should i get new clubs

[oldschoolclubs]

so here's my dilemma- i played golf a lot more when i was younger- had kids and stopped for about 16 yrs whle they were little. back to golfing again a little last year and more this summer. i like my clubs-- high handicap- lose most shots around the green or bend a drive too far left--shot in the mid 90s back then-- about that now--  my clubs are  the original tommy armour 845s from 1988- regripped once and still working pretty well.

 i'bought into the hype of getting new clubs-- longer/ more forgiving/ etc-- and have looked around/ hit clubs/ and even had a fitting at a store. i'm just not sure what i'll gain with the new irons.it seems that the stronger lofts make my 100 yard club go 120/ and my 135 club go 155  so i'd need a new wedge to go 100, and probably just up club the rest of the bag for yardage - BUT the new 3 and 4 irons are really hard to hit on the simulator --they don't go much further than the jacked up 5 and 6 irons-- so i guess i'd need a hybrid there. but to lose the yardages i know in my set and i'd lose my long irons i'm not sure it's worth it just to say i hit a 7 iron as far as my old 5 iron. 

so to be realistic-- what will i gain if i go out and spend the money and get new irons? i'm really just tempted at this point to keep the old clubs and forget the hype of the newest technology-- what am i missing out on?? 

[Hardspoon]

41 minutes ago, oldschoolclubs said:

so here's my dilemma- i played golf a lot more when i was younger- had kids and stopped for about 16 yrs whle they were little. back to golfing again a little last year and more this summer. i like my clubs-- high handicap- lose most shots around the green or bend a drive too far left--shot in the mid 90s back then-- about that now--  my clubs are  the original tommy armour 845s from 1988- regripped once and still working pretty well.

 i'bought into the hype of getting new clubs-- longer/ more forgiving/ etc-- and have looked around/ hit clubs/ and even had a fitting at a store. i'm just not sure what i'll gain with the new irons.it seems that the stronger lofts make my 100 yard club go 120/ and my 135 club go 155  so i'd need a new wedge to go 100, and probably just up club the rest of the bag for yardage - BUT the new 3 and 4 irons are really hard to hit on the simulator --they don't go much further than the jacked up 5 and 6 irons-- so i guess i'd need a hybrid there. but to lose the yardages i know in my set and i'd lose my long irons i'm not sure it's worth it just to say i hit a 7 iron as far as my old 5 iron. 

so to be realistic-- what will i gain if i go out and spend the money and get new irons? i'm really just tempted at this point to keep the old clubs and forget the hype of the newest technology-- what am i missing out on?? 

Maybe invest in a "Shift" key first? 

In all seriousness, the newer clubs are going to be "better"; the question is whether the difference is enough to be worth it.  It seems like you're going about it the right way, but hitting new clubs on a simulator and comparing to the current results.

My recommendation would be to get out and play a bit (maybe a full season).  See how you play.  If you're not making solid contact, or not getting enough height on your iron shots, go test new clubs to see if they correct the specific problems you're having.

You might also get a bigger "bang for the buck" by replacing your long irons with hybrids first - that's probably the biggest advance in club tech since your old irons.

Also...welcome to the site!

[Piz]

I'd hang on to the 845's, for the reasons you mentioned, and look for a driver/3 wood/5 wood.  The newer long stuff really is a dramatic improvement over the "Pittsburgh persimmon" era metals.  You do not have to shell out a lot of coin either.  4 egg sample: I picked up an Adams XTD 3 wood, last weekend, for 25 clams.  When the club debuted, in January of 2014, it cost a couple bills.  By the way...welcome back.

[WUTiger]

10 minutes ago, Piz said:

I'd hang on to the 845's, for the reasons you mentioned, and look for a driver/3 wood/5 wood.  The newer long stuff really is a dramatic improvement over the "Pittsburgh persimmon" era metals. ...

If you can get fitted for long clubs - even if you pick them up used - this would help your game the most.

BTW, the TommyA 845 irons are #1 on my list of cool golf clubs I've never owned. (People have let me hit them, and they had good feel!) 845s will get you through the first couple of return seasons, or maybe longer!

On FWs, at least hit a 4W and see how it flies. Some golf tests indicate that the average golfer can hit the 4W more reliably and sometimes longer than a 3W. It just depends on how you come into the ball.

