high h/c golfers and top gear

[need_my_wedge]

all the clubs after peoples names mean nothing to me, O added mine cos thats what I though people did on here.

Ditto.

Been on here a while, when I started every one listed, so I did too. I've never looked at anyone's profile and thought anything negative about the individual because of the kit they list, how the hell does it effect me if they spent £500 or £5000 on their golf gear?

In answer to the original question though, I agree, when first starting out I'd advocate buying something cheaper/ second hand until you've decided that you do want to play the game and stick with it. My wife bought a cheapo set of clubs off ebay for £80, they're pretty rubbish unknown clubs but she wanted something to swing until she was sure she wanted to carry on playing, her thoughts but one I agree with. She's now using an old set of mine (Slazenger XTC circa 1990) whilst she's having lessons, she's quite tall and is not struggling to swing them. The plan is to get a a set more suited to her in a couple of months time.

It is an expensive game to kit yourself out with regardless of the level of kit you buy. What we buy may be determined by what we can afford at the time, but we will get the best we can get to ensure that she doesn't then need another change in clubs in 2 years time.

 

[liam_smith15]

What a stupid post!

If it was left to all tyhe low handicappers to buy all the new gear, the OEM's would go out of business FAST!!!

Lower handicappers rarely change clubs, unlike a higher handicapper. i have been playing since the start of last season. when i started i didnt qualify for a handicap, thats how bad i was. but now. after putting £300 into new irons, £150 into used drivers, £150ish into used wedges and £100 into a buying and refurb of a used Scotty, my handicap is down to 21 and tumbling fast!

Ive just dropped £200 on a new RBZ driver. Should i take that back?

Or should OEM's stop putting R shafts into clubs to stop us 'hackers' improving and propping up their companies?!

 

[MadAdey]

I think the main thing here is the high handicap golfers that get caught up by having kit that they would like to use rather than what is suited to them. I would always advise any beginer to get on E-bay and get something to get them started rather than spending £1500 down the golf shop. If you like the game and start to improve quickly there is a good chance that the set you sepnt all that money on is no good for you anymore, and you are selling it on fleebay for £300. To then have to go back out and spend all tha tmoney over again. But hey at the end of hte day it is your money so do what you want with it. I am hardly one to criticise. All my golf kit including clothing cost a small fortune to get together so do what the hell you want and forget about other people telling you what to do.

 

[Deleted member 1147]

Buy what you want, it is a game afterall and should be enjoyed.

It appears that some people enjoy hitting crap clubs well and others enjoy hitting nice clubs badly. Personally I enjoy hitting nice clubs well.

I don't understand why the OP keeps mentioning that people should buy clubs that will suit them in the long term. Surely the aim is to get too a point where GI clubs are no longer necessary & don't suit in the long term.

Why don't people buy G10's rather than G20's?
- Maybe when they went into the golf shop with their hard earned the shop didn't have any old lines, as they can't sell them for as much, so they bought the new line instead (rather than messing around on the net looking for a bargain).

Why do people put their clubs in the sig' ?
- because a few years ago someone suggested it and alot of other people thought it a good idea.

As for what type of clubs suit different levels of player you will never get universal agreement. At the Belfry I've had CF with different pro's who don't agree. You get top tour pro using big cavity backs and some using butter knife blades. Some pro's use old lines of equipment some use what ever is new.

 

[jgozza]

Ever heard of the saying "you only get what you pay for"
Also you always hear that looking down on your clubs should give you confidence, so buy the clubs that make you feel confident even if they are Callaway or Dunlop!!

 

[GreiginFife]

Pretty much what I put forward earlier in the thread Jgozza. Buy cheap ypu always end up paying more in the long run.
If you get properly fitted for what's suitable for you then it will cost but you will get quality with that.
I started back playing about 6 years ago following a long injury lay-off with a set of Adams A2's that I picked up for £300, now I could have opted for £100 Dunnies but I didn't see the point as didn't think they would help. So I went middle of the road and after 3 years upgraded to my MP52s as I now felt they could take me further. In a few more years I may look at blades, but only if I feel that I am in a position to benefit from them.

