Clubs make that much difference?

At the moment i hit an ok £40 driver about 220 yards and my irons are cheapish at about £18 each hitting a 5 iron 170 yards now. Would getting more expensive equipment improve my length (e.g. a £150 driver and callaway x-14's). If so how much? (when hit solidly).

Richie,

The question is now more expensive, it comes down to does it fit you and your swing.

Let me give you an example. I've been looking for a shaft for my Long Driver. I am used to playing Penley shafts. I had good success with the regular length ETA tour model. I bought the long drive model and broke 2 and everything went right. I talked to the Penley rep and he sent me 3 shafts to try. The G2M model was a bit heavy for long drive but felt like the ETA regular I was used to. In one playing club I have a 53gram regular flex, very light but loads the same as the long driver with an easy swing. I also have a Callaway Biggest Big Bertha 9* shafted with an X-100 steel shaft I use on narrow fairways, it plays like a low 3 wood on par 5's in the wind. Notice in all the above metioned clubs I talk about the shaft more than the head. Each club has it's purpose but finding the right shaft characteristics will improve your game over the total club. More people reshaft OEM clubs than any other group.

I play component heads from reputable manufacturers. I know Mike Tait of SMT and Steve Almo from Bang. Very dedicated to their craft. Cliff Baron at Ashton Golf has a nice new head the
X-1. Another good head company Kent Sports, the Alpha Reaction is one of the best on the market. Couple one of these with the right shaft and you will do much better.

Another example, I play Hogan Apex Edge Irons in regular flex. I could use stiff but choose not to. I was at a Golf Galaxy store in Chicago and the taped up clubs to hit. I was on a business trip and over a week tryed everything in the store. The Hogans were by far the best match for my swing. I still play the same set with the same good results. It's not which clubs are better made, it which are better made for you.

Yes bring a good swing and the results will be better, but I hope this is a good place to start.

GolfBald

__________________
The guy in the white hat!

Hi Richie,
Taking Golfbalds point aside, "he is correct"

Your swing, build and ability is most important when selecting new equiptment.

There is now doubt however that a better "usually more expensive" club feel better when you hit a ball.

I have just purchased a set of Callaway X16 pro series which feel better that my old iron which were Taylormade firesoles, now I am talking expensive.

The best tip I can offer is to ask a pro to fit your clubs for you based on swing speed to fit the correct shaft and loft and lies to determin your height and arm length also a good pro with fit grips to suit the length of your fingers.

Don't get tied up with makes and models just buy what suit you!!!!!!!!!

Hope this helps

Ian.

I found my callaway irons a bit too offset for me and they cannot adjust the lie angle on callaway irons without breaking them.
So, two years ago I traded my callaways for KZG irons and I noticed an immediate improvement. That was when I was a 12 and now I am a 2 and still play my KZG irons; the ball comes off the face like a bullet and I can really work the ball anywhere I want including low under the wind or high over obstacles as well as big and little draws and faded.
Anyone have the same experience?

I think top-branded clubs give you a pyschologial advantage over cheaper stuff like Walmart's Super Clobberers. However, if you purchase well made clubs, they don't have to be expensive, and get them measured you'll almost certainly play better or at least be more consistent.

Paul

Mtibt,

Regarding your point about Callaway irons breaking if you try to adjust them, You are correct.

However if you purchase a set of new Callaway irons they come straight from the factory with the lofts and lies done specifically for your requirements.

I have just purchased a set of Callaway X16 Pro series with very minimal off set. They have the S300 gold shaft, 1 degree flat 3-5 iron and 2 degrees flat 6-9, I even had slimmer full cord grips fitted because I have small hands.

Now that what I call customer fitting.

Ian.

Richie
I was fitted with Henry Griffitts GLII irons, HG400 Driver and HG 3 wood 18 months ago. Before then i would buy good second hand sets (reputable brands). I learnt more about shaft flex and how it can change both flight and shape in one two hour session than i learnt over 10 years of playing golf. The trick is to be patient, by that i mean it has taken about twelve months to see the full benefit in my score because like most people i thought the better you get the stiffer shaft i needed because my swing power increased. It takes time to remove all the compensations you made over the years for your wrong choice of shaft flex when buying straight off the shelf