Recommend me some golf clubs

[Pliablemoose]

I wanna learn how to golf. Will be playing with doctors & shit & don't want to look like a fool with cheap ass clubs, used is fine.

I need a set of clubs, what do you all suggest?

 

[HopJokey]

Wilson Staff di5 3-PW:

Looks good, performs well (especially for new guys/ hi-cap'ers), good price used on ebay (although supplies are dwindling).

 

[Jhill]

Just remember the more money they cost the longer and straighter you will hit them.

 

[laurenlex]

Playing like sh!t with expensive clubs is the way to look like a fool.

Anything will work at first. Go to Costco and get an entire set with bag for $250. Then, when you get better you can spend big bucks on clubs.

Lessons > equipment.

 

[Papagayo]

Price range would be nice.
If you want to look cool, you need to get or find prototypes. Most Pros use prototypes of all brands.

If you own expensive clubs and you suck at golf, then people will look down at you and make fun of you. You want to be descent at golf, make sure to practice and take lessons. Name brand doesn't do you any good, if you suck at it. You want to score around 90s to be ok (on 18 holes, not 9 holes). If you do that. people will not mind playing with you.

 

[bGIveNs33]

I have always found that Pings hit well. Make sure whatever you get, it is a cavity back. I play with the Ping I2 oversized which I bought for 300 dollars used at a local golf store. I love them. But truth be told I would go to a local golf store and hit a few clubs and see what you like the best. I'm not a big fan of buying the cheapest set of clubs you can find, but I wouldn't go buy a brand new 1500 dollar set either.

 

[xeno2060]

Try these!

 

[Chryso]

Originally posted by: laurenlex
Playing like sh!t with expensive clubs is the way to look like a fool.

Anything will work at first. Go to Costco and get an entire set with bag for $250. Then, when you get better you can spend big bucks on clubs.

Lessons > equipment.

Absolutely. Besides, having crappy clubs gives you something to blame for why you suck.

 

[Uppsala9496]

I prefer Mizuno's.

Custom fit of course. You really can't go wrong with any big brand provided they are fit for your swing (length, grip size, lie angle, shaft stiffness, etc.).

Hit one of the large golf shops near you for a free fitting and then go from there.

 

[davestar]

Callaway has a preowned store on ebay with good prices and shipping rates. pick up an X-12 or X-14 set of irons and a 2 year old driver (they lose value faster than cars, so you can grab a great driver for ~$75).

Callaway also has greaet customer service. I wanted my irons adjusted and not only did they do that for free, but they cleaned and buffed my clubs as well.

 

[Papagayo]

You want the best, look here also..

Tourspec

They sell the latest and the greatest. Most of the new models are released in Japan before they are released in US.

Most of the high end clubs are made in Japan.

You might impress your doctor friends with these, just don't play with them if you suck at it.

 

[GagHalfrunt]

Originally posted by: Papagayo
You want the best, look here also..

Tourspec

They sell the latest and the greatest. Most of the new models are released in Japan before they are released in US.

Most of the high end clubs are made in Japan.

You might impress your doctor friends with these, just don't play with them if you suck at it.

Wow, so much ignorance in such a short post. Well done.

Tour models ARE NOT released in Japan first. Prototypes of new gear go directly to the tour staff of the manufacturer for testing and feedback. The stuff that's good enough to make it to retail comes to the US first.

Most clubs are made in China, period. That includes the ones played by the vast majority of tour pros. A small number of clubs are made in Japan including companies like Honma and Miura. They have almost no tour presence.

The Japanese club market is a major scam. It's generally 2nd-rate gear sold at insanely jacked-up prices to complete morons who think that $$$ = quality. A good rule of thumb is that if a club or ball comes from the Japan market STAY AWAY.

 

[Papagayo]

Originally posted by: GagHalfrunt

Originally posted by: Papagayo
You want the best, look here also..

Tourspec

They sell the latest and the greatest. Most of the new models are released in Japan before they are released in US.

Most of the high end clubs are made in Japan.

You might impress your doctor friends with these, just don't play with them if you suck at it.

Wow, so much ignorance in such a short post. Well done.

Tour models ARE NOT released in Japan first. Prototypes of new gear go directly to the tour staff of the manufacturer for testing and feedback. The stuff that's good enough to make it to retail comes to the US first.

