A Brief Guide for Golfing Newbies in Picking Out Clubs
You may be new to golfing and anxious to get out on the course. However, before you get started, you need to get all of your equipment in order. Maybe you have been practicing with someone else’s clubs.
Maybe you are totally new to the game and do not know a five iron from a putter. Here are some tips for picking out the clubs that are best for you.
For many people who are new to the sport, the urge is to go out and buy the most fancy, shiniest, most expensive set of clubs that they can afford. If you have the best you will play your best, right? Well, that is not necessarily true. Remember, a set of golf clubs is just that – a set of golf clubs. Whether you have the top of the line clubs will not make a difference if you cannot hit the ball.
Before you go shopping, you should have some general knowledge about the types of clubs you are looking for. A full set of clubs has 12 in it – the 1-driver, 2-driver, and 5-driver, which are also known as the woods; the three, four, five, six, seven, eight, nine and Pitching Wedge irons; and the putter. You are allowed up to fourteen clubs in your bag, so some golfers add in an extra specialty club or two. Woods are used to hit long shots when you are more than 175 yards from the green. Irons are used for shots that are less than 200 yards away from the green, and the closer you are the higher the number that you should use. Wedges are specialty irons that allow increased control and shaping of your shot. Putters are used for just that – putting your ball into the hole!
The best thing to do first is to try before you buy. See if a friend or neighbor will let you borrow a few to practice with. Or, if you do not know another friendly golfer, many driving ranges will let you rent clubs. That way you can test drive some of the styles until you find out what is best for you. For beginners, the wedge or the nine iron are the best clubs to practice with and will give you the feeling for hitting the ball properly.
Once you have found a style that you like, you may be ready to purchase a set. Until you have mastered the sport of golfing to a pretty good degree of competence, you may find yourself better off purchasing a second hand set. These can often be purchased from pro shops, driving ranges, or other players. Garage sales, swap meets, and thrift stores are also possible gold mines for used clubs. Some words of advice though – do not spend more on a name brand used set than you can spend on a generic brand new set. Also, if you are buying from someone or somewhere that does not have any sort of return policy, make sure that the clubs are a fit before you buy. Otherwise you will have ended up spending money on a worthless set.
If money is not as much as an issue as your self esteem, some players believe that a shiny, brand new set gives a boost in confidence and commitment to the game. Even so, you can go broke buying a set of name brand, top of the line clubs. You may find it more prudent to look into a high quality generic set. You will get that new club feel without breaking the bank, and later on you can upgrade as your game improves.
Another money saving option is to look into purchasing just half a set. A half set usually consists of the three, five, seven, and nine irons, a wedge, a wood or two, and a putter. These should be plenty to get you started, and as your game improves and you feel something is missing then you can add on the additional clubs.
Whether you decide to go with brand new or used, name brand or generic – your clubs are up to you. Just make sure that you choose a fit and style that works with your golf game for the most success.
This problem is easily remedied with a change in lifestyle. All you have to do is add some exercise. If you are overweight, then try to work on shedding those extra pounds. If you are just out of shape, consider doing some exercises to get you back in. Strength training can be perfect for this.