Ping G30 driver has been the most forgiving driver I've hit by a considerable margin. I'm a 17-18 handicap

Agree on ping g30. It has actually made golf enjoyable for me this season because it's so easy to hit.

I would give some thought to 5-6h instead of irons too for a beginner. I use them with no shame. I find them way easier to hit consistently

Why not go for the set in a box for $75 and see if they actually like the game first. I used Rams for the first 6 months I played while I was learning. Then went for the nice clubs.

My complete guess is that CDL's boss or someone sees CDL as "the golf guy" and wants him to help with this gift, money being no object.

Yea. This.

Speaking of which I really need to get a 4, 5, and 6 hybrid.

close. We got like a $2500-3000 budget for this for the guy and a spa day for the girl as a wedding gift between like 6-7 guys. Best man leading the charge on the golf clubs because the two of them have been promising to take lessons for a couple years now, but neither had clubs. Everything on all 3 registries is already gone and experience based stuff like dinners/tickets/etc. is a no go because he is rich and already does all that stuff regularly.

Will get the Ping G30. These specs solid?

PING G30 Driver
Hand: Right Hand
Loft: 10.0° SF Tec
Shaft: TFC 419D Graphite
Flex: Regular Flex


PING G30 Fairway Wood
Hand: Right Hand
Loft: 3 Wood
Shaft: TFC 419F Graphite
Flex: Regular Flex

I'm thinking there is no need to match the irons and hybrids with the woods. I assume we still want steel shafts on irons, but I haven't bought any for myself in 13 years when graphite wasn't a thing except for olds. Am I right or wrong here?

seems good. definitely no need to match the irons/hybrids with the woods

Ok, here is what I have:

PING G30 Driver
Hand: Right Hand
Loft: 10.0° SF Tec
Shaft: TFC 419D Graphite
Flex: Regular Flex

PING G30 Fairway Wood
Hand: Right Hand
Loft: 3 Wood
Shaft: TFC 419F Graphite
Flex: Regular Flex

TaylorMade SpeedBlade Hybrid/Irons - (Graphite/Steel) 3-4H, 5-PW
Configuration: 3H4H,5-PW
Hand: Right Hand
Flex: Regular Flex

TaylorMade SpeedBlade Wedge
Hand: Right Hand
Loft: 50.0°
Bounce: Standard
Flex: Uniflex

Odyssey White Ice 2.0 #1 Putter
Hand: Right Hand
Length: 34 inch



links for full specs:

http://www.dickssportinggoods.com/pr...odFindSrc=cart

http://www.dickssportinggoods.com/pr...odFindSrc=cart

http://www.dickssportinggoods.com/pr...odFindSrc=cart

http://www.dickssportinggoods.com/pr...odFindSrc=cart

http://www.dickssportinggoods.com/pr...odFindSrc=cart

thoughts?

Playing Bay Hill next week with a group of guys, caddies included. Caddy fee is $65, curious what tip should be on top of that...

I've never used a caddy so open to all suggestions, tips, etc.

Thanks folks.

I'd say $50 minimum, up to $100 if he's really good.

Walk in and out of the bunker in the same place. Don't be afraid to ask anything.

You need to add a higher lofted wedge such as the speedblade sand wedge to match the set.

I would also recommend replacing the fairway wood with one with a higher loft. You need a good and fast swing to get a better result off the deck with that 14.5 you picked out than with a higher lofted wood. Maybe the Taylor made aero burner 3HL or the Ping G25 4 wood to stick with the same brands.

Balls, tees, and glove?

Project A or Callaway supersoft are my favorite golf balls!

http://www.tgw.com/customer/category...CID=EMC-091015

About $200
4-6h graphite 7-GW steel

I have these, they are easy to hit

Bridgestone 330RX are my go to ball.
Project A was kinda meh for me but a ton of people like them

Both of those cost a few bucks a ball so if you want a cheap ball that isn't awful go with the noodle long & soft. Can get them for under $1 a ball and they actually perform rather well compared to every other ball in that price range.

