Golf Clubs

tsinc80697 said:
Anyone know what Wilson Firesticks are like for a beginner?

Saw them on an auction site, brand new, for 150 or I can buy them from a shop for 170ish I think.

Gonna go find a golf shop and ask there for some advice anyway as it sounds the best thing to do.
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Never used them, I think Wilsons are usually pretty decent quality.

Remember though that a £50 set of RubbishNameINC may be better for YOU than £700 BestThingEverINC clubs. So best advice is to go and try some, somewhere like American Golf will let you try clubs, all you need to do is pay for a bucket of balls.
 
yeah I was thinking about going to an american golf but the nearest one is quite far away so I'll have to see.

I might see if I can find somewhere that stocks Wilson or Ram as Ive heard ok things about them for beginners and I've seen a few Slazenger ones but again, no idea what they are like!

Anyone know what model Wilson these are?

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tsinc80697 said:
Gonna go find a golf shop and ask there for some advice anyway as it sounds the best thing to do.
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No, that's the worst thing to do.

Walk into a golf shop and proclaim that you are a beginner with a budget of £X and you'll find yourself walking out of the shop with every last penny spent on a set of brand-new equipment. You don't need new kit. Especially when it will be budget stuff. As I've already said; cheap clubs are a false economy - you want to buy as good as you can get.

Get yourself a second-hand set of good quality clubs (like the Wilson Fat Shaft's I linked to above) and get yourself some lessons. Assuming you're not a giant or a dwarf you won't need any adjustments made to the clubs and your teaching pro will at least know the equipment you are using is made from quality materials and won't be hampering your progress in any way.

Then once you've got to the stage where you simply cannot cut your handicap any more, it might be time to buy new.

Both sets of my irons have been second-hand, as have two of my drivers and my rescue, and the only kit I've bought from new has been my putter and shoes, bag, etc. Let someone else take the hit of depreciation on a new set and then buy top-quality gear at value-quality prices.

Wilson Fat Shaft's @ £93

Wilson Fat Shaft II's @ £129

Wilson Fat Shaft Deep Red @ £119

Wilson Deep Red II Distance @ £135

Or if you absolutely, positively have to buy new...

Wilson Deep Red III's @ £149
 
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I have the Wilson Deep Red's. They are fantastic. Effortless when hitting. Great Softie grips, the fatshaft definitely helps to keep the ball straight.

Out of all mentioned in the last post I'd recommend these.

I know someone that's still playing the original fatshaft irons.

Wilson do make quality clubs, simple as that.
 
Had a brief scan through the other replies in this thread, but I'm really tired so didn't read them properly, so apologise if what I say is just a repeat!

Basically, if you are just starting out then first ask yourself how much you actually enjoy the game. This may seem weird, but if you are already hooked, then you'll want to get yourself something that’s going to help you improve as fast as possible, that’s as close to your budget as possible.

I've been playing for about 4 years now, and can only wish that I'd started out with clubs that would have helped me learn the game faster back then.

I did notice that a couple of people mentioned lessons; this is a must, even if it’s just one or two. The last thing you need to do is go out, spend £200 on a set of clubs in a regular shaft only to be told that your swing speed is too fast for reg's. This happens to a lot of beginners I have played with, they have developed relatively fast swing speeds, that aren't out of control, and been playing with clubs that aren't suited to them. So get that bit assessed, then go out and find yourself a set of Callaway X-14's.

The Callaway's are fairly old now by standard, but still widely regarded as some of the best clubs around, be it for golfers of pretty much any standard. (I had them at a HC of 22 down to a 9, and only changed them to get something a little more modern)

They are easy to hit, have a nice chunky head so you can learn consistency and are really forgiving. Remember that as a beginner or higher handicapper you’re going to improve fast, so you'll need some equipment that is going to keep up with you rather than changing clubs twice a year!!

