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Get A Bargain With A Used Golf Club
from: James BeckettWhile the object of the game of golf is to learn the skills necessary to accomplish the goals of moving that tiny ball down those magnificent greens, many times new golfers get far too distracted by buying the cool stuff of golfing and don't focus on their game. But it's a mistake to run out and by top of the line golf clubs suitable for world class golfers when you are still trying to figure out what all the clubs are called. So for the first year of golfing or at least until you are sure you are going to stick with the game, used clubs might be a better approach for your first set.
For a lot of people, the option of buying used clubs can make starting this new hobby not such a financial strain. And by starting out with a less expensive set, you can find out if you will fall in love with golf for life or if your interest will pass. And if you do find that golf is not a sport you will stick with, you have not sunk so much money into the sport and you can always sell the used clubs for little or no financial loss. But the real value in using inexpensive clubs at first is that you can use this time to find out what you need in a quality set of golf clubs so when you do invest in your permanent set, you are an informed customer.
It's smart to use borrowed or rental clubs for a few weeks or months as you first start golfing even before you buy a used set of clubs. It's possible to work out a deal with a golf shop to rent you a set for a few weeks or longer so you use the same set as you get to know the game and are not always breaking in new clubs. Not only is this an important time to start understanding golf but using that borrowed set will help you develop opinions about what to look for in a good set of golf clubs. And a little tip to keep in mind is that cultivating a relationship with the golf shop that rented you the clubs is smart because they often sell off used clubs at great prices so you might luck out and find a great deal that way.
But even at the stage of your game that buying used clubs is smart, it is just as smart to still seek the advice of experts about how to do your shopping. You can put yourself through a lot of aggravation if you buy clubs that are not a good fit to how you play and your physical size and shape. Someone who is an expert in golf clubs can help you out with a set of questions to ask and steps you can go through to find out if the used set you are looking at is a good fit for you. Then if you start your shopping with some solid advice behind you, you will be more confident about your purchase decision.
Probably the most important criteria for whether this set of clubs is a good choice for your first set is the "feel" of the clubs when you hold them and use them to swing or put. You notice in the golf shop, golfers always have the clubs out getting into position to see how the club feels in use. For you as a novice, you need to first understand how a golf club is supposed to feel in your hands so you know if the one you will buy feels right. The club should feel comfortable, not be awkward to use and help you with the shot you want rather than get in the way. By playing a few weeks or longer before even buying used, you will have some experience in this type of club evaluation.
How well a golf club is made is actually a very important thing to be able to evaluate when you are buying your own set, even if they are only a starter used set of golf clubs. Look first at the head and confirm that it is made of stainless steel and not some metal alloy because that mix is not as reliable in a game situation. There are designs to golf club heads that are designed to help you getting started with the game such as clubs where the back part of the head is hollowed out or what is called perimeter weighted golf clubs. But one design twist that can really help you play better at first is to get a club that has an oversized head to make that initial drive become much easier to make work for you. The increased striking surface on the head means that your shots will routinely do much better with less precision needed on your part when you are still learning. Then once your game is well established and you buy your permanent set of clubs, you can go with a set with conventional head sizes.
Obviously other parts of the club like the shaft and the grip are important to your game as well. The club should feel light and comfortable in your hands and the shaft is a big part of that balance. Graphite makes a good golf club shaft material for this reason. But when you are evaluating used clubs, you will be naturally drawn to look at the grip because how you hold the club is so important to a good shot. Don't panic if the grips are a bit worn out on the used clubs you like because that can be easily repaired and made good as new for you. By evaluating all of these parts of the club as a unit, you can decide if this is the set of starter clubs you want to buy.
Shopping for this first set of clubs is both exciting and intimidating. By getting some criteria such as we have described here and with your check list from the golf pro in hand, you will be a smarter shopper. And when you take each club out and put it through its paces as part of the evaluation process, you will feel better about your ability to ask questions and interact with the club owner and about your final decision whether it is to go ahead and buy the clubs or keep on looking.
If you are looking for the best then check out this article on (http://ezinearticles.com/?Golf-Shafts-in-Graphite---Are-They-Worth-It?&id=1060460) golf shafts in graphite to cut through the hype and find out if they really are as good as people say.
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