Re: Hello from Kansas

I think there's an ideal answer to this and a practical answer. Ideally, everyone would start by getting fitted for a custom-made club, and would start by taking lessons from a pro.

No one does.

Let's start from the principle that any golf is better than no golf. Similarly, any clubs are better than no clubs. Being a tall guy, you will, in the fullness of time, want clubs that have been extended, but you'd be surprised at how much Shakespeare knew about golf (seeing as it hadn't been invented) when he said "What a piece of work is man!" - the human body will cope with almost any golfing problem you throw at it. Tall players with short clubs is the least of these.

Start with a putter. In any round of golf you ever play, it accounts for in the order of 34 out of your 72 shots - ie; somewhere around 40-48%. It is BY FAR the most important club in the bag. You wouldnever know this from some (most?) golfers. They wouldn't dream of spending much money on it, as opposed to drivers, and they don't spend as much time practising it as they do with their driver.

How do you know which putter is right for you? Trial and error. Get out there and try a few, and get one that speaks to your hands. Golfers are a proud bunch and most golfers I know would be delighted to let you try their putter if you asked them.

Most clubs have a practice green, and you will notice a massive difference in your scoring if your spend a lot of time on it.

Sand wedge? Check, but not necessarily for playing out of bunkers - for playing out of sand.

Then get a seven iron.

Do not get a wood or driver at this stage. You will be astonished at how well you can score with just these three clubs. It is perfectly possible to make bogey on probably 60% of all golf holes.

Don't start on the range. That's mickey mouse golf. Get out there and enjoy yourself. And remember that the important golf - the real stuff that makes the difference to scoring - doesn't rely on brute force; quite the opposite. The greens - on and around - are where good scores are made and lost, not off the tee.

Enjoy! And let us know how you get on.

Re: Hello from Kansas

Bulldog,

Thank you for the thoughtful & thorough response. You have given me some great advice & direction.

From what you said I am looking to get a putter, a wedge, and a 7-iron. Using my wrist-to-floor & height measurements, I have found that I need +1.5-2", 2-3* up, and an additional 1/32" of grip thickness.

Because of the range I wonder is it better to go low (+1.5 & 2 up) or high (+2 & 3 up)? In my uniformed logic I would say go high because it is easier to take your grip up a bit, than it is to crouch lower. I could be way off here, so please let me know your thoughts.

Also, now that I am thinking three clubs instead of a set, I am looking at finding something used & of better grade. I have been looking at Callaway's outlet, because it is very informational & I can buy singles in various grades of used condition. The best part is that they will give me my longer shafts, steeper lie, and thicker grips for a per club charge of $7, $4, & $5 respectively. Getting used gear customized by the manufacturer for $16 a club seems like a good deal to me.

Is there another website I should be looking at to find the best deals on used clubs & the same level of customization?

I have been looking at the Callaway Fusion Wide Sole 7-iron & wedges, and the Callaway 3-ball SRT putter. I am a firm believer in starting out a step or two up the ladder of quality, but I understand that some of these models of clubs are made for experienced golfers & or specific issues that I have not yet identified in my own playing since I am a beginner. Looking at the descriptions for the various models, these seemed the best fit for me. Are these too much club for me?

Lastly, when you say get a wedge -- do you mean pitching, approach, sand, or lob?

Thank you again for answering all of my questions!

Jason

Re: Hello from Kansas

hi Jason
try e-bay and look for 2" longer shafts if you only need 1" then you can move down the grip a bit. i agree with bulldog the a putter is the most important as far as scoring so pick one you fell good with, i would go for a 9.7.and 5 iron to start and don't pay to much at first, get so your starting to feel your hitting the ball ok and then when you know how to hit a ball well you can get to try some better clubs and then you will know what feels good and what don't. at first any clubs are better than none, we all started with ill fitting clubs and as we got better we got better clubs. don't spend a lot on money till you can hit most off the balls where your aiming then get the best clubs you can afford.
best off luck with your game.
bill

Re: Hello from Kansas

So how much should I be spending? Are there any clubs I should stay away from?

I have been looking at this company on eBay called Catapult Golf. They claim to specialize in the tall golfer, and they offer several different types of irons in +1 to +4! They offer putters is +1 and +2, and drivers in +1.

Most of their stuff is made to look like famous Callaway models, but that doesn't mean they will play well. Click on the links below and let me know your thoughts on those items.

2007 XXL +2 BIG TALL EXTRA LONG XL IRON SET GOLF CLUBS - (eBay item 230166645262 end time Sep-08-07 15:15:35 PDT)

NEW +2" INCHES TALL BIG MENS PUTTER GOLF CLUBS MRH 619 - (eBay item 230168408355 end time Sep-09-07 08:10:49 PDT)

Thanks!

Jason

Re: Hello from Kansas

hi
i remember seeing a write up on turbo Z-force golf clubs ( think its the same maker as the ones you said were on e-bay) that were a copy of the ping G2s and the write up was a good one, said they were good value for the money and you could have them fitted for the price. the nearest i have seen is the "jazz copy/clones" looked good clubs for the money, selling over here in uk for about £125 new.
don't be put off buying a good set of second hand clubs. most of us start with second hand and work up to a new set.
look up Z-force or turbo power golf on Google and see what you find there.
bill

Re: Hello from Kansas

hi again
look up turbopowerusa and you will find the makers page and the set your looking at are the turbo power action wide sole and its a copy/clone off the callaway fusion wide sole and retails at $149 for the head but you can have them build you a set and you can pick the shafts, grips everything. have them made for you.
bill

Re: Hello from Kansas

hi again
if you look at the bottom of the page on turbo power golfs homepage you will see they have a special on there p5g ping clones and the full set of clubs for just $129.99 and you can pick shaft and have then +2 inches longer too.
i have read reports of the p5g being good clubs and you can look up golfreview.com, and see for yourself. lowpost it the best man to get advice about building a set of clubs like this as he knows the quality of the club head, i don't know as its only what i have read and heard but turbo power have been going a good while and not heard anything bad so far.
hope this helps
bill