how much does the right equipment add to your game

seamie78

I started playing golf last October, really enjoying it just got my first handicap 25.5. have a beginners golf set Wilson and currently use cheap Dunlop balls.

Plan to start upgrading over the summer/autumn but not sure where to start, do I buy a fancy driver or a nice set of irons.

How much does having the right clubs add to your game?

It can mean a lot if you're comfortable and confident with the clubs, or if you're not comfortable and confident with the clubs. This has nothing really to do with how new and shiny and expensive the clubs are. Personal anecdote, I totally lost faith in my 3-wood about two years ago and simply stopped hitting it. This basically meant I ended up with nothing in the bag between a driver and 4-iron which obviously had a big knock-on effect on my game.

As a beginner I wouldn't spend huge money on anything really. Try before you buy anyway, go to a range that has demo clubs and make sure you're happy before committing to anything.

For balls I can recommend the Srixon AD333, it's a great ball for beginners/improvers and is miles cheaper than your ProV1s. Look for second hand sellers online too who sell lake balls etc, buy the highest grade, and they're cheaper again.

Mantis Toboggan

I would suggest buying a GPS unit. I picked up a good one for €100. Helped me much more that any clubs bought.

If the clubs are working for you I'd stick with them for a year or two and spend the money on lessons.

I like Dunlop balls and generally play well with them. Again if they work for you stick with them, buying expensive balls won't make you a better golfer.

First Up

seamie78 wrote:

How much does having the right clubs add to your game?

It varies. If you have the talent/timing/coordination to be a good player (e.g a handicap of about 14 down) then getting fitted for clubs is usually worthwhile. But if are a born hacker, you will hack with anything.

I'd wait to see if you can cut a few shots off the 25.5 and then think about it - maybe if you get to about 20 in a year or so.

d2ww

The answer is not as much as manufacturers would like you to believe. If you are playing off 25, the problem is your swing, not the club in your hand. I would suggest spending the money on lessons first.

seamie78

d2ww wrote: »

The answer is not as much as manufacturers would like you to believe. If you are playing off 25, the problem is your swing, not the club in your hand. I would suggest spending the money on lessons first.

Lessons are very much in the plan, hope to take a few in June, one of the most frustrating things is I already know a few things I am doing wrong such as looking up that split second too early, swinging back too fast. I can get it right for maybe 3 holes in a row for example yesterday played 9 and shot a terrible 60 but my last 3 holes were all bogeys and was putting for par in the 3 of them

WHIP IT!

The short, quick and honest answer is... "never nearly as much as you think..."

martinkop

As a beginner my thought was always "on in 3, down in 2". Play bogey golf

Also set a goal, when handicap gets to 18 or whatever, reward is a new set of irons.

I left it years before getting lessons, what an error and waste of years. Get lessons asap.

seamie78

martinkop wrote: »

As a beginner my thought was always "on in 3, down in 2". Play bogey golf

Also set a goal, when handicap gets to 18 or whatever, reward is a new set of irons.

I left it years before getting lessons, what an error and waste of years. Get lessons asap.

agree with the idea of playing bogey golf might help me focus some more, really like the idea of setting a handicap objective with the tie in reward

Hibrasil

I have known golfers who thought they could "buy" a game - they changed their clubs annually (or every two years at most) and I did not see any evidence of improvement.
Without spending any hard earned cash - game improvement means becoming more accurate with each shot / stroke - e.g. if you can hit an iron 150 yards or so (accurately) - then you will be on most green in three on par 4 holes.
Play "target" golf - make each shot count - at each par 4 ask yourself how can I get on the green in 3 - it doesn't matter about booming a drive down the fairway from the tee - if you are on in 3 you give yourself a very good chance of scoring one over par (bogie) and even a chance of a par.
I know there are hazards on each and every course, greens differ on how balls roll on them (their speed - balls can run away on fast ones where you barely need to touch the ball when putting) - and balls differ also (some hard - others soft).
It is a good idea to have a pro look at you "Setup" - you might sound a few people out as to who is a "good Pro" for lessons and who is "not a good pro" - because there are Pro's who are good for low handicap golfers and have no great interest in working with "hackers" so to speak.
With a good setup - practice - practice - practice - and where it really counts most times is on the green - here you're arms and putter should move like a "pendelum" on a clock.

spacecoyote

seamie78 wrote: »

Lessons are very much in the plan, hope to take a few in June, one of the most frustrating things is I already know a few things I am doing wrong such as looking up that split second too early, swinging back too fast. I can get it right for maybe 3 holes in a row for example yesterday played 9 and shot a terrible 60 but my last 3 holes were all bogeys and was putting for par in the 3 of them

Couple of the things you're mentioning there sound like the kind of advice you usually get from another handicap golfer you're playing with:

"You looked up too early"

"You're swinging too fast"

Chances are they aren't the problem at all. You should really consider, as mentioned previously, lessons. A pro will know within 3 or 4 swings what you need to work on, rather than trying to diagnose a problem.

