It’s not easy! Bring a golf friend with you to the golf store. Unless you are very tall/small or have long legs/short legs or have short arms/long arms then you don’t really need to to get fitted! It won’t make much difference getting fitted if you can’t swing or hit the ball in the middle of the clubface.
Getting fitted maybe 6 months later would be more advisable! $200-$600 will get a decent 10 piece beginners set. This fine to get you going. The sky is the limit as what prices you can pay. I would advise to buy an inexpensive set to start off then 1-2 years later you can buy a more expensive better quality set.
Some smaller items are divot repair tool (pitchfork), tees and a ball marker (use a coin). Depending on the weather, waterproof rain gear should be always in the golf bag. And lastly when the sun is shining a good quality sun block lotion. The beginners also need
Golf Clubs
I could write a few posts about the golf clubs, sets, style, cost, fitting. There are so many topics. I want to keep it as simple as possible. As you progress from beginner to intermediate player you will learn how it all works. There is lots of high tech information that just confuses people. It still confuses me. I’m still learning too!
Buying clubs has a lot to with just the feel of it and how it looks to the person. If it’s the best-fitted set and I don’t like the feel of the look of them, then you won’t play that well!
So go into the store and grab 4 different 7 irons and just hold them and look ar them and make so half swings. Which one feels the best? Or looks the best? If you can’t tell any difference then its too early in your golf career. Then it doesn’t matter!
Tall and small
When you are are very tall or very small or have long or short arms, then you should get some properly fitted golf clubs. Try your local PGA Pro or golf fitting centre. Most people can buy clubs off the rack or online for the first set. I will discuss this more in depth at a later stage. Just wanted to mention this quickly as the less information makes for less confusion.
Golf fitting
Fitting is getting your clubs fitted to your swing and body. Its like get clothes or a suit exactly fitted at the tailors. Now a days it done by a launch monitor. You hit balls and the launch monitors will track and record your data. Like swing speed, angle of attack, ball speed, shot direction to name but a few.
The fitter will be able to decide and confirm which clubs are the best for you after an hour or so. If you can’t hit the ball regularly then wait until you can hit it better and then can fitted.
Fitting incudes
Length
Lie
Shaft
Grip
Weight
With regard to fitting for golf clubs, there are lots of options to consider. Possibly after a few months or a year you could get your clubs fitted. In your first few months your swing will change and hopefully improve from the day you started. This is done by lessons and just practice. Whether the swing has improved or not you have your swing.
Your body will make adjustments to get try to get the club face on the ball in the best possible way (depending on your flexibility and your speed) Thats your DNA. And when you have good fitted clubs to go with your DNA then ist easier to improve at golf.
Properly fitted golf clubs will help you make it easier to play. Poorly or incorrect fitted clubs will hurt you and change your swing. If your clubs are too short then you will bend over more and make other movements to hit the ball. Your body and unconscious will adapt and make your swing work somehow. But you will lose speed and control. It’s just harder to do.
Like we hear the stories of the great players with a hand me down golf clubs they received when they a child. And most of them turned out fine. It doesn’t matter what club you have in your hand, like a ladies shorter club or a longer stiffer club. Over time your body will work with it and it will let you make the best possible swing as you can with these clubs.
The best way to improve is with lessons. That means you have a good starting point and you are free from making adjustments. After that get your clubs fitted to the swing you have without having to make adjustments.
Stores
There are so many brands and styles of golf clubs. Beginning at golf it can be very overwhelming and daunting when you walk into a big golf store. It’s good advice to go with a golfer friend if you have one! Or you better find one! But seeing all the sets in the store with the prices can be too much.
Price
About $200 – $400 will get you about 10 piece set with bag! Thats fine to start with. Yes you can spend as much as you want as the sky is the limit. But for a starter golf set maybe $200 – $600 will get you something ok. Thats a standard golf set. That set will last a few years.If you are willing to buy something more expensive from the beginning then go for it. Second hand clubs are fine if they are the correct clubs for you.
Standard set
A standard set should include a golf bag, maybe driver and a wood, (or 2/3 hybrids) 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, PW, SW, & putter
Golf clubs explained
For the irons and woods/hybrids/rescues the lower the number the farther the ball goes. So the higher the number the shorter the ball goes. Every club has a different loft (in degrees) and length (inches/cm) that will influence the height and distance from each club.
I have written the clubs just below, starting with the putter and going down to the Driver, in order from shortest club to longest club. So
Putter = Putting
LW = Lob Wedge
SW = Sand Wedge
PW = Pitching Wedge
Irons = 5, 6, 7, 8, 9
Rescues/ Hybrids (3, 4, 5 Rescue or hybrid)
Woods (3 or 5 wood)
Driver = 1 Wood
The driver is used teeing off on a Par 4 or Par 5. This club should go the furtherest when well hit. For a beginner it might too early to use this straight on the course with no practice. Try it a few times on the practice range first. Best would be is to start with a rescue or a hybrid and then start the with the driver.
Just the 7 iron
A few of the best players in the world have started their golf careers just with a 7 iron, By learning with only one club you find creativity and good coordination. It’s a great education. Sometimes I send my students on the course just with one club. They learn how to hit all kinds of shots. High and low and short and far. This creates feel and confidence too.
Really all a beginner needs is a 7 iron, PW and a putter for the first few times on a golf course. Then possibly add a 5 iron, 9 iron, SW and then a hybrid or a rescue. You should be able to hit the 7 irons decent enough before you start with the hybrid and rescue.
The 7 or 9 iron are easier to hit than a 5 iron, even though the 5 iron should go further. In this case most times the 9 iron would even go further than the 5 iron. Because the 7 and 9 have more loft than the 5 iron which makes it easier to hit them.
Don’t get too excited that your 8 iron is further than you 6 iron. Its normal until you can hit the ball in the middle of the club face more often with speed!