Second Set Tips

[fijinicklaus]

I'm in that stage of my game where I am considering upgrading the equipment and hope for some advice. I've been playing casually for about 1.5 years and near the end of last summer I was finishing in the high 80s. The set I started with and have played with this whole time without testing any other clubs has been Dick's Sporting Good brand Acuity Turbo Max beginner golf set for $200. The balls I have used this whole time have been MC Distance that the salesperson recommended to me at Dick's. The reason I ask for advice on here is because I do not have much opportunity to demo clubs where I am from and probably aim to purchase clubs off ebay.

I've never gotten any lessons or been fitted. I am 6'2'' and feel like I have a medium swing speed and hit my driver about 230 yards. With the driver, I slice more than the Iron Chef but I hit fine with the other clubs. I might tinker with the weight in the clubhead this season. The woods and hybrids included in the set seem just somewhat unpredictable to me but I've started to be able to put a controlled fade on the ball with the irons. Also, I have trouble with the distances on the irons and PW. Sometimes I'll use my PW, hoping for it to take me about 100 yards and the ball will fly 150. I might just need more time at the range but I partly feel like the distances between the clubs aren't distinguishable enough and that new clubs will give me confidence. The putter is fine but I feel like I could use one with more MOI, I especially like the Odyssey 2-ball White Hot and the new White Hot 2-ball F7.

Which clubs in my bag should I upgrade first? Because of costs I'll probably just do a few things at a time.

Drivers to consider?
I am able to get 40% off new Ping clubs and I will most likely get the Ping G10. A new game improvement driver for $180 seems like it would add a lot of benefit to my game. All and all I don't really like driving very much and possibly want other clubs before this.

Woods to consider?
I don't like woods or hybrids very much and feel like I would like to use longer irons more often. I'm considering getting a single wood. Friends were recommending for me to look at Callaway Steelhead Plus woods. A 4 wood on ebay would only cost me $30.

Irons to consider?
I'm looking to spend anywhere between $150-300 on irons. I don't want the set to be too beat up or used though. I'm especially attracted to the Mizuno look and reputation but like I've said I have not hit any other irons other than my own. The MP-52 review on this site really caught my attention and I've seen excellent deals on Ebay for MP-60s and MP-30s. Anything else I should be paying attention to here?

Wedges to consider?
LOVE LOVE LOVE Vokeys. As soon as I can I want a 256 SW and 60 degree lob wedge for when I short side myself. Just don't know when to get these in terms of priority. I'm definitely getting these new as I feel like they aren't all that expensive and used ones look extremely beat.

Balls?
I'm eager to hit some different balls and see what happens. With the MC Distance, when I pitch onto the green the ball usually sticks without roll even though these balls advertise medium trajectory for more roll. However, when I drive my balls, they slice more than the Magic Bullet Blender.

Thanks for reading and any criticisms/remarks/suggestions!

[flanagan]

If you aren't going to get fitted or demo some clubs, and are just looking for ebay bargains based on advice from people who don't have enough information about your swing, etc., spend the money on lessons and keep using the clubs you have, maybe upgrade the driver.

You really need to get advice from someone where you live otherwise how will you know you are even getting the appropriate shafts.

I don't get your needing more "MOI" from your putter, what are you basing that on? You ought to be able to find someplace where you can demo putters, I wouldn't just buy one off of ebay and hope it feels right, a lot more to a good putter than "MOI".

[fijinicklaus]

If you aren't going to get fitted or demo some clubs, and are just looking for ebay bargains based on advice from people who don't have enough information about your swing, etc., spend the money on lessons and keep using the clubs you have, maybe upgrade the driver.

To explain myself about the putter. I've tested plenty of putters and determined that I enjoy the ones that are stated to have high MOI like the models I listed. For instance with the F7, I felt like off-center shots still worked out for me.

I feel like with my height 6'2'' and wrist to ground length 34'' and a moderate swing speed of around ~85 mph. I feel pretty confident that a fitter would just say to get a regular fit length and a regular flex graphite shaft. Maybe I'm just stubborn but I don't feel like I need to pay someone for something I feel like I can figure out myself. For irons I probably would look at steel shafts or a heavier weight graphite shaft. I might be completely mistaken on all of this. If I am, please tell me so! I suppose that I might be coming off too much as "tell me what to do" but I guess I'm just interested to know if most people began by upgrading one thing at a time and had any regrets in the order in which they did it. Or if anyone had a GENERAL case as to why it's more important to have a quality driver over quality wedges or whatever else. Or given what I said I like if there's anything else I should look at.

[clearwaterms]

To explain myself about the putter. I've tested plenty of putters and determined that I enjoy the ones that are stated to have high MOI like the models I listed. For instance with the F7, I felt like off-center shots still worked out for me.

a static fitting will get you close on the length of the clubs. however, a club fitter can work within your swing to get a club tweaked to your swing. Also, a club fitting will give you the opportunity to try different clubs to get a feel for shafts and what not. I recently had an informal club fitting done. They gave me a few different six irons and said, hit away. I really liked the mizuno feel, but hit the tour edge clubs better. I know that I need clubs that are longer then either of those clubs were, and that the lite / high launch shaft gave me a ball flight that I was looking for. I also learned that even though my static fitting calls for a mid sized grip, i get a better wrist release and hold the club lighter with a standard club grip. so I learned alot. What i didn't learn was if i extend my clubs 1/2" do I need to bend them 1 or 2 degree's upright, if I go to a full inch longer, what do i need to do.

Do you know what your swing speed is? Have you tried different shafts within your swing speed to see what you like? Another thing you can do is just go to your favorite golf big box store and spend some time swinging different clubs. Try the SGI / GI / players irons. hit different drivers, take mental notes. What did you like about one club and not about the other. After you do it for a while you might start to get a sense of what you like and don't like. continue to ask questions here and other places. Also, consider taking a lesson, you will see a larger improvement in 2 or 3 lessons than you will spending $500 on a set of clubs. Also, when you work out a consistent swing, getting a set of clubs makes alot more sense. The worst part would be to get a set of clubs that match your swing now, only to take lessons and have your swing change.

[gobluemich]

I would say upgrade the wedges first since they are your scoring clubs and will help you get up and down around the greens. This is also what I upgrade first. And you say you really want then anyways.

Josh