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

raptor517 · #1 10-16-2007, 02:20 AM

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!

blah_blah · #2 10-16-2007, 03:59 AM

They are good irons, although I believe that they have been replaced by the G10s if price isn't an issue.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).

tuq · #3 10-16-2007, 12:34 PM

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.

offTopic · #4 10-16-2007, 12:39 PM

[ QUOTE ]
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.

[/ QUOTE ]

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.

tuq · #5 10-16-2007, 12:52 PM

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.

offTopic · #6 10-16-2007, 12:56 PM

[ QUOTE ]
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.

[/ QUOTE ]

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]

Ineedaride2 · #7 10-17-2007, 10:21 AM

[ QUOTE ]

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.

[/ QUOTE ]

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).

mittman84 · #8 10-21-2007, 09:36 AM

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.

HDPM · #9 10-21-2007, 03:48 PM

"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.

mittman84 · #10 10-21-2007, 11:04 PM

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.