Tommo21
Tour Winner
I've got a few things over the years without trying them. Some good some bad, but hey.
Do you ever buy clubs without trying them?
- Thread starter pingpongping
- Start date
KJT123
Head Pro
I bought a Taylormade Burner Superfast 3 wood off eBay for £28. Best purchase I've ever made, hit it long and straight and it was selling for £90 at the time on AG
chrisd
Major Champion
Yes, bought my Mizzy blade/cavity combo's on Ebay, I always knew I'd get my money back if necessary
chrisd
Major Champion
Arnt they always better for about a week then you talk about going back to an old set Homer?
ArnoldArmChewer
Tour Winner
If it's a 1/4 price and sold as new I would guess its a fake.
I have bought putters without trying them but I did know the style I needed.
I bought a used set of mizunos in the FS section here, again tho the shafts were exactly the same as those I had been fitted for.
Dave B
Q-School Graduate
I've tried clubs on the range from the pro shop before buying, had a fitting and bought and bought blind. Being Joe Average for me the biggest disappointment was the driver fitting as looking back on it three or four off the shelf drivers would have fit the bill with similar results and saved considerably more money.
With regards to buying blind I've actually had some very good buys and when I haven't been 100% happy with the clubs I've put them on ebay or sold them to mates for minimal loss and in some cases a small profit.
Golden rules are stick to the main brands, Ping, Callaway, TM, etc as they hold their value better than the rest. Buy end of the range when they're selling off or on ebay when nobody is bidding making sure the buyer has good feedback. Alos if it's new on ebay, check the shop prices before purchasing as some shops are cheaper.
One thing with a putter is that it has to feel right. Balance is critical so my advice would be to try the pro shops and find a model you like the feel of and then look for it on the web sites.
With regards to buying blind I've actually had some very good buys and when I haven't been 100% happy with the clubs I've put them on ebay or sold them to mates for minimal loss and in some cases a small profit.
Golden rules are stick to the main brands, Ping, Callaway, TM, etc as they hold their value better than the rest. Buy end of the range when they're selling off or on ebay when nobody is bidding making sure the buyer has good feedback. Alos if it's new on ebay, check the shop prices before purchasing as some shops are cheaper.
One thing with a putter is that it has to feel right. Balance is critical so my advice would be to try the pro shops and find a model you like the feel of and then look for it on the web sites.
One Planer
Global Moderator
Exactly the same here :thup:
srixon 1
Journeyman Pro
Been there done that. Bought a G10 3 wood a couple of years ago and it never got further than hitting (or not) balls down the driving range. They just never got higher than 10' off the ground. Club got sent back the next day. A shame 'cause it was in fantastic condition for the price.
Rooter
Money List Winner
When i started to take the game more seriously, i bought my entire set without trying them, ended up with regular shafts in everything as i didnt have a clue! only upside was i got a good deal, but that was an R11 driver, 3 wood, Burner 2 irons all brand new!! lucky i swapped the shafts out in the woods and got on OK with the irons until i got lucky this year and swapped the bag out!
Bought a new fairway wood a week or 2 ago and i tried about 8 different ones before settling on the one. would never buy NEW without trying first... second hand at the right price its probably worth a punt..
Bought a new fairway wood a week or 2 ago and i tried about 8 different ones before settling on the one. would never buy NEW without trying first... second hand at the right price its probably worth a punt..
D
Deleted member 17920
Guest
Bought a full set of Cleveland vas a few years ago as I liked the look of them, used them for around 3 years.
Used to buy drivers from the online stores on the basis if I liked the look of them and they could do a 9 degree regular then I would make a purchase.
Never bothered me about not hitting them before trying as I was only playing once a week back then!
Used to buy drivers from the online stores on the basis if I liked the look of them and they could do a 9 degree regular then I would make a purchase.
Never bothered me about not hitting them before trying as I was only playing once a week back then!
mcbroon
Journeyman Pro
Only thing in my bag that I tried before buying is the driver. Everything else (apart from wedges) was bought 2nd, either from ebay, on here or AG.
My personal view, and I'm sure that most will probably disagree, is that if I can't hit 'em, then I'm the problem.
My personal view, and I'm sure that most will probably disagree, is that if I can't hit 'em, then I'm the problem.
medwayjon
Tour Winner
I bought Vokeys without trying them
Simply because I know them, trust them, and know the spec required
Everything else, definately try before I buy
Simply because I know them, trust them, and know the spec required
Everything else, definately try before I buy
SwingsitlikeHogan
Major Champion
to OP...Yes - but maybe I am just very odd. Also I never spend that much so just get on with it.
SwingsitlikeHogan
Major Champion
BoadieBroadus
Q-School Graduate
buy almost everything off ebay without trying it. in fact the only club I think ive ever actually tried was my last driver.
which i'd now rather be shot of tbh.
my opinion would be that there is so little difference between most offerings that the cost of trying them out and therefore buying them new from a retailer is not worth the extra you'd pay for a used equivalent from ebay. as long as you can ascertain whenther you want a stiff v regular shaft and players v gi irons, then you're not going to learn much from buying from a retailer.
which i'd now rather be shot of tbh.
my opinion would be that there is so little difference between most offerings that the cost of trying them out and therefore buying them new from a retailer is not worth the extra you'd pay for a used equivalent from ebay. as long as you can ascertain whenther you want a stiff v regular shaft and players v gi irons, then you're not going to learn much from buying from a retailer.
SwingsitlikeHogan
Major Champion
For many the above is heresy!
Wayman
Tour Winner
All clubs in my sig expect driver was bought before testing
I've just bought a brand new shiney putter test it out on weekend
Yes sophia. Don't think grip will be on for long tho
I've just bought a brand new shiney putter test it out on weekend
Yes sophia. Don't think grip will be on for long tho
Junior
Tour Winner
They are golf clubs. They can all be used to a certain extent. They have all had a stint in the bag. Some stay, others get replaced by the next shiney that catches my eye.
I am not playing for a living so its not really a life or death thing.
I find it tough to move clubs on. I've only ever sold 3 in my life. I wish I still had two of them.
You must have an aladdins cave of golf clubs . . .I have bought without trying many times. Some good results, some bad !!
Coatsy79
Q-School Graduate
I'm funny, I was in my local golf shop for nearly 2 hours trying my driver and putter making sure they were right for me
And my 5 wood and hybrid I just bought, mind you the 5 wood was second hand and cheap and the hybrid was on offer and they're pretty much all the same when you hit them
Same with my wedges, one was £35 new and the other I bought of a very nice chap here for practically nothing
Basically if it's cheap I'll just buy it but if it's proper money I'll try it to make sure it's good first
And my 5 wood and hybrid I just bought, mind you the 5 wood was second hand and cheap and the hybrid was on offer and they're pretty much all the same when you hit them
Same with my wedges, one was £35 new and the other I bought of a very nice chap here for practically nothing
Basically if it's cheap I'll just buy it but if it's proper money I'll try it to make sure it's good first
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rosecott
Money List Winner
Every club in my bag was bought without trying beforehand. That could explain a lot!
