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How good can you be with normal clubs?

• TeeTee007 1 Posts

  Sat, Aug 13 2011 9:58 PM

  Hi all,

   

  I've only been playing just 4 weeks or so, and would appreciate knowing how good you can be with normal clubs? 

   

  I am not too serious a player and am at Pro level 82.  I have considered buying a set of decent clubs (using WGT starter Plus kit) but a lot of comments left by players who have purchased expensive gear say they didn't like it and go back to the given or cheap stuff especially putters!

  I am playing at about 8-10 over per round and struggle mostly with bar speed accuracy.  If as it appears to me that a lot of success in this game is heavily weighted to reflexes then is there any point in me paying for clubs which on the whole appear much faster and thus more difficult to control.  The WGT Starter Plus bar speed is just about manageable but the putter is still difficult being a normal WGT starter club.

   

  Any advice/opinions/help would be appreciated.

• pb1711 1,183 Posts

  Sun, Aug 14 2011 2:32 AM

  Hi there,

  I used starter clubs until tour pro and bought my first set just before i got to master. I can tell you that decent clubs will make a big difference to your average but be advised that the swing meter is not going to get any slower. Having said that don't worry about that too much cause even though it may be tough at first you will get used to the speed.

  I would say use the starters until lvl 48 and get the raptures, good clubs and the meter speed is slow. Once you get to master level though you will have to change your driver as the tee boxes will be quite further back. Invest in some good wedges too as I have found as I'm sure many will agree that they make a huge difference around the green. As for the putter, well that is just personal prefference, I have seen legends that prefer the starter putter. Play around with the different balls and find a set that you are comfortable with, can't really go wrong with the callaways though, just don't hit too many in the water as they can get quite expensive :-).

  Good Luck.

   

• piztaker 5,743 Posts

  Sun, Aug 14 2011 3:07 AM

  I played a Tour Master a couple of weeks ago that had only starter clubs, I scraped a win on the first extra hole. She was from South Korea.

• TRABLAH 210 Posts

  Sun, Aug 14 2011 7:04 AM

  Tee,

  I second what PB said.  I do not shoot 10 under, but I play consistently around par, and hold my own in match play (win a few, lose a few).  One thing I would recommend however, go straight to the R-9 driver (275 Yd) & 3 wood.  I struggled a lot with the meter speed moving from the Rapture to the R-9 when I moved up to Master.  Be patient, it will take TIME, but the sooner you make that adjustment the better off you will be.  I find the Rapture irons to be just as good as any I have played, and their meter speed is very comfortable.  Good wedges are a must for the most important part of your game, the short game. There are lots of choices, but I have found the Z Satins priced fairly, and just about as good as any of the others.

  As for the ball, I know many, many  players will disagree with me, but I do not find the Callaways all that exciting.  I play just as well with the free 'Dove' ball (GI-SD) or it's equivalent WGT ball.  Again, the price is right.

  Putter????   Good luck!   I use the Spider, and have thoughts (at least once a week) of changing.  I don't think it is the putter, it's the "Puttee".  I guess I make my share, or I suppose I wouldn't shot around par. There is no magic, it takes practice.  Use the putter you are comfortable with.

  As I said, just my opinion.  Good luck and enjoy the game.

• vivariaman 5 Posts

  Tue, Aug 23 2011 10:10 AM

  the only thing i bought to start was the wgt tour sd balls so i got a little spin and i have a 70 ave i think the normal clubs are just fine i just recently bought a driver the ping raptor it gives you more yards off the tee but keeps the meter speed the same

   

• MainzMan 9,591 Posts

  Tue, Aug 23 2011 1:30 PM

  I've no doubt you can be very good with the free gear but if you want to seriously compete then better clubs are going to be required, it takes a hell of a lot of skill to make up for being 50 yards short off the tee and not being able to attack the pin and be confident of stopping the ball dead.

  I've no doubt there are a few players who can do it though, sounds like Piztaker met one.  The game can be won on the green if you can sink just about any putt but your chances are better if you can get the ball close in regulation.

  My tip for anyone buying gear is not to upgrade as soon as the next set you fancy is available, get a decent set and stick with it a long time until you can get the clubs you're likely going to finish with.  To be honest I didn't do this though, I had the Raptures for quite a while but then went G10, i15 and Burner 2.  Realistically I didn't need to buy both sets of Pings.

• LTEArmstrong 2 Posts

  Thu, Sep 8 2011 10:14 AM

  Iv always wondered the same question as you, Im a 67.9 Tour Pro and up until last week I was still using all the basic clubs(was 67.9 at that point), then i was lucky enough to be gifted a driver (goes 245) by Sgt Doodles and subsequently purchased a 60deg Z wedge . Bu can I ask how you have managed to reach lvl82 so quickly. I joined roughly 2 years ago and used to play every day, then took a prolonged break, but have been playing several rounds pretty much every day this summer yet I'm only on level 46 LTE

   

• YankeeJim 25,827 Posts

  Thu, Sep 8 2011 10:44 AM

  TeeTee007:

  Any advice/opinions/help would be appreciated.

  Start with a ball that slows the meter down. It's a cheap way to eliminate the faster meter as being your problem. Look in your bag for the G12-D balls there and drag them into the place of the free ball at the top. Save the change.  That ball will slow your meter down and let you have a better chance of dinging your shot. Then play like you are for a while  and see if your new success leaves you wanting more.   GL

• MBaggese 15,367 Posts

  Thu, Sep 8 2011 10:51 AM

  Yes, Making Master with starter clubs is probably doable for many, but I think being competitive in the Master Tier would be difficult.

• SweetiePie 4,925 Posts

  Thu, Sep 8 2011 12:42 PM

  A long time ago, using free everything, I hit every fairway and every green with 9 putts.