New player looking for advice on which clubs to use

[RBenn1701]

Hey all, new member and new player here, looking for advice on a bare-bones set of clubs to get me started. Plan to build a small set from used clubs instead of buying a full set. I have only played 2 rounds of golf in my life (with a friend's borrowed bag) and have been to the range about a dozen times. Pretty poor player at the moment, I drive around 125, and my mid-irons go around 80-100. My last round of golf I shot a 70 on the front Nine (par 35) Here is my plan for a starter set, let me know what you think (note, these will all be standard height/lie, graphite shaft, and the irons will be "cavity-backed")

-Driver (looking at a higher loft than average, perhaps 12 degrees? I have been using a 10, but I struggle to get it up)

-Fairway Wood (again, I'm thinking the higher loft the better, so prob a 7? I know there are actually some 9 Wood's out there, but hard to find used)

-3 Irons (thinking about a 6, 9, and LW.... A 6 because it is the longest I can hit reliably, a LW because it's easiest to hit and ideal for landing on the green, and a 9 because it's halfway between the 6 and LW)

-Putter (just picked up the cheapest one I could find in a local used golf store...also bought a practice putting green off amazon)

 

Will those 6 clubs be enough to get me through a course? Note I have left off hybrids... I can't seem to hit with them, and do much better with equivalent irons anyway. I'm iffy on the Fairway Wood too, but I figure I need at get comfortable with one because of their utility (from what I understand, they are ideal for Tee'ing off on par 3's, and they are necessary for Long 4's/5's when a player can't hit a "long iron"?)

 

Thanks for any insight!

 

[Golf64]

Costco has a 10 piece set of Callaway Edge cheap. Check them out.

[Myherobobhope]

That set up is going to be fine, but it’s going to be tough to build out in the used market...

nothing wrong with a “full” set from Costco or Tommy armour from golf galaxy.

driver: yes. 12 degrees and up until you are making good contact reliably. Shorter is better. You want something around 42 inches long. Anything made in the past ten years by a reputable brand will be fine. Once again, Tommy armour stuff at golf galaxy is cheap and decent.

woods: look for something around 17-20 degrees. Regular flex shaft. Ping is a little more pricey, but they are built on the concept of forgiveness. Cobra also makes good stuff that’s cheap.

irons: there is no real great way to get this done... just find some used irons you like decently and don’t kill your budget. They are floating around. Facebook market is good for this.

wedges: lob wedge is not the best beginners clubs... get a 56 wedge. Sleep with it. It will be your friend.

putter: once you are committed to golf, spend some time finding a decent putter. I’ve games 2 putters in the past 20 years. Roi is huge, even if initial cost is high.

[pkn17003]

I would simply get a 7- and a 9-iron, a sandwedge and a putter. As early as you are in your golfing career I see no real benifits of hitting anything else, I doubt your scores will be lower with the longer clubs in the bag. When you eventually feel you're hitting your 7-iron somewhat consistently you can start looking at a whole set and a driver. This way you start off cheap and still have enough gear to enjoy the game. :)

[Qqq123xx]

OP Think you are on the right track and those clubs you mentioned are a good start. You might want to use SW instead of LW as LW a bit trickier to use. Up to you of course. Just add clubs as you play more, get better down the road. And 12* driver excellent choice.

[Jeff58]

A somewhat alternative approach-

Don’t buy a driver. Until you’ve been playing for at least a year, and typically more, you’re better off teeing off with a fairway wood. A five wood is a good bet, and you’ll have a club to practice with off the turf as well.

Do buy a complete set of irons from a reputable source. Such as these - Callaway Big Bertha Irons (2002) | Callaway IronsYou need to practice correctly and go out and actually play, regardless of your overall skill level. A quality set of used clubs will go far in that regard. They’ll also still be worth as much as you paid for them if and when you upgrade.

Get both a sand wedge and a higher-lofted ‘lob’ wedge. Here again, there are specific skills you need to obtain and practice to advance. Without at least moderately appropriate gear, that will be difficult.

Get rid of your $5 putter and get something decent. You use the putter more than any club in the bag. With a worthless putter, your game will likely be...