Picking new golf clubs - narrowing the field

[Yorkhacker]

I'm 'celebrating' a milestone birthday early next year and am planning on treating myself to a new set of Irons.
There are so many great sets of clubs out there that it would seem unrealistic to try them all.
When you were picking your last set of clubs, how many sets did you try and how did you narrow down your choice?
I currently have Ping G410 Irons and my WHS is 10.3, but am optimistic I can get it down to 8 or below over the next 12 months

 

[HomerJSimpson]

I'm 'celebrating' a milestone birthday early next year and am planning on treating myself to a new set of Irons.
There are so many great sets of clubs out there that it would seem unrealistic to try them all.
When you were picking your last set of clubs, how many sets did you try and how did you narrow down your choice?
I currently have Ping G410 Irons and my WHS is 10.3, but am optimistic I can get it down to 8 or below over the next 12 months

I would start with Ping (as you're familiar with how the look/feel) and then try as many as you can. You could try checking out online reviews to see how any models you have your eye on fare (or read the GM review). I have a great facility about 30 minutes away that has a massive superstore and range and I can wander along and try 2-3 brands at a time. I've been known to go over 2 weekends to try as many as I can and narrow it down that way

 

[IanM]

Ping loyalist so it was a easy switch to the newest version of what I already had, once I saw there were gains to get had!

 

[Bratty]

Tried Callaway Apex Pro, Mizuno MP20 HMB and Titleist 200 irons, when moving out of my Ping i25s, with my local pro. Tried them with a handful of shafts too.
Using his indoor setup (not sure what he's got, but possibly trackman) meant we could look at some numbers and stats, which I like. Fairly easy to narrow it down when you can see dispersion, launch angle, peak height and distance amongst other things.
Next time I change, I may go to Precision Golf where I can try far more heads and shaft combinations, plus swingweight alterations.

 

[Yorkhacker]

Tried Callaway Apex Pro, Mizuno MP20 HMB and Titleist 200 irons, when moving out of my Ping i25s, with my local pro. Tried them with a handful of shafts too.
Using his indoor setup (not sure what he's got, but possibly trackman) meant we could look at some numbers and stats, which I like. Fairly easy to narrow it down when you can see dispersion, launch angle, peak height and distance amongst other things.
Next time I change, I may go to Precision Golf where I can try far more heads and shaft combinations, plus swingweight alterations.

How did you narrow it down to those 3 sets. Is that what your pro suggested to you, based on your game?
Looking at Precision golf, it is £175 for 2 hours for an iron fitting. How many different iron sets do you think it would be realistic to try in that time to ensure you get the best fitting experience?

 

[SteveW86]

How did you narrow it down to those 3 sets. Is that what your pro suggested to you, based on your game?
Looking at Precision golf, it is £175 for 2 hours for an iron fitting. How many different iron sets do you think it would be realistic to try in that time to ensure you get the best fitting experience?

you won’t try that many different heads, the fitter will work out quite quickly what works for you and you’ll end up choosing from maybe 3-4 heads.

The £175 is for their expertise, not to try every head that they have (which is pretty much all of them).

I had a driver fitting there and think I only tried 3 different heads. The fitters just know what works and what doesn’t.

 

[Yorkhacker]

you won’t try that many different heads, the fitter will work out quite quickly what works for you and you’ll end up choosing from maybe 3-4 heads.

The £175 is for their expertise, not to try every head that they have (which is pretty much all of them).

I had a driver fitting there and think I only tried 3 different heads. The fitters just know what works and what doesn’t.

Did you go with an idea of what you wanted to hit, or were you steered in a particular direction based on your ball striking. Im assuming all custom fitters work roughly the same. I'm too far from Precision Golf, (although I used to live about 15 minutes away) but could try somewhere like Tour X golf or Scottsdale

 

[Bratty]

How did you narrow it down to those 3 sets. Is that what your pro suggested to you, based on your game?
Looking at Precision golf, it is £175 for 2 hours for an iron fitting. How many different iron sets do you think it would be realistic to try in that time to ensure you get the best fitting experience?

They were the only three heads he had that he felt would suit me. Shafts were similar.
I had a wedge fitting and a driver fitting at Precision. Former saw me hit 7 heads, as it was a quick process to work out what's good and what's not in wedges and also you're not swinging hard! Driver, he asked me if I had any preference to try first (Cobra Radspeed) and then we went from there. He knew pretty quickly which heads to try even from that first one, and he chose four shafts, of which I only hit two and maybe 5 other heads. Sim 2 Max needed 3 hits only for me to know it was shocking for me (and he agreed!).
The fitters really know their stuff and I'd be amazed if they didn't fit you into something suitable for you, exactly as Steve said.

 

[Foxholer]

How did you narrow it down to those 3 sets. Is that what your pro suggested to you, based on your game?
Looking at Precision golf, it is £175 for 2 hours for an iron fitting. How many different iron sets do you think it would be realistic to try in that time to ensure you get the best fitting experience?

I was going to suggest going to a top fitter. There are a few 'big dotted around the country - Precision Golf in Byfleet, Golf Principles in Basingstoke, Tour-X in Wigan and Scott Gourlay in Edinburgh are the 'big names', who I'd rate as 'equals'. I don't think you'd be disappointed by any of them.
There used to be a bunch at Camberley Golf Club many years ago. But Sammi - the main fitter and probably equivalent, at least in experience, to the above, never seemed to stay anywhere very long.
I went to Precision quite early, at their Thorpe setup. They are now in a studio over twice the size and with several additional 'staff'.

