I use honma 3 star ironset. my fairway wood is by callaway, forgot what exactly what the name was and I use a callaway FT9 driver.

 

Best tip is to spend a few bucks and take some lessons. Best investment you are ever going to make.

I just started 2 yrs ago and am hooked on the game.

 

 

I agree. I don't think a book can benefit you that much. Someone has to one show you the right way to swing and two watch you so they can correct your mistakes.... How do lesson's usually work? Is it a pay for lesson thing where you go, once a week? Or is it a class you pay for? I guess there is probably both. I wish had more people out here to go with...

 

Love the game (watching the Masters right now). Got to play a ton when I was unemployed/underemployed for several months this past year. I have some older Adams Tight Lies irons that have lost pop and need to be replaced, Taylor Made woods (the new Burner series, love them), and an Odyssey White Hot putter (I can't recommend strongly enough to invest in a putter that feels "right" to you). I've been playing for around 13 years and never took a lesson, but probably could stand to.

Side note/Favorite Golf Experience: I was fortunate enough to play Torrey Pines South 3 days after the '08 U.S. Open. The grandstands were still set up all over the course. I lost at least a dozen balls in the tournament rough alone (notoriously high and thick) and almost broke my wrist trying to hit the ones I did find. It gave me a whole new understanding and appreciation of just how good these guys on the Tour are.

 

Go to a course, PGA store, Golf Galaxy, etc that PGA certified pros. Lessons run about 30 min to an hour. Prices will range from $25 to $500 (Hank Haney here in Lewisville TX) per hr. Plan on at least one each for driving, irons, and putting. Then go out and play.

If you want to read an enjoyable book on golf that is a classic you should get Harvey Penick's "Little Red Book"

 

I played competitively in high school and now play sparingly. My golf philosophy has been heavily influenced by my father, an avid golfer, and it is quite different from those above.

For most golfers, especially those starting out:

Clubs don't matter that much, given they should be sized right. Don't get something center weighted, but there is no need to spend lots. A nice luxury purchase: Used set of Ping eye 2s.

Don't buy woods, unless you are old and can't move. They inject a serious degree of variability into your game, likely necessitate you working on a swing/stance different from that with your irons, and let you stroke your masculine urges (read: spend hours at the range working on your drive...something that won't lower your score much).

Which ties into my main advice: Emasculate yourself. Use clubs you can hit, practice putting/around the green, and slowly branch out into the lower irons.

Case in point? The first time I broke 90 -shooting 86 @ age 17 - I didn't use anything under my 6 iron and was playing with 150 dollar clubs. I can now hit down to a 4, but play worse due to my rust really affecting my game on and around the green.

Is it great? No, but ton's of golfers stuggle doing far worse because they can't keep their driver/3 wood in the bag or make themselves work on their short game.

My 02.

 

Great advice you give, moron. 84 on the Black Course (where this year's US OPEN will be held) last year....worked for me. Haven't swung a club this year but it won't take me long to get into the groove. Have a nice day.

Anyway back to the beginners. Don't listen to people who tell you not to get fitted. That advice is just dead wrong. Everyone has different arm lengths, leg lengths, torsos, and height....all these factors determine where the club hits the ground when you strike the ball, which in turn will reveal what kind of lie and lengths of the shaft/club need to be. Everyone also has different swing speeds, which will determine what type of shafts will suit your swing. In other words....GET FITTED! I cannot stress that enough. Knowing that you have equipment that is made for you will help down the road in diagnosing any shot problem (i.e. slices, hooks, etc.)

Once you straighten out your shots on the range make notes on how far you hit all your irons and woods. Literally write them down and memorize it. Course management is half the battle in lowering your scores. Knowing how far you need to hit a ball will help you and picking the right club all the time will help...rather than guessing, "oh this looks like a 6 iron shot" and then you watch your shot fall way short of the green. That can cost you 2-3 strokes right there from that type of error.

Thirdly, practice your short game as much as possible. Shots/chips of 60-50 yards or less can be par savers for bad drives and layups. This can be done at home depending how big of a yard you have. Having a solid short game will save you at least 5 strokes per round if not more. And do not neglect putting practice and proper greens reading. Also, if you can find a course or range with a practice sand trap...take a bucket there and work on the sand game. Everyone hits traps no matter how good you are. Hope that helps.

 

with GPMike

"drive for show putt for dough" work on your short game thats where it's at

 

I'm hoping to go next week for the first time this year. I went alot last summer.