New Equipment

Every year pro's liquidate their stock of the pro shop $700 dollar drivers go for 300, $1200.00 irons go for $599.00 and so on. Six month's later all this stuff is worth next to nothing as a whole new crop of gadgets hit the market. My question, "Does the equipment get better, has it gotten better in the last 5 years or are we just lurred to the newest and flashiest not necessarily the best?" It seems to me the guy's who are middle of the road golfers with the $5000.00 memberships and mercedes in the parking lot are the ones buying this stuff up, it's become a status symbol instead of a usefull tool of your game. I guess this is why I can find numerous sets of high quality blades (like what the pros use) in the trade in racks at discount golf stores because just because you can afford to play what your favorite player plays don't mean it will make you play like him/her. (politically correct!) Your comment's please!

DBD...

I agree DD,

There is nothing worse than coming home with the latest all singing all dancing latest driver, only to find that there is a newer more improved version out next month.

Taylormade have been the biggest guilty party I think although I had the latest R7 last year and it's not been replaced yet (watch this space).

However you cannot get away from the fact that equiptment has improved for the average golfer, larger head drivers have helped the higher h/capper to get off the tee more consistantly, balls are also helping with distance etc.

Therefore as much as we know that the next driver is not always better than the one we have but I think this years R7 for example is a much better club than say a Callaway war bird driver from 5 years ago.

The improvement in the equiptment is in 5 year cycles as apose to every bl**dy month.


Regards


Ian.

This is why I'm making a serious consideration to switch to components. Quality-wise, components are (finally?) just as good as OEM parts, and still much cheaper. Granted, the price difference between OEM and components is closing, but while comps. are still cheaper, I'll go that route.

That said, I agree with DBD - it's kind of sad to see that golf gear depreciates faster than a car - at between 30 and 60 percent in it's first year!

A new club TYPE is about the only justification I can use for buying a new club in it's first year (read: hybrids).

But even with the Quad r7, for the same $700, I could get 14 lessons with my pro - which I think would go much further.

If I was to spend any kind of money on an OEM club, it would probably be a putter.... bought second hand.

And clones? Never. Ever. (Again).

I agree as well. My irons were manufactured in the 80's and my driver is from the mid 90's. Why haven't I upgraded? I haven't found anything that is worth the money to upgrade. I am a big endorser of 'it's the user, not the equipment' theory. I can take out my set of hickory clubs and hit my mashie (5I equivilant) about 170 yards. If upgrading 65 years in technology only increased my distance by 20 yards, then it's the user, not the equipment. Spend the money on lessons, not equipment. The latest and greatest is only for people who have too much money. If you are looking for good quality equipment, look for a deal on used clubs on eBay - the frugal golfer's paradise!

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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

Doesn't Lee Westwood still play with the Ping Zing's he said he used when he first turned pro because he prefers them to anything else he's tried?
it's a bit like a new football shirt- it doesn't make the footballer any better but makes the football club a hell of a lot of money...and is worthless when man utd decide they dont like grey!

Westwood still gets his Zings made specially by Ping, they saved the moulds and crank them out for him whenever he wants.

The main problem with new clubs is that, if correctly cared for, clubs can last you your whole life. I have a set of mizuno MS-Originals that were made in the early 80's and still play well despite a few cosmetic s****es but nothing drastic.

The only reason to change a set of clubs should really be what happens to Vijay, the faces wear out!!!!

It's very much the case that people change every couple of years just for the sake of it, theres nothing wrong with that as far as I can see. I changed my driver recently because my old one was illegal and the SGU have banned hot faced drivers for all their ranking comps starting this year.

I dunno about the R7 better than Warbird argument. Ernie Els is on record as stating that the difference between a hot faced driver and the identical legal model is only 5 yards or so. The Warbird will still go as far, the main advantage the R7 has is that

a) its gimmicky, and we golfers love a gimmick dont we?
b) its more forgiving

I would still rather use the Warbird to be fair, I think the R7 is an ugly looking beast and I wouldn't be able to get past that, it's a problem I also have with the Odyssey Two Ball, but having used it I am well aware of how good they are.

My Pro is refreshingly philosophical about the glut of equipment out on the market these days. He accepts that the very nature of club development these days mean less and less sales for him. He tries to keep his shop stocked with the more popular items and brands. He would never dream of recommending any particular club, he points out the pros and cons and lets the player decide. The trouble is the retail outlets dont do the same.

Even Mizuno have 6 iron models out just now. That was unheard of for them a decade ago. Even at the height of the T-Zoid madness they only had 4 or 5 on the go at once and when it was TP models you would be hard pressed to find 3 sets on the market at once, a blade and a cavity back and maybe a budget club.

D.

Some people must have the latest and greatest. Unfortunately, I am one of those people but not as bad as some. My problem is in the area of iron sets. I have changed too much in the past few years and this is causing problems with my game. Each iron set I have changed to has a period of time that I have to get acclimated with them. I currently use Callaway X16 Pro Series irons / DG S-300 shafts. My problem with this set is that all shots are generally straight and high. (and this is a problem? ) I want the ability to shape a shot when need be so I am, yet again, thinking of a switch. I am leaning towards a forged blade type of set but want forgiveness. The set I am looking to is the Mizuno MP 32. I have not demo'd a set as of yet. The golf shop I frequent just received a demo set of the new Callaway Tour Iron used by Phil Mickelson. I might try those but I believe I am leaning to the Mizunos.

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Joe drinking Hacker

Having read all your threads on this subject, I think I have to agree that equiptment doesn't really make a great deal of difference in the hands of a good player.

The R7 vs Warbird thing, I was trying to make the point that larger head drivers give people more confidence as well as a couple of extra yards, not as I stated a much better club(appoligies) and it is probably assisted by the better shafts available today.

I must admit that I also am guilty of buying the latest models last year but it is only the second set of irons since I started playing the game, my old taylormades were looking a bit drab and worn with endless hours at the range, which incidently doesn't do your clubs any good hitting c**p balls.

I tried all the latest irons and drivers and plumbed for the Callaway X16 pro series and the R7 driver(other than one visit to the range I have never moved the weights from standard, they don't work), I kept my two cobra 3 & 7 woods.

I think we all buy things that we don't really need but it is nice to have a feel good facter for a few weeks untill the newness wears off, then its back to the range.


Ian.

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Once you learn the swing, your next step is mastering golf psychology................

Ian,

It sounds like you have figured me out and only after a day on this board. Am I that predictable or what?

I agree with the confidence point you were making. Personally, I tend to be more confident with golf clubs that are very pleasing to my eye. This is why I tend to favor smaller drivers (300 cc range) and tour-type forgings. To me, if a golf club looks ugly, so will my shots with them. I am certainly a major head case!!!

Best regards,

RD

I have just put the Mizuno MP-30s back in my bag. I was leaning towards the MP-32s but know I need the additional benefit of the cavity back of the MP-30s. I had this set before I trades them in for the Callaway X16s. I know the MP-30s are a very good set and one that I can work the ball with. I have DG S-300s in them as well so all I have to do is adjust the lie angle and regrip and I am set.