Correlation between Handicap Index and Club Quality?

[The Road Dog]

I take notice of the HI of each poster whose posts I read. The great majority of you have a significantly better HI than mine. I would like to ask if there is a correlation between the equipment you use and your HI? If there is when did you notice it and do you try to capitalize on it, or do you just buy what you like and if it doesn't help get rid of it? Those of you who get professional help to decide what to purchase don't answer I'm looking for the self help guys and their thoughts.

[sherwoodnatl]

I take notice of the HI of each poster whose posts I read. The great majority of you have a significantly better HI than mine. I would like to ask if there is a correlation between the equipment you use and your HI? If there is when did you notice it and do you try to capitalize on it, or do you just buy what you like and if it doesn't help get rid of it? Those of you who get professional help to decide what to purchase don't answer I'm looking for the self help guys and their thoughts.

It can be a confidence thing...or most likely the player skill. When i changed clubs the only thing i noticed was a distance gain. Also, try before you buy. Not necessarily get fitted, but just hit some clubs to see what feels best - then you know your getting what YOU want.

[The Road Dog]

It can be a confidence thing...or most likely the player skill. When i changed clubs the only thing i noticed was a distance gain. Also, try before you buy. Not necessarily get fitted, but just hit some clubs to see what feels best - then you know your getting what YOU want.

So is your HI a reflection of your years of practice or the clubs you use now?

I have tried lots of clubs and found many that felt great and for a session at the range worked well. Then a week later I struggle to get half the results from them on the course. Is that a lack of skill or confidence, both or maybe something else?

[sherwoodnatl]

So is your HI a reflection of your years of practice or the clubs you use now?

Its definitley practice.

It could be both...or just poor range sessions. You may want to have a lesson so a proffessional can work with you on your swing. That will definitley help out.

[Big_M]

I'm sorry for sounding harsh, but this IS a STUPID question.

Of course handicap is determined by much more than clubs, that probably being the least important factor. Don't get me wrong having a SS of 110 and playing women's flex clubs would be bad, but you CANNOT buy a game. I could go hit some other clubs and as long as I'm fairly used to them... I will get around in about the same score.

I guess I just really don't understand what you are asking... pretty much anyone who plays can afford clubs that are good enough to not handicap their abilities. You would have to have some pretty lousy or malfitting clubs for it too "really" change how good you are.

Not saying a hybrid or two, or proper flex, or GI v. blades, etc. doesn't make a difference or help some, but it won't make an 18 an 8.

[Jay-Bird]

In 2004 I got interested in golf again after a ten year break from the game. I played as a kid and in high school, but didn't play much at all in college and in the first few years out of school.

In 2004 I used the clubs I had when I last played in the '90s. Lynx Parallax irons. I was shooting in the mid-high 90s.
In 2005 I bought PING eye 2 irons on eBay. I had a membership to a CC that year - and fully got back into golf. I started shooting in the mid 80s.
At the end of 2005 I bought PING ISI irons. I played them all of 2006. My handicap was probably 10-12.
2007 I played the ISIs - shooting low 80s regularly.
2008 I played the ISIs for a while then bought PING S596 tour irons. The handicap was mid single digits.
2009 I bought Mizuno MP-57 irons got the handicap to 2.

My handicap just happens to correlate to my clubs over the years - but I only continued to buy progressively "better" clubs because I am helplessly addicted to golf, and I am a club junkie.

The handicap is really a reflection of my addiction. I could shoot in the 70s with anything now.

[snowman0157]

I'm sorry for sounding harsh, but this IS a STUPID question.

I Agree with 'You Cannot Buy a Game' - It is the indian not the arrow for the most part. I recently played with a hodge-podge of a rent set in Florida and shot my average score for 18.... My bag contains clubs that would retail at over $2000. The stuff I played in Florida was basically Garage Sale leftovers. I actually liked the feel of the ladies Taylormade 7 Iron, though! Also, I have recently switched to bit less of GI irons; No Change in my scores or GIR stats. It's the same swing!

[The Road Dog]

I' You would have to have some pretty lousy or malfitting clubs for it too "really" change how good you are.

