Buying my first set of "real" clubs

[maradona10]

Hiya, hope this is in the right section of the forum? If not, my apologies.

I took up the game seriously in February and have not turned back since, I am pretty much addicted.

I was given a set from a guy in work who had them lying around the house, they used to belong to his dad.

Its a Regal Golf Set, 3-SW, rather old, grips are pretty much non existent and god knows what has happened to the torque on the shafts over the last 15 years or so.  My driving, 3W & 5W are a Dunlop steel shaft set I was sold for a sum of £30, which has got me used to hitting them so I am not fussed about the cost.  So all in all its pretty much a patched up set.

I have played around 6 rounds so far this year, bringing my score down to an acceptable 111 on a par 68 municipal course.

Now I am at the stage where I don't feel comfortable playing with them and I want to invest in a set which will obviously reduce my scoring.

I am close to buying a set of John Letters T8 Hybrid set (link below) which have been highly recommended by a mid handicapper, price is £200 and the guys will custom fit them for me.  Worse case scenario they will adjust the lie angle and snip something from the shaft but the pro at John Letters said that my size was the same as his and that adjustments would be minimal.

http://www.direct-golf.co.uk/golf_irons/john_letters/t8_hybrid_iron_set_golf_irons/p11454

Anyway my point, am I over thinking? Is it too much to hope that these clubs will help? Surely I am limited to what I can score with an old set of clubs which I do not think are easy to handle and hit golf balls with.

Hope my rant will pay of with some good advice :)

[tristanhilton85]

New clubs will be nice and if they are fit will help your game, but don't expect too much... I'd expect at the most a few strokes... you won't start breaking 100 because them.

[McShank]

First, I'm a terrible golfer so take what I have to say for what it is worth. Second, clubs won't make you a better player, but clubs that look right to your eye and inspire confidence in you upon address will help you become a better player. So don't buy just any clubs go to a local shop and get fitted to the right club that look right and feel right to you. Third, and this is the step I am about to take part in, get lessons! This is what will really maximize the effects of having the right clubs for you. Just my two cents.

[maradona10]

Thanks for your replies.

So am I being completely ignorant to think that these clubs are not effecting my game in anyway? An iron with no grip or torque which surely effects direction and distance? I am not trying to convince myself that new clubs are the way forward by I would be amazed if new clubs with a little more distance and fresh grips wont help in some element.

I admit, lessons will likely have to follow but these clubs certainly do not inspire any confidence at address.

[glock35ipsc]

I don't care to drive ugly vehicles that are displeasing to my eye, and I would prefer my clubs to be aesthetically pleasing to my eye as well.  I think that it is just one small part of the overall fitting matrix of getting clubs that work for you.  You can spend all the money you have on clubs that were fit to your every specification, but if you stand over them and don't get a feeling of confidence about them.... well, possibly money wasted.

To quote McShank - "Clubs won't make you a better player, but clubs that look right to your eye and inspire confidence in you upon address will help you become a better player."

John Letters isn't a well know name in the States (at least I hadn't heard of them until now, but that's not saying much!!), but it looks like they've been building some of the best clubs in Scotland for almost 100 years.  Looks like they do fittings too.

That's certainly not a bad price for that set.  Hopefully you can have an opportunity to try them out before buying them.  I'm all about getting fit for your clubs, but I'm also about buying something that is pleasing to your eye.  Otherwise, you might be standing over a decisive shot someday, and hating the club you have in your hand.

[maradona10]

Found this post I made last year just before I bought my John Letter T8 set, I am not trying to sell them and was doing some research into used sets online and came across this haha.

I did end up breaking 100 quite quickly with them, average is now 85 on certain courses and broke 80 for the first time last weekend.  I know this is not all to do with the club.

I am a small guy (5ft 5in) and going to go to look at possible custom fitting, the lie angle on standard length clubs is quite high and I dont like chocking down the grip to compensate the angle.