Good Starter Set of Clubs.. thoughts on PING G5?
 

so.. ive asked around a few people, im getting into golf again since it seems to be the thing to do, and i was wondering what a good starter set is. ive heard various things, but everyone seems to agree that a set of Ping G5's would do very nicely. also, what would the difference be between steel shaft and graphite shafts for someone getting back into the game? money isnt really an issue. thanks!

Re: Good Starter Set of Clubs.. thoughts on PING G5?
 

They are good irons, although I believe that they have been replaced by the G10s if price isn't an issue. If I were in your shoes I'd probably buy a set of Callaway X20s, although this is more of a personal brand preference thing than a quality difference (both sets will be great for someone in your position).

I'd go with steel shafts; although graphite iron shafts are getting better I usually only see old people/hackers with graphite in their irons, and regardless of quality you don't want to look like a hacker or an old person now do you?

Whatever you decide take half an hour and hit them first, various models, shafts, get yourself custom fitted if possible, whatever (esp. since money isn't an issue).

Re: Good Starter Set of Clubs.. thoughts on PING G5?
 

raptor,

As blah blah said, I think steel shafts are the clear choice, but I'm not much of an equipment nut so if there's a case to be made for graphite I'd like to hear it.

Also, I love Pings, I'm on my third set in the last twenty years. Can't go wrong with them, just make sure you get O-size and not Blades, in case you are buying them online or something.

Re: Good Starter Set of Clubs.. thoughts on PING G5?
 

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raptor,

As blah blah said, I think steel shafts are the clear choice, but I'm not much of an equipment nut so if there's a case to be made for graphite I'd like to hear it.

Also, I love Pings, I'm on my third set in the last twenty years. Can't go wrong with them, just make sure you get O-size and not Blades, in case you are buying them online or something.

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I think they stopped doing that O-size thing with the G5's. What would have been Blades are the i5's. In fact, they may have started the whole Gx/ix thing with the G2's.

[img]/images/graemlins/heart.gif[/img] PING (even though I suck)

ETA: tup, could you please change my undertitle to the default? That area is not Mike Haven's personal playground.

Re: Good Starter Set of Clubs.. thoughts on PING G5?
 

Got it. If you want something else let me know.

I didn't know that about the newer Pings. See, I suck at knowing about equipment, even the only type I've ever owned. I'm currently using Eye3s.

Re: Good Starter Set of Clubs.. thoughts on PING G5?
 

If money isn't an issue, go get fit for clubs. They may cost no more right now and will likely cost you less in the long term. If you get good fitting stuff now you won't feel the need to swap sets of iirons or get the latest driver every year. Odds are graphite shafts in the irons will be a waste of money. Spend money on clubs that fit. Spend the money for graphite shafts in the woods. Spend on the right putter. Otherwise if you are just getting a starter set get steel shafted irons.

Re: Good Starter Set of Clubs.. thoughts on PING G5?
 

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Got it. If you want something else let me know.

I didn't know that about the newer Pings. See, I suck at knowing about equipment, even the only type I've ever owned. I'm currently using Eye3s.

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Same here...we're now five sets (i3+, G2, G5, Rapture, G10) behind, I think. Hopefully by next year I can get a non-counterfeit G5 driver for $100 on ebay. [img]/images/graemlins/laugh.gif[/img]

Re: Good Starter Set of Clubs.. thoughts on PING G5?
 

something I also forgot to mention yesterday: Definitely get a hybrid or two to replace your long irons (I'd recommend a 2 hybrid and 3 hybrid, or a 3 hybrid and 4 hybrid). They are incredibly easy to hit, especially compared with long irons. I'd recommend the Callaway X Hybrid/Fusion or the Ping G10/Rapture. Personally I like steel shafts in my hybrids (but not my fairway woods), again your mileage may vary so try them out beforehand.

Re: Good Starter Set of Clubs.. thoughts on PING G5?
 

graphite, lol

Re: Good Starter Set of Clubs.. thoughts on PING G5?
 

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I didn't know that about the newer Pings. See, I suck at knowing about equipment, even the only type I've ever owned. I'm currently using Eye3s.

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I've also had the I3's for several years now, until my clubs were stolen a couple of months back.

