Hand-me downs or a new set?

[cardinalgill]

Hi there TST members. I am very lucky to be the only lefty among 3 sons of a left-handed golfer. Translation: I get the hand-me downs.

Me: I've golfed probably 20 times over the course of the last 15 years, but 4 of those times are this year. I'm ramping up and having a lot of fun doing it, so am hoping to get more serious.

I have been playing with my dad's 12+ year old King Cobra irons and Calloway woods for a while, and he's ready to get a new set, so his current set is being offered to me.

Any thoughts would be hugely appreciated, thanks in advance.

My options are:

1) to research and buy a new set because the below are obsolete enough that it would be worth the investment OR

2) the below are still great so I should save my cash and use these:

TaylorMade R9 driver

3 Wood/metal - Callaway X series
Callaway X18 Irons - 4 - PW, A (Approach) Wedge, Sand Wedge
Callaway X Series Lob Wedge (60 degree)
Callaway 3 Hybrid X series
Callaway 4 Hybrid X series

[mvmac]

I think for the amount you play and your current handicap, the set you're Dad is offering you is great.

[lumpuckeroo]

I would agree with mvmac, those clubs are only a generation or two old and will serve their purpose for some time to come.  I see a lot of guys on the course that don't have equipment that up to date, so don't spend money on equipment, spend it on practicing and playing!

[cardinalgill]

Thanks guys! I think it makes sense to wait until I've given my dad's clubs a shot, and they definitely seem like solid clubs.

[dmnoland]

There is absolutely nothing wrong with those clubs nor are they outdated.

Just last season I bought the 2008 Callaway X 3 wood and X wedge brand new.

As long as the length, lie, and shaft flex are correct you should be all set.

You might want to regrip because of age and to just make them more personal. Give them a good cleaning too!

[BigT]

My driver 3w & 5w are X series, love them, I bought the 3W & 5W last year brand new. Unless they look like they are dragged behind a car I would use them.

[rustyredcab]

Good fortune to get hand me downs. For the amount you play, they should be great.

IF they fit your dad and IF your dad is lots taller or shorter than you, you could consider re-shafting the irons them to fit you. Most people play standard length woods so unless you are really shorter than average, you should be fine with the woods.

[cardinalgill]

Great stuff guys, thanks so much!

Fortunately, all the men in my family are exactly 5' 8.5", you could put a level across our heads, so the sizing shouldn't be an issue.

Great tip to think about re-grips though, I'll see the condition when I get them.

Playing again next saturday at Tilden in San Francisco. Already excited...

[Grndslmhttr3]

Not sure how old my irons are compared to those, but I imagine they were made at around the same time. They still feel damn good when I hit them, so I can't see myself getting a new set for a while. To me, they even feel better than a decent amount of newer irons I've hit. Then again, they aren't THAT old; probably between 4-6 years.

As far as being outdated goes, like others in this thread have said, saving the money for other golf-related things would be wise, as you probably wouldn't see any appreciable difference in those irons and newer irons, not to mention you're still getting a great set of clubs.