How to Buy Beginner Clubs
As a beginner, my first advice to you is to invest as little money as possible at first. Go to a local driving range and ask if they have clubs to borrow for a bucket of balls. If not, go to another driving range. If you have a choice of clubs, choose the shortest club there is, such as a SW, PW, AW or 9-iron. Shorter clubs are easier to hit and all you want to do is to hit the ball. It's no use getting frustrated with a longer club. If you can hit the ball reasonably well with a 5-iron then you can reach for a 4-hybrid or fairway wood. Just because the head is larger does not mean it is easy to hit. Bigger heads means longer shafts and to a beginner, more headaches.
Get a small bucket of balls and try to hit the ball off the mat. Don't get mad if you whiff or miss the ball completely. It happens to the best of us. Calm your nerves and concentrate. Keep your lower body still and hit balls with your arms and body turn. Don't take your eyes off the ball until it is flying away from you.
Get a small bucket of balls and try to hit the ball off the mat. Don't get mad if you whiff or miss the ball completely. It happens to the best of us. Calm your nerves and concentrate. Keep your lower body still and hit balls with your arms and body turn. Don't take your eyes off the ball until it is flying away from you.
When can I go shopping for clubs?
When you have developed some sort of swing for yourself and you enjoy hitting balls, it may be time to get a set of clubs. Owning your own clubs is better than renting because every time you play, you will be playing the same clubs.
There are many ways for you to get a set of clubs and I will explore each way with you because I don't know your budget. You can buy used clubs or new clubs. It really comes down to personal preference and what you can afford. |
Am I ready for customized golf clubs?
As a beginner, stay away from custom-fitted clubs. Until you have grooved your swing and become a better player, I would not recommend a set of custom clubs.
That said, can I ask you how tall you are? If you are taller than 5'4" and shorter than 6'1" than this applies to you. If you are shorter than 5'3" or taller than 6'2" then you might have to buy custom-fitted clubs. You see, clubs sold over the counter are adjusted for people around the 5'4" to 6'1" range. In the past, custom-fitted clubs were expensive but with companies like Gigagolf, a set of custom-fitted clubs is roughly under $200 which is darn good. If you are shorter than 5'3", custom-fitted clubs would be shorter for you. They would cut the shafts so that the clubface would be square when you lay down the club. Same goes for people taller than 6'2" when the shafts are extended. |
Can any club be custom-fitted?
Yes. Even used golf clubs can be custom-fitted. Simply visit a club fitter with a club in hand and they would give you a price and recommendation. They would measure you up, watch you swing then calculate the lie angle and shaft length required for your height and wrist-to-floor. |
If you are interested in experimenting with different brands, call your local golf store and ask for 'sample irons'. Every year, golf stores are shipped with 'sample irons' from each club manufacturer. The clubs are usually '6-iron' and brand new. Depending on the golf store, you can purchase them for a minimum cost. (eg. I paid $5 per club in Simi Valley, CA) In Palm Springs, golf stores there sell these clubs as 'desert clubs', hoping golfers would use these clubs in the waste bunkers than to cause damage to their own set.
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Shop at Pawnshops, Used Sports Outlets
If you're in the market for used clubs, try to stick with a brand name such as Adams, Callaway, Ping, Taylormade, Cobra, Titleist, Cleveland, Tommy Armour and Tour Edge. Keeping with a brand name will guarantee you a higher resale value when you trade in your set for another set. Before you buy, check the grooves on each club. Make sure it is not worn out. It may be scratched but that's ok. Don't worry about the grips either because you can change them for about $100 a set.
Brand New is OK
If you're in the market for new clubs because you like new then look for a beginner set. Stay away from 'Forged' clubs for now. Beginner clubs are wider and more forgiving which means they are easier to hit. Every club manufacturer has a beginner set at a price that is affordable to all.
If you're not in a hurry to play on a real course with your buddies then save your money and don't buy the driver, fairway woods and hybrids. It is more important to learn how to swing an iron and when you have developed a swing that works, you can then shop for a driver, fairway woods to match and hybrids.
The driver is the longest club in your bag and most difficult to master. Once you have a sound swing, you can shop for a driver and other clubs that you will need to make a complete set. |