I wouldn't panic too much about spending a fortune on clubs just yet. Chances are the Wilsons have big forgiving heads on them, so you may not get any real benefit from a change.

As mentioned, bogey golf is a great target. Technically, playing off 26 in a comp, if you shot 18 bogeys you'd have 44 points in a stableford competition. So you don't need to chase birdies & pars. If you have a good chance to make one, you obviously take it, but learning some course management & getting realistic with your expectations will probably serve you better in the long run.

bustercherry

Depending on you skill level it could be nothing or loads.

Lower handicap players have lower margins for improvement so equipment can potentially add value but I'd argue the gains are not a massive as people think. At your handicap you will make quicker gains by improving your swing, short game and course management. If you like the look and feel of something buy away if money is no object. The one caveat being Putters at your level mainly come down to what you like rather than what suits your stroke. So pick something you can easily line up and promotes a more pendulum stroke IMO.

I listen to many people playing off 20+ handicaps talking about equipment and what balls work for them. It's nonsense talk and frankly you feel embarrassed listening to them. Play with what you want and enjoy the game, but don't be one of those guys talking sh1te about equipment

Jawgap

On a general note, I'd say if you've money to spend, spend it on a few lessons and get a pro's advice on your kit, the appropriateness of it and what to change.

I've been guilty of this myself, but I'd say it's better to spend on lessons and half-decent clubs, than spend everything on clubs.....it's amazing the amount of golfers (and again, I'll 'fess up to doing it myself) who'll think nothing of dropping 300 notes and more on a driver.....if it was me, with hindsight, I'd spend about €180 on the driver and get six lessons for the price of five from my preferred pro!

Saying that, it's worth collecting some stats about your game.....maybe a driver is needed, or fairway woods or irons, or maybe you can get your biggest gain by improving your putting so a putting lesson and a new putter might represent the soundest investment.

also, buy clubs to match your handicap......unless you can handle the more 'finely tuned' irons, the game improvement or super-game improvement irons will likely suit you better.....you may sacrifice some distance but you'll find it easier to get the ball up and moving in the desired direction, and have more consistency. Less forgiving irons might hit longer, but the potential for departing the fairway is higher.

On a related note, play to a plan......bogey golf is a great idea to play towards....I always tell myself that "the purpose of the drive is to give me an easy second and the purpose of the second shot is to get the third shot into a position where I can get on the green.....then two putts." If I get on in two or get close with three a par or birdie then becomes a bonus.

I'd also suggest "practising with a purpose" not just mindlessly smashing balls on the range, and at least occasionally playing with players who are better than you - not necessarily low single handicappers, but someone who is maybe 6 to 8 shots better than you.....you'll be surprised how you get dragged to their level, even if it is only for a few holes at a time.

Finally, even if its with your mates, play for money (small stakes - my regular group usually plays for €1 on the front, €1 on the back and €1 for the overall)......nothing like €2 or €3 being on the line to make you focus

RoadRunner

Buy an absolutely savage looking driver, money no object! Try to utterly whack it all the time. May not help your scoring terribly but it's class when you do nail one right.

RoadRunner

Hibrasil wrote: »

make each shot count

^ for christ sake, don't do this :cool:

red ears

I think it can help, well playing with the wrong clubs can certainly hinder might be a better way of looking at it. There are golfers out there who enjoy buying new (to them) clubs and changing relatively often. I know guys with the same irons for 20 years but I just couldn't do that. I sometimes fall out of love with clubs that once worked well for me. I know its psychological most of the time. But i just feel now its time for a change and i get a new burst of life with a new club. Everyone is different though.

seamie78

some great advice here so far I must say, I think hold off on any equipment for now invest in few lessons, work on my game and see what advice the pro might give

red ears

RoadRunner wrote: »

Buy an absolutely savage looking driver, money no object! Try to utterly whack it all the time. May not help your scoring terribly but it's class when you do nail one right.

