Equipment for a beginner ... choices, choices, choices

A friend who is a beginner golfer has an interesting problem.
He is learning the game and plays with an antiquated set of second-hand blades

He is thinking of *upgrading* to modern irons.

The issue is:
a) As he is a beginner who can make contact and hit the ball fairly straight - should he invest in custom fitted state of the art game improvement irons now which will help him hit the ball more consistently and then let his swing develop with more lessons ?

or

b) have more lessons to make his swing more consistent using his current, old equipment and then later upgrade ?


c) another option?



Someone recommended that if he buys a new set, it should be a set to let his game can grow into, rather than a game improvement set that he will out grow quickly as his skills develop, thereby needing to upgrade later anyway.


All advice welcome - we all know how expensive it is to start the game properly and we all know how addictive buying new equipment can be. My friend insists that any new purchase of irons will be in his bag for three years at least ...

Option B is my recommendation.

I agree Option (B).

You must a reasonable swing before it worth investing money on new clubs, many golfers set themselves targets like "when I get down to 18 H/Capp I will buy myself the latest irons".

Good luck


Ian.

You've certainly identified the classic conundrum - do I fit my clubs to my swing, or my swing to my clubs.

The truth of the matter is that you will fit your swing to whatever club is in your hand. (You already do - it's a different swing for driver than it is for SW).

SO: as an option C), might I suggest the blend.

Get your friend to take a static fitting. At the very least, this will give him a ballpark for how long his clubs should be. If necessary adjust the clubs. Then take a few lessons until his swing is decent, and repeatable. Then go get dynamically fitted, and buy some new clubs (if he likes.)

IMO, he should stick with the blades if he's already hitting them fairly straight. I'm currently playing a combo set, and love (and hate) the instant feedback from a mis hit.

__________________
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PCS Class 'A' Clubfitter

A new highlight: Golfing the home course on Christmas Day.

I say it too often: If it's golf club shaped, you can play with it.

For the record, I'm a club doctor, not a swing doctor.

Golf is so much about confidence. As a total beginner I believe you have the benefit of naivety, a bad shot is a bad shot but who cares as I'm new to this. Once a degree of competency is developed then I think the clubs make a big difference. An old set of blades will have a 7-iron that looks like a 3-iron and how many of us are confident enough to automatically whip the 3-iron out of the bag?

To make the step between beginner and competent golfer I'd therefore recommend investing in a good set of cavity backs. I've dropped an average of 10-15 shots a round in the last year or so but still feel that my Ben Hogan cavity back irons are the ideal choice. Subsequently I've swapped the wedges out for some Cleveland blade-type but that hasn't cost much.

As Low Post mentioned, perhaps a combo set would be worth looking at.

Hope this helps.

Paul


PS. Not putting any pressure on myself or anything, but the moment I break 80 then I'm buying a set of Mizuno MP-32s, beautiful, beautiful clubs

Thanks for the tips everyone.

My friend seems to be gravitating to the Mizuno MX23s, but he has the patience to wait a while.

ph_kingston --> I covet the Mizuno MP-32s as well, they are beautiful irons. I have forged MX20s and it seems the ideal next step for me at some point ... if only I can open my wallet ...

Ermmmm people talking about trying to break 80 shouldnt be coveting MP-32's. They are seriously harsh bats.......

If you want Mizuno and are about the 10-12 handicap range (80-85 shooters) then get yourself a set of MP-30's, far more forgiving than the 32's and In my opinion better looking MX-20's are better suited still.....I had a set of MP33's and sold them (ok mostly because I got offered £150 more than I had paid for them) because I wanted to maximize my ball striking so I went back to my T-Zoid Pro II's.

Dont let me put you off, theyre great clubs, but blades can be hard work when you arent playing well.

D.

__________________
Longniddry Golf Club Champ 2005.

In the Taylor Made Bag:

Callaway FT-3 Tour 9.5 Aldila NV 65S

Callaway Steelhead 3 Wood

Callaway Steelhead 5 Wood

Callaway X-16 3-PW

MacGregor Tourney 52 Degree

Cobra Phil Rodgers 59 Degree Rusty

Odyssey DFX 2-Ball

Callaway Tour iX

Thanks for the guidance D. I haven't had the chance to try out Mizuno's, the only demo days we get here are Callaway, Ping and Titleist. I'd read that the MP-32s were actually quite forgiving (for a blade) but you know much more about their equipment than I do.

That one's in the running for understatement of the year.

Yea PH, modern blades are all CAD-CAM these days but more from a consistency of quality point of view than making them easier to use. I know a lot of guys who play to 10-15 handicaps that use blades, but they are recreational golfers who just like their old equipment. If you are seriously out to get the most from your game so you can compete, pick the right tools. In my opinion Big Bertha's look absolutely revolting but theres no denying their efficacy in the right hands. Just because a club looks good doesnt mean it will play good and blades are the very definition of that statement.

As I say MX-20 (or any of the MX range for that matter) are probably the way to go. They will give you far more control of the ball and by control I dont mean that you will be able to draw and fade or hit high and low shots at will. I mean you will achieve a good consistent ball flight which allows you to concentrate on the real game....course management. You cant manage a course if you dont know what shot you are going to hit next.

D.

__________________
Longniddry Golf Club Champ 2005.

In the Taylor Made Bag:

Callaway FT-3 Tour 9.5 Aldila NV 65S

Callaway Steelhead 3 Wood

Callaway Steelhead 5 Wood

Callaway X-16 3-PW

MacGregor Tourney 52 Degree

Cobra Phil Rodgers 59 Degree Rusty

Odyssey DFX 2-Ball

Callaway Tour iX