Beginner with a few questions

[arch]

Some background before I ask:

I started playing golf in September 2009. I immediately purchased clubs:

Driver - 2010 Taylor Made Superfast 10.5*
3-wood - 2007 Callaway Big Bertha
Irons - 2009 Taylor Made Burner Irons 4-SW
Wedge - Cleveland CG12 56*
Putter - Odyssey White-Hot 2-ball F7

Currently I am shooting around 110-115... I literally need to take a drop about once every other hole... It is also not unusual for me to 2 and 3 putt.

The best part of my game is easily my shorter irons. My drives have absolutely no consistency whatsoever. I can really hit it far but I'll hit a fairway drive once in 8 drives...

My swing speed is around 105-108mph.

Questions:

1. I am now hellbent on getting lessons, I have the option of going to a guy named Rick Bradshaw(apparently very well regarded in the Tampa Bay area) for $85/hr or another guy whose name I don't know for around $35/hr. Do I pay the high dollar amount for my first few lessons or should I stay with the lower budget guy until I at least break 100?

2. Whenever I buy golf balls I am usually searching for low priced balls. I lose balls throughout the round so I'd rather not spend a ton. What is a good ball that I can use at an affordable price until I am better?

3. I'd like to add either a 5-wood or a hybrid club to my bag. Can anyone recommend what club I should go test out and add?

4. I have a Burner PW and a SW but I like my Cleveland wedge more. In the future I'd like to add a few more wedges. Recommendations?

Thanks in advance

[Mrd19abhs]

Im actually going to for lessons with Rick next thursday when i get paid I already have the session scheduled. So I'll let ya know how it goes since im going for my driver as well. And as for a easy to hit Hybrid I have the Callaway X 3 21* hybrid very easy to hit and goes a mile.

[arch]

perfect, thanks

[clg82]

Well to answer your questions quickly practice practice practice.....I haven't been playing that long either and I find that the more I go to the driving range and work on my swing the better I get. In response to the lessons, i'd just go and talk with each of them and get a feeling for their personality and such......Good luck!

[Travtex]

We're in a pretty similar spot. I think I started a couple months before you did. Heh, you might be one of the few people in the country who's had more practice days than I have, weather-wise. San Antonio has actualy had a relatively nasty winter. Anyway... Don't know if I'm breaking 100 just yet. My schedule has limited my playing time to 9's. My last two have been +10 and +8, so hopefully I'll get an 18 in soon and see what I can do.

Can't speak to lessons as I haven't had a great experience with a couple different pros so I quit taking them and started rebuilding from the ground up with just a Stan Utley book and some Ball Flight Laws research at my disposal.

For balls, some might recommend something specific for consistency but I don't feel my swing itself is yet consistent enough for the ball to make a significant difference. I could be wrong, but that's one area where I'm trying to save money. I go with 'Whatever's Cheapest' if I stumble across a deal (Rockbottomgolf is a good starting place). I've been finding pretty good prices on Slazengers at Golf Galaxy, as well.

Looking at your clubs and your ideas about lessons I'm guessing price isn't that much of a consideration, but I'd still recommend Nickent hybrids. Since the company went out of business you can find 3dx or 4dx hybrids on the cheap. I'm still playing a 3DX 20* and 23* and they're two of the most reliable sticks in my bag.

For the wedges, depends on your lofts and what sort of gap you want between them. The way my set plays out is; 10i: 44*, PW: 48*, GW: 52*, SW: 58*.

I'm guessing you have at least a 10* loft gap between your PW and SW, so I'd start looking there.

[becksfan2185]

1. I would try them both out. Some golf pros have steep rates for lessons are worth it, but some are able to charge a premium just because thet've been doing it a while. Take a lesson from each, compare notes, and go from there... no harm in shopping around.

2. Doesn't matter a whole lot. Distance balls with low spin are readily available and probably what you're looking for as a beginner. If you stumble across one that you love, then stick with it... otherise I would say they're all going to perform similarly.

3. Hybrid's a good place to start. If you like your burner irons, try a TM hybrid. Go used or an older model... they're so cheap on eBay/online and will be great as you progress in the game.

