PGA Features

Buying golf equipment is great fun but a road paved with pitfalls. As part of March's Get Into Golf Guide PGA.info has put together an essential list of do's and don'ts with the help of PGA professional Stuart Hurstfield from Alyn Waters Golf Centre in Wrexham. Stuart, who will be one of 20 PGA pros giving free lessons at the R&A Junior Golf Centre at this year's Open at Royal Birkdale, has some great advice for beginners and some useful tips for established players looking to squeeze the most out of their golf gear.

With so much money spent on equipment advertising, it's easy to forget that underneath the bold promises of straighter, longer and more accurate shots, you still have to be able to swing a club to get any tangible benefits from your investment. Most golfers, especially beginners, would in the short-term be better investing in expert tuition with a PGA pro, than on the latest 'big thing' to hit the shelves which might look great but could send your game spiralling out of control. But fear not, buying and trying out new clubs is an enjoyable and necessary part of the game that comes to every golfer - it's just why rush in when you might be spending some of your hard-earned cash on the wrong gear!

Stuart, like most pros, enjoys an in-depth working knowledge of equipment and how it works for individual golfers. He believes many golfers, particularly newcomers to the game, are missing a trick if they don't utilise the expertise of a pro. Why - well it's simple: "There is now so much choice now that it's literally a minefield when it comes to buying clubs," he explains. "I can't even imagine what it must be like now as a beginner or even someone who's been playing for a while, to walk into a golf shop and try and choose clubs without some proper advice." Fortunately, as part of PGA.info's getting into golf series, Stuart has compiled a list of dos and don'ts that make essential reading when it comes to equipment...

DO get some lessons under your belt first if you want to maximise the benefits of any equipment you buy. "The club is an extension of you as a golfer so if you've got poor technique a £300 driver is not going to help you."

DON'T get caught out by the hype. "Much as you admire that eight degree loft driver that Tiger wields, the reality is you probably generate only half the clubhead speed and would barely get the ball off the surface, so start thinking about equipment that's suitable for you."

DO try out and test clubs before you buy, preferably with some advice from your PGA professional. "There are so many clubs on the market now that it's an absolute minefield and I can't imagine what it's like as a beginner walking into a pro shop expecting to make a sensible choice."

DON'T give your kids any hand-me downs. "When I started playing 20 years ago, you played with cut offs where the toe was sticking miles in the air and the club weighed a ton. Fortunately times have moved on and equipment for juniors these days is out of this world, extremely affordable and reasonably priced and the right gear can make all the difference to their enjoyment of the game."

DO seek out a static fitting from your PGA professional. "This will ensure you get the right clubs to suit your build in terms of height, arm length and grip size. Also at the beginner stage, a static fitting is probably better than custom-fitting because a newcomer's game will still be very much in its development phase."

DON'T forget - "Even if you've already jumped in and bought clubs you can still get them checked by your pro who may well be able to fit them to your requirements in terms of characteristics like loft, lie and shaft length."

DO ensure you use clubs with enough loft to get the ball up in the air. "PGA professionals are famous for using seven irons during lessons and one of the reasons is it gets the ball up in the air and is appealing and satisfying which all fuels the confidence and motivation of the pupil. It's why rescue clubs, hybrids and five wood type clubs are useful additions to the bag early on."

DON'T use a driver until you are confident with a three wood. "The reality is that if most golfers hit 10 drives and 10 three woods they would probably on average hit the three wood further because it's got more loft and is easier to hit. Drivers might look appealing but less loft means less backspin and more side spin so exaggerating any faults."

DON'T forget that you don't need to fork out for a full set of clubs. "You can happily begin with a starter half set - SW, PW, 9,7,5 and 3W - and hone your game before investing in better equipment as your golf improves. The reality is that there are very few golfers that would be at any significant disadvantage with just a half set compared to a full set."

Stuart Hurstfield is a teaching professional at Alyn Waters Golf Centre - contact him on 01978 855131 or visit alynwatersgolfcentre.com