Used golf clubs

Parent Cafe
1

<p>My 25 year old son is interested in playing golf socially. He is in medical school and has a few buddies that play, so he has tagged along and played just a bit. In looking to acquire a set of clubs he had no interest in spending much, if any money! The goal is to find someone with individual clubs or a set that wants to find a new home for their clubs for very little money.</p>

<p>In looking on Craigslist, I see listings for clubs good for beginners. I don’t know if a 25 year old wants beginner clubs. What makes they good for beginners, is it that they are a cheaper brand? What brand should I look for and what clubs are a must have and what clubs could he do without for a while? I know nothing about golf and I am just trying to see what I can find in my city while my son looks where he is. He is in a area where golf is a big deal and he is a big sports person, so I know this is something he will stick with. At the same time, he is not willing to spend $1,000 for clubs at this time. We are asking around to see if any friends might have a few clubs they are ready to part with.</p>

<p>Another question-Does a person’s height matter in clubs? My son is 6 ft. and the few people we know that might have clubs are all shorter. My son said he doesn’t care as he just wants something to play with, but I would think it would not be a good idea to play with clubs that are too short.</p>

<p>I am guessing he just want clubs to get by with as he is currently sharing with his buddies. As he has a birthday coming up I thought this would be a good idea to maybe get he something; I just don’t know what.</p>

2

<p>Height does matter. Different clubs do matter- when I started eons ago with boyfriend/H I got only the odd or even numbered clubs but aquired some others as H found them abandoned on courses. Cheaper starter packages are fine, but you need to get long enough ones. There will be a time when he can afford to get better clubs- then he will have more skills and know which ones he likes best. Back in medical school my friends and I (some of the < 20% women in the class) decided we would work Wednesday afternoons when all of the other doctors were out playing golf. That was before I met my H, we played several years but haven’t in years. Around here golf is cheap and all sorts of hospital employees are in leagues.</p>

3

<p>Have you checked ebay?</p>

4

<p>A great source for used clubs is a country club golf pro. If he’s going to take some lessons, he should find someone good and see if he can network his way into a used set. Also, a six-footer should use clubs that fit him. Golf involves the back and upper body in such a way that he doesn’t want to be straining over clubs that are too short.</p>

5

<p>When my D and I took golf lessons together we purchased some used golf clubs (about 3 clubs each) at either AmVets or Play It Again Sports (used sporting goods). I think we paid maybe $4 per club! At out level of play I don’t think it mattered so much. We had fun with them. I have no idea what brands they were.</p>

6

<p>As mentioned above, many Pro Shops will have used clubs. Good ones, too. At this stage, he doesn’t have to have clubs “fitted” to him… just tell the pro that he is a 25-year old 6 footer.</p>

<p>He really will want a pretty full set. </p>

<p>Irons: Sand Wedge (often abbreviated SW or S) through 3
Woods* (aka metalwoods): maybe 3 wood and 5 wood
Driver
Putter</p>

<p>*many players are using “rescue” clubs or hybrids in lieu of some of the lower-number irons and or some of the woods… talk to the Pro and see what he has available in used clubs/suggests</p>

<p>If your S will be happy with a limited number of clubs,. he will need a Sand Wedge, Pitching Wedge and/or 9 iron, 7 iron, rescue/hybrid (as suggested by the Pro), 3 wood, Driver, Putter.</p>

<p>Asking friends is also a good idea. Most golfers who have been at it awhile (especially men, lol) buy new equipment frequently… and will have a quite decent set they either want to give you or sell you cheap… or lend while he gets the feel for things.</p>

<p>Your S may be the exception… but most 25 year old males who play with buddies will be at least somewhat brand conscious and won’t want to play socially with really no-name clubs.</p>

<p>However, there are numerous “acceptable” brands if he does care. Just a few: Ping, Callaway, Cobra, Taylor Made, Adams, Titleist, Nike… there are many. I’m probably forgetting some obvious ones. If you find a used set of these brands at Play It Again or similar, at a good price, you can feel pretty comfortable going for it.</p>

<p>BTW, re height… although club length does matter to an extent… many men buy standard sets and although the guy may be a few inches shorter or taller than your S… if the clubs have not been cut down… they will be fine for your S. Not many people buy clubs of custom length.</p>

7

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<p>This makes golf seem very interesting, compared to tennis. I can tell you, I can’t recall seeing any tennis racquets abandoned on the courts.</p>

8

<p>Re abandoned clubs - having driven around with a staff person looking for one left behind by my D, I’m glad that the person who found it gave it back. I suppose if you go home and don’t realize it until weeks later that you left that wedge in Arizona there is nothing that you can do.</p>

