Help identifying clubs

[Waterland]

Hi, I'm relatively new to golf, and I have been dying to play ever since spring rolled around. The problem is, I didn't have a set of clubs to play with. I just picked up a set of irons along with a driver and a chipper at a pawn shop for $40, just something to use for now until I get a decent set of clubs. I'm wondering if anyone can help me identify the brand of the clubs so I know if I got a good deal or if I got ripped off. The irons are a set of 4, 5, 6, 8, 9, PW and are marked "Silver Diamond Edition." They are cavity back with graphite shafts, the shafts are marked "flex plus graphite High Tensile Strength, low torque (3 degrees)." One shaft is marked "Aldila VX 100% Graphite." The driver is marked "Accusteel Dynacraft, 12 degree loft." The chipper is marked "Scottsdale Chip-It" and on the other side "Custom Made for Devoe Paint." Any info you have on these clubs would be great so I can decide whether to keep them or trade up for a better set. Thanks!

[Iowa Hawkeye]

For $40 you cant go wrong with anything really. Use those until you improve a little or decide you are going to play regularly. Once you get a feel for your game, we could recommend some things for you to check out based on how you play.

[Waterland]

Thanks for the advice. I haven't had a chance to try them out yet, but hopefully I'll get out and play sometime soon. I still need a putter to complete the set, and a bag to carry them all in, but I'm sure I can find cheap ones somewhere. Do I need fairway woods as well, or will the irons work for fairway shots?

[Iowa Hawkeye]

Yeah, irons will do you fine. Fairway woods are called such because they are generally used in the fairway for long shots, rather than being used to tee off with.

[umpiremark]

I could be wrong on this ... Silver Diamond is a clone components manufacturing company. If you google them now Silver Diamond makes the PX-1 set of irons (and woods I believe) that are clones of the Ping G10 clubs. Could be you have a clone club from some other year. Any other markings on the irons?

Dynacraft was an independant club components manufacturer that got bought out by Hiereko about two years ago. Hiereko still makes the Dynacraft line of clubs. Best I can find is that the Accusteel brand was a ladies brand (how old I don't know) which explains the 12* loft. The Aldila VX shafts are still available, so I'm guessing that those heads have been recently re-shafted or are slightly newer. The VX shaft is a value shaft, meaning that it's moderatly priced and not the specific quality that their $40-90 shafts are. But there's nothing wrong with them.

For starting out, like somebody already said, 40-bucks is okay. As your swing and tempo and mechanics get better, then perhaps look for a better set. Maybe in pieces; a better driver first, a good set of irons, etc.

Just my opinions ... not sure if all my "facts" are correct, but hope this helps a little!!
Good luck!!

[Waterland]

Thanks for the info. I was looking at the driver a little more closely and I noticed an L on the shaft (which is not graphite like the others, but rather True Temper steel) which I took to mean "ladies." That and the fact that the driver seems a little short plus your info confirmed for me that it is indeed a ladies club. So now I'm looking at better drivers or perhaps even trading in the whole set to see what I can get for it. Who knows, maybe the ladies driver will be the best driver I've ever used. I also have another unknown model driver at a remote location that I might try out again; I also have a couple putters in there.

[TheWarHound]

Cavity back graphites for $40 bucks isn't a bad deal at all, at all . . . try them. You might like them. And if you do like them, you can upgrade to the real deals later.

[Waterland]

The set is also missing the 3 and 7 irons, will I be hurting without these clubs? I've heard that the 3 and 4 irons can be replaced by hybrids, but is the 7 iron a particularly useful club that I'm going to wish I had?

[umpiremark]

The set is also missing the 3 and 7 irons, will I be hurting without these clubs? I've heard that the 3 and 4 irons can be replaced by hybrids, but is the 7 iron a particularly useful club that I'm going to wish I had?

If you're new to the game, the 3- and 4-irons are gonna be your biggest bug-a-boo. They are hard clubs to learn to hit. Why? I don't know, but they just are. I've long switched to 3- & 4-hybrids and personally, I like them and I hit them well. You won't miss a 3-iron that much. Technically, I (you?) don't need it that much, maybe a lay-up on a par 5.

The 7-iron you'll miss. I'd say find one somewhere that matches the set you have now, as close as possible. (For me) my 7-iron is my 160 yard club. I find myself 155-160 out a lot and use that club as often as some wedges in 18 holes. A 7-iron is also great around the greens for pitch and runs. I'd find another 7 to match (and round out) the set. You know the old saying about a 3-iron, right? If you're stuck on the golf course in a thunder and lightening storm, hold up a 3-iron over your head; even God can't hit a 3-iron!!! HAHAHAHAHA Good luck, keep us posted on progress!!!

[Waterland]

After a little more searching I've found that these clubs are a copy of the Callaway X-14 Steelheads. If I could get an X-14 7 iron, that would complete my set nicely. Still haven't had a chance to hit them yet though, I'm waiting on a new driver and a putter, and maybe a 3 hybrid. I'll let you know how they feel when I do hit them.

[Waterland]

So today I did some more shopping for clubs at my local Goodwill and made a haul on a few woods.

First one is a Taylormade Burner 4 wood, 18 degree loft, like this one: http://www.clubsncovers.com/catalog/...0/IMG_0282.jpg

The second is a Macgregor DX 3 wood, 15 degree loft. It also has the marking "tungsten weighting."

A King Cobra Ti Oversize Titanium 3 wood, 15 degree loft.

A Tour Select Big Chief driver, marked 17-4 Stainless, 10.5 degree loft.

A Wilson Wild Thing II midsize driver, 17-4 Stainless, 10.5 degree loft.

A Wilson Prostaff 5 wood, 17-4 Stainless, no loft marking.

I paid $30 for all of them, the two 3 woods, 5 wood, and 2 drivers were in a bundle together, and the Taylormade was separate. Any info as well as your thoughts and opinions on these clubs is greatly appreciated. The Wilson 5 and the Taylormade have steel shafts, and the rest have graphite shafts, all regular flex, so I don't think I ended up with ladies' clubs this time.

Now all I need is a putter and a bag, because right now my clubs are strewn about the living room, much to the dismay of my wife.