Finally: The course
Do I need a new wedge?
Today, a player who only had a half set asked me, if she should buy a Pitching Wedge? She felt that the 9-iron was hitting the ball too long, and the Sand Wedge not far enough.
Yesterday I played golf with someone who said that he used the Sand Wedge all the time - for every pitch - he just changed the strength and the length of the swing. That is not my way of playing.
First of all, I think it is a good idea to buy a full set and to learn when to use each club. Says I, who so far has never used the 5-wood?. Nevertheless, I think it makes sense to have all the usual clubs in the bag.
My experience is that when I get close to the green I have problems getting the "usual" length with my irons. My swing with the different irons gets shorter as I get more careful. Further away from the green I can make a full swing with the Sand Wedge and hit the ball maybe 50-60 meters, but 50-60 meters from the green, the SW lands the ball 30 meters away from the green. I tell you, I get too careful.
So, which club do I use to pitch the ball? I have found that my Sand Wedge only gets me that far, but a Pitching Wedge with the same swing that I am comfortable with - can get me maybe 10-15 meters longer. Is it further away, I reach for the 9-iron.
Therefore my answer to the question is that, "Yes, do buy the Pitching Wedge." It is not enough to have only the 9-iron and the Sand Wedge in the bag.
Entering the jungle
First, let me give you the good news. When you start playing golf the chances are high that the local pro has a couple of clubs that you can use to practice. You can use them for the first weeks and do not have to buy your own. The problem is that the clubs may not be available when you want to practice.
So, if you want to get your green card, you need to practice and this is easiest if you use your own set of clubs. The reason is that you need to get used to one set of clubs, for no two golf sets plays like each other - unless they are from the same series.
If you decide to get a set of your own clubs you should ask your professional (who knows how you swing) for a dynamic fitting session. That means that he does not just pick a set of clubs based on your length, but also tests how you swing with them. The fitting session will tell if you need longer or shorter than standard irons, how stiff the shaft should be and what material is best for you.
Your first clubs
In my opinion you should start with only a set of iron clubs (from iron 4/5 to Sand Wedge) and a putter. There are good starter sets from Dunlop, Precept etc and in Germany they cost about 200 - 400 Euro. Take your time when you look at putters and find one that looks and feels good to you - for this is the most important club in your bag. There is no need to invest a ton of money in a Titleist or Ben Hogan putter; the most important thing is that you like the putter and trust it. The price of a putter can be very high, and I recommend that your first putter is one that costs less than 100 Euro.
Forget about woods. They are way too difficult to control for a beginner. When you start hitting the irons constantly about 90-100 meters you will quite easily get good scores even if you only use irons. Even on a very long (400 meter) par 4 you should only need 4 strokes to get on or near the green, one approach shot and two putts and voilà you are able to reach even this hole with a handicap of 54 (green card)!
Balls for beginners
There is a jungle of different golf balls out there, and which should you choose?
I would recommend that a beginner (handicap down to 40-45) should not spend much money (less than 1,30 Euro per ball) and should play standard distance balls. The reason for this is that a beginner:
- have not developed enough feel yet to notice big differences between balls
- often loose balls (which makes it very expensive)
- are not helped in their game by playing expensive balls
In fact, as a beginner, you will find that playing better balls makes the game even more difficult! What do I mean by better balls? These are usually more expensive (say 2,50 Euro per ball) and are designed to spin more than standard distance balls. This means that they maximize backspin and sidespin. Better players use the spin abilities to control the behavior of the ball.
While backspin is very useful and creates a stable ball-flight, sidespin for a beginner is not! Sidespin will maximize the effect of not hitting the ball correctly. Due to more sidespin a slight slice is not too bad with a distance ball, but with a spin ball the slice or the hook will be made worse. As manufacturers have not designed a ball yet which can create only backspin and no sidespin, beginners should stay away from mid- to highspin balls.
I would recommend that you choose brands like Top-Flite XL, Pinnacle, Dunlop, Precept, Wilson or similar.
But: Buy only one type of balls. While you will not notice much obvious differences between different balls, you will still get accustomed to the behavior of the ball as you play and practice. By playing with just one type of ball, you will easier develop a feel for it. For the same reason you should play the same balls on the putting green and on the pitching/chipping area that you will use on the golf course.
This is all you need
If you are lucky, your golf pro will take the time to show you what to pack in your golf bag - and maybe where to store it. In case this is not so, let me tell you what I carry.
Let us start at the top of the golf trolley, where I can attach:
- 1 pencil
- 1 score card
- 2 balls and tees
Within the golf bag itself I have my clubs, a practice stick and a ball retriever. The "practice stick" is a cylinder used to store and pick up balls on the driving range. Sometimes I need the extra balls to replace those I loose during a tournament. The "ball retriever" is useful if my balls end up in the water or in the bushes.
My golf bag has 2 or 3 large pockets. I use these to store at least 2 liters of water and something to eat (not chocolate which gives you short time energy that only lasts a hole or two, but rather müsli-bars, nuts or energy food like bananas). I also have warm clothes and rain covers for the bag and myself. Along the side of the bag I have strapped my big golf umbrella. During the summer I include sun tan lotion ? specially for the areas that are usually not exposed to thesun - like the back of your legs!
In the small pockets of the bag I keep extra pencils, the rule book, at least one extra pitch fork (because I may not be allowed on to the golf course without one and might forget the one I should have had in my pocket). I have several markers and extra tees and tokens for the driving range balls. When I play a tournament, I use new, white balls that do not make me wonder if the nick on the side of a well-used ball would influence the flight or the roll over the green. (It is important not to get distracted!)
Since the time when my shoelaces tore at hole 3 during a tournament, I have tucked away an extra pair just in case it happens again. I have some extra spikes and a spike-wrench. (If you have to, you can also use the pitch-fork to tighten most spikes). You can walk a whole course with 3 or 4 spikes missing, but it might be uncomfortable and take away your concentration.
Tied to the golf bag is my green fee card and club membership card. To clean the clubs I have a towel and a brush with metal on one side and a softer brush on the other.
Click here to see the complete check list for your bag
And what do you carry in your pockets?
Left pocket (if you are right handed):
- Coins
(maybe you can buy something to drink or eat during the round or you can use them as ball markers if you loose the other ones) - One additional ball
(Having lost both your regular ball and the provisional,
you may find yourself at the next tee off without a ball, so keep a third one in your pocket) - Handkerchief
to wipe your hands and face if it is warm or dirty
Right pocket (easy to get to without having to take of your glove):
(when you do, then add a new one to your pocket from the golf bag)
(or use the one on your glove)
In your hand:
Carry the club that you are about to use. As the others are playing you should determine which club you will need for your shot. Grab the selected club out of the bag and carry it as you approach your ball. It is important to be sure about the club - this makes you swing with confidence. If the ball is lying on the other side of the green and you are not sure which club to use, then bring 2, 3 or 4 of them with you.
If you are playing the ball out of the green bunker, carry the putter as well as your sand wedge so that you do not have to return to the bag before you enter the green.
