beginner, some advice on forgiveness please

[djfeif]

i'm 19 and started golfing last year using borrowed clubs. i have a bag and a set of adams a3 hybrids that i found a great deal on. but thats all i have. my next step is a driver.. i have a decent swing for a beginner, but i do want maximum forgiveness, especially from my woods, while i work on developing it.
which of the following options would be considered most suitable in your opinion(s)?
Big bertha 460
taylormade R7 draw
Cobra speed ld
Taylormade burner

[MasterOfTheBogey]

I personally wouldnt tend to go for a draw-bias driver right out of the gates. Taylormades are always a great option though, depending on your budget you can find some good deal whether it be on ebay or you just want it now.

I would recommend the Superquad or you could get one of the older versions of the r7 with options like the Quad - what I am using now while I wait for my 425 Tp - , 425, 460. Even the R5 is a good club. And if you find that you do need the draw you can simply move the weights around.

Good Luck with your decesion.

[Leek]

Do you have someplace you can go to demo drivers? The answer is it all depends on how your swing works.

Certainly the Burner and the Cobra are pretty forgiving, but may or may not be the right club for you. Try whatever you can afford. Also, if there is a clubfitter nearby who sells quality component clubs like Wishon, KZG, Geek etc. they might help you find the perfect driver for you, often at a lower cost than the big OEM drivers.

[BASHERBAKER69]

i would go for a 3 wood first and then gradually work up to the driver. As a beginner it will be hard to get the ball off the ground and develop the right technique... i say 3 wood because you might get disheartened if you struggle with the 1 wood.

Perhaps a mizuno or a callaway?

[mkoreiwo]

i would go for a 3 wood first and then gradually work up to the driver. As a beginner it will be hard to get the ball off the ground and develop the right technique... i say 3 wood because you might get disheartened if you struggle with the 1 wood.

I agree on this - forget the driver for now. To be honest, I crush my 3 wood, and usually its in the fairway where I aim a whole lot more than my driver is. If you have the patience and won't get frustrated and develop bad swing habits, go for the driver... And take the other advice - hit the clubs you're interested in, and get the one you hit the best, nit the one that's hyped the most. The driver is usually the hardest club to hit. What about some lessons - they are always a good choice.

Whatever you choose to do - enjoy the game!

[Shindig]

I disagree with the comments saying to disregard the driver and start with a 3-Wood. Today's drivers are so far above the 3-Woods in forgiveness. I think a recent study even had amateurs of all levels hitting the fairway more often with a driver than a 3-Wood. The advice made sense 20+ years ago, but not today.

I suggest the following:
* Cobra is known for great equipment for high-handicap players. That's not to say that only high-handicappers use their equipment: Geoff Oglivy and J.B. Holmes use their drivers, and I think Holmes uses their irons too. Oglivy won a WGC and a U.S. Open with it, and Holmes has won the FBR open twice in three years. Far from high-handicap amateurs, they are.
This isn't to disparage the other options out there, but I went to Cobra because I knew it would help me.
By the way, within Cobra, I suggest M- or F-speed, R-Flex, 10.5 degrees if you don't get fit (see below). You can probably find them cheaply since many players are upgrading to this year's driver. But quite frankly, any clubs from the 21st century will help you at this point ; you don't need the newest.

* Loft. This is often overlooked. 10.5 degrees unless you're fit for something otherwise. Don't listen to people who tell you it's too much loft: Nick Watney uses an 11.5 degree driver. Some will say it's a woman's driver, but Nick laughs all the way to the bank.

* Getting fit for the driver. Often I hear people say "I'm not good enough to be fit for my next set of clubs." Nonsense. Better players can adapt to ill-fit clubs. While you're learning, you want to have equipment that won't fight you. I have a friend who uses an 8 degree driver with either S- or X- flex shaft and wonders why he can't break 150. He maintains he isn't good enough to get a properly fit driver. After getting fit and shooting better scores, I convinced my friends to get fit for their clubs. Improved scores all around!
If you don't want to get fit for the driver, R-Flex and 10.5 degrees are a good starting point, but test the clubs before buying right away. And used are good in that circumstance.

[SteelDriver]

i would go for a 3 wood first and then gradually work up to the driver. As a beginner it will be hard to get the ball off the ground and develop the right technique.

I agree on this - forget the driver for now

Forget the driver? Begin with a 3 wood?? Did you guys not see the part where he said he was 19??

Although the above is good advice, think about when you were 19. Thats like saying "forget the (insert top of line muscle car of your era here), the honda civic has better fuel efficiency." dude, chicks dig the long ball, tee 'em high and let 'em fly. if you hook or slice, fix it if you are dedicated. but get a big 460cc with a headcover that scares people.....then your buddys wont call u suzy when u break out a 3 wood after their monster OEM assisted drives that sit 40 yds further down range.

[Three Putt]

Honestly.....forget the 3 wood and get a 20* hybrid, the shorter shaft and more upright lie will be better...a good golfer can hit a 20* hybrid 200 to 230...straight.

If you are serious about getting better.... tee off with a hybrid or 5 iron until you get consistent and more importantly confident.

I do agree with the Driver tech nowadays the 3 wood is becoming obsolete for the mid to high hcappers, IMHO.

[MasterOfTheBogey]

dude, chicks dig the long ball, tee 'em high and let 'em fly. if you hook or slice, fix it if you are dedicated. but get a big 460cc with a headcover that scares people.....then your buddys wont call u suzy when u break out a 3 wood after their monster OEM assisted drives that sit 40 yds further down range.

Fix it if your dedicated? That might be some of the worst advice I have ever heard.

You dont need to get a brand new 460 cc driver because they are the biggest and baddest things on the market. Many people have discovered that these drivers arent meant for them. Like me, still waiting on my damn 425. And if people hit it 40 yards ahead of you, who cares really. I just ask what was your score for that hole, oh 5, mine was a 4. Better luck next time I guess. Id rather be 230 yds. right down the middle, then 290 and 20 yds. OB anyday.

[SteelDriver]

Fix it if your dedicated? That might be some of the worst advice I have ever heard.

Yes fix it if you're dedicated. There is such a thing as players who dont take the game that serious and just want a club that will compensate for a flaw in their swing. Or some people dont have the time or money to practice or take lessons and are just not that into it to do the things necessary to get better. The game is fun, so they play it when they get time.

So once again, fix it if you're dedicated. I don't want to assume that someone is dedicated to the game or has the resources to get better at their disposal. The guy who hits it the shortest is a sissy! dont take everything so serious man......

[MasterOfTheBogey]

The guy who hits it the shortest is a sissy!

Most people play this game to have a great time and to get away from the grind of the work week. The last thing they want to do is fight with a driver for 14 or 15 holes. I say, hit what works for you.

I didnt know we were back in Highschool either. The guy who hits it the shortest is a sissy. Really showing our true age, aren't we? The only thing that matters at the end of the day for me is the score. Some other people might have their priorities on other things while playing though. I am not goint to turn this thread into a pissing match, so I am done.

[SteelDriver]

Most people play this game to have a great time and to get away from the grind of the work week. The last thing they want to do is fight with a driver for 14 or 15 holes. I say, hit what works for you.

it was sarcasm. like anyone calls anyone a sissy these days...jeez man.

[kiwigold]

Honestly.....forget the 3 wood and get a 20* hybrid, the shorter shaft and more upright lie will be better...a good golfer can hit a 20* hybrid 200 to 230...straight.

Second that - Driver (BB460 or Burner) and 21/22 degree hybrid - TM Burner, Adams or Nickent. try

www.rockbottomgolf.com or www.callawaygolfpreowned.com for deals.