OT - Advice from MGoGolfers

Submitted by canzior on

I have recently started going to the driving range with the intent of being a semi-competent, non-embarassing golfer.  But, I know very little about golf, other than scoring and the basics.  I am now able to hit about 175-200 with a driver, and 75-110 with a 7 iron.  I plan to buy some clubs, (1 by 1) and was wondering what order should I buy them.  One of the former pros at the course said a driver is most expensive and least important, but it's also the most fun for me.   Any advice on which clubs to buy, in which order or any other golfing advice for beginners?

 

 

Also, anyone in the DM[V] area who golfs regularly, I would love to get together. 

Yo_Blue

July 22nd, 2016 at 9:48 AM ^

You don't need to match your woods to your irons, but I think it's important to have matching irons.  They will all swing the same and you will only have to worry about distance and loft.  For scoring, go to a golf store and try every putter you can find until one just feels right to you.  You will save the most strokes with your putter.

Like the irons, you probably should match your woods.  Again, with the same swing only the distance will vary.

Space Coyote

July 22nd, 2016 at 10:59 AM ^

I know when I upgraded Irons from my 1980s clubs passed down from my pops to my new ones, my distances were completely different. Maybe it's not as drastic of a change with the current clubs the OP has, but switching out clubs one-by-one could lead to a lot of inconsistencies in the game with the different club heads, grooves, shafts, etc.

drewz05

July 22nd, 2016 at 11:00 AM ^

The most important thing is to have matching irons.  When you generate a consistent swing, your irons should go a consistent distance.  Having matching irons will mean that you have a clear distance gap between each club so that you should always have a club available to hit the distance you need.

Personally, I only have a driver and one fairway wood in my bag (outside of irons, wedges, and putter), and I rarely use the wood at all.

Magnus

July 22nd, 2016 at 11:09 AM ^

I agree with this. Match your woods, and match your irons. I spent a lot of money on a driver (and the other woods), and I think it was worth it. I've used other woods in the past, but my current driver is very accurate and helps me hit the ball a long way. Irons are my issue, but that's more because of me than the clubs themselves.

gbdub

July 22nd, 2016 at 12:11 PM ^

Yeah, buy your irons as a set. Find out if you like hitting hybrids/utility clubs - a lot of novices find them easier to hit consistently than long irons. Some "game improvement" iron sets replace at least the 4 and 3 iron with utilities, which keeps you from having to go back and replace them.

The putter is your most important club, but, at least for me, a smooth hitting set of irons and wedges are the most fun - you take a lot of swings with them and for the noob, completely duffing or duck-hooking a 5 iron is more openly embarrassing than missing a putt.




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Bigalfull54

July 22nd, 2016 at 9:48 AM ^

Buying one by one is interesting to me. My advice would be to not buy any until you can buy a set. Go to your local golf store and get fitted. If they are good at there job they will get you into the right set for your ability

Padog

July 22nd, 2016 at 9:51 AM ^

The driver advice is good advice in my opinion. You only use your Driver what 14 times on course? Sometimes less? However, a good driver will be crucial in scoring low. My advice is to work on short game, short game, short game. If you can can get up and down in 2 strokes 75% of the time and 3 strokes the other 25%, you will start to score lower and lower.








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hunterjoe

July 22nd, 2016 at 9:49 AM ^

PW.  Need to get good with wedges.  They're the most important (other than the putter obviously).  Then I'd get a 7 iron.  Probably a 3 wood (maybe a 5 wood) or hybrid after that.  We play in some 3 club events where you can only use 3 clubs and I'm taking a PW or 52* wedge, 7i and a 3 wood or hybrid.  

But can I ask why you're going the 1 by 1 route?  If it were me, I'd go buy a decent used set of irons.  Can probably find a decent one for around $100-$150.  Start there.  Then move on to the woods.  

