Newb, 6'4", lefty, need club advice!

[samnavy]

A buddy just took me out to the driving range. He said I'd only hit one good ball all day, but then I'd be hooked. He was right. I hit a 6iron that felt like every planet in the cosmos lined up for me... and being in the Navy, it seems like a good idea to get the basics down.

So, I've done my searching and can't find exactly the answer I'm looking for. You can see in the title that I'm 6'4"/240lbs, and a lefty... which is why I probably haven't gotten into golf previously, nobody had clubs that I could borrow.

I'd like my first set to be cheap, really cheap, as in disposable cheap. I'm seeing full sets of clubs for under $200 at various places. I haven't been down to Dicks yet, I wanted to go in there armed with at least a little information. Can anybody recommend a good starter set for a tall lefty. I'm all ears!

[Adam Pettman]

http://cgi.ebay.com/ADAMS-TIGHT-LIES...QQcmdZViewItem

Cheap and they'll do the job.

[Slingblade61]

Welcome aboard Sam!

You have a bit of a problem, you're tall.
Most likely too tall for off the rack cheapies. Being tall generally means that the club won't sit right at address (heel up in your case) and making good contact will be more difficult.

If there is a place that does club fitting near you (Golfsmith, Golf galaxy, etc) go there and get fit. You can still get an inexpensive set fit for you and at the very least, a free swing analysis and other free advice.

[samnavy]

Slingblade, that's good advice, I hear you. I will do just that here in a day or two. What size of club should I be looking at? I know "go get fitted", but if I came across an amazing deal online somewhere, what's a good shaft length I should aim for?

I've gone to the major online sites and checked out the "complete kits" in the $150-$250 range. I know everybody will say, spend more money in the beginning, but that's not going to happen. It's worth a $200 disposable set for me to get out there a couple times, take a few lessons, and decide if I really like it before I spend anymore money.
I'm looking at options like these... opinions?
http://www.tgw.com/customer/category...TEGORY_ID=6139
http://www.golfgalaxy.com/galaxy/pro...PMACOFNBNJIBDG&
http://www.golfsmith.com/products/RM700
http://cgi.ebay.com/NEW-2006-HYBRID-...QQcmdZViewItem

[Slingblade61]

but that's not going to happen.

oh, you're aircrew. I thought maybe you were the pilot.

In that case I think I'd get the Ram set from the ebay site. I think the wide sole will help you more than a thinner sole.

Based on your height I'd say your shafts should be around an inch longer than standard but that's just a guess. The fitter can tell you for sure.

[Davebud]

Here is a set made for you boss, take a look.

http://seattle.craigslist.org/see/hsh/188140408.html

[Slingblade61]

Here is a set made for you boss, take a look.

http://seattle.craigslist.org/see/hsh/188140408.html

There you go......snap those up and spend another $150 on a driver and a couple of fairway woods (don't forget the putter) then you'll be good to go.

[warbirdlover]

Those would be good clubs except they're for a right hander. We're trying to help a lefty!!

[JEFF4i]

So wait? You are part of the air crew for one those puppies? That's cool.

As far as clubs, tall+lefty=harder.

But, I think Dave has ya covered.

[Slingblade61]

lefty?

feck!

[warbirdlover]

Can't you just take the grips off, put those shaft extenders in the end of the shaft and put new grips on to make clubs longer? See this page at Golfsmith....

http://www.golfsmith.com/cm/browse.php?N=277126

[Davebud]

Yeah I suck, my bad.

[samnavy]

You guys are trying hard, and I appreciate that. As for what I do in the Hawkeye, I sit in the back... we're called NFO's (Naval Flight Officer).
This is me, foreground:
http://www.nbvc.navy.mil/vaw113/gall...GoodFlight.htm
And this is a pic of our radar scopes:
http://www.is.northropgrumman.com/ga...e/00108101.jpg
That dish on top rotates and has an integrated radar and IFF system. Here's the wikipedia version of what we do... they've got it mostly right:rolleyes:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/E-2_Hawkeye

Keep those ideas coming. I'm really considering an ebay set if I can't locate one here quick... there's a guy selling a set on the Hampton Roads Craigslist but he won't get back to me. I might try Play-It-Again. The motivation here is that our Command is sponsoring our yearly all-hands sportsweek and I'm in charge. Golf is one of our events... and I think I should play. It seems like a great time to learn. I mean really, I've got three whole weeks to learn, plenty of time, right?
Anyways, it's the impetus I needed.
Thanks for the help, I'm still all ears!

[warbirdlover]

You didn't by any chance show those pics at www.sim-outhouse.com did you?

[samnavy]

Nope, sure didn't. Those pics are readily available via google image search. I love the internet.