[Bubble Head]

I put this in another post a while back. I was shooting 120 a year ago. Now I am in the 90's.

I came back to golf a year ago after being away from the game since 1982. The first time around, I never took a lesson. If you can hit the ball well with the driver, here is what I would do:

1. Watch the pros on TV. It is particularly important to watch them hit the mid irons. That will show you what your basic 5 iron swing should look like.

2. Read Ben Hogan's book on the golf swing. It is a quick read. It is particularly important to read his discussion of grip and set up.

3. I have never seen anyone else recommend this, but I like "Golf for Dummies" by Gary McCord. It's funny and it covers everything. It isn't the best swing book, but it does cover things like etiquette and scoring.

4. Read "The Search fo the Perfect Golf Club" by Tom Wishon. If you don't want to take the time here are some basics.

The guys on this forum, eBay, globalgolf.com and rockbottomgolf.com are good sources of clubs.

- If you are not a good golfer, you should have 10.5*("*" means degree) or greater loft on your driver. If you have a high swing speed, this is too high, but it will be more accurate. Post information on how far you hit your driver and the Shottalkers will coach you on a shaft. You have one of these. You should post what you have and how you hit it to get advice on whether you should use it or get something else.

- Get a basic putter. This is where I would buy a new club. It is all about feel. Go to a golf shop, that someone you trust recommends, and hit every putter in your price range. Buy what feels good.

- Irons. If you are more athletic than a healthy 50 year old man, use steel shafts. You want extreme game impovement irons. Ask your friends or post on this forum to see if you are getting the right clubs. You do need to find someone who can fit them. Getting length, lie angle and grip size fitted is important.

- Wedges. I am a high handicapper, so I hit wedges that are an extension of a game improvement iron set, not the forged blade wedges that good golfers hit.

- Fairway woods and hybrids. Most high handicappers, and may good golfers, don't use 3 and 4 irons. Most people use hybrids instead. Finding what works here is tough. Get a used one with 3* less loft than your 5 iron. If you can hit it about as well as a 5 iron, you have a winner. Play with it a while before you buy more. Gradually work down towards your driver loft at 3 or 4* increments. When you get to 15*, you may want a 3 wood instead of a hybrid. I hit my driver 220yds and my 16* hybrid 210 so a 3 wood doesn't make sense for me. I am 50, I use steel shafts in my hybrids and I recommend that for most people. Particularly if you are new to golf.

5. Find a golf shop where you see the same people every time you go there. I used to go to Golf Galaxy. I saw different people every time I went. Now I go to a place where it is no one but 2 partners and the son of one of them. They know what is in my bag as well as I do. They let me borrow demo clubs and go play them for a few days before I buy them.

6. If you have a good shop, don't be afraid of buying clones. The resale value is crap. But good quality clones are not a bad way to go if you can test drive them first. I like my Pinemeadow stuff better than some of the name brand stuff I have tried.

7. Take a lesson or 2. It will help.