I went to the golf shop w/ plans on getting either the Callaway X-20's, or one of the new Ping models.

I walked out with a set of Adams irons that featured hybrids all the way from the 3 iron to 6 iron, and it has made a massive, massive difference in my game. I actually use my 3 and 4 for something other than punching out from the trees, and I am much more confident with my 5 and 6 iron shots now (I thought I'd dislike so many hybrids, but it almost feels like cheating now from 165 and out).

Re: Good Starter Set of Clubs.. thoughts on PING G5?
 

hrm, well thanks guys, i ended up going with a set of ping G10s, picked up a hybrid 3 iron to go with is. im a bit tall so had to get half inch extended, so hopefully they will be here in a week or 2. i cant wait!

Re: Good Starter Set of Clubs.. thoughts on PING G5?
 

Being tall is not the complete story. Most tall people also have long arms. Its the distance from your hands to the ground. Thats the reason you need to get fitted.

As others have said you can't go wrong with Ping. I love mine.

If you're near Carrollton TX, there's a nice shop just off I-35 that I highly recomend.

Re: Good Starter Set of Clubs.. thoughts on PING G5?
 

I'm 6'3 w/ a 6'6 wingspan. A lot of 'pros' wanted to put me in long clubs simply because of my height, however it's important to realize that with longer clubs comes a dramatic change in swing weight. 1/2" over often changes a D-3 to a D-5 which swings you more than you swing it.

Hopefully if you purchased 1/2" from ping, they pick the underweight heads to use in their factory long clubs. Perhaps you get some D-4s (if god loves you).

If you find you hate the weight and length, the good news is that you can always chop the tops quickly and easily.

Re: Good Starter Set of Clubs.. thoughts on PING G5?
 

Ping’s default swing weight is C9 I don’t think he will run into problems.

Re: Good Starter Set of Clubs.. thoughts on PING G5?
 

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Ping’s default swing weight is C9 I don’t think he will run into problems.

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i went into golfsmith and got fitted, so hopefully it will work out well.

Re: Good Starter Set of Clubs.. thoughts on PING G5?
 

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Ping’s default swing weight is C9 I don’t think he will run into problems.

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Lead tape time [img]/images/graemlins/smile.gif[/img]

Raptor: You'll likely be fine. Congrats on the new set.

Re: Good Starter Set of Clubs.. thoughts on PING G5?
 

I am also going to pick up a new set and the ping g10 and callaway x20 seem to be my top two choice. Is the x20 that much of an improvement over the x18? Is it worth the extra couple hundred for the x20? Should I go with the tour irons orve the regular? I play decent, but only currently play a couple times a year, and plan to play/improve a lot in the future. Also I need advise on a driver. I hit the ball 280+ with my current Ram driver that is 8+ years old, so I would assume I would need a firm, or extra firm shaft.

Re: Good Starter Set of Clubs.. thoughts on PING G5?
 

"Also I need advise on a driver. I hit the ball 280+ with my current Ram driver that is 8+ years old, so I would assume I would need a firm, or extra firm shaft."


You need to get a driver that works for you. The combination of the shaft and exactly how it flexes and the loft on the club needs to work for you. You have to go out and hit them at least. Ideally a good clubfitter can analyze what you are doing and what you need. But yeah, if you hit it 280 you probably won't start looking at regular flex drivers. The wrong combination won't maximize what you can do given how you hit the ball. The shaft flex is only one thing. Get irons that fit you. Get a driver that gives you the right launch. Particular brands and what the shaft says on it don't get you there.

Re: Good Starter Set of Clubs.. thoughts on PING G5?
 

Thanks, I plan on going to a pro shop to get fitted for a driver. I just picked up a set of steel shaft callaway x18 irons today. They were on sale for $200 less than the x20s and the reviews I read online made it sound like there was almost no difference in quality. I am 5'10" and a novice golfer looking to improve (read: improve/modify my swing)so I can't imagine I would need my irons fitted any right now.

Re: Good Starter Set of Clubs.. thoughts on PING G5?
 

I actually just picked up my new G10s today. I'm not a poker baller, so much, but it was nice to not hurt my family's personal finances in making a thousand dollar purchase to suit my hobby. Thank God for 2-5 live donks.

