If technology moves so fast, then why................

[PPE]

Is Lee Westwood still playing with a Ping G10 driver? and Tiger Woods with a Nike SQII 5 Wood?

I sure that there are loads of other examples of other pros doing this and I sure that everbody will post "because they feel comfortable with them", but if the claims are correct that every updated model that the manufacturers launch is 'longer and straighter' than the last then why are Lee and Tiger playing with models which have been updated 2 or 3 times?

I can fully understand with putters, but all of the other clubs in the bag?

 

[leaney]

The manufacturers want you to believe that the new clubs are better so they can make more money. But in reality, they make no difference most of the time.

A friend of mine always swaps his clubs for the latest range and guess what? They don't save him a single shot!

I'll be keeping the same clubs for years and years.

 

[HomerJSimpson]

In my simplistic view it is because while the head may be the same, the shaft which is the engine room will have been tested and modified to produce the best outcome. The head is just the lump of metal used to propel the ball

 

[Imurg]

Unlike us, Tiger and Lee can already hit those clubs long and straight(ish!) so would only need to change if they find something they can hit longer and straighter....
Plus the comfort factor is a huge thing when you're playing for several hundred grand....

 

[SharkAttack]

Just go onto the Ping website and check through the bags of their pro's, there's a few of them playing older clubs than Westy. Pro's have the advantage of middling most shots so they don't require that extra 0.000005% forgiveness that the new model gives. Some change their clubs as often as the British weather changes, others just like what they look down on and don't see the point of having to change.

Shark

 

[leaney]

Just go onto the Ping website and check through the bags of their pro's, there's a few of them playing older clubs than Westy. Pro's have the advantage of middling most shots so they don't require that extra 0.000005% forgiveness that the new model gives. Some change their clubs as often as the British weather changes, others just like what they look down on and don't see the point of having to change.

Shark

Does the British weather ever change?

 

[williamalex1]

Unlike us, Tiger and Lee can already hit those clubs long and straight(ish!) so would only need to change if they find something they can hit longer and straighter....
Plus the comfort factor is a huge thing when you're playing for several hundred grand....

i had an old cobra 440 that they declared illegal; i was hitting it 30yrds further than my newest model, that i was forced into buying.conned again

 

[PPE]

The manufacturers want you to believe that the new clubs are better so they can make more money. But in reality, they make no difference most of the time.

A friend of mine always swaps his clubs for the latest range and guess what? They don't save him a single shot!

I'll be keeping the same clubs for years and years.

From personal experience I have changed from the Mizuno MP600 to the MP630 and gained extra yards, I have gone from the MX700 Fairways to the MP Titanium and gained yards.

Is it marketing? To a certain extent yes, but like I say technology moves on, if it didnt we would all still be playing with hickory shafts, driving around in Model T Fords and typing our forum messages on a BBC B!

 

[DaveM]

I remember reading a report about "When should you buy new clubs, tec wise" It was reckoned to be every 5/6 years for irons generally. Because the advancement in the tec each year would take that long for any benefit to be seen. It was 2/3 years for drivers.

 

[Jigger]

I remember reading a report about "When should you buy new clubs, tec wise" It was reckoned to be every 5/6 years for irons generally. Because the advancement in the tec each year would take that long for any benefit to be seen. It was 2/3 years for drivers.

Other than my 3&4 cobra baffler hybrids I've just replaced my entire set which was around 7yrs old and getting a bit rusty. I have to say I noticed the difference in forgiveness albeit not to much in the length department.

 

[DaveM]

Think its more in the forgiveness area, you see more advance. As most clubs must be very near the limits of performance as per the rules anyway.

 

[Fish]

Whilst they may have the brand and model of any particular club, it is my belief that those clubs are nothing like what we buy off the shelf or even get fitted.

I think they will be made and modified to suit the golfer far in excess of what we could have done.

Maybe be hogwash but hey, I'm a suspicious bugger....

