Golf Club Question

[Grizo406]

I'm in the market for a new set of clubs, and would like some recommendations/advice on what to get as a replacement for my present set of clubs that are old, old, old.

I'm not that good at the game, but I do love to play, and there are some beautiful courses in, and around the Missoula area. I figure its a shame not to take advantage of another outdoor opportunity such as this.

I can't hit a driver for squat, so I'm looking at irons first. The clubs I've swung, and really like so far are the Callaway Big Bertha irons, and the Ping i5's.

And how important is it to get clubs fitted for an entry level hacker?

[GeauxColonels]

Personally, speaking as a seasoned entry level hacker, I don't feel that different clubs would vastly improve my game. So, I really don't spend money on high priced clubs.

However, if you're determined to get some name brand irons like Cleveland or Taylor Made, might I suggest looking into previously owned clubs. You can usually find decent sets from people that have to have the latest and greatest clubs so they get ride of little used quality clubs.

[UNHWildCats]

some nice clubs with the handles made of pig hoofs and a nice pig skin bag xthumbsupx




xlolx xlolx :p

[proasu89]

I'm in the market for a new set of clubs, and would like some recommendations/advice on what to get as a replacement for my present set of clubs that are old, old, old.

I'm not that good at the game, but I do love to play, and there are some beautiful courses in, and around the Missoula area. I figure its a shame not to take advantage of another outdoor opportunity such as this.

I can't hit a driver for squat, so I'm looking at irons first. The clubs I've swung, and really like so far are the Callaway Big Bertha irons, and the Ping i5's.

And how important is it to get clubs fitted for an entry level hacker?



Callaway, Cobra, TaylorMade, Nike, & Ping all make great game improvement clubs. If you don't hit the driver well a fairway metal or hybrid is a good option for off the tee. As the Colonel mentioned a gently used set is a great option. Clubs are marketed like electronics and companies constantly put out new models. This leads to a lot of turnover with good deals on clubs that are less than 2 years old. PM me and I will be glad to discuss custom fitting options and help in any way. This is what I doxthumbsupx

[FargoBison]

A bought the Nike NDS irons a year or so ago and they have been pretty good, especially since the price was only $300. As for drivers, I have heard the new sqaure drivers are supposed to be easier to hit.

[GeauxColonels]

Callaway, Cobra, TaylorMade, Nike, & Ping all make great game improvement clubs. If you don't hit the driver well a fairway metal or hybrid is a good option for off the tee. As the Colonel mentioned a gently used set is a great option. Clubs are marketed like electronics and companies constantly put out new models. This leads to a lot of turnover with good deals on clubs that are less than 2 years old. PM me and I will be glad to discuss custom fitting options and help in any way. This is what I doxthumbsupx
Hmmmm....looks like I have a new source of information when it comes to clubs!

[89Hen]

Grizo, stick with: Callaway, Taylor, Nike, Titleist, Mizuno, Cleveland, Ping, Cobra.... stay away from Wilson, Spalding, knock-off brands... used are fine as long as you know the specs of the clubs. As for fitting, yes it IS important, but keep in mind that if you don't play a whole lot now and then work on improving your swing, your swing may change and the fit may not be correct any more.

[appfan2008]

Personally, speaking as a seasoned entry level hacker, I don't feel that different clubs would vastly improve my game. So, I really don't spend money on high priced clubs.

However, if you're determined to get some name brand irons like Cleveland or Taylor Made, might I suggest looking into previously owned clubs. You can usually find decent sets from people that have to have the latest and greatest clubs so they get ride of little used quality clubs.
I agree I like to go out and swing a stick and hit a ball... half the time it doesnt go in the right direction if it goes anywhere at all so i dont think that nice clubs will improve that situation

[AZGrizFan]

Grizo, stick with: Callaway, Taylor, Nike, Titleist, Mizuno, Cleveland, Ping, Cobra.... stay away from Wilson, Spalding, knock-off brands... used are fine as long as you know the specs of the clubs. As for fitting, yes it IS important, but keep in mind that if you don't play a whole lot now and then work on improving your swing, your swing may change and the fit may not be correct any more.

Also, a few words of terminology are useful:

Blades: BAD
Cavity Backs: GOOD!

