Joey G

My irons are from 1978, driver and woods from 2004 (same G5 as you)....at my current playing level, I don't feel like my clubs are holding my scores back. I will be updating my wedges to something designed this century in the near future but I'll probably regrip and keep playing my grandfather's old Eye irons a couple more years. There's something to be said about being familiar with your equipment too. The control you talk about with your driver comes from hitting a lot of balls with it and getting to know how it responds to different things. That's tough to give up considering that it could take weeks to develop that relationship with a new driver...at least that helps me cure the new toy bug and keep the wallet closed. :)

http://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/golf/2016/09/25/arnold-palmer-obituary/1881465/

Copy & Pasting my own answer on a similar thread here.... I agree about borrowing or grabbing a CHEAP bag of random clubs at a garage sale to start with but when you're ready to invest a little dough into your own set, there are really three ways to do it... 1 - Get a cheap beginner set from Golfsmith or Dick's (or other online source). Advantages (if you go instore) are you get to see/swing them first, some assistance with selection, a good matched set to start learning the game with even if they are not fitted. I recently spent $169 on a set of Lynx Tigress clubs from Golfsmith for my wife...same set is currently listed on their site for $299. They are actually quite well made/designed and will likely be all she ever needs for her game. Dick's also had a Top Flite set in the same price range...she liked the color of the Lynx set better. ;) 2 - Roll the dice with an online "Clone" company like Giga, Diamond Tour, Pine Meadow, Hireko Golf, etc...You don't get to swing them first but you can use their online fitting systems to customize size/shaft/grip options a little more than just the standard options in a box. I used to have a Pine Meadow driver that I could hit ever bit as far as my brother-in-laws latest greatest. This is a good article about clone clubs http://planet-golf.com/what-are-clone-golf-clubs/ 3 - Used brand name stuff, one man's trash is literally my treasure. Try EBay, Club Finders (or other like websites) and buy a used set of matched irons of proper size/flex (used Ping Eye 2 iron sets go for $90-125 all day) and then piece together your other clubs individually. Again, you won't get to swing them first and you could get burned on a deal along the way...but if you take your time and shop smart, you can assemble a nice bag without breaking the bank this way too. I'm lucky here in Dallas to have a PGA store, a Golfsmith, a dozen Dick's Sports, and also Club Finders Golf (used golf specialist) all within 20 minutes of my house so when I started building a new bag I decided to take the #3 route...but I am considering finishing it off with a couple of new clone wedges rather than going with older/used wedges. Good luck whatever you decide.

I agree about borrowing or grabbing a CHEAP bag of random clubs at a garage sale to start with but when you're ready to invest a little dough into your own set, there are really three ways to do it... 1 - Get a cheap beginner set from Golfsmith or Dick's (or other online source). Advantages are you get to see/swing them first, some assistance with selection, a good matched set to start learning the game with even if they are not fitted. I recently spent $169 on a set of Lynx Tigress clubs from Golfsmith for my wife...same set is currently listed on their site for $299. They are actually quite well made/designed and will likely be all she ever needs for her game. Dick's also had a Top Flite set in the same price range...she liked the color of the Lynx set better. ;) 2 - Roll the dice with an online "Clone" company like Giga, Diamond Tour, Pine Meadow, Hireko Golf, etc...You don't get to swing them first but you can use their online fitting systems to customize size/shaft/grip options a little more than just the standard options in a box. I used to have a Pine Meadow driver that I could hit ever bit as far as my brother-in-laws latest greatest. This is a good article about clone clubs http://planet-golf.com/what-are-clone-golf-clubs/ 3 - Used brand name stuff, one man's trash is literally my treasure. Try EBay, Club Finders (or other like websites) and buy a used set of matched irons of proper size/flex (used Ping Eye 2 iron sets go for $90-125 all day) and then piece together your other clubs individually. Again, you won't get to swing them first and you could get burned on a deal along the way...but if you take your time and shop smart, you can assemble a nice bag without breaking the bank this way too. I'm lucky here in Dallas to have a PGA store, a Golfsmith, a dozen Dick's Sports, and also Club Finders Golf (used golf specialist) all within 20 minutes of my house so when I started building a new bag I decided to take the #3 route...but I am considering finishing it off with a couple of new clone wedges rather than going with older/used wedges. Good luck whatever you decide.

I currently carry both a 1i and a 2i (+ a driver, and a 5w). Fixing to add a 7w and dump one of them. I have definitely used my 2i to tee off when having slice issues with the driver or instead of a 3w from the fairway...I can't hit a 3w to save my life. I mainly use these clubs to get out of trouble with overhanging limbs when I need to punch out low and back into the fairway. I'll probably keep the 1i for this purpose and put the 2i into the office bag now.

Thanks for taking the time for such an informative reply, much appreciated!

This is what the divider looks like...

Anyone own(ed) one of these Silencer bags? In the market for a new and wondering if these are built well? Does the silencer dividing system hold up? TIA.

I'm thinking of getting a 7w after reading this thread. I'm playing with a 12* driver, an 18* 5w and have been struggling with getting a 3w (which I struggle to hit well) or a hybrid (which I have never even tried to hit) to round out my woods. I'm now thinking 21* 7w is on the shopping list...feed the addiction.

Save me a seat in the "Breaking BAD" cart of old hacks if it's not too far. I'm in Rowlett off George Bush and Lakeview Pkwy.

Yup, just got the same 30% Off email today...I guess there's always the PGA store and Club Finders right across the street...

Oh no! That's the store that I go to...just got a great deal on a set of women's clubs for my wife and daughter there. Wonder if they will start clearance pricing soon or just move the inventory to another location?

I hope this doesn't affect the Dallas area stores.

There's hope for an old hack like me yet....

Great tips for newbies! Thanks