Need help buying first set of clubs

[CoffeeJunkie]

I need some help from the expierenced golf guys on this site regarding a new set of clubs. I don't golf much but would like to change that. I've been using a set of hand me down clubs that I share with my father and figured it's time I get my own set. In the past I've played maybe 1 or 2 times each year and sucked horribly each time out. I need to practice on my swing and the basics so keeping that in mind I don't want to go and buy a top of the line set that might see little use if I get frustrated. On the other hand I don't like buying things twice so I'm a little hesitant about picking up a cheap starter set that I may outgrow or be unhappy with in a year or so.

Should I spend $4-500 on a full beginner set? How would the quality be in that price range? Would that be something I would be happy with for a few years before upgrading to nicer clubs?

Or would I be better suited to use that money and build a set by buying a set of irons, a few hybrids, and a driver or two?

I wouldn't be opposed to buying used on some of the components but I know very little about golf clubs and what to look for.

I know this post is a bit vague but I think it's a decent starter post to getting some recommendations.

 

[brucered]

unless you buy a set from Costco where you can try with no worreis about returning, I wouldn't buy a full set of clubs. (actually, Costco.com has a couple full sets for $550 or so, that may suit your needs)

check out some of your local "golf" stores, not big box and see what they have. often they clear out last years models for dirt cheap, you just have to find out when they do and then swoop in.

used is a great way to go and often you will get clubs for 1/4 the price of retail. i'd still go thru a gold shop, as you will be able to test them and they will be able to analyze your swing and see what type of stiffness and offset you need. you will even be able to take them out to a driving range, on grass and see how they perform. i've had many sets of used clubs in the past and wouldn't hesitate to buy a set again.

don't worry about graphite shafts or anything fancy, get a set that feels right and learn to use them. i've had graphite shafts and steel shafts and my current set of Hogan BH-5 are steel shafted and the best clubs I have ever swung and the set of irons set me back about $250 new.

mine were from Golftown in Canada (Golfsmith in the USA), narrow it down by IRONS, MEN, HAND, PRICE etc GOLFSMITH

 

[CB1]

As Bruce said, absolutely go used. If there is is Gilfsmith around you can go hit balls all afternoon into the net and see what feels nice. Maybe take a buddy that's a golfer to help out.
Club fitting is hit or miss. I've done it several times with varying success. The last time was a three hour session a couple years ago that resulted in the purchase of a four hundred dollar driver I struggled with for a year before cutting my losses and going back to my old faithful.
There are so many good used clubs out on the racks.
When your starting out the keyword you're looking for is forgiving! Some cavity back irons, a couple hybrids, a three wood and I driver. Start out hitting three wood off the tees.
Enjoy! When the golf bug hits..........

 

[inspiringK]

The impulse is certainly to spend money on a whole new set at once, but often the sets are of lower quality and not really personalized to your preferences. I am a much bigger fan of piecing together a set one bit at a time, perhaps over the course of a few years as you learn what you want in the clubs.

Maybe start out with a used set that you can get cheap somewhere. Then add what you want most to replace, maybe a putter, a certain wedge loft or set of wedges, a driver, a wood, a hybrid, or a whole set of irons. As you piece together the set you will have greater appreciation for each item and will have purpose bought each club to fill a need that you thought you have. No need to blow a lot of money right out of the gate and end up with something you don't feel suits your needs.

My personal advice is to spend money on the longer clubs first, and get the shorter clubs wherever they are cheapest. Driver technology improves greatly each year, this is true to a lesser extent for woods and hybrids, then irons, then wedges, then putters. In other words, if you buy a driver on special that was made a year or two ago and then buy an old putter made in 1995 for $5 at a garage sale, you will have a much better set than if you buy a putter made in 2009 and a driver made in 1995. Every year, I play a few rounds with a set of irons that were made in the 80s, I could not do that with a set of woods or a driver from the same era without seriously hampering my play.

You mentioned $500. If I had to put together a set today, I would try to spend the money like this.
$200 Driver
$100 a wood (3/4/5)
$100 a 4 hybrid
$60 used set that comes with a bag, irons, and a putter (the other clubs may be salvageable).
$40 a 52*/56* wedge

Naturally, spending $100 on a putter and not buying any woods etc etc are options too depending on what your preferences are.

don't worry about graphite shafts or anything fancy, get a set that feels right and learn to use them. i've had graphite shafts and steel shafts and my current set of Hogan BH-5 are steel shafted and the best clubs I have ever swung and the set of irons set me back about $250 new.

One of my iron sets is a set of BH-5s. I really like those irons too

 

[brucered]

^ great advise.

One of my iron sets is a set of BH-5s. I really like those irons too

They really are a great set of midsized irons, very forgiving and accurate for me.

I also have a set of Staff Fluid Feel blade irons, that I just can't part with.

 

[John Von Wuggz]

If you're just starting the game worry more about correct fit than top end technology or brand name. If they fit you correctly you'll be fine.

It's like when my friends were new to motorcycles and would argue about which model was fastest out of corners, from a standstill, or in a straight away. The salesman looked at them dumbfounded. He told them just buy whatever fits the right way since, as noobs, they were years and years away from pushing the bikes hard enough for any of that to matter.

 

[inspiringK]

I also have a set of Staff Fluid Feel blade irons, that I just can't part with.

View attachment 339203

Those look great. The old blades that tour players used decades ago really feel good on the good shots.

 

[strop]

Buy used, and then spend the extra on professional instruction. You can practice, hitting balls until your hands bleed, but if you are practicing the wrong thing, it will be harder to unlearn it later.

Several years ago I was in a golf store replacing a set of clubs that were stolen off of a bag drop as my son was waiting to be picked up. I saw what appeared to be new clubs that were marked down as used. When I asked about them, the owner laughed, and told me the story. A certain gentleman had purchased 5 sets of irons and 4 sets of woods (this was about 16 years ago) that summer. Whenever he lost (and he was playing for several hundred dollars!) he immediately came in a purchased whatever brand of club the opponent used to beat him. The guy tried to get him fixed up with lessons, but he would have none of that.