About to switch irons set but having some issues

[jkelley9]

This may be sort of a weird (and long) story, and may deviate from the typical way one would switch to a new set of irons, but I could really use some advice.

I have had maybe 15-20 one-on-one 1-hour lessons with my instructor over the past ~6 months. I have been getting a lot better and have been very happy. 

So over these last ~4 months my company has been sending me to Japan for 2 weeks at a time about once every 6 weeks.It was wrecking my golf, since I would go two weeks with barely a swing thought, let alone going to a driving range or playing a round because I was afraid of using clubs other than my own since I couldn't travel with mine. This last round to Japan I went for 3 weeks. Talked to my instructor and he said I should try going to the driving range and really hanker down on just the swing thoughts and rent a single club, a middle iron, and don't worry for now if it doesn't feel the same. Just get my swing thoughts right in my head.

So I went to Japan and played 1,700 balls over 3 weeks at their nifty auto-type range. I played after work 6 days a week, 100 balls each day and my last day I played 200 balls because I knew I wouldn't be able to pick up a club for several days in my travels back home. 

The strange thing was, I rented a taylormade r9 (non TP) reg flex std length/loft/lie 7-i (which is what, maybe a 5 year old club?) and from day one at the range I was hitting SO INCREDIBLY BETTER. I figured on day one it was probably because i was thinking during my trip of getting my swing thoughts right and what i was going to focus on (small victories) and that I would waver throughout the days. But that was not the case. I was hitting it like a CHAMP every, single, day. 1,700 balls. I was on a good quality "feel" mat which hides fat shots but I know when I hit it fat and took that into account. What was amazing is that I had a ridiculous amount of control over the ball and hit 90% excellent shots, 5% acceptable shots, and 5% bad shots (including the fat shots that looked like they were acceptably 10 yards short but I new if I weren't on that mat they would have been much more short). I kept good record of my statistics and it was consistent for 18 solid days. This is leaps and bounds better than my normal play at the range. (I'm only talking range here).

I go home and pick up my clubs. I was horrible with them. They were really clunky feeling, heavy, a weird swing weight center point, and I was hitting very poorly. Note, they're some cheaper Adams tight lies clubs I picked up a few years back. I thought it was just because I was so used to those other ones and I would be fine in a day or two. It did not get better. Went to my instructor and he had an r9 6-i in the back. We pulled that out and as soon as I addressed the ball and took a practice swing it felt SO much more comfortable. Took my first and second shot. Smashed them. Excellent. We did some quick and dirty fitting. My Adams were a D2 and the R9 was a D1.5. The r9 was a bit flatter lie and when doing the sharpie test I was hitting more of a nice and flat shot with the r9. My adams was a little more toe down. 

My instructor said that if they feel really good to me, that I may just want to go pick up a used set. He says that sure, I could go get truly "fitted" but it may not be worth it because these already feel great, they're a tremendous improvement, they can be had cheaply (they were pretty much mass produced), and I would see maybe a MARGINAL different with a perfectly fitted set of clubs at my skill level... which is still evolving. So that made sense to me.

The sucky part is... I cannot find a set for less than about $300 without worrying about second-hand counterfeit equipment. There are several new iron sets made by taylormade and other good brands of clubs that are in that general ballpark for pricing. Since this is the case, should I now consider getting fitted? Maybe swinging a few of those lower end taylormades (speedblades, rocketbladez, sldrs, etc)? Maybe not get fully fitted for anything, but at least see if maybe there's another club that's really close in feel?

I just don't think I want to spend the dough to get fully fitted right now since my swing is changing still (albeit it's a lot better). I just don't like wasting money. One day I'll own the set that helps me the most. But I don't think today is that day.

Please let me know what you think. I would really appreciate it!

[Pete F]

When I check Taylormade R9 iron sets as sold items on ebay, it looks like you can pretty easily buy a set for under $200 easily. Not exactly a good item for a counterfeiter to make a fortune on.

A little patience on ebay will get you what you want for the right price.

[vangator]

As you improve your game, getting fit for a set of clubs won't change unless you start growing.  The length of the club won't change.  The lie you need won't change.  Your shaft choice may change if your swing speed really changes.  I wouldn't be taking a lot of lessons will ill-fitting clubs.

[jkelley9]

When I check Taylormade R9 iron sets as sold items on ebay, it looks like you can pretty easily buy a set for under $200 easily. Not exactly a good item for a counterfeiter to make a fortune on.

A little patience on ebay will get you what you want for the right price.

Yea I'm trying to be patient but there just seems to be a lot of people selling them in the $270-300+ range. I've been looking every day for a week now, but I'll try to be a bit more patient. The PGA website on estimating club prices says $140 for a set. Not sure if that's accurate though... 

As you improve your game, getting fit for a set of clubs won't change unless you start growing.  The length of the club won't change.  The lie you need won't change.  Your shaft choice may change if your swing speed really changes.  I wouldn't be taking a lot of lessons will ill-fitting clubs.

Yea, I'm thinking I may just go get really fitted. And if that's the case, I probably wouldn't mind spending more on the clubs then, and getting the set that suits me best. I was just hoping I could spend maybe $200 on a set that I know I've been performing well with and "feels" good to me. Even when we did the sharpie lie test I was dead straight on the standard lie for the R9 but on my adams I would need an adjustment. Those clubs aren't worth adjusting to me though... they were pretty cheap and they're quite heavy, and I'm swinging much better with a comparable lighter club. Even just at address my adams dont suit my eye well, and the swing balance doesn't feel "good." So if for $200 I could see that much of an improvement, I was cool with that. But $300? Eh, maybe I'll just go get fitted and see what comes out of it. I may fit well for one of the lower end ($300-400) new sets or better with a $800+ set and that would be fine too I guess. 

[vangator]

As long as you're not switching out shafts to see which one performs best for you, the lie is the most important thing to get right.  You want the club to make an even divot.  If the heel or toe dig in, the face angle will change and result in a stray shot.

WTF measurement will get the length right.

[jkelley9]

Thanks for the help guys. I was able to purchase a 4-PW all standard set with very little usage (3-4 rounds) off ebay for $190 so I'm happy with that price and my purchase :) 

It's actually kind of a funny story in that when I paid for them I saw they were coming from my state. So I asked where they lived and if I could pick them up to avoid any damage in shipment and to save them time (I didn't ask for my pre-paid shipping back) and it turned out they were just down the street from the tournament I'm playing in this afternoon lol. they're members there, and when I called the guy he said he was actually on the course I have the tournament today at as we spoke. So he just left them at the pro shop for me to pick up this afternoon for my tournament  i wouldn't usually use the clubs having never swing anything but one of the irons for a tournament but its cap choice foursomes with improved lies to a club length so i'm just going to say screw it and have a good time on the course with them even if i have poor results lol. I'm not worried about it

Small world though, huh?