Help buying golf club

[OSBF]

I do play a little golf, but have never gotten really "into" having a bag full of the best and newest clubs. My GF is playing in a league this summer, and I decided it would be a great b-day presant to help her upgrade her clubs some. I'm looking for help from those that know something about buying clubs today.

Thinking about starting her off with a nice "rescue" sand wedge. The Alien3 has ben suggested to me as an excellent club choice. My questions:

What about loft, these things come in everything from 40 deg up to over 60 deg.

Do I have to get a "women's" club? Is there that big a difference?

What about shaft length, what am I looking for in a good wedge? She's 5-6 give or take.

This Alien thing looks like a great club for the price based on what research I've done. The clubs she has now are a set of wal-mart or k-mart specials, I think spauldings that are 25 years old and the whole set prob costs under 200 bucks, so almost anything is a step up.

[bodoyle]

OS: They have ladies flex in wedges. The alien works, but it's kind of a gimmick club. A friend of mine had it and it worked.

A sandwedge is typically 56 degrees. A 60 degree club is called a lob wedge, inbetween are gap wedges. The thing you want to worry about is the bounce of a club. It depends on the type of sand she typically plays in. Less bounce is good for shots from the fairway. More bounce is better for bunker shots. What bounce will do is glide over the sand and not stick in the sand. Soft, fluffy sand requires high bounce. Wet, hard sand requires less bounce b/c you will need to get into the sand..

Good wedges are Cleveland, Titleist Vokey, Nike Victory Red Forged, Adams Puglielli 418 Tour, TaylorMade RAC Satin TP etc.

Here is a visual explaination: http://blog.hirekogolf.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2007/10/angle-of-attack.jpg

[WWII]

Normally gap wedges are between your pitching and sand wedges. Women's clubs are generally 1/2" shorter than men's clubs. The slection for women is not as robust as men, but the heads are virtually the same. You might want to look up a local club maker who could put one together which would have a shaft which would match her abilities.

[OSBF]

Don't you want a plain old steel shaft on your wedges? I mean, when you're trying to blast out of heavy sand or deep rough, why would you want the shaft to flex and use up energy youre trying to deliver to the club head and the ball?

Found out last night she doesn't even have a full set of clubs and is using a 9 iron out of bunkers, rough, and as a PW. Anything I decide to get her will be better than what she's using now. I think I've decided on a combo wedge set from ALien, for 40 bucks with free shipping you get a sand wedge and a lob wedge.

Another question, she doesn't have a "good" driver, using something that is at least labeled a 1 wood. Would a less expensive "modern" driver help or do you have to spend 500 bucks to get something better than what she's got now?

Thanks for the input guys, I'm really flying by the seat of my pants on this.

[ISUMatt]

1 WOOD IS A DRIVER...THE BIGGER THE HEAD ON THE DRIVER, THE BETTER THE HIT ON THE BALL, YOU DONT HAVE TO GO CRAZY WITH THE HEAD SIZE, BUT SOMETHING LARGER WOULD DEFINITELY HELP HER

[OSBF]

1 WOOD IS A DRIVER...THE BIGGER THE HEAD ON THE DRIVER, THE BETTER THE HIT ON THE BALL, YOU DONT HAVE TO GO CRAZY WITH THE HEAD SIZE, BUT SOMETHING LARGER WOULD DEFINITELY HELP HER

i already admitted i have no idea what im doing here and am in over my head, why are you yelling at me?:D:D

[SideLine Shooter]

Not to be disrespectful, but if you are looking for help to buy golf clubs here, you might want to lay off golf about six months and then just quit golf altogether.xnodx

[andy7171]

Back before I had my second daughter when I played golf, I loved my Tight Lies fairway wood.
http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/31pSl5tZxXL._AA280_.jpg

[Tealblood]

buy her a few lessons and then let her pick out with help from a guy that knows whats going on the right clubs

my wife has basic "womens" irons

her wedges are an upgrade

her driver though is a "senior mens" flex and length-she hits it pretty hard

[bodoyle]

Don't you want a plain old steel shaft on your wedges? I mean, when you're trying to blast out of heavy sand or deep rough, why would you want the shaft to flex and use up energy youre trying to deliver to the club head and the ball?

