new golfer needs new gear and lots of advice!!

[golfnuub]

well i have decided to get back into golf after my 14 year hiatus and need a lot of advice but for now will start with clubs and take it from there. my goal is to get serious about the game more than a weekend warrior and maybe one day be a scratch golfer.......
so i have been looking at clubs for the past month too see whats out there, what will work best for me. i am looking at used clubs for now and have been looking at the following used iron sets: either Callaway's X-20 4-pw with callaway uniflex steel shafts, the X-22 with callaway graphite stiff shafts, or 2009 Taylor Made Burner Plus with the 3h, 4h and 5-pw with Reax Superfast 60 gram Regular Flex graphite shafts. can anyone comment or suggest if these will be some good gi clubs for me or have any other suggestions? Need some help with the driver, fairway woods, and a good putter as well so fire away on suggestions please. i have been looking briefly at the tm burner drivers or the callaway bertha. i have not gone in to swing any of these clubs i have mentioned.

I was planning on going in for a custom fit at a local pro shop down here in south florida but i have read/heard that since i dont have a good consistent swing yet that it would be pointless to be custom fitted, not sure if that holds true or not so please clarify. i am about 6ft 195.

thanks for everyone who posts....

[jlund]

I have hit both the 2009 Burners and the X-22's. I am torn between the two set to be quite honest with you; they are both wonderful IMO. I would probably lean toward the Taylormade in all honesty.

I prefer Taylormade drivers over anything else I have hit.

And if I was buying a putter today it would probably be the Odyssey 2ball Black Series.

Good luck!

[robbo323]

I would say hold off on the Custom Fit job for a little while. Get a good collection of clubs that are a year or two old. Look on ebay and other websites like Rock Bottom , TGW and Global Golf. I would say a good set Would be a Taylormade or Callaway Driver from a year or two ago. The X20 irons are nice but also llok into the cobra FPII or the S9. You want something forgiving so you can get back into the game. Wedges and putters are all about the same so just find something you like but dont pay full price. Hope this helps get you started.

[CarlSpackler]

My input would be that if you have unlimited $$$, go for the custom built. If you are like most of us (paying mortgage, hoping your kids get scholarships...) go with a used set and have the lie adjusted.

I would invest in lessons with a pro to get back on the saddle straight.

[2bGood]

Go used for sure. Until you get your swing figured out costum fitting isn't a great idea.

I have the x-20 and like them allot. Very easy to hit.

[Shindig]

I was planning on going in for a custom fit at a local pro shop down here in south florida but i have read/heard that since i dont have a good consistent swing yet that it would be pointless to be custom fitted, not sure if that holds true or not so please clarify. i am about 6ft 195.

No, no no... custom fitting

is more important when you're learning. At the VERY LEAST do the static fitting for length and lie and get the right flex to go with your speed. You can't expect your brain to learn the golf swing and repeat it if you won't reward a good swing with a good hit. My suggestion is that if you know from whom you want to take lessons, start by telling him (or her) that you want to take lessons, and could he please suggest some good, properly-fitting clubs for your goals. There are plenty of threads on graphite vs steel, PI vs GI vs SGI for beginners, and so on - and may or may not be worth reading. Ultimately, you have to like the look of the club and the way it feels when you swing it. I believe a beginner (or converted weekend warrior) who wants to get better would be best suited to moderate-GI irons and, once he is breaking 90 now and then, can move to PI. Good GI sets include the Callaway X-20 or X-22 (mentioned by you), Adams A3 or A4, Ping g10, Mizuno's MX-200, or Nike VR (full cavity).

[HytrewQasdfg]

What is your total budget? That's the first thing you need to know. If you are already saying you need to purchase used I assmume you have some number in mind.

[golfnuub]

thanks everyone for the replies.

my budget is around $800-$1100, the lower the better though in this economy :). unfortunately my winning powerball numbers havent hit the paydirt yet so no i do have a budget.... shindig can the TM burner irons be considered moderate GI irons? i found them for $629 used which was the combo set (3h, 4h 5-pw with regular graphite shaft) and from what i have read they are really good, plus i have read that hitting hybrids is a lot easier than hitting the 2 or 3 irons. for a beginner should i bother getting a 5wood as well or just stick with the driver and 3 wood, as well as a 3 & 4 hybrid?

i have no clue where to even start looking to find a good place or person to get lessons from? anyone know any good teachers to recommend that are in the south florida area?

