Buying 2nd hand v new: whats the cut off age?

[Slab]

So taking levels of technology in irons what's the trade off in years between buying 2nd hand over new (even at the cheaper end of the current market)

As an example a 5 year old set of TM's/Cobra's/Cally's (loads on the 2nd hand sites for well under £200) versus a brand new set of Wilson/Benross etc of similar price

Or to put it another way if you're going to spend a modest amount on some budget irons how old would you be prepared to go to get the 'better quality' 2nd hand, against a new set with their latest 'technology' that's doubtless still not as good as current TM's etc but further ahead than a set that's x years old

So what is the value of x?



I'm going to cap it at £200 because for a little more money sets like Cobra S3's can be had brand new

 

[Stuey01]

I wouldn't be in the least bit concerned about missing out on supposed newer/better technology in irons.
I would be shopping for some mizuno mx23 or similar.

 

[patricks148]

Nothing wrong with SH, plus i don't think Iron tech has changed that much i 5 years or so, other than jacking the lofts a bit more.
Last two sets of irons have both been SH, MP32 and MP62 and both bargins £100 for the former and £150 for the later and they were almost brand new.

 

[mcbroon]

Agree with patrick, anything less than 5 years old is likely to be good enough from a technology point of view. I'd be more interested in condition than age. I got mine 2nd hand and they were a year old, almost mint. I'd still have bought them if they were 5 years old, such was their condition.

 

[Birchy]

Most of the technology hype is rubbish imo. Obviously todays clubs are easier to hit than old old wood ones but it still remains that if you cant swing it right it might as well be a hockey stick.

Ive seen very good players playing with old clubs and most of the people i see who have got the latest driver etc etc are the ones who cant hit the damn thing.

 

[Foxholer]

£200 seems too high to me.

As stated, MX23s can be bought for significantly less than that as can the later MX25s.

In the 'players' category, nothing has really changed technology-wise. My 12 year old Miura TM300s are still lovely clubs and Blades still really are Blades! There can be bargains in this category.

Game Improvement (what used to be called shovels) have improved markedly though but the Callaway X-22 are still around 150.

So it's really a case of selecting the head you want from whatever era! Don't believe all the marketing-ier!

 

[Slab]

Thanks for the early replies folks, hopefully more to follow

Wont take a genius to work out that my King Cobra II's are the reason for my post. They're now at 14 years old and 2nd hand when I got them, loft & lie probably as far out as something that's really far out...still got the original grips (those ones that look like wrapped leather but are rubber)
Giving them to a pro for a recondition is an option but by the time the above is sorted I'll be looking at the thick end of an upgrade to a newer 2nd hand set

With sets like Cobra S2's, TM R7's and those noted in posts above to look at that are all 3-5 years old and getable for £150'ish the recon route doesn't seem best return

 

[Liverbirdie]

Most of the technology hype is rubbish imo. Obviously todays clubs are easier to hit than old old wood ones but it still remains that if you cant swing it right it might as well be a hockey stick.

Ive seen very good players playing with old clubs and most of the people i see who have got the latest driver etc etc are the ones who cant hit the damn thing.

That's a bit hard on Karl102!:rofl:

 

[Garush34]

It all depends on what you currently have i suppose, If you have something that's 10 years old and traded for something 5 years old, then surely the technology will be better and should help your game.

 

[groundskeeperwilly]

You'll get a great set for £200 or slightly less. If you look on Gumtree, E-Bay, Local pro 2nd hand rack or off here you'll be well sorted.

 

[drawboy]

Apart from my driver all of my clubs and bag are second hand. I grew up in a frugal household, not a lot of spare money around in the sixties for working class families. I rarely buy new, why pay the vat and lose the depreciation on new. EBay and the like has been brilliant for me and when I'm on the lookout for something different then it will always be my first port of call.

 

[jimbob.someroo]

Before I was lucky enough to get my TaylorMade's, I'd never bought even a nearly new set of clubs.

Before the TM's I had Ping s58's and s59's, both of which were a good few years old and I paid significantly less the £200 for each.

If for some reason I didn't have any irons and was given £200 which I had to spend on some, my top 3 would be:

Ping S59's
Taylormade RAC blades
Ping Eye 2's

Obviously personal preference!

 

[Foxholer]

Most of the technology hype is rubbish imo. Obviously todays clubs are easier to hit than old old wood ones but it still remains that if you cant swing it right it might as well be a hockey stick.

Ive seen very good players playing with old clubs and most of the people i see who have got the latest driver etc etc are the ones who cant hit the damn thing.

Justin Rose's 2nd into 18 last night was almost exactly in the same place as Hogan's plaque - from where, in 1950, he hit the 1-iron as in the famous picture. Rose hit a 4-iron at least 10 (probably 20) yards further than Hogan. Plenty of others had said 6-iron was the club they'd use from there. Most of their advancement is down to fitness - and training. Hogan was a great model for both.