New to Golf...How much to spend?

[HelRaza]

I agree. haha. i started golf thinking i would try to buy the cheap stuff. That changed. Once i got one good club, it made all the other clubs terrible, and i had to have more clubs.

I am starting to realize this pretty quick. However I see you have Top-Flite in your bag...at least if you sig is current. What do you think of them?

[Nike Markiie]

I agree. haha. i started golf thinking i would try to buy the cheap stuff. That changed. Once i got one good club, it made all the other clubs terrible, and i had to have more clubs.

Agreed.

Far less expensive than my previous hobby though.

[HelRaza]

Agreed.

Private Jet collecting?

[motteler621]

Central Illinois. There are a couple shops here. I am going to check them out. I just don't like shopping uneducated.

which city. I live in peoria,il

[HelRaza]

I'm in Champaign-Urbana.

[Nike Markiie]

Private Jet collecting?

Haha, no. Bad car hobby.

[HelRaza]

So I spoke with the guy at the pro shop again today. He said that the only used clubs he right right now that he thought would work for me were a set of Cleveland TA7 Irons for $150. He also said he would be happy to look boxed sets from other vendors if I was interested.

[pxc]

Never hit the TA7s but they look nice and Cleveland is a good brand. For $150 if they are in decent shape you will probably keep them longer than you would the Top Flites. At least if you're anything like me. After a summer of golf any new iron isn't going to look as new anyway. They're going for more than that on eBay right now. You'll want to make sure the shaft is the right flex for you.

The downside is of course you won't get any hybrids, woods, or a putter with them, so you'll have to pick those up separately.

It sounds like the pro you've talked to is a good guy and is working hard to help you out.

[HelRaza]

Yea he has been super nice. Just need to decide on the clubs already.

[clam fist]

Voit has a nice set that I shot some good scores with. Golfoutletsusa has some good deals.

[HelRaza]

I am going in for a fitting Friday morning. I will figure out what clubs I am getting then. Right now I am thinking of going with the Top-Flite set. Earlier it was Nike or Adams, but since then I played 9 holes after work and realized that I have such a long way to go. It seems just silly to get a decent set now.

[pxc]

Good luck and let us know how it goes with the TFs.

[lance0363]

Hi everyone, this is my first post. I'm just returnig to the game after about 15 years away. The last time I bought clubs a couple of decades ago I bought some knock off clubs because that's all I could afford at the time. Now that I'm a little better off I decided to get what I really wanted last time. PINGS.
I went to Golfsmith and pointed at the G-10's and said "Gimme those". I got fitted (+1", silver dot, and orange grips) I still saved $300 off the latest and greatest, graphite shafted, G-15's, and spent that (and a little more) on a used driver, 3 wood, and hybrid of Ebay.
I guess I'm just trying to say that while golf isn't cheap, you can still keep it under control. (somewhat)... Get the best stuff you can afford, and go out and have fun.

[zeg]

I am going in for a fitting Friday morning. I will figure out what clubs I am getting then. Right now I am thinking of going with the Top-Flite set. Earlier it was Nike or Adams, but since then I played 9 holes after work and realized that I have such a long way to go. It seems just silly to get a decent set now.

I think you'll be happy with those. For $200, you get an adequate version of a full set of clubs. Even used, you'll spend more than that. Sure the resale will be higher, but $200 is such a small sum compared to what you'll be spending on range balls, lessons, greens fees, etc, that IMO it's worth it just to keep yourself from getting too hung up on the minutiae of equipment selection this early in your "career." I did it that way (not with Top Flite, but with a $200ish box set) and slowly upgraded parts until I'm down to only my 5W left from that set, which I hit as well as I'm likely to hit any other 5W. Let us know how it works out!

[sean_miller]

Right now I am thinking of going with the Top-Flite set.

Do it. Top Flite is a good brand - lower end sure, but definitely playable for years. A new top end set will depreciate more than the purchase price of the Top Flites the moment you walk out the door.

[Crey23]

I am going in for a fitting Friday morning. I will figure out what clubs I am getting then. Right now I am thinking of going with the Top-Flite set. Earlier it was Nike or Adams, but since then I played 9 holes after work and realized that I have such a long way to go. It seems just silly to get a decent set now.

I will tend to disagree depending on how serios about golf you are...lower end will be needing to be replaced ssoner IMHO. Not saying that TF are not good, simply thinking in terms of long run...you may be better off buying something that you may grow into, and spend less money overall.

Also, stay away from golfsmith, as their prices for used is only about 10% lower than new. I have found better deals on new sometimes there. Take a look at wilson clubs..it seems to me that even their low end stuff is very good.

[HelRaza]

Yea that's really the debate I have been having in my head. Getting a set that I grow into or getting a good quality beginner set. I am lucky, especially in this economy, that I could get a better set if I thought that was the best choice. So price really isn't a huge consideration. The Pro at the local shop I have been at seems to be a super nice guy, who was actually steering me away from the more expensive clubs. I am going to speak to him on Friday and make my choice and get fit. However, the TF's seem to be the front runner right now. I figure I can hack away with these for a year or so trade them in a for a few bucks and get a better set when I can truly take advantage of them. Thanks for all the great advice guys. I will definitely be sticking around and sharing my journey to becoming a better golfer.

The funny thing is right now my driver is my best club, which isn't saying much... But once I start taking lessons the Pro wants me to take the driver out of my bag. It's going to be a long road ahead, but I am looking forward to it.

[Greg]

I started out with a box set of intech clubs from walmart, actually not a bad set, for $100. I used them for about a year and bought a different set of irons last year. The top flites would be a good beginner set, ive seen a set of those at kmart. Starting out, you need the most forgiving clubs you can get and the cheaper box sets are usually pretty forgiving. Theyre not meant to be a long term solution but a good way to start as many people buy clubs and never end up playing very much or quit the game so they never advance from the beginner box sets. Craigslist is another place to look, you can find a lot of used clubs on there as well.