Haggling for clubs?

[badfish74]

I have been hacking around the course for years and now am finally getting serious about learning the right techniques to get better.  I have been playing a long time with Wal-Mart $100 clubs and want to upgrade to something better.  I have settled in on the new Nike VR Pro Cavity irons on that eventual purchase.  They are selling these clubs on EBay right now at standard length and lie for $300.  Great deal I think, but here comes the problem. I am a tall player (6'3") and think if I am going to go all out for name brand clubs it makes sense to get them fitted to my size and swing.  Dicks is currently selling the same clubs for $500.  I can't see a place like that coming down on their prices, but I was wondering if anyone has done so at smaller shops or even course pro shops.  Is it possible, or am I pretty much relegated to paying their price or settling for a what they sell in my price range if I want to get fitted?

[PhillyMac]

Quote:

I have been hacking around the course for years and now am finally getting serious about learning the right techniques to get better.  I have been playing a long time with Wal-Mart $100 clubs and want to upgrade to something better.  I have settled in on the new Nike VR Pro Cavity irons on that eventual purchase.  They are selling these clubs on EBay right now at standard length and lie for $300.  Great deal I think, but here comes the problem. I am a tall player (6'3") and think if I am going to go all out for name brand clubs it makes sense to get them fitted to my size and swing.  Dicks is currently selling the same clubs for $500.  I can't see a place like that coming down on their prices, but I was wondering if anyone has done so at smaller shops or even course pro shops.  Is it possible, or am I pretty much relegated to paying their price or settling for a what they sell in my price range if I want to get fitted?

Do you happen to know if the NIKE VR's on ebay are new or used? If they are new, that would throw up a red flag for me and many others on this foum. There are way tooooo many fakes being sold on ebay these days. And you know the old saying "if its too good to be true it probably is". There are a few ebay sellers that are reputable. I don't buy off of ebay, so maybe some others can give you some sellers to look for. But there are a few websites that sell used golf clubs and are reputable. Try GolfSmith and 3BallGolf.com.

From your post, you sound like a fairly new golfer. I am not up to date on Nike golf clubs. Make sure you look for some forgiving irons, more like the SGI or GI type irons. I play the Taylor Made Burner 1.0 irons, its a great iron, very forgiving and about 1 club longer. Look into other brands as well, I know Adams, Mizuno, Callaway and Cleveland make some great irons as well. Also if you have a Dick's Sporting or Golf Galaxy store near by, stop and try them all out. They are normally cheaper than many smaller golf stores. Plus they will check you swing and help you choose the right club and right shaft.

Good Luck!

[Beachcomber]

If I were you... Since this is your 2nd set of clubs, and you're upgrading from Walmart sticks.... I would just look on Craigslist.  It's off season, and a lot of peeps will be selling their irons so that they can upgrade.  You may be able to find a nice used set - and save a lot of money if you're concerned about spending on a brand new set.

I know one of my friends got a sweet set of Callaway irons a few years back which at the time retailed for $800 a set for $350.  And they are legit - just used is all.  That would be a huge upgrade over what you're playing with from Walmart.

[WUTiger]

Dick's could fit you for the clubs. Being you're rather tall, there's a good chance you might need some adjustments.

If you go eBay route, and the clubs don't fit, how much would it cost you to go into a shop cold and get them altered? If you buy a new set of irons, many golf shops will do basic fitting for free.

I know + $200 is a bit of money, but how much hassle are you willing to go through to "save" $200? Look at it as an investment. If you play these fitted irons for five years, the $200 comes out to only $40 a season. That the cost of one round of golf in lots of places. Try to balance cost and value received.

Remember also that top club manufacturers often put minimum prices on some models of individual clubs, or sets of clubs. These agreements limit the amount the shops can lower the price.

Hopefully someone who works golf retail can help us on this.

[badfish74]

Originally Posted by PhillyMac

Quote:

Do you happen to know if the NIKE VR's on ebay are new or used? If they are new, that would throw up a red flag for me and many others on this foum. There are way tooooo many fakes being sold on ebay these days. And you know the old saying "if its too good to be true it probably is". There are a few ebay sellers that are reputable. I don't buy off of ebay, so maybe some others can give you some sellers to look for. But there are a few websites that sell used golf clubs and are reputable. Try GolfSmith and 3BallGolf.com.

From your post, you sound like a fairly new golfer. I am not up to date on Nike golf clubs. Make sure you look for some forgiving irons, more like the SGI or GI type irons. I play the Taylor Made Burner 1.0 irons, its a great iron, very forgiving and about 1 club longer. Look into other brands as well, I know Adams, Mizuno, Callaway and Cleveland make some great irons as well. Also if you have a Dick's Sporting or Golf Galaxy store near by, stop and try them all out. They are normally cheaper than many smaller golf stores. Plus they will check you swing and help you choose the right club and right shaft.

Good Luck!

They are listed as new.  The seller is said to be reputable, but it is kind of odd that a newer model like the VR's would sell for the same price as last years Slingshots. The VR Cavity is supposed to be a GI iron which is why I was interested in the first place. Some local retailers are selling the selling the Slingshots for $300 and the Burner Plus for $289. I plan on taking a trip this weekend to maybe swing those two and anything else that catches my eye.  Not really a new golfer.  Played for the last 20 years but only a couple times per year with no practice.  Now it is kind of my weekend getaway with friends so I am looking to make it a little more enjoyable with better shots instead of getting lucky every now and then.

