Starting again

[JCRuzanski]

Hey folks,

I'm about to embark on taking up the game again.  I played a bunch in High School, and occasionally throughout my 20's.  I'll be 37 this fall, and am about to take the game up again... I once considered myself a bogie golfer on the local city course.

As far as clubs go, depending on if the father in-law still has them (he was storing them... I think), I have a set of old Spalding clubs purchased when I was in high school around 1992ish.  I'm now 6'5", with a 41" wrist to floor measurement.  So my basic thoughts have been thus far:

1.  Most of the online "clone" makers have varied from +.5" to +2" shafts, stiff flex, and +2/3 upright lies.  I'm really not partial to the old clubs, as they have always been a bit small... I was over 6' all through high school.  So this brings me around to Pinemeadow/Gigagolf/Hireko vs Names... not a "clone" vs "real" debate.

2.  What clubs do I really need to start?  I'll probably spend my time "practicing" on the local city course I've played before.  My budget given is $250.  With that said I'm thinking 3w, 4h, 5,7,9,P,S...?  I already have a pretty decent Calloway driver from about ten years ago... But I'm thinking of just leaving that out of the bag because I slice like a monster sometimes.

My thinking behind this is that to par a course you really only need center fairway, good approach, 2 putts.  Instead of aiming pin high and letting it go, while missing quite often, that a more tactical approach to the game would yield much better results.

I can add clubs from my old set... maybe even the wedges, and add clubs as I feel I need.  I can order that setup from Gigagolf and the others and escape my initial club purchase around $200...

So what are your thoughts on clubs to carry, considering my goals?

[dbuck]

If the budget allows, take a lesson from a qualified instructor. Maybe nothing more than the basics of grip, stance, and alignment to get started back on the right foot. Your thinking in equipment needs is about what I would think as far as carrying in your bag, but it might be easier to go ahead and get a set of 4-pw or something there abouts. Normally I would suggest a used set that fits reasonably close to your specs, but your height and arm length might need some attention for optimal fit. There are two types of components, the clones or knockoffs, and component products from companies like Golfworks or Golfsmith, that while incorporating some features and technology from the industry, are not direct clones. Whether you buy nice top line used clubs say 3-5 years old and get them reshafted/fitted, or have new ones made from quality components, $250 is a pretty tight budget for 3w, Hybrid, and 4-pw. The 3w, 4h, 5,7,9 is almost doable, but you are only leaving out 2-3 clubs, and I would probably bite the bullet and get them all at once. It might be less expensive in the long run to get them all at once considering your fitting needs.

[JCRuzanski]

I'm pretty much set on going with 3w,3,5,7,9,P,S,L.  That gets me out the door from Gigagolf for 206 bucks.  Think I'll add 1.5" to the woods and irons, 1" to the wedges in length.  2 degrees upright on the irons, 1 degree upright on the wedges.

My short game has always been pretty good, even emulated my putting stance after Nicklaus... have nice feel with the wedges usually, so I didn't want to add too much length, but being older, getting close to the ground is a bit tougher than when I was a rubbery youth.

I figure I can add in the missing pieces as my ball striking levels out after a few round, and some range practice.

My legs are long for my frame, hence the abnormal 41" to the floor from the wrist.

I've though of getting some older clubs off ebay and having them fit to my specs I have in mind... but I'm not sure that would be cost prohibitive... at least in my initial budget.  I'll only be playing a round or two a week, so I was really looking for something to play a(round) with that would be comfortable.

[JCRuzanski]

I sort of changed my mind on the hybrid.  I'm fairly certain I can strike a 3i.

[dbuck]

Don't knock hybrids without trying them. I can hit a 3 iron--have two sets of 1-pw, but a 3 hybrid is much easier for me. I often carry both--I get a little more distance from the hybrid but a more boring trajectory from the 3 iron. The hybrid to me is more useful from bad lies.

[JCRuzanski]

Good point.  I have the 3i from the OLD set... probably should just go ahead and grab a 4H.

[JCRuzanski]

Any idea of which manufacturers play "long" in the shaft out of the box vs standard?

[sigfan2340]

TaylorMade 2.0's is a little longer, I believe by a 1/2". Confirm that though....

[JCRuzanski]

My thinking was off. I had purchased a set of original Adams tight lies about 12 years ago... the question now is lengthened and bent clone clubs from gigagolf, to at least make them more my size. Or have the tight lies re-shafted, and bent. So is a recent clone head better than an adams head from 1999? Decent enough irons, imo, but would something newer offer better game?

[JCRuzanski]

Seems like getting the Adams fitted and worked on would be more costly than just ordering from Giga/Hireko...

[JCRuzanski]

Being tall really does suck sometimes... there are some great deals on pre-owned clubs out there, but unfortunately most are standard length, and lie.

[JCRuzanski]

Im looking at 2nd swing golf, anyone check out their pre-owned section? Their listings show a length.... 37.5, 38, etc... is that the 3i shaft length? Then I assume it's the standard .5" reduction per club downward?

[JCRuzanski]

Nevermind... that's 5i length... what is the standard 5i length?