So, get yourself a set of Callaway X-14's, in my opinion best clubs to start off and improve with, once you get down to a 15 or lower change to Mizuno MP60's - these are fricking AWESOME (I have a set now) and you can shape shots either way with such a wonderful feeling of consistency.
Graphite Driver and 3w, can't recommend Ram enough for the higher handicap or even lower handicap players who are on a budget as they are an absolute steal! Also highly recommend a hybrid 3 / 4 or even 5 iron as they will allow you to munch your lower irons easily :)
Get some lessons!
You'll soon be banging it around in the 70's :)
 
Dale said:
You'll soon be banging it around in the 70's :)
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Woohoo! Shot my first sub 80 today! Hit a 79 on our local 9 hole course after going round twice, grinning from ear to ear. Played a long 18 holer this morning and hit 92 in a competition, then went out this afternoon with some mates on our local course and just seemed to fly around, only down side was i didn't hit a single birdie (i never have!) didnt try to attack to many greens just tried to manage the course in a different way than i would usually (i.e. this time i didn't try to be tiger woods and attack the pin at every opportunity, flying wedges at the pin trying to get back spin etc, and only used my driver on one very long par5 the rest i went at with 3 wood and utility clubs!).

Not bad since i have only been playing since march this year. As said throughout this thread, lesson will pay massive dividends, i'm booked in again for 1 a week for the next 2 months, every little helps ( i have had a total of 12 lessons now, 8 in the first 8 weeks of playing then 1 every couple of weeks or so).
 
Going the driving range tonight just have an hours play with my mates clubs, last time was good so I can't wait :)

One question though, what clubs are meant to hit what distance on average for a beginner?

The other day when I went I was hitting the ball further with a 5 iron over a 3 wood and driver, don't get much height with the driver at all, but I know lessons should help that sometime in the next few weeks :)
 
Hard to say what club will hit how far. Normally irons you will be looking at about 10-15 yards between irons. I work on hitting a 7 iron about 160 yrds and +/- 10 yards up down the irons. Remember it shouldn't be a mcho thing, some people hit a 7 iron 130, some 180+, learn how far you hit each club over time and work on that.


Woods can take some practice, if you catch them right they will fly, if you scuff them then they don't go anywhere. Practice, and with a wood just remember to sweep the ball rather than hitting it like with an iron.
 
tsinc80697 said:
One question though, what clubs are meant to hit what distance on average for a beginner?
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There's no easy answer to that, as Richard has pointed out. Until your swing is as regular as clockwork you won't be able to judge distances. Erratic swings lead to erratic shots and you'll find yardages will vary wildly as a result.

Forget about spanking the ball as far as you possibly can and concentrate on hitting it in a straight line. Once you've got that licked you'll find your yardages are starting to become more consistent and you can begin to work out what clubs do what.

If you're starting lessons in the next few weeks, don't hit any more balls until you do. You don't want to get your body too used to your current swing when the chances are your pro will want to change it. Save your pennies and spend them once you've had your first couple of lessons.
 
Fair enough! I might get some lessons this upcoming week then, enjoying the driving range this past week.

i can hit the ball nearly dead straight with a 5 iron and 3 wood, not too consistent with the driver, but the wood is near dead center everytime, must be doing something right atleast! :)

Are there any specific things I should be getting taught/told in my first 30min lesson, don't want to pay good money and feel I haven't asked the right things!
 
It all varies, but most pros will follow the same set routine for a first-timer.

1. Introduction.

You'll have a quick chat about what you want out of your lessons and dicuss how long you've been playing, what your standard is, what problems you encounter, etc.

2. He'll watch you hit a few balls.

This will allow him to see your natural swing and give him an idea of what changes he'll need to make. The most important thing here is not to try and impress the guy - make sure you're hitting the ball exactly as you would when you're on the range with your mates. Whatever you are doing it will be 'wrong' so swing easily and naturally and this will help your pro to teach you.

He may choose to video your swing from behind and the side - this will be used to compare you to other golfer's (usually pros) and give you some indication of your faults and also your progress over the months.