CraigMack

July 22nd, 2016 at 9:50 AM ^

the $$$, go to your local course or a Dicks Sporting Goods and get fitted for irons.  A few lessons now and then will also help if you are just beginning.  Oh and drinking helps ease the mind, golf is way too mental.

hunterjoe

July 22nd, 2016 at 9:59 AM ^

I wouldn't go to Dick's to get fitted.  Maybe it's changed now (which I think it has...  for the worse) but they don't have good fitters in there.  I think they even recently laid off/fired most of their PGA pros.  I'd go to a golf store like Golfsmith, Golf Galaxy or similar.  Too bad you're not in MN, we have an awesome store that would be perfect for you, 2nd swing.  They have stuff on ebay and non their website.  Check them out.  They're primarily a used store, but also do new stuff.  Have some really good fitters.  

Brian Griese

July 22nd, 2016 at 11:05 AM ^

A good friend of mine was an assistant to the pro at Dick's for a college job.  They cleaned house right after he graduated.  If someone is helping you at Dick's now in the golf department, there's a 99% chance it's an idiot that knows nothing about golf.  Don't go there unless you've already been fitted for something or know what you're getting.  

yostlovesme

July 22nd, 2016 at 9:50 AM ^

Yeah buying one by one is a bad idea.  Just get a beginner set from Dicks or off amazon or some other website.  Much cheaper and perfectly fine.  My friend recently started playing golf and got a cheap set off E-bay.  Id go that route first

Craptain Crunch

July 22nd, 2016 at 10:14 AM ^

The mindset and skill of being on the golf course doesn't equate to hitting balls on the range. It can help hone your swing if you are getting instruction but if you have a kink in your swing and are not getting help to iron out your swing, you will do more harm to your game as you ingrain that problem with every subsequent swing. I'm not saying not to go to the golf range and practice, just saying it helps to have a profesional to look at your swing and help you while you do so AND then play as many rounds as possible to get train  your mind on how to play on the links. 

quigley.blue

July 22nd, 2016 at 9:52 AM ^

I would not buy irons individually. You need to have confidence that the steps in club length and face angle are consistent. If for example you buy a 5 iron from Ping and a 4 iron from mizuno or whoever, there is a chance you're only getting one or two degrees in face angle and maybe up to an inch in shaft length. I highly recommend you get a fitting from a place like top golf and determine whether you can benefit from a shaft length/stiffness or from a lie that certain manufacturers align with or that you can buy custom. When it comes to the wedges, putters, woods, hybrids, etc all bets are off, you should look for demo days at the ranges and try as many as you can. As a beginner you really need to USE different types of clubs within a certain group to see what you like.




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Zarniwoop

July 22nd, 2016 at 9:54 AM ^

The best increase in your game will come from lessons and learning to putt.

I can't hit at all, but after a lesson, I can just tear the cover off the ball.  It just seems so easy (for 30 minutes until my bad habits creep back in). The key for new players is to understand you don't have to swing that hard to hit the ball pretty far or to use an iron effectively.

Note: I'm not a golf pro or even a decent golfer. Feel free to ignore everything I say as the ravings of an idiot.

Prince Lover

July 22nd, 2016 at 10:29 AM ^

That is spot on advice my friend! Nobody should ignore that.

So I'll type it again. Don't swing as hard as you can!
Let the club do the work.
99% of my bad shots are a result of trying to kill the ball. I know it, I always know it. Yet I ALWAYS do it.
As soon as I back off, the balls go straight and far.

ijohnb

July 22nd, 2016 at 10:35 AM ^

is hard to tell somebody just starting to play the game to "back-off" because they don't really even know what it is to overswing.  They have to make flush contact with the ball on occassion to even really understand how backing off would help.  Backing off for a novice will lead to a full scale collapse of a swing.  I say grip it and rip it for a while until they at least have something to work with.

