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Lyle Slovick Instructor, Level I Affiliate Member United States Golf Teachers Federation Good Golf For Life.com ©2008
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Equipment It is extremely important that you use clubs that work best for you, and you shouldn't care what they look like. But make sure they are fit properly and hit them before you make a purchase, never just buy them because they look good or are supposedly "the best." Some of the best clubs I've played are very reasonably priced brands you probably never heard. Impress people with your game, not you gear! For a guide to club fitting, click here. I am a certified club fitter. Please check my Services Offered page for more information. Part of keeping things simple is to use fewer clubs, which you may think is crazy, but the fewer the better, unless you get to a single digit handicap. I suggest the following set: 3-wood (with at least 15 degrees of loft), 21 degree utility club, 5-iron, 7-iron, 9-iron, pitching wedge, 60 degree lob wedge, and a putter. So that is 8 clubs, 6 under the legal limit, and that's about right for the average player, really. For many years I played with only 7 clubs, and my scores were as good as with a full set. You can also pick clubs that suit certain courses, but the rule is to keep things simple. I will wean you away from the idea that you can "buy" a good game. Equipment is important, absolutely, but don't be enticed by every promise or gizmo a manufacturers tries to sell you. Find clubs that are easy for you to hit, oversized iron and hybrid clubs, and you don't have to pay an arm and a leg either. You can find all kinds of clubs that are "clones" of major lines - like Nike, Taylor Made, Ping - that play like them because they have the same specifications. Click here to read more. Remove clubs you can't hit worth a darn and use those you can. And if you REALLY want to learn how to hit good metal wood shots, get an old wood, I mean a REAL persimmon or laminated Strata-Bloc maple wooden club and practice with that for awhile. With the old clubs you truly have to hit the ball on the sweet spot to get it to go anywhere. It will pay off when you get on the course because shots will seem easier. As for golf balls, again, be basic. You don't need the most expensive ball to begin with, but experiment a little with different ones until you find a brand that suits you best. Ladies, make sure to start with clubs made especially for you. Unless you are an accomplished athlete, using men's clubs with their stiffer shafts will make the game harder than it has to be. For children getting into the game, invest in a proper starter set - a link to a site for kid's equipment is found at the bottom of this page. Below are my favorite equipment websites - that is, if you like to get great stuff at the lowest prices: Golf Bargains Online - MY EQUIPMENT WEBSITE OFFERS GREAT DEALS!
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