New clubs or lessons?

[Griffin48]

I'm stuck at the moment. I want to know other golfers opinions on wether I should get new clubs or lessons? Right now I have no name clubs and I feel they are holding me back, but I'm also quite new to the game and need to get better swing and improve my chipping.

So if you had to decide would you take like 5 lessons or some new irons?

(The lessons would be cheaper too, if that plays a part)

Thanks!

[mkrolewski]

It depends on you.

Learning how to play better IMHO is the best plan. Although the newer clubs could help -- a bad swing with a better clubs is still a bad swing.

For some, learning how to play better is lessons. My personal observation is lots of lessons. My best set of lessons was 10 1 hour private lessons -- spaced out every 2 weeks. Lots of time to practice (forget) what I learned in between. I think that is a minimum number. You will need more. The first lesson's issue is finding the person or person whose style of instruction you like working with at a location that is convient for you to play at. I found that not everyone teachs in a way that is good for me. And it is your nickel.

Some learn learning how to play better is books -- so get Ben Hogan's book, Pelz book(s) on putting and short game, Utley's books. Hogan's book is a great, inexpensive starting point. I've enjoyed Pelz books -- lots of information and strategies for putting and short game. Others have swore by Utley's books.


Some learning how to play better is practice. Lots of time at the range. You can hit hundreds of balls on the range/putting area/short game practise area under controlled conditions to make improvements on your technique.

Obviously you have to have some way of determining that you are actually practising a good swing -- not just perfecting a bad swing. You need a coach. The coach is there to track your performance, to evaluate what you are doing right or wrong and to offer suggestions for improvement. The coach could be the local pro, an instructor, your buddy, your spouse/girlfriend (whomever wants the job ), a video camera or just a good notebook and pen. To some extent everyone can do this for themselves. The self taught issue is whether you can do the above coaching for yourself.

[Crey23]

Ok....I'm kind of on the same boat....I was able to get pretty good clubs to start (Burner driver and Titleist AP1 irons) in Jan-09

Since then I have bought a Vokey SM56-10, and TM Daytona cbg 1 putter, and was thinking about closing another gap in my bag by getting a 3 wood or 5 wood.

But I decided to take classes instead, land learn how to swing better, before you get into hard to shake “bad habits”. I know that I have improved tremendously from just one class. I still have 3 more classes lined up, and will go for a fitting afterwards.

So my suggestion to you is to get some classes, at least 3, 30 minute lessons under your belt to hone on mechanics and fundamentals. After that, go analyze your swing and get fitted. This will tell you which clubs match your playing ability better, and should also guide you as to which ball type to use.

A friend of mine told me many times… “it’s not the arrow, it’s the Indian that matters!”

My two cents....

[Vince]

Lessons, the best clubs in world won't help if you can't use them properly. Also get your current irons fit for you, amazing how the proper lie adjustments make all the diffrence.

[vthokies4life5]

  Crey23 said:

“it’s not the arrow, it’s the Indian that matters!”

I totally agree. You could have the worst swing and really nice clubs and still not see results. I would definately take lessons and develop a nice swing first.

[gogolfing]

As the saying goes, "It's the Indian, not the arrow"; I'd go for lessons and then once you have grooved your swing, get fitted properly.

[PiKapp23]

Start with lessons. Then after you have gotten your swing grooved you can look at new equipment if you have the money. Lessons first is good because it will give you a better idea of what kind of clubs to look at for your swing and you'll be able to get them custom fit much better than you would with your current swing (most likely). While I agree with the adage "It's the indian, not the arrow", I also know that the right equipment can make a big difference if you've got a good consistent swing first.

[Dub]

Such a wise question. You are at a huge crossroads.

I wish I had taken the right path.....I went down the "clubchasing" path too far.....then saw an exit ramp for "get some help".

Wish I had taken the exit sooner before I developed some of the bad habits that I did.

[Slim 11]

Lessons..for sure.
One of the posts mentioned getting your current clubs fitted, which isn't a bad idea. Clubs that suit you will make a difference, but the lessons will help more to begin with.

