Golf (Equipment) for Dummies?

[LBussy]

Nice to be here.

I'm 42 years old and for the past 20 years have golfed on average once a year. That's not exactly an avid golfer now is it? Last year I was presented with an opportunity to play more frequently and I picked up a "used" set off the local Crag's List for $100. They are in what is very likely poor shape, some of the grips feel "bad" (old/dry rot?) and are pretty dinged up. They say 'RAM" and "Fastback" on them.

I get the feeling I may want "more" ... not sure what that means though. I have no idea whether these clubs are worth new grips, hell, they may not even be worth giving to someone just starting out. I don't even know what sort of grips to ask for. I'm pretty sure people look at these clubs and realize that I'm no threat and maybe they feel a little bad for me. I believe that the box of balls I just bought are probably worth more than the whole set. If these are not even worth brushing the mud out of, what should a guy like me do? I see sets like this Tiger Shark Golf- TS960 Complete Set With Bag for $149 and you know from the outside that looks like a better deal than what I have ... but I'm not sure if I have decent clubs that have been mistreated, or if they are Walmart brand clubs that never should have been shown the light of day. For that matter, are those Tiger Shark clubs worth my time?

I realize there's a certain amount of "get out there and play, then figure out what you want" to all of this, but I don't know enough to know if these clubs are just plain crap (either set). I'd also not like to look like an @$$hat at the course my first day for a lesson - picture Randy Quaid in "Vacation". I don't want to be him.

I've been reading here the past hour or so after doing my obligatory three newbie posts and am even more confused than when I got here. Blades, Irons, what the hell are those? I thought they were all "clubs"? I know what Irons are but then "blades" were used as as some alternative and I was lost all over again.

So please, picture me as your younger/older (whatever) brother who might be interested in golf. You don't want me to go overboard but don't want me to become discouraged either ... which direction do you point me? (the door maybe?)

[GOLFSALOT00]

check out the cleveland cg golds(4-pw 530.00)and try taylormade rac os2(they are like around 400.00) both good clubs i have cg golds and love them but have friends that have the taylormades and love them

[SlammerSam]

Have your grips replaced....I would take a lesson from a teaching pro, any driving range will most likely have a teaching pro from whom you can learn the basics as grip, posture and alignment with ball position in your stance. Good idea to learn those things first as you go along you will find that you need to have a working knowledge of the basics as you will refer to them often.

Good luck...hit'em straight!

[Shindig]

I'm 42 years old and for the past 20 years have golfed on average once a year. That's not exactly an avid golfer now is it? Last year I was presented with an opportunity to play more frequently and I picked up a "used" set off the local Crag's List for $100. They are in what is very likely poor shape, some of the grips feel "bad" (old/dry rot?) and are pretty dinged up. They say 'RAM" and "Fastback" on them.

I don't know about the Tiger Shark clubs. Can you take a picture of your irons, since I don't know the type by name. A good image of the *back* of the iron would help immensely to identify the type.

I realize there's a certain amount of "get out there and play, then figure out what you want" to all of this, but I don't know enough to know if these clubs are just plain crap (either set). I'd also not like to look like an @$$hat at the course my first day for a lesson - picture Randy Quaid in "Vacation". I don't want to be him.

I took lessons with my starting iron set and a hand-me-down bag. Unless you're a member of a prestigious country club and are going there for the first time, no one is going to look down their nose at you for your clubs. But, if you're going to a lesson, you might want to meet the pro before hand and ask if he thinks your irons are appropriate, and if not, if he can suggest a good set for you to begin with.

I've been reading here the past hour or so after doing my obligatory three newbie posts and am even more confused than when I got here. Blades, Irons, what the hell are those? I thought they were all "clubs"? I know what Irons are but then "blades" were used as as some alternative and I was lost all over again.

Part of the fun of golf is customizing your set of clubs. Irons, in general, are those clubs that look like a crooked piece of metal at the end of a metal rod. But you knew that already. There are different types of irons. Cavity Backs have part of the back of the iron hallowed out to affect the center of gravity and other physical characteristics, in order to allow mis-hits to be "forgiven". Blades have no cavity in the back, and are sometimes known as "muscle backs."

Which you should use, whether as a beginner or on the PGA Tour, or in between, is a matter of some debate and, in large part, hinges on your goals. There are players on this board who used blades from the git-go and became good players. One of my buddies is beginning and is using blades and has thought about giving it up. And then there are PGA Tour pros using cavity backs. So it's really a matter of what you're trying to get out of it and a few other factors.

