Golf Club Advice

[scott_d]

"I can't be bothered to sign up to a golf forum and don't really know anyone any good at golf so just wondered if anyone is any good and can give me a bit of advice. To give a view of my standard (not very good), I started playing again this year and for the first time ever I'm playing regularly and enjoying it. My plan was to break 100 and done it twice now comfortably with 92 and 94 but still creeping over 100 on most rounds. Looking at my clubs, I've got a Driver, 5 wood, 4-P and then a 56 SW (is that right loft for SW). My question is I feel like I need maybe a club or two more as loft from Driver to 5 wood is 10.5 to 20 and from P to SW is 45 to 56. Should I be looking at a 3 wood around 15d and a UW around 50 to fill those gaps? If so which is more important? Or am I overthinking it?"

[zico]

"I've just joined a club for the first time ever and put in several cards that have given me a handicap of 18.8. All those gimmees from mates haven't helped as I've been putting like McLroy from a few feet!! Always struggled with my irons, a set of men's Cleveland's and couldn't hit rescue woods (sliced to right) consistently enough but have always been consistent with my driver which is a ladies Yonex, (I'm 5 ft 5!). So always used Ladies woods but Men's Irons. When mum passed away I tried a few of her clubs and found I hit her Yonex 7 wood far better than any hybrid so bought a second hand version of the same Club but in a 5 wood on ebay for £20 annd that's working quite well. Went for some lessons and spoke to the coach about my irons as they were a goiod 15 years old. Tried a few and settled on a Ladies set of Wilson Launch Pad Graphite Shaft Irons, 6 through to SW. Graphite shaft like my woods rather than steel seems to suit me. Shot a 12 over at Surrey National with 10 pars with them and then fell off a bit so went back for a lesson again and hit a 14 over 84 on Friday night and haven't hit the ball that well for years. I seem to get over the ball better with these and because of the large bounce (forgiving) on the clubs whilst I thin a few I rarely fat a shot and on a mishit they do go straighter than my old irons. But mum's old 7 wood is still my go to club from around 170 yards, great little club."

[scott_d]

"Thanks again for all the advice. I generally am getting on ok with distance - not really finding that that is affecting my game - my driving is ok and I'm learning to adjust when it starts to go wrong. I think I may take the advice of using the guy at Highfields before I invest in anything else anbd see how he feels about my current set-up. I am actually finding that, even though I've identified these gaps in my head, out on the course they are not really as obvious and I don't feel like I don't have a club for most shots. However, approach play could do with some work so maybe the 50-52 is something to consider. Hit another sub 100 today with 97 round a tough Benton Hall course in Witham. First time under at my other local course!"

[Slim Shady]

Costco do a fantastic set of Calloways plus an Odesy putter for about £600

[stubbo]

"I would say the first thing is to understand your distances and dispersions. Once you do that you can know what gaps you might need to fill. Stats from Shotscope suggest that high handicappers are no more accurate with a 3W than a Driver, so there is questionable value. Driver-5W a perfectly normal combination. How are you with your 4i? I'd say deffo get a gap wedge between PW and SW...that's a common gap that requires creativity otherwise to fill. Something like a 52 degree. Before thinking about. 60 need to understand bounce and conditions....my 60 is low bounce and I only play it height of summer when the ground is rock hard. Most of the time and open faced 56 is the go over 60 imo. I'd sayaybe consider a 7w, 3H or 4H as a 4iron can be hard to hit, and a utility club like those will get you good distance with ease of strike...something that goes 200 and you can keep in play with a high degree of belief is more crucial than filling the gap between Driver and 5W IMO."

[J.Riddle]

"I got a hole in one a few weeks ago, hadn't played for a while, started badly, 1st hole lost my ball in the rough and ended up in the bunker! 2nd hole got a birdie! It was an early round so pulled out my morning wood and finished off with my rusty niblick, then par 3 hole in one! Mrs Riddle was over the moon and can't wait to do the back nine."