[SunCoastBlueHen]

Probably just 'cause I suck at this stupid, frustrating, ridiculous, addictive game, but I always played better with my cheap knock-off clubs (Calloway knock offs if it matters) than I did with borrowed high quality clubs. Maybe I've just become accustomed to hitting my ****ty clubs... I don't know. But, for a marginal golfer like me, I didn't find the brand or cost of clubs to make a huge difference in how I hit them.

Just for reference, one of the best golfers I ever played with (was a high school champion) played a round with me with his old HS clubs (newer ones were in storage) and shot a 74 (claimed it was his lowest round in years). Play with what you feel comfortable with. xthumbsupx

[I Bleed Purple]

You can get solid custom built clubs for the same price as high end clubs. My dad has been using custom clubs for awhile now, and he is a much better golfer.

[Grizo406]

Thank you all for the responses. A huge xthumbsupx goes to Proasu89 for his behind the scenes help.

I've got it narrowed down to either the Callaways, or Pings, but I'm going to wait until I look at the Nike NDS irons.

If I could find a club that looked like an 8' 6" fly rod, I'd be set!

http://www.speedysigns.com/images/decals/140c/H/345/684.gif

[89Hen]

Maybe I've just become accustomed to hitting my ****ty clubs... I don't know. But, for a marginal golfer like me, I didn't find the brand or cost of clubs to make a huge difference in how I hit them.
I've seen sets of $200 Wilsons spec out with basically two five irons... the 5 and 6 were almost the same loft. xnodx

[chantster]

I've seen sets of $200 Wilsons spec out with basically two five irons... the 5 and 6 were almost the same loft. xnodx

Why are you so down on Wilsons?

A couple of weeks ago, I went to a Demo Day where all the manufacturers
had their new stuff. Callaway, Ping, Taylormade, Adams, McGregor, Nicklaus, Wilson, etc.

Currently, I am playing the Ping i5 irons. Before that, Callaway Xtours, before that, Callaway X18. Just couldn't get comfortable with any one set after playing blades for years.

After hitting all the new irons from the big three, I went and hit the Wilson Ci6 irons. I liked the clean looks without all the crap. I'm telling you, these clubs are butter. Probably the best hitting irons I have hit in a long time.

Got measured, fitted, and waiting for them to arrive next week.

Oh, and look at Golf Magazine's Club Test Issue for 2006. The overall winner? The Wilson Ci6.

[bobcatfan06]

I got a set of used Callaway X-12 Big Bertha irons and I absolutely love them. They have aftermarket grips but stock graphite shafts. I got them at Golfsmith for about 300 bucks.

[89Hen]

Why are you so down on Wilsons?
Maybe they've gotten better, but they seemed to make a corporate decision back in the late 80's to go lower end.

[BeauFoster]

If you are looking to have your clubs "fine-tuned" to your specs, check out:

http://callawaygolfpreowned.com/calloway.aspx

I have a good friend who has bought several clubs, including 2 full iron sets, from here and has had each bent to suit his height. I have played the same set of Ping Eye2 reds for 15 years and still love them more than anything else I have owned. I keep going back to them.

[NE MT GRIZZ]

Lynx are very good clubs and can be up to 1/2 the price of the other big names. You don't hear much about them because they don't give their clubs to the pros to use for free.

My dad has used them and likes them better than the cutom clubs he had before.

[IowaBisonToo]

Grizo - If you're a beginning hacker, don't spend the money on a new set of Pings, Callaways, Taylor Mades, etc., etc. If you have somebody in your area that makes custom clubs, go to them and have a set built for you - if it's not to expensive. Sometimes, they can actually get to be as much as a new set of OEMs if the maker charges an a$$-load to custom fit. When I got into the game, a friend of mine played Pings. He also made clubs. He built me a set from a company called Golfsmith that were similar to his Eye2's. When he hit mine, he said there was hardly any difference in the clubs. The iron set cost me $150 in parts and he put them together for me for free. I found it so interesting that I started to dabble in club making. Over the past few years, I've probably built 6 sets and everybody I've made them for have been extremely happy with them - all from a little bit of costomizing.

