New Club Advice

Hi Guys,

Firstly, Merry Christmas to you all !

I'm after a bit of advice on buying my first decent set of clubs.

To give you an idea, I've played the game off and on for a number of years but never really taken it seriously (never had a handicap) and over the past 10 years it's been a case of 3 or 4 rounds a year with the old man.

I've occassionaly played through work and have more than one occasion been called a "bandit" !!

I've played with a nasty old set for a number of years and this year bought some cheap entry set of clubs for £50 new when I got invited on a corporate day so I didn't embaress myself with my rusty set (last of the big spenders I hear you say!)

I hit the ball pretty well and I guess I'm one of those guys who's always finds he picks up most sports pretty easily and is above average, however I'm now 36 and I can't keep up with the youngsters around the pitch too well these days so I see golf as the way forward!!

About 6 months ago we took out a corporate membership on a local course and I've played a dozen or so times since.The first real scores I've kept were via this forum and when I posted the first 3 scorecards it came back with a handicap of 20.

I'm also hitting off the range a couple of times a week and after the last 5/6 rounds the the handicap says it's down to 12.9 !

Now I'm pretty sure this is mostly due to the short course I play (SSS of 64), but I'm hitting the ball pretty sweet and reckon I can really crack on in the New Year and get down to a single handicap figure.

So anyway.................I've been looking at the Di9's that are on sale on American Golf. Anyone have any opions on these ??

I'm not really sure what makes a mid/high handicapper and whether these clubs will suit ?

Sorry for babbling but I thought it might help if I tried to put you in the picture as to where my game is at !

Cheers

Paul

Paul,

The Di9's are decent enough clubs and you could do far worse.  Before you buy though, I recommend you do two things: -

When you try the clubs out, try to hit them down an open range of you can so you can see the ball flight and dispersion

As for handicap 'ranges', as a very rough rule of thumb, high handicappers are considered to be 20+, mid handicappers in the teens, low handicappers 6 to 12 and very low 5 and under.  Others may have their own view on this mind.  This is pretty irrelevant though as Titleist AP2 are aimed at mid-handicappers but used by some pros. 

Hard as it is, try to ignore the name on the back of the head, the sales hype, any brand snobbery you may have (I have a friend who won't use Callaway as he says they are "old man's clubs" for example) and definitely anything anyone else says.  You have to get what is right for you and suits your game.  And you know what, you may already have them. 

Just my thoughts.  Hope they help

Lots of sense there chris. Paul as a matter of interest, what £50 set of irons got you down to 12.8 hcap.

Dave CAC handed Geordie.

Dave, the clubs have got nothing to do with it.

I have to agree with Chris.

Try as many clubs as you can, ignore the make and model of the club(s).

If you can, find somewhere with a proper driving range, not a computer in a bay.  This way you will be able to watch the ball flight.  Ignore any poor shots, concentrate on the four or five good shots you make.

It would be much better if you could try the clubs without having a sales person watching you, some places will let you do this, others won't!

Once you are happy with a few irons then get them to come and use the launch monitor.

Again, try and hit three or four good shots with each club, ignore the bad ones.

Go through each club until you find the one that you are really happy with, that's the set you want.

Now you need to go for the custom fit, most places offer this as a free service, so don't pay, go somewhere else if it's not free there.

Custom fitting does work.  When I had my first custom fit set of clubs my game improved immediately.

My old set had a standard lie, but after custom fitting it turned out that my clubs had to be two degrees upright.  With a standard lie and my swing the toe of the club was hitting the ground first, which is why my regular shot shape was a fade.

Once the new clubs arrived I was hitting the ball straight!

The first round with my new clubs I broke my personal best for that course.

The hardest thing will be finding the club you like the most.  The problem is that most of the golf superstores don't carry every club manufacturers equipment.  So go to a couple of them.

What you have to watch out for is the gentle way they try and guide you to a certain set of clubs, this normally means they are getting a better commission for selling those clubs!  Pick the clubs you like regardless of this guidance, once they realise you are not falling for it they will concentrate on what yo want.

Good luck with your search.

Russ

Thanks for the advice Chris.

I live in the arse end of nowhere (Appledore, North Devon) so it's a hell of a trek to one of those fancy golf shops with the facilities which is a bit of a pain, hence nosing around online and seeing the current deal on those Di9's from American Golf.

I did a few months back travel back up home to see the folks (Telford, Shropshire) and went into an American Golf and enquired there. However, the guy picked a few clubs out for me and I hit a few into the net but to be honest I couldn't really tell/feel any difference from the contact.

Like you say Chris, you want to see how the ball flies and just hitting into the net a few feet away didn't really tell me anything !!!

I don't really want to spend a pile of money but at the same time don't want to "outgrow" a set if I do improve as I want too.

Dave - the current set are NorthWestern and to be fair they've done me well, although there's definately no forgiveness in them and if you don't get good contact it rattles my fillings. Plus the grips by around the 15th hurt my hands !

Paul

Thanks Russ . . . In my previous post I didn't notice your comments as it took me an age to post my reply !

Good advice all around . . . thanks gents.

I guess I just need to chill and wait until I can get somewhere with the right facilities.

HAPPY NEW YEAR

Paul,

I know Appledore and yes it is in the arse end of nowhere!  However, I also know Telford.  The best suggestion I can make to you is the next time you are up there head along the M54 east then get on the M6 Toll and get off at The Belfry (there's a junction right next to it). 

They do one of the most comprehensive and independent fitting sessions I have experienced.  You hit down an open range with a launch monitor and you can try as many different clubs and shaft combinations as you care for.  They get you to hit a few shots with your own clubs first to see your swing and ball striking and give you appropriate clubs to try.  As the person doing the fitting will also be a teaching pro and not a salesman on commision, they will give you the best clubs for you.  They charge £50 for a 90 minute 1:1 session but that £50 is knocked off the price if you buy your clubs from them.  Despite what you may think, the price difference between The Belfry and somewhere like American Golf is next to nothing and my driver (a Titleist 910 D2)was actually cheaper from them.  They will also deliver your clubs to any UK address if requested at ordering, although you will need to book in advance as it gets busy. 

The only advice I will give on actual club selection is do not go for a club with too much of a cavity back.  To get down into single figures you will need to be able to manipulate the ball.  A club with a large cavity back is designed to straighten the ball flight so will  prevent you doing this.  Irons aimed at a higher handicap playyer have this large cavity, those aimed at a low handicap player have little or none.  If you want to get down to low single figures, you need a less forgiving club. 

Can't stress enough how correct chris is, custom fitting was a massive help in me dropping my handicap. My advice with putter is to get a jumbo grip, although its a personal thing i find my hands are part of the grip with the jumbo and have improved my consistency a lot.