I signed up to play in a golf tournament to benefit wounded vets and I have no clubs. I suck at golf but I would like to buy a set and start playing, primarily for the beer and camraderie. New clubs seem like a waste of money so I am looking at used. Can I get a good set for $500 or less. What should I look for in a club? Any particular model/manufacturer I should look for.
Is there a “Play It Again Sports” on your area?
I found one about an hour away. I had never heard of this store but I am now intrigued.
Unless you plan on playing regularly and becoming a rockstar on the fairways, you can easily pick up a functional skeleton set for a couple hundred bucks, used. Expect to get odd irons (3/5/7/9), two less-than-stellar woods (1/3), a wedge, a putter, and a beater iron (something in the 5-9 range) that you can use to shag your ball out of the drink and hit shots out of extra crappy lies. You may want to spend an additional $60-70 to get a driver that swings a bit better - plus it leaves you with a backup for the inevitable “driver toss.”
Anything beyond that is just a waste of money and space. I shot starting six in high school and never carried more than 8 clubs - namely because we actually had to carry our clubs and weren’t permitted pull carts.
Used is the way to go.
Ebay would be a great place to start.
Make and model arent important. All of the big companies make a quality product.
Definetly get a set of cavity back irons. You dont need the latest greatest thing because frankly there isnt really anything groundbreaking on the iron front. Don’t worry about getting the latest greatest driver either. As a matter of fact if you are new you would be better off with a 3-wood anyway.
If one of my many sets would benefit you I would send them your way as a thanks for doing something good for vets but all of mine are more on the high performance side of things.
Are you exceptionally tall of short?
http://www.ebay.com/…;hash=item19ce48f7f5
Grab a sandwedge and you’re set.
I signed up to play in a golf tournament to benefit wounded vets and I have no clubs. I suck at golf but I would like to buy a set and start playing, primarily for the beer and camraderie. New clubs seem like a waste of money so I am looking at used. Can I get a good set for $500 or less. What should I look for in a club? Any particular model/manufacturer I should look for.
In addition to Play It Again you might also check Craigslist and the local driving ranges that sell clubs. Sometimes they take trades and have the used ones to sell. I bought a great set of clubs used at a golf show and would think that you could get some fine clubs for $500.
Loft, lie, and shaft flex are probably the big three. Don’t worry about whether or no the grips are shot. New grips will run you 3 or 4 each and you can easily do it yourself. Though even having it done is pretty cheap.
But much like riding isn’t about the bike once you have a decent bike, golf isn’t about the clubs unless you go the real bargain basement route.
Not exceptionally tall @ 6’5" but too tall for international flights in coach. I placed a bid on the clubs, thanks.
Call them and ask what sets they have. Some have new off brand sets for cheap. If its me I’d look for used big brand sets (ping, etc.).
You want forgiving clubs. Don’t get “blades”. Get “cavity back” irons.
FWIW, I had some really old clubs and played like shit. My in law got me brand new custom Pings and I still suck just as bad.
The club I hit best is an ancient persimmon 3 wood once owned by Sam Snead.
Not exceptionally tall @ 6’5" but too tall for international flights in coach. I placed a bid on the clubs, thanks.
Ok that complicates things slightly but might work to your benfit. You need to look for clubs with some extra length. Where it helps you is its a smaller market and you being a buyer will have the advantage.
If you use standard length you will develop a bad swing and possibly a bad back.
You could have extensions installed along with new grips and still come under the number you quoted.
edit: just noticed you said you made a bid. If you get them dont let what I said bother you. Thats a good set for you but like i said you will want to get extensions so you can get in a nice postion to swing.
Hopefully you are right handed!!!
Not exceptionally tall @ 6’5" but too tall for international flights in coach. I placed a bid on the clubs, thanks.
6’5?
Let me know if you can’t find anything. You should have longer clubs at your height. I’m 6’2 and have longer clubs.
My brother is a PGA pro (not on tour (teacher)) and he’s 6’5. He might have an old set he could sell. They’d be top end Calloway clubs. I’ll tell him $500 is your limit.