[badfish74]

Originally Posted by PhillyMac

Quote:

Do you happen to know if the NIKE VR's on ebay are new or used? If they are new, that would throw up a red flag for me and many others on this foum. There are way tooooo many fakes being sold on ebay these days. And you know the old saying "if its too good to be true it probably is". There are a few ebay sellers that are reputable. I don't buy off of ebay, so maybe some others can give you some sellers to look for. But there are a few websites that sell used golf clubs and are reputable. Try GolfSmith and 3BallGolf.com.

From your post, you sound like a fairly new golfer. I am not up to date on Nike golf clubs. Make sure you look for some forgiving irons, more like the SGI or GI type irons. I play the Taylor Made Burner 1.0 irons, its a great iron, very forgiving and about 1 club longer. Look into other brands as well, I know Adams, Mizuno, Callaway and Cleveland make some great irons as well. Also if you have a Dick's Sporting or Golf Galaxy store near by, stop and try them all out. They are normally cheaper than many smaller golf stores. Plus they will check you swing and help you choose the right club and right shaft.

Good Luck!

Yeah it does seem kind of fishy.  I have bought individual clubs from Ebay and they have been as advertised, but the new  VR's for the same price as Slingshots at most places does seem odd.  The VR Cavity's are supposed to be GI clubs which is what drew me to them.  Some local retailers have both the Slingshots and Burner Plus for less than $300 so I was planning on taking a trip this weekend to swing those and whatever else jumps out at me.  I really want to keep it under $350 to not kill my budget.

I have been playing for 20 years actually, but it was usually only a couple times a year with minimal practice.  This year I went more than the last ten years combined and has become my weekend getaway of sorts.  Now I just want to enjoy it more with good shots and not just relying on getting lucky every now and then.

[sean_miller]

Originally Posted by badfish74

I have been hacking around the course for years and now am finally getting serious about learning the right techniques to get better.  I have been playing a long time with Wal-Mart $100 clubs and want to upgrade to something better.  I have settled in on the new Nike VR Pro Cavity irons on that eventual purchase.  They are selling these clubs on EBay right now at standard length and lie for $300.  Great deal I think, but here comes the problem. I am a tall player (6'3") and think if I am going to go all out for name brand clubs it makes sense to get them fitted to my size and swing.  Dicks is currently selling the same clubs for $500.  I can't see a place like that coming down on their prices, but I was wondering if anyone has done so at smaller shops or even course pro shops.  Is it possible, or am I pretty much relegated to paying their price or settling for a what they sell in my price range if I want to get fitted?

The ones at Dicks are probably also standard loft and lie so anything length or lie angle adjustment would still be necessary. The Dicks' versions are new (I assume) and would have new grips. Probably not high-end gripsm, but new enough that lengthenind might not require regripping.

Honestly, if it was me and $200 was a deal breaker, I wouldn't get the new irons. If I was set on Forged Nikes and wanted a player's cavity back, I'd look at older Nike models. I'd get those adjusted ($5-7 per club for length and about the same per club for loft and lie adjustment) and get my favourite grips put on them.

[jamo]

The ones at Dicks are probably also standard loft and lie so anything length or lie angle adjustment would still be necessary. The Dicks' versions are new (I assume) and would have new grips. Probably not high-end gripsm, but new enough that lengthenind might not require regripping. Honestly, if it was me and $200 was a deal breaker, I wouldn't get the new irons. If I was set on Forged Nikes and wanted a player's cavity back, I'd look at older Nike models. I'd get those adjusted ($5-7 per club for length and about the same per club for loft and lie adjustment) and get my favourite grips put on them.

I regripped my Pro Combos as soon as I could. For anyone who has ever sweated in their life the stock grips are virtually unusable.

[badfish74]

Sorry about the double post essentially saying the same thing.  Wasn't aware that the forum held posts by new members and didn't think the original went through.

Thanks for the responses and advice.  I have decided to just stick to a local retailer for purchasing my iron set.  Seems a safer bet.  I will stick to EBay and other online sites to round out my bag if needed.  Be a lot less expensive to tweak a single club if needed than an entire set.

[badfish74]

My iron search has ended.  I ended up purchasing a set of Adams RPM 3's for $250. After swing a few sets yesterday, it really came down to these and the Wilson Staff Progressives, but swinging them again today, the Adams won out and were a little cheaper. Turned out to after do some test swings that they fit perfectly off the shelf, but I can go in at anytime next season if I feel I might need adjustments and they will help me out again for free.  Bought them from a local smaller golf shop at a driving range and par 3 course, so it is nice to help out the smaller guys once in awhile, especially when you get good service.  Now why does it have to be winter???

[erock9174]

Another option would have been the Adams A4's at Dicks.  4-GW for $199.  Had a $25 coupon and got them for $185 out the door with tax.

Couldn't even find them used for cheaper than $200.

[badfish74]

Originally Posted by erock9174

Another option would have been the Adams A4's at Dicks.  4-GW for $199.  Had a $25 coupon and got them for $185 out the door with tax.

Couldn't even find them used for cheaper than $200.

Nice!  That is a good price.  Yeah I knew if I went to Dicks I could probably get a little better price, but kind of like the store experience without 50 people standing around you like it was yesterday when I went there.  Here I was the only person there and had run of the store.  Nicer simulator too.

[LBlack14]

Another option would have been the Adams A4's at Dicks.  4-GW for $199.  Had a $25 coupon and got them for $185 out the door with tax.

Couldn't even find them used for cheaper than $200.

Very nice playing and looking irons. I got mine for $90 shipped with Prosoft inserts installed. I just sold my other set of these for $140 shipped. Both sets were 5-GW. This set stays. [URL=http://thesandtrap.com/image/id/188076/width/640/height/480][IMG]http://thesandtrap.com/image/id/188076/width/640/height/480[/IMG][/URL]