help with some equipmant choices

[HighSchool Golf Freak]

Hello everybody,

I'm kind of stuck at a cross road right now because I'm at that unique point in my game when almost all of my equipment needs to be replaced or updated at the same time.

the first is that my driver, an original sumo 4950 driver is regular shaft flex. Last summer the head pro helped me get my weight shift alot better and because of this increase in power I know snap hook my drives unless I push the club like no other. With the prices of some of the new shafts that are coming out do you think I should get a new shaft or a new driver all together?

second is that I also need new irons. I have ignites which I got the summer before freshman year ( I'm a sophomore now). these are now almost obsolete as I can play blades (ball striking is amazing, but due to my size distance is not). I have tried a couple irons at the local shop including the mizuno mp 52's, the nike vr split cavity's. I personally liked the mizunos more because they did whatever I wanted, but the ballooned slightly, and the pro said that I should try the mp 62 to get rid of the balloon. But the nikes seemed to be more forgiving. just curious as to what a bunch of random strangers can suggest for me.

[ks8829]

My 14 year old son is 5'6" 120 pounds and plays my Mizuno mp33 from PW - 6 irons standard length, regular flex DG with no problems.

He also hit my r7 425 cc 65gram Fujikura Shaft TM driver, but I have seen other kids hit the TM Tour Burner and they hit it long ways.

Good luck and enjoy your high school golf team!

[birdiemachine]

if you love the driver head, keep it, get a shaft, a shaft will always be more important, i play a really old head, with a (slightly) newer shaft.

Im updating my shaft soon as well.

As far as the irons go, go with your gut. Some pro's play the ignites, some play blades, some play combo sets. Do what you want, just dont think bc your handicap is down you cant hit cavity backs, bc lets be realistic, EVERYONE could use some forgiveness on the course.

Closing thought. You could play with old 1932 irons and the only thing that really should matter is how you roll the rock. Putting will always be the most important part of your game.

[walfice]

If you had a problem with ballooning the mizuno irons try them with the DG high launch shaft (if it's available with them), this will take some of that excess spin out (I got these instead of the standard DG's). I would recommend the split cavities though, they have a very smooth and solid feel (and have the option of the high launch shaft).

[elchene]

Both irons are great clubs. If you don't need forgiveness, then don't worry about it as you say you are a very good ball-striker. If you like the 52s, and they are ballooning a bit, you can always get a different shaft b/c it's usually the shaft characteristics that cause ballooning.

[chriskzoo]

It seems since you are concerned about having to replace your entire set, the issue might be cost (if not, just get whatever the hell your parents will pay for!). But if it's a cost issue, don't discount looking for some used irons. You can probably get a set comparable to whatever you're looking for new, for around $200 - obviously a model from a few years ago. Especially if you're looking for blades, it's not going to be that big of a difference (if at all) in performance.

[AbsoluteZero]

Putting will always be the most important part of your game.

Which is why I don't play to a single digit HCP...

Getting a new shaft is an option, but it seems like most of the time you can get last years model club at about the same cost as a really good shaft. I'd get a bunch of last years model drivers and hit the launch/spin/distance monitor and trade in your current driver against the one that works the best. i'd get the mp-52s, but mostly because I really like them, not because they are better or worse than anything else out there. I just think they mix forgiveness and playability into a great looking iron pretty well.

[HighSchool Golf Freak]

thanks everyone for all the advice, and to answer some of you guys questions/ respond to some statements, I like my driver head, but my friend who has the same club but with a stiff shaft has none of of the same feel that comes with mine. I know that there are alot of shafts out there but I'm afraid to spend the money and then find that it sucks. Also I looked online and saw that the tour burner tp's go for around 250 and sometimes lower with matrix shafts. I'm especially interested in these drivers because a matrix shaft costs about the same by itself. Anybody have one, and if you do how does it feel?

(P.S. my parents have a type of rule that because its a highschool sport, they will financially support me partially, but im also getting a job because with todays club prices I need all the money I can get)

[Laxplayer201092]

Do you like the matrix;s for a reason? or because of the price tag? alot of time atleast out here, i see alot of kids bags that are waaaaay nice, ( Diamanas, PX, Matrix's, Scottys, the newest irons and drivers) and they cant play for shit. So unless you can pick up the matrix and say why you like it more, or unless it really fits you better, dont buy one. Its a waste.

What you really need is a club fitting. And not from that guy..if to lower the ball flight all he says is to switch to the 62's, he is not gonna be a good fitter.

And to who ever said that by getting a high launch shaft will stop the ballooning, i dont really understand that.. it would seem to me that you really need a fitting, as none of our advice will help until you can say, "these are the options the club fitter gave me"

If you fight the left, dont get a TBTP. its gonna go left if you overcook a draw just a little bit. If your really set on a matrix, shoot me a PM, i know a decent amount about them.

[TMO]

There are a few drivers that just came out recently that even with their stock shafts they aren't bad. I tried the new Nike driver recently and liked it but just couldn't feel comfortable setting up to it. The Cobra S9-1 F was pretty nice also. Personally, I love the Titleist but that is a little bit more expensive and i was not a big fan of the stock shafts.

As far as irons go, I love Mizunos and I have only recently been considering switching because I like the Titleist AP2s. I don't think you could go wrong with either but that's just me.