Clubs for a 70 year old?

[Jon321]

Evening all. Just had 9 holes with my dad who turned 70 last month. He's starting to struggle with distance now. He uses Dallaway Diablo Edge irons with graphite shafts, a few wedges but his woods are starting to show there age now. He's had a set of driver, 3 and 5 for about 10 - 12 years now. There cobra that's all I know.

He doesn't carry the driver anymore and the 3 and 5 are fairly small headed. He had a bash with my G20 today and got good distance but was hitting them left. Obviously the shaft is way too stiff for him. My question is can anyone recommend a driver and possibly some woods that might be suitable. I'm only looking at getting him some second hand ones to see how he gets on.

To get an idea of swing speed, he carries his 9 iron about 100 yards and his 6 about 125. When he hit my G20 he got around 200 which is massive for him. I'm thinking of getting a 12 degree? Senior flex? What that be about right?

I know people will say for him to go try some out but not many places will have many with those sort of specs and I'd like to get him some as a surprise.

Sorry for the long post, fire away with opinions please and if anyone has anything they want to sell me let's hear what you have.
Cheers

 

[HomerJSimpson]

Get to a good pro or fitter and get senior flex shafts for him

 

[Jon321]

Like I said, I'm just looking at second hand and a surprise so I'd just like some suggestions that I can have a look for on eBay or if anyone here has anything.

 

[TheClaw]

I'm not a pro but I like everything you said. My dad is 72 and has a PING K15 12 degree with soft-reg shaft, his distances are pretty much the same as your old man. Cant go wrong either the K or G range.

 

[Jon321]

Yeh ping are on my list to look at, he definitely won't be wanting a white or any other fancy coloured head.

 

[Deleted Member 1156]

I think you are on the right lines, a higher loft driver with an A flex shaft won't be too far away. Have a look on ebay and golfbidder to see what there is in your budget. Ping drivers are easy to hit (but you know that anyway) also have a look at TM and Callaway.

 

[garyinderry]

my dad is also over 70. he stopped playing about 12 years ago when he has knee trouble and his old playing partner passed away.

he has since had a knee op and came out with me last summer to try it out. the knee held up and after a few 9 holes where he hit a few here and there he finally came out for 18.


the one club he really liked was my old mizuno jpx 800 19hybrid ! he used it on most holes as the 2nd shot and it usually left him with a chip on or pw approach. he found it so easy to hit. it started the day in my bag and ended up stuck in his.

you can get one for about 30quid on ebay. hybrids were not about in his day. he fookin loved it! lol

 

[Swinger]

I'd checkout some of the Cleveland offerings at the moment. They have some great superlite shafts in there woods some down to 39grams I believe which should help. 2nd hand ones go for good prices on Ebay.

 

[Jon321]

Thanks people. Will have a browse on eBay tomorrow night and see what I can pick up.

 

[Nashy]

My old man is 74 and still plays off 14, he plays at least 3 times a week.

I wouldn't look at higher loft and senior flex shafts straight off. My day tried these and lost distance and control. For example he currently uses an R9 superquad with 10.5 loft and a regular TP shaft, he is hitting this just over the 200yard mark with a good strike. He very rarely misses a fairway either. Not bad for someone his age with 2 hip replacements, he still takes money off me as much as I take it off him anyway.

 

[MashieNiblick]

Yeh ping are on my list to look at

Must resist, must resist.

 

[Foxholer]

My old man is 74 and still plays off 14, he plays at least 3 times a week.

I wouldn't look at higher loft and senior flex shafts straight off. My day tried these and lost distance and control. For example he currently uses an R9 superquad with 10.5 loft and a regular TP shaft, he is hitting this just over the 200yard mark with a good strike. He very rarely misses a fairway either. Not bad for someone his age with 2 hip replacements, he still takes money off me as much as I take it off him anyway.

I've certainly heard of a couple of instances where going to soft shafts actually lost distance.

So don't assume that simply doing that is the guaranteed solution.

More forgiving, shorter shafted, higher lofted clubs are likely to help. It also depends how obsessed he gets with distance, Most good older guys have absolutely phenomenal short games - through both need and practice!

 

[Doon frae Troon]

I would agree with Nashy.
I have Calloway Diablo woods 11* driver and reg shafts.
Easiest clubs I have ever played with [I'm 65]
I keep resisting the temptation to put an extra 1" on the driver shaft.

 

[Nashy]

Just to add the old mans driver shaft is playing 1 inch under standard length.

He also changed irons about 18months ago for something with a little more forgiveness, he went over to G20 irons again with regular shafts but still stayed with steel.

 

[dewsweeper]

Jon
I am 74 and losing distance at an alarming rate over the last few years.
I think your Dad could ready for more loft on his driver and possibly a senior graphite shaft.
.I have a Cleveland Launcher about 6 years old with 15 degrees of loft,I tee it high,pink castle peg,and use lower compression balls to suit my low swing speed.I can just about carry 200 yards but am fairly straight.
I am sure you can find a choice of used drivers at silly prices ,he will find clubs only a few years old more forgiving than those he,s using
Best wishes
Dewsweeper

 

[ArnoldArmChewer]

Like I said, I'm just looking at second hand and a surprise so I'd just like some suggestions that I can have a look for on eBay or if anyone here has anything.

Have you tried golf bidder, not the cheapest but you will probably find a better selection.

If you haven't used them before they are quick, reliable and you get what is advertised, condition as stated or better.