Are There Really Any DIY Clubs That Compare To 59/69's?

[LovinItAll]

I know virtually nothing about the DIY club making game, but after pricing new MP-59/69's, I thought I'd ask: Are there really any DIY blades that are truly comparable in quality? I'm speaking with respect to the iron heads, of course. Thought about just picking up a set of 33's on the cheap - I always loved those clubs. Like most ho's, though, I start looking at something that's shiny and new and I'm drawn like a magnet. I'd rather not part with a grand or whatever, so the thought crossed my mind re: building a set. I'm about 95% sure I'm not going to go the DIY route, but someone here with experience might change my mind (or convince me for sure that it was a foolish idea in the first place). Thanks in advance.

[Maverick]

Perhaps check out Golfsmith..look into Wishon, Nakamura.  My buddy made a custom set using Snake Eye forged MC/CB combo with PX 5.0 HL shafts, custom ferrules and grips..but it ends up costing much more than buying a set off the rack.

[LuciusWooding]

Originally Posted by Maverick

Perhaps check out Golfsmith..look into Wishon, Nakamura.  My buddy made a custom set using Snake Eye forged MC/CB combo with PX 5.0 HL shafts, custom ferrules and grips..but it ends up costing much more than buying a set off the rack.

Then he didn't do it right. You shouldn't be paying more for components than a new set... Maltby heads are all around 20-30$, shafts go from 15$ for Dynamic Gold to 35 for Project X and C tapers. Grips run from 5-10$ and ferrules are like 5$ for a dozen.

Should cost in the neighborhood of 40-90$ per club. New sets, even with set pricing, are starting at like 100+ per club, and that's with stock shafts and grips. If you want Project Xs and multicompound grips in them, you'll shell out a couple hundred bucks on top of the base price.

1000$>600$

That said, comparing MP heads to most components is tough. Wishon's heads are pretty nice but Mizuno heads are sexier than any component.

[showtime583]

You can get a custom set built for under $800 on Ebay.....look closely. A friend of mine ordered from a seller on there and his 69s came back flawless right from the factory. Items from sellers "golfmygirl" and "golf-seller" look pretty solid.

[LovinItAll]

Perhaps check out Golfsmith..look into Wishon, Nakamura.  My buddy made a custom set using Snake Eye forged MC/CB combo with PX 5.0 HL shafts, custom ferrules and grips..but it ends up costing much more than buying a set off the rack.

Ah, my ignorance is starting to show. Thanks for the response. Maybe I should have asked this: - I know there are several brands of DIY club heads. Which (if any), in your opinion, might be comparable or better in quality to something like 59/69's? I'll check out the brands you've mentioned. If I'm going to drop a grand on off the rack clubs (fit for me) but I could spend another $x on something that was measurably better, I'd do that.

[Harmonious]

I've made a couple of sets of irons that worked well, for much less cost than new OEM clubs. I don't do it anymore, but here's a couple of heads that seem pretty nice:

http://www.golfsmith.com/product/30046353/snake-eyes-685x-forged-iron-head

http://www.hirekogolf.com/hireko/orderportal/catalog_presentation/by_group/0/2042/0/0/0/0/0

[Jon Robert]

Originally Posted by LovinItAll

I know virtually nothing about the DIY club making game, but after pricing new MP-59/69's, I thought I'd ask:

Are there really any DIY blades that are truly comparable in quality? I'm speaking with respect to the iron heads, of course.

Thought about just picking up a set of 33's on the cheap - I always loved those clubs. Like most ho's, though, I start looking at something that's shiny and new and I'm drawn like a magnet. I'd rather not part with a grand or whatever, so the thought crossed my mind re: building a set. I'm about 95% sure I'm not going to go the DIY route, but someone here with experience might change my mind (or convince me for sure that it was a foolish idea in the first place).

Thanks in advance.

Can you actually hit a golf ball 99% of the time on the sweet spot?  From what (I THINK ?) you said you don't and blades would be foolish.

Wishon - Search for the Perfect Golf Club page 58

"If you are, however, a mere mortal and don't hit it on center 99 percent of the time, then get smart and get a cavity back. I mean, over half of the tour pros use cavity backs,so that should tell you something..."

==============================================

If you are not an expert caliber striker are you loaded with $? From what you said you are not

If blades don't work out then you have $ sitting un-used.  On the other hand blades are fantastic for use on the practice field as they provide instant feedback via the signiture ball flight based on how you hit it.  I cannot justify hundreds of dollars for pretty blades just to kick around for practice. I have a 1963 set of Hogan IPT blades. they are in like new condition due I suppose to guality metalurgy and plating back then. they are pretty but I don't care really as I use Cavities for playing. Although When I do use these on short beginner courses for giggles they are proudly perched in my bag even if they do hit 2 clubs shorter.   I have a Mizuno MP-30 sitting next to me as I type that I tried one day. It lauched 2 balls directly over the tee box on the hole to the right. there are no magical qualities in Mizuno irons. They are like fishing lures. Designed to catch fisherman and not fish.  I agree Mizuno are beauties but the LUST must be tempered with wisdom.  That women may be gorgious but the rest of your live would be hell if you take the bait.

Plan of attack.