Most clubs are made in China, period. That includes the ones played by the vast majority of tour pros. A small number of clubs are made in Japan including companies like Honma and Miura. They have almost no tour presence.

The Japanese club market is a major scam. It's generally 2nd-rate gear sold at insanely jacked-up prices to complete morons who think that $$$ = quality. A good rule of thumb is that if a club or ball comes from the Japan market STAY AWAY.

I didn't say that prototypes are released in Japan. I'm saying most of the time, the new models are released in Japan first. I'll give you an example.. Taylormade Burner irons.. They were release lot earlier in Japan then in US. R7 forged irons are not available in US, only in Japan (will be available in US in 2008).


Most of the high end forged clubs for Callaway, Taylormade, and etc.. are made in Japan.
Honma, Miura, and Endo make clubs for other companies. Last I heard, Tiger Woods club is Miura forged nike clubs.

Scratch clubs are forged in Hemiji, Japan.


I do agree that "Made in China" is very bad.. but "Made in Japan" is good in golf.. Vast majority of tour pros play with clubs that are forged in Japan..

You might want to check out the site..

GolfWRX to see the latest models, designs, and prototypes that pros are using.


Here is a link where, they talk about forging..

http://www.golfwrx.com/forums/...x.php?showtopic=120809

 

[GagHalfrunt]

Wow, you've clearly been sold a pack of lies and have believed them, so you're beyond help. In the interest of hopefully educating some of the people who can still be saved:

1) With the exception of a few small boutique companies who contract with foundries in Japan the VAST majority of golf clubs are made in China. That includes high-end OEM makers like Titleist, Taylormade, Callaway and Mizuno, components like Wishon, SMT, GolfSmith and cheapo knockoffs and clones.

2) The stuff the tour staff players use is virtually identical to the stuff that's on the rack in a pro shop. It's made from the same materials from the same foundries IN CHINA and built to the same weight specs. The only difference is that the stuff for the tour guys is hand-picked to exact specs on weight, loft, lie angle, face angle, etc and assembled by professionals to very exacting standards. The stuff that winds up on a rack in a shop is the stuff that's maybe off spec and it's assembled by staff that are essentially trained monkeys and just glue parts together with little eye towards fit or quality control.

3) Titleist farmed out Tiger's club work to Miura when he was under contract there. Both Tiger and Nike emphatically deny that Miura has anything to do with his current clubs.

4) Taylormade and Callaway make nothing is Japan. NOTHING!! Their top of the line sets are made in exactly the same Chinese foundries as their cheapo set and those same foundries do work for the cloners and knock-offs too.

5) There are clubs like Honma and Miura that are made in Japan. They are VERY expensive boutique sets that are sold in Japan to the wealthy as status symbols. They have a little presence on the Asian tours and almost none on the American tours. Their volume is too low to be able to afford the giant endorsement contracts that top PGA players demand and receive. Scratch Golf wedges are indeed made in Japan. They fall under the same heading as Miura and Honma. They're a boutique brand with little market penetration, almost no PGA Tour presence and insane pricing. That fools some people who are easily fooled. Nobody on earth has yet been able to show scientific evidence of why Japanese clubs are better than those made anywhere else.

6) Even brands that are assumed to be Japanese like Bridgestone and Mizuno are made in China by the same foundries that do work for TM, Titleist, Callaway and everyone else.

 

[spidey07]

Resurrecting the thread because I'm hitting a trial club from my fitter and it's the best thing I've ever hit. Don't know why I waited so long to do it.

Read some of Tom Wishon's books. They're a real eye opener and very welcome to the game. It's more commons sense than anything else.

http://www.twgolftech.com/search_book.php

 

[coldmeat]

Originally posted by: xeno2060
Try these!

I have these. I really like them so far. I got them last summer but I sprained my ankle so I only got a chance to play with them 3 or 4 times. I especially like how they feel when you hit the ball.

 

[GagHalfrunt]

Originally posted by: spidey07
Resurrecting the thread because I'm hitting a trial club from my fitter and it's the best thing I've ever hit. Don't know why I waited so long to do it.

Read some of Tom Wishon's books. They're a real eye opener and very welcome to the game. It's more commons sense than anything else.

http://www.twgolftech.com/search_book.php

Tom's the man, one of the most knowledgeable club makers in the game. I've been playing Wishon irons for years now.

 

[BCYL]

I have the Callaway Big Bertha set of irons... they're great... huge sweet spot so it's very forgiving even if you make a mistake...

