Hybrid Clubs Vs Irons | All Kinds of Golf Equipment

Hybrid Clubs

September 22nd, 2008 admin No comments

Hybrid Clubs

What's a good set of golf clubs for a beginner?

I've been learning golf for a couple of months and am looking to spend no more than £150 for a full set of clubs. Can you recommend things to look for in a set and maybe some good brands.

My instructor has also offered to custom fit some clubs for me, as I'm 6'3". I wonder if it's worth the extra money though.

Also, does anyone have an opinion on the new wood-iron hybrid clubs?

First of all, your budget is very smart. You don't want to spend too much money on a beginner's set because you should outgrow them in a year or two anyway. However, you definitely want forgiving clubs which means cavity-backs.

I would disagree with the above poster who mentioned that blades will force you to play better. This is not necessarily true. You will be frustrated, and you might quit golf after a short period if you start off with blades. It's just not worth it. When you consider that some tour pros use cavity-backs, it makes you wonder why amateurs should even consider going the way of blades. Granted, this is somewhat of a contentious issue, but for an amateur like me who will never turn pro, there is just no point in aiming for blades.

Now on to golf clubs. For beginners, I would recommend the Mizuno MX-17s. They are very forgiving. They have recently been replaced by the MX-900, so you should be able to get a good deal on the 17s new. Mizuno's are famous for the softness of their forged irons, and even though the 17's are cast not forged, they come close to the forged irons in feel. When it comes to quality, Mizuno irons cannot be beat.

Another popular beginner's set are the Pings. The new G5s are quite pricey, but you may be able to find a used set or perhaps a G2 set for a good price. The Pings are also well known for being forgiving, but they just looked too ugly for me. I couldn't stand the look of them while I still find myself admiring my MX-17s after a full year.

The Callaways, imo, are just as pricey as the Pings without their forgiveness. They don't look as good as the Mizunos either.

If you are just experimenting with golf and not sure if you will stick with it, go with the much cheaper 2nd tier brands. These include Tommy Armour, Ben Hogan, Adams, etc. They should be almost as good if not as good as the big brands but at a fraction of the price. If you decide to stick with the game after a year, you can always upgrade to the Mizuno MX-23s. (the 23s are Mizuno's most forgiving forged irons. Probably the most well-reviewed irons in existence).

About fitting, it is certainly important. However, most golf stores will fit clubs for you for free if you purchase them from their store, so you might want to consider that option first.

PS. Unless a golf store measures your swing speed at 95mph or higher, go with Regular Flex shafts, not the Stiff Flex. So many people have an ego issue and go with the stiff when regular is most appropriate for the majority of players. Even my instructor (whom I respect greatly) recommended that I go with stiff. (I ended up with regular and am glad I did).

Hope this helps!