Way too often. Although now that I am nearing a single digit handicap, I've seemed to finally realize I do not need to buy a game. Practice and additional lessons have helped. IT is definitely the Indian, not the arrow.
When I was playing TaylorMade Drivers, I always bought into the hype every year and purchased the latest & greatest. I was not a fan of the original R11 TP, sold it 10 rounds into that season and bought a Titleist 910 D2. That club stayed in my bag for two full seasons. But I did try and replace it with the rest of my clubs last season (w/ an Adams Fast 12 LS which only lasted 5 rounds and the 910 went right back in the bag).
As for woods, I bought a new 3 & 5 wood every year from the 1st TaylorMade Superfast on (so that was 3 years straight). Same with the hybrid (a new 21 degree).
Irons, I seemed to hold onto a little longer. I started with the Ping G2. Held them for 5 years before selling them and buying TaylorMade Burners 1.0. Those I kept for two years. It was also when I got really serious about getting better. I got fitted into and improved so much that I grew out of them in year two. The offset hurt me more than helped me and light weight KBS 90 shafts made me spin the ball off the charts. I was dead in any type of wind. I saw my biggest improvement though in year two with them, moving from an 18 to 14 handicap.
So what did I do, get fitted for new clubs again. This time I wanted something I would grow into. I purchased my 1st set of forged irons Mizuno JPX 800 Pro's with KBS Tour Shafts (X-Flex/soft stepped one time).
I was also fitted into the Adams driver I got rid of. The numbers were great, but I could not hit the damn thing straight. I lost everything right and had a draw ball flight with my last two drivers. This also coincided with the lessons which I think was more of the issue. I was now able to pick up distance on every club in my bag which was fantastic. But my driver swing had a slight flaw that caused the draw. Now I have a more correct swing and causes a baby fade. Go figure. Everything else is straight and still draw biased.
That same fitter put me in a 3 & 5 wood, Adams XTD Superfairway. Again, never fell in love with them and when the toe weight fell out, I bought the RBZ 3, pulled a Fujikura Rombax Type-X 75S Shaft and stuck it in that fairway. I've been in love ever since.
I've gone through thousands in new equipment over the last 4-5 years. I can honestly say I am set finally and looking forward to set up for this season and many seasons beyond.
D: Titleist 913 D2 (Diamana D+), 62 grams, tipped half inch
3W: TaylorMade RBZ, Fujikura Rombax Type-X 75S
5W: TaylorMade RBZ, Fujikura Rombax Type-X 75S
4-PW: Mizuno JPX 800 Pro, KBS Tour, X Flex, soft stepped one time
50: Vokey Oil Can Spin Mill, KBS Tour, X Flex, soft stepped one time, non-conforming
56: Vokey Black Nickel Spin Mill, KBS Tour, Stiff, bent to 55 degrees, non-conforming
60: Vokey Black Nickel Spin Mill, non-conforming
P: Scotty Cameron, California Series, Coranado, 33 inches, Mid-sized SC Babt T grip
Extra's (I like to play with my set up depending on the course I play)
D: Titleist 910 D2, Aldila RIP Alpha 60, Stiff (I just can't get rid of this club)
4W: TaylorMade RBZ, Miyazaki Kusala Black, 72S
3H: TaylorMade RBZ Tour, Miyazaki C.Kua 83S
4H: TaylorMade RBZ Tour, Miyazaki C.Kua 83S
64: Vokey Chrome Spin Milled, non-conforming
P: Rossa Suzuka, Mid-Sized Grip
My history of clubs:
Drivers: Callaway ERC Fusion, TaylorMade Burner '07, TaylorMade Burner '09, TaylorMade R9 SuperTri, Cobra ZL, TaylorMade R11, Titleist 910 D2, Titleist 913 D2
Woods 3 & 5 (and a 4 sometimes just because): TaylorMade V Steel (never should have gotten rid of them), TaylorMade Burner '09, TaylorMade Burner Superfast, TaylorMade R9 (4 wood only), Cobra S2, TaylorMade Burner Superfast 2.0, Adams XTD Superfairway, TaylorMade RBZ
Hybrids 18 & 21 degree: TaylorMade Rescue Mid, TaylorMade Burner '09, TaylorMade Burner Superfast 2.0, Adams A12, TaylorMade RBZ Tour
Irons: Ping G2, TaylorMade Burner 1.0, Mizuno JPX 800 Pro
Wedges: In total I have 10 Vokeys that are all playing 50, 55, 60 with all different bends and bounce configs with one or two that play to 52 degrees legit
Putters: Ping Anser, Rossa Suzuka, Titleist Scotty Cameron Mil-Spec, Scotty Cameron California Series Coranado