What kind of player are you? Are you a golfer just starting to learn & play or have you been playing the same game for many years. You need to do a bit of a self analysis to figure out the type of golfer you are before beginning your shopping adventure. And yes I am calling it an adventure as it can be a bit overwhelming.
Look at how you play, if you can break 90, you need to start shopping for some clubs with better feel. For a lot of amateur golfers feeling the clubhead when swinging simply doesn’t happen and probably never will but really good players have an intimate feeling of where the golf club head is at all times during the swing. If you are shooting over 100 consistently, you need to keep your focus on forgiveness and distance.
If it is your first experience buying golf clubs and you have never played before, keep an open mind to looking for a complete beginner set. The set will give you everything you need to get out there and start practicing and playing while getting some positive results right from the start. When you take your lessons your golf professional will also be a good resource.
How Much Money do you want to spend? Golf clubs can be very expensive the cost of a Driver or Putter can put you back $500, there goes your budget on one club. If money is no object, then you should look into the latest and greatest technology. The newest releases from a company are going to be the most expensive, but they will undoubtedly be packed with power and performance.
Less money to spend? there are a few ways to still get what you need. Look into models that are 2-3 years old instead the latest and greatest. Another way to upgrade your golf clubs on a budget is to do it in pieces or buy used clubs. Existing members often have clubs to give away or sell at a reasonable cost. Watch for that e-mail from us in April.
Usually there is an area in your bag that needs immediate attention. Do you not have a sand wedge? Is your Driver 14 years old? Start with these areas. Look at the weaknesses in your game and attack those areas first. From there, move onto the less imperative needs in your golf bag.
Check the lofts on your clubs before purchasing new ones. If you carry a five iron, the loft might be considerably different than a five hybrid. Plenty of women will bring both a five hybrid and a five iron because of these gaps in loft. Gaps in lofts create differences in yardages. Another common area for a gap, especially in a women’s set of clubs is the Pitching Wedge to the Sand Wedge. A Pitching Wedge in a modern women’s golf iron set is right around 43-45 degrees. The Sand wedge is typically around 56 degrees. Even if you love hybrids and woods, leave room in your bag for that Gap Wedge. The wedges are your scoring clubs; all good players will care more about wedges than they do about woods.
Do you want custom made clubs if your budget allows, a custom fitting can never hurt. Custom club fitting will tell you precisely what length club you need, if you need the loft or lie adjusted and what grip will work best for your game. All of these things are great to know. A standard women’s set is built to fit women who are 5’4″ to 5’9″. If you are 5’9″ or taller, look into the Men’s senior flex golf clubs. The clubs will be the correct height, and the flex will be very similar to the women’s flex.
Trying out the Equipment The most important thing when trying out new equipment is to bring your old equipment with you. You may have the latest Hybrid in your hand designed to be longer, more forgiving, and higher launching than the club you have now. However, when you hit it , both clubs go the same distance. There are many reasons this happens but if you did not have your club(s) with you with you the difference would not be noticed. Golf stores and simulators are a great place to hit new equipment and today a number of the courses have simulators so you have lots of options and the bonus is maybe working with someone you had lessons from.
If you can find an outdoor range that also allows you to try out clubs, that is the best option. Swinging outside is less restrictive, and you will get a better idea of what you are truly capable of doing. Seeing a real golf ball fly on the range, just as it would on the course is the best possible feedback you can get.
Conclusion Buying a set of golf clubs can be a significant undertaking, but with these steps, you will be well on your way to lowering your score. Make sure you first determine what type of player you are, set your budget, and decide which type of clubs you need. Next, you can make some decisions about stock or custom sets, and eventually, it just comes down to finding the deal that works for you.