From time to time people ask what to buy when and the below is a great guide.  It is all personal still to a large extent of course.  If I were starting tomorrow with what I know now, just my personal route would be as below.  Remember levels pass pretty rapidly early on – also see the FAQs on maximising your XP, and what XPs convert to which level (very important to understand those gaps) to help with mapping your route.

Load all your starter clubs, and do not even bother with the EZ swing stuff.  They are for granny Xmas morning to laugh at a ball actually getting hit, and not to be taken seriously.  I would look to not replace anything in my starter set, except as below:

 

 

Putters: Use starter everything until L33 at least.  At L33 I would either stop and buy the L33 Versa putter or wait until L35 and get the Ghost Spider.  Both great putters, but the L33 Ghost (at a price) would mean no more even thinking until the L71 Versa.  Either putter will be an excellent choice, and I can’t recommend the expensive Versa over the great value Ghost Spider for “real virtual world” better scoring potential, just if you have the credits and like to feel backed by the best on paper the Versa is an option.  I never mentioned the super little L55 Rossa, one to consider as still used by at least one ultra good player even if not a fav of mine. For me though the L35 Ghost, and then the L70 Versa would be my choice all day.

 

L70 I would look no farther than the Versa putter as I said, and this little beauty will easily see you through to the L96 Versa.  If you are a TL at L96 you will probably back yourself with the HL Versa, but really the L71 is so good you will wonder why you replaced it very possibly;

 

Irons: The L32 R11s are the first decent set of irons to even consider.  Other choices exist around them, but think long and hard about all the attributes (see the FAQs on balance, precision and etc.) before going different.  Personally I would try and resist as L59 comes soon enough, and the L58 G25s are the must have irons.  The G25s will see you will in to Legend tier when around L85 it will be time to upgrade again.

 

L85 many go with the Nikes.  Levels start to really space out but at L90 the Rsi2 irons look to easily have it for the most serious score potential. 

 

The L97s and L100 irons are so incredibly far away, but really by L90 you have all the scoring potential anyway. 

 

Big topic that pro shop opened one and just for here I am not suggesting open the pro shop open for every TL going, but would advocate some way for good TLs to get things opened a bit sooner.  Digressing too much though and all in the forums all that and often, LOL, as might imagine;

 

Hybrids: Unlike the real world these play no good part in this game certainly by Legend level if ever before.  Use your 3W to punch out of rough, and experiment with top spin doing so;

 

Woods: L30 R11 3W is cheap and a bargain, and first 3W to consider.  Its nice high trajectory will help that ball stop.  L48 driver is a no brainer, and first driver to consider too.  They will last a while the both.  Later on driver wise it's a choice between the L79 / 89 SLDR (same but higher price if get earlier) or just wait until L90 and get the R15.  Played a few people with that R15 and it keeps up with anything out there from what I have seen.

 

The 3W will be first up for replacement upon reaching Legend.  No obvious just go to and forget choices exist though.  If I were really doing this on a budget I would wait until L89, and get the L89 BB which is as good as any get.  The best one before that for actually stopping looks to still be the L84 R15, but realistically you may well be Legend before that, and so will be itching for those extra yards sooner.  Levels in mind the L69 Rocket looks a fine budget choice, but is only med trajectory which calls into question its stopping ability versus say the L73 X hot.  L89 the BB is the one to get.

 

Wedges:  Essential items to get correct especially with the way prices are going.  IMO 3 wedges are still the way to go from the off, and the only sensible way for RR play from Legend on.  Remember always your PW when choosing wedges.  Your pitching wedge punches too, and this may be a shot of choice for you.  Basically though the attributes of the L26 through 31 Cleves are excellent (at a price).  You should get a 60 loft, and after that two more evenly spaced ones with your PW in mind doing that.  Remember they punch, flop, pitch and chip as well as hit full shots.   Research and experiment but basically from fway or fringe I chip up to 7 or 8 yards, and then pitch up to 17.  Over 17 ish I punch (FBS and choked way down), and at 32 yards a full shot hit 66% power with a 60 loft Cleve goes 32 yards – experiment with your ball.  Lastly do not forget top spin to increase yardage when needed.

Just been advised, and seems logical, that roughly those wedges will punch 16 to 18 yards below what their full shot is.  Do double check though if concerned as not cheap, and no guarantees from me.

 

The slightly higher level ATVs currently offer greater value and are still excellent wedges, but those Cleves look tempting.  I suspect these will be replaced soon.

Up at Legend and looking in the L70s you will be hard pushed looking past the new Cleves (newly inflated price to go with them aside).  100, 80 and 60 yard spacing is the usual choice for  RR play.

 

Balls:  Putters take a long time to learn (every nuance of every increment), but so can balls.  Do not swap balls unless you identify a real need and then stick to that ball once you get good irons anyway.  Generally do not buy a ball over the level of your club certainly until you get the L59 G25s anyway IMO.  Once you get your irons (G25s really are a no brainer) it’s time to map with your chosen ball, and so off to Beth B9 in low cross wind practice, and find out what it all does (different spin settings if that’s the way you play) yardage wise.

 

Early on most of the cheap WGT balls will feel / be better than the starter ball.  Try a couple but no need to go mad at this stage getting too concerned with attributes.

 

L59 and G25s the L33 Cally is a truly excellent ball, and best value in the pro shop.  Nikes are also there to be considered, but know the Nikes especially are fussy, and you really need to know your spin settings – close enough is not good enough at all those things.  Arguably the Nikes with spin added will hurt you more on misses.  I think this can be over hyped, but they are fussy.  The L34 Cally is an excellent compromise ball with a nice slow meter.  Above those balls there are many to choose from, but by then you will know what suits and so no need to discuss those here.  Personally I like to play a fair bit of spin, and like a ball I feel facilitates that.  Others simply prefer less spin…………….

 

 

I hope the above helps.  IMO it is as good a general route as any equipment wise - as of May 2015 anyway.  

 

Remember to check the XP levels table referred to in the in the FAQs to map your equipment path.  Note also these are my thoughts only for my game, and specs should be checked carefully, and clubs tried out of if doubt they are good for your game.