If you hit well, does it matter what clubs you use?

[HiMyNameIsMichelle]

It appears to me posts to this thread in the near future could get ugly. So basically, if you can't tell the difference then use your cheap clubs. Simple as that.

[Doctorfro]

Two years ago I finally traded in the driver and fairway woods (Callaway) I had been using for SIXTEEN years. I realize that's far longer than most people around here use clubs but they were still in workable condition. I'm still using the same set of irons (Ping)that I bought FOURTEEN years ago. Durability, quality, consistency...not sure you can get that with department store clubs.

[shredfit]

From what I gather:

You obviously failed to read my first post...Please scroll back and redo your list.

[Alex1]

Ever heard of the term "placebo" before? I think it plays a greater part than we think.

Doesn't the placebic effect only work when the subject is unaware of it? If you or I were to buy a $1000 set expecting our performance to improve due to this effect, I don't think it would work.

[verse214]

Doesn't the placebic effect only work when the subject is unaware of it? If you or I were to buy a $1000 set expecting our performance to improve due to this effect, I don't think it would work.

uhh.. you're thinking of the placebo effect in terms of medicine when the subject does not know that the medicine they are taking contain no active ingredients.

An example of the placebo effect in golf would be if the subject did know that the clubs they were buying were expensive/higher quality, thereby inducing confidence and causing them to play better for no "substantial" reason. (I disagree that more expensive clubs make no difference as I can be somewhat of an equipment junkie). No offense, but if you can afford them, buy em and if you can't, don't. if you think the cheap is just as good as the expensive, then get the cheap.

[HiMyNameIsMichelle]

You obviously failed to read my first post...Please scroll back and redo your list.

Haha, my thought exactly. It seems like Alex didn't even read some of the things people have been saying. But like I said, Alex if you don't want the expensive clubs, or don't understand why those of us who went for it did it, then that's fine. You can use your Walmart clubs, it really doesn't bother me

[EquipmentJunkie]

Honestly I got into the equipment side of the game because I was so bad initially. I had t earn my keep around my low handicap buddies, I did that by reading an insane amount and was able to help them pick out equipment and recommend drills, ect. to them to help their game out. Besides that walmart and Big5 clubs do not come custom fitted as far as I can tell. You don't need to be a low handicapper to benefit from a proper fitting as far as shaft flex, shaft length, lie and loft goes.... (I can say with certainty if I had not been fitted for my shafts I would be much mess consistent than I am now)....And really sometimes it is about vanity, and I am okay with that. The looks, feel and materials of equipment do play a large role in whether I buy them. If I am not comfortable with the equipment I have, I'm just not going to play well. As mom said, "If your going to be bad at something, at least look good while you do it." The underlying question is if the equipment we purchase is worth it, the answer to that is yes. It is worth the amount we pay for it, and we chose to pay for it. This is a personal question, and only you can answer it for yourself.

[MattljDuke]

If this is the case, then most people are using equipment that's far better than their ability. These people would do just as well with cheap clubs.

I can't disagree with this point. Beginners won't play any better if they have the newest and greatest clubs. When you don't know what you're doing (many have called this the first stage of learning: "unconsciously incompetent") changing equipment won't help you. This is why I recommend beginners buy the cheapest clubs available. And don't play on a course until you can hit the ball with generally repeatable results.

For the experienced golfer, equipment becomes much more important. This is mainly due to quality. The high handicapper doesn't swing the same way every time, so the club doesn't have to react the same every time, because they can't tell a difference. The low handicapper swings the same way every time, so equipment that reacts differently with every shot is unacceptable. Just my 2c.

[shredfit]

Haha, my thought exactly. It seems like Alex didn't even read some of the things people have been saying. But like I said, Alex if you don't want the expensive clubs, or don't understand why those of us who went for it did it, then that's fine. You can use your Walmart clubs, it really doesn't bother me

Yeah, I know... Maybe I should help him.

For Alex1: Name brand vs Wal-Mart clubs Custom fit? Name brand(mostly yes) Wal-Mart (No) Quality Control? Name brand(great) Wal-Mart (not so great) Shaft Quality? Name brand(great) Wal-Mart (not so great) Customer Service? Name brand(great) Wal-Mart(not so great... if any?) Resale Value? Name brand(good to great) Wal-Mart(not so great... if any?) Any further questions Alex1?

