They get the game off to a flying start (7)
I believe the answer is:
beaters
'they' is the definition.
Both the answer and definition are plural nouns.
Perhaps they are linked in a way I don't understand?
'get the game off to a flying start' is the wordplay.
I cannot really understand how this works, but
'get' could be 'be' ('get' can mean 'come to be') and 'be' is found in the answer.
'the' could be 't' (the is pronounced as a 't' sound in some dialects) and 't' is present in the answer.
'a' is within the answer.
The remaining letters 'ers' is a valid word which might be clued in a way I don't understand.
This explanation may well be incorrect...
Can you help me to learn more?
(Another definition for beaters that I've seen is " They rouse up game".)