Golfers-Help needed

[refill]

Well I have decided to take up the sport of golf, looking for some advice on a first set of clubs. I'm a super cheap-skate and was thinking on buying used ones as starters, but several buddies are telling me to get some made to fit me.
I am 6'1" and told that regular clubs will not fit. Any advice or a web site to direct me to would be great.

[RPB67]

Go to your local golf or pro shop. Try a bunch of different clubs out. Sometimes they have used ones or demo ones that you can take out for a round with you.See what type of shaft you like. (steel or graphite)

Then when you make your desicion you can either see if they have any good deals or by some new ones on line or somewhere else. You can always take any clubs to be re gripped and have the toe adjusted to fit you.

[pistol]

If you are a beginner, you don't need fitted clubs, hell you might not like it all that well and you will have wasted money! My recommendation is to get on EBAY or something and get a used set of cavity back irons and oversized woods. Now depending on how much you want to spend will dictate whether you buy brand name clubs (callaway makes very forgiving irons) or knock offs. In my experience with new golfers, they aren't going to notice any difference between a brand name club or a knock off. Don't let your golfer buddies who play a lot convince you that you need the newest technologies, do yourself a favor and develop your swing first (TAKE LESSONS!!), then worry about the technology that's out there. The only thing that you might want to consider (ask a pro at a lesson) is since you are fairly tall, you may want to change out the shafts for slightly longer ones. IMHO the shafts that you are playing make a much bigger difference for amateur golfers than the clubs themselves. However, longer shafts does not mean custom clubs! Your swing is going to change and develop, so if you get custom clubs now, chances are in a few years, your swing will have changed to the point that you would have been better off with a neutral setup for the standard golfer. I've been playing for 17 years now (I'm only 25) and I play the original Bertha fairway woods, that I got when I was 13 years old, (old technology) and I play them much better than a lot of my buddies who have the latest and greatest fairway woods. Trust me, it's not the technology that's going to help you hit the ball cleanly, it's your swing, the technology will only help to refine an all ready quality swing. Also, don't get hung up on gap wedges and lob wedges, just get a PW and a SW at first, learn how to hit them, then decide whether you want to start dropping woods for different wedges. Myself, I only carry a 4 wood with my driver (I carry an extra iron and wedge), a lot of people prefer to carry more woods and less irons, some carry a lot of wedges. Don't waste your money on a custom setup until you find out what YOUR game is, then spend the money for the perfect setup. Just my

[King James]

you can possibly find a pair of used clubs that are sized long. I am 6'4 and had to get long clubs so I'm sure somewhere out there you could find a used set for that. Other wise they always have decent deals on a set of new ones. In my opinion, if you find you are serious about golfing spend the little bit of money now on a nice set because it will last you a long time compared to getting used ones that will not last as long and have to be replaced more frequently.

[NCRadioMan]

Lots of sports stores around here have a demo area where you can swing and hit with different clubs. Maybe there is one where you are or like RPB said, a pro shop. When I started out, I had a cheap set from Sears, I think. After I was comfortable hitting the ball, I upgraded. Ebay is a good place to upgrade or find a decent set of used clubs. I like this place too: http://www.callawaygolfpreowned.com/

I am 6' 1" and use standard length clubs with no problems.

NCRM

[pistol]

Originally Posted by NCRadioMan

Lots of sports stores around here have a demo area where you can swing and hit with different clubs. Maybe there is one where you are or like RPB said, a pro shop. When I started out, I had a cheap set from Sears, I think. After I was comfortable hitting the ball, I upgraded. Ebay is a good place to upgrade or find a decent set of used clubs. I like this place too: http://www.callawaygolfpreowned.com/

I am 6' 1" and use standard length clubs with no problems.

