Practice With Old or New Set?

[Kllrbee]

Hey guys,

So Im getting back into it after about 20 yrs.  I was a high handicapper then too.  

So long story short, my gf got me the Top Flite set.  Ive been swinging them in the backyard with practice balls.  Even as a beginner, I can tell they arent good.  But if Im going to beat on the clubs while I try to find my swing, Id rather do it with cheap clubs.

Now...my uncle sold me his used once set of Ping G400s 4-P black dot for next to nothing.  So I went out and got the G400 Driver, 3W, and 3Hy to match the set.  Also, according to Ping chart, I fall into black dot.

This might sound strange and Im pretty sure the responses Ill get.  But should I continue to practice with the TF set until I swing more consistent.  Or should I immediately move to the Ping set as these will be my playing clubs.  

Im just thinking that I dont want to beat on the good clubs unnecessarily.

Thanks

[No Mulligans]

I have an old Callaway Set, XR's mayber 5 years old, and a really old Callaway Set, razrs maybe 15 years old.

I practice with my really old set and play rounds with my newer set.  My swing doesn't change and seems to work just as well with either set.

These days I'm just practicing with foam balls into a net at home.  Foam balls don't give as much feedback as real balls.  If you hit towards the toe with a real ball you can really feel it (and see it in that it doesn't fly as well of go as far).  A foam ball into a net, it's hard (maybe impossible) to tell if hit or missed the sweet spot.  Also, off a matt, harder to tell if you hit it a little fat or not.  The best solution I've found for these shortcomings of home matt/foam ball practice is the Sklz Ball-First trainer.  I use that all the time for home practice. 

[Double Mocha Man]

23 minutes ago, No Mulligans said:

I have an old Callaway Set, XR's mayber 5 years old, and a really old Callaway Set, razrs maybe 15 years old.

I practice with my really old set and play rounds with my newer set.  My swing doesn't change and seems to work just as well with either set.

These days I'm just practicing with foam balls into a net at home.  Foam balls don't give as much feedback as real balls.  If you hit towards the toe with a real ball you can really feel it (and see it in that it doesn't fly as well of go as far).  A foam ball into a net, it's hard (maybe impossible) to tell if hit or missed the sweet spot.  Also, off a matt, harder to tell if you hit it a little fat or not.  The best solution I've found for these shortcomings of home matt/foam ball practice is the Sklz Ball-First trainer.  I use that all the time for home practice. 

Why don't you go to a range and hit limited-flight balls?

[FlyingAce]

I practice and play with the same clubs. If the old clubs were good enough to hit, I wouldn’t have bought the new set.

[No Mulligans]

7 minutes ago, Double Mocha Man said:

Why don't you go to a range and hit limited-flight balls?

Since you asked...I had leukemia, a bone marrow transplant, graft vs. host, I'm on immune suppression, and consequently immune compromised.  I'll play a round of golf, but don't go to the range.  A weekly round of golf, and semi-monthly visits to a Dr. (hematology-oncologist) are the only two things I do outside of my house and yard.

Edited July 17, 2020 by No Mulligans

[Double Mocha Man]

57 minutes ago, No Mulligans said:

Since you asked...I had leukemia, a bone marrow transplant, graft vs. host, I'm on immune suppression, and consequently immune compromised.  I'll play a round of golf, but don't go to the range.  A weekly round of golf, and semi-monthly visits to a Dr. (hematology-oncologist) are the only two things I do outside of my house and yard.

Thank you.  That makes total sense.  I understand why you stay away from densely populated areas.  I'm glad you can get out on the course.  

[Sandy Divot]

I'd get rid of the cheap set, and use the Pings.

[BeCu]

First I wish you well regarding your health. Nice of gf to get you the Top Flights. Yes the Pings are probably the way you want to go. I believe in practicing with same clubs I game. But nothing says you can't use both. Sure there are many that practice with certain clubs and play another... Good luck

[Vinsk]

9 hours ago, Kllrbee said:

Im just thinking that I dont want to beat on the good clubs unnecessarily.

They’re made for it. Use them all you want. Donate the TopFlites to charity and beat those Pings into submission.😁

[Zippo]

I practice with a different set of clubs than I use in my rounds. I hit balls into my net and out into the field almost year round and I do not clean the balls perfectly between practice sessions. Therefore my practice clubs - mostly the 7 iron - really show some wear. That's wear I'd rather not have on my good set. Both sets have the same lofts and graphite shafts of the same flex. At my handicap they're close enough in feel to not matter.

[No Mulligans]

Aside from my personal health issues, I think it is really beneficial to be able to practice at home in that it is so convenient. 

It takes me about 15 minutes to drive to the range (there are 4 driving ranges that are all about that distance from my house).  In addition the whole packing up the car, parking etc.

The backyard, my clubs, the net, balls and matt are all in place ready to go.  It takes about, well pretty much no time at all to get started.  Because it is so convenient, I practice every day (except the one day a week I play a round at Torrey Pines).

Knowing myself, I wouldn't drive to the range every day, twice a week at most.  So is it better to 1) practice every day to a net with foam balls and a Skylz ball-first trainer, or 2) practice twice a day at a range with real balls but also off of matts?

And practicing at home... I save money.

Just putting it out there for consideration. (But for me, because of my health condition, I'm not going to a range)

[bwdial]

Sometimes I practice with an old set of Ram blades just to force me to make crisp contact.  The heads are tiny - probably about 3/4ths the size of my Ping G30s - which means that I have to swing with a really smooth tempo.

[Patch]

Unless the club specs are the same, I would stay with the Pings. 

Pings are a quality club. They take normal abuse really well. 

I practice with two different sets, but the specs are the same for both sets. This allows me to use the same swing for both sets. 

[ShaftFarmer]

I would also like to know how many people use their new set when hitting off mats. It's really done a number on the bottom of my irons in the past

[Zippo]

10 minutes ago, ShaftFarmer said:

I would also like to know how many people use their new set when hitting off mats. It's really done a number on the bottom of my irons in the past

I quit using a mat for practice and am just sacrificing an area of my lawn. I found that I'd practice off the mat and frequently hit fat shots buts couldn't always tell they were fat. Also, the lie was always perfect. I'd think I was hitting it pretty well. Then, when I went to the course, the ugly truth came out. Now at least the course and my practice area are closer to the same. I can also practice now with the ball down in a divot or in some slightly taller grass (or at least I'll be able to when I can swing again, of course).

Edited July 19, 2020 by Zippo
Punctuation

[Kllrbee]

OP here.  Thnx for all the replies.  

The 2 sets dont have the same specs.  The TF has more loft throughout and 2 hybrids (22,25).  The Pings have a 4 and 5 iron and a 3hy (19).  So they are actually quite different.  Obviously, the Pings are a much, much better set.  (But dont tell my gf who bought me the TF set...LOL).  

Ill take the plunge and start practicing with the Pings.  Especially since Ive decided to take some lessons.  But ill keep the TF as a backup for friends or family who dont have clubs.

My take on the mats is that they hinder my progress.  Ill hit from the mat and even though my shots are fat, they are still good.  Then ill go over to the grass and every other shot is a mishit.  I got a mat cuz the grass is really patchy and uneven where I setup my net, but I dont think Ill use it again.  Id rather have more realistic practice.

Thnx again for the help.