When do you give up on your club?

[julie_m]

Question:

Accuracy is there, distance is not what I'd like. (In fact, it's really pretty sad.) I bought my original set for something like $250 (since I didn't know if I'd like golf)...I've improved on every club except driver and three wood. Those have plateaued.

I'm starting to wonder if I could use a heavier head and maybe a shorter shaft. That's questionable, since I'm 5'7" which is tallish for a lady. (And if I tell you I have long legs, that's purely for information's sake.) Speed is in the 80s. I just feel like it's long.

The question...when do you give up on your club for a new one? Josh says it's too soon and it has way more to do with technique than club, but then I overheard him saying he's going to go get fitted. So when is enough enough? I'm worried I'll hit one freak good shot at a store and be suckered out of my money.

[Harry Longshanks]

Question:

Josh is right. The driver and the 3-wood are the longest clubs in your bag and, therefore, generally the hardest to hit. But so are you. If he's getting fitted, you might as well get fitted too, right? (It can't hurt.)

[Grogger31]

I usually give up on a club when it finds itself at the bottom of a pond, creek, or other body of water.

:o)

[Smallville]

First, I am NOT even going to read between the lines on this post Julie!

Second, Harry's right. Get fitted. Can't hurt. Maybe I should take that advice myself! I think I will over the winter. My wife too. I just hope the guy doesn't tell her she needs longer shafts. (Umm, because it's cheaper to cut them down and make them shorter than to buy longer ones!)

Third, Grogger, you're a mess! LOL

[julie_m]

First, I am NOT even going to read between the lines on this post Julie!

That's not a dig, is it? I can't tell. ...I never write in between the lines, it's just white space there.

[Harry Longshanks]

That's not a dig, is it? I can't tell. ...

[M2R]

Question:

Using charts that try to equate swing speed with carry distance suggests a mid 80 mph swing should net 190-200 yards carry on the driver and a 4-5 iron for 150 yard carry. If you are anywhere near those numbers I would think you are doing quite well, if not, something might need attention. I couldn't begin to guess what but as Harry said "you might as well get fitted ... (it can't hurt)".

I give up on a club when I no longer connect with it. When making shots with it no longer produces joy, satisfaction, or excitement. Even frustration is fine but when it leaves me feeling flat I look for something else.

[ks8829]

I don't give up on club but I usually find something better to play with. If you are a 8 handicap golfer and played with your club for more than 5 years you might be ready for a new set of clubs.

Why not try different clubs out there bring along your set of clubs to compare and see if it makes sense to switch to bring you game to the next level.

[rebby]

I don't give up on club but I usually find something better to play with. If you are a 8 handicap golfer and played with your club for more than 5 years you might be ready for a new set of clubs.

I've always been a big believer in "fix your swing, not your clubs" but you can reach a point where your clubs are working against fixing your swing. I'm not a club *****, I generally keep a set of clubs for 5 to 10 years before even considering a new sticks (I just replaced my 9 year old driver, my irons are 9 years old, my 60' and putter are even older). Your body type and swing will change some over this time period and getting fitted for new clubs will almost always yield a pretty big benefit.

It sounds like you have reached this point with your current set of clubs, especially if you have a pretty consistent swing already. As ks8829 said, bring your old clubs with you and hit them side by side with new ones. You'll get some pretty quick feedback this way and understand the benefits/fallbacks of the new clubs right away. Heck, you may even realize that new clubs are not the answer at this point. Chances are that you'll find something that will fit you better and that will work with you on any swing changes that you may need. It's worth giving it a try anyway...

[julie_m]

I generally keep a set of clubs for 5 to 10 years before even considering a new sticks

That's the weird thing, is I played with men's clubs for years before anyone even told me there was such thing as ladies' clubs. When I got serious, I got a set, and I thought they were the greatest invention since refrigeration. Maybe I'm just annoyed since I improved so drastically and am no longer on that curve. I should get a swing video up.

BTW, love the Avatar. I'm born and raised Minnesotan. South of the river suburbs.