Mozgolf

Funny enough most OEMs water the shafts down to cater for the ego of the vast majority of punters that tend to over shaft. Ergo, "it has to be S or X" when the Noob has a 89mph SS that would never be able to a real S off the ground. In the end the OEM increase the launch angle/ higher kick point etc to ensure Senhor Noob has pleasant experience whilst massaging his ego with his S or X. They massage the characteristics of the shaft so that it is more playable for the average golfer. If you are an average golfer, it will probably be fine for you. If anything its an even more widespread malady that the online specialist 22 capper that needs a forged blade to work the ball into tight pins; throws up a little in his mouth at the mere sight of a GI "shovel", who is an excellent ballstriker, that is only a high capper because he can't putt!

I would say no to Pro V1 at your handicap. They are just too expensive, however if money is no object, go for it. A 22 capper isn't going to generate the spin to make them back up anyway. I float around between a 5 and 10 handicap, and have actually found I have never really played/ scored well with pro level balls, be they Nike, Titleist or Callaway. I don't normally buy them, so maybe just picking up a giveaway sleeve here and there doesn't don't really give them a chance, or me enough time to get used to them; as I do with my el cheopo ball selection technique. I normally just buy softer mid-range balls (Srixon AD33, for a while the old Nike Juice, even softer Pinnacle (heaven forbid) Dimensions, various Wilsons DX2 and DX 3 Soft, 50/50 etc, even Dunlop Locos!). As I don't have regular access to a golf shop I normally just buy 3 or 4 boxes of whatever is on promotion and play them til they are done and go and buy some more or whatever else is on sale. There are slight differences ball to ball, but you pretty quickly get used to them and play accordingly. my 2/100

Funny enough most of OEMs down spec the shafts to counter punters that by and large over shaft (needs to be X stiff, low spin etc- its a variation on the 20 capper that throws up a little in his mouth at the mere sight of a GI shovel and needs to work the ball, and is only a 20 capper because he can't putt), thinking they need to play everything they see on the Tour.

I wouldn't bother about the old stuff, as you have seen it basically worthless. Search on line, plenty of last years or 2012 clubs can be had for $250-300 for a full set of irons (pretty decent offerings from slightly lesser OEMs- Adams, Wilson or Cobra spring to mind and much under rated Nike irons). $100-150 drivers and $50-100 fairways. You can more or less put together a complete new bag for around $500. I doubt club buying has ever been cheaper. I change my gear a little bit, not often by many standards, I sell most of it on to mates that are looking to get out of really old stuff or if it's tired give it to my caddy (I'm in Africa- they are teenage kids with next to nothing, but a good swing and a love of the game)

Everyone bags the chipper, but I have seen some guys that are pretty sharp with them. The purist will tell you its not a proper club etc but at the end of the day there is no room on your scorecard to write what you scored with! I think for some its easier, they use the one club for everything around the green, rather than trying to learn to finesse 3 wedges and or mid or even long irons for pump and runs. The shaft is short and upright more like a putter so easier to control. Worth a try, if your not worried what others think. Plus most of us can normally identify a club we rarely use, be it your 60* wedge, 3 hybrid/ 3 iron, or a redundant fairway wood

Pretty easy really, Irons Nike VRS X, Wilson Ci11, Adams Super S (includes good 3 and 4 hybrids), Cobra Amp all can be had new for between $250- $300 Adams Tom Watson 3 wedge sets can be had for $100 (I have played with about 3 or 4 sets over the years down as low as a 5 handicap. Not the fancy name but they get the job done) Plenty of decent new fairways can be had for between $50-$100. TM Superfast 2.0 or Adams Speedline 12 for $79 Cleveland Classic about $60 etc etc with your putter and driver you are looking at about $450 for an almost complete bag of new sticks. Try the online sites for window shopping

Would look around at the likes of Amp Cell, Adams Super S or Nike VRS they can be had new for $299, and are GI rather than SGI clubs and seem to fit most of your requirements. Most on-line places are doing them for those prices. Wilson Ci11 can be had for about $250 and could easily be played down to a single digit handicap without being to tough for a beginner

The annual whinny hot-list thread. Who really makes better gear than the big OEMs? Sure there is the odd boutique manufacturer, but they are not widely available or that widely known and similarly would be of little interest to the vast majority of GDs readership. It gives you a guide on who has produced something decent for this season and can assist in narrowing down your choices of what to demo. In reality few in the know will buy purely off what is written on a list, no matter how comprehensive. Thats why we people go and get fittings, its hourses for courses

Yep not too bad, played them for a long time/ until they stopped selling them around me. I was playing down to a 5 handicap with them no problems.

