As a PGA golf instructor I deal with a lot of beginners and high handicap golfers. Inevitably their questions will turn to equipment. What kind of clubs are best for me? What kind of driver will let me hit the farthest? Should I get new clubs? Here is my advise.

The answer is not in what make of clubs you should play, but what should your set make up look like. I think that beginners and high handicappers should use a set of clubs with very few clubs. As a beginner, and high handicapper, you don't hit the ball solid enough to have a big gap between clubs. So your 9, 8, and 7 irons all go about the same distance. You surely don;t hit it solid enough to be hitting long irons. You should focus your efforts on learning to make a swing that will hit a ball solid enough so that it stays in play. Also you should focus your attention on learning how to chip and putt.The set should look like this:

• driver with 10.5-14 degrees of loft
• 5 wood
• mid hybrid (4)
• 7 iron
• 9 iron
• sand wedge

I personally prefer to walk when I play, and many times I will take clubs out of my bag to lighten the load. My set ends up looking like the one above. I always laugh when I finish playing because my score is typically the same as when I use my full set. 

The only problem with my advise is where do you buy quality golf clubs in this set make up. The big manufacturers don't make beginner sets. Why, I don't know. So we have to look elsewhere. I was introduced to two companies at the 2010 PGA Merchandise Show that sell discount/component clubs, Hireko Golf and Pine Meadows Golf. The quality of their products are outstanding, and the prices are low. You can order your clubs individually, so you can buy the set make up you want. As you improve, you can fill in your set with the other clubs. Adams Golf's Tight Lies Set is also a very nice option.

The point of this post is to find a reasonably priced product, that is good quality, and that serves your needs. Don't fall for the hype of the larger manufacturers. Learn to hit it solid and play the game first.