This guide will help you to know what to look for when buying golf clubs online. We'll cover all aspects of how to buy good equipment.
Buy What Fits YOU, Not Tiger!
If you're an experienced golfer, you probably know (or think you know) what clubs you are chasing. If you are a beginning golfer, you have other things to consider when buying a set of golf clubs. The majority of golfers are often buying over their heads. This means that they've seen someone on TV (Tiger) playing a certain club or ball, and they think that because he has it, it MUST be good. Well, you can bet that if Tiger is using it, that most of us can't hit it! Buy equipment that fits your game, and your budget, not equipment that you've seen work for someone else. If you don't know what fits your game, spend your first $50 by finding a local PGA Pro to give you a 30 minute lesson and let the pro make some equipment suggestions and fitting recommendations. You'll save your self money and time if you're properly fitted before you search. Then, depending on your level of participation, frequency of play and practice, and your desired results, buy accordingly.
The Brands: Who are they and what’s the
Just like other categories on Overstock, golf is a brand driven category. The major brands such as Callaway, Titleist, Taylor Made, Ping, Cleveland and Nike will all demand the highest pricing. Other popular brands include Mizuno, Tommy Armour, Sonartec, Nicklaus, Cobra, and Adams. Although second tier brands in terms of Tour exposure, they are not second tier in quality. In many cases the smaller brands, such as Orlimar, are innovators in their category, and are making quality products that the big boys can't. If you are budget conscious, and don’t have a preferred brand, there are lots of quality companies making golf clubs you may have never heard of. Often, the same foundries cast and build heads for major brands, at the same time they are building for small ones. The difference often boils down to tighter quality controls for the major brands. Companies like Callaway, Taylor Made and Titleist spend millions on research and development, and they are always on the cutting edge of new technology. Combine the new technologies and the tight QC, and you pay the price. The smaller brands or “off-brands” generally “borrow” ideas from the major brands and can produce a quality product at a lower cost. If your budget allows, and you know what you want, then you should try to buy from one of the major brands. Those products will always maintain a higher residual value when you decide to upgrade. But you certainly can play great golf with many of the items found on Overstock.com. They are made from the same materials, with the same game improving technologies, but often at a fraction of the cost. Of course there is no substitute for the real thing, but you can come close and spend your money on a lesson or a golf trip.
The Bigger the Better?
Over the past few years, golf clubs have grown. They’ve grown in length, size, and popularity. Today, the maximum “size” of a driver is 460cc. For perspective, this is approximately 3 times the size of your old “wood” that your dad or grandfather used to play with. The larger club head size essentially makes it easier to hit the ball higher, with less side spin, resulting in more distance and greater accuracy. Most drivers are 45 inches long, regardless of your height. We don’t fit drivers for length like we do an iron set or putter because the heads are designed to be played at a certain weight, and adding or subtracting length fouls up the manufacturer’s intended design. Most manufacturer’s are producing heads that range from 380-460cc, with the 460cc model being the most popular. Any driver over 400cc will give you a much better chance to achieve your maximum distance.
Iron heads are also larger than ever, but bigger is not always better in an iron head. Finding a head that gives you maximum distance and control is not always as easy as picking the most “oversized” head. It’s often as easy as finding a set that you like the “look and feel” of, rather than a set that claims to have the most “features”. All of today’s best iron heads are either cast stainless steel or forged carbon steel. You’ll probably want to avoid iron heads that are “alloy” or “matrix” or zinc. Theses heads tend to be poorly made and have a tendency to bend or break.
The putter is the one club in the bag that never goes out of style. There is no magic formula for being a good putter. There are some subtleties and some new technologies that may cut strokes, but for the most part, putting is about confidence. If you like the way a putter “looks” it’s more likely that you’ll have success with it. Most of the new technologies in putting are centered on alignment aids and face inserts. The manufacturers want you to be able to aim it straight, and then have it “feel” good when you hit it. The bottom line again is to find a putter that you have confidence in. Whether it’s a classic blade “bullseye” style, or a new alignment aid putter, practice with it and trust it.
Its In the Bag
I hope the advice and insight here will help you enjoy the Overstock golf experience, and more importantly will help you enjoy the game of golf more. Expensive equipment is not a requirement to play golf. Properly fitted equipment and equipment you can learn with is critical. Whether you're a budding Tour Player or you haven't moved past putt-putt, you can fill your golf bag (even if you haven't bought one yet) on Overstock.
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