Golf Club Buying Guide

Many hackers hang on to their clubs long after high school. Then they find out the hard way that their clubs look like something out of Bagger Vance; when they’re loading their clubs onto a cart with onlookers preparing to tee-off nearby. The constant mocking of your tin sticks normally lasts until about the 7th or 8th hole, with a break at the 9th, and then another friendly reminder as you tee off on the 10th.

Some choose to buy golf clubs the “easy way” – jump online, compare prices, order, wait, receive, and then hit the range. It all seems simple enough. However, buying golf clubs online is a risk, especially if you’re not sure how to shop for golf clubs.

Start with how much you want to spend. Do you want to go all out and get a set designed to last? Or, do you want to save some money and find some used clubs on eBay or even buy golf clubs on sale at a large sporting goods store such as Dick’s? Many of you determine that it is smarter to pay more now – and have a set for a lifetime. Why buy a set that’s not in great condition when you would probably have to upgrade to new golf clubs in just a couple of years? Plus, if you want to start playing more, buying a decent set from a reputable brand just makes more sense.

If you’re not sure how to go about buying golf clubs, there are articles online that will explain (in great detail) what you really need to know before making a golf club purchase. You’re going to need to provide more information than simply “left-handed” or “right-handed.” Visit a reputable golf company for some guidance. Here are some keys to the process:

• Budget. Tell the salesman your budget, including the things you’re going to need. If you have a workable putter and a golf bag without Disney characters on it, you can save money by staying away from those purchases. Ask the salesman to provide you with several woods and irons to test within your price range. Most brick-and-mortar golf merchandisers have a place where you can drive balls, or at least a net into which you can hit balls and get a solid feel for the clubs. (Remember, you don’t need a complete set, although it’s often cheaper to buy a full set of irons, as opposed to purchasing your irons individually.)
• Club-length. A professional can measure you and help you with sizing. However, if you’re a novice to mid-level golfer and not of extreme height, most clubs fall into a standard-length category. When you get into titanium clubs and specialized graphite drivers, some of the lengths are extended. (Remember: The longer the driver – the more difficult to control) Write down the sizes the salesman gives you. Chances are you’ll need standard-length clubs.
• Shaft. Your swing speed will affect the type of shaft you’ll need. If you have a fast swing, you’ll need a stiffer shaft. If your swing is slower and more deliberate, you’ll want a regular flex. They also make ladies’ flex and seniors’ flex shafts for slower swing speeds. (I realized that I needed a stiff flex because of my hurried swing and my unnecessary need to punish the ball. Once the salesman discovered this, he showed me stiff-flex shafts that were in my price range. I tried several clubs from a few manufacturers. Some felt better than others. I wrote down everything, noting which clubs felt the best.)
• Steel vs. Graphite. The basic rule of thumb is that graphite is lighter – and therefore better. But quite frankly, not everyone can afford graphite shafts. Besides, if you’re a monthly hacker, you simply don’t need graphite clubs. It is generally recommended that men of most ages use steel irons and graphite woods, while seniors and ladies should use graphite irons and woods because of the lighter weight. Again, this is not in stone. Steel shafts will do the job, even for more experienced golfers.
• Loft. Ask a professional or the salesman about loft. The type of shaft, which is affected by the speed of your swing, is important to the kind of loft you should use. The stiffer the shaft, the lower the loft is the basic rule. Ladies and seniors should choose higher lofts.

The overall message here is to do your homework. Write everything down, as every Pro and salesperson has valuable tips to help you choose the right set for you. As you’ll find, some sites will allow you to search for specifics such as shaft type, loft, club-length, etc. However, others don’t offer all of these variables. If you know the clubs you want are fairly standard, you might get exactly what you want. But if you need something a little different, ordering online can sometimes be tough. You just need to find a site that lets you account for all of those variables. Then you just need to shop the prices.

Remember, there are also shipping costs to consider – plus you never know when your clubs will arrive, so it may make more sense for you to buy your clubs from a local sporting goods store. But if price is paramount, which for most people it is, shop around online. You’ll probably find a better deal. It’s also a good idea to call these companies and see if you can order the precise clubs you want – even if their site doesn’t display exactly what you’re after. Many smaller companies have lower prices, but several rudimentary Web sites didn’t display all of their clubs online, which is why making the phone calls and asking the right questions may be your best bet. This is where you could find your diamond in the rough.

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This entry was posted on Thursday, July 6th, 2006 at 4:53 pm and is filed under Featured Posts, Shopping Guides, Sports, Summer '06. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.