Golf Equipment

June 20, 2004 9:23 PM

GolfFilter: I'm a very amature golfer and have been looking at different brands of golf equipment. I really can't afford to buy a nice set of clubs, but it's nice to look. But what are the nicest brands? What are the strengths and weaknesses of each?

It seems that Callaway, Titelist, and Taylor-Made seem to be top-of-the-line brands. Callaway seems to have good drivers, and Titelist good irons. But I know little as to why.

posted by MrAnonymous to sports, hobbies, & recreation (6 comments total)

It's a question of what you like to hit, and I think it's pretty subjective. I like Titleists, myself, but if I had bought Pings, I'd be writing "I like Pings, myself".

If you are new to golfing, buy cavity-back clubs (not blades), and consider buying oversized clubs. You'll find them to be more forgiving.

As we wrote in an earlier Ask, buy used clubs. Good value for the money.
posted by trharlan at 10:01 PM on June 20, 2004

I agree with the used club suggestion. One of my golf buddies was telling me this weekend about the used club bargains he finds on ebay. I just punched in "Callaway Big Bertha" and came up with over 2500 items.
posted by eastlakestandard at 6:50 AM on June 21, 2004

Keep in mind that advertising dollars play a large role in the mindshare of golfers. Callaway seesm to currently be in decline, Taylor Made is peaking right now and Titleist is on the ascent. Keep in mind these are totally subjective assements, but I suspect hard data would back them up. Who knows what is going to be hot next. It doesn't really matter, as it's 99.99999% fashion anyways.
posted by Keith Talent at 11:04 AM on June 21, 2004

It's not so much a brand issue as a "feel" issue. Go to a place that allows you to "demo" a bunch of clubs. In fairly short order you'll weed out those that "feel right" from those that simply don't. Then, as mentioned above, leave the store & buy 'em used!

Other brands to consider: Mizuno, Nike, Tommy Armour, Cobra, MacGregor, Ping, Hogan, and Cleveland. I have a Taylor Made R580 driver, a Callaway Steelhead 3-wood, a Titleist 2-iron, Mizuno MX-23 irons, and Hogan wedges. Like I said, there's no one "right" answer across the board.
posted by pardonyou? at 11:13 AM on June 21, 2004

As a new golfer, I suggest spend $299 on used or a starter set, and play frequently this summer. Learn what you like and dislike about your clubs. By next summer or the year after, you'll be playing at a more sophisticated level and you'll know how to shop to suit your game.

To back up the thoughts above: Definitely demo clubs. I bought my irons based primarily on online forums coupled with a lengthy swing session at my local golf shop that convinced me the feel was right. My woods I bought on recommendation alone and I was largely disappointed.

I just bought a new driver, and in doing so, I ignored brand and style to focus just on feel. I wound up with a mid-line Callaway Big Bertha: not the most stylish or cutting-edge, but the one with which I hit the sweet spot most often (learn to read the masking tape a golf shop puts on the demo clubs). I played a round with the new driver yesterday and drove a good 25 yards longer than with my old, not-tested-before-buying model.

I learned to golf on my father's old golf clubs. They did the job just fine, until I became good enough to know what I wanted for my game. Heck, my brother still uses my dad's hand-me-down clubs, and he drives the ball 300-plus yards. Forget brands. Just go play.
posted by werty at 12:16 PM on June 21, 2004

Caveat: I have family with a major manufacturer.

For you as a beginning golfer? Not much difference. It's like computers. If all you do is surf the net, email, and putz around with office-like things, pretty much anything goes. But if you are a professional gamer, need to render images for a short film, or design websites across platforms, the little things add up to real differences.

The biggest difference in your game will be from fit, not name brand, i.e. if your running shoes are two sizes too small, it doesn't matter if there are Nike or New Balance.

Your best bet is to go to a local (non-chain) store and ask about off-brand custom clubs. These are clones of major manufactures but fit with the right shaft stiffness, length, and grips for you. You get the major design benefits without the name brand.

Plus, they usually cost less than the name brand starter sets.
posted by karmaville at 2:27 PM on June 21, 2004