What is my unhealthy fascination with new golf equipment? I am perplexed.

[jewestcoast]

This is probably going to come off more as a rant towards myself than anything but here goes:
I think that I need new stuff...and I am not sure why.
As we speak I am seriously considering getting a new set of irons for the upcoming year (695CB's) although the irons that I play are just fine. They are in good condition and I hit them well. Additionally I have found myself fantasizing about a new driver even though my driver has been my go to-money club all year.
This little mental journey is propelled by some unrealistic fantasy that I will become a better golfer just by getting new equipment which is utterly ridiculous. I conjure up these images of hitting my "new" irons crisply with a high cut, a shot I don't currently have. There will be a new level of confidence that can ONLY be gained by replacing clubs that have been good to me. What is that all about?
I have drawn the following conclusions:

1. I like new, shiny stuff.
2. I have an inkling to remember the crappy shots I hit with these clubs instead of the many good ones.
3. I am temporarily insane.

This is the first year I have had a handicap and have never had a lesson. After taking 20 years off from the game (due to awful personal choices) I joined a Men's Club at a local muni and have had a great time getting back to the game which I once loved.

This is the sad, sad truth:
If I am not willing to practice a little bit or even have our club pro look at my swing NEW CLUBS AREN'T GOING TO HELP me get down to a 2 which is my goal for the year.

I feel better for having said that....
Please excuse me while I check out the 695CB's on Ebay.
Yes, I am an idiot.

[Fat Slice]

You're going to tire of your new clubs, too, if you don't get at the underlying issue. Golf companies pour millions into advertising because...advertising works! Ads get into your psyche and make you feel you have a NEED to get new equipment. You yourself know that you hit your driver so well that it's your money club...yet you are inexplicably looking for a new one.

It's usually the people (like me) who don't play well and don't practice as much as they should who buy new equipment thinking that it's a substitute for practice and learning, not the guys playing to a 2 handicap.

Anyway...good luck. I actually like golf shirts and have tons of them so I understand the shopaholic nature of the sport.

[flopdarock]

i love new stuff... thank god i cant afford it or id have a billion sets all over my house

[obsessedgolfer]

You are not alone, I think the reason I update clubs so much is that after a couple of crapy shots with the club, when ever I look down on the club all I can remember are those shots.

[mako224]

Technically 695cb's are a discontinued model so I think you are OK. I think there is an exemtion for used clubs and recently discontinued clubs.

[RocketSauce]

i too have an unhealthy fascination with buying new golf equipment. i am never happy with what i have, and i always want something different or better. the photo below was taken a few months ago. it shows about 2 months worth of "club-ho'ing", and thats only half of the pile. the other half is downstairs in my office. i currently own about 12 sets of irons, countless wedges, hybrids, fairway woods and putters, and several different types of bags (staff, cart, stand). i usually end up selling what i dont want, and then i wish i would've kept what i sold even though i currently only use 2 or 3 of the 12 or so sets i own. im pretty sure this year alone ive purchased over 2 dozen sets of irons and ended up selling about half of them. i dont know what its going to take for me to just be happy with what i have. maybe we need to start a support group or something, hehe

[Doctorfro]

New equipment can make a difference but ultimately it comes down to the player making the shot. You gotta practice correctly and you gotta play. Unless your equipment is REALLY old, the equipment replacement is only going to make a marginal difference.

[PiKapp23]

My name is Dave...and I'm an golf equipment-holic...

Just today I drove from Cincinnati (where we have 2 Golf Galaxy stores) to Columbus, OH to go to a Golfsmith store (I ended up also going to a Golf Galaxy in Columbus as well). I didn't go for any reason other than just to look at stuff and hit clubs on the simulators. If I could afford it I'd probably by some new piece of equipment everytime I went to one of these stores (and since I visit Golf Galaxy at least once a week...)

Contrary to what people say, new clubs always perform better until you use up all the good shots in them - then they must be replaced. Every club only has so many good shots in them - I find my clubs usually have about 25 good shots before they need to be replaced.

