Wanna help another beginner chose his clubs?

[gurdesh]

My wife and I are beginners, and are just as confused as everyone else. I have been to the driving range a few times and have played a couple of games of golf. When it comes to buying equipment for sports, I am extremely picky; and eventually want to buy a very nice set if I stick to the game (my favorite driver so far is Taylormade Burner- http://www.taylormadegolf.com/products/drivers/burner-superfast-2.0-driver).

For now, we were thing of buying a beginners set we wont mind discarding for cheap next year. I have narrowed down to two sets available at our local club (which will let me try these out for a couple of times with an option of returning): Price Triax XV (http://www.princegolf.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath;=10&products;_id=72) and Orlimar Black Ice (http://www.orlimar.com/blackice.html).

Any thoughts?

[Sai-Jin]

I think you should just go for the nicer set and get fitted for your shaft.

If you are beginners and you aren't swinging hard, perhaps get a regular shaft.

At least when you need to change, all you change is just the shafts and you still keep the club heads.

New clubs = getting used to it and your swing may detoriate for a while.

[gurdesh]

Thanks for the reply, Sai-Jin.

I went to a local store, and although they didn't officially fit me, they told me that I need regular length and regular stiffness based on my swing speed. Both of these sets have regular graphite shafts; and I really cant tell the difference (prince has more clubs and is $30 more). I am going for  swing analysis/ lesson this weekend. Should I wait until then to buy?

Which of the two I mentioned do you think is nicer?

[Sai-Jin]

I use Taylormade Woods and Mizuno Muscle Back blades only.

They are some of the best in the market and lower handicappers like them I find.

But you should just go with the ones you like in terms of feel and visual. This will give you more confidence when you look at the club heads as well as how they feel

when on impact. Only you can decide that.

The fitting will be for your current swing to determine what shaft you need. Believe it or not... shaft is very important.

So get those lessons and swing analysis and try out different brand clubs and pick the club head you like and stick

the shaft recommended by the fitter.

As your swing gets better and more solid, then you can get fitted again for the shaft. But I would think maybe it'll be a long while

before you get a new shaft.

[gurdesh]

That sounds like solid advice, Sai-Jin. Thanks.

[max power]

Don't go with a cheap beginner's set-get a nice used set of irons off ebay or globalgolf for approximately the same amount of money.  Tons of great clubs that cost top dollar 2, 5, 10 or 15 years ago, and you'll have no problem finding a set with regular flex shafts.  Look for stuff along the lines of Titleist 775s, PING Eye2s, PING Zing2s, PING ISIs, TaylorMade R7s, TM 300s, WilsonStaff Ci7s, Wilson Staff Ci9s, W/S Di9s, Mizuno MX-25s, Mizuno MX-200s, Callaway X-18s, X-20s, X-22s, Cobra SZ and many others.  Good luck.

[shades9323]

Getting fitted for a iron shaft for a beginner is un-necessary.

Originally Posted by Sai-Jin

I use Taylormade Woods and Mizuno Muscle Back blades only.

They are some of the best in the market and lower handicappers like them I find.

But you should just go with the ones you like in terms of feel and visual. This will give you more confidence when you look at the club heads as well as how they feel

when on impact. Only you can decide that.

The fitting will be for your current swing to determine what shaft you need. Believe it or not... shaft is very important.

So get those lessons and swing analysis and try out different brand clubs and pick the club head you like and stick

the shaft recommended by the fitter.

As your swing gets better and more solid, then you can get fitted again for the shaft. But I would think maybe it'll be a long while

before you get a new shaft.

[gurdesh]

Aye Carramba! More confused now. But I get the point. Buy what feels good, and something my coach approves.

Finding used sets is harder than it sounds, tried Ebay- there's too many variables (shipping etc). Plus I find it hard to know if a brand from 2002 is as good as one today.

[max power]

Here's the short answer-yes.  A brand (I think you mean model) from 2002 is as good as one from today.  I don't know what people think is magically happening with irons over the last few years that is making them so much better.  The basics of a cavity back iron are the same today as when the PING Eye2 was invented.  Yes, there have been incremental changes/improvements over the years, but you'd be hard pressed to find a more forgiving and great all around iron than the PING Zing2 from 1994-1996.  Callaway Big Berthas and X-12s-X24s are essentially the same club now as when they came out.

I'm not sure I understand how there are too many variables on ebay.  Sort what you're looking for by cost plus shipping, look at items from a respected seller.  And if for some reason you're still not comfortable, check globalgolf.

Originally Posted by gurdesh

Aye Carramba! More confused now. But I get the point. Buy what feels good, and something my coach approves.

Finding used sets is harder than it sounds, tried Ebay- there's too many variables (shipping etc). Plus I find it hard to know if a brand from 2002 is as good as one today.

[sean_miller]

Originally Posted by max power

Here's the short answer-yes.  A brand (I think you mean model) from 2002 is as good as one from today.  I don't know what people think is magically happening with irons over the last few years that is making them so much better.  The basics of a cavity back iron are the same today as when the PING Eye2 was invented.  Yes, there have been incremental changes/improvements over the years, but you'd be hard pressed to find a more forgiving and great all around iron than the PING Zing2 from 1994-1996.  Callaway Big Berthas and X-12s-X24s are essentially the same club now as when they came out.