4. Poster above is dead-on - find your yardage gap and fill the void.

[danieldrieberg]

If you are losing golf balls try lostgolfballs.com. The AAA grade balls are near new and you can get a good quality ball for cheap. Example Titleist NXT for $5 to $9 a dozen. Buy over $75 at once and get free shipping. Currently I'm playing 4 layer Balls (tour quality) TaylorMade, Pro V1x, and Nike One Blacks for $8/dozen. Retail new is $45+ .

[drglew]

1. Can't speak to the quality of the teachers, but my advice would be to start with the $35/hr guy...if you like him, keep booking more lessons, as you can essentially get 3 sessions in for the price of one with the "top" pro, and the more the better. As a beginner, it's also probably better to get a consistent person evaluating your swing, & progress with changes. A buddy of mine kept switching teachers, who all had different (and sometimes opposing) advice for him. He used to shoot 80's, but has been struggling to shoot double digits these days, and his head is full of too many thoughts i'm afraid.

3. I've recently replaced some Ping rapture hybrids with Wilson Staff "Fybrids" (purchased at Rockbottom for $49 apiece) -- very solid clubs, easier to hit than the Pings, & quite forgiving in my book. Good enough for Padraig Harrington, good enough for me.

2. for new yet cheap distance balls, i was always fond of the Laddie Xtreme (double dozen for $19.99). Really long, yet still would spin some on short irons. Lately though i've been ordering premium balls from lostgolfballs.com, especially their sale "buckets" of 100 balls when on sale. AAAA are very playable & could nearly pass for new or only used a few holes; most AAA's are very playable as well.

4. Agree with others that a gap wedge (guessing a 52*) is your best bet; i wouldn't fool with a 60* until your short game is semi-consistent

[arch]

all great responses, thanks

[arch]

what degree hybrid would i want?

[Blades4me]

1) Lessons are usually a good thing. Go with the instructor that you are comfortable with. Also, video's are a great teaching tool, hopefully the instructor you choose will do video's and give them to you so you can review them, which can be most useful.

2) Very good choice to stay with really inexpensive balls at your level. Precept makes some very good inexpensive balls and I believe that the Precept Power drives are going for around 12 bux a doz.

3) I'd suggest a hybrid before a fairway wood b/c they are easier to hit and a bit more versatile, but remember, this is just a personal opinion. When I had hybrids I liked Nicket the best, but there are a bunch of good ones out there, you just have to go hit them and see which one works for you the best. Remember, you don't have to buy new. If you want new, look for last years equipment on close outs.

4) IMO the pw should be the same brand as the rest of your irons. I come from the school that sez that all of your wedge shafts should be the same length, and its worked well for me. Wedges are like putters, very personal, so again you just have to go hit a bunch and see which one works best for you. I used to carry 4 wedges and found that I used my 56* 95% of the time, so now I carry just 3 wedges, (pw, gw & lw). Again, you have to go and play for awhile and find out what works for you the best.

There are NO magic clubs. The club does what you tell it to do with your swing--moral, there is NO subsitute or short cuts for learning correct fundamentals. Golf is like any other sport, if you don't have sound fundamentals you aren't going anywhere. Also you have very envious club head speed so take the driver out of the bag and use you 3 metal b/c it will be just about as long or longer than your driver, more forgiving b/c of the high loft and more controlable. However long you practice you long clubs, ( driver, fariway metals and long irons or hybrids), practice twice to three times as long on your short game--(I know and golf with guys that are lucky to hit their drives 230 yds, but the closer they get to the green the more dangerous they are and they are single digit hc'ers)--you will find that the more confidence you have in your short game the less important it is to be long off of the tee.

[drglew]

arch,

looking at your current set, you probably have a pretty big yardarge gap (assuming decently struck shots--although maybe not if you have trouble with fairway woods as i still do at times!) between your 3-wood and 4-iron. So a 3-hybrid (~21*) would be a logical 1st choice. If you find it much easier to hit than your long irons (as most do), you could also ditch the 4i and get a 4-hybrid (24*) instead. I've even gone down to a 5-hybrid.

good luck!

[Gioguy21]

arch...we basically have the same bag minus driver. I have a 2i hybrid which i switch out with my 5W...since hte burners are lofted a full club strong you could maybe look for the same? as for hte wedges, you will see i have to the AW in burners and a 54/60 in clevelands. I don't really like the burner wedges for the fact that their forgiveness takes away from their feel on shorter shots i find. just my 2 cents

[Randy4h]

My advice is probably different than most who have responded, but I don't think you should worry about what clubs to add at this time. You don't have enough consistency yet. Until you can make consistent contact, it doesn't matter whether you have yardage gap or not, you probably don't need any more clubs than you have now.

