Beginner. Please help with my club purchase.

[LarryEdwards]

Like it says. I’m a beginner, and when I say beginner, I mean that I’ve never been on a course or driving range. I bought a used set of clubs today. I would like to hear from y’all what clubs I need too add. I paid $50 for the set and it came with a Nike Extreme Sport IV bag, TaylorMade R7 4,6,7,9 irons and pitching wedge, TaylorMade RBZ 5 wood. Nike Ignite 7 wood. So today I bought a TaylorMade tour burner 5 iron, Nike SQ MachSpeed 3 Wood, and a Ray Cook SilverRay SR500 putter. Obviously I know I need to get a driver, and I’m pretty sure I will need a 8 iron. Do I need a sand wedge or other irons? Like I said, this is my first set and I would like to know what other clubs are important to have. Thank you in advance. 

[LarryEdwards]

[Vinsk]

Hi there! Welcome to TST. Your 9i looks left handed in the pic. Did you notice that? Being brand new to the game, I wouldn't worry too much about what wedges you'll need at this time. You can carry up to 14 clubs at at time. For starting out, Driver, 3w,5w, 5-PW, and maybe a 56 degree SW and a putter. I highly recommend you take a lesson. Golf is hard. You can easily get overwhelmed with information very quickly. I can say the instruction you read on this website is top notch. You want to find an instructor that can work well with you and provide accurate information for someone who is just starting out. There's tons of information here if you search around. But I think you would benefit the most if you at least get an instructor to get you set up in the basics such as posture and grip. Many more people here more qualified than me to give advice  but I at least wanted to welcome you.

[LarryEdwards]

Yes I noticed the left handed spalding 9 iron. I have no idea why the person who used to own them had it in there. I already have lessons scheduled for Monday morning at 8:00 in the morning. Thank you for the reply. 

[Patch]

Welcome to TST. 

You will love your 7  wood once you get to hitting balls on regular basis. My 7W is one of my most used clubs. Gets me out of a lot problems when needed

You already know about your 9 iron. Some golfers carry a different hand club for different situations. Who knows why it was there. 

As for what you need, and/or don't need, perhaps that might be a good question to ask your instructor at your next lesson. Being a "true beginner" you might get by just fine with a less than a full set of clubs. I have be golfing for five +/- decades, and I don't think I ever used every club in my bag during a round. 

Enjoy your new journey with the game of golf. 

[LarryEdwards]

Thank you for your input. I will definitely ask my instructor. As for the lefty 9, I read that a lot of people carry a cheap opposite hand 9 in case they lay up next to a tree or something similar, and need to make a opposite hand shot. 

[Groucho Valentine]

Aside front he left handed 9 iron, thats probably all you need for now. You can pick up a decent preowneddriver at a golf shop or online for $50-$75 if you feel like you really want one, but you're probably not going to hit it much further than that 3 wood you have.  After some lessons and playing time move more into a full set. 

[LarryEdwards]

So you’re saying to use my 3W as a driver?

[Vinsk]

1 minute ago, LarryEdwards said:

So you’re saying to use my 3W as a driver?

You can. Being a beginner you’ll less likely get much more distance from a driver than your 3W. Driving well is essential but getting the proper mechanics takes time and unless you’ve got money to burn you’ll be fine with the 3W for now. 

[LarryEdwards]

Yeah I’ve read that a beginner should get used to hitting a 7-9 irony start with and then switch to the driver. Thank you very much for the advice. 

[KentuckySpud]

You just made the greatest decision of your life if I do say so myself.  Golf is a wonderful sport and a lifetime sport at that. 

[LarryEdwards]

I sure hope so. I grew up playing multiple sports, but lived in a smaller town, and my school didn’t have a golf team, so not very many people played the sport. Now I’m older (38), and it’s something I’ve always wanted to do.