Beginner to Pro - Choosing The Right Golf Clubs

Buying a new set of golf clubs is a great feeling. However, in order to get the most out of your game, choosing the correct set is essential. No matter what level of golf you play or what kind of budget you have, there are sets on the market for everyone.

A player should never have more than 14 clubs in their bag at any time. Bearing this in mind, the average golf bag comprises a driver, a few fairway woods, irons, wedges and a putter.

Before having a look at the different type of irons on the market, here are a few general guidelines about buying clubs. It’s essential that you try out your clubs before buying them. Almost all golf shops will let you try out a set in store, and if you buy from a club’s pro shop then you may even be able to take a demo set out on course. It’s important that you know how well you can hit the clubs, and whether they feel nice and comfortable in your hands.As with anything else in life, shop around. Whether you buy on the high street or online, always take the time to find the best deal. When it comes to golf clubs, you can save hundred’s of dollars by having a look around.

Another important element of buying a new set of clubs is not to be drawn towards the big name brands. The most important thing when getting a new set of clubs is being able to hit nice shots consistently. If you buy a flash set of clubs because you know a top pro uses them but find you can’t actually hit a ball with them, then you’ve wasted valuable money and you’re game won’t improve. If you love the way a lesser-known club feels when you hit a ball, then buy these.

1: Irons

There are several different type of irons on the market, all of which are aimed at different levels of golfer. As a general rule of thumb, the more expensive clubs are aimed at better golfers because they’re made from better materials. Before purchasing new clubs therefore, have a budget in mind in accordance to your level of play.

Beginners

Beginners can spend as little or as much on a set of irons as they wish. If you’ve just started out in the game, you need a set of clubs that will give you confidence. Bearing this in mind, look for set of irons that have wide faces, a chunky sole and feel comfortable behind the ball and are forgiving for off-centre shots. Perhaps the most popular beginners brand on the market at the moment is Benross. Their award winning VX2i irons can be found around $300, representing excellent value for money,combined with high quality. At the other end of the price spectrum are the Callaway Big Bertha irons. These irons are renowned for being chunky and therefore offer confidence and forgiveness for beginners. At around $600 however, it’s important to consider how seriously you want to take golf before handing over the money.

Intermediate

It’s hard to categorise irons for the intermediate player, seeing as irons are usually put into price brackets. If you’re hitting your first set of irons well then there shouldn’t be that much of reason to change unless it’s change you want. Having said that, brands such as Lynx, Snake Eyes or Ping (the G5 irons) offer a reasonable balance between the forgiveness of a beginner’s irons and feel and looks of a premium players iron.

Advanced

If you play off a single figure handicap then there’s no doubting that you take the game seriously and play to a high standard. Your game deserves an equally high standard of club therefore. There is a huge amount of clubs to choose from for the advanced player, including the ‘blade’ style favoured by many tour-pros. Blade-style clubs have a smaller and thinner profile than other clubs, and offer an extremely soft feel yet are a lot less forgiving for off-centre hits. Mizuno MP-32 blade irons are quite simply a cut above the rest when it comes to blades, offering great control and feel whilst being aesthetically pleasing.Blades are generally difficult to hit well, and many advanced players won’t feel at home with these in their bag. There are plenty of other irons on the market to suit the advanced player, such as the Ping i5 iron or the Mizuno MP-60. Generally, however, you can’t go wrong with the following higher-end brands (expect to pay in excess of $600): Callaway, Ping, Mizuno, Taylor Made, Yonex and Wilson Staff.

2 : Drivers and Fairway Woods

Getting the ball off the tee and on to the fairway is an essential part of the game. Investing in a driver that gives you the confidence to smash the ball down the fairway is essential. The most important aspect of buying a new driver is that it feels comfortable when you address the ball, which will in turn give you the confidence you need.As with any other club in your bag, budgets will vary depending on how much you want to spend on the game. If money is no object, or you just strive for quality, then the Nike SasQuatch range of woods should be at the top of your list. The drivers and woods from this range have received rave reviews in all the top magazines as a result of qualities such as huge power, low-spin and high-launch trajectory. Cleveland and Taylor Made are also other popular choices for high-quality drivers and fairway woods.If you’re looking to spend less than $150 on a driver or fairway woods, then you cant’ go wrong with the Benross V12+ or the Ram FX9 CG tour.

3. Wedges

If you take your golf seriously then getting specialist wedges is a must. You should look to be getting a 50-52 degree PW (pitching wedge), a 56 degree SW (sand wedge) and a 60-64 degree LW (lob wedge). Specialist wedges can offer qualities such as greater control, spin and more shot options in and around the green. Cleveland are one of the best brands on the market for wedges, and rest assured that any model from them will be of the highest quality. Another great set of wedges is the Mizuno MP-T series. At around $150 each they’re not cheap, but perform brilliantly and look incredible.

4. Putters

It's beggars' belief that most club players can hit the ball a few over 300 yards in a few shots, but it can take them up to another three strokes with their putter to actually get the ball in the hole. Buying a putter that feels comfortable behind the ball and gives you the ultimate confidence is essential. The more you pay for a putter, the better materials and weight distribution you’ll get. These factors could well improve your game on the greens, but you may feel just as comfortable with a putter that won’t cost more than $75. As long as you feel comfortable with a putter behind the ball and it feels good off the face, then that’s the most important thing. There are several types of putter shapes on the market; make sure you find the right one for you.

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