[opie]

I've got the 09 burners. LOVE them. Everyone that's hit mine loves them. Easy to hit, mishit still get down the course. You can get them super cheap on ebay also

[Amused]

Nice to have you back on the greens!

Mizuno makes some good game improvement irons. Their older MX-900 and MX-25 irons are great IMO, and can still be had new at a good discount if you shop around. I always find Golf Digest's Hot List a good reference if purchasing new is a consideration: http://www.golfdigest.com/equipment/ratings . If nothing else, it'll give you a feel for what's out there per manufacturer. Cobra's S9 irons are also a good bet and they too can be found new for a discount. The look of these irons may not be for everyone, but I found them to all hit well with a decent amount of forgiveness.

- Jason

[golfnuub]

anyone using the TM Rossa Itsy Bitsy Spider Putter? how does that compare to the
Odyssey 2ball Black Series putter?

will i be ok with just a driver and 3 wood, or is it best to carry the 5 wood in the bag as well?

[opie]

I have an Itsy Bitsy spider. I alternate between it and my old blade depending on how the putting is going. I like it

[robbo323]

Since you are just getting back into the swing of things I wouldn't carry a 3 wood. I would cary a 5 wood since its just easier to hit and get up in the air. There is no need to make things more difficult on yourself.

[HytrewQasdfg]

thanks everyone for the replies.

Ok, I'm going to suggest you buy TWO sets (just not at the same time.)

First, purchase a used (or lower price) set you think you can sell or hand down. Get some lessons and get your swing grooved in. This should get you through about a year. Next summer you should have a better idea of the type of clubs you need. Sell the used set and purchase another one that fits your grooved in swing. As for your first set, somthing like RockBottomGolf has an Adams a complete tight lies set for $279 new. Something like this would probably work for this year, and you can probably turn around and sell it for around $200 in a year. This would probably work fine as a relearning set (and Adams, as the review on the main page attests, makes some pretty decent clubs.) Anyway, that's my recommendation. Don't try and find the "perfect" set the first time out. Take your time, get back into the game, THEN spend your big bucks on a set.

[golfnuub]

is there a way to verify the used taylor mades i am looking at are authentic/genuine and not some fakes??? is there a serial number or something imprinted on each club or something that states is a genuine taylormade product?

[Shindig]

shindig can the TM burner irons be considered moderate GI irons? i found them for $629 used which was the combo set (3h, 4h 5-pw with regular graphite shaft) and from what i have read they are really good, plus i have read that hitting hybrids is a lot easier than hitting the 2 or 3 irons. for a beginner should i bother getting a 5wood as well or just stick with the driver and 3 wood, as well as a 3 & 4 hybrid?

I'm not very familiar with the TM product line, but I believe burners are GI, especially if it came with two hybrids. Yes, hybrids are much easier than long irons to hit. I wouldn't even bother with the 3-Wood at this stage, unless you want it as a "backup driver." If you can't reach the green with your longest club, figure it's going to take two shots, and pick two shots that you'd like to hit that are likely to get it there.

i have no clue where to even start looking to find a good place or person to get lessons from? anyone know any good teachers to recommend that are in the south florida area?

Your driving ranges are a good start. There might be a guy with a sandwich board with the PGA (not PGA Tour) logo on it that can help.

will i be ok with just a driver and 3 wood, or is it best to carry the 5 wood in the bag as well?

My suggestion is the 5-Wood, but not the 3-wood unless you already have one.

is there a way to verify the used taylor mades i am looking at are authentic/genuine and not some fakes??? is there a serial number or something imprinted on each club or something that states is a genuine taylormade product?

Sure. Look at the club, where the clubhead connects to the shaft. The serial number is typically there.

[golfnuub]

what length should i get for the putter. the itsy bitsy spider one comes in 34 or 35 inchs and im not sure which one to go with?

[teamgs]

You might want to look into the TM R7 Irons 2008 and older vintage. They are on sale now for around $370. They are between the CGB's and the TP's in terms of forgiveness.

Gary