Replacing 40yr old clubs

[Khamelion]

As the subject title says, the clubs, well the irons I use are 40+ years old, they are Wilson X31 irons which when I looked them up, the set I have were made in 1968. The woods I used for a while were just that, wood, Christy O'Connor Continental 1, 3 and 4 woods. Originally the irons were Christy O'Connor as well, but I got my dads Wilson X31 set to use while I learn the game again.

That said, I have replaced the 1 wood with a Taylormade Super Fast burner 9.5 degree driver and the 3 wood with a Taylormade R11 number 3 fairway, but I'm now looking to replace the 4 wood and the 3 iron

The 3 iron is pretty flat, to the point that most modern putters probably have more loft and to be honest it's a bugger to hit well, maybe 1 in a blue moon goes off straight, so tend not to play it. The 4 wood is still a pretty decent club and I get a 40/60 ratio of good to bad hits with it, needless to say neither club is very forgiving.

This leads me to the the replacement part, I'm thinking of replacing the 4 wood (no idea on what the loft is) with a 19 degree 5 fairway and replacing the 3 iron with a 21 degree hybrid. My thinking being this will cover most eventualities to within range of my lofted clubs and wedges.

Good idea to replace those to clubs? Or do you think I'd be better off biting the bullet and look to replace the entire iron set?

Regards
Dave

 

[0]

the set technology has moved on a lot in 40 years, you'll see and feel the benefit and maybe increase the fun you have on the course

 

[Bigfoot]

Not only have clubs improved, I'm sure your swing has changed.

You can get clubs that suit your swing and help rather than hinder. Change them !!

 

[Khamelion]

I am in two minds about this, hence the post. I have hit a few different makes of modern irons at various fitting days. Callaway and Titleist being two makes, but the research I've done, shows that [roughly] the loft creep over the years, makes my current 9 plays more like a approach/gap wedge, my 8 like a 9, my 7 like an 8 and my 6 like 7 or as near as dammit you'll get.

So when on the course with my dad and/or friends from the par 3's if they get an 8 out their bag I reach for my 7 as a rule of thumb, doesn't always work though.

The main issue I have is that longer irons are very unforgiving, there is no slightly off center, you have to hit them sweet, so my way of thinking is a lofted fairway club and hybrid would be a lot more forgiving and would give me a little more range than new irons would.

 

[rosecott]

I think you would probably benefit from a set 5-PW with hybrids instead of 3 and 4. Makes playing much more enjoyable.

 

[Khamelion]

khamelion@blueyonder.co.uk

That is my way of thinking, ditch the long irons in favour of the fairway and hybrid.

My issue is at present I could afford to either replace the woods, or the irons, but not both.

So while the light nights remain, I'd like to get out and try to reduce my round score and I think replacing the woods is the way to go, but replacing the irons also makes kind of sense as well.

Also I need to get in quick before my other half spends the cash on decorating gear

 

[RGDave]

Hi K. You haven't really given us much to go on. It's not really a surprise you find the long irons hard to hit.....don't necessarily jump into hybrids until you've tried a decent set of modern irons. I can hit 3+4 irons all day long (Callaway) and don't even use a hybrid at present. I'm a terrible ball striker.
I think you should change the irons, it's a no-brainer really.
What sort of ability are you?
So many questions....

 

[Khamelion]

khamelion@blueyonder.co.uk

I played for a few years as a kid up until I was 16, then I realized girls existed and golf went out the window. If I could go back in time and persue the golf rather than persue the girls I would, it's the only regret I have. Anyhoo, I started playing again last year and had a few rounds hacking my way around the course, until my other half bought me a series of 5 lessons at the beginning of this year.

My swing, posture, ball striking everything was all wrong, the pro who is teaching has helped me improve no end, but that said there is still a long long way to go.

At the moment I'm hitting my driver around 270 average carry and my 3 fairway around 225 average carry. The only irons I tend to use are 6 to SW (SW generally bunkers only)for which my 7 which plays like a modern 8 I average around 150.

The main issue I have is that when I require a shorter drive, for a dog leg, or course management, the driver and 3 fairway are to long with the 3 and 4 iron being to unpredictable, which is why I was leaning toward a 5 fairway and hybrid.

I have tried my friends 3 iron at the driving range which is around 10 years old and I can hit it reasonably well, but it's still not with the confidence the fairways give me.

 

[RGDave]

Re: khamelion@blueyonder.co.uk

Well, you MUST get a set of irons.....you'll be amazed.

In regard to a useful tee club, maybe you should try a few hybrids in various lofts. Given your distances, even a 5 wood is going to go rather a long way.

A lot of good players use a 2 or 3 iron loft hybrid, that's got to be the way forward.

or a Fli-hi driving iron club....even that's going to go miles.

 

[HomerJSimpson]

Re: khamelion@blueyonder.co.uk

If nothing else shaft technology will make a world of difference. If you can still hit those old blades well then there are plenty of head/shaft options available. A lot of pros are going for small cavity backs but with reasonably thin top lines they may not look too chunky to your eye

 

[Khamelion]

Re: Replacing the 40yr old Irons

To be fair, from the 6 iron to PW I can hit them well and consistent, the 5 iron tends to be 50/50 while the 3 and 4 irons are iffy to say the least and I wouldn't regularly use them as results tend to be wild.

 

[RGDave]

Re: Replacing the 40yr old Irons

Maybe you should pick up a nice GI 3 and 4 iron off ebay and see how you go?
Before I switched to X-18s, I got a big bertha 4 iron for £13 off ebay. I still use it.
I think you are wasting your time persevering with the long irons from your old set.

 

[Khamelion]

khamelion@blueyonder.co.uk

I totally agree about my long irons, when I first started using them I had the 2 iron in the bag, now that is a beast of a club to try and hit.

The pro who was giving me lessons couldn't believe I had one in my bag, saying that most people don't below a 4 iron.

To follow the views of the people who have posted replies to my original question would make sense, however I've come to really enjoy the lofted clubs in the set so to replace the long irons with a 5 wood and hybrid initially to me seems to be the best way forward.

Cheers
Dave

 

[Mattyboy]

Re: khamelion@blueyonder.co.uk

Many moons ago, I used to have a set of X31 irons. They were like a cheap version of the Wilson tour blades. I recall that the original X31s were very blade orientated and therefore I am not surpised that you say they are not the easiest to hit.
Yep - update your clubs totally. You do not have to spend lots. 9 X31 irons cost around £160 in 1980 (from memory). The tour blades cost around £500. They were an excellent set of irons then, and similar bargains must be available these days. Sounds like you like the idea of hybrids, which is fine.
Best Wishes
Matt