Not exceptionally tall @ 6’5" but too tall for international flights in coach. I placed a bid on the clubs, thanks.
You have the right idea, trying things out before making a huge financial investment, but you might want to think through the execution a bit. You are tall for a standard length set of clubs, I am 6’ 4", have standard length and have to adjust my stance/swing - a lot. This year is my year to invest in custom fit clubs, but I have been playing for a long time and do so for work regularly.
You might want to check around for either a Golf Galaxy or Golf Smith in your area. Both offer an opportunity to hit different clubs (new and used), a proper fit if you want one, and lessons. Even just 1 session can help you make solid contact and prevent the beginings of bad habits. Now is the time to prevent a nasty hook or wicked slice.
Golf is great for the things you mention - comraderie, beer, cigars, and laughs. Enjoy your event, I played in a similar (Wounded Warrior) event near me 2 years ago and was bummed I had a conflict for the event this past year. Great to meet a stellar group of guys and help contribute to the organization.
Find a local club maker in your area - should be on craigslist etc…they do off-brand clubs custom made that are pretty good…some are same as the real thing just renamed…I got a set for under $200…brand new, and custom to my height etc…just another option.
I’ll sell you nice set of Ping irons for $200. I am 6’1" with a long torso. I never golf and would like to get rid of them, to buy some tri gear.
Forget Ebay. Go to a local course and stand by the clubhouse. Ask the most frustrated-looking guys walking off the 18th green if you can take their worthless, piece of crap clubs off their hands. You probably won’t have to ask more than five guys before you end up with a full set of high-end clubs.
I have two different sets of irons if you are still looking and am happy to send pics if you want. I am 6’3", and both are slightly long and slightly upright (lie angles that taller players typically need.
One is a set of Callaway X-20’s and the other is a set of Ping G-2’s. Either would be $150 and both are in fine shape. You should be able to get a couple wedges, fairway woods, and a putter for the rest of the $$$.
drn92
I think you’ll have a tough time with used clubs for your size.
I’ll keep adding on with the cavity back instead of blade irons. Check online for clubs. You can get a pretty decent set of new clubs between $300-500, and they’ll be the correct size for your height.
Unless you plan on playing regularly and becoming a rockstar on the fairways, you can easily pick up a functional skeleton set for a couple hundred bucks, used. Expect to get odd irons (3/5/7/9), two less-than-stellar woods (1/3), a wedge, a putter, and a beater iron (something in the 5-9 range) that you can use to shag your ball out of the drink and hit shots out of extra crappy lies. You may want to spend an additional $60-70 to get a driver that swings a bit better - plus it leaves you with a backup for the inevitable “driver toss.”
Anything beyond that is just a waste of money and space. I shot starting six in high school and never carried more than 8 clubs - namely because we actually had to carry our clubs and weren’t permitted pull carts.
This is good advice… I’d only suggest picking up a 3-wood that swings better, rather than a driver - easier to hit, and if you’re not a great golfer, you’ll actually see pretty similar distance from a 3-wood and a driver…
Clubs havegotten cheaper over the years. Good clubs i mean. Golf club technology had really progressed a lot in the last 5 years. On sale, I bought a new set of irons for like $400 a few years ago. Add another $100 to get a 5 wood and a few bucks for a used putter and you are good to go.
At 6’5 you likely need longer clubs. Standard ones are built for like 5’8 - 6’1 or so IIRC.
You would be wise to find a driving range that has a golf shop. Not sure where you live but in San Diego there are a few driving ranges that have golf shops at the location. You can demo just about any club for free.
Most golf shops also sell used sets of clubs. You can usually get fit for free or for a small fee. The fitting will tell you what length of club and and lie adjustments you may need. Of course, if you just want to wing it drn92 looks like he has a couple of good deals for you.
Club length is not always indicated by height. I’ve been professionally fit on Ping i15s and they’re just a half and inch longer. I’m 6’6" but have relatively long arms. My brother on the other hand is 6’4", professionally fit and his clubs are a half inch shorter than standard. He has freakishly long arms.