[zeg]

New equipment can make a difference but ultimately it comes down to the player making the shot. You gotta practice correctly and you gotta play. Unless your equipment is REALLY old, the equipment replacement is only going to make a marginal difference.

Unless the new equipment keeps you excited to go out and practice/play!

Personally, I can't afford new clubs... so I've decided I'm going to have to either improve or break all my old ones before I'm allowed to think about a new set. I haven't yet set a specific handicap goal for this, but I'll know when I get there. And no, breaking the clubs on purpose doesn't count... I've had two irons go on me in the last couple months through ordinary play. Actually, if I have another one go, I may have to replace them for safety's sake.

[Aetsh]

I get this itch ALL THE TIME, but then I just clean my current clubs, and realize they are still nearly brand new

[smith5606]

How could I not weigh in on this topic.

I have been ranting about the negative effects that commercialism has had on our game for some time now. It is sad to see what we collectively have been willing to do to chase a better golf score - as long as it involves spending money instead of spending time and effort. As I have said in other threads, I want to get off the merry-go-round of technological solutions and get back to working on the intangibles: swing, technique, touch, and judgment.

With that said, I have to confess that I did make a new acquisition yesterday. My wife "bought" my Christmas present for me - a new Louisville Tiger Woods persimmon headed driver. What a hypocrite I am, I guess. I want to go back to the basics and I have found out that I have to buy them to go back to them. That means that this year I replaced by perfectly good Ping Eye+ blades with Titleist ZM (back to forged blades) and am now beginning to replace my "woods" with woods.

The good news is I have decided to quit spending money on technology. Now I am spending money on anti-technology. It's a sickness I know. If I can just get a "new" Louisville 3 wood maybe I'll be cured. Right after I try out the Cleveland 42* Niblick. And I really need a better carry bag. And I hear that ProV1's are on sale.

Going retro is going to bankrupt me. Maybe I ought to take up birdwatching.

[rangerat]

I sense the start of a 12 step self-help recovery group starting here!!!

I too have to admit to this addiction. Clubs, balls, bags, divot repair tools, trips to Golf Galaxy, etc. etc. etc. BUT I LOVE IT!!!

[smith5606]

You think you have problems. TGW's corporate store is right down the street. They have stuff even I haven't thought about. I think I'm going to take up rodeo.

[zeg]

Going retro is going to bankrupt me. Maybe I ought to take up birdwatching.

I don't know if birdwatching is any better. Unless you've already got an array of high powered binoculars/scopes for different light/distance conditions, camo for every terrain and season, portable chairs, camping gear, .....

I think the gear fetish reflects more on the person than the hobby. That's why I'm resisting getting into it in golf... I know I've always been obsessed with equipment in everything else I've done.

[mako224]

Updating your drivers will definately help your game. As for Irons I don't think there is much really new out there. My father-in-law has a set of Sam Sneads from about 1970 and its amazing how much they look like modern irons. The shafts are just a little shorter. With Irons just get fitted to a set and then stick with them.

[smith5606]

Updating your drivers will definately help your game. As for Irons I don't think there is much really new out there. My father-in-law has a set of Sam Sneads from about 1970 and its amazing how much they look like modern irons. The shafts are just a little shorter. With Irons just get fitted to a set and then stick with them.

Since when did logic have anything to do with being a "gear"aholic?

[RocketSauce]

as stated above, this is one of the results of my unhealthy fascination with new golf equipment. and this is only HALF of the pile. the other half is in another room. and this is only about 2 months worth of "unhappiness", lol.



(thanks Erik for explaining how to post my photos)

[Titleist Man]

as stated above, this is one of the results of my unhealthy fascination with new golf equipment. and this is only HALF of the pile. the other half is in another room. and this is only about 2 months worth of "unhappiness", lol.

Holy macrel!!! How did you get all that in 2 months?