Regarding lessons - Don't pay a high price for lessons at this time. The $85 guy or the $35 guy will be telling you the same thing. Grip, posture, alignment. The basics of the swing.

Not trying to be mean, but at the 110-115 level, you don't need to be spending big bucks for a top pro. Get the basics down first. Then, when you can make consistent contact every time, you can decided whether to seek a new teacher. And to seek the clubs to fill in any yardage gaps. Good luck!

[The Recreational Golfer]

1. Get a pro whose teaching style clicks with you, and who has you hitting better shots by the end of the lesson.
2. Since you're not hitting the ball that well yet, and you're losing a lot of them, just go to K-Mart and get the dozen balls for $15 box.
3. and 4. It might be early in your career to think that fine-tuning your bag to this degree will lower your score. Learning to hit the ball straight and learning to putt should be your goals for now. You can do that with the clubs you have.

Good luck and welcome to golf.

[arch]

a local course is offering a 6-week 'class' for only $119

should I try this prior to one on one lessons?

[Rexx]

IMO:

1. Absolutely do the group class first. They'll go over the basics of a good golf swing and you can see if it's something you want to continue to get instruction on or go at it yourself. Not saying it's a replacement for real one-on-one instruction, but with the use of your own video camera and the plethora of instructional videos available for free on the net, you can certainly go at it yourself (if you have that type of mindset). It's all about what your goals are and how much time (and/or money) you're willing to put into it.
2. It really doesn't matter what golf ball you use, because you're just not good enough for it to matter. Again, I can pick the "worst" and "best" golf balls and I doubt my handicap would change. I use the golf balls people buy me for gifts (and whatever I pull out of my bag). I have 6 dozen brand new golf balls that I may someday get through, but I've told people to stop buying me more or I'm just going to give them away. Buy whatever is cheapest.
3. You've spent a fair bit on clubs so far (perhaps more than I've spent in my 15 years of playing). If I was telling someone starting out, I would instruct them to get one of those hybrid sets where the 3, 4, & 5 are hybrids and cavity back irons for the rest. They are just simply easier to hit. However, you have a good swing speed that might be able to handle the long irons. Anyways, I'm gonna recommend a 3-hybrid. The brand probably doesn't matter... but since you already have a nice set, you may want something of "equal caliber".
4. My stock answer is to hit the ones you have. But, if you like the Cleveland wedge so much, buy the sibling wedges as well -- 52* GW and 48* PW to go with your 56* SW. You don't need anything with a higher loft.

Use the money you're saving on lessons, clubs, and golf balls to buy a nice HD Camera to video tape your swing. Good luck.

[tterrag]

Questions:

1. I am now hellbent on getting lessons, I have the option of going to a guy named Rick Bradshaw(apparently very well regarded in the Tampa Bay area) for $85/hr or another guy whose name I don't know for around $35/hr. Do I pay the high dollar amount for my first few lessons or should I stay with the lower budget guy until I at least break 100?

2. Whenever I buy golf balls I am usually searching for low priced balls. I lose balls throughout the round so I'd rather not spend a ton. What is a good ball that I can use at an affordable price until I am better?

3. I'd like to add either a 5-wood or a hybrid club to my bag. Can anyone recommend what club I should go test out and add?

4. I have a Burner PW and a SW but I like my Cleveland wedge more. In the future I'd like to add a few more wedges. Recommendations?

Answers

1. I recommend the higher priced teacher for one main reason. Fundamentals. Probably the most important thing ANY golfer can work on.

2. Look at the Precepts, I get free equipment from Bridgestone, and they make Precepts. I forget which ball it is, but it is exactly the same as the B330s. PM me if you want to know and I can get it for you.

3. Personally I would go for a hybrid, they come in a variety of lofts and are very forgiving. I have a 3-hybrid, and I hit it around 230-240. I love it for par 5s.

4. I would stick with the wedges from the set for awhile, because the forged wedges are heavier and will throw off your distances drastically. If you decide to buy wedges, I would go for Titleist or Mizuno. They are top of the line.

Hope this helped,
Garrett