There's really no such thing as "beginner", "advanced", or "Super Pro" clubs. Yeah, they're marketed that way... but they're just things.

Do you think a baseball bat knows if you or Mike Trout is swinging it? If there was a "pro" model baseball bat, would it automatically guarantee a .300 batting average and 35 HR's a season?

No.

There's only three criteria when deciding on what to buy:

Do you like how the club(s) look? This may seem fickle, but it isn't. If you can't stand the look (and the sound) of a golf club, you'll have negative feelings which will creep into your swing.
Can you afford them? If you have to "borrow" from the kid's college fund to get a new set, don't. If you can look in the couch cushions and find enough loose change for a $1,000 set of irons, awesome. But there are plenty of quality options at many different price points.
Are you going to get the new club(s) fitted? If you want to get the most out of them, this better be yes. Going back to the baseball bat idea: no, a new bat won't turn you into Mike Trout, but if you're swinging a bat that's too heavy, too long and has a grip too big for your hands, you won't be able to swing to the best of your ability. Same goes for golf clubs! If a driver, for example, is too long, you'll struggle to hit the "sweet spot" and square the face at impact (Slice City). If the loft's too low for your swing speed, you won't be able to maximize your distance potential. If the club is too heavy, it can become cumbersome to swing later in the round.
There are tests out there that show data (mostly about drivers) that ranks them from longest to shortest. They're all "off-the-shelf", so no real alteration. There isn't much of a difference between the longest and the shortest. Why?

Everyone's at the USGA-imposed limits. When you get fitted, you find the specs that allow you to hit the "sweet spot" the best you can, with what you consider an acceptable trade-off between distance and accuracy. Brands and model names are only important to the individual.

If you are completely new then, you should check some of the blogs like www.grumpygopher.com/.../

For beginners, I see nothing wrong with inexpensive boxed sets sold in discount department stores like Wal Mart, Target, or the less-expensive sets sold in Sporting Goods stores. For balls, I would recommend inexpensive balls for the beginner. Nitro balls are $6 per dozen. Make sure the beginner enjoys the game before investing a lot of money. If the person does enjoy the game, they can choose to move into more expensive equipment.

It is sometimes a good idea to start building a set with used OEM clubs. These can be purchased from a private seller or at some golf shops. Play It Again sports is also a good option.

Simply put, from my perspective. GIGO! A set that has shafts within "a range" heads sort of near specs, and cheap balls is a recipe to drive a perspective addict away! Find a decent used set of "quality" clubs, fitted or not: get some mid range to good balls, take some time at the range , play some "crappy" golf rounds. Bet you'll get hooked. Sure worked for me!!!

I know the thread is old...but.... To piggyback onto Steve D's comment, I started snow skiing with rental skis and taking on the hill. While doing the same with golf won't be nearly as painful (23 falls and bending one ski pole in the one trip down the hill that day), friends should encourage friends to buy a used 7 iron, a hybrid, a PW and a putter and find a local site for single or group sessions to start. With some basic techniques under their belt, they can get advice on what to look for in a set of used irons (...and not forged blades). With round 2, they can advance to add a driver and a fairway or hybrid. No sense in starting with a driver if the dispersion pattern will be 140 degrees or more.

Dick's sells 11 pc sets (Woods, Irons, Putter and Bag) for under $1000. 00. Down the road, if you stay with the game, you can sell/ trade-in the set and upgrade to some nice Titleist equipment.

Having started with an inexpensive boxed set, I don't recommend shelling out a couple of hundred bucks for what likely will harm more than help by adjusting to the club instead of vice-versa. Talk to a local pro, have them evaluate what a potential set could be and recommend 2-3 potential used sets to start. Then a local store or any number of web sites will have used sets. Need to start with something close in length and potential shaft weight/flex for the player. An A-flex iron set for an athletic 24 year old won't be helpful, neither will an x-stiff set work for a 45 year old in modest shape. If Tin Cup can play with a 7 iron, I'd even recommend only a set of irons working with a pro before taking on a driver. Losing a ball or skying or topping a 20 yard drive on 12 of 14 holes with driver can be very discouraging. Hitting 12 of 14 fairways with an iron will score better until taught how to hit driver.

Before even considering purchasing a set of clubs, if you are considering playing or learning the game, buy yourself a nine iron. Do not know where you live, but there are Goodwill stores in our area and you can pick one up for around $3-$5 (actually a friend of mine found a Scotty Cameron putter for $10 in their bin of used golf clubs). That is the club that I warm up with, based on my pro. Take it to the range and hit it a few times. You might find it not to your taste. If the bug hits you go see a teaching pro and let them work with you and learn to hit that club and add another iron or two and learn to hit them, then add a driver or a three wood. Once you feel comfortable with these clubs then consider purchasing a set of matched clubs. The way to learn golf is by crawling, baby steps, walking then running. Most people like to go run, buy clubs, never really learn how to hit them and regret it for the rest of their lives. Yep, that is what I did. Started taking lessons in my 60's and it has helped overcome those faults and at 74+ still getting lessons when I go astray. With respect.

That's a tough one as golf is a funny game. You will either learn to love it or you will hate it. But to start off, some will say to get fitted for clubs and some will say to get a box set/used set or whatever you have laying around to try and learn.

I would say getting fitted a little later on, after you have started to develop your swing and your passion for the game would be great. I say that because as you are learning, and your swing could change a lot and when you are getting a fitting, they will fit the equipment to your swing when you are getting the fitting.

I would suggest getting a used set, a beginners set from a golf store or even borrow some clubs until you really get into the game and then as your swing changes, go and get that fitting.

Golf is a great sport and hobby, but very expensive. If the beginner is able to get fit for a set, have them go that route, but know that their equipment could change in a short period of time.

The biggest take away is to learn to play the game and enjoy it!

The one you're fitted for!

The problem with "cheap" copies and a bad set of random clubs is when it's time to sell or trade in, they are pretty much worthless. If you're thinking Titleist, there are plenty of complete sets of used irons (4-pw) for sale on Ebay at less than the price of a new driver. They should match your swing speed. More than likely regular shafts. In the long run you'll have a set of clubs worth re- selling.


Deno