Time for new clubs?

[Huck]

I played in a league at a local executive course when I was in my teens about 20 years ago, and can count on one hand the number of times I've played since then.  I recently got back into golf just a couple of months ago (early May), and I'm shooting in the 80's consistently.  Best round has been an 82, but I'm usually around 86-88.  I go to the range several times a week, and play a full 18 usually twice a week.  I've been using a set of "Icon" golf clubs that I bought from Play It Again Sports.  It was a new set, included bag/stand, driver, 3 wood, 5 hybrid, and 6-PW.  The whole set was $150.  I know people that have a single club that costs more than that.

I'm just curious if this is the right time to buy new clubs, or even if there is a "right" time.  Also, I'm about a 4 hour drive from a Golftec or Golf Galaxy where I can get a computerized fitting, and my local course has a very limited selection.  So it looks like I'll either have to make the drive to get a fitting, or order something online and hope it's right.

So what do you all think?  Buy something now?  Wait til next season?  Buy online?  Make the drive?

Thanks all, and good luck on the courses.

[yannana]

what about the taylormade r11 irons,I look for its coming after r11 driver release on Feb.

[SamW]

Depends what's important to you, there's 3 ways you can buy golf clubs and all will work in my experience:

- buy in high season current model clubs and know you are going to be paying full price.

- buy in around feb/march and buy last season models when shops are looking to clear the clubs for new models which most mfrs release in feb/mar, expect to save around 30-40% over what you would have paid but still know you are getting good clubs that are well fitted.

- try new clubs, see which you like, then look for used previous models in decent condition either last season or the season before, despite mfrs claims the models do not change much at all in feel or performance year on year. Budget to have those clubs re-fitted to your spec which in my experience will cost somewhere like this: $10 per club for regripping, $5 club for loft/lie changes, $5/shortening, $25/club reshafting for standard dynamic gold steel shafts considerably more for reshafting for high end graphite shafts. So worst case is around $45/club on irons likely to be a lot less if you take a standard or shorter fit and you buy with the shafts you want already fitted.

I took option 2 last year and spent $550 on brand new mizuno mp-52's custom fitted saving around $350 on full price (pound converted to dollars in my case). Never looked back completely happy with the irons, actually have hit the current mp-53 model a few times and prefer the mp-52 anyway. My plan for my next set of irons, when I get my hcap down a bit is option 3 and I already did the maths that if I can pick up a set of classic blades like mizuno mp-32 for around $120 then spend $100-$300 on getting them perfect for me I'll have breathed new life into an awesome iron set that is perfect fit for me.

[Huck]

Good advice, thanks!  I guess even more than this, I was asking how do I know it's time to upgrade and get some real clubs?  And, how much benefit will new clubs have on my game?  What kind of improvements have others seen when moving up in clubs?

Thanks again.

Originally Posted by SamW

Depends what's important to you, there's 3 ways you can buy golf clubs and all will work in my experience:

- buy in high season current model clubs and know you are going to be paying full price.

- buy in around feb/march and buy last season models when shops are looking to clear the clubs for new models which most mfrs release in feb/mar, expect to save around 30-40% over what you would have paid but still know you are getting good clubs that are well fitted.

- try new clubs, see which you like, then look for used previous models in decent condition either last season or the season before, despite mfrs claims the models do not change much at all in feel or performance year on year. Budget to have those clubs re-fitted to your spec which in my experience will cost somewhere like this: $10 per club for regripping, $5 club for loft/lie changes, $5/shortening, $25/club reshafting for standard dynamic gold steel shafts considerably more for reshafting for high end graphite shafts. So worst case is around $45/club on irons likely to be a lot less if you take a standard or shorter fit and you buy with the shafts you want already fitted.

I took option 2 last year and spent $550 on brand new mizuno mp-52's custom fitted saving around $350 on full price (pound converted to dollars in my case). Never looked back completely happy with the irons, actually have hit the current mp-53 model a few times and prefer the mp-52 anyway. My plan for my next set of irons, when I get my hcap down a bit is option 3 and I already did the maths that if I can pick up a set of classic blades like mizuno mp-32 for around $120 then spend $100-$300 on getting them perfect for me I'll have breathed new life into an awesome iron set that is perfect fit for me.

[dbuck]

Can't add much to what Sam said as to different purchase approaches other than also going back 4-5 years on ebay or used bins and finding stuff. In these efforts you can sometimes get stuff for 10-20 cents on the dollar, ie 40-50 bucks for a once $400-450 driver.  A couple generations or so back in tech will be still better than what you have for about 20% of what the latest will cost you.

That said and to your question about when, golf clubs are tools to do a job. First off, on your 6-pw, is there about a 8-15 yard differential with some overlap between irons? Do your iron shots go generally straight?

Do the hybrids you have cover the gap between your shortest fairway wood and your longest iron?

Do you have clubs that you can use effectively to get on the green and close to the hole from 100 yards in?

How is the flight and directional consistency of your driver? Does it usually put you in a playable position?

Answer these questions and determine if equipment will answer or if more consistent swing is needed.