Equipment priorities

[Tiger]

Reading the Footjoy XPS thread an interesting side topic of conversation developed where individuals had a threshold of spend for golf shoes. It got me wondering if this extended to all golf equipment and in whether in these austere times we would prioritise expenditure on certain pieces of kit over others. I have five that take precedence in the following order:

1. Ball - use it on every shot. Enough said!
2. Irons - the tools that more often than not navigate my journey from tee to green
3. Golf shoes - keep me dry, comfortable and give my golf swing a solid base
4. Putter - the club I use the most every round and always contributes to good scores
5. Wedges - get me out of trouble (well theoretically) and aid my scoring

I'm less fussed about my longer clubs, GPS, trolley, bag, clothing, waterproofs. All of which need to be functional but areas where I'm willing to compromise. What about you?

 

[G1BB0]

skint and bought much to much in my 1st year so sticking with my current equipment, clothing and other bits and bobs for the forseeable or until something is cream crackered and HAS to be replaced.

Doesn't mean I wont stop looking but I have now put a blanket ban on any upgrades or impulse purchases

 

[Tiger]

But if you could GIBBO what would you buy?

 

[chris661]

I am pretty lucky in that if I see something that I fancy then I can generally go ahead and get it. So for me I don't really have to prioritise.

 

[HomerJSimpson]

The trouble is balls, irons, woods, bag, putter and shoes are pretty mandatory pieces of kit anyway. Surely everyone cuts their cloth according to their means (or similar mixed metaphors) and so if you can pay two grand plus on your kit then fine. If you can only afford a 2nd hand set but use them well and enjoy the game then so be it.

From a purely personal perspective HID don't have kids so our disposable income is ours if you like and so if I want to get a new putter etc then 99% of the time she is quite happy. She has her own hobbies and loves cooking and again if she wants some top of the range gadget to help then I've no qualm with her getting it.

 

[palindromicbob]

I'm a sucker for anything golf related. Was watching dragons den when some guy came on with a pitch repair tool and I though hmmm must check that out online. Luckily held myself back.

I did prioritize my irons. The only thing in my bag which wasn't an old model or on offer etc. I got fitted for them as well. Fortunately the fitting concluded regular shaft with standard length and lie so thanks to that I can be pretty confident picking kit up off the shelf.

My balls are a balance between value and feel as are the remaining clubs in my bag.

I do buy sciflex gloves which I suppose are a bit of a luxury, and also have FJ rain grip and wintersof as well but these were more or less low value impulse buys as opposed to priority. Raingrip are excellent BTW.

Plan on getting Myjoys from HID for xmas. Toss up between contour or Dryjoy. The 2 year waterproof guarantee is pulling me towards the Dryjoy. I have learned though that price doesn't mean a lack of comfort. Had a pair of £30 Greenjoys and lent them to someone on last society outing as I had my Nike shoes as well. They found them so comfortable they bought them off me for £15 and they are a year old and no longer waterproof!

 

[bayjon14]

Interesting thread Homer and a very good one at that.
I am a firm believer in "if your not comfortable you can perform" thus my biggest spend is on waterproofs and shoes, then good quality clothing to keep me warm.
I played with a work colleague the other week who could not justify spending 100's on waterproofs, yet had a lovely Titleist 910 3 wood that he spent €300 on and used it twice.
My comment was surely being dry all round is money better spent than the extra 10 yards you might get the 4 times he might hit the 3 wood.
I admit to being a clothes junky and do need a new pair of decent winter shoes. My Ecco casuals are class but dont really like long wet grass and I HATE wet feet.
I give myself a €200 per month golf budget, more than enough I feel,.

 

[Cmansdad]

I'm having to be careful about what I spend on at the mo' but still buy decent balls, i just spend longer trawling around trying to find the best offer.

If i had to replace something cos' it fell to bits then the kids would have to do without food till i could afford it

 

[Hobbit]

I guess it depends on your disposable income. After that it comes down to personal choice and a belief in what will be best for your game within your budget. Down the years there's been kit I would have liked to buy, and there's been kit I could afford. In the main I've always tried to buy decent clubs. After that its been the mid-range to cheaper end of the kit.

