Neighbor dads got me out on the golf course last week. Haven't played since my kids were born (going on 18 years) but had a blast. I'm a high handicap, to say the least. Had two pars, one birdie put under 10 feet (missed), and drained a 30 foot put, so am excited to go back and try to cut down on the 8s.
Clubs are 30 years old at this point, though. Does new tech make a big difference? Game improvement clubs my best bet? Without breaking the bank, anyone have any good options?
Neighbor dads got me out on the golf course last week. Haven't played since my kids were born (going on 18 years) but had a blast. I'm a high handicap, to say the least. Had two pars, one birdie put under 10 feet (missed), and drained a 30 foot put, so am excited to go back and try to cut down on the 8s.
Clubs are 30 years old at this point, though. Does new tech make a big difference? Game improvement clubs my best bet? Without breaking the bank, anyone have any good options?
New tech makes a huge difference.
Get fitted. It doesn’t matter how bad you are right now… get fitted.
An appointment with a fitter at a place like Golf Galaxy will suffice. There are other places, but I can’t name them.
Tell the fitter your story.
They’ll probably hook you up with game improvement irons, and there’s this newfangled club called a hybrid.
Newer drivers and fairway woods are much more forgiving than what you have in the bag now.
Neighbor dads got me out on the golf course last week. Haven't played since my kids were born (going on 18 years) but had a blast. I'm a high handicap, to say the least. Had two pars, one birdie put under 10 feet (missed), and drained a 30 foot put, so am excited to go back and try to cut down on the 8s.
Clubs are 30 years old at this point, though. Does new tech make a big difference? Game improvement clubs my best bet? Without breaking the bank, anyone have any good options?
A lawyer...playing golf?????
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30 years...hmmm... would need to know more about your set. But if you have a couple of wedges (56-60 sand, and a 52ish gap), and then a full set of irons... I'd keep the wedges, and keep the 5-PW. Unless they're old style blades, and unless you're willing to spend a lot of money to get fitted, play multiple times a week, etc... I'm sure mid/short irons will work just fine.
Then...
-I'd get a year or two old used driver. There are tons of good deals on drivers that are a year or two old.
-I'd get some used fairway woods that are in decent shape (3 wood and 5 wood).
-I'd get a couple of hybrids to replace the 3 and 4 iron. Decent used ones.
-And finally, I'd get a used Mallet putter, if you don't already have one.
That should be 14 clubs...if you care to stick with that traditional number.
If money isn't a big deal, and/or if you're going to start playing quite a lot... THEN, yes, getting fit might be a good idea. There are some decent new club companies emerging that are a little less money than the big name brands. Takomo is a good one. Vice has some decent equipment. Anything new though, is going to be pretty expensive. And any of the more recognizable name brands are still VERY expensive.
I still play my Taylor Made forged irons, and Vokey wedges, that are all about 20 ish years old. I don't play as much as I used to, but for the 8-10 times I might get out a year, they're perfectly fine.
The best way to improve is to practice. I disagree with the poster about getting fitted right now, because your swing is going to change a lot if you start playing a lot.
But yeah, buy some used clubs that are 1-5 years old and feel good when you hit them, and spend time practicing putting, chipping, irons, and Woods (in that priority)
Those irons might be okay, but all the major brands went through a serious change 5-10 years ago, where they are much lower lofted now. So, if you don't like yours, replace them too.
Have you thought about frisbee golf as an alternative?
Hope is not optimism, which expects things to turn out well, but something rooted in the conviction that there is good worth working for. - Seamus Heaney, Irish poet and likely Hoosier basketball fan.
POTFB
If you do keep some of your old clubs be sure to get them regripped. The larger mid-size helps a lot and get the larger putter grip. Any new ones you buy should have fatter grips.
I don't know how old you are or what you club head speed is but stiff and extra still shafts are usually not a good idea for most weekenders or guys over 60ish. The fitter will help with that. There is a Sr flex option for slower club head speeds and those clubs can age with you.
