starter set of clubs

I've only played about 10 times total with an old set of dunlops i borrowed. I am addicted to the game, and want to step it up a notch. My wife is wanting to get me another full set, without paying out the yang. Don't want to get used clubs either. Dick's has a full set of slazenger wrath atx 09s that look pretty good for $299, and sports authority has a cleveland tour action full set (gunmetal finish) for $499 that look good also. Can't find any reviews on these. Anyone shot with these, or know much about them? Both of these sets come with driver, 3-4 hybrids, 5-PW, putters, head covers, and bags. Would appreciate any feedback i can get.

I know slazenger make shoes, but i haven't heard enough about their golf gear.

buying your first set of clubs is one of those things where you have to look at long term... How serious are you going to get into the game and do you plan to play it for years to come.

if you were going to spend a couple of days on the golf course or stick with the game and not get bored of it after 6 months i would suggest you spend upto $500 (i'm assuming your in the US) to get something with some quality about it.

The best option is to go to you local golf store with a budget in mind and ask the shop assistant what is the 3 best set of clubs for a beginner. With this another option could be to skip on the driver for now, but get a 1/2 decent 3 wood in it's place.. you'll end up using this club more than a driver anyway and get almost as much distance out of it too.

I'm not too familiar with the names of places you've mentioned, but they sound like run of the mill sports stores... Stay away from them, they usually overcharge and the staff have no techical knowledge. If you go to a golf store then you can get professionally fitted and know you've got the right equiptment from the get go.

I know you said you didn't want to get 2nd hand clubs, but this is an option i think you should be open too. You will get some really good quality clubs at a fraction of the price. they may have a few scratches on them, but that doesn't affect performance and they are only going to scratch up anyway after a couple of games...... for eg. i picked up a $500 driver for $200 just because it was the demo model. it was still current model and apart from a few scratches i saved $300...

i hope i've helped answer some of your questions. if i've missed something let me know.

Head on over to www.truelengthtechnology.com and find the clubfitter's registry. (http://www.danscustomgolfshop.com/clu...directory.html)

This will dramatically decrease the learning curve as your stance is the same for all clubs - leading to more consistency.

I think I've been to just about every golf shop around here and they do have used top name golf clubs out of the wazoo, but all of them are beat up bad, and the thing that I'm not going to do is pay as much as they are asking. Most of them are only $50 or $100 less than the same sets brand new! It may be because I live in Augusta, GA-USA and the Masters Tournament is like the superbowl of golf around here. Since I posted last, I went and demoed the cleveland clubs at sports authority and they are nice indeed. Muuuch better than the loaners I'm shooting with! They have a simulator that tells you the distance, degree loft, swing speed, clubface position at impact( open, closed, or square), degrees left or right of target and trajectory pattern. Sweet! I think I'll go back there from time to time just to get my swing in check! LOL!! Anyway, yep I liked them for my first set, and they will probably be my choice for awhile. And they do have a golf pro that fits clubs for you and someone told me that it was free when you buy the clubs from them. Thanks for the info and advice, and hopefully I can ask for some more help soon and get the same hospitality.

good to hear... being in australia i am unfamilar with the quality of shops you have there. good to know your going to be fitted up properly.

hope they go well for ya

Just remember when it comes to fitting, it's largely worth what you paid for it.

I know that most say to get the clubs fitted, but if i do, will a progressively improved swing mean that I have to get them fitted again as my swing changes for the better? I posted this on another thread also.

It largely depends on how close your clubs match your swing.

Generally speaking, you'll need a reshaft as your mechanics improve and you can put more stress on the shaft.

You should certainly have lie angles adjusted, and lofts checked (and adjusted) as necessary. Loft controls the distance you hit your clubs - so having 4 degree gaps is good for most players.

You either fit your clubs to your swing, or fit your swing to your clubs. The thing about TLT is that you find yourself in the same address position with every club - meaning you swing the same way for each club - meaning the learning curve for your swing is much reduced. What would be very useful to a beginner is to work with a swing coach to get an optimal address position, then have a TLT fitter standing by to find the series that fits that address position. Then practice and play with clublengths that further cement your address position and mechanics.

__________________
True Length Technology Fitter - www.truelengthtechnology.com
It's live! - www.ShipShapeClubs.com
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.

Well, I went to Dick's and got my set of clubs. They are the Adams Golf Ovation XL set for $499.99. This set comes with everything! It has the square 460 cc driver, 3 wood, 5 wood, 3 hybrid, 4 hybrid, 5-sw, mallet putter, lob wedge, and a stand bag with a cover. It also included 4 headcovers also! I went out on the course and shot nine holes to try them out. Man they feel wayyyyy better than the old dunlops that I borrowed. I shot 43, which 53 on 9 holes was my best. A 10 stroke improvement on only 9 holes! These clubs are well worth the money, and the confidence that I felt with them was amazing. My skills still need a lot of practice, and I still made bad shots here and there, but way less bad shots and way more good shots. I may just be an Adams man for a long time.