Golf For Beginners – Your First Set Of Golf Clubs

Posted on November 19th, 2009 by admin

So, you’re just starting out in the great game of golf, you KNOW you’re going to be the next (insert favorite player’s name here) and you’re on your way to the pro-shop to get your first set of golf clubs. Before you get there and max out your credit card on the latest gear, here are a few things to think about.

First, remember that when Angus McGhee was batting home-made balls around the Scottish Highlands he did not need a collection of Titleist Vokey wedges and a Nike putter. And you don’t either. Not yet…

Next, be honest with yourself about how often you’ll be playing golf. If you know you’ll only be playing a few times a year at company functions or when your golf-fanatic uncle comes to visit, then a clean, straight set of used clubs is going to be more than good enough for now. If you’ve been playing for a while and you can honestly see yourself out on the course every weekend, then it’s time to do some research and figure out which clubs are really going to help your game.

If you’re unsure of which set to buy, talk to your good-golf-playing friends, the golf instructor at the local course or the staff in the pro-shop and get their feedback. There are a lot of options out there, some wild club designs intended to give you an edge on your opponents and shave down your score. At this point, what matters most is straight shafts and the right club length so you can get the ball to fly in a straight line. Or a fairly straight line…

After you’ve got a few ideas, do some test-driving. You may not get a chance to actually play with a particular set of clubs before you buy it, but at least take some swings to get a feel for each club’s balance, weight and length and how they feel to you. If there’s a driving range near you, spend some time there and ask if they can rent you different drivers and woods while you’re there. This may be the only chance you get to hit anything with a particular club before you buy it, so take advantage of it.

A couple of features that are worth looking at, even as a beginning golfer, are graphite shafts that reduce vibration and ‘perimeter weighted‘ heads. These are considered more forgiving than forged blades if you hit the ball off-center, and both these features will make the clubs easier to live with and help you get more enjoyment from the game.

After you’ve decided what you NEED, check out some discount or used-equipment shops, pro shops or even garage sales or reputable pawn shops. You can probably find a decent set for a few hundred dollars and have some money left for the accessories you’ll need. Like balls and tees. What matters most is that the clubs you choose work for you, even if Tiger wouldn’t use them. And remember to have fun out there!

GET YOUR GOLF GAME OFF TO A GREAT START!

Recommended Reading

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