Why Do I Feel Like I 'NEED'...

... to buy the new Superfast Driver and 3 Wood?  I've been playing with the same set of clubs now since 2004.  The only clubs that have been switched out are my driver (I went from a TaylorMade R540 to a Cleveland HiBORE XLS) and my wedges (stock wedges that came with my club were switched out for a 52 degree and 56 degree TaylorMade RAC wedges).  Otherwise... it's been the same set of Nike Slingshot irons (5-PW) since then and the same Nike CPR hybrids (18 degree and 21 degree).

I knew going into this offseason that I wanted to upgrade my clubs.  I told everybody that for Christmas and my birthday... all I wanted was giftcards towards new clubs.  Only giftcard I got was for $100 for my birthday... from my wife.  Everything else was apparel, balls, etc.  Luckily, I won a fantasy football league that paid me a decent amount... so I'll have some cash to add to my funds.

I'm up in the air in terms of what I want... I'm REALLY looking into the Titleist AP1 or AP2's but I love the way the Callaway X24's look when I stand over them.  (That was my biggest mistake when I bought the Slingshot's... I HATE the way they look and I LOVED the way the Callaway X16's looked... but I felt like I hit the ball better with the Slingshot's when I tried them out).

I had no intention of replacing my driver... but I knew I needed to replace my 3 wood.  I've been playing a Callaway Big Bertha 2004 since I bought the Slingshot irons.  I love that club... but I feel like I'm leaving something on the table with it as opposed to hitting a newer club.

Then, I saw the new TaylorMade Superfast clubs with the white heads.  I've literally stared at the pictures wondering what it would be like to hold those clubs in my hand.  I absolutely feel like I NEED to have these clubs in my bag this season... and somewhere inside of me, I truthfully believe that these clubs will improve my game by 3-5 strokes.  Why?!  This makes no sense... I've NEVER been like that before.

I've dropped from a 27 handicap to a 17 handicap in about 18 months... and my goal is to finish the 2011 season at around a 13 handicap.  Why do I feel like these clubs will help me do that...?

I'm seriously frustrated with myself because I don't WANT to spent $500+ on just 2 clubs... but I know I'm going to.

Damnit!

CY

Wait a month for the price to come down.

Not sure the price will drop that quickly. Just go and hit them and be honest with yourself. Do you think you need them, if so buy them. You have to treat yourself every once and a while!

Hey, get 'em if you want 'em.  They won't make you better, but they probably won't make you worse.

I recently went through the same thing and upgraded my entire set.  I say go for it.

I got last years superfast driver and 3 wood used on craigslist for $150, and that was for both of them. I think you can find a better deal if you are willing to have the black heads instead of the newer white ones.

Great point.  The luster of a brand new club, especially with woods, wears off real quickly when you realize after a few weeks of use that your club looks and performs just like last year's model that you could have gotten for about 30-40% of what you just paid.

If you are willing to play last years clubs and buy used, you equipment investment can be close to none. I do like to change clubs, but I found if I sell my current set and buy a year set of used clubs the difference close to none. I bought used ap2's for $250 and sold my callaway's for about the same price. You can do the same with woods etc.

If you do it this way, if you don't like the clubs you can flip them for around the same price after a month or so.

I've been pretty happy with all my shafts/clubs except the driver.

I switched to a relatively inexpensive burner and a stiffer shaft and my accuracy improved — I'm delighted with the switch from the FT3.

Then I got injured — pinched nerve in the neck — 4 months since I swung a club...aagh!

Well since you have been using the same clubs for most of the time since 2004 you definitely do not fall into the category of club ho. If you want to make a switch then just do it, try a number of different clubs before making the change because it seems like you will likely be playing them for a number of years, just be comfortable with your decision and enjoy!

+1. I just completed upgrading my hybrid/woods to the Titleist 909 series with the correct shafts I was looking for. Took me about a year but now I have a driver (909 DComp) that I love, a 3 wood (909 15.5) that looks like it's never been hit, and a 19* and 24* hybrid (909 series again) that fits my yardage gaps perfectly. I paid less than $350 total for all 4 clubs. Thank you 910 series!!!! Just gotta be patient and keep looking for the right deal. This of course only works when you know exactly what your looking for.

don't ever let anyone tell you to NOT buy new clubs...... EVER!!!!! ;) heheheh~!

but seriously

if you have the cash and are itchnig to get them, just do it (carefull tho it becomes a strange addiction...trust me, ive taken out my sig b/c of it!)

only suggestion i have, it get fit for a proper shaft, as this will make or break how you hit them

it might be a great head for you, but the shaft blows for your swing

have fun with your new gear! ;)

It's a problem with new clubs and old ones too - I finally got my bag setup to allow me to shoot the best score and put the other clubs into a couple (okay, 4) staff bags and zipped up the head covers so they're out of sight out of mind.

@ the OP - if you haven't hit a 2009 or earlier driver on the course, you really need to give it a go. Sure they faces are as durable as processed cheese, but when you catch it right  . . . BLAM!!!

One sees old fairway woods on tour -- if you love that club and hit it consistently, you might try a shaft. Otherwise, I'd opt for the new driver. Yes, I know, you only use it 13X per round, but with the right swing fundamentals, it can get you long and in the fairway. A 3 wood? You might hit it 4X per round. Go driver.

This isnt neccesarily true for everyone. I normally hit my driver half and half with my other woods for better course management.  But i say if your gonna keep the new superfast for a few years it won't hurt to purchase new.

The above statement is courtesy of TM's marketing department

Haha... after I wrote it, I realized I sounded like I worked for them.  I wish I did... then I wouldn't worry about buying new clubs.  I played the R540 for about 5 years (and got it when it had already been available for 2-3 years) and then got the HiBORE XLS.  I love that club... but I HATE the sound it makes.  Only other TaylorMade clubs I've played are the RAC wedges I picked up this past season on sale.

To everybody who's responded... thanks.  I just needed to vent.  I felt like I needed to say it... but if I said it to my wife, she'd roll her eyes at me.

I'm definitely going to pick up new irons this winter (hopefully within the next month)... and then I'll decide whether or not I want (need) the driver and 3 wood too.

CY

The Superfast is long. Super long.