I think what you are telling me is that time and effort are reflected in the HI and clubs are hygenic to the effort? Meaning if you have decent ones it won't hurt you but it doesn't directly lead to a lower HI. That confirms the common sense view. Thanks, because reading some of the posts here suggests newer clubs are what many are constantly striving for. And if the low HI guys are switching clubs frequently doesn't that say something for the benefits to be gained from newer technology?

[The Road Dog]

My handicap just happens to correlate to my clubs over the years - but I only continued to buy progressively "better" clubs because I am helplessly addicted to golf, and I am a club junkie.

Thanks JayBird, and Snowman, I think what you're telling me is while you have invested significant amounts in hardware over the years you are admitting it might not have been necessary because your dedication to the game is what drove your improvement.

[aca247]

there can be, like if you had old persimmion woods against the driver of today.

[lcfd42]

I think this would work either way.
A player that shoots 150 strokes for 18 holes will still suck with the best set of tour irons on the market. Time, patience, and practice will truely improve a game and lower a HI. I wouldn't attribute no more than 3-4 handicap points to actual equipment. The only thing I would say is that properly fitted clubs make ball striking and swinging consistently easier.

[ballhog]

Based on what I play and what i've seen others play there is NO RELATION between the quality of clubs and HI. The only correlation I can see is the different TYPE of irons etc., not the quality of clubs though.

[jamo]

I would say, generally, as people get better they buy better clubs because the game becomes more serious to them.

[HoosierGolfer]

I think it is more important to have clubs that are fit to you and then stick with them. Don't get caught up in the "must have new clubs" all the time. Most of my clubs are nearly new but one thing that always sticks in my mind is; I often play with a guy who is in his mid sixties and has been playing for forty years. He is playing with irons at least twenty years old along with a original Taylor Made driver which I have no idea of its age, but I would say at least ten years old and he shoots par or slightly under every single day. He says he does not change equipment because he has no reason to and I would have to agree.
This guy is a case of a scratch player using old equipment that has become tried and true to him. Could be something to learn from this type of player.

[DaSportsGuy]

I don't think their is much of a correlation. The reason you will find that most low handicapped players have better clubs is because of all the time they've invested in practicing and working on their game they have made the decision to make a good investment on good clubs that will fit their game.

A 30 handicap playing with say some decent no name brand and then buying a brand new set of the best tour irons isn't going to drop their handicap much lower than 26 or 27, if that.

[RIduffer]

If you asked me, would I rather have a 5-handicap's game with junk clubs, or my game with top-of-the-line gear, I'd take the 5-handicap's game all day.

But I have seen new clubs drastically improve people's game. Some of it could be mental: confidence and excitement about the game.

I do have one friend who bought a Taylormade r7 draw driver a couple years ago, and quickly went from shooting 100+ to low 90s. He could never get off the tee before, and the r7 just matched up perfectly with his swing. I think he was so excited about how well he was driving the ball that he fell in love with golf, and started working hard on all aspects of his game. So it changed his game, and also inspired him to practice more.

I have been playing with older clubs for a while and recently purchased some Ping G5 irons. I'm curious to see what impact they will have on my game.

[kevin.chan]

The RIGHT skill and the RIGHT equipment will bring you to lower handicap .

Same as some forumers here, i get better sets as my game improved.

From Full cavity to progressive blade to Full Blade.

From Cast Iron to Forged.

I m dead serious with club fitting now from Driver to Putter , and the quality of the clubs.

[jrm1493]

there can be, like if you had old persimmion woods against the driver of today.

Funny you should mention that, I have an old persimmon driver I took to the range yesterday (Top-Flite Spalding from probably the early 70s, with a steel TT Dynamic Lite shaft). It feels pretty sweet, definately launches lower than my current driver, and the distance is less (maybe 20-30 yards). But I think on a really windy day it might do better given the low flight I was getting. The strange thing was I had trouble hitting a draw with it even thought it had a "medium" shaft and my Callaway driver has a stiff shaft which I rarely have trouble hitting a draw with.

I honestly think on a normal day I might lose 1 or 2 strokes using that driver but on a windy day I might be better off. It would be interesting to reshaft a persimmon wood with a modern shaft - I bet the distance loss would be fairly minimal. Of course the smaller and heavier head might not play well with a graphite shaft.