 

[SharkAttack]

Does the British weather ever change?

Of course it does- it rains, it rains heavier and it rains even heavier that's three different weather changes. Well it seems that way up here at the moment.

 

[SharkAttack]

I'm a suspicious bugger....

I can see that from those beady little staring eyes on your avatar.

 

[Region3]

Of course it does- it rains, it rains heavier and it rains even heavier that's three different weather changes. Well it seems that way up here at the moment.

Don't forget also that the rain is warmer during May - September.

 

[Foxholer]

Whilst they may have the brand and model of any particular club, it is my belief that those clubs are nothing like what we buy off the shelf or even get fitted.

I think they will be made and modified to suit the golfer far in excess of what we could have done.

Maybe be hogwash but hey, I'm a suspicious bugger....

As far as Driver heads go, hogwash it is (pretty much). Heads bound for the Tour department may have been 'selected' and will generally have their measurements attached. Contrary to what some (BSG) have stated,they are not made from different metal!

Some irons have been known to be made slightly differently - or even forged be different companies. There's unconfirmed rumours that Tiger's irons have been Miuras for a long time (even pre T-Stamp days). There are occasional releases of 'specials' like the T-Stamp, K-Stamp Titleist and Lehman Box-Toe TM300s. There have also been occasional 'Tour Only' heads for Fairways - the HFS (Hot-faced Steel) TM head was made in response to many tour players not liking the R7 Fairway (Titanium) when it first came out.

Iron Shafts tend to be matched - and TTDG Tour shafts have 'Tour' on the label. Graphite shafts are no different from those available generally, but the cosmetics may have been made specific to the targeted company (Titleist, TaylorMade etc).

As for Westwood using 'old' technology. If he's comfortable with a Driver, then he shouldn't change just to upgrade the model.

For Pros, 3-woods are often like putters. Even more 'comfort-factor' involved. I know 1 Pro who ditched TM for Titleist for everything except his V-Steel - which he'd had for a few years even then.

 

[Alex1975]

To a large extent the boundaries of golf club design are maxed out, the heads are as large as they can get and so on and so on. With that being the case the manufactures have to keep making new clubs and have to market them. If you need a new set of clubs its best to buy the newest ones as they may have tweeked the weight distribution or changed he materials in some small way, they will also have removed the old clubs from the market.

They have to compete with one another, its a huge and commutative market, they will tell you what they need to tell you so that you pick them. We know it works as we have has many many RBZ posts talking about it.

 

[MadAdey]

With not being one for changing my clubs like my underpants I can see why people would stay with good old tried and tested clubs. I am still playing with my TM LTII irons that I purchased 7 years ago. I just love them and feel comfortable with them. Yes the shafts have been replaced and gone through a few sets of grips, so I could have probably saved the money flogged them on Ebay and then brought a new set easily. I have just got my old V-steel, steel shafted 3-wood back in the bag and I wonder why it ever came out of it. IMO new technology does not always make you a better golfer. maybe using that money for some lessons would though.....

 

[doc333]

In the words of Tom Wishon or any decent club fitter/builder: " The latest drivers are supposed to go longer and straighter, but they give you a shaft that's a a couple of inches longer and get longer every year to support the OEM claims. If these clubs are so good then why are tour pro's still using what they have always used and a few inches shorter than the new over marketed clubs. They sell them as if every player is entering the long drive championship and those clubs are impossible to play a round with"

Head design is nearing the limits, and not much else can be done within the rules, but shaft technology is getting better and better, and the correct shaft fitted that suits your individual/unique swing is the way to go. Some tour pro's are using some of the most expensive and tricked up shafts around. Some are still experimental and cost up to £800 each at the high end or £200 at the low end. So a club marketed at between £150 and £300 is nowhere near as good as Lee's old stuff.

 

[Doon frae Troon]

In Lee's first coming he played with a set of Maruman blades for nearly 10 years.