Jump to content
Check out the Spin Axis Podcast! ×
Note: This thread is 7776 days old. We appreciate that you found this thread instead of starting a new one, but if you plan to post here please make sure it's still relevant. If not, please start a new topic. Thank you!

Recommended Posts

Posted
My friend has recently started playing golf with a few friends about a month ago, an intends to make it a full time hobby. His birthday is coming up in a few weeks, so we'd like to buy a set of clubs for him.

I'm not a golfer myself, so I'm not sure where to start. Do you guys have any suggestions regarding where to find/buy a full set of clubs for an absolute rookie?

Wal-Mart has a generic set for about $150. Judging by the price, I'm assuming these things are as low-quality as it gets, but I have no point of reference. We're not looking for anything too expensive since he is new, but at the same time, I don't want to buy something that winds up being total rubbish either.

( (Here are the Wilson clubs at Wal-Mart)

Any suggestions would be helpful.

Thanks...

- denton

  • Administrator
Posted
I'd recommend that you check one of your local sporting goods stores. I bought my friend José a set of Nicklaus clubs (woods, irons), a putter, and a bag for $400. Well above what you're after there but I splurged on the bag and the putter, too.

The thing about inexpensive or cheap clubs is that the really low end of the scale stuff detracts from the enjoyment of the game. So if you want (or he wants) to stick with it, buying sticks that are a little above that level helps tremendously.

Send your friend to this forum if you think he'd like it, too.

Erik J. Barzeski —  I knock a ball. It goes in a gopher hole. 🏌🏼‍♂️
Director of Instruction Golf Evolution • Owner, The Sand Trap .com • AuthorLowest Score Wins
Golf Digest "Best Young Teachers in America" 2016-17 & "Best in State" 2017-20 • WNY Section PGA Teacher of the Year 2019 :edel: :true_linkswear:

Check Out: New Topics | TST Blog | Golf Terms | Instructional Content | Analyzr | LSW | Instructional Droplets

Awards, Achievements, and Accolades

Posted
In addition to what iacas said, I'd strongly reccomend used clubs. It's almost impossible to ruin a cast golf club with a steel shaft no matter how bad you are, and it's likely you'll be albe to find a better quality used set of clubs than you would buying a completely new set. Places like Play it Again Sports and 2nd Swing are nice because they offer warantees on most of their equipment and custom fitting to boot.

  • Administrator
Posted
Ah yes, I didn't even consider used clubs. You may find a set of Ping Zings or something for $200, and they'd be a steal at that price if they're in even halfway decent condition.

Good thought, Kiran.

Erik J. Barzeski —  I knock a ball. It goes in a gopher hole. 🏌🏼‍♂️
Director of Instruction Golf Evolution • Owner, The Sand Trap .com • AuthorLowest Score Wins
Golf Digest "Best Young Teachers in America" 2016-17 & "Best in State" 2017-20 • WNY Section PGA Teacher of the Year 2019 :edel: :true_linkswear:

Check Out: New Topics | TST Blog | Golf Terms | Instructional Content | Analyzr | LSW | Instructional Droplets

Awards, Achievements, and Accolades

Note: This thread is 7776 days old. We appreciate that you found this thread instead of starting a new one, but if you plan to post here please make sure it's still relevant. If not, please start a new topic. Thank you!

Create an account or sign in to comment

You need to be a member in order to leave a comment

Create an account

Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!

Register a new account

Sign in

Already have an account? Sign in here.

Sign In Now


  • Want to join this community?

    We'd love to have you!

    Sign Up
  • TST Partners

    Carl's Place
    PlayBetter
    Golfer's Journal
    ShotScope
    The Stack System
    FitForGolf
    FlightScope Mevo

    Coupon Codes (save 10-20%): "IACAS" for Mevo/Stack/FitForGolf, "IACASPLUS" for Mevo+/Pro Package, and "THESANDTRAP" for ShotScope. 15% off TourStriker (no code).
  • Posts

    • A nice consistent road is just as satisfying as a round with a few outstanding shots. nice round.  
    • Foundation Session #2  
    • I shot an 85 yesterday without any shots that really stood out as spectacular to me.  On the first nine, the highest SG shots that didn't originate on a tee were a 22 yard chip from the rough to 6' and sinking a 10' putt (not the same hole).   On the second nine, driver 4-hybrid to 17' on a 421 yard par-4 was pretty cool.  Sinking a 15' putt for par on the 420-yard par-4 15th was my largest SG of the day (0.98 vs 10 hcp), and that one goes on my acting resume because when it went in, I acted like I wasn't surprised I made the putt.   I'm a lot happier with that round than this post indicates.  It shows I can play to a pretty good score (a 10-11 handicap shooting 85 on a 70.9 / 125 / 6400 yard is a good performance I think) without having to work miracles. 
    • Shot an 85 yesterday (posts as an 84).  40 first nine, 45 second nine.  Only two holes worse than bogey:  a double on a par-4 and a totally preventable snowman on the par-5 18th (the one where Arnold Palmer once made a 12 during the L.A. Open). Bogeyed every par-3.  Par-5s were 6-6-8 (there are only three).  Lots of work to improve upon these.  Especially performance on 18: wild tee shot, great recovery, good third I thought, but it somehow drew against a left-to-right wind and finished barely in bounds, where all I could do is smack with a putter towards the green.  And I did, leaving it in the rough for my fifth.  Chip way past the hole, putt 5' past the cup, a miss, and a tap in to complete the snowman.  Played the par-4s in a cumulative 5-over (there are eleven), one of which was a double.  Strokes gained: par-4s during the round gains 2.16 over the 5-handicap baseline, that's pretty cool. No birdies.  Only 5 GIR, 7 near-GIR, and one green hit on a full swing that wasn't for GIR (par-4 9th, drive, recovery, sand wedge to the green).
    • I played this course yesterday (casual friendly round, not a tournament) with friends.  I told my playing partners up front I was going to try a second approach shot on #7, the hole I was describing.   I hit my tee shot to where I had 130 or so yards to the green from the fairway (per ShotScope GPS and also laser to a pin near the middle).  There was a decent wind in my face. If we hadn't had this conversation, I would have hit 7-iron (140 yard average under calm and flat conditions).   I played that shot, full normal swing, hit the green 24' short of the pin, made an easy two putt for a par.   My second attempt at the approach shot (which I hit right after my main one) was a 5-iron, using the swing I usually use to hit a 100-yard low shot (I'm not sure if it qualifies as a punch shot) where I'm trying to hit it straight and low, such as if I'm behind trees and attempting a recovery-and-advance.  I hit it decently well and the ball finished at the back of the green.  Incidentally, I've recently started a notebook for this course.  Somehow I don't have a lot written down despite having played this course semi-regularly for almost two decades (minus the times I'm not playing golf, of course).  I added that to my notes for this particular hole.  Next few casual rounds there, I think I'm going to hit an additional approach to that green with different clubs on the low shot and take notes.  It's a small sample size but it seems worth knowing instead of having to guess during an important round. As my handicap edges closer to single digits, I think it's good to have shots like this in the repertoire -- not only mechanically, but knowing situationally what I can do.  I recognize that the really good players tend to hit their stock shot on the vast majority of occasions, and I'm not about to try to shoehorn in punch shots everywhere, but knowing options into the wind and/or to a lowered green beyond "take more (or less) club" seems like a good thing.
×
×
  • Create New...

Important Information

Welcome to TST! Signing up is free, and you'll see fewer ads and can talk with fellow golf enthusiasts! By using TST, you agree to our Terms of Use, our Privacy Policy, and our Guidelines.