LarryDavenport

I'm going to take up golf...any pointers?

When it stops raining I want to start playing golf. I've played a couple 3 par courses with rented clubs but want to buy my own set. I was hoping for some pointers.

What do I look for in a set?

Can someone recommend a set for under $400?

Is Wilson a good golf club maker? I've seen sets by them in the $150-$300 range).

If I play public courses do I need golf shoes or are sneakers ok?

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Steve_Tk

sneakers are ok. Don't invest too much until you realize that you will not give it up. I've seen a lot of people want to play, buy the stuff to play, and get frustrated that they suck and quit pretty quickly. We all suck if we don't play a lot.

Mike Wladyka

look for some clubs that will be forgiving for your mis-hits...go to the golf stores and they should let you hit some clubs, i recommend cavity back irons because they are more forgiving than forged irons...i have tommy armour 845's are really like them...they were $250 or so for 3-SW. If you are confident in not giving up the game i would recommend getting nicer clubs, but if you are not sure get cheaper clubs...

sneakers should be okay, but golf shoes really help when swinging...

as for other pointers, watch the golf channel to learn what the swing is all about...they have lots of good pointers on there.

Now they show you how detergents take out bloodstains, a pretty violent image there. I think if you\'ve got a T-shirt with a bloodstain all over it, maybe laundry isn\'t your biggest problem. Maybe you should get rid of the body before you do the wash.

Philip Hamm

Take lessons before you develop any bad habits. You can NEVER be better than completely mega-sucky at golf without lessons. Lots of practice and lessons will make it so you're just sucky.

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Scott Merryfield

Do not even buy a driver until you learn to hit your other clubs. I would look for a used set of cavity back irons and a couple of fairway woods. Until you decide whether you are going to stay with the game, avoid spending a lot of money on equipment. The driver and long irons will be the most difficult to learn how to hit. Take a few beginners lessons, practice and have a lot of patience. It's a very difficult game to learn how to play well.

You may want to subscribe to Golf Digest, too. The magazine provides a lot of game improvement pointers and has articles on equipment. Even if you do not follow the professional golf tours, there is a lot of useful information for a golfer.

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wally

DON'T

I would agree with all the above, the lesson part in particular. Also, if you play much in the early morning, I would consider investing $50-$60 for a pair of water proof shoes. Nothing kills a game like soaked feet after #1. Plus now that they make styles other than the High School Cheerleader look, you can use them when you mow the lawn if you have a hilly yard.

Bill Griffith

Don't spend alot of money up front. Get cheap X out balls or cheaper. You can get an adiquate set of clubs for under $200 at academy sports or Oshmans or any sports chain. Get a cheap bag, less than $40, and a pair of comfortable shoes with soft spikes, and a putter, a cheap putter, some tees and a divet repairer. Also get a glove for both hands until your hands toughen up in the area the club effects.

Go to a range and hit some balls.



completely false, I've never had a lesson and I'm just sucky.

Hunter P

Buy used balls. You'll be losing a lot of them.

My $.02 on lessons. Sure they can be helpful, sometimes very helpful for some. But for others, lessons are a waste of time. If you watch the PGA, you'll see a lot of different swing styles. Depite the difference, they all hit the ball straight.

The pros are able to hit the ball straight due to repetition. Learn your natural swing and make adjustments from there.

GIR, UNLEASH THE MONKEY!

\"I am the Doctor of Death, and I have come to cure you of your life.\" --Endless Mike, The Adventures of Pete and Pete

Patrick Sun

Whatever you do, don't try to impress a girl like Tareq did on "Average Joe" last night, if you think you can just master the game of golf with 10 minutes of instruction.

"I am a leaf on the wind, watch how I soar!"
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Scott Merryfield

While lessons for an experienced golfer can really screw you up (especially if the instructor tries to completely rebuild your swing), I think they can be very helpful for a beginner. You can get proper instruction on the fundamentals, such as proper grip, stance, alignment, etc.

Once you get the fundamentals down, the best way to improve is by practicing and playing. I've been playing golf for almost 30 years, and my single biggest improvement came one summer off from college when I played a lot. I went from never having broken 100 to shooting in the mid-80's that summer. Of course, 20 years later and my game is at that same point of low-to-mid 80's.

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