Club suggestions for daughter?

[GaryO]

My 24 year-old daughter ( 5'10", 140/very athletic ) wishes to start playing golf. The local guru suggests a 3 & 7 wood; and 6-PW irons; all with graphite shafts to start, then go get her lessons. What say you? Thanks...
GaryO
<><

[Slingblade61]

Welcome aboard Gary.

I say amen brother.

I guess the only alternative I would suggest is to look for an inexpensive boxed set...something that includes a hybrid or 3.

The boxed sets are usually cheap enough so that if she doesn't take to the game it's no big loss and they have everything she'll need to get started.

If she does take to the game then you do an upgrade.

Cheers!

[Sandpiper3]

Thats a good call, personally id say a hybrid instead of a 7w just because theyre super easy to hit, and you dont have to look at a club with loft up the ying-yang... If she does start taking it up, get her a sand wedge also and get her to practise every shot chip/pitch etc she can think of with that club. People practise too many shots with too many clubs when they start, to get as good as possible with one wedge will help a beginner ALOT.

I advocate on wat Sling said about the boxed set just to get started though, our obsession is $$$ as hell.

[Stanters]

Hi Gary

Have a look at this link - Tiger Shark do a set for taller ladies - and a nice price too. Have a browse around the site as they have many ladies' starter sets from $200-$800.

I just thought these might be an idea as your daughter is pretty tall.

http://www.golfsmith.com/products/TS150

All advice above is good - these guys have helped me loads since I joined. They certainly know their equipment!!!!

[Rockford35]

I totally disagree with a boxed set, and here's why.

Quite often, boxed sets are garbage. They have cheap components, and flexes can vary immensely throughout the set.

I would go out and just as your Guru says, pick up a 3 wood and a 7 wood with regular flex. Then, pick up a set of cavity back irons with lighter weight steel shafts in them. You mentioned your daughter is very athletic - it leads me to believe that she can swing these sticks.

Have her take a few lessons. If, after a few sessions, her teacher suggests she go up or down a flex, shorter or longer, then do so then. But try taking back a boxed set. At least with an OEM named set, even if a few years old, you can get some money for the setup or make it worthwhile making the suggested changes.

Suggesting a hybrid is a good idea, but stating that a hybrid is easier to hit than a 7 wood defies logic. Many, many women on the LPGA still play fairway woods over hybrids. The men play hybrids because they play a different game - hammer and gouge - where they hit the ball as far as they can and don't worry about hitting in the rough because they'll either play a wedge to a par 4 or hit a hybrid out of the rough. Women tend to hit the ball straighter than men, and concentrate on hitting clubs from the fairway, which I would have to say sounds like a better idea when first starting out.

I carry a 7 wood and I love it. I've yet to find a hybrid that holds a candle to it.

Good luck in your search,

R35

[Pa Jayhawk]

Personally, I like the advice your local guru gave. Definately add a Sand Wedge. Speaking from one who plays with my wife ever weekend, she relies heavily on her woods from both the tee as well as the fairway, so a 5w may be a nice addition as well. I like the hybrid idea, but my wife hated them until she picked up one similar to a 9w, which she loves. I have always found a driver to be very personal choice, and something she should pick out once she is familiar with a 3w. In all honesty, it is likely the most valuable club in my wifes bag. She hits it bad only 1 in 10 times once she went to a 454~460cc (I guess you know what she carries), and she hits it 40 yards past her 3w.

In a nutshell, it sounds like you got good advice. Definately add a Sand Wedge with normal bounce, then piece the rest of it together later. The set you mention leaves room for possibly a couple hybrids and a decent driver if she hits the 3w well.

Most importantly, a good short game and a comfortable putter will do more than any other club. Have her try out 20-30 putters, and find one that matches her putting stroke (either by getting fitted or doing research), there is a whole other science to this part of the game.

Good luck, and welcome aboard.

[JEFF4i]

Am I the only one who disagrees with the graphite shafts on the irons?

I mean, if she's an athletic girl, she can handle the steel and in the long run won't need to make the change.

[kow_ciller]

she still needs graphite, i doubt she'd be able to swing the steel fast enough to get alright distance. I see pretty much every day what steel does to girls (im on the team at school) and i doubt she would be able to handle it.

[JEFF4i]

Originally Posted by kow_ciller

she still needs graphite, i doubt she'd be able to swing the steel fast enough to get alright distance. I see pretty much every day what steel does to girls (im on the team at school) and i doubt she would be able to handle it.

I've seen little reason to use graphite in irons other than the clubweight for seniors and some women.

She's 5'10" and 140 pounds, which is athletic weight it seems, once she develops her swing steel will be necessary.

I'm on a team too, and have coached a bit as well, I will almost always recommend steel for irons.

[kow_ciller]

what about ladies flex? thats not in steel

[ezra76]

I was looking around for a set for my girlfriend. She has never played and I would like to at least get her to the point she can walk around, get some exercise and have fun on the course with me. The Adams Idea ladies set looked like a great set to start with. It came with basically everything but a putter, hybrids in the long irons, for around $200. Another set that looked decent was a Cobra ladies set. I don't think that included a driver though.

[clemsonhacker]

when my wife wanted to start playing i bought here a set of adams golf tight lies 2 ..i came with the4-sw and 1,3,5 woods also fo 75 bucks from www.dallasgolf.com and she loved them and hit them great

[Rockford35]

Yep, that Adams set is a sweet setup.

R35

[JEFF4i]

Originally Posted by kow_ciller

what about ladies flex? thats not in steel

You're presuming that she swings slow enough for a ladies flex.

Given her physical stature it would seem in no time(while swing works itself out) she would be at least ready for a regular steel.