Need advice--Starting over

[Canadian]

I started playing golf when I was 7 and played until about 21, got bored and stopped. Only played seriously for about 4 years from 16-20 really. Played on the high school senior team and lots of local tourneys after that. The best my handicap ever got was 6--I could never get it lower because of my mental game. I loose focus real easy after bad shots.

Anyways, now 5 years later I have started to play again. Well at least practice. I have yet to play a round ;) I have been to the range almost daily for a few weeks now.

I was really surprised that my first few shots back after 5 years (and now with new irons) were very solid, went where I wanted them to and had decent distance. I was still able to shape shots although not nearly as well as before. The only thing was that even though I was hitting it "well" it felt so awkward and unnatural.

After a few weeks though, I am having second thoughts about the clubs I was sold. I had explained the whole story to the salesman as getting back into the game from a 6 handicap, haven't played for 5 years, use to hit the ball very high (too high), what my last clubs were, that I am only going to be playing about once a week max and practicing about once or twice a week, ect.

He set me up with a few different iron sets and ultimately "we" choose the Nike Slingshot 4D irons (stiff, not fitted to me yet). I hated how they looked (huge sole, thick top edge) but figured oh well I can get used to them. He claimed there was no way they would hold me back even if I did regain my game quite fast. His thinking was that they are very forgiving but still versatile enough...so far I have a bad feeling that they are going to hold me back!

On the bright side, I don't think you can possibly hit a terrible shot with them. In two weeks at the range I can't remember a shot that didn't get airborne or go way off target but they certainly don't have the distance I used to get and I am hitting the ball a mile high. The guy next to me thought I was hitting a 9 iron almost 200 yards because I was hitting my 4 iron so ridiculously high (used to hit a 4 about 210-220).

The other problem is shaping shots is kinda tough. I can hit a nice little fade or a nice little draw but nothing extreme. Some of this may be lost skill but I know some is due to the irons. I can't really hit low shots too well with these irons. Low but so much lost distance.

So....what would you do? Do you think it's the clubs or could be my game is just nowhere were it used to be? I mean my swing and game isn't going to be what it used to be for a while but I can't help but think the clubs are also going to hold me back.

What do you think?

Thanks! Sorry that got sooooo long.

[prutkows]

Maybe just have the loft/lie of your irons adjusted slightly so you can have a lower ball flight without losing too much distance. I'd say I have a moderate ball flight (not high, but not low either) and I've seen guys hit their short irons about as high as my longer irons at their peak so I wouldn't put too much stock into what your driving range neighbor said about your 4i.

Also, since you're just getting back into the game you shouldn't really be too worried about shaping your shots on command. Personally I think its important to develop a consistent swing first which will allow you to strike the ball consistently and have a "regular" ball flight (high, low, draw, fade, or whatever it may be) because once you're consistent, you'll be more able to work the ball in the direction you need.

Also, iirc the slingshot irons are GI irons? GI irons aren't the easiest things to shape shots with because they are more "forgiving" and thus allow the player to keep the ball straight (more or less).

Keep at it, get fitted, and see if you can avoid throwing down hundreds of dollars on a new set.

[Canadian]

Hey thanks for the reply. You have some great points, most of which I guess I wasn't thinking of. I agree that shaping shots is not important at this point and that has not been the focus of my practicing by any means. I will say though, shaping shots and iron play in general really was the best part of my game by far and I would hate to not gain all of that back because of the clubs I am playing. My old titleist clubs were not blades or anything but certainly had much better feel and were very "workable". I was sold these clubs as something that would be very forgiving as I got my game back but also still workable...Im not so sure thats true.

Your right though, not what I should focus on now. Im thinking more in the future, since I don't have a lot of money to switch clubs each year. I have been out of the game for a while and was sold these as some great clubs that would be quite forgiving but would hold a single mid range single handicap golfer back (not that I am anymore). What I am trying to figure out is if thats true!

I just don't want to use them too much or have them fitted (another cost) if they are going to be obsolete in a year because I am getting my game back--or worse yet, I can't get my game back because of the clubs!!!

[Canadian]

One other thing I am looking for advice on. My driver.

I still have my old driver. Its been a pain so far! So hard to hit consitently now. I used to love this thing but now I am thinking maybe I should find something easier to hit.

Its a Titleist 975D 8.5 degree

What do you guys think? Learn to hit it again or buy a new easier driver? How outdated is this thing now???
I used to love this thing

[prutkows]

Hey thanks for the reply. You have some great points, most of which I guess I wasn't thinking of. I agree that shaping shots is not important at this point and that has not been the focus of my practicing by any means. I will say though, shaping shots and iron play in general really was the best part of my game by far and I would hate to not gain all of that back because of the clubs I am playing. My old titleist clubs were not blades or anything but certainly had much better feel and were very "workable". I was sold these clubs as something that would be very forgiving as I got my game back but also still workable...Im not so sure thats true.

Although companies generally do release new clubs every year, older models (within reason) imo don't ever become "obsolete." If you enjoy the clubs you have and you are able to hit them as well as you'd like, I don't see any reason to buy a new club/set of clubs (unless you think they'd really help improve your game). My irons are i think 6 or 7 years old and for 5 of those years they basically sat in my bag in a closet somewhere in my house because I gave up golfing so they are still in great shape, have lots of grooves and I love the way they feel and perform.

One other thing I am looking for advice on. My driver.

I used to have a 975 J-VS (i don't know if the J-VS is an older or newer model relative to the D but both of them are quite old) and i was in love with that club but one day the clubface cracked and I had to say goodbye. I definitely think the smaller CC heads are a little more difficult to hit because they have a smaller sweetspot and unlike the newer drivers, they arent necessarily weighted to help produce a certain type of shot.

If you feel the need to update, I think you should go to your local store and try some demo clubs out. Since you're still getting into the game (and you're like me and don't have money to constantly be buying new clubs) you might want to try out a slightly newer model than the 975 but not something so new that its still $200+ for a lightly used club. Taylormade R7, Taylormade Burner, Cleveland Hi-Bore, Titleist 907D among others can all be had for under $100 used and still in pretty good condition. I've never played any of these as i'm still very happy with my Titleist 905R (which is older than most of the ones i mentioned above) but i've heard good things about all of them.