I'm not sure I understand how there are too many variables on ebay.  Sort what you're looking for by cost plus shipping, look at items from a respected seller.  And if for some reason you're still not comfortable, check globalgolf.

There are too many variable on ebay for a new golfer. Don't search by brand and model. Try searching for "golf clubs". It's truly overwhelming.

I wouldn't normally suggest getting a cheaper box set, but since most people quit golf after seeing how hard and expensive it is, why waste so much money and time searching. Just pick up a set of Prince or whatever set an experienced golfer might think is a POS and go for it.

[max power]

I guess you're right-I'm just thinking of everyone I know who bought a similar set, got even remotely interested in golf, and then was looking to sell or trade for some "real clubs" 3-9 months later.  There's nothing "wrong" with a starter set-they're perfectly functional.  But if you like golf at all you'll be looking to move up soon and the starter set will be worth next to nothing.

Originally Posted by sean_miller

There are too many variable on ebay for a new golfer. Don't search by brand and model. Try searching for "golf clubs". It's truly overwhelming.

I wouldn't normally suggest getting a cheaper box set, but since most people quit golf after seeing how hard and expensive it is, why waste so much money and time searching. Just pick up a set of Prince or whatever set an experienced golfer might think is a POS and go for it.

[sean_miller]

I just mean losing $2-300 on a set of crap-o-matics isn't any more of a waste than buying a 2-300 set of great irons that don't fit then he has to turn them around on ebay (not everyone likes to be a seller) or kijiji or whatever, because irons from ebay are sort of worthless too, at trade-in time.

And irons have changed in the past year and a half. There aren't quite as sets of Transformers by Nike for example. Cobra still has some goofball irons, but for the most part 2011 has much more classic irons than 2002 offered. BTW the first generation Big Berthas are virtually unplayable for someone who's ever swung a blade.

Originally Posted by max power

I guess you're right-I'm just thinking of everyone I know who bought a similar set, got even remotely interested in golf, and then was looking to sell or trade for some "real clubs" 3-9 months later.  There's nothing "wrong" with a starter set-they're perfectly functional.  But if you like golf at all you'll be looking to move up soon and the starter set will be worth next to nothing.

[max power]

I concede to a degree on the ebay point (if he's not comfortable with ebay then so be it), but disagree on the change in irons.  Yeah-Nike's recent offerings look different and whatnot, but irons are irons.  I prefer blades and play them about 70% of the time, but I wouldn't have any trouble hitting some old Big Berthas.  Late last year I was visiting my Dad and playing my MacGregor blades.  We tee off at the butt-crack of dawn at his course, so there's time to goof around or practice on the course.  I hit an approach shot with my 9 iron, then grabbed his PING G5 PW to hit the same shot.  Took the same swing, very similar result.  I will admit that G5s are easier/more forgiving than blades, but I get the best results with a big cavity back when I make the same swing as I do with a blade.  Sometimes I go to the range with some old blades, new blades, and a GI cavity back.  The better I hit old school blades the better I hit everything else.

Side note-if he's worried about losing money on used clubs then I 100% recommend some used PINGs.  Eye2s, Zings, ISIs, I3s, I5s, G5s-they've lost about as much value as they're going to lose, cosmetically they hold up extremely well, and it's not uncommon to make a few dollars when you decide to sell a set of older PINGs.

You'll also be happy to know that I finally convinced my 60 year old Dad that he didn't have to play big oversized cavity backs.  I gave him my Nike Pro Combo set for father's day, and he certainly wasn't going to pass on practicing/playing with a new set of irons.  After a short learning curve he hits them as well/better than any irons ever, and he shot a career and possibly best ever 5 under a couple weeks ago.

Originally Posted by sean_miller

I just mean losing $2-300 on a set of crap-o-matics isn't any more of a waste than buying a 2-300 set of great irons that don't fit then he has to turn them around on ebay (not everyone likes to be a seller) or kijiji or whatever, because irons from ebay are sort of worthless too, at trade-in time.

And irons have changed in the past year and a half. There aren't quite as sets of Transformers by Nike for example. Cobra still has some goofball irons, but for the most part 2011 has much more classic irons than 2002 offered. BTW the first generation Big Berthas are virtually unplayable for someone who's ever swung a blade.

[Stonecold]

Buy a new beginer set because they are

• Forgiving and made from multi material heads for larger sweet spots, off set and perimiter wieghted
• Compelet even with a putter and bag
• Cheep so you can try and hit out of a fairway bunker and not worry about scratching up your 5 iron

Dont buy a good set (even used) untill you have found your swing.

Even if you buy another set in 6 months you'll end up paying more for one or two clubs than whole beginer set.

Once you retire the beginer set keep it as It's always good to have a spare set for a guest or friends.

I just put my Adams Tieght Lies away this year after banging um arround for 2 years and got Mizuno JPX pro irons and titleist woods/hybrid.

I do not regreat one penny I spent on the Adams beginer set and I am very happy I waited to get a good set as I know what my game needs are now.