While the object of the game of golf is to learn the skills necessary to accomplish the goals of moving that tiny ball down those magnificent greens, many times new golfers get far too distracted by buying the cool stuff of golfing and don’t focus on their game. But it’s a mistake to run out and by top of the line golf clubs suitable for world class golfers when you are still trying to figure out what all the clubs are called. So for the first year of golfing or at least until you are sure you are going to stick with the game, used clubs might be a better approach for your first set.
For a lot of people, the option of buying used clubs can make starting this new hobby not such a financial strain. And by starting out with a less expensive set, you can find out if you will fall in love with golf for life or if your interest will pass. And if you do find that golf is not a sport you will stick with, you have not sunk so much money into the sport and you can always sell the used clubs for little or no financial loss. But the real value in using inexpensive clubs at first is that you can use this time to find out what you need in a quality set of golf clubs so when you do invest in your permanent set, you are an informed customer.
Even if you do decide that it’s smart to go the used club route, it’s even smarter to not buy in the first few weeks or months of learning to play gulf but to rent clubs at first. You can work out a deal with your favorite golf shop to rent the same set for several weeks so you can get used to them. This way you can focus on learning golf along with what you like and don’t like about how your rental clubs work for you. A side benefit is that by establishing a relationship with the rental shop you like, they can let you know when they are putting used golf club sets on sale and you can get a bargain.
Even when you start shopping for a used set of clubs to make your starter set, it’s a great idea to seek out some wise counsel about the purchase. Knowing how to evaluate clubs will help you avoid the disaster of paying money for clubs that are a terrible fit to your style of play. So work with your golf instructor or pros at the shop you are familiar with because he can give you a list of criteria so you have some guidelines when you shop for your first set of clubs. Then when you do buy, you will feel like you were an informed consumer rather than buying out of ignorance.
A factor that is hard to quantify that makes one set of clubs better for you than another is how they feel when you actually use them playing golf. That is why when you visit a golf shop, you always see shoppers taking out golf clubs and doing test swings or putts with them right there is the shop. But to know if the club feels right, you need to have enough experience with golf to even know how it is supposed to feel. But above all playing with each club should be comfortable, you should not feel ill at ease using it and the club should be a tool for you to be a success with golf, not a hindrance.
The quality of materials in a good set of golf clubs will make or break your game. The heads of a good set of used clubs should be stainless steel and not an alloy that will not perform well in play. Good designs for golf clubs especially at the beginner level are what is called perimeter weighted clubs, cavity backed clubs which means they are hollow near the back of the club or clubs with larger or oversized heads. Buying clubs with larger heads gives you a bigger striking surface which means more of your shots will perform well as you learn the game. Then once you are accomplished at golf, you can buy conventional sized golf clubs to use long term.
Also learn to evaluate all aspects of the golf club you are considering for purchase. The shaft of the club should be lightweight and make the swing easy to execute. A graphite golf shaft is a good choice of materials for this part of the club. But the one part of the club you will work with most intimately is the grip. Now on a used club, the grip may be worn. This is not a deal breaker as you can get the grips replaced pretty easily. But hold the club and make sure it feels good as you step into position for a drive or a putt and evaluate all of these elements together before buying even a used set of golf clubs.
It’s pretty exciting to shop for that first set of your own golf clubs but it is also a little scary. But by having some ways to evaluate the clubs as we have discussed and with your list of questions your golf pro gave you in your back pocket, you can shop smart and get a great starter set of clubs. So when you test swing each club in the set and know what you are looking for and you can discuss the pros and cons of the set with the club owner, you will be confident in your decision when the process is done whether that decision is to buy the clubs or let them pass and keep on looking.