Used Top Line Clubs vs Cheap Box Set, Point of Negative Return

[clhacker]

I've seen this discussed over and over, and the consensus seems to be unless you are a total beginner go with used clubs over a box set, but...

What if someone was returning to golf and had a very limited budget. Of course they want clubs in good shape so they go searching for used clubs.

how old of Titliest, Taylormade, PIng, Mizuno, Callaway and the like, assuming they are in good shape can you go and still be a better value than say a box of Top Flites, cheaper Willsons, and the like?

[ChetlovesMer]

3 minutes ago, clhacker said:

I've seen this discussed over and over, and the consensus seems to be unless you are a total beginner go with used clubs over a box set, but...

What if someone was returning to golf and had a very limited budget. Of course they want clubs in good shape so they go searching for used clubs.

how old of Titliest, Taylormade, PIng, Mizuno, Callaway and the like, assuming they are in good shape can you go and still be a better value than say a box of Top Flites, cheaper Willsons, and the like?

This discussion is a good one. 

There are a lot of very descent boxed sets out there. I have no problem with boxed sets. They can be a great way to get nice looking descent clubs. But that doesn't answer your question. 

How old of Titliest, Taylormade, Ping, Mizuno, Callaway and the like can you buy and still have them perform well? 

For irons, I would say there are a lot of clubs which could be as much as 40 years old that could still perform fine. Ping Eye-2's are the best example. I have at least 2 golf buddies who still play these as there regular gamers. The Play it Again Sports near my house has 3 sets of Ping Eye-2's in stock right now, each set will set you back about 120 bucks. They are totally fine. The lofts are less aggressive, but if you don't care that you are hitting a 7-iron when your buddies are hitting an 8 or maybe 9-iron, who cares? 

Old Nike irons are still coveted by many golf enthusiasts. Old Adams Golf are also coveted. 

Putters, again. You could literally fine putters up to 40 years old that will still perform. 

Drivers and fairway woods. I'd stick to the last 10 years. Another Ping example, the Ping G series of drivers will hang with anything made today. (Personally, I believe the Ping G is the best driver Ping ever made... aside from the loud clang it makes during contact. But the performance is as good or better than the newest G425... just one man's opinion.) 

Wedges. - Wedges can be tough. I like my wedges kind of newer. Having said that, wedges don't hold their value for shit. So, you can get a gently used wedge for very little cash. 

There's a youtube channel called Stacked Golf where a young couple does nothing but drive around buying older golf clubs from pawn shops, garage sales, resale shops, Goodwills, etc. They find some pretty descent older clubs for very good prices. 

I like your question. Good luck with your quest. Welcome back to golf.

[clhacker]

The New to me Mizuno MX-25s arrived so after inspecting them I compared the Mizuno 7 iron with the top flite 7 iron. The Mizuno is lighter and all around sleeker looking. I can't wait to hit a few balls with them. Even the grooves of the old club felt sharper.

Here are some  comparison pictures:

 

[ChetlovesMer]

6 hours ago, clhacker said:

The New to me Mizuno MX-25s arrived so after inspecting them I compared the Mizuno 7 iron with the top flite 7 iron. The Mizuno is lighter and all around sleeker looking. I can't wait to hit a few balls with them. Even the grooves of the old club felt sharper.

Here are some  comparison pictures:

 

They look great.

I'll bet you like them. Seems like a good choice to me.

[mohearn]

14 hours ago, clhacker said:

The New to me Mizuno MX-25s arrived

Nice clubs @clhacker, ya done good! When can you try them out?

 

[Denny Bang Bang]

On 3/2/2022 at 6:50 AM, ChetlovesMer said:

Old Adams Golf are also coveted. 

The used Adams route is always on the list when beginners ask what a good used set would be.  Those A7 iron/hybrid sets were a great, pretty much the perfect beginner set up in my opinion.

There are a lot of good deals to be had on used quality equipment (if you know what to look for).

[Vinsk]

20 hours ago, Denny Bang Bang said:

The used Adams route is always on the list when beginners ask what a good used set would be.  Those A7 iron/hybrid sets were a great, pretty much the perfect beginner set up in my opinion.

There are a lot of good deals to be had on used quality equipment (if you know what to look for).

Never a fan. It’s like showing up to a pick up game of softball with one of those big pink plastic bats. They’re hideous.

[Denny Bang Bang]

10 minutes ago, Vinsk said:

Never a fan. It’s like showing up to a pick up game of softball with one of those big pink plastic bats. They’re hideous.

That’s quite the stretch 

[WillieT]

On 3/2/2022 at 8:50 AM, ChetlovesMer said:

This discussion is a good one. 

There are a lot of very descent boxed sets out there. I have no problem with boxed sets. They can be a great way to get nice looking descent clubs. But that doesn't answer your question. 

How old of Titliest, Taylormade, Ping, Mizuno, Callaway and the like can you buy and still have them perform well? 

For irons, I would say there are a lot of clubs which could be as much as 40 years old that could still perform fine. Ping Eye-2's are the best example. I have at least 2 golf buddies who still play these as there regular gamers. The Play it Again Sports near my house has 3 sets of Ping Eye-2's in stock right now, each set will set you back about 120 bucks. They are totally fine. The lofts are less aggressive, but if you don't care that you are hitting a 7-iron when your buddies are hitting an 8 or maybe 9-iron, who cares? 

Old Nike irons are still coveted by many golf enthusiasts. Old Adams Golf are also coveted. 

Putters, again. You could literally fine putters up to 40 years old that will still perform. 

Drivers and fairway woods. I'd stick to the last 10 years. Another Ping example, the Ping G series of drivers will hang with anything made today. (Personally, I believe the Ping G is the best driver Ping ever made... aside from the loud clang it makes during contact. But the performance is as good or better than the newest G425... just one man's opinion.) 

Wedges. - Wedges can be tough. I like my wedges kind of newer. Having said that, wedges don't hold their value for shit. So, you can get a gently used wedge for very little cash. 

There's a youtube channel called Stacked Golf where a young couple does nothing but drive around buying older golf clubs from pawn shops, garage sales, resale shops, Goodwills, etc. They find some pretty descent older clubs for very good prices. 

I like your question. Good luck with your quest. Welcome back to golf.

2nd your thoughts here.  My first decent set were Tommy Armour 845s Silver Scots from the late 80’s. Bought 3i thru SW for $50.  Still have them and game at least several times a season.  
Love the Stacked Golf crew - they find some really good deals and provide insight on what to look for.  It also depends on the local market(s).  Around here, it’s not that rich a market, then again I am not really looking.  
 

[iacas]

1 hour ago, Denny Bang Bang said:

That’s quite the stretch 

What part is a stretch?

They're pretty bad.

[Denny Bang Bang]

7 hours ago, iacas said:

What part is a stretch?

They're pretty bad.

“plastic bat”… definitely a stretch