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

[yeis20]

I would gladly play with a quality persimmon wood vs wal-mart specials any day... even clubs that are 10+ years old that were great in there day are better then todays wal-mart specials.

Different sport but same old attempt at comparisons on quality gear vs the old "a widget is a widget" argument.

baseball, softball, soccer, american football... on and on and on...

Give me old use name brand QUALITY equipment any day over the wall mart special brand new PoS.

Also, there is a reason that governing bodies of sports have to constantly maintain and update equipment specifications... it is to put LIMITS on allowable performance.

[mkrolewski]

I think it does not matter what clubs you use.

I believe that there is less difference than the various vendors would care to admit. Remember, their entire reason for marketing is to create perceived differences between their product and anyone else's. In addition, the marketers create perceived VALUE to their products.

All manufacturers are constrained by the same rules imposed by the USGA. Designs converge into the "best" design. The first variants are all very different, but after a while, all of the clubs look and feel the same. Club design becomes an engineering problem. The constraints then become the cost of materials and cost of manufacturing.

Ignoring cheap equipment, there are lots of vendors out there selling fitted $100 titanium drivers that play as well as the $400-500 drivers. The same can be said for irons, etc. A $30 7iron has the same characteristics of a $180 7iron.

There definitely is a placebo effect. You think you can, therefore you start doing it. Obviously you must have some skill to make this happen. But it is still there.

I personally observed when renting clubs and at demo days, clubs are not identical eg different weight distribution, different shape, materials, etc. But it does not change that fact that basically, clubs are all too similar.

Think about renting for a round. If clubs were that different, who would ever rent? A 7iron is a 7iron. I do not expect that a new set of clubs that everything is different. I anticipate that a 10* driver will behave like a 10* driver, that a 48* wedge will fly a specific way.

[Surefire]

Think about renting for a round. If clubs were that different, who would ever rent? A 7iron is a 7iron. I do not expect that a new set of clubs that everything is different. I anticipate that a 10* driver will behave like a 10* driver, that a 48* wedge will fly a specific way.

This is not true though, we know that UST, Aldila, Wal-mart or whoever else make club shafts that are regular, stiff etc, and it is common knowledge that one manufacturers stiff could be the same as anothers regular which is the same as anothers tour-X. If each different 10* driver has a different brand shaft, its very unlikely they will behave the same way.

In truth most golfers may not be consistent enough, that club inconsistencies cause problems. However if every round you play your rented club behaves differently, it will be impossible to become consistent.

[Marik]

I'm currently looking at getting some clubs, I've only just started playing really. Good thread :)

[EquipmentJunkie]

bet you like the gas mileage!

Actually I have one and the gas mileage is pretty crappy.......

[shredfit]

Actually I have one and the gas mileage is pretty crappy.......

I thought they got about 36 MPG highway.

[traviswise]

I think there may be a price point where the difference is negligible (sp). But to compare Wal Mart to say TaylorMade isn't acceptable. IMO, the Burner Driver vs. the Tour Burner isn't enough difference for me to pay.

[Alex1]

I've only just started playing really. Good thread :)

Yes, this has been a really good thread. Although there are different opinions, I don't think they're necessarily at odds with one another. I think a lot depends on how consistent your swing is, your level of sensitivity and feel, how seriously you play, etc.

[Guest]

I just joined the site and gave only been golfing regularly for about 2 months, but would like to add my .02.

I bought a "boxed" set of Nicholaus clubs from Costco for $250. At the time, I didn't want to spend a great deal on clubs because I wanted to make sure I was going to like golf to begin with. I played a couple times and between work and home duties, I quit. I recently picked it back up about 2 months ago. I am more serious about it now, playing usually twice a week. Yesterday I finally hit an 88 on my local Par 72 course and feel pretty good about it. I have in the last month upgraded my driver to an Adams XTD. I can hit the boxed set driver and the Adams just as straight, but there is a definite difference in feel and distance with the Adams. Now I not going to run out and buy a new set of irons just yet. I am short, 5'6''. My next purchase will be for $40 to have all my irons fitted. Then, when and if I can regularly hit in the mid 80's, I will then consider upgrading my irons. But for right now, I think it will be money well spent-later to develop my swing more and hit a more consistent swing with my irons. Even then, I personally think $700 is way to much to spend on a set of irons, so a good used set is probably what I will end up with, but not before I can hit my cheapo boxed set with more consistency.

[tjy355]

I would never discount the psychological factor equipment plays in my own game.

As for someone else, I don't really care what anyone else uses, but I tend to have far greater respect for the player that has game regardless of equipment, vs. the poser with a bag full of the latest "tour model" clubs that can't play.