Stuck in Ohio

July 22nd, 2016 at 9:54 AM ^

A side benefit of golf for me is that it has thoroughly perfected my use of foul language. To steal from a funny email sent to me awhile ago, "I now use the word "Fuck" like it is a comma"

Seriously, take some lessons and just enjoy the game. The guys I golf with all have a motto, "It's now how well you play, its how much you spend on your equipment"

Enjoy!!

ijohnb

July 22nd, 2016 at 9:59 AM ^

ebay and search for full set golf clubs.  You can buy a full set of mid-grade used clubs, (Hogan, Cobra) from 10-12 years ago including woods that will be perfectly acceptable.  Unless you are shorter than 5'10 or taller than 6'2 you don't need to get "fitted" for clubs are are wasting your money if you do.  I would not buy a new model driver.  The weighting of the club is completely different than traditional irons to the extent that you are really playing a different sport when you use it. 

The driving range can be somewhat useless, and in fact counter-productive unless you have crafted a swing and are refining it.  If you have the time, it would be much more helpful to play 9 holes by yourself and play 3 balls per hole on a slow day at the golf course.  The range is not "fun" per se and if you are going to keep playing you need to have fun to keep you coming back.  Don't worry about hitting fairway woods off the deck for now.  You can become a pretty good golfer and never do that one time.  It is very difficult for beginners and can be discouraging.

Good luck.  It is an awesome game and one of my favorite things of all time.

Indiana Blue

July 22nd, 2016 at 10:32 AM ^

However height alone is NOT how you buy clubs.  When you get fitted, they measure from the ground up to your wrists.  The measurement can actually be the same for someone 5'10" and 6'2"   The majority of people use standard length clubs without issue.  Shaft flex is just as important as club length .. and based on your shot distances you want nothing to do with stiff or extra stiff shafts.  You can read tons about this online.

If you are just starting to play look around your area and find a golf course that can offer you a lesson package.  They usually include 5 lessons and courses normally have a practice area for hitting and chipping and putting.  IMO - stay away from driving ranges.  Part of the fun of golf is being on a course.  Finally play golf from the right tees for your ability.  If you hit a drive 200 yards, don't play tees that have 430 yard par 4's.    

Its a great game that I have played for over 56 years now .... good luck and enjoy !

Go Blue!

ken725

July 22nd, 2016 at 9:58 AM ^

I would not buy them 1 by 1. If you live close to one of those big golf stores like a Golfsmith or a PGA superstore, I would pick up a set of used irons. You can usually find some in good condiition and try them before you buy them.  They might even re-grip them if you ask.

The Mad Hatter

July 22nd, 2016 at 9:59 AM ^

If they do, just ask to "borrow" a set of their old clubs.  My FIL is an avid golfer so he buys new high-end stuff every few years, so I have a sweet set that's about 15 years old.

I'm a terrible golfer though.  Shoulder surgery destroyed my swing.

Hail To The Blue

July 22nd, 2016 at 10:02 AM ^

I would not buy my irons one-by-one. If you're serious about it, go get fitted for clubs at something like a Carl's Golf Land or King Par. I got fitted for irons about seven years ago and I've been using them ever since. Haven't found a set I hit better. I tried several top-end ones when I got fitted and ended up going with a cheaper set of Taylor-Made's just because they felt better, and I still hit them great.

Essentially, my best advice is to go try some clubs out before you buy them. I did that and ended up buying a $250 driver instead of the $400 ones just because I hit it that much better. It's been about eight years with the same driver from a smaller company (Tour Edge) and I still hit it between 295 and 320. Doesn't matter how much something costs if you can't hit it straight.

StateStreetBlue

July 22nd, 2016 at 10:12 AM ^

Don't by the clubs, one-by-one. That is foolish and will end up costing you more money in the long run. On the flip side, don't go out and buy a custom fitted set of nice clubs that you 'think' will last you forever.

Look on craigslist, golfwrx.com, and callaway used and find yourself a decent set of used clubs. Golf clubs are like luxury cars, their value drops exponentially after they are used and there are tons of people that spend tons of money on a new set each year (basically selling their barely used clubs from last season for a fraction of the original cost).

Do your research and find a 'game-improvement' set of clubs. These are clubs that are geared towards someone learning to playgolf, but will work for many years to come. The heads of the clubs are gennerally larger and they will be more forgiving on miss-hits. You should be able to find a decent set of irons (4-pw) for ~$250. Much better to spend that amount now then getting a super shitty pair from Wallmart which will break or you'll outgrow in a year.

