Club set upgrade thoughts for 2015

Being a man and loving technology, I'm always dreaming about upgrading my clubs. I've taken up golf relatively seriously (ie: try to at least make the range weekly and more in summer) for the past 20 months or so. I came into some American Golf vouchers about 18 months ago and treated myself to a complete set of Benross Hot Speed clubs - good value GI clubs from 2013.

Prior to Christmas last year I added a set of 3 Adams Tom Watson wedges. And finally a Callaway V Series driver which I LOVE. Could spend all day just hitting the driver...

Anyway, I'm thinking what I'd like to upgrade IF I could afford it. And the inherent pitfalls. I've already posted my distances in another thread - after 20 months I can now hit all my clubs much more consistently. Its a little hard to judge summer distances at this time of year but "total" distances I'd expect my driver to be 250 minimum (mid to high 90's swing speed) and then a drop to maybe 215 for 3 wood and fairly even gaps down to my wedges. It would be nice if I could get a 3w up to circa 230 to make those longer holes easier. And wider gaps between irons wouldn't be an issue as I'm not accurate enough to worry about +/- 5 yards. So...

It would be nice to see how I got on with the latest longer iron sets such as Nike Vapor Speed and Callaway XRs. Trouble is they would then overtake (probably) my hybrids which would also mean replacing hybrids and fws. Starts getting expensive!!!

I guess the cheaper option would be to start with just a longer 3w and accept a big gap to my next club. But at least then it would give me a longer option from the fairway. Then add fw/hybrids/irons in that order as finances allow. But on the other hand, a 3w would get much less use than a whole iron set. Choices, choices...

Just wondered if others out there had faced this dilemma and how they had approached it?

Be careful... this is how people start becoming a golf equipment "ho"!  LOL.

Are you currently taking lessons from a pro?

I started taking them after a 6-year layoff from playing and it's been a very rewarding experience.

After my 2nd lesson, I had my lowest 9-hole score for as long as I can remember.

For me, lessons are money well spent, as long as you find the right instructor.

I'd be a hypocrite by suggesting you don't buy new clubs, as I'm a self-professed "ho" myself.

Just know that there's no miracle set of equipment that will lower your scores overnight, despite all the marketing.

I try to buy used clubs to keep under my budget.

There's nothing wrong with 3-5 year old clubs (or 10+ either), as long as they're in good condition (just cosmetic nicks & scratches that you'd get after a few rounds with new clubs anyway).  But factor in cost of re-gripping (over $100 for a set) if you don't trust the hands that touched the clubs before you...

Good luck and enjoy your new obsession...!

I'm faced with the same dilemma, and I am a club Ho as they say. I have a mixed bag of clubs that I'm going to straighten out, Older Ping G15 irons, cobra hybrids Taylor Made 5w, Cleveland 3 and driver. Comes from years of buying and selling clubs and always looking for the next best thing.

I've saved my money (~$1000) so now I am going to straighten everything out. I have hit the new Callaway XR series and love them. I've also hit just about every other club out there, I'm upgrading the Ping irons to the new XRs plus buying the an XR 5H and 3H. The XR Hybrids are unbelievably long, check out their review on YouTube. I'm keeping the Clevelands because they are new and I really like them. So my plan is to have the Clevelands than all XRs down to a PW. My Gap, Sand and Lob wedges are all Fourteens, so they are staying.

Anyway, my suggestion is to save your money till  you can afford the clubs you want, don't settle, you'll have them for years. And by all means get a good fitting.

Ha .. yeah: same thing here.... 5 yrs ago obtained a set of Taylormade R9 irons (5i-AW) at a great deal from a friendly pro, and I love love love them. For the most part. The shorter irons, that is. It wasn't until just recently that my swing/game has progressed enough to where I can hit the 5 or the 6 - so I'd replaced them 5 with a Cobra Baffler hybrid, left the 6 back home and also filled in a 4h and 3h Cobra Baffler (same model). Which I all enjoy hitting very much. 

So I had a gap at the 6 (went from 7i to 5h) and have just sort of played around it. I also keep switching out two different 3 hybrids, and have experimented with a few different 3 woods but generally avoid hitting that club during play... :( ...

Anyway, now I'm in the same situation/quandary as TimS - wondering if some newer technology might help hit a 6i ... and the other clubs ... a little straighter and a littler more consistently...???

Going to take a trip to a PGA Tour Superstore not too far from me, and see if I can try out the Callaway XRs and the TM Rsi-1s, and maybe also (a Mizuno or a Wison "GI" set?).

On 2/13/2015, 7:17:39, TimS65 said:

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 TimS65,

Please disregard. I misread your post and made initial comments not relevant to your question.

On 2/14/2015, 5:26:37, onthehunt526 said:

I'm going with the three year old model I have upgraded to Tour Edge Exotics CU irons, Tour Proto Wedges, a Bazooka Geomax Putter, looking at either XCG5 or XCG6 woods and Hybrids... haven't exactly decided yet...

I re-upgraded to Tour Edge Exotics E8 irons 4-AW, ended up with XRail Woods and Hybrids, haven't upgraded the wedges yet...