Old isn't always bad

I have been struggling with some very expensive graphite / titanium / woods for the last two years when I finally said enough was enough. So I went down to my garden shed, pulled out my old 17.4ph woods "not expensive at all" and started to use them instead. For no apparant reason this has improved my performance off the tee by at least 85%. Im over the moon, as you can well imagine. All I can say is Im glad I never sold them and may be some of your older equipment isn't as bad as you may think.

You didn't really get into how the "old" equipment differs from the new. 85% difference would have to mean to some of that was due to how you're thinking about the shot. Meaning, a lot of that difference may have come about because maybe your mentally approaching your shots much better. No?

A few more weeks down the line I would have to say 85% is not an accurate figure, however there is still a definite advantage for me with these older woods. I have now put this down to the fact that they are steel shafted and therefore not as whippy. I am no Tiger Woods though and this may not be the correct reason. I'm just happy that they are working.

Tuppy-G,

Check the shaft flex on the new club vice the old club and the swing weight. I think you might find the difference there. Even though a club shaft says regular, or stiff there are no standards for companies. I play a Penley Tour Light Stiff in my driver and a regular in my 3 wood. They have lively action but are probably really a x stiff and firm. A Grafalloy Blue regular is more like a senior shaft. Take the 2 clubs to a Club Maker and have them checked. That expensive club may have a cheap shaft, if it is an OEM shaft.

GoldBald

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The guy in the white hat!

Another thing to consider is because equipment can be expensive it doesn't necessarily mean it will help you play better. Whatever clubs you use make sure your clubs that fit you and are suited to your needs. There are plenty of cheap, well made clubs around.

Paul

I agree Paul,

I have done demos for people to prove it's not the equipment. I've hit with persimmons barely larger than a golfball, a childs length club, a club with a bent shaft. The result is usually the same, straight, long.

Most folks I teach are using shafts that are too stiff for them. I guess It's an ego thing. I could probably lag a x-stiff or XXstiff shaft but I have stiff shafts in my woods. I had regulars for a long time. It is crutial to have your swing speed matched to your shaft flex. I switched a guy from a regular to a senior shaft recently now he hits the ball straighter and longer.

But I have to say the biggest improvement someone can make is swing mechanics. If you know the setup, alignment and the golf dance step, it covers 95 percent of the physical game. The mental game is another story.

GolfBald

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The guy in the white hat!

Yup Golfbald

I totally agree about the X shafts; we would all like to flight the ball longer and straighter but, as you say, technique is the key.

I've seen people use X shafts and hit the ball all over the place. The problem is is that people tend to put too much shoulder into the through swing when trying to give the ball a good ride resulting in their shots being 50 yards left or right of the fairway, and , as you know, side spin tends to detract from distance, so any advantage that might be offered by X shafts is lost anyway. I'm not saying X shafts are tempting for everyone and can lead to bad habits but I'm happy with my steel-shafted R clubs.

One thing on the expense of equipment and suitability. After the British Open this year it was reported that Eldric "Tiger" Woods who had spent over $1,000,000 on custom built driver development wasn't happy with the product and had returned to his old driver, which just goes to show you expense is no gaurantee of success ... though I wish I was a few dollars behind Tiger

Paul

I bought a Regular shaft Taylor made 3 wood.(vsteel?) and also bought a small kids set for my 5 yr old kid.
Off I head to the driving range and wham first shot ..big hook etc...
try out my kids 3 wood..man its short..crouch down low and hit it...straight as an arrow..and about 180 yards.
I'm tempted to put it into the bag for fun and even for accuracy..
everytime I hit that child size 3 wood it goes straight because i only do a half swing..I'm too crouched to do a full swing.
I'll hit my own woods straight too with a half swing and feet together!
Theres a lesson in this story somewhere.!
Do I throw away my Adult sized clubs and go with the junior set?.
Brian

“So I went down to my garden shed, pulled out my old 17.4ph woods "not expensive at all" and started to use them instead. For no apparent reason this has improved my performance off the tee by at least 85%. I’m over the moon, as you can well imagine”

How many times have players bought a new club after giving the same club a full work out on the range with great results, only to find it does not match up on the golf course?

Psychology here has it that we cant clear the mind and let the club do the talking, we endeavor to repeat that newfound distance found while we practice on the range with a harder strike thinking it will result in a ball going further.

But the old worn out club is of no consequence it does not owe you anything it has paid for itself time and time again. So we relax those muscles and the mind is free also of negatives and boom it’s gone longer than the new high tech thingy.

Bin their done it old friend.

But the new technology today is far better than the old. Ask Tiger Woods/Nick Faldo


Great game golf isn’t it….

Today I bought some used Slazenger Ballesteros blades for £15, that's about $20 US I think. Great feel and control ... I got so used to offset cavities I didn't realise how stale I had got, my regular clubs seem dead in the face by comparison.

Paul