I have carrried 4W + 7W for four seasons now.

[chilepepper]

I want to get new clubs but........they are not going to make me a significantly better player. Lessons and practice will. That's where I'm spending my money. When I do get fitted I will be comparing the lofts on my present set to lofts on potential sets NOT club numbers. 

 The 3/4 iron are difficult clubs for me to hit consistently so I have a couple hybrids. Big difference. Try lots of hybrids on a simulator at the least. I've found vast differences in how I hit brand a b or c vs. X y or z

[WUTiger]

4 minutes ago, chilepepper said:

... The 3/4 iron are difficult clubs for me to hit consistently so I have a couple hybrids. Big difference. Try lots of hybrids on a simulator at the least. I've found vast differences in how I hit brand a b or c vs. X y or z

Key point above. All hybrids are not created equal...

[Piz]

Here is something else to consider: how many irons do you hit per 18 holes?  For example: I shot an 86 last weekend and hit a grand total of 3 iron shots.  Everything else was a 3 wood, 5 wood, hybrid, wedge, or putter.  My score has almost nothing to do with how I'm hitting my irons.

[newtogolf]

48 minutes ago, chilepepper said:

I want to get new clubs but........they are not going to make me a significantly better player. Lessons and practice will. That's where I'm spending my money. When I do get fitted I will be comparing the lofts on my present set to lofts on potential sets NOT club numbers. 

 The 3/4 iron are difficult clubs for me to hit consistently so I have a couple hybrids. Big difference. Try lots of hybrids on a simulator at the least. I've found vast differences in how I hit brand a b or c vs. X y or z

Comparing lofts may not be as fair a comparison as you think.  While irons today may have stronger lofts for a given club number it's typically to compensate for other parts of the head design and shaft combination.  

[Rainmaker]

Personally, I feel like iron technology improves enough to warrant having a set no more than about 10 years old.  I've had irons, though, that I've liked and not liked so if you keep trying some, you'll probably find a set worth upgrading too.  As far as specifically *what* improves every 10 years? . .I don't know . .could be looks, lol.  But I feel like, in general, SG and SGI designs have improved - offering more forgiveness, varying amounts of offset, different top-line profiles (which seems to be a big deal for me even though it's just appearance), etc.   

At the same time, there's no real *need* to upgrade from something you like and is working well for you.  It's not like you'd be at a significant disadvantage against somebody with newer irons.  My opinion, anyway.     

[Swungover]

After a 23 year layoff, just came back two months ago. My cheap starter set from 1990 was really beat up. So, I upgraded the whole set to TM M2 irons, a Callaway XR 16 driver and replaced my fairway woods with a Ping G30 hybrid. So far, I have done 200% better driving, and am a decent ballstriker off my irons. It was $$$, but at 61 years old, I felt I was due to have a decent set for once. My old ones were Wilson Strater, and had been through the war back in the early 1990s. The only original club I use is my Ping anser putter.

[BigFive]

Hello!

A sunny story of my almost 28 years old Tommy Armour 845. I bought them appr. 1989 when I was stuck to 14 hcp. A few months later I passed 10 in hcp. Lowest was 9,0.

After meeting a beutiful woman who I married and two kids later the clubs was stored in the dark place in our house.  

Last year my wife said to me, - why not starting golf again together with me?

My old Tommy Armour 845 came out into the sun again. The Pro almost bend his body in pieces and fell into laughter when he saw my clubs.

Yesterday I shot a 73 round only using the irons. My new hcp turned to be 8,1!  

Feels good from Sweden!

[Rainmaker]

On 7/28/2016 at 4:45 AM, Swungover said:

After a 23 year layoff, just came back two months ago. My cheap starter set from 1990 was really beat up. So, I upgraded the whole set to TM M2 irons, a Callaway XR 16 driver and replaced my fairway woods with a Ping G30 hybrid. So far, I have done 200% better driving, and am a decent ballstriker off my irons. It was $$$, but at 61 years old, I felt I was due to have a decent set for once. My old ones were Wilson Strater, and had been through the war back in the early 1990s. The only original club I use is my Ping anser putter.

I've upgraded my entire bag many times - except my Ping b60 putter that I've had since I was 14. 

Edited July 30, 2016 by Rainmaker