To all you golfers....

[L8Brakr]

I would strongly avoid the "clone" alternative. Looks the same doesn't perform the same. Shaft kick points, groove consistency, metal quality (density), hardness, etc. all contribute to the performance of a club.

No affiliation, but I recommend the guys below. They will not sell clones or duplicates. You will get slightly used, original spec, equipment for 40% to 70% of the new price. I do agree that clubs designed two or three years ago are more than sufficient for beginners and higher handicaps.

Used Golf Clubs, Ping, TaylorMade, Callaway, Bettinardi - 2nd Swing

Enjoy a great game!!

[t-tom]

Quote de Nathans_Dad

I think club fitting makes sense for someone who's swing is stable and they can reliably hit a ball in the general direction they want.



For new players, their swing will be in so much flux that spending money on custom fitted clubs that may not fit their swing at all in 6 months doesn't make much sense.

Oh, I totally agree with all of that.



My post was assuming a golfer that can, say, at least break (honestly, counting each stroke!) 100 or so at a muni course of 6000 yards or so.



For most true new players, I agree, clubs make very little difference. In fact, for many shots they make 0% difference at all (those shots being where the new golfer swings and misses!).



For a true beginner golfer, I'd always say first try to borrow clubs, the next best is some used ones for not a lot of money. Because most true beginner golfers are out of the game within a few months. It's very difficult to learn and statistics show that most adults that try it end up quitting fairly quickly.

This is why people don't stick with golf. That's bad advise. Getting fit is the second best thing you can do to get better at golf. It makes a difference, imagine running a marathon with someone else's shoes on or driving in a race car with another drivers seat and nomex on, you can do it but you won't get as good of results. I've taken many golfers that shoot in the mid to low 90s and by just fitting their clubs they break into the low 80s. If your only going to play one or 2 times a year It really does not matter what you do.

[McLovin]

Originally Posted by t-tom

This is why people don't stick with golf. That's bad advise. Getting fit is the second best thing you can do to get better at golf. It makes a difference, imagine running a marathon with someone else's shoes on or driving in a race car with another drivers seat and nomex on, you can do it but you won't get as good of results. I've taken many golfers that shoot in the mid to low 90s and by just fitting their clubs they break into the low 80s. If your only going to play one or 2 times a year It really does not matter what you do.

I think it's *realistic* advice, for a brand new golfer. It's just statistically true. A huge percentage of adults who try golf for the first time won't be doing it in 6 months.

Because the truth of the matter is most beginners aren't going to get good results no matter what clubs they have, or how well the clubs fit them. It isn't the clubs that cause people to give up. It's the nature of the game.

[McLovin]

But I totally agree with you, as to any golfer that is shooting in the low to mid 90s.

That is FAR from a beginner or first time golfer, though.

If someone is shooting honest low to mid 90s on a real course (6000+ yards) they are probably in the top 20% (maybe higher) of golfers playing on most course on any given day, and I agree clubs and fitting will make a difference to them.

[t-tom]

Club fitting make a difference for absolute beginners all the way up to tour pros. If a club is to long or short you will never hit the ball to the best of your ability. This is why for the most part I don't teach men golf any more. They just don't listen, it's not the nature of the game. Guys go out with bad equipment that does not fit them, they don't
practice or take lessons and then they get all pissed off

[t-tom]

And wonder why they suck at golf.

[Don Plumley]

I don't play much any more, but once when I borrowed my friend's sticks I could not get over how easy the new woods were to hit. I had a 90's Callaway Big Bertha. It was stunning. Taylor R9 I think. What's cool is I picked them up on the Taylor Made certified site - clubs with a head cover for <$100 each. TaylorMade Golf Clubs PreOwned & Used Golf Equipment, Drivers, Irons, Putters, and more

Point is, a couple year old technology today is more than adequate and I can't think of a reason to have to buy the current year stuff.