[,]

"Scott, pleased to hear that you are enjoying the game. From what you have said, getting around in 92, for example you are beginning to get to grip with the basics. Regarding buying a three wood you might consider holding fire. It is a club that many sometimes use and that some never use. Of those that use a three wood many of them do so more off the tee than the fairway because they do not trust their driver. It sounds to me that distance per se is not your issue and other aspects of your game are what will need to be improved/become more consistent to get you hitting around or below ninety consistently. When you shot your ninety two for example what would have stopped you being better. Was it, for example, accuracy and distance off the tee and fairways, weakness in your short game or did you three put too often? My advice would be to borrow a decent three wood, practice with it, see how you can integrate it into your game and if you get an occasional one or two shot improvement it will alway be a useful tool in your bag."

[BRANDED]

I just use a 7 wood. I can hit it over 200 yds and its as accurate as a bastard and you know how accurate they are.

[Hello Mrs. Jones]

Best to use a 50 degree for that tricky one through the clowns mouth

[scott_d]

"Thanks for the recommendation for the guy at Hylands - it's not far from me so maybe an assessment there is a good starting point! I'm not sure whether I'll the 3W off the tea or fairway mainly, but I expect both. I just see a big gap between my Driver and 5W. The 5W was mainly bought as a fairway wood but I have used it effectively off the tee too. Next I have a 4 Hybrid which I'm getting the hang of too. I do feel like my long game isn't suffering too much without a 3W right now, so maybe the 50 wedge is the first place to look?"

[Don Ravioli]

"As others have said def get a 3 wood Utilities/ hybrids are good. As for wedges I bought a full set of titleist vokeys gap wedge , 56 sw and a lob wedge 60. Love the lob wedge. Prob my favourite club. I’ve had them about 10 years and still bang on."

[Jaan Kenbrovin]

I get about 15 yards extra from my 3 wood over my 5 wood. So both get used quite a bit. My SW is 54 degrees so have a gap and lob wedge (50 and 58). Has helped my short game a lot recently tbf. You won’t need a lob wedge with a 56 already. It’s rare you’ll need a 60 degree. Would definitely recommend a 50 gap wedge though. I get plenty of of use from mine.

[Russ of the BML]

Are you going to use the 3W off the tee or fairway or both?

[Westside]

"Scott, go and see an independent club fitter and have your clubs assessed. He will advise on extra clubs, changing your clubs, for the right length, shaft flex etc. Don't go to American Golf, Nevada Bob's etc, they will just try and sell you stuff. Bounce is more important than loft for sand wedges, but 56 degrees is fine. Have you considered a hybrid to replace your longer irons? So much easier to hit. What area do you live in? If you are close enough to Ingatestone, I can recommend:- https://leeportergolf.com/ I've been using him for about 20 years and has done all my clubs, in that time. He won't sell you anything, that won't improve your game. And he's a Hammer!"

[scott_d]

"You can pay less, probably half that if you want to."

[Far Cough]

FMOB

[scott_d]

I got my set 2nd hand for about £600 all in didn't/don't want to invest too much if I end up not playing much. But I did have clubs to sell so made about £250 back on those. £150 driver £180 irons £100 putter £80 5 wood £80 4 hybrid

[Far Cough]

How much is a good set of bats?

[Far Cough]

How much is a good set of bats?

[scott_d]

Thanks for the advice both. Very useful. Will look at a 3 wood definitely. I'll try and tie it in with the same brand (Cobra) as my driver and 5 wood for a bit of consistency.

[Takashi Miike]

"Scott, whomail"

[stewie griffin]

"you need a 3 wood definitely. Personally wouldn't mess around with too many wedges yet - your game will improve more by being able to control distance & flight with your pitching wedge and being able to hit half shots, 75% etc. Just a personal view, that part of the problem with all the modern equipment and technologies is they're too forgiving, give you easy options to plug gaps, and you get into a lot of bad habits as a result...then you'll go and play a difficult golf course somewhere and you'll be absolute dogshit."