New Member with very old irons

[Pauly1]

Hey guys, I just joined the site because I need some advice with a new purchase. This a great site by the way and I'll definitely be spending a lot of time on it.

Anyway, I'm playing Taylormade Firesole irons, stiff shaft from 2001. I live in NYC and haven't had a chance to play nearly as much golf as I would like. However I think that will change this year. I shoot in the low 90s, but as someone pointed out in another post, (which was very good advice) I shouldn't let my score dictate my ball striking. I have a horrible short game and I lose a ton of strokes there. I hit my irons pretty well though and I’m pretty long and straight off the tee.

I was wondering how you would classify the irons I'm playing now (Game improvement or middle of the road), and do you think I'm justified in upgrading? If so, any recommendations on which irons would be a good fit?

Thanks for your help.

[Power_fade]

I'd say just to get normal game improvement irons. You probably wouldn't need any of the SGI stuff or players' irons either one. The most important thing is to get fitted. If you want a technology upgrade, the techiest game improvement iron out there is the Taylormade Burner. It is insanely long. It's $700 for a new set, I think.

[clearwaterms]

maltby uses the MPF system and rates the firesole clubs as a SGI club with a rating of 794.
http://www.golfworks.com/article.asp...cd2=1236885895

why are you looking for new clubs? What about your current clubs do you not like? If you have trouble with your short game, maybe look at upgrading your wedges. If you really want to get better, a better investment might be a few lessons and or a proper fitting.

[rasta0508]

Golf is all about having fun. What fun is it if you dont enjoy playing with the clubs you have. My advice would be to go try out a whole bunch of different sets and have fun with it. let the people who work there make suggestions because it's all about what type of swing you have. And whether or not you want to spend the money is up to you. And if you have to think twice or question the thought of upgrading, then maybe there is something in the back of your mind that is telling you not to. But from my own experience, there is nothing like buying a new set of clubs and being able to play well with them and have fun! Good Luck!!

[tjy355]

2001 = not VERY old.

[flap]

Pauly;If you can afford it and it will make you feel better about playing than go to a reputable place and gat fit for a new set of Irons.Life is too short and my motto is "he who dies with the most toys wins" HAVE FUN come join us at Bethpage and play a few rounds you will not find a better complex in all of America.

[Prairie Golfer]

2001 = not VERY old.

I'm trying to replace my irons, MacGregor MTs from the late 1980s.

[Doctorfro]

2001 = not VERY old.

Dude, I just sold my irons I had been playing since 1994. Yours old? Not really. But the newer tech would probably make a difference.

[bruno]

Go to the store, hit some of the new irons, and get some advice. I just bought the Callaway X22 tour's last week after about 3 years of trying different irons and not finding a set I liked enough to replace my Titleist DCI 981's. You have to like em and know you are going to feel comfortable with them on those days when your swing isn't as good as usual.

[Pauly1]

Thanks for all the feeback guys. I guess I should have been clearer in my statement. Don't get me wrong, I don't hate these irons, and based on the comments I guess they're really not that old. I guess I just figured that technology changes so rapidly, and I might be missing out on something by using 8 year old equipment. Just curious, has anyone every played these irons?

[wannabe]

As I committed to improving my game this year, I was considering a new set of clubs as a big part of what I needed to do to improve my game. I'm playing a used set of Titleist DTR's that I bought at Play It Again Sports over 10 years ago, unfitted.

For now I've chosen to spend my money on lessons, range balls, and the occasional round of golf. I've never had more fun at this game than I am now. When after just a couple of weeks at lessons I was striping range balls with my banged up 7-iron 150+ yards with a beautiful draw, I fell in love with my wonderful old golf clubs! It's probably gonna be hard for me to replace them now, because we're going through so much together.

I take pride in using these older clubs and hitting a good golf shot with them. I also like to think about how the great golfers of the past used much less sophisticated equipment, and they could kick my butt all over the course today, even with all my steel & graphite. Given our stated handicaps are similar, maybe this is something for you to consider.

Technology can help for sure, and can make a good game better, but the way to get good at this game, as long as you've got adequate equipment, is lessons, learning, & the 3 p's.

Oh yeah, but I did buy a couple of new shirts the other day -- those light breathable shiny polyester jobs -- now THAT was a great investment. I feel like I'm not wearing anything at all when I wear one of those suckers. I didn't realize how much my other cotton shirts were so binding!

[clearwaterms]

As I committed to improving my game this year, I was considering a new set of clubs as a big part of what I needed to do to improve my game. I'm playing a used set of Titleist DTR's that I bought at Play It Again Sports over 10 years ago, unfitted.

i agree with this. I have taken 2 lessons this winter, and plan to continue at a rate of one a month (what my budget allows) I found a instructor on craigslist and like working with him. His rates are very resonable, and I feel like I will improve more by spending $75 a month with him, then I will spending $500 on new clubs.

That being said, i did purchase the parts to put together a new set of irons over the winter. But I did that before I took a lesson. had I known what I know now about the game, I feel that I would have been better suited to spend that money on more lessons.

[rasta0508]

It's more fun to buy new clubs, I am trying to upgrade from Ben Hogan BH-5's to Mizuno MP 32's and my hogans are barely 3 years old. New clubs are real fun! Have fun with it whatever you do.