<p>On to the OPs question. I have taken many golf lessons, and have become a reasonably lousy golfer. This is a tough sport. However, I expect that a young tall man will be better naturally than old broken down me. I would not buy used clubs. My H did this years back and they were so stinky. The newer clubs are so aerodynamic and engineered so well that even a poor golfer like myself benefits a bit. They are light; they don’t vibrate. Sometimes demo sets are available for a discount, and I would not hesitate to get them. Additionally, you can demo sets at some places and apply to price of set you eventually buy(and use them the day you golf). I have rented sets of good clubs when I play, and I really like the Nike clubs. I have played on some good courses (yes even lousy old me), and they usually have nice clubs to rent. (Just so no one flames me - I go on the good courses at an off hour and make sure not to delay play.)</p>

9

<p>I’m a golf novice. My buddy, the golf expert took me to his favorite local golf superstore to look at used clubs. There you can find luxury clubs that were quite expensive when they were new. Some are hardly used at all (discarded by frustrated or bored rookies) and many have been re-conditioned.</p>

10

<p>Don’t know where you live, but we have picked up clubs at a chain called second swing. Our store let you exchange them for something else if you didn’t like them. They also have demos you can check out. If he is pretty strong, I would caution him to make sure the shafts are stiff enough. Also, Callaway has an online store that sells used/ reconditioned clubs. I’ld look at a set of irons and a couple woods. He doesn’t necessarily need a driver to get started. A 3 wood and 5 or 7 is enogh. He should be fine with standard length men’s clubs.</p>

11

<p>I would highly recommend buying used clubs. New clubs are very expensive, especially for a beginner. Avoid the Wal-Mart, Sam’s, Sporting Goods store brands. Craigslist is a great place to start. Another great place is the “For Sale” boards at your local golf courses and country clubs. As far as name brands, I am sure you will get lots of recommendations. Some of the better name brands are: Ping, Callaway, TaylorMade, Cobra, Mizuno, Powerilt, Titleist, lots others. I ditto the recommendation above ref the Calloway used club web site.</p>

12

<p>Thanks for the suggestions. He has checked out the demo clubs at the local stores and pro shop, but still doesn’t want to spend that much. My kid is looking for free; after all, he is a struggling medical student!! Yes, like most young men, he is name conscious, but he is willing to give in a bit for free clubs.</p>

<p>I checked at Play it Again Sports and some of their use clubs were almost as expensive as new! My son is checking ebay and Craigslist and I am checking with friends and friends of friends and family. I think what my son would love is to find a complete set with bag from one person that maybe can not play anymore. Since he doesn’t get to play often, sharing with his buddies that own good clubs is working out for the moment.</p>

13

<p>I am a reasonably proficient golfer with a handicap in the mid teens. I purchased my curent set of irons on Ebay for $199 - Mizuno MX-23 forged irons in excellent condition. It was the 3rd or 4th set that I bid on.</p>

<p>That having been said, avoid “starter clubs” - they really are bad. There are many good suggestions above. I would check your local newspaper. As ghoulish as this may sound, the first thing many widows sell on the death of their husband are his “beloved” golf clubs. They want them gone ASAP. Also check garage sales.</p>

<p>Good luck to your son in his search. If he is patient, he will find what he needs at a good price. He will need a set of golf clubs - what do you think doctors do on Wednesday afternoons, attend seminars?</p>

14

<p>His father the doctor doesn’t ever have a day off as he is a workaholic! This child will not become his father; he has seen what it is like and is not interested in becoming a workaholic.</p>

<p>My son’s thought were not quit as morbid as buying from a widow, but he did ask if his grandfather had any friends that were not able to play anymore due to age or injury. I forget to check the actual paper in our computer age; I just go straight to Craigslist when looking for something. I guess the older generation would advertise in the newspaper as many are not computer literate. Of course, as newspapers keep folding, this will not be an option for much longer.</p>

15

<p>Some courses require each person have a bag of clubs.</p>

<p>There are also custom built clubs. You pick the components and have the clubs built. What is nice is you can have a few clubs made and the add others as you want.</p>

16

<p>snowball:</p>

<p>Since he’s looking for a price of approximately ‘free’, and isn’t fussy about them, at least at this point, he should check out the thrift shops. Like I said, AmVets had some clubs for about $3 or $4 each and they were adequate for my lessons. Once he plays a few times he can decide if he likes it enough to continue playing and might want to make an investment in some decent clubs.</p>

17

<p>I agree with ucsd<em>ucla</em>dad - get a set of decent used clubs and start playing.</p>

<p>However, if you do buy used clubs, do yourself a BIG favor and get them re-gripped. You can do it yourself and it is well worth the investment.</p>

<p>Next, go to a nearby driving range and take a couple of lessons. Again, well worth the investment.</p>

18

<p>Well, I just spoke to my son instead of the cryptic text messages. He wants cheap in price, but not cheap in quality. I had seen an ad for Sports Authority where there was a set on sale with a bag for $149 with a $25 off coupon. According to my son, those are cheap quality clubs and he did not want them. His goal is to keep checking at the local course and store until he finds what he wants. At this time he does not know if this is something he will continue with. With that is mind, he is not willing to spend much, but is not willing to purchase less than quality clubs.</p>

<p>I will let my son do his own looking, but I will ask around for the freebies. Thank you again for the help; at least I have learned a bit about buying clubs!</p>