 

[BROOKIE]

I've got to admit this post as got me a bit miffed,does papyt think the people on this forum are all morons or snobs? I think its great that people on this forum allow us to see what kind of kits they have,it gives you abit of insight into how theybuy and what brands they use,in my short time in playing this game (5 years)I've improved my game just by finding out what works for you,and what does'nt ,but you pay the price.
If I the resources I'd buy whatever I wanted,the longest driver,the best balls,and definitley the best courses..

 

[Doon frae Troon]

Alex as a self proclaimed crap golfer what on earth are you doing with a 9.5 degree stiff shafted driver.

Do you go the the 'I Saw You Coming' golf shop by any chance, it's just down the road from Kings New Clothes Avenue.

Or perhaps you are not a crap golfer after all!

 

[pokerjoke]

after the thread regarding spending more than a £10er on golf clothes and me saying i spend over £150 on some outfits why then do we have think it is ok for high h/c players to spend over a £1000 on clubs that they cant use properly,should they start with cheaper clubs before moving on to the latest white headed monster or the butter knife thin blades or is vanity ok in club selection but not in dress and why do 26+ h/c always moan about the clubs they have and think r11 or i20 or any of the latest models will get their h/c down to single figures overnight.

Im in the camp of let people do what they want with there hard earned cash.
£1000S Spent on clubs and gear is cheap.
Even going on the average.

Driver £150
3wood £100
5wood £80
Rescue £80
Irons £300
Wedges x 3 £150
Putter £50
These are not top of the range,these are mid to high handicap prices.
The clubs your taking about would be double.
This doesnt include Bag,Trolley,Waterproofs,clothes,Accessories,Golf fees.
This sport doesnt come cheap.

 

[GripandRip]

I have a handicap of 26.5 and managed to go from 104 knocks to 92 in the space of four rounds using the same clubs I have had for the last 18 months...the only difference was I had realised that slapping the ball as hard as possible was sending everything right and that by slowing it down and having one simple swing thought to sort out my tempo I was hitting it straighter.

I have invested in my clubs, clothes and kit but the best investment for me last year was the realisation that none of it works without technique.

 

[GeneralStore]

Very interesting post and responses!

I must say OP I completely disagree, taken your argument to a different subject, you would tell someone who doesnt drive (a car) very well and has a fair bit of money not to buy a Porsche 911?

Someone who cant cook well must have a cheap stove?

Generally speaking, what people spend on material goods has nothing to do with their skill level at a particular hobby or pass time, it has to do with their enthusiasm on the said subject matter and how much they can afford.

 

[HotDogAssassin]

taken your argument to a different subject, you would tell someone who doesnt drive (a car) very well and has a fair bit of money not to buy a Porsche 911?

I had thought about that analogy, but decided not to use it as there are very good arguments that would say that someone who does not drive very well should not have a high performance car.

 

[Monty_Brown]

Listing gear in the signature is a really useful feature on here for me.

When any of us buy new gear, it's good to be able to know who plays what, who recommends what and ask them their experiences.

It doesn't take that long to know roughtly what's in people's bags and that is just more info to add to the discussion.

Anyone who isn't interested, or considers it to be boasting or whatever can simply turn off the signatures in their account settings and never have to look at them again.

 

[GeneralStore]

Hotdog, nowadays the way they make cars, even the performance cars are easy to drive.

I have had a go at driving a few different porsches and its like driving any bog standard car these days, so its not really a safety issue anymore, but I agree that you could debate it

 

[One Planer]

My response is pretty much as before. If you can afford top eqipment, why not?

What I would also say is that most of the top manufacturers have ranges specifically targeted to high(er) handicapped golfers. PING's 'G' series, Mizuno's JPX line, Callaway X series, the list goes on and on so there is obviously a market aimed at the high(er) handicap player.

Not to say that these clubs are aimed soley at high handicap players. You see some tour players (Choi from memory) playing GI irons now and again so they have benefit even at tour level.