Go to a golf store (if possible) and ask to try out some of these clubs. Golfsmith and simular stores will let you try out clubs for free on a simulator. Just have to ask and tell the employee you are looking for a 'game improvement' set of irons. But you're not good at hitting yet and shank a bunch of shots in the simulator? Doesn't fucking matter. You're just there to figure out which set of irons look and feel good to you. Becuase everyone has a different opinion on what is best. Ping, Titleist, Cobra, Taylormade, Callaway - they all make good clubs. Comes down to preference 100%. Ping G25, Taylormade SLDR, Titleist AP1 - these are all previous year models that are widely praised for being durable and performing above their price range so a good place to start.

Driver, 3 wood, hybrids, wedges - get them all second hand if possible. Have an ucle or friend who never plays anymore? Perfect. Ask if you can use his for a while. If that doesn't work, eBay and golfwrx.com have been the best deals for me. The irons you already bought should give you plenty of time to improve while you look for good deals on these other clubs.

Last but not least - if you really are serious about getting better, spend the money and get a lesson from a certified instructor. Do you research on golf websites and find someone worth the money (becuase it will be more than you think). Don't use your girlfriends, friend's, brother who has been playing for a few years for $20. Get a real lesson.

Even just 2 lessons with a good instructor will help you more than 100 range sessions when starting out.

Good luck and have fun!

SD Larry

July 22nd, 2016 at 10:08 AM ^

Don't know if there is a golf mart or similar type  golf superstore in your area Canzior, but the one here has a tremendous supply of top of the line used clubs that you can try out, have custom fitted new grips and (even shaft flexibilities in the right case) they can put on for you.   Rescue clubs seem to be the easiest to hit well for most people.  Also, there are a lot of great used sets of equipment out there that people would let you try out before purchase.  Most important is to have good grips (which are easy and cheap to replace, weight of clubs, and appropriate shaft flexiblility any pro would be happy to recommend for you. Good luck.  Golf is a great game.

MGoBlue22

July 22nd, 2016 at 10:10 AM ^

Visit the fine folks of Miles of Golf.  Seriously, the staff's knowledge about golf clubs, and their ability to get the correct club(s) into the hands of every level of golfer, is second to none.  You won't regret it.

michelin

July 22nd, 2016 at 10:18 AM ^

A golfer once sliced his ball down a steep embankment into a ravine. He took his 8 iron and climbed down. There he discovered an eight iron in the hands of a skeleton.

In a nervous voice, he shouted to his partner:

"Bring me my 7 iron. You can't get out of here with an 8."

KodiakGT

July 22nd, 2016 at 10:20 AM ^

If you're around average height I'd just get a used set or buy a set online.  I picked up some cheap Taylormades off Amazon about 3-4 years ago for around $200 (Driver, 3W, 4/5 H, 6-PW) and used those.  Once you get more comfortable and are consistent I'd invest in some decent wedges to expand your options (I found a 3 set of AW, SW, LW for like $50).

Then just work on your game until you become about a bogey golfer.  After that point it might be worth investing in some nicer clubs to give you an edge.

bigdemo

July 22nd, 2016 at 10:22 AM ^

 it's the Indian.  Now, I know that you can't really say that these days. But... You need a swing-Harbaugh. 

Spend money on lessons first. Don't buy clubs!  Clubs will not make you better, a better swing, better contact, and better understanding of the mental game will.

I just watched my Aunt, who is in her mid-50s, beat a bunch of men on several closest to the pin contests using TERRIBLE rental clubs last weekend. We were playing a scramble for my brothers wedding.  

Find a reputable golf pro, and do everything they say. 

 

Ziff72

July 22nd, 2016 at 10:56 AM ^

If you are hitting the ball the distances you are saying you are doing something massively wrong*.  Get your swing completely overhauled then worry about clubs.  Anything you buy now will be a complete waste of money.

*Unless you are 10 yrs old, a 70 yr old woman or 90yr old man then you are hitting it solid.