Need new...?

After doing some static fitting things through a few different websites, it would seem to me that it's time for new sticks. My clubs are a year old, and only have 6 months of play on them (granted, I played ~ 4 times a week @ 9 holes).

However, I'm also not green enough to realize that completely new sticks are the answer, maybe a re-shaft is the key. I also need new grips: I used jumbo grips with 6 layers of tape on my current set (I used a death grip on the clubs initially, and held the club in my palm), and now it looks like a smaller-than-average grip would be nice (as I've picked up a 64* wedge with a standard grip, and it's a touch too big with my new golf grip).

So I guess the question is do I simply reshaft (and regrip), or go out and buy a new set of sticks completely?

And I would guess a dynamic fitting would be best (launch monitor?) with all clubs matched (swing weight and frequency) after purchase?

What would you do if you were looking for sticks that would do you for the next decade of golf?

First off, unless you're HUGE with fingers the size of banana's - get rid of the oversized grips and 6 layers of tape. If you have 'average' sized hands, you are going to find it very difficult to pronate the wrists and cock them properly.

Here is a rough guide: if you use a Ladies' large or men's small glove - go for a ladies grip, if you use men's medium glove - a standard grip, if you use a men's large glove - you need a standard grip + 1 layer of tape ... etc.

How the hell did you get to 6 layers of tape? I have a student who is 7ft with hands the size of a shovel and we only fitted him with 60round grips with 4 layers of tape!

Next ... if your irons are new-ish and you like them, don't change them! For goodness sake ... keep them. Technology in irons has not advanced a great deal since 2001/2002 when the step cavity was developed.

A new set of shafts will help you get a new feel and confidence if that is what you are looking for. Set the shaft flex to your swing speed and forget PURING and frequency matching ... if you're an advanced player looking for consistent feel and exact flex, sure it will help you but until then believe me you won't notice the difference. Just get quality shafts like Harrison, True Temper or Apollo - they are all flex matched in the factory.

A dynamic session might be useful on condition you hit the ball consistently. If you hit 5 out of 10 well and the others all over the place, you are wasting your time and money. I get that all the time when I fit clients - the results are so varied they are pretty much useless. The dynamic fitting doesn't include launch monitor per se, we only check the launch angle vs the angle of loft and bend the head accordingly - but again there is no point if you hit inconsistently. We might, if the strikes are consistent adjustment the lofts to get consistent gaps in the yardages.

I don't mean to be discouraging, not at all - please don't get me wrong. But, forget new sets, forget fitting sessions ... go back to your irons and get them regripped. See how they feel to you. Experiment with 1 or 2 reshafts and see how they feel, if you like the new shafts then do the rest with that particular shaft.
If at the end of all of that, you still want to new set of irons then take it from there.

__________________
Golf is easy ... once you know how.
Graham Arnott, teaching professional
Kelrosa Golf Studios
www.kelrosagolf.com
Class 'A' PGA Member
Full Member: World Golf Teachers Federation (GB&I)

Hi Ben, just re-reading this thread.

As Graham said, get your clubs regripped and work with them for the 2005 season. You are still new to the game although you have a lot of knowledge. Work a full year with the new grip and another year with a consistant swing then buy new sticks next year.

Approach buying clubs like buying a car. You wouldn't just point to a car on the lot and say 'that will do.' Spend the year testing different makes and models out. It's amazing what you will find by hitting different brands/models when it comes to feel. You can spend most of the year just trying each type out.

If you are buying for future investment like you said, spend the money to get the heads and shafts you want and get them fitted to your specs. Make sure you like the looks of your choice. When standing over your ball, believe it or not, the look of the club will affect your confidence when the pressure is on.

__________________
Gord

Quote of the month:
"It's easy to see golf not as a game at all but as some whey-faced, nineteenth-century Presbyterian minister's fever dream of exorcism achieved through ritual and self-mortification." ~Bruce McCall