A metal grooming comb is very important. I never try to brush until I have gone through the coat with the comb first. Sometimes I don't even bother to brush if she is looking good with just a combing. Brushes can be scary to a pup and they can also be painful if there are tangles in the fur. If you have a mat that you can't get out sometimes it's best to just cut it out rather than struggle with him trying to get it out.
You want grooming to be an enjoyable experience for him so doing a quick comb through several times a day is a good way to keep the mats and tangles away while teaching him that the comb is a good thing. Always give him a nice healthy treat when you finish. Eventually you will find him waiting for that treat instead of running away.
I'm posting a link to the website of a member here who sells some good examples of the kind of tools you need to groom your pup. I have several items but he ones I use most are the 6" and 4" combs and my small Madan brush.
toplinepet.com