Equipment rethink

[paininthenuts]

My handicap is now 20.6 and I am positive that with an extra little push I can achieve my ultimate goal of 18. Before anyone says it, I have had lessons, and will have more going forward. I recently came into a few quid, and whilst it isn't enough to change all my kit, it is enough to make some changes in the bigger stuff (not driver). I presently have two very cheap hybrids, and two very cheap woods. I don't hit the hybrids badly, or the 5 wood to be honest, but I am still pretty poor with the 3 wood, even though I now hit it well occasionally after shortening it. I am awaiting delivery of a 22* and 25* Karsten Ping hybrids, and an old used Taylormade V steel 4 wood in great nick. After reading the reviews on these clubs, I feel confident I will get on with both. For the time being I am keeping the 5 wood, but may replace it with a 19* hybrid if I get on well with the other two. One side of me says that the additional cost and technology should help my golf, but the other side says there is to much hype around brand names.

Am I doing the right thing ?

[70sSanO]

Unless you have actually tested the clubs, it is tough to say how well they will perform.

That said, I have purchased clubs without hitting them and, for the most part, they have worked out.

I'm in the camp that every golfer has flaws in his/her swing and most of those golfers compensate for those flaws with some degree of success.  I don't think any new club will fix those flaws, (might be a better fit), but it may provide a mental change that brings more success.

If they work better for you, then use that knowledge that you can hit them successfully after the honeymoon is over.

John

[shanksalot]

Moving down to a 4 wood is smart as most players don't hit a 3 wood very well. Today's hybrids are an excellent buy and certainly help those of us who are not a single handicap. most of us play the long irons poorly but we should get good results from the hybrids. 

[Mr. Desmond]

As a 20 capper, I'd work on the long game -- generally, drop the 3 wood, find a more modern 4 wood (Callaway XHot or XHot2 from about 3-4 yrs ago are typically lighter, face cup tech, and more suited to high cappers and ought to be inexpensive) and play it at 42 inches. I'd advise a 7 wood at 41 inches -- to use even more than the 4 wood, depending on your game.

Good luck --

[paininthenuts]

Well, the hybrids have been delivered, and whilst I will not be able to use them for a few days they look lovely. I think I may take them to bed tonight LOL

[WUTiger]

On 11/5/2016 at 11:50 AM, shanksalot said:

Moving down to a 4 wood is smart as most players don't hit a 3 wood very well.

At a demo day about three years ago, the Tour Edge rep was having players test out the latest Exotics fairway woods model. He had us hit both the 3W and the 4W. Most of us got cleaner hits, and longer shots, with the 4W rather than 3W.

Surprisingly, some of the people who did better with the 4W were long hitters, who could carry their driver about 270. 3W or 4W? It depends in part on how you come into the ball.

[DrvFrShow]

I'm very intrigued with the same-length club sets I saw Crossfield and Shields review recently. Everything 7 iron length. We practice a lot with our 7 irons. This way do I have to learn how to hit a 5 iron? Or a 9 iron? or a GW? Just learn a 7 iron swing and hit that well and use that for every single club except for Driver. Build a set from 4 - SW. Cobra or Sterling?

[iacas]

6 minutes ago, DrvFrShow said:

I'm very intrigued with the same-length club sets I saw Crossfield and Shields review recently. Everything 7 iron length. We practice a lot with our 7 irons. This way do I have to learn how to hit a 5 iron? Or a 9 iron? or a GW? Just learn a 7 iron swing and hit that well and use that for every single club except for Driver. Build a set from 4 - SW. Cobra or Sterling?

We have other threads for SLI (single-length irons), but I think it's wrong to say that we have to "learn how to hit a 5-iron." Learning to hit irons is the skill: the same thing works for a 6-iron and an 8-iron. The physics mandate, for the most part, why the longer irons are longer.

More discussion on this can be had in the SLI topics.

[dave s]

For me, the longer hybrids (3 and 4) were more difficult to hit than either a 5 or 7 wood.  Much better results with the Ping G-30 5 and 7 wood than any hybrids tested during my club fitting session. One of the better players in my regular golf group has driver, 4- and 7-woods in his bag.  Let me tell you, he's deadly with the fairway woods on par-5 holes.  He also carries a 3-hybrid which he uses exclusively on 180-ish yard par 3 holes.

As always, your mileage may vary.

dave

[paininthenuts]

Well, with exception of my driver and my putter, my entire kit is changed. I have hit a few very good shots with the 4 wood, although I have had a few duff ones as well. I just shortened it by an inch, and put a new grip on it. My 3 Ping Karsten hybrids are simply amazing, and so easy to hit. I upgraded my old Ping G2 steel shaft irons to my G15 graphites, and they are also lovely. Of course, it's going to be a while before everything settles down, but I feel confident. 

[70sSanO]

Good to hear.

Glad to hear they are working well for you.

John

[Valleygolfer]

On 11/09/2016 at 5:19 PM, dave s said:

For me, the longer hybrids (3 and 4) were more difficult to hit than either a 5 or 7 wood.  Much better results with the Ping G-30 5 and 7 wood than any hybrids tested during my club fitting session. One of the better players in my regular golf group has driver, 4- and 7-woods in his bag.  Let me tell you, he's deadly with the fairway woods on par-5 holes.  He also carries a 3-hybrid which he uses exclusively on 180-ish yard par 3 holes.

As always, your mileage may vary.

dave

Sounds like my bag. I'm loving my new 7 wood. I haven't dialed in the distance yet but highly recommend the fairway woods over hybrids. Hitting my 7 wood is like hitting a 225 yard pitching wedge.

[dave s]

52 minutes ago, Valleygolfer said:

Sounds like my bag. I'm loving my new 7 wood. I haven't dialed in the distance yet but highly recommend the fairway woods over hybrids. Hitting my 7 wood is like hitting a 225 yard pitching wedge.

Agree.  The 7w is about as 'automatic' as a club can be.  Flies high with just a touch of left-turn that helps it roll out.  Sadly, 225 isn't the case with my 7-wood!  More like 175-180.