper shaft length, lie and flex for your swing. Go with face-to-face fittings: Golf shops get decent used gear as trade-ins, and they want to send it back out the door so they can get their money back.

If you can build a good relationship with a decent golf shop, the player's reps will take care of you.

Also, if the X-Fairway woods work for you, don't be afraid to keep them - solid clubs!!  I used the 3W for several years.

Thanks for all of the great advice, guys. I went to a Golf Galaxy and had them do a static club fitting. I also had them check swing speed. I'm a regular flex, -1/2" length, and 2 degree flat lie. The guy at Golf Galaxy basically told me they could cut the shafts, but that a 2 degree flat lie would be tough for me to get my clubs bent to without a custom order. He said they could only do custom Pings and that the sale prices wouldn't apply. That of course puts me outside my budge.

On the Callaway pre-owned site, I can get the length I need on all the clubs I priced out. However, there is no option to change the lie. Will this be something I can take to a pro shop to do after I get the clubs?  Am I stuck buying custom fitted new irons? Am I right in understanding lie is not important with drivers and woods? What about hybrids?

Thanks!

As a sidebar, 2 degrees flat seemed awfully flat. I checked Callaway's website for my height and wrist-to-floor. It says I would be standard.  Does lie vary with club manufacturer?

Did the fitter have you hit off a lie board or did he just base it off your height? I am like 5-5 and i have standard length and lie. Yes lie does vary with some manufacuters. I think mizuno is 1* flatter than others. Lie is not as important with woods and hybrids unless you are a better player. It is not recommended to bend cast clubs anywhere other than the manufacturer for warranty purposes.

Getting clubs cut down will affect the flex of the club by making it a little stiffer. Alot of fitters i have been to say to just choke down a little. Your taller than me so that should be an option too. If you get it cut down and get 2* flat, it might not be correct.

Lie varies by manufacturer and by time. "standard" lies are more upright than they used to be. So a good set of five-year old clubs may be flatter than that manufacturer makes today. So, when you are told that you are 2* flat, you need to know compared to what.

Some irons are easier to adjust than others. Check with the person you expect to adjust your lies before buying the used clubs. I had my lies checked and adjusted at a Golfsmith with a competent club-maker. Mizunos were easy to adjust where needed and he did it fast and cheap.

It is worth getting clubs that fit because if your clubs do not fit, you will learn a swing with compensations.

Work off of what php (lie board?...) and rustyred (...there's no industry standard for lie angle...) told you.

To determine best lie angle, you need to hit iron shots on an impact board, and with sole tape. I attended the GolfWorks club fitting and repair school in February, and the instructors said impact board and sole tape was the way to go - wrist-to-floor is a starting point, but can mislead you if that's the only measure you use.

As for Callaway Pre-owned, contact them on computer chat mode and discuss the specifics of your case. They can advise you on which models can be bent, and which models are iffy. CPO could bend the iron lie angle for you at a small cost.

I noticed in your first post having questions about Adams, personally I like them they are making some quality clubs without the "big brand" price, however their clubs are longer than most so if you are -1/2" then I would say don't bother.  If you look on Callaway Preowned it should mention along the specs of each set what kind of lie it was adjusted too (if at all).  Any Ideas on what you are looking for on Callaway preowned?

On Callaway pre-owned, I was looking at X-22 irons, a Hyper X drive, and X Fairway 3 and 5 woods. The price is near unbeatable as they are offering $125 off $500 until July 2nd on pre-owned clubs.  I checked again and I think I missed the option somewhere. It is letting me adjust lie angle and length for the irons, as well as length for drivers and woods.

As I've been considering some of the advice here, I've been shopping around as well. I actually went by Dick's Sports here in town to see what they had available and ran into a retiree working there who's been playing for decades. He happens to have nearly the exact same measurements as me. As I'm mostly interested in game improvement and forgiveness, he recommended the Cobra S3 or S3 Max irons (4-GW selling for $400, with hybrids for $450).  He said they would adjust the length for me free. If they couldn't do it for me, they would custom order from Cobra for the same price as in store. He said to wait on the lie until I'd played with them. Once I'd gotten a feel for them, I could bring them back and they'd do the lie as well.  I know Dicks doesn't have quite the reputation as a retailer, but this sounded like a pretty good set up.  The Cobras would be a small bit more expensive, but I could get them new, and possibly custom from the manufacturer.  Plus, if I bought a newer set, I could add the driver, woods, wedges, etc over the next year or so, watching for sales.

Dick's also had the Burner Plus iron set for $299, which is a pretty solid deal as well. Does anyone else think it was strange Golf Galaxy told me I could only get Pings custom fit? Dick's seemed to have no problem giving me the same price as in store if they ordered custom direct from the manufacturer.

Ok, so I think I'm set on the Cobra S3 irons. I went by Dicks and checked them out. The Callaways are likely great clubs, but getting a set of Cobras won me over. As a very high handicapper, I like the idea of playing a pretty forgiving set of irons. I don't mind the idea of adding to the bag slow over time. I have one last question on fitting: On the Cobra site, it lists Golf Headquarters here in town as a fitter for Cobra Clubs.  Would it be worth spending the extra money to have a "designated" Cobra fitter do the customization or should I just go with the free fitting? The guy at Golf Headquarters did sound a bit more knowledgeable when I called him. He even suggested not changing the shaft length and only going with the lie angle since at 5'6" I'm right on the edge of standard shaft length.

Where ever you go to get a fitting make sure you hit off a lie board to make sure you actually need 2* flat. Just because you are 5-6 doesnt mean you automatically need it flattened. Like i said earlier i am 5-5 and i have standard. It is based on more on your swing path than your height. With S3 and any other cast club you cant just bend tthem as much as you want. If you get 2* flat then realize that is not right, it is risky to bend it again, because the metal will crack.

One free way to tell if you need a club bent is to go to the range and hit some iron shots. Look at the divots. If the divot is steeper/taller on heel side then you need it flattened and if it steeper on the toe side you need it upright. If the divot is the same on both sides, then you dont need it bent.

Hitting off a lie board will help you find the correct lie for your CURRENT swing. If you like your current setup and swing, this is great. If you are a beginner, this is not my recommendation. Get a STATIC fitting based on your height, arm length (distance of arms from ground) and then you know that your clubs fit the swing you hope to have.

It is not about good or bad golfer. It is about the swing you have vs the swing you are working to have. My 76 Dad has an awful swing, but is not planning to change it now. He should, and did, hit off a lie board to get the correct lie for his swing.