OK, so I need some new clubs. The ones I have are 1989 Ping knock-offs, with very flexible graphite shafts. They are a cavity-back, but with very small heads. I’m happy with my driver and putter…I need new irons!
The vitals on my OP:
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[li]I don’t want to spend more than $400.[/li][li]I golf about once every 3 weeks.[/li][li]I currently hit around a 92-95, very consistently (last 10 rounds have all been in that range).[/li][li]I’ve hit a few dozen irons, and have been told by three different people that I should be hitting steel shafts, as my graphites are torsioning (due to high swing speed), and I don’t have the swing consistency to keep the head as straight as I should.[/li][li]I have a new putter, and this is the year I break 90![/li][/ol]
I’ve hit the Cobra “somethings”, and the Taylor RAC-2s…any other suggestions?
I’m pretty pleased with the Calloway Big Bertha irons I got in '04. All of a sudden on the range most of my balls from any club started dropping together in groups. They were over $400 but depending on how well stocked your local golf store is you might be able to find a nice used set of most any newer models.
One thing I would recommend though is custom fitting. They can measure your swing speed to determine the appropriate shaft composition. You’ll hit a skid plate and they can determine the proper angle, shaft length, etc, etc. All this should come with the purchase, an advantage over just buying a set from a brother-in-law or whoever.
Lieu…y’know, it’s funny you mention the '04 Berthas. Calloway must have made a ton of them, because they’re selling them sub-$400 on Rockbottomgolf. com (broken link).
I may have to playtest those, and see if Golf Galaxy or golfsmith will pricematch (so I can get the fitting…we’re on the same page on that!).
What I did was I just went into the shop and swung every 5 iron they had, without worrying about brand or price. It is amazing how different they feel/look.
Hitting in the 90s, you definitely want the clubs that are the easiest to hit, instead of blades for the low handicapper. Instead of a complete new set of irons, you might want to consider a hybrid or 2 to replace your 2-4 irons, and maybe a couple of wedges to improve your short game.
Your swing speed will basically determine whether you should go with graphite or steel shafts.
Once you decide what you like, you might do well shopping for used sets that are a year or 2 old. The current year’s offerings come with a premium price. A new set of grips can make a used set like new.
Bottomline, however, you might have a better chance of breaking 90 if you were to invest your $400 into lessons, instead of equipment. Worked for me.
How far do you hit your 6 iron? Do you fight a slice or hit pretty straight?
I tried some new Cobras a couple weeks ago. I think it was the FP. They were $499, a little out of your price range, but I very nearly preferred them to the Ping g2s that I did buy… at significantly higher price.
My strong advice would be to go to demo days and try out clubs on the range, rather than hitting into a net. The main reason I chose the Pings over the Cobras is that I hit the Pings 10 yards further – even though both clubs felt very good to me. If you’re willing to spend a little more money (and honestly, there’s not a lot of new clubs out there for $400 new) getting a professional fitting is worth it. Depending where you go, an hour long appointment with a clubfitter could cost $50 to $100 or so, and it is a great investment.
And I completely agree with Dimsdale: lessons are a better investment in the long run. Also, I strongly recommend getting a 60* wedge if you don’t have one already. I’m amazed so few golfers of your caliber have one: You can carry a driver, two fairway woods, 3-SW, and putter and have one slot left in your bag. If you practice with it, I can almost guarantee that a 60* will save you one stroke a round, and it could save you three.
IMO&E, you can narrow down the options considerably using a net. And if you hit a store when it isn’t crowded, you can check numerous brands/models quite efficiently.
But I agree, I would never buy a club without hitting it on the range, or better, taking a demo for a round or two.
I’m a big fan of demo days, even if I’m not in the market for clubs. If nothing else, free range balls. Hit Titleists, Pings, and Cobras last week.
What flex are the shafts you have now? Are you looking for more distance from your irons or more accuracy? What’s your swingspeed with a driver? What’s your swingspeed with a 5 iron? Also, how tall are you?
Do you like heavier clubs? Do you like more weight at the head?
How important is feel to you? Can you work the ball? Do you need help getting the ball up?
All very important questions, dear sir.
Tell you what. I can provide another scenario for you and golf clubs. I can get you in touch with a good friend of mine who makes clubs out of the components. If you want, I can have him ask you some questions, you can pay to have the stuff shipped out to him, he can get them all together, and they can be at your house. Last time we made a set of irons, I think the price was around 400 bucks.
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[li]Distance isn’t a problem for me. I hit my drives about 250-280 most of the time.[/li][li]Direction…that’s the issue. I hit the ball dead-straight almost all of the time. Unfortunately, I block a lot of shots, and will throw in the odd hook from time to time. [/li][li]I hit a 6-iron about 160-170 yds.[/li][li]I have gone to Golfsmith and hit about 20 different 6-irons. The problem I had is that I was swinging very weel that day, and the best of the bunch was a set of Mizuno irons (MP32?), which I hit pure three times in a row. I’m not inclined to spend $900+, and I know I can’t hit blades consistently. I liked the RACs from Taylor and the COBRAs.[/li][li]I agree with the lessons. I’ve just gotten to a point where equipment replacement is becoming a necessity. I haven’t had a 4-iron in years, and the shafts are getting more and more noodle-like. I can feel the deterioration, I promise. Normally, I hold onto things forever, it’s not an impuse buy![/li][li]I am very open to getting a used set of clubs.[/li][/ol]
I need to get new clubs (just irons), 3-PW. I have a 60-deg lobwedge…I get a little scared when I take it out, but I try to remember to swing normally, and not pussyfoot it.
I am definitely an irons player, Dinsdale…I carry a driver and one hybrid for 200+yard shots in a crap lie. I may have a 3 and 5-wood, but they’re by my bed for intruder-dissuasion. I hate hitting woods…makes for a funny situation when I golf with my father-in-law…he only hits woods.
I want more accuracy from my irons. That’s one of the reasons I want to go with steel shafts, and not the noodle-like graphite I have now. I have what I would think is a high swing speed, but I’ve not measured it.
I think I like the slightly heavier head. I don’t have problems elevating the ball. I’m about 5’9".
I’ll take the custom club thing into consideration.
I was talked into graphite irons a few years ago.Big mistake. They seem to have a larger error range. You can smoke one and get 20 extra yards. That puts you over a green and into trouble. If you snap it you can hook. Play lazy hands and you push it.
Metal is much more consistent. When you really think about it equipment is not a huge expense in games. It will cost a couple hundred for clubs that wont satisfy you. Add a little and you get a set that wont make you wonder if you didn’t make a mistake.