I know golfers like that, id say we all do.

FixdePitchmark

If you are starting out - it is very important to know there are actual clubs for certain handicap ranges .

If you are normal height , not too short or too tall - you should be fine with what you have.

So a couple of exceptions - when I was a higher handicap players , all my golf life I was playing far too flexible a shaft - so another exception would be if you have a very high swing speed.

I went from a starter set to Mizuno JPX, they were suited from 8 to 20 handicap , they were a terrific club - so forgiving for a GIP iron (Game Improvement Iron) and you will get years out of a set like them - all companies target this range and they are great clubs. In fact, some players when they get even lower keep the 4 and 5 from that set in their bag - some play GIP irons when they are very low.

I think when you get to 8 and lower - there are a couple of significant equipment choices to make. At that stage you need to know what distance you actually hit a club and not have a 5 iron you can hit from 175 to 210.

I think lads changing irons every 2 years is crazy stuff - it takes up 6 months for them to bed in anyway.

People give out about changing drivers over the last few years - I think they are wrong about this. I genuinely think the technology in composite materials and adjust ability and active faces - is significant

So sorry long answer.

Get to say below 18 - then you should consider next move talking to people in the game - your pro first. Once they don't have skin in the club supply game.

When you get to single figures review.

When you get below 5 review

When you get to +4 - they are free.

FixdePitchmark

red ears wrote: »

I know golfers like that, id say we all do.

Myself.

Jawgap

FixdePitchmark wrote: »

.......

I went from a starter set to Mizuno JPX, they were suited from 8 to 20 handicap , they were a terrific club - so forgiving for a GIP iron (Game Improvement Iron) and you will get years out of a set like them - all companies target this range and they are great clubs. In fact, some players when they get even lower keep the 4 and 5 from that set in their bag - some play GIP irons when they are very low.

......

Interestingly.......I played with a guy who was off 5 recently and he was flailing away with a set of Ping G-maxes......when I asked him about them he said he saw no need to change (before sticking an 8 iron to 3 feet from about 150 yds).....they worked for him in the sense he was incredibly consistent .... the only time he tended to 'miss' was when the ball kicked in a different direction to the one anticipated.

Irons aside though, he did have a custom made driver (very sweet sounding), and he said one of his wedges had been tweaked to his specification.

FixdePitchmark

FixdePitchmark wrote: »

I went from a starter set to Mizuno JPX, they were suited from 8 to 20 handicap , they were a terrific club - so forgiving for a GIP iron (Game Improvement Iron) and you will get years out of a set like them - all companies target this range and they are great clubs. In fact, some players when they get even lower keep the 4 and 5 from that set in their bag - some play GIP irons when they are very low.

I'm off 14 and hopefully improving, I bought a set of these last summer, they're a superb club. I'm not sure I'll ever get there but I know they'd do right down into single figures. Maybe a low single figures wouldn't choose them but yeah, great irons. Won't be changing for a long time.

dan_ep82

Play what you like, buy what you can afford and let everyone else look after themselves.

If your really concerned about what type of clubs to play ask your pro. He will probably tell you to stick with what you have but if you want something shiny he will advise you. No one will know your capabilities better.

Hibrasil

RoadRunner wrote: »

^ for christ sake, don't do this :cool:

Just to clarify about making each shot count ....what I meant was .....from where you are (where your ball lies).......look at where ideally where you would like your ball to end up for your next shot (without thinking you can do a Seve Ballasteros who often produced miracle recovery shots).....the best penalty stroke you can suffer is the first one.....suffer it and get back into position and play on from there. And above all be honest...there are too many playing the game who are not.

Russman

Jawgap wrote: »

Interestingly.......I played with a guy who was off 5 recently and he was flailing away with a set of Ping G-maxes......when I asked him about them he said he saw no need to change (before sticking an 8 iron to 3 feet from about 150 yds).....they worked for him in the sense he was incredibly consistent .... the only time he tended to 'miss' was when the ball kicked in a different direction to the one anticipated.

This exactly ^^

If you can hit a good shot with a club when you're off 12, there's no reason you can't hit a good shot with it when you get down to 5. Too many people think they "need" to graduate to players type clubs as they get lower. By all means, if you want to and can afford to, then fire away, but it 100% is not necessary.