3. You'll watch him hit a few balls.

Your pro will usually hit a few with the same club you were using and ask you to point out what's different. You might not really see much difference, but this is where the video will come in - if they do this. even if they don't you'll be able to compare your swings and hopefully be able to see just how different they are and where you are going wrong.

4. Check the basics.

He should now work on a few basics with you: namely your grip, stance, address and alignment. Grip is often the first as you can't even hope to proceed if this is wrong. Whatever he points out, make sure you take note. It's easier if you can get yourself into a set routine (place club in non-dominant hand, wrap fingers round, place thumb, etc etc) and keep practising this at home so you get this sorted first. Ask him to show you a routine to follow.

He'll then quickly take you through the other stages, and again it's worth trying to make a mental note of a routine to follow. This will all probably feel completely alien to you at this point but stick with it.

5. Test your swing.

He'll probably now ask you to make a few test swings (without hitting a ball) to see how you get on. Again, this will feel really weird compared to what you are used to, but follow his advice and stick with it.

6. Hit some balls.

You'll now be invited to hit some balls with your improvements in place. You might get lucky and start nipping them away with ease, but most likely you'll start to fat, thin, top and shank them away. It's extremely tricky to pick a new swing up instantly, but the pro should be helping you at every stage during this step and after a few balls you'll be picking it up slowly. Don't worry about distance here - you'll solely be concentrating on bringing the club through in the right plane.

That's a rough 30-minute session from memory, but yours may vary slightly. What your pro should be doing is showing you a few basics pointers to improve your current swing and sending you away with enough knowledge to be able to practice them. Make sure you are comfortable with your new found skills and, if possible, ask your pro to check you out after the lesson has ended. It helps to sit down for a minute or so and then try and go through your routine to check you've picked it up.

Regular practice is key to improving, but it's got to be good practice. No point smacking a bucket of balls down the range any which way as you won't learn. I always try and approach each ball as if I'm on a course:

1. Place the ball on the mat.
2. Walk away from the mat and visualise the shot.
3. Grip the club.
4. Address the ball.
5. Get my stance.
6. Check alignment.
7. Swing (with correct follow-through).
8. Watch ball flight and landing.
9. Walk away from the mat.

I can make a bucket of 50 balls last me over an hour like that and it helps to get into a routine for playing on a course and slows you down so you think about things more. No point in rushing through your bucket and wasting your time.

It's a Bank Holiday weekend, the weather is perfect, my clubs are waiting for me to take them out... and I've damaged a disc at the base of my spine so I can't play golf for the foreseeable future.

*sigh*
 
Thanks a lot glitch, will try and make sure he goes through those things for me :)
Once I get the first lesson booked and finished I'll let you guys know how it went. Shame about your back though :(

good luck getting better! :)
 
glitch said:
I always try and approach each ball as if I'm on a course
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Same here using the same technique you have described. I also try to split up my time at the range into warming up and hitting a few 6 irons to get the swing going. Then practice with a specific club that i want to work on. Lastly i work on going through the clubs as if i am playing a hole. Driver, mid-iron, wedge/chip repeating until i have finished the basket. It always amazes me to see so many people firing off 70 balls with just their driver and not using any other club.

Just starting to work on putting now also, this was a real let down for me since i started, constantly 3 or 4 putting, but am going down to the local golf club and getting on the practice greens at least once a week to try to get some consistency.
 
tsinc80697 said:
Thanks a lot glitch, will try and make sure he goes through those things for me :)
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That's by no means a definitive lesson plan, but I'd find it strange if he (or she, let's not be sexist here) strayed too far from that structure.

tsinc80697 said:
Once I get the first lesson booked and finished I'll let you guys know how it went.
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Will be good to hear how you found the lesson, so please do post your thoughts.

tsinc80697 said:
Shame about your back though :(

good luck getting better! :)
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Thanks for the kind words. Never underestimate the importance of correct posture!

10 years of bad posture has done as much damage as I ever care to do to myself.
 
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