The golf adage "Drive for show, putt for dough" means that control is more important than power when playing the game. This philosophy should guide you if you're a beginner choosing a new set of golf clubs. You probably don't want a driver or long irons as you start to play the game, because these clubs provide extra distance at the expense of control --- meaning you could hit longer shots, but into the woods, water and rough.
Step 1
Read a golf sizing chart, available at golf pro shops and specialty golf retailers, to determine the proper length for your clubs. Measure the distance from your wrists to the floor to help you use the chart.
Step 2
Select woods starting with a 3-wood, which is easier to control than a driver and still provides good distance off the tee. Add a 5-wood for fairway shots and a 7-wood for "rescue" shots --- shots hit out of high grass or dirt. Combine flexible shafts with larger, offset heads, a lower center of gravity and more loft to get power and control.
Step 3
Select irons starting with a 5- or 6-iron and include pitching and sand wedges. Your woods should get you close enough to the green that you will not need long irons. Combine flexible shafts with larger, perimeter-weighted heads and wider soles to get power and control. Choose a sand wedge with a loft range of 55 degrees to 58 degrees, recommends golf club designer Ralph Maltby, a member of the "Professional Clubmakers Society" Hall of Fame.
Step 4
Practice putting with traditional putters and longer belly putters to see which you prefer. Either is fine for a beginner. Select a putter with a mallet head, which is wider for more stability, notes Frank Peter, chief executive officer of the website Learn About Golf.
Step 5
Hit balls with various clubs if you are allowed to play test clubs. Hit from tees and from grass or a mat. Putt from a variety of areas on the putting green, going for distance and playing breaks.
Things You'll Need
- Golf sizing chart
- Tape measure
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