As regards the broader point in the Op, as long as the clubs are somewhere in the right ballpark in terms of fit, then you'll be fine. It think (broadly speaking) anyone who sees a massive improvement with new equipment was using something that was completely wrong for them in the first place. Find something that improves your misses, because a good shot is a good shot with any club.

padd b1975

RoadRunner wrote: »

Hibrasil wrote: »

make each shot count

^ for christ sake, don't do this :cool:

I agree.

Recognise your limitations and play according to them.
You're inevitably going to be wayward off the tee and most likely with any iron play over 150, don't get downhearted by this-we have all been there.
Take your medicine, there's no shame in bumping it 40 yards to a better position.

The most important spot on the course for making up shots is on the green, the ability to two putt regularly is massive, so I would advise you to get a carefully chosen putter, doesn't need to be expensive just comfortable. Personally I've used a Ping putter for over twenty years and to be honest it would be like losing a family member if I didn't have it in my bag.

Jawgap

padd b1975 wrote: »

I agree.

Recognise your limitations and play according to them.
You're inevitably going to be wayward off the tee and most likely with any iron play over 150, don't get downhearted by this-we have all been there.
Take your medicine, there's no shame in bumping it 40 yards to a better position.

The most important spot on the course for making up shots is on the green, the ability to two putt regularly is massive, so I would advise you to get a carefully chosen putter, doesn't need to be expensive just comfortable. Personally I've used a Ping putter for over twenty years and to be honest it would be like losing a family member if I didn't have it in my bag.

The three most important words in golf, imo :D:D - just wished I figured that out years ago. I think taking your medicine also extends to being willing to take an unplayable when it happens rather than trying to force an impossible position......a lesson I learned when I was flying along in last year's Captain's Prize!

Senna

There is also a lot of generalizations and when people hear a handicap, they assume a certain club type will suit, without ever seeing that player swing a club i.e high loft drivers with regular shafts and big SGI (Super Game Improving) irons for anyone with a high handicap. I had a pro at a fitting give me completely wrong clubs to try because he just assumed based on swing speed and nothing else.
Regular shafts will usually add more length, but most times it sacrifices dispersion and dispersion is actually far more import for a high handicap player.
SGI irons are nearly all high bounce, which means if you are a picker like me, you cannot hit them and will never be able to hit them, regardless of handicap.

Only advice I can give on equipment is go to some range with a shop attached, hit everything and don't NOT hit something because it shouldn't "suit" your handicap.

valoren

I'd look at the 'right' equipment from the perspective of beginner versus experienced.
As a beginner, the right clubs are not necessarily the clubs that manipulate ball flight or anything as such.
The right clubs here are clubs that are fit to your physical dimensions irregardless of price point. As a beginner, if you get off the rack clubs that are ill-fitting you potentially end up manipulating your burgeoning swing to fit the club. As such, the properly fitting clubs could have the latest game improvement technology to assist forgiveness. You are then free to develop your repeating swing.

There then comes the divergence point between beginner and experienced player. The indication for that should be a falling, not rising, handicap. This is the point where you begin to look at club selection from a performance viewpoint. Where having a repeating swing, you seek to maximise distance, consolidate your ball flight, through selections of shafts, club heads, using trackman etc.

While that kind of stuff is sexy, as a beginner it would be a mistake to jump in at the deep in so to speak.
It's also a mistake to see clubs as 'veblen goods' where you might mistake the notion that a driver selling for €500 (Oh! Shiny!) must be better than a bargain bin Taylor Made for €50 where the balls basically ends up in the right rough, but 15 yards further up the hole. :pac:

Captain_Crash

To add my 2c, I agree with a lot of what has been said. From my own experience, when I started I went trough irons like they were going out of fashion.... I was of the opinion that new clubs meant a major was on the horizon for me, although my scoring was not improving. Then one day I found a set of Ping Eye II's in my shed that had belonged to my Grandad, these clubs were at a minimum 20 years old, but I re-gripped them and gave them a bash and have never looked back. I love them, they suit my game and I could care less that they're nearly as old as me.. they're important because my mind is not on my clubs anymore and I focus more on just playing and not "ahh cant use this club, I duffed a shot with it earlier".

Basically my point is you could have the clubs Rory used at Royal Liverpool, or a set you found online for €20... so long as your happy with them then your game will improve as a result. No matter what your level is, I guarantee you have the ability to hit worldie shots... lower handicapper's just do it more consistently in part because they're focus is not distracted by their equipment.