A golf question
Discussion
A quick one for you golf experts.
I am pretty crap at golf averaging about 30 over par per round.
Some time ago, in order to combat my wretched driving, I flung money at an expensive titanium driver. It has completely transformed that side of my game. Previously I could hit 1 in 5 drives straightish with the other 4 going in any number of random directions rendering it pointless using a driver.
Now, however, I can hit almost every drive straight and long. It has made an unbelievable difference.
Question is: Could I expect similar results flinging money at expensive irons?. I currently use an old set (reasonably good at the time). I've seen sets in the shops at upwards of £800 and wondered if they would only make a difference to good players?
Thanks
I am pretty crap at golf averaging about 30 over par per round.
Some time ago, in order to combat my wretched driving, I flung money at an expensive titanium driver. It has completely transformed that side of my game. Previously I could hit 1 in 5 drives straightish with the other 4 going in any number of random directions rendering it pointless using a driver.
Now, however, I can hit almost every drive straight and long. It has made an unbelievable difference.
Question is: Could I expect similar results flinging money at expensive irons?. I currently use an old set (reasonably good at the time). I've seen sets in the shops at upwards of £800 and wondered if they would only make a difference to good players?
Thanks
blindswelledrat said:
A quick one for you golf experts.
I am pretty crap at golf averaging about 30 over par per round.
Some time ago, in order to combat my wretched driving, I flung money at an expensive titanium driver. It has completely transformed that side of my game. Previously I could hit 1 in 5 drives straightish with the other 4 going in any number of random directions rendering it pointless using a driver.
Now, however, I can hit almost every drive straight and long. It has made an unbelievable difference.
Question is: Could I expect similar results flinging money at expensive irons?. I currently use an old set (reasonably good at the time). I've seen sets in the shops at upwards of £800 and wondered if they would only make a difference to good players?
Thanks
I'm no expert but throwing money at more clubs is an expensive way to get better. I had a couple of lesson and they improved my game no end, although I don't really play now. One of my friends plays off scratch and has a tatty old set of clubs but obviously the right technique.
What ever you buy, make sure they are cavity backs - I play with Custom Fitted Tittleist DCI 822. Blades are a pig to play with. 30 over par is ok, give a 28 handicap - thats what I play off althogh I should be better. A good putter makes all the difference - I have an Odessey 2 ball - www.gadgetslab.com/golf-tools/odyssey.html - took no end of strokes off of my game. In the end, a lot of good players - 10 handicap of better could play with any old club. Us mortals have to try and get the best from what we have.
Remeber - There is no substitute for practice, play as often as you can and have a few lessons.
HTH
Dave
406tm
Remeber - There is no substitute for practice, play as often as you can and have a few lessons.
HTH
Dave
406tm
To a certain extent, a high-handicapper spending lots of money on a very forgiving, large-headed driver is a very effective way of reducing the waywardness of shots (although you will not be able to shape the shots as effectively when you start improving).
Irons are a completely different kettle of fish. IME, you will not suddenly cure a viscious slice or stop cold topping every other shot, just becuase you spent £££ onm the clubs. The advice given about cavity backed clubs is sound though.
If you find you get on better with woods, then you might consider investing in some decent, forgiving fairway woods (my old man carries a 3W, 5W, 7W and 9W and hits them far better than he does his long/mid-irons).
Basically, all that will help is lessons and practice; money will not buy you a decent round (believe me, I know!
)...
Good luck!
Irons are a completely different kettle of fish. IME, you will not suddenly cure a viscious slice or stop cold topping every other shot, just becuase you spent £££ onm the clubs. The advice given about cavity backed clubs is sound though.
If you find you get on better with woods, then you might consider investing in some decent, forgiving fairway woods (my old man carries a 3W, 5W, 7W and 9W and hits them far better than he does his long/mid-irons).
Basically, all that will help is lessons and practice; money will not buy you a decent round (believe me, I know!
)... Good luck!
406tm said:
What ever you buy, make sure they are cavity backs - I play with Custom Fitted Tittleist DCI 822. Blades are a pig to play with. 30 over par is ok, give a 28 handicap - thats what I play off althogh I should be better. A good putter makes all the difference - I have an Odessey 2 ball - www.gadgetslab.com/golf-tools/odyssey.html - took no end of strokes off of my game. In the end, a lot of good players - 10 handicap of better could play with any old club. Us mortals have to try and get the best from what we have.
Remeber - There is no substitute for practice, play as often as you can and have a few lessons.
HTH
Dave
406tm
Point taken. New putter on its way.
