I started playing golf when I was 7 and played until about 21, got bored and stopped. Only played seriously for about 4 years from 16-20 really. Played on the high school senior team and lots of local tourneys after that. The best my handicap ever got was 6--I could never get it lower because of my mental game. I loose focus real easy after bad shots.
Anyways, now 5 years later I have started to play again. Well at least practice. I have yet to play a round ;) I have been to the range almost daily for a few weeks now.
I was really surprised that my first few shots back after 5 years (and now with new irons) were very solid, went where I wanted them to and had decent distance. I was still able to shape shots although not nearly as well as before. The only thing was that even though I was hitting it "well" it felt so awkward and unnatural.
After a few weeks though, I am having second thoughts about the clubs I was sold. I had explained the whole story to the salesman as getting back into the game from a 6 handicap, haven't played for 5 years, use to hit the ball very high (too high), what my last clubs were, that I am only going to be playing about once a week max and practicing about once or twice a week, ect.
He set me up with a few different iron sets and ultimately "we" choose the Nike Slingshot 4D irons (stiff, not fitted to me yet). I hated how they looked (huge sole, thick top edge) but figured oh well I can get used to them. He claimed there was no way they would hold me back even if I did regain my game quite fast. His thinking was that they are very forgiving but still versatile enough...so far I have a bad feeling that they are going to hold me back!
On the bright side, I don't think you can possibly hit a terrible shot with them. In two weeks at the range I can't remember a shot that didn't get airborne or go way off target but they certainly don't have the distance I used to get and I am hitting the ball a mile high. The guy next to me thought I was hitting a 9 iron almost 200 yards because I was hitting my 4 iron so ridiculously high (used to hit a 4 about 210-220).
The other problem is shaping shots is kinda tough. I can hit a nice little fade or a nice little draw but nothing extreme. Some of this may be lost skill but I know some is due to the irons. I can't really hit low shots too well with these irons. Low but so much lost distance.
So....what would you do? Do you think it's the clubs or could be my game is just nowhere were it used to be? I mean my swing and game isn't going to be what it used to be for a while but I can't help but think the clubs are also going to hold me back.
What do you think?
Thanks! Sorry that got sooooo long.