 

[SteveW86]

Did you go with an idea of what you wanted to hit, or were you steered in a particular direction based on your ball striking. Im assuming all custom fitters work roughly the same. I'm too far from Precision Golf, (although I used to live about 15 minutes away) but could try somewhere like Tour X golf or Scottsdale

I went with a really open mind and willing to try anything. I was going from a Callaway Big Bertha Fusion which is relatively forgiving.

Going into it I did think that the shaft was going to be the key component, but i was surprised how much difference there was in performance on different heads once we had narrowed the shaft down. Some combos just didn’t work, or felt like you had to try too hard to square the face up etc etc, even with the custom changes they can make. Whereas what I walked away with just felt effortless to hit and I was coming away with 20 yards further carry and much narrower dispersion.

It has taken a bit of getting used to on the course, but after maybe 5/6 rounds I am getting the confidence to swing hard at it and trust the club.

 

[tigerwes]

Go for a fitting where they have as many options as possible, and go with an open mind. Pick the best clubs that work for you and maybe even walk away and come back another day to try them again. Your spending a lot of money make sure the clubs fit you.

 

[jim8flog]

Rather than starting with any particular make the first thing I do is to start with what the clubs looks like ,particularly at address, e.g the top line the amount of offset, the size of the head. It is a cavity back club designed for mid to high handicap when I want is more of a players club designed for mid to low handicap.

Try to reduce your choices before going for a fitting else you will end up hitting too many balls with too many different clubs and get tired or confused.

Watch a few youtube video reviews to get a good idea of what each club is like (even though they are generally reviewed by pros and big hitters you can get a good idea).

 

[SwingsitlikeHogan]

I buy my clubs through the pro shop. He is a Ping outlet. Our pro was going to give me the best deal he sensibly could on new set of Pings.

He gives me lessons - he knows my game (and what about it he was going to work with me on changing when I had the new clubs) and so knew which model would likely best suit me. On the Ping fitting day I tried the Ping i210s - and sure enough a few hits with a couple of clubs they seemed to work well and I liked the look of the head and the top line at address.

So new set of i210s it was. Appreciate that this is maybe not that common an approach.

 

[Mel Smooth]

Keep an open mind. When changed my irons a few years back, Cobra had never even entered my head - but they were far away the best for me. Not the longest but the dispersion was streets ahead of the other brands - Ping, Callaway, Taylor Made etc.

 

[HomerJSimpson]

Keep an open mind. When changed my irons a few years back, Cobra had never even entered my head - but they were far away the best for me. Not the longest but the dispersion was streets ahead of the other brands - Ping, Callaway, Taylor Made etc.

Good point about dispersion. Not always about distance but how wide your misses are not only lefts and right but short and long

 

[Yorkhacker]

Thanks for all the replies, they have given me plenty to think about. I have had Ping clubs for the last 10 years since I returned to golf. I like them and they suit me. However I fancy at least trying some other manufacturers to see whether they are any better.
Probably the best thing to do is go somewhere like Snainton golf and try some sets and then book a fitting somewhere.
One thing that concerns me is that most fitting places seem to be studio based and for some reason I always feel inhibited hitting indoors.

 

[IanM]

I've had Ping for years, except for a minor fling with Callaway a while ago.

When I last changed, it was try the latest Ping, and they were bought without too much delay!

 

[The Fader]

I'm biased as a brand convert but have a look at Sub70. I know its a single brand but they have a choice of blades, muscle backs, cavity backs through to GI irons.

IMHO their quality stands muster against the top brands. I was a long time Bridgestone forged irons user prior to my switch.

At a likely sub £500 price point, it will leave plenty in kitty for another couple of new clubs or perhaps a round somewhere special to celebrate your big day!!

The fitting experience is superb - I don't think you would regret a journey down to Hereford!

 

[Bratty]

I'm biased as a brand convert but have a look at Sub70. I know its a single brand but they have a choice of blades, muscle backs, cavity backs through to GI irons.

IMHO their quality stands muster against the top brands. I was a long time Bridgestone forged irons user prior to my switch.

At a likely sub £500 price point, it will leave plenty in kitty for another couple of new clubs or perhaps a round somewhere special to celebrate your big day!!

The fitting experience is superb - I don't think you would regret a journey down to Hereford!

What prompted you to look at Sub70 over the myriad of other clubs?

 

[The Fader]

What prompted you to look at Sub70 over the myriad of other clubs?

First came across them purely by chance browsing the golfwrx.com equipment forum. The members there are quite demanding, divisive and opinionated (even more so than on here!!) but for once there was almost universal positivity about the quality of the clubs and the customer service. So, I looked to see If there was a UK operation, which there was in Hereford. And when I saw the pricing - it was a no brainer to give them a try.

Went for a fitting with my 2 sons and the rest is history as they say.

We all walked out with a full set of custom built irons and wedges. Most expensive of the 3 sets came in at just over £700 for 4-PW plus 3 specialist wedges.

The fitting itself was the most thorough and comprehensive fitting any of us had experienced

Richard and Nick (father and son) who run the business are both top blokes and very knowledgeable and they replicate everything that was said about the brand in the USA over here!

Before the switch we all used top end Bridgestone gear (through a family connection) and Sub70 quality is just as good if not better at a fraction of the cost.