Can I get bit of advice.

The_Kew_Tour

Hey, when I was playing Golf for past few years(about 10 rounds per year) my brother would lend me his clubs. They were his first set and the make was RAM about 230e for whole set bag, putter included.

Was hitting them very well. Like, for guy playing 10 times year I be least getting close to green and hitting few greens. Be playing well with them basically rarely duffing, shanking etc.

My Brother got new set of Wilsons and when I played with them couple rounds I could barely get ball off ground. (like v really bad, bar odd v good shot)

My Brother told me new set were for Mid to low Handicappers (Bro off 7 now)

So as im noob on Equipment is there any things I should bear in mind when buying clubs for casual Golfer? I know certain clubs are more forgiving etc but could do with some advice.

Brother sold old set sadly:(

hades

Try and hit the clubs if possible, most stores will give you that chance. I started with a set of "fake" callaway x20 irons and had a few lessons with those. With a bit of advice from the pro, i picked up a set of TaylorMade Burner 2.0's, a really forgiving club and i feel in love with the game. I have since moved onto the R11 irons, but i will always have fond memories of the Burners.

I think there's a good few around here who use them still. You should be able to pick up a set pretty cheaply on adverts.ie or donedeal as they've been out a few years.

Golfnut77

When I started playing nearly 20 years ago I started with Ben Hogan blade irons, tiny heads on them and zero forgiveness but I think it has made me a better ball striker as the equipment has gotten better down the years, these days though there's great starter sets RAM and Skymax would be popular among beginners as well as Spalding or maybe Ben Sayers, I'd say if you went through eBay or Adverts you'd find the same RAM set that your brother had.

Best to look for bigger headed irons and light shafts.

sky88

in a similar situation to yourself a few months ago i had always used my dads wilson set but knew it was time for me to get my own as we could never go together.

I looked around for a good few months before making a decision as theirs so many options but i went with a wilson set again that was as close to my dads set as possible. I found it a struggle to hit them as good as i hit my dads for the first few weeks but a few nights on driving range helped a lot.

id say definitely go to a few different shops and have a hit as im sure most would let you if you explain it

The_Kew_Tour

Cheers for feedback.

cormacjones

The_Kew_Tour wrote: »

Hey, when I was playing Golf for past few years(about 10 rounds per year) my brother would lend me his clubs. They were his first set and the make was RAM about 230e for whole set bag, putter included.

Was hitting them very well. Like, for guy playing 10 times year I be least getting close to green and hitting few greens. Be playing well with them basically rarely duffing, shanking etc.

My Brother got new set of Wilsons and when I played with them couple rounds I could barely get ball off ground. (like v really bad, bar odd v good shot)

My Brother told me new set were for Mid to low Handicappers (Bro off 7 now)

So as im noob on Equipment is there any things I should bear in mind when buying clubs for casual Golfer? I know certain clubs are more forgiving etc but could do with some advice.

Brother sold old set sadly:(

I'd definitely go second hand. Go to adverts or done deal.

A set of Ping G5/10, Mizuno 20/23/25, Callaway 16/18/20 would all be a great set. You could pick them up for €100-160.

A decent old ping putter €40

Old callaway/ping/taylormade woods. A driver with 10-11 degrees, 3w and a hybrid would be a good call. Most beginners would use a regular shaft, unless you have a fast swing.

You'd probably get better & longer use out of them than going for a starter set like the RAM.

....all IMO obviously.

TheDoc

Have a nosey around adverts and ebay, you'll pickup a bargain on one or the other. I still get PM's from the lad I sold my Mizunos too a few years ago for €100, near perfect nick.

A lot will be down to what you want to spend, so fix yourself a budget, or you could easily keep justifying that extra spend. I'm not a snob or anything, but I tend to not recommend the sort of irons you can pickup in Champion sports if you get my drift. They are normally RAM, Dunlop or Wilson. The problem I have with them is the shaft. They are typically overly whippy regular shafts, and promote obscure ball flights, or force players to one down their swing speed etc., which isn't getting your max potential.

A good look through adverts or ebay, and have a look for a good oversized club.

http://www.adverts.ie/irons/taylor-made-burner-2-0-irons-for-sale/6241047

There is a set of Taylor Made Burner 2.0's for €200. I use them myself off 8, but they are very much an improvement iron. I just can't break myself from them, they are so lovely to hit.
I paid €599 for them new about two year ago.

That would be a far superior €200 spent then on RAM, Dunlop etc.


Also in terms of shaft, the "norm" for irons is regular flex. So don't be fooled thinking it's like a driver reg flex and it's more whippy. I use a stiff in my driver, but reg in my irons.

The_Kew_Tour

Cheers lads for advice

Are "Game Improvement " Irons for High Handicap players ya?

Just one last question what do I look out for in these irons or how know they are game improvement irons?

Thanks in advance

TheDoc

eah so game improvement irons typically have oversized heads and try to compensate for off centre or poor strikes, by sending out a good flight. They arn't "strictly" for high handicappers, you can argue my irons are game improvers and I play of 8.

Basically you want to avoid blades, semi blades and whatever new fancy name they have for them (muscleback?) The larger head gives you more forgiveness, but more confidence to strike a good iron.

You can take an iron like that at a high handicapp, and as your improving stick with it and keep improving. Modern irons have a lot of flexability. Older days when you got a certain level you'd swop to smaller heads, so oyu could shape the ball better and get better strikes. IMO oversized heads can do just as much the same.

I'd say you want to avoid game improving irons strictly marketed at the high handicap market ( or elderly market) So avoid graphite shafts in irons. Avoid heads that nearly look like woods.

I might be totally off with my lingo in fairness, but to me there are blades, semi blades and oversized(game improvement).

TheDoc

So here is something I'd probably advise avoiding.

Blade style club, small head. You need to be striking the ball consistently and well to get benefit from these, otherwise you get wonky shots with **** all distance



Here is an example of what you might be after. Same make, same model, but in the oversized category. Notice the more pronounced back of the head. The head is also bigger. This compensates for guys who might not always hit the perfect strike.

The_Kew_Tour

TheDoc you are legend, cheers.

It was mentioned in earlier post about getting used to irons etc.

It was a good point, but because I don't get out that much maybe 10-15 times a year in green fees I don't have time to really practise bar indoor putting and odd trip to practise range.

Because of that I like to go around in have decent score rather then just duff my way and have no fun.

I am looking to get more time though next year though.

Again thanks for advice I think I know what I'm looking for now.

TheDoc

Some driving ranges house some second hand clubs in good nick, and can even throw in some fitting. I got a set of Mizuno musclebacks years ago in a driving range, think it was somewhere in Lucan? Paid a bargain price at the time.

Oddly enough I spent like an hour hitting them, felt great, then my game went to the dogs as I couldn't use them effectively. So important to make sure your 100% happy with what you are buying, and more importantly have tested them out

dan_ep82

The Golf Studio in Celbridge sells second hand irons and you can try them on the range before you buy them.