So please, picture me as your younger/older (whatever) brother who might be interested in golf. You don't want me to go overboard but don't want me to become discouraged either ... which direction do you point me? (the door maybe?)

The only reason to go out the door is to go play golf, or (if you must) to earn money with which you can play more golf.

I'd like to see the irons you've got before I point you towards anything. I'd also like to know how often you intend to play and how often you intend to practice, and what you view the likelihood of actually playing/practicing with that frequency is. This will allow me to give you the best advice I can.

[Guest]

I'd hate this to be my first forum post, but I just wrote an article about this that you might find helpful - Enjoy Golf Faster with this Buyers Guide

Hopefully that helps and you get something out of it.

[LBussy]

I don't know about the Tiger Shark clubs. Can you take a picture of your irons, since I don't know the type by name. A good image of the *back* of the iron would help immensely to identify the type.

Here's a couple pics. Real hard to take a picture of a polished object I found out ... harder still with a camera on your phone. I think you can make these out though:

I took lessons with my starting iron set and a hand-me-down bag. Unless you're a member of a prestigious country club and are going there for the first time, no one is going to look down their nose at you for your clubs. But, if you're going to a lesson, you might want to meet the pro before hand and ask if he thinks your irons are appropriate, and if not, if he can suggest a good set for you to begin with.

I didn't know that driving ranges had pros (as someone else recommended) so I'll at least give that a go. I also need to find out if there's a community course here that may help me extend my golfing budget. The wife is "okay" with me giving this a go but saving some money as I go along will help later on should the clubs find their way back into the closet again if you know what I mean.

Cavity Backs have part of the back of the iron hallowed out to affect the center of gravity and other physical characteristics, in order to allow mis-hits to be "forgiven". Blades have no cavity in the back, and are sometimes known as "muscle backs."

Ah ... sort of like me wanting to learn on a steel string acoustic guitar when I was learning ... not the most forgiving guitar, wider, less forgiving on the fretboard, but if you can play that you can make noise on any electric.

[LBussy]

I'd hate this to be my first forum post, but I just wrote an article about this that you might find helpful -

I've got the page marked to read with my coffee this morning, thanks. The premise is indeed something I've been looking for.

[Big_M]

I'd hate this to be my first forum post, but I just wrote an article about this that you might find helpful -

Article is about right... but maybe a little dated in that it recomends no driver for beginers. A high lofted driver of 13-15* is easier to tee off with than a 3-wood due to the larger size and added forgiveness.

-just my 2 cents

[LBussy]

Just a quick update ... I decided this morning that if nothing else my irons NEED re-gripped so I went and bought some today at lunch and will have some fun doing that this evening. They only had 7/9 that I needed so that's a good excuse to leave the 2 & 3 irons home.

[Shindig]

Here's a couple pics. Real hard to take a picture of a polished object I found out ... harder still with a camera on your phone. I think you can make these out though:

That's a mighty big pitching wedge. It looks almost hybrid-like from my viewing of the pictures, or it could be a cavity back.

I didn't know that driving ranges had pros (as someone else recommended) so I'll at least give that a go. I also need to find out if there's a community course here that may help me extend my golfing budget. The wife is "okay" with me giving this a go but saving some money as I go along will help later on should the clubs find their way back into the closet again if you know what I mean.

Well, "driving range pro" is typically used to mean the guy at the driving range who can hit it great there but can't at the course. That's not the guy we're sending you to. The guy you're looking for probably has a sandwich board with his or her name on it, hopefully with a PGA Logo (not to be confused with PGA Tour logo) or LPGA logo.

Ah ... sort of like me wanting to learn on a steel string acoustic guitar when I was learning ... not the most forgiving guitar, wider, less forgiving on the fretboard, but if you can play that you can make noise on any electric.

I'm guessing on "yes" for this. I know near nothing about music.

Just a quick update ... I decided this morning that if nothing else my irons NEED re-gripped so I went and bought some today at lunch and will have some fun doing that this evening. They only had 7/9 that I needed so that's a good excuse to leave the 2 & 3 irons home.

That is a lot of fun, I hear. 2&3 irons are awesome clubs when you hit them well, and pains when you don't. Don't give up on them entirely, but you probably won't miss them your first few times out. If you find yourself needing them, be a bit creative -- golf has great opportunities for creativity.