Official Luthiers Forum!

Hey Everyone,

I am a hacker! But, ready to make the next step to lessons and a decent set of clubs. Not top of the line, but something I could grow into for the next 3-5 years. I would really enjoy hearing your suggestions. New, used? A full set at once, or club by club? What to avoid? A good resource on the web?

Thanks!

Jeff

Jeff,

I was in the same boat a few years ago. When I started looking, my handicap was much higher so I decided to go with some game enhancement clubs. These types of clubs basically maximize the sweet spot on the face of the club helping to hit a more consistant shot every time. The tradeoff was the ability to work the ball as easily. Some people like to put a fade on the ball, some like to draw--I was just hoping to put a little 'straight' on the ball. I went with the Callaway Big Bertha clubs, steel shafts. Some of the other sets I looked at were the Nike Slingshot, TaylorMade R5. They were all good, but the Callaway felt the best to me. I also liked the fact that they included a 10 iron vs. a 3 iron. Don't waste your money on anything lower than a 4-iron. I would get a 4-pw, sw, and a couple utility clubs to go with your driver. You might even want to take a lesson or two before you decide so you have a better idea of what you want.

Good luck!

John

John is right on!

A few other things:
1) Have a pro evaluate your swing speed and general tempo. He can suggest shaft type and kick point which will help you get the ball in the air more effortlessly. Then take a series of lessons and practice, practice, practice!

2) Consider Ebay for used clubs...you can get some great deals from the reputable sellers.

3) Practice your short game...sleep with your wedges and putter. Your scoring will significantly improve if you practice all the shots from 100 yards in.

4) Most of all...have fun. Nobody will ever master this game.

_________________
JJ
Napa, CA
http://www.DonohueGuitars.com

[QUOTE=JJ Donohue] 2) Consider Ebay for used clubs...you can get some great deals from the reputable sellers.

[/QUOTE]

JJ,

I am too ignorant to know a good deal from a bad one on ebay, and I don't want to get ripped off....again. If you should see what looks like a reasonable auction while you are cruising ebay, shoot me a PM or post it here, if that is ok. I would really appreciate the help.

Thanks John and JJ, I am printing these suggestions off, so I don't forget when I go to Golf Galaxy. Looks like I better check on lessons before I get too excited about clubs.

Jeff

Jeff -- As a novice you don't need to blow your brains out on high end golf gear. A good club is one that first physcologically feels good when you look down at the club when setting up. Next the swing weight feels right...

If you are a novice -- a pro evaluating your swing tempo won't be all that meaningful until you've developed a swing and are hitting the ball with some consistency and accuracy. If you take some lessons from a good pro you'll find that your stance, swing shape and tempo will really change from where it is now. What will help is initially being measured up at a golf shop to a club with the right club face lie suited for your height, arm length etc. If the golf shop is well staffed they may be your best source of suggestions as what to purchase. Often big golf stores will still have last years stock on hand at a big savings. EBay might be cheaper but the value added a golf shop provides is advice. If you were in the market for a high end OM - would you purchase one without playing it first?

Shopping for clubs on eBay makes sense once you know what you are looking for. You may get a great deal but not the ideal club. You really need to hit a variety of clubs rather than purchasing them sight unseen. John Watkins posted his nice PING driver -- its a great club that many swear by -- I've tried it and couldn't hit it consistently to save my life whereas I am really happy with my TaylorMade woods. Titliest DCI and TaylorMade irons all very popular clubs -- don't work for me -- PING and some Mizuno irons do.


Hit'em long and straight!

I think JJ has it right. Around 70% of your shots in gold will be from 100 yards of the pin. A lot of shots are lost on or around the green.

It's nice to grip it and rip it, but look at it this way. Say you have a 550 yard par 5. You hit a nice drive 220 yards down the middle. Your second, a towering 180 yard 3 wood, leaves you with 150 yards. You stiff a nice 5-6 iron to a mear 8 inches, nearly holing our for an eagle. You tap in for birdie...

O.K., so this scenario stipulates that you hit all those shots perfectly, but I just wanted to show the fact that even after three relatively short shots, you'd be on the green in regulation. I've seen too many women shoot low scores to dispute this fact. However, we the testosteronelly challenged of the bipedal carbon based life forms have a hard time accepting this concept.

Here's how I would play it. I'd want to reach the green in one shot, possibly being the first to make a hole in one on a par five, so of course I'd lose it way left (a slice for lefty!). I'd then try again, or take a drop from where it went out of bounds, lying three. I'd then top the next shot for an amazing 30-40 yard gain. After a torrent of invective and filled with murderous rage, I would probably proceed to drop-kick the next shot into the ruff... I'd finally reach the green in 8-9 shots, a put or two and there you have it. A nice double digit hole (probably very early on in the round) to really get under your skin and taint the rest of the round...