[TheWarHound]

I have a couple of friends who swear that cheap clubs, expensive clubs, they are all tools in the tool box.

Me, I just upgraged from the box set to Pings. I can't tell the difference yet, but they feel good, and they seem to be better than the old el crappo clubs. If it is a placebo effect, it is helping, and I won't complain about the price.

I always figure, good tools = good job.

Steve

[Jayel]

there is a big factor in clubs for me. recently i have been leaving my clubs in school, and have to play with my old ones (touredge bazookas). not that they are horrible clubs, but there is a huge difference for me. firstly i don't really like a graphite iron, secondly i have such shorter distance on my older clubs. so yes, i do care which clubs i use. the more advanced of a club, the better; it isn't a myth to me. i think it is a fact for sure

[Alex1]

Beginners won't play any better if they have the newest and greatest clubs...This is why I recommend beginners buy the cheapest clubs available.

This is an informative thread. While all agree on the necessity of expensive equipment for good golfers, it's interesting to see the variety of opinions for beginners.

Lots of good input here from all.

[halcon]

Alex, I am also relatively new to this game, and I disagree with you: I can really notice a BIG difference when I play my clubs from the ones that I can borrow from the tee range (old blades, mostly). The feel, distance, weight, balance, forgiveness... there are a lot of variables that make a difference.
I am sure that you are good at something that requires a tool (any other sport, or maybe your job), and I am sure that you can tell the difference in quality of two different tools; the same logic applies to golf's tools.

[Alex1]

Halcon, my question was: if you hit the ball dead on , is there any difference?

I was playing with a variety of clubs at the local range and noticed that when I made a clean, center of mass hit, they all felt great. I don't think it was possible to tell the difference between the $800 set of irons I was using and the $100 set.

I suspect the design of the club is the most important factor for beginners, eg, a cheap cavity back is better than an expensive blade. Furthermore, with two clubs of the same design, eg, two graphite cavity backs, I still wonder how much real, measurable benefit an expensive clubs provided over a cheap one.

[shredfit]

Halcon, my question was:

The simple answer is yes there is a difference. Let me repost why:

A cheap box set with cheap shafts could have(I've seen this) different shaft kick points throughout the set(ie they are not consistent due to cutting costs). So, a well struck 5 iron can/could have the same trajectory and distance as a well struck 7 iron in the same cheap set. Furthermore, a well struck 8 iron can/could have the same trajectory and distance as a well struck Pitching Wedge in the cheap set. Again, to a better player this is totally unacceptable A properly fit set of quality clubs(like the $800 ones) will not be like this... Example: A well struck quality 5 iron will come out lower and travel 30-40 yards farther then a well struck quality 7 iron... ect ect. This is required by a better player... and certainly could be useful to one that is learning. Your basically saying there is NO difference between a Ford Focus(cheap clubs) and Mercedes-Benz 3-series(quality clubs). I disagree.

[Alex1]

Shredfit: I can see why that would be a problem for advanced players who need consistency. Resolved: better players need quality equipment for consistency, durability and such.

For beginners, a 5-iron and 7-iron aren't much different because of their inconsistent swinging habits. So for beginners, I don't see the need for expensive clubs. But for advanced players, perhaps such as yourself, they are justified.

[shredfit]

Shredfit: I can see why that would be a problem for advanced players who need consistency. Resolved: better players need quality equipment for consistency, durability and such.

I'm not buying it. Golf is hard enough with plenty of different variables per given shot(wind, lie, slope angle, distance, ect ect). Why would anyone, even a beginner, want to add another variable? (ie Inferior equipment)

It's counter productive and makes little sense!

[jamesgoodchild]

But isn't one of the objectives for beginning players the ability to map out their distances with clubs? I agree they are all over the map with swing, but at least if the clubs hit consistently spaced distances, then that is one less variable for them to worry about. I remember when I started, the instructor I had helped me map out distances for each club and even today, I know which club to use if I know the yardage to my objective. If I blow the shot because of physical limitations in my abilities, then club selection was a moot issue, but at least I don't blow the shot because I picked the wrong lofted club.