Half-sets for beginners?

[Alex1]

What do you think of half-sets? For a beginner like me, there's little difference between any given club and the one next in succession, eg, a 5 and 6 are essentially the same. This would allow me to buy some American-made Pings.

Any drawbacks to this scheme? What's better, the evens or the odds?

[dave s]

Personally, I see merit in getting both a 'half set' (as you call it) and a full set for a beginner. What if you progress rapidly as a player and quickly see a need to an 8 or 6 iron? If you've already spent money on the half-set, you might see a need to spend again on a full set much sooner than expected.

The other side of the coin is that a pretty good player could outscore me with a half-set. Not exactly sure what comes in a half-set today, but it used to be a driver, 3-wood, 3-5-7-9 irons and a putter. This club complement is not what I'd consider to be the best tools for a beginner anymore.

What might be a BETTER starter set might include a 460cc driver, a couple of hybrids (3 & 5) and 7-9-W-SW irons and a putter. A set like this could take you a really long way. And as you've mentioned, if you can stick with a brand name like Ping or Callaway or TM, you could add to your bag as your game improved and needs changed.

Personally, I prefer to stay away from any kind of 'buy twice' situation. 'Buy once, cry once' is always the way to go!

BTW, let me know what's out there in terms of 'starter sets' today!

dave

[Alex1]

BTW, let me know what's out there in terms of 'starter sets' today!

I haven't seen any sets that are specifically sold as half-sets. EdwinWatts sells individual Pings, so I was going to go that route.

[Open-Faced Club Sandwedge]

I haven't seen any sets that are specifically sold as half-sets. EdwinWatts sells individual Pings, so I was going to go that route.

How much would you save, by buying half the clubs individually, versus buying all of them as a set? I would think the set is much cheaper than the sum of the individual clubs, and thus you might not be saving all that much.

Anyway, for evens vs. odds, I'm not sure either is the way to go. If you were going to buy either 3-5-7-9 or 4-6-8-PW, then that's four clubs. I think these four would be better for a beginner: 4hybrid-7-9-SW. In terms of yardage then, you're talking ~190-160-135-95, which is a nice distribution of yardages to start with. That's assuming you already have a driver. If you already have a wedge (or plans to buy a wedge separately), maybe you'd want 3hybrid-5-8-PW (~200-180-150-120). Anyway, I'd try to pick up a set that covers the yardages of your most common shots (between 100 and 200 yards) so that you have fairly even spacing, rather than picking a set where the numbers on the irons are spaced out evenly. Of course, for that to work you'd have to have an idea of how far you hit each club, which is often very inconsistent for a beginner. Hope that was somehow helpful. -Andrew

[Alex1]

How much would you save, by buying half the clubs individually, versus buying all of them as a set?

I'm pretty sure EdwinWatts charges the proportional price, eg, if the set is $800, then each club is $100.

[glebert]

I'd buy a preowned full set and stick half of them in the garage until I was ready for them. At least then you got a set that was all built at the same time. I would be afraid that the clubs I add later would play differently than the first ones.

[Alex1]

Glebert, that's a good idea. However, part of the motivation to buy a half-set is that it's the only way I'll be able to afford some new Pings. I'm also considering making my own clubs, as you have noticed in my other thread. Much rather have the Pings though.

[glebert]

One other problem with half sets is that in case you decide you don't like them you probably won't get much for them. Ping's hold their value very well, but I don't think a partial set would.

[GaijinGolfer]

The only problem with buying a half set is that you will have some considerable yardage gaps.
Before I bought a set that was a 3,5,7 and 9; I think Id just buy a 3-wood and then 5-PW for the irons, a 56 degree wedge and a putter.
If you want Pings and cant afford to buy new, try Ebay. Ive managed to get some iron sets of off there they are in excellent condition and cost me a fraction of what they would have cost me if I had bought new.
Also, dont be so sure that Pings are always American-made. Even Ping has started to have their heads cast in China, just like everyone else.

[baal]

I haven't seen any sets that are specifically sold as half-sets. EdwinWatts sells individual Pings, so I was going to go that route.

There's the Inesis half set sold at Decathlon (I bought it).

It has: Driver Irons 5 7 9 & Sand wedge Putter Bag http://www.decathlon.be/FR/exia-1-2-kit-acier-33642185/

[Blades4me]

What do you think of half-sets? For a beginner like me, there's little difference between any given club and the one next in succession, eg, a 5 and 6 are essentially the same. This would allow me to buy some American-made Pings.

When I was doing jr golf, which was about the time when Huns invaded Rome, the learning set was 3i, 5i, 7i, 9i, 3w and driver. I'll still use that combination once in a while b/c it makes me do different kinds of shots. In my mind that is the best way to start out. I always wanted sand wedge and my father would say, when you learn how to use what you have then I will buy you a sand wedge--I bought my own sand wedge, lol.

[Alex1]

I got the idea for a half-set from Peter Ballingall , but it seems like no one does half-sets anymore. I'm just going to have to spring for a full set.

[shredfit]

What do you think of half-sets? For a beginner like me, there's little difference between any given club and the one next in succession, eg, a 5 and 6 are essentially the same. This would allow me to buy some American-made Pings.

There are a few reasons that buying a half set is problematic:

1. It may be very hard to get the rest of the set after a couple of years(or not very cost effective to do so) 2. It would be very hard to resell your half set after you require an upgrade(full set) 3. As some else pointed out, your distance gaps will be great... you might want the other clubs sooner than you think. It might be better for you to give us you budget and then we can give you some suggestions. New Ping G10 irons will likely cost $100 or more per iron, so if you get 5 irons that $500... A used full set of very good condtion(3-PW) Ping G5's will likely cost less than $500

[neophyte]

Starting out I couldn't play all the clubs and shots. A full Iron set was a waste of money I only could use the PW thru 8I. I couldn't play the driver, 3w and 5w. I had better success with a 7w and 9w, now days I would look at hybrid utilitys along with the woods. I should have bought quality and only the ones I could hit well.
Get fitted for length and lie.
1. Buy a good mallet 2 ball putter.
2. buy a good sand wedge.
3. buy a good pitching wedge
4. Buy a good 8 Iron
5. Buy the easiest wood/hybrid utility to use. for me a 9 or 7wood or 6H or 5H. Back then I used the 7w for the T and fairway.
6. When and If I could hit a longer hybrid or 3w or a driver for the T.
I could have bought the five top of the line clubs for 6 hundred dollars. These clubs will hit all the shots and distances from 1 yard to 175 yards. Back when I started why should I have carried two or three clubs that will do the same thing. Also why carry clubs that mess up the score because I wasn't good enough to hit them.