NCRM

Yeah, I'm 6'2 and I can hit standard length clubs with no issues, I have just recently put an extra 1/2 inch on though. I'm with NC, get a used set of callaway irons for $300 bucks or so and learn the game, I can't stand callaway irons for myself, but they are a very forgiving club. I can't believe anyone would tell him to go with a custom setup for an undeveloped swing though. Until he grooves a good swing, it's going to change probably everytime he goes out and custom clubs would do no good, in fact, they would probably hurt his development. I strongly recommend a standard setup until he can feel the difference between different clubs and setups (not for a while!)...

[Stogmeister]

Great response Pistol, I agree 100%. I'd just like to note that I would not recommend buying a beginner set (limited clubs) or a cheap set from Walmart. My 1st few sets were very cheap and I've had heads come flying off irons and woods, and they just don't feel solid because a lot of them are made from cheap pot metal. Try to find a good used set - you may be better off getting a decent set of irons then buying a wood here and there till you find what you like. I'm 6' and "regular" clubs work just fine for me.

[pistol]

Originally Posted by Stogmeister

Great response Pistol, I agree 100%. I'd just like to note that I would not recommend buying a beginner set (limited clubs) or a cheap set from Walmart. My 1st few sets were very cheap and I've had heads come flying off irons and woods, and they just don't feel solid because a lot of them are made from cheap pot metal. Try to find a good used set - you may be better off getting a decent set of irons then buying a wood here and there till you find what you like. I'm 6' and "regular" clubs work just fine for me.

Great point, I'm not saying to buy crap clubs! I'm just not an advocate of breaking the bank for the newest technologies before you've learned the game. Go to your local shop, demo some, then check out ebay for good deals on some callaway irons that may be three or four years old. They will last forever, just don't let anyone talk you (a beginner) into forged blades or "players" clubs because you will hate them and you'll never hit the ball cleanly with them. If you want to spend the money on some forgiving irons that are fitted to your body, ping does a good job of fitting clubs to a person's body and set up rather than fitting them to a grooved swing (in fact, when I'm playing like chit, I'll still break out my old set of ping eye 2's to get a little more forgiveness out of my irons)... IMHO, not since true cavity backs with square grooves hit the market twenty or so years ago has a marked development been made in iron technology (talk all you want about different weight ratios, offset hosels, etc.- it's all garbage if you can't put a good swing on the ball).

[rumballs]

There's also this:
http://www.pinemeadowgolf.com/

custom, but generic.
I've only played golf a handful of times, and only bought one club from there (a putter), but it seemed well made and I thought I would just throw out that option...

[glovepuppy]

Some great irons that you can get for dirt cheap are Tommy Armour 845's. First set of "real" irons I bought and I love them, still have them too and plan on giving them to my kids, should they choose to play golf. The are easy to hit and quite reliable.

I currently have their EVO irons, which go from cavity back in the long irons to muscle back in the shorter irons.

[dadof3illinois]

IMO, there's no right or wrong way to go about this! I started playing at a very young age with a set of hand-me-down Wilsons. Starting with a set of irons fitted to his size, what ever it is, isn't that bad of an idea.

The best thing you can do is go to a golf store or pro shop and have them help you, most are willing and can give you tips on the different clubs. Then if your really interested in learning the game, take 6 or so lessons from a local pro or at least someone that has a pretty low handicap that plays often.

[tedwj]

There is some great advice here but I will put in my anyway.

Before you buy anything talk to a pro and arrange for lessons. Make sure you let him know that you don't have clubs and ask his advice. Then go out and get your clubs. Equipment can make or break the game of a seasoned golfer, but they tend not to matter as much to people who have not played as much.

Oh yeah, get golf shoes. They really do make a difference.

[n2advnture]

1.) Try to find some Ping Eye 2s (see color coded fit chart http://www.ping.com/flash/webfit.html)

2.) Take some lessons - best money I ever spent!

[refill]

Just wanted to thank everyone for some great advice as always. I have talked the pro at my local club and will start lessons. I picked up a set of Armour 845 oversize irons w/graphite shafts on ebay. I'll let yall know how long it takes me to tear them up.

Thanks again guys!

[zamco17]

You know id be a good golfer if i could just make contact with the ball.