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| 12-28-2006 , 04:45 PM | #1 |
| Amateur Duffer Join Date: Dec 2006
Posts: 35
Rep Power: 0  | Just starting out What's the best equipment for a beginner? My son is wanting to start golfing and I don't want a huge upfront investment before I know how much he enjoys it and how dedicated he will be to it. |
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| Sponsored Links Join Date: May 2006
Posts: 0
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| 12-28-2006 , 10:46 PM | #2 |
| Amateur Duffer  Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Pennsylvania
Posts: 35
Rep Power: 0 | how old is your son? it's important to get clubs that are light enough. Clubs that are too heavy will develop bad swing habits. Get him one of those big-headed drivers in a high loft like 13-15 degrees. They are easy to hit and easy to get airborne. He will need forgiving irons with a low center of gravity. Have him start out with the driver I suggested. get him 2 wedges, 8-iron, 5-iron, putter and a fairway wood just to get started. He can learn with 8 clubs and learn how to hit all the in between shots in the process. Hit Ebay for some used cavity backed irons but get the correct flex for him and length as well... |
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| 12-29-2006 , 06:55 AM | #3 |
| Amateur Duffer Join Date: Dec 2006
Posts: 35
Rep Power: 0 | Thanks a lot. That gives me a good place to start. I haven't golfed since HS (SEVERAL years ago) and I'm just not real familiar with the equipment and quality out there anymore. I'll probably look into ebay or some of the local sporting resale shops for a good deal. As he gets older, I wouldn't mind putting more of an investment into getting him a nicer set of clubs. |
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| 12-29-2006 , 10:43 AM | #4 |
| Amateur Duffer Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Pennsylvania
Posts: 35
Rep Power: 0 | get your son fitted by a professional. it might cost you $50 for the fitting but it's worth it. Have the pro write down his specs for you and then buy clubs to match or have the clubs you buy adjusted to meet them. if you buy old PINGS, I recommend the Eye 2's, You can send them back to Ping and they will bend them for free to get the proper lie angle. They will bend up to 4 color codes for steel heads and 2 color codes for copper heads. Copper tends to break easier. If they break a club they replace it free. They still have all the old molds. However, cutting down shafts to meet the length your son needs could be bad. it might change the swing-weight too much or make them too stiff. Be careful here! Get the correct lie angle, length and shaft flex at least as near as possible then if he is still interested you can spend big money later,,, |
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| 12-29-2006 , 12:05 PM | #5 |
| Amateur Duffer Join Date: Dec 2006
Posts: 35
Rep Power: 0 | interesting info about PING dong the adjustments. That's something to take into serious consideration when looking for something that will fit his size. I might look into finding a professional to get him sized. We live in a fairly small town without a big golfing base, so I don't know of anyone off hand who would be able to do it. Do you know if some of the larger althletic stores have professionals to do the measurements or maybe a specialty shoppe? Any other suggestions of finding a qualified pro? |
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| 12-29-2006 , 12:15 PM | #6 |
| Amateur Duffer Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Pennsylvania
Posts: 35
Rep Power: 0 | your best bet might be to contact Ping directly. Go to pinggolf.com to get the phone #. They can tell you the nearest fitter or let you know when the Ping Van will be in your area. They travel all around the country every year. Most pro's have fitting equipment especially pro's who deal with Ping. Maybe D1cks's sporting goods might have the equipment as well. Country clubs usually have the necessary equipment and you usually don't have to be a member to get fitted. They are happy to give outside lessons and fittings. Just have to make some phone calls... |
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| 12-29-2006 , 12:20 PM | #7 |
| Amateur Duffer Join Date: Dec 2006
Posts: 35
Rep Power: 0 | Easy enough! I don't know why I hadn't thought of trying a country club. There's one about 45 minutes from here, I might try giving them a call in the next few days and see if someone might be available. If not, I'll try PING. You've been super helpful for this novice. Thanks for everything! |
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| 12-29-2006 , 02:50 PM | #8 |
| Admin  Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Southwest Florida
Posts: 125
Rep Power: 10 | I'd definitely recommend not getting graphite as well given the age of your son and age of the clubs you're looking into. I have an old set of Tommy Armour 845s and the shafts are starting to splinter...last thing you're going to want is for your son to come home with a big sliver of graphite in his hand if one splits. My sand wedge split a few months ago when I was using it in the back yard. If I wasn't paying attention I could have easily gotten that lodged in my palm - ouch. |
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| 12-29-2006 , 06:00 PM | #9 |
| Amateur Duffer Join Date: Dec 2006
Posts: 35
Rep Power: 0 | OUCH! yea, I'll stay away from graphite as starters. That's the last thing I want is to be heading to the doctor over that kind of injury. If we have to go to the hospital because of a golf injury he better have pulled something real good or gotten hit in the head with a golf ball!  |
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| 01-01-2007 , 06:11 PM | #10 |
| Amateur Duffer Join Date: Dec 2006
Posts: 35
Rep Power: 0 | I called one of the country clubs not too far from here and they have someone available to do measurements. *yay* We'll probably go in the next couple of weeks, once things start to slow down and level off from the holidays. |
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