Max improvement irons/woods/driver

[LaPuzza]

I have a friend that has finally decided that he is going to spend some savings, $1400, and buy some new golf clubs. His current set is about 20 years old, and he is a foot taller and 200 pounds heavier than he was when he purchased them as a young teenager.

He is convinced that he needs longer clubs, which he might, so he understands that he needs a fitting. I’m trying to talk him into lessons, but he wants the new sticks first. What he has asked me to do is scout some options for clubs. About his game:

1)Slice off the tee. Not always, but often and severe.
2)Generally in the 220-240 range for drives.
3)He hits at least a few awful iron shots a round (20 yard burners, etc). On good contact with short irons he is consistent in range but not on target, usually pin high but off the green (I assume this is setup and aim, not club, but full disclosure)
4)Although he shoots in the 100-110 range, much of that is due to lazy putting.
5)He chips well, so he is planning on keeping his wedges for the time being.

I know no one can just tell him what to buy, but I’m trying to give him options to consider. Thinking Nike Machspeed, TM Burner, Ping (?)15s, but I don’t know much about Adams and Calloway options. If this guy was your friend, what are 2 or 3 options, in irons and woods, that you would suggest hitting?

Thanks for any suggestions.

[Red Golfer]

Speaking just for the driver, I just played 18 with a Ping K15 and LOVED IT. It is very forgiving, which for a guy as bad as I am right now, is a big plus. The irons I use are TM Burner HT, which seem to work great for me, again, pretty forgiving.

[newtogolf]

I'd drive him to a golf store so he can get fitted with the proper clubs that suit his build. If he's going to get lessons that might alter his swing he might be better off taking your advice and getting the lessons first. $1400 is going to provide him with alot of options.

[LaPuzza]

Too many options and not enough time - he's working double shifts right now, so shopping takes up valuable sleeping time. He's looking to narrow those options.

Thanks for the hint on the K15 driver, I was looking at the irons as options for him, too. Any other ideas?

[Slammin' Sam]

I tried the K15 driver a few days ago and just couldn't hit it well, which is rather surprising considering the luck I've had with Pings in the past. I'm also not convinced that you need to spend that much to get a good game improvement driver. Unless the K15 represents a massive improvement over the G15 I think the G15 is a better deal for the money. As for irons, I haven't hit the new K15s yet but I like the G15s and the Raptures...the latter of which would be my choice for a set of max game improvement irons.

[Joeyvee]

I say lessons first. At least one evaluation but if he doesnt want to work on his swing and wants to throw money at it make sure he checks the titlesit ap1s. I never thought I would hit a titleist iron any time soon but these are very forgiving and easy to swing. At least have them available for the fitting.

[LaPuzza]

Ping Rapture V2s seem to be findable, and very well respected, but are not made anymore and still expensive as hell ($1000-$1200 at local shops according to the web sites). I always tend to assume that max GI clubs improve from year to year, but are these "old" clubs really that amazing as to warrant the price?

[James_Black]

Ping Rapture V2s seem to be findable, and very well respected, but are not made anymore and still expensive as hell ($1000-$1200 at local shops according to the web sites). I always tend to assume that max GI clubs improve from year to year, but are these "old" clubs really that amazing as to warrant the price?

you should get them for 700 dollars max.

I can get them in ireland for 500 euro

[ilovecheesypuffs]

If he has little time but want fitting on clubs Ping do an online fitting, would push the lessons though and why spend loads of money, get fitted then ebay :)

[LaPuzza]

Clearly, every golfer in the world needs $1000 of lessons more than $1000 of clubs. God knows I do :)

However, playing with clubs you hate means that you enjoy golf less. I went back and forth on getting new clubs when I was playing with Wilson musclebacks from the early 80s. The instant improvment in my game from the clubs inspired me to play and practice more. I think his rush to buy clubs is that he doesn't save money well, and if he waits to buy he'll end up spending the money on 700 beers instead.

Re: Ebay, he's a hands-on guy, and he pays cash for everything, meaning the he'll be the last man on earth to use ebay. Old economy guys keep the golf shops in business for people like me to browse before I buy online :)

[themightytimmah]

Take a look at the Nike Machspeed irons - I am a pretty high handicapper and I hit the G15, Rapture V2, Machspeed and Cleveland HB3 on a launch monitor. Nikes had the best overall distance and 2nd best dispersion after the Raptures which were a couple hundred bucks more. The clubfaces are super hot and shots seem to just fly off of them, even with mis-hits. Plus, they were on sale for 499.99 for 4-PW, SW at my local golf shop.

[Zalfor]

get him TM Burner / Burner HL, a Burner superfast driver, and superfast woods.

he will not complain about his equipment when he mishits them now.

similarly you can get PING G15 set as well.