The biggest misconception about clubs is that if you pay a lot for clubs, they'll work better for you. Absolutely not true. A good golfer can play a set of $200 clubs and a set of $1000 clubs and shoot a very similar score all things considered equal. You're paying strictly for a brand name. Mark up is like a couple hundred percent.xoopsx Now, if you want to buy a set of new or even used OEMs, just make sure you get them fitted. Off-the-shelf clubs are made for the "average" man. There are so many factors that play into how a club plays it's not even funny. Things such as swing speed, swing plane, offset, launch angles, moment of inertia, oversized vs regular, the list goes on. Good luck in finding a new set. BTW, they also make drivers now days that can really help the weekend hacker.

Biggest piece of advice - if you want to improve your game, take a few lessons. It will do wonders for your score. And remember the old saying - drive for show, put for dough. Work on your game from 100 yards and in.xthumbsupx

[89Hen]

You're paying strictly for a brand name. Mark up is like a couple hundred percent.xoopsx
That simply isn't true. Why do you think the 'knock offs' mimic the 'brand name' clubs? Because the brand name manufacturers spend tons of money on R&D and quality manufacturing. xnodx

[IowaBisonToo]

That simply isn't true. Why do you think the 'knock offs' mimic the 'brand name' clubs? Because the brand name manufacturers spend tons of money on R&D and quality manufacturing. xnodx
You're referring to the cheap-ass knock-offs that look just like a Big Bertha or Ping. They're made by asian manufacturers who basically reverse engineer an OEM club and use sub-par manufacturing materials and foundries. This is why you get a 5 and 6 iron with the same loft.xsmhx

The two companies that I have in mind, Golfsmith and Tom Wishon Golf, do their own R&D engineering and club design and can be significantly cheaper than the OEMs (sure, you can pay $800 for customs but that's personal choice) and they use the same quality foundries as the OEMs. It is also partly due to the fact that they have no major advertising costs to pay for. So, OK, maybe not a couple hundred percent but a significant mark-up.:o

Basically I'm referring to a set of irons that costs $250 for parts and maybe that same amount for fitting. You're going to get a set of clubs for $500 that plays equivalent to some $750 clubs without fitting (although that may come free in most cases). That's all I'm saying. If the person wants to spend the money for a brand name and they think they play better using them, that's absolutely great! Maybe they do, but there are other options if you don't care what name is on the club. I'll be the first to admit that the next set of clubs I buy are going to be OEMs - just bringing up options.:)

[spelunker64]

I upgraded a couple years back from some cheapy Wilson's that I had bought for $100 for the set to a used set of Taylor Made's from a kid whose daddy was buying him new Pings...

anyway I believe these decent clubs helped my game.

Also I've heard from some golf pros, don't buy graphite shafted irons, you don't want them to flex that much.

[89Hen]

The two companies that I have in mind, Golfsmith and Tom Wishon Golf, do their own R&D engineering and club design
I assume you're actually referring to Golfworks, not Golfsmith? AFAIK Golfsmith is a discount shop, Golfworks is Ralph Matlby's outfit in Ohio. I am very familiar with them as I used to do a lot of club work in the 80's. They are fine clubs, but most of their designs are copies of the other companies.

[proasu89]

I upgraded a couple years back from some cheapy Wilson's that I had bought for $100 for the set to a used set of Taylor Made's from a kid whose daddy was buying him new Pings...

anyway I believe these decent clubs helped my game.

Also I've heard from some golf pros, don't buy graphite shafted irons, you don't want them to flex that much.

Not trying to get nitpicky, but graphite generally flexes the same as steel. You can purchase , or be fitted for graphite shafts w/ any frequency you desire. The difference is in weight, which graphite is lighter and therefore you can, possibly, generate more clubhead speed. Graphite also absorbs shock much better than steel. Easier on bad elbows and joints. Graphite is every bit as strong as steel. Hence, the 2,3,& 4X shafts used by Long Drive competitors.

[spelunker64]

[/SIZE]

Not trying to get nitpicky, but graphite generally flexes the same as steel. You can purchase , or be fitted for graphite shafts w/ any frequency you desire. The difference is in weight, which graphite is lighter and therefore you can, possibly, generate more clubhead speed. Graphite also absorbs shock much better than steel. Easier on bad elbows and joints. Graphite is every bit as strong as steel. Hence, the 2,3,& 4X shafts used by Long Drive competitors.

