So you’ve decided it’s about time to get rid of the sticks you’ve been playing with the past few seasons and make a little upgrade. Sure, it might not help you shave any strokes off your next round, but at least you can impress the rest of your foursome. With so many choices out there, it may actually seem a bit daunting.

The recent surge of hybrid clubs and weight placement technology in the marketplace certainly has not made the decision any easier.

A new set of clubs is a major investment, and unless you have an extremely forgiving spouse or exorbitant checking account, you are probably going to be stuck with them for a while. This is precisely the reason you are going to want to do your homework.

Looking through the catalogs or websites of a few of the major mail order and online retailers is a great way to see just what is out there, and what is within your budget. It doesn’t hurt to ask around the clubhouse either, as you may get some honest feedback about a particular model, a tip on where to buy, or even get to take a few swings with them.

Speaking of taking a few swings, if you belong to or play at a club with a decent pro shop, they will undoubtedly have demo models you can try out. Go ahead and take full advantage of this, as you may find that it quickly rules out a brand or model you were interested in, or might open your eyes to a club you had not considered. With that said, be aware that for most golfers, the pro shop is probably not the best place to buy a set of clubs.

Remember those dozen balls you paid fifty bucks for before your last round? The exception to this, however, would be if you live in a cold weather climate, where the pro shops are looking to get rid of demo clubs at the end of the season - there may be some great deals to be had.

Now that you may have narrowed it down to a few makes or models, here comes the toughest part. It is time to face the music and be honest with yourself. If you are an 18 handicap, is an $1,100 set of irons really necessary? Are they going to improve your game any more than a $450 set? If you can’t hit your long irons, for example, a cheaper set of progressive hybrids would probably be a better option.

Yes, we would all love to have the shiny new clubs advertised in the golf magazines, but if you have kept an open mind throughout the research process, you may realize that there are some great clubs out there from companies that are not well known to the average weekend duffer, such as Nickent, Kasco, or LS2000.

Also, be sure not to overlook items listed as “closeout” or “clearance,” as this is code for, “we ordered too many of these clubs last year, and really need to get rid of them.” It is not uncommon to see items like these selling for thirty to fifty percent less than the original retail price.

If you don’t have a headache yet, and aren’t feeling more confused than ever, it might actually be time to ante up and make the purchase. This, of course, presents a completely new set of obstacles. Just where should you buy your new super high trajectory composite 3000cc driver or progressively weighted computer engineered dynamically accurate irons?

The first place to start should be a local golf shop, rather than one of the “big box” sporting goods stores. Not only is the guy running the golf shop going to have a vast amount of knowledge to be tapped, but unlike the kid at the big box store, he probably wasn’t working in the mall food court last month.

More importantly, he is going to be looking to form a relationship with you, the customer, so that he can count on your repeat business.

A reputable golf shop will ask you about your game, what you are looking for, what your goals for improving your game are, and probably isn’t going to sell you something you do not need. In a way, this is a great last line of defense to help you avoid overspending and buying clubs that your ability does not yet necessitate.

As an added bonus, many shops take trade-ins so long as your old set is in decent condition. Not only will you save storage space in the basement, you may save a few bucks as well.

Before you whip out the credit card, don’t hesitate to ask if there is any wiggle room in the price. I know it may sound a little cheesy; after all, this is a golf shop, not a used car lot. Nevertheless, at the very least, they may be willing to throw in a few freebees such as an instructional video, training aid, or even just a sleeve of balls.

Once you get the shop’s best price, it may be worth a call to one of the major mail order or internet retailers that you used for research at the beginning of the process. Not taking into account any possible trade-in, they may be willing to give you an even better deal on the clubs you have chosen.

The three or four major golf retailers actually have high quality customer service, and typically do a great job getting orders out quickly as well as going out of their way to make sure you’re happy with your purchase.

Keep in mind, however, that unless the savings from doing business with one of these larger retailers is measurable, it might be worth spending a few extra bucks to buy form the little guy. Once he knows he can count on your repeat business, you’re bound to get some good deals from him.

So in short, when considering a new set of clubs, there are a few steps you should follow. First, do some basic research to get a feel for the marketplace. You also want to ask fellow golfers for any thoughts, as they may be able to provide some useful information.

