ScottyT

Agree the fitting is a very good thing. It'll get you started off right. Second, you can find many, MANY fine sets of used clubs in great condition online or at some of the big box stores. Callaway sells used clubs on it's website at substantial savings that come with a guarantee. Also had good luck with Second Swing I've bought clubs on both and have never been disappointed. Being new at the game, I wouldn't drop a ton of money on a brand new set. Also, I'd just forget the 3-4 (and maybe the 5) iron and go straight to hybrids. At the very least the hybrids will ease your inevitable pain. Touring pros use them so why shouldn't you? I've been playing golf a looooong time and have an 8 hcb and still can't hit a 3 or 4 iron with any consistency. Welcome to the golf !! Fight through the inevitable frustration and you'll grow to enjoy this great game.

What really a matters is finding the right shaft/loft combination that fits you to get you the best result. The shaft makes a huge difference in launch angle, spin and distance as well; it's just as important a factor as the loft, maybe more so. The shaft is critical....and I don't mean just "S", "R" "A" or "L" ...those are all subjective terms and differ between manufactures; weight, flex point/kick point, torque, shaft length and other shaft factors have a big effect too I talked with a pro at a club where I play who's in the Golf Digest Top 100 teachers. He said proper loft selection depends on the head profile, shaft, swing speed, swing profile, personal preference, desired trajectory etc. Generally speaking and all else being equal, he told me that higher lofts help with slower swing speeds and told me almost all his students overestimates their swing speed and distance. He often ends up recommending his students go to a higher lofted driver fitted with a shaft appropriate for their swing, or just as often, changing to a different shaft on the same driver head. The only way to find out what's best for you is to try different combos on a launch monitor or out on the course. Better yet go to a good club fitter/club builder...money well spent and you'll learn a lot to help with future purchases. I got fit for my driver and gained 15 yards with more consistency and tighter dispersion compared to my previous driver. FYI, adjustable lofts are an option, I guess. However, before going that route, I'd urge you to see a video made by Tom Wishon of Wishon Golf Technology. He's a club maker and design guru and has written several books on club design and club making and is highly respected in the industry. He's not a fan of adjustable loft technology and the video explains why. Bottom Line: Going to a higher loft might make a difference, or maybe not. Good Luck !! on a

Putting is so fickle. I've found that those 8-10 footers are the most problematic for me. I've tried many, MANY techniques and putters. I lag putt well and can usually get within 3 feet from just about any distance inside 40 feet regardless of slope. Those 8-10 footers for me are usually for a birdie or scambling par, adding a little pressure to the putt. There is no magic answer but I do offer this. As a 5hcp, you have a good game. My guess is that you're putting pressure on yourself with those 8-10 footers. So relax. Don't linger over the putt or second guess yourself; that only builds pressure and anxiety. Pick a line and hit the damn putt. One of the best putting tips I ever got had nothing to do with technique or method. That advice was: Putt like you're a kid again. Don't worry or over think it. Just put it in the hole. Pretty simple.

Guys: Just a couple of random thoughts on adjustable clubs and distance issues. First, I'm 66 years old, an 8 handicap and have been playing for about 40 years. I play custom fitted Wishon forged irons (2 degrees flat) and a Callaway Epic 10.5 Driver and Heavenwood. Wilson Hybrids. Wedges are from Scor. A I love all of my clubs. I play in several groups at my club, with guys' handicaps ranging from 7 to 20, and am amused at fellow golfers and their quest for exact distances. Many "tweak" their setting on adjustable clubs and have distance finders which they use on every shot, whether it's from 200 or 30 yards . I've found that most have neither the skill nor the consistency to justify the range finder; is ANY average golfer really good enough to dial in a distance between say, 70 and 75 yards and make a club decision based on a 5 yard difference? A few maybe, but not many. And the club tweeks are of no value whatsoever at their skill level. Do you really see a appreciable difference between say, 10.5 and 11.5 degrees of loft? Their handicaps have remained consistent within a stroke (both lower and higher) for years, yet they spend a lot of money on adjustable clubs and range finders. Just for fun, I've played around with the "draw/fade" bias and also the loft on my driver and found virtually no discernible difference in distance or direction. My drives always go relatively straight with a medium trajectory, between 220-230 yards no matter the settings. I think skill level and swing profile has a lot (or everything) to do with it. Also, guys constantly pulling out their range finders on every shot slows down the game. Don't need that. On an unfamiliar course, maybe rangefinders have their place, but not so much on your home course where you probably hit the same shots from the same distances over and over. Save the money on the gadgets and get lessons or have a few extra beeers !!