Half-series or full series: When Should You Make the Leap?
When should you upgrade your equipment? New or used? Should you buy a complete set right away? Ma, a teacher and the founder of Les Golfiteurs, shares his insights based on his experience, while noting that this is his personal opinion. He’s switched sets three times in two years—and regrets it.
To be continued
What the lesson shows
Before changing equipment, he asks two prerequisites. First, hit the ball consistently, at least six or seven out of ten accurate measurements: if the fat and thin shots are predominant, the fitter won’t have anything reliable to go on when adjusting the equipment. Next, have really want to. He warns against letting doubt set in: telling yourself that you’re failing because of your equipment can slow your progress. New or used? It depends on your budget. Ideally, you should get a new club that’s been custom-fitted, which, according to him, doesn’t cost any more than a standard new club. If you’re buying used, have a pro help you choose the head and shaft, keeping in mind that used clubs will rarely be a 100% perfect fit.
In his view, club fitting is actually more beneficial for amateurs than for professionals. Do you need a complete set right from the start? He’s done it, and he considers it unnecessary unless you have a generous budget. You can get by for a long time with half-series and add to it as you go, when a The shortfall falls on each party. Here’s an example: a 7-iron for 130 yards, a 9-iron for 110 yards, and a distance of 120 yards that comes up again and again—that’s the time to buy an 8-iron. If you have everything you need, stick with what you have.
The Exercise, Step by Step
- Count your good contacts: aim for at least six or seven out of ten before making a change.
- Ask yourself if you're changing because you want to, or to find an excuse for your failures.
- Set your budget: new with fittings, or used.
- If you're buying a used guitar, ask a professional to help you evaluate the headstock and neck.
- Start or stay in the half-set.
- On the course, keep track of the distances you're short on each hole.
- Buy the club that fills this recurring gap—and only that one.
Key Takeaways
Mistakes to Avoid
- Changing stances when you're not yet making consistent contact with the ball.
- Switch series several times in a short period of time.
- To buy fourteen clubs at once without having any use for them.
- Believing that club fitting is only for good players.
- Blaming one's mistakes on the equipment.
Driving Range Mode
Keep it in plain sight, on the rug.
- Counting the good hits out of ten shots
- Mark on the map the distances that cannot be reached without the appropriate club
- Check the distances for your 7-iron and 9-iron before adding a club
Your Questions
When am I ready to upgrade my equipment?
For Ma, it’s when you hit the ball correctly at least six or seven times out of ten, and you really want to. Before that, the fitter doesn’t have a reliable baseline.
Should you buy a complete set right after the fitting?
He did it and regrets it. In his view, you can stay in the lower division for a long time and add clubs as you go.
How do I know which club to add to my half-series?
Identify a distance that comes up repeatedly on the course for which you don’t have a suitable club. For example: an 7-iron for 120 m, a 9-iron for 100 m, and often a 110 m shot—that’s when you should add an 8-iron to your bag.
Does a club fitting cost more than standard new clubs?
According to him, no. That's why he recommends not passing it up if you're buying a new car.
Learn More
Video posted on YouTube by its creator (Ma Chun Teng Chan). Best Golf Tips selects and summarizes the best free lessons without hosting them.