I bought 3-pw in the G10 and a blade (tour pro something or other from ping) SW. I hit my current blade sand wedge really well (and it's a blade) and didn't think I wanted to sacrifice any control with a club that I already hit pretty well.

The G10s on the range today were terrific . . . they were fitted to me and I hit them more consistently and sweeter than the demo G10s!

The clubs look great in my new Nike Sasquatch bag.

Now I'm planning on figuring out what to do about a putter, driver, and long irons/hybrids. I wanted to take care of long irons first. Putters and drivers I'll just try a lot of clubs, 3 iron/hybrids/fairway woods I need to figure out better what I do well with.

I'm really hoping that this purchase will work for at least the next 10-15 years (until my swing speed calls for more flexible shafts).

Re: Good Starter Set of Clubs.. thoughts on PING G5?
 

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Thanks, I plan on going to a pro shop to get fitted for a driver. I just picked up a set of steel shaft callaway x18 irons today. They were on sale for $200 less than the x20s and the reviews I read online made it sound like there was almost no difference in quality. I am 5'10" and a novice golfer looking to improve (read: improve/modify my swing)so I can't imagine I would need my irons fitted any right now.

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I just noticed this post . . . I wouldn't underestimate the importance of getting fitted for irons. Most shops will do it for free and will only charge you a (relatively) small fee for altering them (3$/club for off the rack purchases where I shopped).

I would recommend what I've done the past few months to any beginner/intermediate golfer.

GET LESSONS. They're a lot cheaper than clubs, you don't need all that many to improve your game a ton, and you'll be working with the right information when you're selecting clubs you liked. I very much doubt I would have ended up with the G10s if I hadn't had 200$ in lessons first. I probably wouldn't have hit them any more consistently or better than my old beginner set. Because of my lessons, I'm hitting really well and understand a lot better what I'm tryingto look for in a golf club.

Re: Good Starter Set of Clubs.. thoughts on PING G5?
 

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The clubs look great in my new Nike Sasquatch bag.


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ugh the SQ bag is ridiculously nice. I was supposed to get one but due to a mixup I ended up with a tour combo bag and a dozen One blacks. I guess it was a good deal but I cringe every time I see someone with the SQ bag; it looks so good esp. in black/yellow.

Re: Good Starter Set of Clubs.. thoughts on PING G5?
 

Good clubs but Nikent offers better clubs for less money...and I know you said money not really an issue so unless your going to go blade and have them custom fitted doesn't really matter IMO. BTW I just bought the Project X and had em adjusted 3 degrees upright....LOVELY and big difference for my game which is 5 cap.

Re: Good Starter Set of Clubs.. thoughts on PING G5?
 

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I actually just picked up my new G10s today. I'm not a poker baller, so much, but it was nice to not hurt my family's personal finances in making a thousand dollar purchase to suit my hobby. Thank God for 2-5 live donks.

I bought 3-pw in the G10 and a blade (tour pro something or other from ping) SW. I hit my current blade sand wedge really well (and it's a blade) and didn't think I wanted to sacrifice any control with a club that I already hit pretty well.

The G10s on the range today were terrific . . . they were fitted to me and I hit them more consistently and sweeter than the demo G10s!

The clubs look great in my new Nike Sasquatch bag.

Now I'm planning on figuring out what to do about a putter, driver, and long irons/hybrids. I wanted to take care of long irons first. Putters and drivers I'll just try a lot of clubs, 3 iron/hybrids/fairway woods I need to figure out better what I do well with.

I'm really hoping that this purchase will work for at least the next 10-15 years (until my swing speed calls for more flexible shafts).

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Why didn't you go with the Ping hybrids? I love mine, and haven't heard anything bad from anyone else who has played them.

Re: Good Starter Set of Clubs.. thoughts on PING G5?
 

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Why didn't you go with the Ping hybrids? I love mine, and haven't heard anything bad from anyone else who has played them.

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It's not that I didn't go with them . . . I haven't picked up any longer clubs than my 4 iron. I'm going to take a 3 iron, 3-5 hybrids, and 3,5&7 woods out to the range to demo-test them sometime soon. I'll see what works the best for me and buy it.

It's definitely good to hear that you've had a good experience with the Ping hybrids, however. I feel like hybrids could really help my (mediocre) game.