New Clubs for a Novice Golfer. How Did I Do? What Can I Add?

[LankyLefty]

Hello, Im new around here so ill give you some background. I am a recent  college grad, Im currently Job Huntung with alot of free time on my hands decided to work on my golf game. I have always enjoyed golf and have played in some kinda of capacity for probably close to 10 years, but never with enough frequency to be consistent. I'm the kinda of guy who might post a +1 or +2 on one nine then go shoot a 60 on the back nine and screw it all up. The first thing I decided to to do was find some decent clubs as my current set was woefully inadequate. As you might imagine being somewhat short on cash I decided I couldn't spend more then about $300. After some research into budget clubs I found that with Nickent being out of business and me being a Lefty many of their left over lefty equipment had been severely Marked down so here is what I got

Driver: Nickent 4dx Evolver, 10.5 Loft, Stiff Shaft ($69.99)

Woods: Ping Rapture 3 Wood Stiff Shaft ($34.99)

Hybrids: 3&4 Nickent 3dx RC Regular Shaft ($63.99 for both)

5 Nickent 5dx Regular Fhaft ($39.99)

Irons: 6-PW Nickent 3dx Hybrid Irons ($96.99)

With Shipping and all this kinda maxed out my Budget and covers most of my bases. Ill have to stick with my No-Name brand SW for now.

My main question is about Wedges and Putters.

My putter right now is pretty laughable it is a Kids Mini Golf Putter... but I putt well with it and after using it for so long proper length putters feel really awkward to me, But i do have trouble with consistent pace.

For wedges my problem has always been on anything but a bump-n-run I cant stop the ball. Ill hit a good looking chip with decent loft that looks to be on target then it'll roll to the fringe.

So for putters is their anything new and cheap that could help me and for wedges is the fact that my ball never stops a problem with my swing or a product of the crappy Irons I Have been using?

And How did I do? Does this look like a setup I can keep and play successfully for a while? Is it good for someone like me is mostly looking for consistent ball striking and strait flight? What should be the next club a save my pennies for?

[jeffrey r]

Club-wise, you did just fine.  There's no way to know if the shafts you chose are correct for you, but whether you should be in a regular flex or a stiff flex, you should at least be able to play all of the shafts you bought.  You should find through playing whether you prefer the softer or stiffer flex shaft.  You definitely have room in your bag for a few more clubs, namely a gap wedge and sand wedge, and maybe a 5 wood or 2 hybrid.

As far as a putter, look for used putters on some of the used sites like callaway golf preowned.  Probably the best bang for the buck in putters right now is the Cleveland Classic series, which are steals at their prices (under $80 new generally).  Rockbottomgolf has a bunch of new putters for $40 or so (namely Yes! putters which are supposed to be good).

For wedges, there are a ton of options out there pretty cheap, but you might look at Cleveland wedges, such as the CG10, CG11, ...  Taylormade has some nice older wedges like the RAC series.  But every brand has a bunch of newer and older wedges out there, new and used.

Good luck.

[WUTiger]

For putters, pick up a used one at a local golf shop. You want to try out a putter to make sure you like it.

For wedges and stopping ball, could be a set-up thing, or it could be the ball you use. You mainly talk about clubs, but don't mention if you're taking lessons. A couple of lessons, including one just on short game, would help you immensely as you get more serious about golf - especially if you have trouble with consistency.

Also, do you really play nine holes just +2 over par, and then shoot 60 back nine?

[LankyLefty]

Well I have been told that I swing quite hard many times. Off the tee with a 3 wood I carry the ball about 230-250 on the fly when I swing it well. Though I have never had my swing speed measured my brother in law's swing speed is around 75MPH and I swing noticeably faster then him. I would tend to think at least in Drivers/Woods a stiff shaft would be best but again never measured it. Also could I get away with just a PW and a SW? Are gap/lofting wedges a must?

[LankyLefty]

Originally Posted by WUTiger

For putters, pick up a used one at a local golf shop. You want to try out a putter to make sure you like it.

For wedges and stopping ball, could be a set-up thing, or it could be the ball you use. You mainly talk about clubs, but don't mention if you're taking lessons. A couple of lessons, including one just on short game, would help you immensely as you get more serious about golf - especially if you have trouble with consistency.

Also, do you really play nine holes just +2 over par, and then shoot 60 back nine?

I am not currently taking lessons however I am planning on taking a Lesson or two once I spend a little time at the range with the new clubs. I cant afford to spend very much on lessons.

And while I admit +2 over 9 is a bit of an exxageration I do suffer from a complete lack of consistancy and I will regularly post scores in the Upper 90s despite having 4 or 5 pars in a round And in one case I parred 5 holes on the front nine but still finished with a 93.