[JCDot33]

Lessons are probably the best bet ... reason being is that as you get better your swing is going to change. If you were to buy a set of irons that worked for you now, and then and you went and changed your game you run the risk of those new irons not fitting to your new game ... then, guess who has to buy a second set of irons.

  mkrolewski said:

Some learning how to play better is practice. Lots of time at the range. You can hit hundreds of balls on the range/putting area/short game practise area under controlled conditions to make improvements on your technique.

I like the practice approach, but one has to be careful about what they are doing on the range ... if you have had instructions and are going on the range to work on those specific instructions that's a great thing ... but if you are going out on the range and you are reinforcing errors in your swing then that isn't a very effective practice session, and is actually more deteramential to your game ... just MHO

[Norm3333]

I think this is a no-brainer. Lessons will make you better, new irons will not. Your swing, if there is anything wrong with it, will not be corrected with new irons. When I have to make a golf decision, I ask myself, "What would Tiger do?"

If he had monetary limitations, would he work on his swing, or get new irons?

I think the answer is obvious.

[lumpuckeroo]

Lessons, you can not buy a swing with equipment.

[wannabe]

if it's really an either/or situation -- LESSONS.

At the first lesson, or even before you sign up for that first lesson, your pro will be able to let you know if your equipment is decent enough to learn on or not. Most likely it'll be fine.

Like myself, my guess is that you'll be amazed at how great of a game you can build with no-name or, in my case, really old equipment.

[JetFan1983]

It's a tough call I think. I've had two lessons and I disliked both golf teachers so I'm not too keen on recommending this route. But I can't really recommend getting new sticks because a year from now when you are a lot better, you'll have a much, much better idea of what kind of equipment you'll want to get and why. Right now you might be wasting your money on something you may find out in 2-3 months isn't right for you.

I guess I'll say go for the lessons right now, or invest in a lot of golf books like Hogan's stuff. Check out the Reading Room Forum. Everything you overpay a golf teacher to tell a beginner can be found for $15 in a golf book or DVD. Youtube is another good source for free golf lessons. Obviously you found this forum so you are already a pretty smart guy in my opinion.

A golf teacher would be most beneficial to someone who already understands golf-speak (fade, open stance, closed, compress, grip, waggle, etc.) and who also has a decent swing for the teacher to work with. Just my opinion. Good luck!

[Griffin48]

  wannabe said:

if it's really an either/or situation -- LESSONS.

Well at the moment I have a real no name set and am missing LW, SW, 9 Iron (Brother thought it'd be hilarious to hit it against a tree) and 4 iron.

I want to get a real nice set ex. Callaway, Taylormade, Mizuno but I think if I just got something cheaper from Dicks or something thats cheaper. I really only have like $500-600 and I'd like a better set, but still get lots of time in for lessons and maybe a very good putter since it's the best part of my game. If anyone has any sets or recommendations for a cheap set ($250 and under) Then please say so. Thanks for the responses!

[wannabe]

If irons are all you need, you should be able to find a top name used set for under $300. Look for something 5 years old or so; you'll be surprised at the prices. The local pro shop where they have teachers will either have some sets for you to look at, or if you can research brands & models, you can check eBay/Craigslist, or Play-it-Again-Sports. Callaway has their own pre-owned equipment website also, and around here we have a store called Trader Golf that's purely used golf equipment.

Used brand name putters are out there, too, for under $100 apiece, as are wedges.

All that said, I still think that before buying you should pay for a group of lessons and have the pro check your swing and your equipment to assist you in the buying decision.

[skwon11]

I concur with the gallery... lessons. But I think I'd spend my money on a putter and wedge first over irons... but... lessons!

[Feanor]

I can tell you the route I took over the last 3 years. First off I picked up the hogan book and read through it twice with a club in hand. I used my fathers hand me downs for 3 months. Bought a $300 complete set of Makser's from my old golf coach to learn on. Played the rest of the season with those (about 4-5 more months). I then started the next season with about 5 hours of lessons with those sticks, before the stimulus check came, and i said "Wow, 1200! Taylormades here I come!" And I demo'd the irons I have today, and loved them. I had them custom fit for me (+3* lie angle, standard length, stiff steel shafts) and took about 4 more hours of lessons with them. By the end of last season I could have been hitting in the High 80's if I wasnt such a shoddy putter.

This route worked for me, but like I said, the money just happened to be there, but usually people have a budget, so work with what you have, and plan ahead. NEVER impulse buy.