Neighbor dads got me out on the golf course last week. Haven't played since my kids were born (going on 18 years) but had a blast. I'm a high handicap, to say the least. Had two pars, one birdie put under 10 feet (missed), and drained a 30 foot put, so am excited to go back and try to cut down on the 8s.
Clubs are 30 years old at this point, though. Does new tech make a big difference? Game improvement clubs my best bet? Without breaking the bank, anyone have any good options?
Did you get any new(er) clubs yet?
Definitely don't want 30 year old clubs. Anything within the last 10 years would be a big improvement. Plenty of used options. I wouldn't worry about getting fitted, etc unless you are going to get serious.
I have not. Will either buy them for myself for Christmas or wait until the spring.Neighbor dads got me out on the golf course last week. Haven't played since my kids were born (going on 18 years) but had a blast. I'm a high handicap, to say the least. Had two pars, one birdie put under 10 feet (missed), and drained a 30 foot put, so am excited to go back and try to cut down on the 8s.
Clubs are 30 years old at this point, though. Does new tech make a big difference? Game improvement clubs my best bet? Without breaking the bank, anyone have any good options?
Did you get any new(er) clubs yet?
Definitely don't want 30 year old clubs. Anything within the last 10 years would be a big improvement. Plenty of used options. I wouldn't worry about getting fitted, etc unless you are going to get serious.
My office had our Christmas outing at 5 Iron in Chicago last week. Indoor driving range type place with screens. Hit a Callaway driver. It was heavy, but I was smoking it.
I agree with this. I play 4 times a week, a single digit handicapper. Get some good used clubs 5 years old or so, lots of hybrids rather than the higher irons and work on the short irons and chipping, getting approach putting close and making the short ones. That is how you score. Mostly find a regular group of guys to play with and enjoy yourself. It is a great game and the handicap system makes all level of players competitive with each other. Did I say learn to enjoy yourself?The best way to improve is to practice. I disagree with the poster about getting fitted right now, because your swing is going to change a lot if you start playing a lot.
But yeah, buy some used clubs that are 1-5 years old and feel good when you hit them, and spend time practicing putting, chipping, irons, and Woods (in that priority)
Those irons might be okay, but all the major brands went through a serious change 5-10 years ago, where they are much lower lofted now. So, if you don't like yours, replace them too.
@bradstevens you don't need much. All the clubs are close enough to the same these days. Yes if you are serious than it's a different story. But, if not, just buy some game improvement irons from a major manufacturer, get a driver made in the last 5 years, and a couple hybrids. And you'll be 90% of the way there.
It's the Indian, not the arrow.
I play a lot and still buy used clubs a lot of the time. I've played with the same Mizuno irons for the last 7 years and am a single digit cap. Never have been fitted. Some day, but will say all the guys in my group that have done it never got any better than they ever were.
My 30 yr old irons are Mizuno. Would love to get to single digits, but doubt that's in the cards for me. Too short, too old. At the indoor place, my long drive was 265.@bradstevens you don't need much. All the clubs are close enough to the same these days. Yes if you are serious than it's a different story. But, if not, just buy some game improvement irons from a major manufacturer, get a driver made in the last 5 years, and a couple hybrids. And you'll be 90% of the way there.
It's the Indian, not the arrow.
I play a lot and still buy used clubs a lot of the time. I've played with the same Mizuno irons for the last 7 years and am a single digit cap. Never have been fitted. Some day, but will say all the guys in my group that have done it never got any better than they ever were.
@bradstevens you don't need much. All the clubs are close enough to the same these days. Yes if you are serious than it's a different story. But, if not, just buy some game improvement irons from a major manufacturer, get a driver made in the last 5 years, and a couple hybrids. And you'll be 90% of the way there.
It's the Indian, not the arrow.
I play a lot and still buy used clubs a lot of the time. I've played with the same Mizuno irons for the last 7 years and am a single digit cap. Never have been fitted. Some day, but will say all the guys in my group that have done it never got any better than they ever were.
good advise