Secondly, you should try out various demo clubs before you narrow your search too much, as you may be able to rule out some options as well as discover some new ones. Next, make sure the clubs you are eyeing are appropriate for your skill level. Unless you have the ability to shape your shots, there is no reason to buy a new set of blades.

Finally, while it is worth looking for a good deal with some larger retailers, do not be afraid to pay a few extra bucks at a smaller golf shop, as it may benefit you in the long run. And if, after all of this, you are still uncertain of which clubs are right for you, consider spending some money on lessons instead, as this will probably improve your game more in the long run than even the fanciest new set of sticks ever could.

Robert Hayes is a featured author for http://www.engolfed.com, a web site that includes golf tips, golf articles, and a golf blog.

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Getting great prices on golf clubs, as in most hard goods, is a 2 step process these days. First find which model you want in person, then get the best deal on the internet.

So you’ll want to start with a visit to pro shops and sporting goods stores first. Try out as many brands and styles as you can. Continue refining your search until you’ve found the clubs you want. Make a mental note of the price, but know that you are not going to pay nearly that much.

Your Fingers Do The Walking

Now you’re ready to shop the internet, where you can find some the lowest prices on the best clubs.The billions of web pages of the internet makes for a fiercely competitive environment among online retailers. To compete with each other, and to muscle out their brick-and-mortar competition, online retailers have to sell their wares at rock bottom prices.

Plus they not only want to give you a good price, the lower operating overhead allows them to do so. For you, that can mean great deals on your golf clubs, as well as golf bags, balls, clothing, and anything else you need for your game.

Cyberspace Pirates

Be aware, though, that the internet is a refuge for crooks and thieves hoping to take your money. The internet abounds with scam artists who set up fake auction ads or entire web sites with the sole purpose of stealing your hard-earned cash. Once you send it to them, you can kiss your money good-bye. If you see unbelievable prices on golf clubs, the old adage “too good to be true” probably holds.

How To Make A Safe Purchase

Still, there are many legitimate sellers on the web and, by following safe internet buying practices, you can get a great deal without being robbed.

Once you’ve found the clubs you want at a fabulous price, proceed with caution to make your purchase. Never provide any personal information to someone over e-mail. Provide it only on a web site if the site is secure. You can tell a site is secure by checking the web address for https instead of http. The extra “s” stands for secure. Some sites have a little key symbol in the browser to let you know it’s safe.

Next, check out any retailer on the web before you purchase from them. See if they have a phone number and a real address. You can even go so far as to research on a comparison site like MySimon.com, or on the Better Business Bureau’s site.

This small amount of effort pays off in the long run, because you’ll get the golf clubs you want at the best possible prices.

Visit Golf Gear to learn more. Ron King is a full-time researcher, writer, and web developer. Copyright 2005 Ron King. This article may be reprinted if the resource box is left intact.

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Featuring the soothing narration of Deepak Chopra over the trancelike music of Adam Plack, The Soul of Healing Meditations serves as an introduction to meditation for neophytes and as a more advanced tool to help overcome a physical ailment and/or emotional toxicity. That may make it sound like a digital elixir, but as Chopra says in his liner notes: “We like to tell our patients (at the Chopra Center for Well Being) that the body is the best pharmacy in the world and is capable of making wonder drugs.” His message here is that one can naturally prevail over serious life challenges by becoming more attuned to one’s body–by relaxing and filtering out the external world, focusing on and influencing internal sensations and biorhythms, and banishing negative thoughts and focusing on the positive aspects of life. This CD is not meant as a cure-all for physical or emotional ills. Rather, it’s a supplemental experience to other treatments or programs, and it shows how enlightening and empowering meditation can be when practiced properly. Its actual effects will depend upon the receptiveness of the listener. Plack’s accompanying soundtrack ranges from delicate ambient tones to more active Indian music, appropriately serving the mood of each of the album’s eight tracks. –Bryan Reesman

Atists:  Deepak Chopra M.D., Deepak Chopra
Audio CD: 
Company: Rasa Music  (2001-11-20)
List Price: $17.98
Amazon Price: $13.18
Used Price: $10.97

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