 

[Scarpozzi]

I bought a set of Adams Tight Lies GTs a few years ago. They were really good for the money and feel really good on the course.

If you plan on investing in clubs expensive clubs, you should not only research, but see if you can find a friend that will let you test them out on a driving range. Don't feel like your irons and your woods should have to match either....most of my friends mix and match.

 

[mshan]

I would say go to a reputable golf shop or golf retailer and ask them what game improvement clubs they have for beginners.

They may not be the really fancy brands that advertise all over tv, but they should be designed to get the ball into the air and be very forgiving of slices and hooks.

 

[usold]

http://online.wsj.com/article/...main_reviews_days_only

GOLF JOURNAL


The Gear Guy Speaks
Ex-USGA Expert Frank Thomas Says
Golfers Pay Too Much for Too Little
March 29, 2008; Page W9

THE FRANK THOMAS BUYER'S GUIDE

The guru's tips on how to shop for golf equipment
DRIVER
The modern, big-headed drivers (400cc in volume and up) are definitely worth owning, for their forgiveness and the distance-adding, spring-like effect of the club faces.
Many golfers play with too little clubface loft to achieve maximum distance. For most, 12 to 13 degrees is right; those with slower swing speeds may want up to 15 degrees. Only players with 90-mile-per-hour or faster swing speeds should go with less than 12 degrees loft. (Note: Get the pro shop to measure the actual loft. It sometimes differs from the stated loft.)
The 45-inch-plus standard shaft length for drivers these days is too long. Insist on 44 inches. You may lose a little distance on that rare perfect swing, but you will hit the ball farther more often by making solid contact more often with the shorter shaft.
Favor more-flexible shafts. Regular flex is perfect for most players who swing faster than 80 mph. Stiff is right for faster swingers, but very few golfers need extra stiff.
Go with graphite shafts, but don't splurge on expensive models with special kick points and so forth unless you regularly shoot in the mid-70s or better. You won't notice the difference.
IRONS
Most irons these days are superb. The key decision is how much shot-shaping ability to trade for more forgiveness and added shot height.
Standard shaft lengths are fine for most men between 5-feet-4 inches and 6-feet-4 inches tall. Different arm lengths compensate for different heights.
Shaft flex and lie angle are very important, however. Get tested hitting balls off a lie board to see whether you need the angle between the shaft and the clubhead bent a few degrees.
Further "custom fitting" is unnecessary for average players.
HYBRIDS
Every golfer should have at least one, probably two, replacing long irons and/or a fairway wood.
WEDGES
You need a gap wedge with a loft between the sand wedge (typically 56 degrees or so) and the modern pitching wedge (often 46 degrees).
If you want a lob wedge (of 60 degrees or higher), be prepared to practice with it a lot.
PUTTER
Mr. Thomas prefers mallets, for their extra forgiveness compared with bladelike putters.
BALLS
Premium balls costing $50 a dozen are fine for everyone, but only low handicappers will actually benefit (except possibly psychologically).
Soft-core balls with harder covers, costing half as much, fly just as far as premium balls and are well-suited for most players.
-- John Paul Newport

 

[JoeFrizzle]

If you want a driver that will give the best first impression to others, get either a Callaway or a Taylormade.

However, if you are going for the best club for YOU as well as the best club to impress others, there are plenty of other top name brands (Cleveland, Ping, etc.). Your best option is to go to a golf shop, take all of the leading brand drivers to the practice mat, and try them.

Also, I know this isn't the answer you were looking for, but many of my friends have cheaper less popular brand drivers/irons that shoot just as well as my $350 Cleveland driver and Callaway irons. The main reason the top brands cost the most, is because people think they are better clubs, but this is not always the case.

 

[meltdown75]

mmmmm.......... golf

 

[Random Variable]

My clubs (excluding my driver) are five years old. And despite the fact that I golf about 50 times per year, I don't have much desire to get new clubs this year. People who think that you need to buy new clubs every other year are fools.

 

[axelfox]

Originally posted by: Random Variable
My clubs (excluding my driver) are five years old. And despite the fact that I golf about 50 times per year, I don't have much desire to get new clubs this year. People who think that you need to buy new clubs every other year are fools.

I play 10 year old Titleist DCI OS, 8 year old Callaway Hawkeye and Steelhead woods. My friend makes fun of me but is scared when I crush my three wood past his driver.