Found out last night she doesn't even have a full set of clubs and is using a 9 iron out of bunkers, rough, and as a PW. Anything I decide to get her will be better than what she's using now. I think I've decided on a combo wedge set from ALien, for 40 bucks with free shipping you get a sand wedge and a lob wedge.

Another question, she doesn't have a "good" driver, using something that is at least labeled a 1 wood. Would a less expensive "modern" driver help or do you have to spend 500 bucks to get something better than what she's got now?

Thanks for the input guys, I'm really flying by the seat of my pants on this.

You do want steel shafts in your wedges, esp if she is a 5-6 handicap. But there is still different flex in steel shafts. I use X300 (extra stiff 300), there is S300, etc etc.

Graphite shafts speed up the club head to give more power behind the shot. That is the point in them...that and more forgiveness and less reverberation through the shaft on mi****s.

Spending $500 on a driver doesn't make any sense. Think about it. 90 shots in a round, 33 of them are with your putter, and atleast 20 will be with your wedges, and maybe 14 are with a driver. It isn't worth it. When I teach people how to golf I start at the green and work backwards. Work from the area you will be at the most to where you will be at the least.

What ISU says is kind of true, but also, the bigger the head (the more CC's) the larger the sweet spot, and also the larger the "mis-hit" area.

[OSBF]

You do want steel shafts in your wedges, esp if she is a 5-6 handicap. But there is still different flex in steel shafts. I use X300 (extra stiff 300), there is S300, etc etc.

Graphite shafts speed up the club head to give more power behind the shot. That is the point in them...that and more forgiveness and less reverberation through the shaft on mi****s.

Spending $500 on a driver doesn't make any sense. Think about it. 90 shots in a round, 33 of them are with your putter, and atleast 20 will be with your wedges, and maybe 14 are with a driver. It isn't worth it. When I teach people how to golf I start at the green and work backwards. Work from the area you will be at the most to where you will be at the least.

What ISU says is kind of true, but also, the bigger the head (the more CC's) the larger the sweet spot, and also the larger the "mis-hit" area.

Thanks, that all makes sense. Makes sense to start up grading with the clubs you hit the most shots with in a round, working backwards as you said. I think that's the path to lower scores the soonest. I mean, I understand the golfer still has to make the shots, clubs don't swing themselves, but better sticks will have to help.

I have the ALien wedge set on the way for a birthday present, she doesn't have any wedges at all now, so that will be a big help. Next I think I'll get a good putter, her's looks like a reject from a put put course. Then I'm gonna upgrade her driver, her 1 wood is really made out of wood, gotta have something better there.

[bodoyle]

I suggest the following putters:

1) Bettinardi
2) Scotty Cameron
3) Rife

If you don't mind spending triple digits.

[OSBF]

I suggest the following putters:

1) Bettinardi
2) Scotty Cameron
3) Rife

If you don't mind spending triple digits.


Odessey? Heard some good things about them.

Do you work in a pro shop, sell golf equipment, or just know your shiat?

I REALLY got into all the techy stuff with bowling, 2-piece vs 3-piece cores, knew the ins and outs of every new coverstock from every manufacturer, but just never really got into that part of golf.

[putter]

I don't know if you wanted top of the line but I bought my wife (first time golfer) this set for $120 bucks. Nice set and utilized hybrid clubs, which I really like.

http://ep.yimg.com/ip/I/yhst-17159114447480_2055_34499510

400cc Forged driver with graphite shaft
Oversized #3 and #4 woods with graphite shafts
Hybrid #5 & #6 iron/wood with graphite shafts
7-PW/SW (4 irons) with graphite shafts
Mallet style putter
Matching head covers (5)
Lightweight multi-pocket cart bag

[bodoyle]

Odessey? Heard some good things about them.

Do you work in a pro shop, sell golf equipment, or just know your shiat?

I REALLY got into all the techy stuff with bowling, 2-piece vs 3-piece cores, knew the ins and outs of every new coverstock from every manufacturer, but just never really got into that part of golf.

Odyssey is good too. A lot of people like the Odyssey 2ball putters. I don't, but it's just personal preference.

When I was a student at CCU I was majoring in Business Admin-Marketing/PGM. (Professional Golf Mgmt)

I learned a lot at CCU and before that working at a golf course for 8+ years and reading magazines etc. The golf course was the best. They let me build clubs, do repair etc, and it was private so all the rich guys had the best equip. They would let us hit shots for them all the time so I learned a lot about the clubs just from hitting them.