How long do clubs last....

How do you know when your clubs need to be replaced? I bought a set of used Callaway Hawkeye irons, the ones with the tungsten injections – I think they came out in 1999. I live in Toronto, Canada, so I golf around 5 months a year – with a lot of time in the driving ranges. The grips will need to be replaced this year, as for the clubhead I bought the clubs from a reputable place – at that time they gave them an 8.5 out of 10 – I have club head covers, no abuse – how long would they normally last – apart from shaft damage, I think graphite weakens over time – what do I look for on the clubhead, which will impact performance… beyond that, does “golf” technology move along at such a clip that clubs 6 or 7 years old – are dated and need to be replaced?

Thanks,


James

I have had my forged irons since 1992. They play identical from the day they saw the first rays of the sun...no shaft but 4 grip changes.

Tell me that you mean type of grip - no that you've only replaced your grips 4 times in 14 years!

I do mean only 4 changes. Shows you how little I get to play these days.

A related question.

I've got a set of Ping Eye 2+'s which have been lying around unused for a good while.

Apart from regripping what other refurbishment would you recommend?

Come to that would you even recommend bringing them back into service?

James, hold a credit card (or any other flat, straight object) against the face of your irons. If the face touches the card completely, you're OK. If, however, there is gapping, it's time for a new set of irons.

I have not changed my grips in 12 years on my irons.

They are sandwrap grips and I have not even washed them!

Got a pic? I'm not familiar with sandwraps. Are they like cords?

Shaft broke on my first iron last week. 11 years of "abuse" and its my 3iron that snaps first. Right in the middle of the shaft as well.

Never changed my tour wrap grips in 14 years but my lob wedge and driver cord grips are regularly in need of changing.

Drive yourselves crazy, guys.

Get the grip changed on just one club.

The other 12 will follow.

GUYS! Guys...

Re-grip the clubs, they will seem like they are new! I guarantee it. I'm agreeing with Lowpost here. It's like a new relationship with your clubs. Your feel will increase, your confidence will go up, and I'll bet your desire to play will increase.

I had some irons a few years back that I re-gripped over the winter and the first time I went and played, man was I fired up! I thought I had a new set of clubs.

Make sure you get the right size, though.

You should have the lie and lofts checked an new grips installed.

Those are probably the best clubs Ping made, EVER. They are used on the PGA tour to this day by some players. You should be glad to have them. You don't need to buy new clubs

No doubt about it, steel shafts do get 'played out' , a new shaft can be bent, after some use a shaft will snap . Im no boffin but I think this is some form of metal fatigue.Over a period the shaft is subjected to countless oscillations. This is not apparent because it occurs over a fairly long period.

generally, as long as the grooves on the face are not worn or damaged they should be fine.