IMO don't get the speedblade set. A beginner just isn't going to have much fun trying to hit those 4 and 5 irons that are closer to a 3.5 and 4.5 iron

You are also probably better off getting a face balanced putter

ok so after feedback, I'm at this configuration:

PING G30 Driver
Hand: Right Hand
Loft: 10.5°
Shaft: TFC 419D Graphite
Flex: Regular Flex

PING G30 Fairway Wood
Hand: Right Hand
Loft: 5 Wood
Shaft: TFC 419F Graphite
Flex: Regular Flex

Adams Golf Idea A12 OS Hybrid/Irons - (Graphite/Steel) 4-6H, 7-GW
Configuration: 4-6H,7-GW
Hand: Right Hand
Flex: Regular Flex

Cleveland Golf Tour Action Wedge
Hand: Right Hand
Loft: 50.0°
Bounce: Standard
Flex: Uniflex

Cleveland Golf Tour Action Wedge
Hand: Right Hand
Loft: 54.0°
Bounce: Standard
Flex: Uniflex

TaylorMade White Smoke IN-12 Putter
Hand: Right Hand
Length: 34 inch

I love that set makeup for a beginner. The Cleveland 50* and the G wedge that comes with the set is probably an overlap though.

good call. switched the irons without the wedge. Should I leave it with just the 54 (adams wedge is a 49) or add a 58 in place of the 50? Leaning toward no needs for the 58.

There are a few things I'd consider if I had the same task:

1. How hard will this beginner work at improving?

2. How likely is this beginner to be willing to purchase a new set down the road?

If he is just getting a set of clubs to use at corporate outings and will never pick up the game seriously, then a beginner set seems perfectly fine. If you anticipate him becoming a driving range grinder who is dedicated to learning the game and improving, then it might be a decent idea to get him a more traditional set (eg 4i-PW).

The beginner set is also fine if he's the type of person who is willing to just drop a few grand to buy another new set as he improves.

Personally, I'd never buy anything new but it sounds like it isn't an issue with this guy

1. How hard he will work at improving is probably dependent on other people around him playing too. The best man at this wedding is planning to get a set too as they have been talking about taking lessons together for a while now. If they both like it they will definitely commit themselves to improving based on the fact that both are super competitive and hate being bad at anything. There is always a chance they don't like the game, but he seemed to have enough fun when he took golf in undergrad as a PE elective.

I think the biggest obstacle to them getting serious is that they both live in Manhattan so access to courses is somewhat limited. Either way, he will be a weekend golfer type and not a guy grinding on the range after work due to time constraints and the opportunity not being there due to location.

2. If he likes the game and improves he will surely buy new clubs when he improves a few years down the line.

I assume that like most new golfers he won't really care about putting (ie. it will be nice when he makes putts, but his alignment, green reading, and stroke will suck so no need to spend $ on a putter). On the other hand, a driver will be more fun to hit so one that is long and forgiving is a place to spend $.

Given that its a wedding gift, we definitely want the clubs to be new even though I understand there is better value to be had elsewhere.

The guy is on his way to making MD at a major WS bank by age 30 or 32 so the money won't ever be the issue-only the time or lack of passion for the game would be.

There is zero reason for anyone but a scratch golfer to be playing a 4 iron

why do I keep hearing people say this?

I have hit hybrids on many occasions in the last few years (mostly high end rentals that are newer clubs and in good shape) and I can't seem to make good contact with them. I also have a 2 way miss with hybrids that I don't suffer from with irons (but do with a driver sometimes). On the other hand, I can make solid contact with my 4 iron and can put a swing on it where I can make sure any miss is either left/right depending on whats needed. Now, by no means do I pure my 3i or 4i all the time, but when I have swung hybrids the misses are worse and more frequent and even the ones I strike well aren't as good as a pured 3i or 4i even though those instances are all rare.

I'm prob a 12ish hdcp.

You just described me exactly. I do the same thing.

+1 my misses with hybrids are much worse than my 4i. I'm about a 25hcp

Should I just swing my 5i harder? Swinging my woods slower doesn't work

To the guys who claim to do better with 4i than 4h:

1. The default length of hybrids is usually longer than irons and longer clubs are harder to hit so that could be your problem. It doesn't have to be this way though. You can get your hybrid fit for an iron length shaft.

2. Maybe you just dont hit your long irons high enough to get a terrible hook or slice. It's still pretty terrible though when you only carry your 4i as far as your 7i and it rolls the rest of the way.

3. A lot of hybrids are built with extra draw bias. For some people that's bad. Using the right hybrid (or an adjustable hybrid) will help.