Brave or foolhardy? New clubs...

[masterosouffle]

Had a few lessons lately, and one consistent theme is a fast swing speed, high tempo and I'm told powerful striking of the ball, all good news? Well... not quite!
My clubs we purchased about 4 months ago when I returned to golf after a lay off due to back problems (surgery, steroid injections and a few years) they were bought off the shef from AG with input from the staff. I was told that the Di11 would be ideal and who was I to question them! I have just recieved a 21 handicap, but this should come down pretty rapidly as I am putting in he hours with both practice and lessons, and to be honest I am quite prepared to be considered a bandit until things sort themselves out!

Well, I was told the extra light shafts were completely inappropriate for me and although I struck the ball well, my bad shots were very bad as I was losing control of the club head and it could be wide open or closed at impact when things went badly. Now I'm not financially in a position to run off and get fitted, however my range is well stocked with used clubs, and he (the pro I have been having lessons with, so has a pretty good idea of my game) put me on a launch monitor with a few options, the ones I was clearly striking best, and felt great was a set of Titleist CB 712's with Project X 6.5 shafts, which I duly bought for a very good price and trading in my Di11's. (I'm nothing if not impulsive!)

This is where I am now doubting myself and my ability, and having read up on them since having them, will they be too tricky to handle, or is the lack of forgiveness something I can play through? Could it be a case of give it a winter with lots of work and I will either be able to play them or not? Or am I just making it harder for myself to improve and get my handicap down?

Cheers,and sorry for the long winded waffle!

 

[Deleted member 15344]

Well they certainly are less forgiving clubs

But the crucial thing for me is how confident you feel with them

If it's a pro fitting then trust that pro and fitting

Self doubt will automatically imo effect the way you hit the clubs

 

[Old Skier]

It's not normal for fitting to be charged for in my experience in fact I saved money by being told that I could drop the 3 wood as the driver and 5 wood were ok for my needs and ability.

 

[masterosouffle]

It's not normal for fitting to be charged for in my experience in fact I saved money by being told that I could drop the 3 wood as the driver and 5 wood were ok for my needs and ability.

I wasn't charged, we were discussing my clubs in my lesson, and afterwards we started playing with the launch monitor and a few used clubs, we looked at them by shaft initially then head...

 

[masterosouffle]

Well they certainly are less forgiving clubs

But the crucial thing for me is how confident you feel with them

If it's a pro fitting then trust that pro and fitting

Self doubt will automatically imo effect the way you hit the clubs

I have to admit that when standing over the ball with them I am very confident! Now this may misplaced, but I love the look and feel of them, and the couple of bad shots I did hit, no clubs were going to save!

I have a round in the morning, one Friday and a comp on Sunday, so won't have to wait long to find out!

 

[Region3]

I'm not a believer is high hc's needing game improver clubs so I wouldn't be worried about the heads, but px6.5 is a pretty stout shaft.

I've no idea how far you hit your clubs but 6.5 need a damn good smack.

 

[Region3]

Just as an example, Rory uses 7.0 in his irons and 6.5 in his wedges.

 

[Canary_Yellow]

I'm with the people that say don't worry about it.

If come June next year your handicap hasn't come down, then give your game a very honest assessment and work out where you're losing shots and go from there.

Really, in my opinion, forgiveness in irons and ease to hit only starts to become a big differentiator as you get to 6 iron and below. With 21 shots, there's not really any need to even try and use those irons anyway. If you can get a good (200 yard ish any more is a bonus so long as it's straight) tee shot away, you'll reach any green in nett regulation or better just hitting a 7 or 8 iron for your second shot and if you can do that and your short game is reasonable you'll be down to the low teens no problem.

Cut out any duffed shots and you'll be well on your way, and duff shots don't happen because you're using a players club v a GI club, they happen because of a foolish shot selection (or a terrible technique).

 

[masterosouffle]

I'm not a believer is high hc's needing game improver clubs so I wouldn't be worried about the heads, but px6.5 is a pretty stout shaft.

I've no idea how far you hit your clubs but 6.5 need a damn good smack.

It was not nescessarily about how far, but how hard.
He's a young pro, but he said he'd never seen anyone hit it so hard and aggressively!

The clubs were actually one of the other pros

 

[Canary_Yellow]

It was not nescessarily about how far, but how hard.
He's a young pro, but he said he'd never seen anyone hit it so hard and aggressively!

The clubs were actually one of the other pros

One of the most important things I've learned in the last 12 months, and I'd heard this before but never really taken it on board or seen the benefit, but the key really is to hit it better, not harder.