1 ) Get a set of cavities to play with

2) get a relatively cheap set of Hogan blades off ebay to fulfil this itch that needs scratching

http://www.google.com/search?q=hogan+irons&hl;=en&rlz;=1T4GZGN_enUS484US484&prmd;=imvnsfd&tbm;=isch&tbo;=u&source;=univ&sa;=X&ei;=o9EbUOqXE6rD0QH2pIHgDA&ved;=0CF8QsAQ&biw;=1441&bih;=621

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You can buy older top of the line modles used much cheaper than building new component stuff.   Golf clubs are like cameras, TV's etc. People read magazines and stuff and are convinced that last years model has been rendered completely obsolete by this years. They simply cannot be seen with last years and they sell it.

[LovinItAll]

Can you actually hit a golf ball 99% of the time on the sweet spot?  From what (I THINK ?) you said you don't and blades would be foolish.

I hit the ball well enough to play blades. I played 33's for years and consistently kept my index between 2-3 with periodic revisions at scratch. I stated playing twice/week and my index increased to 7-8. I purchased CB clubs at that time, but the switch didn't make any difference in my ball striking. I ended up selling the 33's and keeping the CB's (a mistake) more because of the money I'd spent on the new clubs and the age of the 33's than any benefit the CB's added to my game. Really, the jump in my HC at the time was due to poorer driving and a not as crisp short game from playing/practicing less than it was to my ball striking. I was trying to buy game, but really, I knew better. All of that was years ago. Today, I consistently shoot in the 70's, and again, it isn't typically my ball striking with irons that keeps me from shaving strokes off of my index. I'm older and need softer shafts, too, and the clubs I have could be refitted and would work just fine. I don't think my index will be affected either way (buying new clubs or not) but I just don't like the clubs I'm playing now (never have, really). It's more aesthetics than anything else, and we could talk all day about how a fool and his money are soon parted. [quote] Wishon - Search for the Perfect Golf Club page 58 [[/quote] I checked out the Wishon site. Excellent info - thanks. [quote] "If you are, however, a mere mortal and don't hit it on center 99 percent of the time, then get smart and get a cavity back. I mean, over half of the tour pros use cavity backs,so that should tell you something..." [/quote] I hear ya. I have opinions about this, but it would be moving off-topic. I appreciate the comments. [quote] If you are not an expert caliber striker are you loaded with $? From what you said you are not [/quote] It really isn't about the money. I'm a craftsman of sorts, so the idea of building a set of irons has some appeal. Also, why pay for a manufacture's advertising, overhead, etc. if there are better products available that might still save some scratch? I'm not saying there are, hence my OP. As I said originally, I'm most inclined to purchase a major brand, whether it's new or used. [quote] You can buy older top of the line modles used much cheaper than building new component stuff.   Golf clubs are like cameras, TV's etc. People read magazines and stuff and are convinced that last years model has been rendered completely obsolete by this years. They simply cannot be seen with last years and they sell it. [/quote] Couldn't agree more, that's why I said I was considering purchasing a used set of 33's. If money was really an issue, I probably wouldn't play golf, but that's another topic. I play or practice almost every day again, and I want to love my golf clubs when I set up for a shot. Right now, I don't. That's all it boils down to, really.

[Maverick]

One thing about "custom" clubs is that they are hard to re-sell, unlike name brand sets.

[lumpuckeroo]

I play the MP 68, and in my humble opinion, you will not find a DIY club head that meets, let alone exceeds, the quality, feel, and playability of a Mizuno.  I've hit some of the DIY club heads and could not find one that came close to a Mizuno.

[dsc123]

This is sort of the catch 22 with diy clubs, I suppose.  You can't try them until you build them, and don't know what to build until you try them.

[LovinItAll]

Originally Posted by dsc123

This is sort of the catch 22 with diy clubs, I suppose.  You can't try them until you build them, and don't know what to build until you try them.

This was a part of the problem I was facing. I've decided to order 69's (still deciding on shafts), so thanks to everyone for responding.

[LuciusWooding]

Originally Posted by LovinItAll

This was a part of the problem I was facing. I've decided to order 69's (still deciding on shafts), so thanks to everyone for responding.

That's a fine choice and I wish you the best. Just don't pretend you're saving any money.

[LovinItAll]

That's a fine choice and I wish you the best. Just don't pretend you're saving any money.

I don't understand. Why would I pretend I'm saving any money? I already said that I think going with a big, commercial brand might cost more money, not less.

[LuciusWooding]

Originally Posted by LovinItAll

I don't understand. Why would I pretend I'm saving any money? I already said that I think going with a big, commercial brand might cost more money, not less.

It had been suggested by others (Maverick) that going the component route was more expensive than buying a full set. I just want to assure you and anyone else it's not the case. I wasn't trying to be negative, MP69s are a good choice if you decided you're willing to spend decent money.

[LovinItAll]

It had been suggested by others (Maverick) that going the component route was more expensive than buying a full set. I just want to assure you and anyone else it's not the case. I wasn't trying to be negative, MP69s are a good choice if you decided you're willing to spend decent money.

Got it. I always expected that going the component route would be less money unless there was some exotic clubhead I'd never run across. My guess is that a high quality head would be just as good (maybe better) as a Mizuno head, but I decided I just didn't want to mess with it. I've got a shop with two unfinished projects in it right now. All I need is my wife reminding me how she's ready for her dining room table to be finished while I work on something else.