At your level I might recommend something a little more forgiving. I would recommend having a look at the Adams Super S irons as a start. You get a very playable iron without being over the top chunky + you get 2 good hybrids (3-4h and 5-PW) for about the price or less that you get 4-AW/ GW with many other mainstream OEMs. I have found Adams be be about the best bank for buck on the market and at about $450 is not too much over your budget for new irons with the hybrids included. Just a thought

Without testing/ fitting, of your selection I would go the Callaway RAZR, or as has been stated the X Hot; it was the bomb of last seasons crop according to most of the reviews/ comparisons I saw

I would go with the Nikes. Better price and way under-rated/ sleeper of an iron, not quite as chunky as the RBZ and you would probably be happy with them in your bag for longer. my 2/100

IMHO stick with 5 wood and a 4 hybrid then your 5 to PW. 3 hybrid, is generally a touch tougher to hit than a 5w, which seems to be a no brainer for most. Putters for something decent at a fair cost go for Cleveland Classics, they have a range of shapes and styles, just find one that feels right after hitting a few balls Extra wedges for bang for buck look at Adams Tom Watson 3 wedge set for $100 to complete the bag. Arguably the best bank for buck in golf, I have played as low as a 5 handicap with them and can never stump up the 300 notes for a real wedge! Another option is look at some Adams/ Callaway/ Cobra iron sets that already have the hybrids 3 and 4 and 5-PW as irons, can also save big time compared to buying irons and hybrids separately

Wonder if Mizuno realize someone stole their MP 14 forging presses

OMG I woke up and it was 2009 again! The companies are all overseas as its too expensive to produce with American workers. Americans wouldn't do it for the money and the illegal Mexicans would end up making your clubs and everyone would still be complaining;)

C A L L A W A Y, will be getting my $

Conventional wisdom would tend to indicate that the only difference in terms of preserving a beat up elbow would be in going to graphite shafts. Somehow you have precluded this or it does not apply to you?

OMG we are tiny minded today. I understand perfectly well how most of the English language works. It still does not stop people pronouncing the word as cos, coz or even b'cos. Not cuz school- master, that's a slang for cousin in many places, get out and live a little. What everybody are you talking about- the Swamp People cast? Some of us are not from the US of A and have traveled a little, might even have written a masters degree dissertation or two. This is a golf thread about the color/ colour of golf balls not a school lesson in petty grammar. Relax this is a place to chill out a little, not to get schooled by pissants or is that piss-ants or just piss ants?

LOL indeed or even por causa in Portuguese .

OMG, you are that don't mess with the game guy. Do you patrol the clubhouse in a gold buttoned blazer and cravat, terrorizing junior members for being inappropriately attired? I was not searching for anything, I was writing a tongue in cheek post, complete with colourful text, plenty pronounce because as cos.

Yawn everyone of these threads has at least one don't mess with the game guy! I thought the OP asked about what color you can see easiest when hitting driver. The yellow ball works best for my old eyes cos I hit it so far, the whit ball just disappears at about 270m, still climbing!

Thinking about it, in this part of the world as caddies are affordable and most of us have a regular on our home course. Normally high school age kids. If its quiet and no one is around, I normally play with my caddy to make a bit of a game of it. We are about the same handicap so its competitive and better than the drop three balls practice routine a solo round routinely ends up as for me,

We all get the traditional white ball thing, but some can live with the colored ball when we can see it land and a white one just disappears in mid air. The majority moved on from steel spikes, persimmon woods, butter knife thin blades etc Whats in a ball color!

They used to play tennis with white balls and wooden racquets once upon a time. But they also used to play in trousers, but they got over it.

Woohoo congratulations too awesome. I guess they just make colored balls cos they can market to a different demographic. Thats also why you see so many white hi vis vests on construction sites I guess... Not!