Just what I've heard, and just for irons, they all said graphite is recommended for woods/drivers. Thanks for your advice. xthumbsupx

[proasu89]

I assume you're actually referring to Golfworks, not Golfsmith? AFAIK Golfsmith is a discount shop, Golfworks is Ralph Matlby's outfit in Ohio. I am very familiar with them as I used to do a lot of club work in the 80's. They are fine clubs, but most of their designs are copies of the other companies.
No, it's actually Golfsmith. According to their catalog they're the #1 Clubmaking Supplier in the World. Tom Wishon has developed clubs for them under the Harvey Penick name and now the Snake Eyes name as they purchased the rights a few years ago. By the way I still have my old Maltby book from Business School I. It's hilarious to look back and see the technology changes from 1990. Refinishing and rewhipping a persimmon driverxlolx

www.golfclubliteracy.com/Wishon_Bio.html - 18k ed the rights.

[IowaBisonToo]

Yep, Golfsmith is actually who I was referring to www.golfsmith.com They sell OEM products as well as their own designs. They have a number of outlet stores. I've actually purchased both components and my TM driver last year at the store in Minnetonka, MN ('burb of the Twin Cities).

Tom Wishon used to be their lead R&D guy and then broke off on his own maybe 5 years ago or so. www.wishongolf.com

And yes, some do look like OEMs but, some OEMs have characteristics that are similar from one line to another.

[89Hen]

By the way I still have my old Maltby book from Business School I.
xnodx I'll have to look for mine. xthumbsupx

[89Hen]

Yep, Golfsmith is actually who I was referring to
Interesting, I didn't know they had them too. However $8 for a clubhead? I seriously doubt there's much R&D and quality control on that. xeyebrowx

http://www.golfsmith.com/images/2468.jpg

[IowaBisonToo]

http://www.golfsmith.com/products/SE2662

How 'bout $30/head. Does that satisfy your criteria for R&D?xeyebrowx Tack on another $220 for a good set of Royal Precision shafts and $20 for a set of grips and you're at $480 just for the components of a 3-PW iron set. You start adding on assembly and cost for marketing, etc., you'd get to that $750 price tag awfully fast. If you've never hit a nice set of Snake Eyes or Golfsmith irons, don't knock 'em. Besides, if they're so crappy, why did Scott Verplank and Bruce Leitzke play them about 8-10 years back? Yeah, they're cheap, with no R&D. I'm sure a pro would play a set like that.xcoffeex

That head design you put up is only about 8 or 9 years old. If I remember right, it was around the $25-30 new.

[89Hen]

Besides, if they're so crappy, why did Scott Verplank and Bruce Leitzke play them about 8-10 years back?
Because they were paid?

[IowaBisonToo]

That's fine but, if they were so bad, why would a pro hit poorly made clubs just to cash in a sponsors paycheck? My guess is Golfsmith didn't give them that much in terms of money - may have been all they could get at the time. But like I said, don't knock them 'til you hit a set.

[89Hen]

BTW, I meant to put a :p after that one. I'm just trying to give advice to a guy who may not know anyone who can put together a set of clubs. IMO the best advice is to buy a known quantity.

[IowaBisonToo]

I completely agree. My biggest advice to him was make sure he gets them fitted - whether they be customs or OEMs.:)

[citdog]

Drive for show.......

[citdog]

just tap it in

[I Bleed Purple]

I love my graphite irons. Have had them for 10 years now.

[Go...gate]

God, I am a dinosaur. I have some more recent special clubs, like a sand wedge, but I'm still largely using clubs from the 1970's which I bought at Herman's World of Sporting Goods (one-time big chain in NY, NJ and CT now long gone). They are paid for, though.

[89Hen]

I'm still largely using clubs from the 1970's which I bought at Herman's World of Sporting Goods (one-time big chain in NY, NJ and CT now long gone). They are paid for, though.
Good ROI! xthumbsupx We had Herman's in DE too.

[proasu89]

xsmhx Our course was set to open for the season this Friday, until the Noreaster knocked down 70+ trees.xsmhx Fortunately, property damage was minimal and nobody got hurtxthumbsupx

[Go...gate]

I understand significant wind and water damage also at West Point's golf course - Patriot League Conference Tourney has to be moved to Bucknell.

[citdog]

I understand significant wind and water damage also at West Point's golf course - Patriot League Conference Tourney has to be moved to Bucknell.


What is this west point you speak of?

[proasu89]

What is this west point you speak of?
I saw that one comingxlolx You're so predictable:D