How long before a set of clubs is starting to get past its best?

[Deleted member 1147]

A question I asked some of the fitters at the Belfry yesterday, and I'd be interested to know what you guys think.

 

[USER1999]

It must depend to an extend on how often you play?

Continually flexing the shafts has got to have an effect on them. In theory, you would think that eventually they would work harden, before eventaully failing through fatigue. Not going to happen quickly though. I would guess if they had always been yours, you would have adapted your swing as they aged, so you wouldn't notice a difference.

Can't see how the heads would age, except through damage and obsolesence.

Grips? Should change once a year.

Overall? Wild stab in the dark, 10 years.

Or until you see something shiny.

 

[haplesshacker]

I suspect that most of us replace them well before their time is up. We all know players better than us that use some ancient clubs.

 

[muttleee]

"It's the Indian, not the arrows", as Lee Trevino used to say.

 

[DCB]

A lot will depend on how you strike the ball I'd have thought. If you're using forged clubs and manage to hit it out the sweetspot all the time, then, you're going to get wear on that part of the club on your most frequently used clubs.

On the other hand, mere mortals like ourselves probably dont get anywhere near wearing out our clubs, other than sand wedge maybe

As Murph says, grips then shafts are the most likely to need changed before the head is beyond it.

 

[chrisd]

Can't answer the question but just had to have my ball retriever re-gripped!



Chris

 

[Deleted member 1147]

I asked several custon fitters at yesterdays open day, without telling them what I used and there age, and the general concensus was 3-4 years.

Basically the face wears, the technology becomes out of date and apparantly forged clubs can tend to twist with alot of use.
This was based on people who play a couple of times a week with a bit of practice.

Obviously as stated in my other thread you have to take into account the fact that they are trying to sell clubs so may be a little biased.

 

[Ethan]

In the old days, players got their irons checked for lofts and lies every season or two, especially if they had forged clubs which tended t get knocked out of spec a bit with use. Apart from that, and assuming the shafts do not get rusty and weaken, I don't really think that irons get out of date. Technology in irons is over-rated, especially if you don't use Taylor Mades. My Mizuno irons are rather similar in design and appearance to previous models I used 20 years ago. The shafts are a bit better, though.

 

[DCB]

I asked several custon fitters at yesterdays open day, without telling them what I used and there age, and the general concensus was 3-4 years.

That's probably the average golfers club shelf life. If we're paying £450 - £600 for a set of irons then after 4 years that will seem like good value for money on the old set. We're bombarded with so much advertising nowadays that we've all got something that we would happily spend the money on. It's the dream that often turns into the nightmare.
Do we really need new clubs ? Probably not.
Will they make me better player ? Probably not.
Will I buy them anyway ? Probably !!

It's a silly game we play isn't it

 

[RGDave]

I have some 20 year-old Clubs on loan. Still very good.

5 sets of grips, and 2 re-shafts over the years.

I might have even changed the heads?

 

[Deleted member 1147]

I have some 20 year-old Clubs on loan. Still very good.

5 sets of grips, and 2 re-shafts over the years.

I might have even changed the heads?

Cheers Trigger

 

[RGDave]

I have some 20 year-old Clubs on loan. Still very good.

5 sets of grips, and 2 re-shafts over the years.

I might have even changed the heads?

Cheers Trigger

No worries Dave....

 

[MashieNiblick]

Had a set of Mizuno TP-21's with Rifle 5.5 shafts which I bought new in 1997 and only retired last year. I had an extra 5 iron which I practised with. Over that time I played about once a week on average. Apart from the sand wedge which is well worn, the rest of the set is in pretty good nick and I can't say I noticed any deterioration in their performance over time. Would still be using them if I hadn't seen a bargain set of MP30's on ebay.

I know I missed out on the benefits of square grooves for some of that time but otherwise I don't think the new "technology" would have given me anything extra. They were one of the first forged cavity irons and felt great. The shafts were top quality too.

 

[robbest3offthetee]

I upgraded and upgraded until i had ping i15 irons then my game went to pot ,now gone back to playing with original eye 2s probably about 15 to 20 year old irons,still feel great and playing better than ever

 

[clubchamp07]

5 Years now, I've had my ping S59's, thought about changing them last year and was told by my pro that I wouldn't be getting anything different.
I am hitting them aswell now as I've ever hit them. They will be staying for at least another year anyway.
My youngest son has the same set as mine so he is well happy he's playing with PINGS.
I've only put new grips on twice in 5 years, and I play alot of golf.

 

[CliveW]

I replaced my 20 year old Titleist DTRs at the beginning of the year. They were still very playable although the mid irons were beginning to feel a bit tired. I hope my AP2s last as long.

 

[JJF69]

A question I asked some of the fitters at the Belfry yesterday, and I'd be interested to know what you guys think.

Mate with the ease of use of the t'interweb a set of clubs can be past their best going up .1 in a medal. Everyone I play with are wheeling and dealing all over the place. Hook it? get rid, Slice it get rid - its sooooo easy now.

 

[Deleted member 1147]

A question I asked some of the fitters at the Belfry yesterday, and I'd be interested to know what you guys think.

Mate with the ease of use of the t'interweb a set of clubs can be past their best going up .1 in a medal. Everyone I play with are wheeling and dealing all over the place. Hook it? get rid, Slice it get rid - its sooooo easy now.

The question wasn't, if you play badly do you blame your clubs. It was how long before a set of clubs is past its best.

 

[USER1999]

I get the argument that with forged clubs the loft and lies need checking every now and then, but there is no reason why this cannot continue to be done until the head breaks. Yes, the middle of the club will show some wear (or in my case the hozel), but again, that will take alot of golf to make any difference.

I still see the shaft as the weak link.

 

[Imurg]

And as its relatively simple to get a shaft replaced, a set of clubs should last 10-20 years before "needing" to be replaced.
Unless you're playing every day like the Pros are, in which case you'll get through a set a year.