You could also throw into the mix that some people believe they can "buy better scores" through playing better, more forgiving equipment. Manufacturers know this and probably play on it as they know some people will buy them expecting better scores.

Top and bottom of it is personal choice. A bloke at our course has a bag full of Dunlop and plays to around 20. Could he get better playing more expensive kit? Who knows?

He's happy playing them and that's all that matters. Personally I'm a brand snob so wouldn't touch them with a barge pole but I don't judge him, the same as he doesn't me for having a bag full more expensive equipment.

 

[bobmac]

My point of view is this...
If someone wants to upgrade from an older set to some new shineys and can afford it, why not.
However, if someone wants to upgrades to a new set thinking they will improve their golf rather than practicing, sadly they will probably be disappointed.

I met a guy last night at the range who had bought his bag and all the clubs from a car boot for £9.
You want to see this guy hit a ball.................. he was rubbish

 

[Deleted member 1147]

My point of view is this...
If someone wants to upgrade from an older set to some new shineys and can afford it, why not.
However, if someone wants to upgrades to a new set thinking they will improve their golf rather than practicing, sadly they will probably be disappointed.

I met a guy last night at the range who had bought his bag and all the clubs from a car boot for £9.
You want to see this guy hit a ball.................. he was rubbish

They were'nt "old Taylor Made blades" were they?

 

[Region3]

My point of view is this...
If someone wants to upgrade from an older set to some new shineys and can afford it, why not.
However, if someone wants to upgrades to a new set thinking they will improve their golf rather than practicing, sadly they will probably be disappointed.

Agree wholeheartedly with this ^^.

Hardly anyone ever does what is best for them 100% of the time. As long as it hurts no-one then all is well with the world.

 

[wnn670]

can only really relate this back to football as just starting golf now but I can see both sides of the coin.

Its natural for some people, especially the highly competitive to do this kind of thing, in football its easy to look at boots for example, anyone wearing anything from the normal black boot used to be looked at ever so more closely, bit different nowadays as so many more white and coloured boots on the market, but a few years ago if you wore anything other than black and you weren't a top player a lot of people would rip you to shreds for it.

golf seems even more like that as its far more equipment based. Like I said I have started playing recently and so has a friend of mine, he goes round with a bag, clubs, shoes etc probably worth no more than £50 and he's happy with that. He enjoys the game as a day out with his mates, having a bit of banter and fresh air. yes he wants to get better but its not a huge deal to him at all.

me on the other hand I'm the complete opposite. far more enthusiasm for the game, I want to be good, and as quickly as possible, to help me do this I believe that the right (not the most expensive all the time) equipment will help me do this so I buy it. For me personally I do not see that buying the right stuff at the right price is a major outlay for something I intend on using weekly at the minimum.

I'm sure when someone is on the tee behind me and sees I have decent branded clothes, bag, shoes and clubs etc they pretty much initially think, oh he should be good. Then I shank one onto the adjoining fairway and I'm sure many will have a little chuckle. Let em, end of the day I see nothing wrong with wanting to be good at something and doing everything to achieve that.

Most of the time its jealousy anyway, that they either can't afford the stuff someone else has or probably more to the point their missus' won't let them spend high amounts on yet more golf stuff!!

 

[road2ruin]

From my point of view I took up golf in February of last year and got bitten by the bug pretty quickly. I invested in my first set of 'proper' clubs in the April and decided to go for a fairly decent set of GI irons and then keep them for some time whilst I took lessons etc rather than wait until I was good (average) then get irons I was unused to.

I must admit to having gone out and spanked a load on the TM R11s having borrow dad's R11 and whilst it is probably money that I could have more wisely invested I enjoy using it, I hit it straight(ish) and I don't plan on changing it for quite some years.

I do draw the line at buying expensive balls though and generally just buy a load of Pearl grade lakeballs online for 40/50p a go. I was given some Pro V1 for my birthday by the wife and having played a round where only 2 out of the first 6 survived I have decided that lakeballs are still the way forward for me!!