More recently I've bought at the upper end of the price range for all my kit. The scores haven't seen any change but the feet have been more comfortable, and in truth the shoes have lasted longer than the cheap ones. I've probably ended up saving money by getting shoes that have lasted longer.

And today I spent way more than I've ever done for waterproofs. It went against the grain but if they last as long as the GG jacket I've had for a few years I'll actually be saving money.

 

[GB72]

I do not spend more (as in a higher RRP) on any particular area of my bag. What I do have is a sense of value and a love for a deal. This is where the golf industry has shot itself in the foot when it comes to me. If i want something, I wait a few months as I know the price will be coming down. I will stock up on balls after Xmas when the new models are announced and I can normally pick up 3 dozen of my preferred balls for £30.00. I will buy clothes etc from last year's range or from less well known brands but I do not feel any drop in quality. My clubs tend to be bought (current dirve excluded) from last year's range or mid way through the season when prices plummett.

Do not get me wrong, a bag full of the latest kit all fully fitted would be great but there is a little voice in my head that stops me going down that route.

Hopefully there will be some deals on CG16 wedges after Xmas to fit in with my new irons.

 

[thecraw]

For me, living in the West Coast of Scotland good quality waterproofs are a must. I rate a decent set of waterproofs as a MUST HAVE priority.

 

[HomerJSimpson]

I can see how some quality waterproofs are an essential over and above the main necessities. Even in the Shires down Sarf we do get rain, usually as you are walking onto the 1st tee in a medal and so top quality wet weather gear is a must. Its either proquip silk touch or FJ Tour Collection as my preferred choices.

 

[G1BB0]

actually I do want an umbrella holder and an umbrella for the trolley, also decent nike stand bag preferably the new performance 14 divider one

I must resist

 

[GB72]

actually I do want an umbrella holder and an umbrella for the trolley, also decent nike stand bag preferably the new performance 14 divider one

I must resist

Resistance is futile.

I have the Performance bag and it is superb. Looks great in Black and Silver

 

[Whee]

Clubs, only things I've upgraded are the driver/wood and putter since buying my first set last Summer.

After that it's been shorts, shirts and shoes. Just started spending money on balls. Up until the last month I had been spending 3 quid on 10 lake balls every few weeks.

Bag I'm happy with.

Think the next thing to throw money at will be lessons in all honesty, because that is what will improve the scoring most.

 

[Slicer30]

I indulged in a custom fit set of mizunos at the start of the year and tend to do most of my shopping on ebay.

Single earner in our house and 2 lovely ladies to provide for so happy to go for the second had gear if it leaves some money for them to treat themselves.

Badly needed a new bag but decided rather than spend on one, I wanted to win enough comps to get one from the clubhouse.

I love my irons, but each of the second handers have earned their place in the bag.

 

[Smiffy]

But if you could GIBBO what would you buy?

Everything

 

[Tiger]

Funnily enough I did have waterproofs on my original list but when I thought about it there have probably been less than five occasions last season when gore tex made a difference. So it got bumped. However, if I relocated feet oop north I'd have to reconsider...

 

[Mike_j_golf]

All the Gear in my bag is second hand bar my wedges, Irons had been played with 6 times and the 6.0 shafts were 2 stiff for him so got them half price much the same with the rest of my gear, money has never been a problem just can't see the point of spending 600 on something when i can get it for 300, then spend the rest on green fees or something else. Spent 200 on wet gear this year which is always a good investment.
Club membership is always a good way to spend your cash, i'm currently a member in 3 clubs.
Mike

 

[Robobum]

For me it's a bit of a trade off with all my kit. I want the equipment that is most suited to me and I want the clobber that looks good and is fit for purpose.

I have no brand snobbery or allegiance when it comes to my clubs, if it works for me and performs better than what I have then it will do in the bag. Same with balls - although I am reluctant to move away from Pro vs just because I know they are soo good.

With my clobber - I'm, unashamedly, a bit of a label queen. But then I wouldn't buy any of it just becasue of the label, it needs to work (waterproofs) and look good (to my eye) before I go with it.