Can someone remind me why play golf again? Worse still, I'm perverse enough to love it!!!

Hesh, that's an interesting observation about the Pro-V... I've noticed the same phenomenon with the Nike One, or any other uber-xpensive ball for that matter...

I've bought a Callaway ERC-II Fusion last year. Really nice club. I can carry it a good 30 yards further into oblivion that my previous club...

Fore!!! Aft!!! Starboard!!! Port!!! Alain Desforges38904.4875347222

_________________
I'd like to be able to prove, just for once, that money wouldn't make me happy...

Balls!!! I strongly disagree on the need to spend $4.00 per ball. I've used them all and I have settled on the Top Flite ball with the soft cover. I'm able to control it and produce spin on the green with all of my Pro V1 buddies. My ball costs $1.00 and I buy them at Walmart. I see 20+ handicappers using those expensive balls...it's a waste IMHO. I'm a 12 and I have no problem using the lower cost ball.

Lots of guys swear by their ball choice...it's a lot like evaluating the tone of a guitar

Jeff...I'll PM you with some worthwhile used bargains when I run across them.

Hesh...You may be referring to the Odyssey 2-ball putter. Anything that gives you confidence when putting is worth the money. Don't short change an accelerating follow through as well as keeping your head down until the stroke is completed.

_________________
JJ
Napa, CA
http://www.DonohueGuitars.com

JJ on balls we agree. My criteria when I reach into my golf bag is that is round, white and relatively new.

Don't get me wrong I love hitting Pro V's and Callaway balls that I find in the bush or the odd one I sneak out of my wife's bag (don't rat me out). Higher end balls are nice for chipping and putting but off the T aren't going to make a difference in your score.

Alain -- why do we love golf and why we love building guitars amount to the same thing in my book. Obsessive Compulsive Disorder    This is the first year in a long while where I have been playing -- and frankly have really got the bug again. Seven rounds under my belt this year so far -- which door to door equates to 42 to 48 hrs lost shop time.

Guys, thanks so much!

That is why I love this forum, lots of friends with lots of knowledge, some is sure to have the answer to almost any question.

Over the years, I have tried to convince myself that golf is too expensive, too time consuming, too this, or too that, but the truth is I love it, and I want to get better at it. The combination of the game, and the environment it is played in gives me the same "feeling" as when I am at the workbench hacking at a guitar, pure joy for the most part.

Thanks again, and let me know if you have more advice, I am soaking this up!

Jeff

All golf balls love water, unless you are playing the Big Island, then they love lava !!! Nothing like watching a towering drive head left into the lava field, pinball around 4 times and then back out onto the fairway - ALLRIGHTA - until you get up close and see its been attacked by gator ... hilarious game.

_________________
Tony Karol
www.karol-guitars.com
"let my passion .. fulfill yours"

I agree with you on the balls JJ. Too many people play expensive balls that they will not get much benefit from. Sorry Hesh, but I'm with JJ on this. As a matter of fact, in order to hit a Pro-V1 properly, your swing speed needs to be up in the 120+ mph range to get the right compression on the core of the ball to maximize the balls characteristics. I don't think many non-scratch golfers should be swinging that hard. Also, as a beginner, we tend not to try and work the ball (spin) it like the Pro-v was designed for. On the other hand, my favorite ball is the Pinnacle gold from WalMart. I can get 15 balls for about $12.95, and those balls are designed to spin less, as well as offer maximum distance with a slower swing speed. I think as a beginner Jeff, you might want to find a good quality cheaper ball like Top Flight, Pinnacle, or even the cheaper Nike balls. You'll lose plenty but you won't be as mad as losing $36 in balls per round.

And like JJ said, HAVE FUN! If you find you aren't hitting the ball well, go back 20 years and start playing the game at an earlier age.   

Cheers!

John

[QUOTE=JJ Donohue] I'm a 12 and I have no problem using the lower cost ball. [/QUOTE]

Ahh, good, we have it in print. So if I ever make it up your way JJ, I get 8 strokes, right?    My handicap was about a 20 when I was playing regularly. Now it's probably up a little so maybe you should give me about a dozen strokes! There's nothing better than getting a stroke on a par 3 hole!

John

Last summer I started playing with a set of blades They were left to
me. My friends and I only played on a 9 hole par 3. I bought a lot of
used balls and practiced on a soccer field every afternoon. After a month
or so I actually hit pretty well. We lost interest after once classes started
back up, but I was playing par.

I think it lays in practice (which lays in being able to...not everyone has
summmers off). Going out and practicing anything isn't worth much if
you're just going through the motions. Always pay attention to
something. Try to learn something from every session. Sorry, I know this
is obvious advice.          ;           ;