If you're capable of hitting a long ball, which from what you say it sounds like you are, work on improving your rhythm above anything else. A committed swing is great - aggressive makes it sound a little out of control! Maybe I'm reading too much into what you're saying.

 

[masterosouffle]

I'm with the people that say don't worry about it.

If come June next year your handicap hasn't come down, then give your game a very honest assessment and work out where you're losing shots and go from there.

Really, in my opinion, forgiveness in irons and ease to hit only starts to become a big differentiator as you get to 6 iron and below. With 21 shots, there's not really any need to even try and use those irons anyway. If you can get a good (200 yard ish any more is a bonus so long as it's straight) tee shot away, you'll reach any green in nett regulation or better just hitting a 7 or 8 iron for your second shot and if you can do that and your short game is reasonable you'll be down to the low teens no problem.

Cut out any duffed shots and you'll be well on your way, and duff shots don't happen because you're using a players club v a GI club, they happen because of a foolish shot selection (or a terrible technique).

It's like you've seen me play!
Duff shots account for too many poor scores, again, too aggressive, I can reach the green so why wouldn't I try!
Driving is fairly long, have measured over 300, but average 260-270, but had a big high and right problem that we are working on addressing releasing the club. Again he has suggested a x-stiff shaft, but that may have to wait a while, if things go my way I may getting fitted for a new driver come Christmas.

 

[masterosouffle]

One of the most important things I've learned in the last 12 months, and I'd heard this before but never really taken it on board or seen the benefit, but the key really is to hit it better, not harder.

If you're capable of hitting a long ball, which from what you say it sounds like you are, work on improving your rhythm above anything else. A committed swing is great - aggressive makes it sound a little out of control! Maybe I'm reading too much into what you're saying.

No, you're pretty much spot on! I am trying to reign it in a bit, and along with the release, the majority of what I am focusing on is tempo related...

 

[Canary_Yellow]

It's like you've seen me play!
Duff shots account for too many poor scores, again, too aggressive, I can reach the green so why wouldn't I try!
Driving is fairly long, have measured over 300, but average 260-270, but had a big high and right problem that we are working on addressing releasing the club. Again he has suggested a x-stiff shaft, but that may have to wait a while, if things go my way I may getting fitted for a new driver come Christmas.

Because you don't need to and if you could pull it off consistently, you wouldn't be off 21!

It's not your clubs that will hold you back. It's all about your strategy for getting the ball round the course - don't take risks that don't need to be taken.

Glory shots lead to a magic combination of birdies and pars, but unfortunately for every birdie or par there'll be one or more blobs!

EDIT: Just seen your post above - don't worry about the clubs, just worry about getting better at golf (and I mean golf, not just ball striking, i.e. golf course management, strategy etc. the boring stuff, as it's known). :thup:

 

[masterosouffle]

Because you don't need to and if you could pull it off consistently, you wouldn't be off 21!

It's not your clubs that will hold you back. It's all about your strategy for getting the ball round the course - don't take risks that don't need to be taken.

Glory shots lead to a magic combination of birdies and pars, but unfortunately for every birdie or par there'll be one or more blobs!

EDIT: Just seen your post above - don't worry about the clubs, just worry about getting better at golf (and I mean golf, not just ball striking, i.e. golf course management, strategy etc. the boring stuff, as it's known). :thup:

Again, you're right, all seems very obvious now it's staring me in the face!
First hole is about 270yds, every Sunday I stand there with the driver thinking right, let's go for the green! I have lost a ball three times in four weeks!!! Trouble is I have been loving the glory of the one great shot that (sometimes) comes along...

 

[Lump]

Head is fine, it's getting a shaft to suit your swing. I had PX 6.0 and I have to admit, it was too much for my 93mph 6 iron swing. As long as you feel the shaft works for you, don't let anyone tell you otherwise. This game is 90% in the mind, your clubs can't niggle at you. It makes an already hard game harder.

 

[Lord Tyrion]

Again, you're right, all seems very obvious now it's staring me in the face!
First hole is about 270yds, every Sunday I stand there with the driver thinking right, let's go for the green! I have lost a ball three times in four weeks!!! Trouble is I have been loving the glory of the one great shot that (sometimes) comes along...

Similar to your club, the first at my club is a par 4 254yds but there is out of bounds down the left side and trees to the right. Very rarely do you see someone go for the green off the tee. The smart ones take an iron or a rescue club at most. When I first joined the pro suggested a 7 iron off the tee. I smiled at that at first but now it is exactly what I do. I hit a 7 iron to 150-155yds and then a PW to the green. I very rarely don't have a putt for birdie, rarely make it either but that is another issue. Always good to start a round with a par, a killer to start with 3 off the tee. I save that for hole no. 3