I know you're right about practice/lessons but it's not realistic. Have had lessons in the past and only get chance to play 2 or 3 rounds per year so I am just wondering if I can 'buy' a few shots off eachround as the driver did and hopefully soon the putter.
Nuggs said:
To a certain extent, a high-handicapper spending lots of money on a very forgiving, large-headed driver is a very effective way of reducing the waywardness of shots (although you will not be able to shape the shots as effectively when you start improving).
Irons are a completely different kettle of fish. IME, you will not suddenly cure a viscious slice or stop cold topping every other shot, just becuase you spent £££ onm the clubs. The advice given about cavity backed clubs is sound though.
If you find you get on better with woods, then you might consider investing in some decent, forgiving fairway woods (my old man carries a 3W, 5W, 7W and 9W and hits them far better than he does his long/mid-irons).
Basically, all that will help is lessons and practice; money will not buy you a decent round (believe me, I know!
Good luck!
Good answer!
I suspected this might be the case. edit: although NOT what I wanted to hear.
>> Edited by blindswelledrat on Monday 19th December 09:03
He doesn't carry any irons below the 7I...blindswelledrat said:
...only get chance to play 2 or 3 rounds per year...
The reality is that you aren't going to get better by practice/skill at that level. Golf (like most sports) requires a minimum frequency to retain any sort of muscle memory or groove.
Your easiest way to lower your score is to cheat, or to bribe small boys to hide in the rough and throw your ball back onto the fairway (no Glitter comments please). Cheaper too.
Size Nine Elm said:
...only get chance to play 2 or 3 rounds per year...
The reality is that you aren't going to get better by practice/skill at that level. Golf (like most sports) requires a minimum frequency to retain any sort of muscle memory or groove.
Your easiest way to lower your score is to cheat, or to bribe small boys to hide in the rough and throw your ball back onto the fairway (no Glitter comments please). Cheaper too.
I have come to this conclusion myself. Cheating is as much part of the game as putting as far as I'm concerned.
Have not played golf for about 3 years now but still have my clubs. I started with a cheap half set of Petrons then moved onto Ben Hogans, next move to Slazenger, I now have a set of Ping supposedly one of the best clubs. I may have had a very minor improvement in my game but the best thing about them is I cannot blame the equipment if it goes wrong as it frequently did it was my fault.
Get lessons and make sure your clubs are correct for you. Any pro should be able to check this. I have shafts which are 1 inch longer and grips which are 1 size bigger than standard which made a huge difference. ( I obviously am long and wide which is why the laydeeeezzz love me...... 
)
No substitute for practice and lessons though.
) No substitute for practice and lessons though.
Expensive and forgiving clubs can help you, i went down that route at first, i was able to hit the ball pretty well most of the time. I then took a gamble on some blades, and my god the difference is quite something. You have to learn a near perfect swing otherwise forget it, but if you can hit it right they knock spots off cavity backs. Even on off days with my blades i could have picked up a cavity back and hit it perfectly every time, but i never wanted to. If you're learning as you say you are, buy a nice set of forgiving cavity backs as it will be a few years until you are good enough to use bladed clubs, and there's nothing more detrimental and disillusioning in golf than hacking your way around with clubs you cant use.
p.s woods can be made to be alot more forgiving than irons can, so dont expect quie the same results with them as with your new driver
p.s woods can be made to be alot more forgiving than irons can, so dont expect quie the same results with them as with your new driver
I'm trying to think of a nice way of putting this but spending that much money on golf clubs at your standard is crazy talk. Spend £800 on lessons then you will see improvements, don't even bother with new irons (especially at that kind of price) unless your playing with Dunlop blades from the 50's. Find a pro that you get on with a don't expect immediate improvements... you will improve if you want to!
Before you spend any money on clubs (and I cant believe this hasnt been mentioned already) if you are serious then make sure you get your clubs measured to fit you. This will also have impact on your swing speed etc.. for example if you have a fast swing then you prob dont want graphite shafts (as these flex causing a whipping effect leading to slice or drift), Grip length, shaft lenth etc.. all play a factor. Any decent Golf shop will put you in a swing monitor (basically you go and smack 20 balls into a net while a load of cameras monitor your swing. They will the set up the clubs to match your swing, hight, style, etc etc.. I got a decent set "made to measure" for £400 (robin Hood Golf in Bimingham) you dont nessercerily need to spend massive amounts to improve you game, once you have a decent set of clubs that you know are right for you then lessons start to make all the difference! good luck.
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