Suggestions on gradually upgrading my old equipment after a 20 year golf hiatus...

[PALS-SSA]

Since you already bought a new driver, do you like your putter?  If not, I'd replace that next.  No quicker place to gain strokes.

After that, get new wedges.  Again, greatest impact.

When you are looking at fairways and irons, look at what is giving you more trouble and prioritize their replacement.  Likely, 3 wood first.  

 

Welcome back!

[Vater]

I agree with what some folks have said on here about getting irons first to set your gapping - but that's not what I did during my entire bag refresh. And many responses may have assumed that the OP doesn't want to dive in on potentially the biggest purchase of the bunch.

 

I can make the argument that irons can wait for two reasons:

1. As he comes back to the game, he might end up in a place where he needs different irons in a month or two than he would now while he's knocking off the rust and/or realizing his body is different than it was 20 years ago

2. You can always blend in your gapping by deciding which iron to start with, e.g. in light of his new hybrid, he might just buy irons from 5-PW (which translates into additional savings, one less iron to buy) or he might have too big of a gap otherwise and needs have a 3 iron... or he picks a set with a traditional lofts and a 4i is where to start, or he gets a set with "today's lofts" and can start at the 5i...

[Lu5150]

what a day after work.....

 

First went to GolfTec....they basically indicated that I'm wasting my money if they do the analysis without buying the clubs they sell (top brands at MSRP)....but the fitter did indicate I should get a set of irons first vs getting a Hybrid or Fairway woods....

 

Then I proceeded to go to the PGA Superstore....been there before....looked and tried putters for an hour....and I really liked the ones with no-offset (LAB, Inovai, and Wilson Infinite SouthSide....the first 2, I almost had a heart attack when I saw the price.....

 

After the putters......the staff let me hit a few demo Hybrids & Fairway Woods.....I must say, now I know why everybody keeps raving about the Hybrids.....WOW...I really like the Callaway Apex 21s.....unfortunately no PreOwned in stock for that model.....

 

Lastly, went to the bag area and bought a Titlist Hybrid 5 Stand Bag....brought it home and it would not fit right on my old Knight push cart....the rods are interfering with the upper curved saddle where you strap the bag to it, feels like it will break them at the pivot point.....

 

But feel I did not come home empty handed....as the CPO website has some good prices on used Callaway Apex 21 Hybrids....better than the PO prices the Superstore had for other brands in their inventory...I will be ordering one soon.... 

 

Thanks to all who suggested CPO...

[Milfordlefty]

On 5/12/2022 at 11:50 PM, Lu5150 said:

what a day after work.....

 

First went to GolfTec....they basically indicated that I'm wasting my money if they do the analysis without buying the clubs they sell (top brands at MSRP)....but the fitter did indicate I should get a set of irons first vs getting a Hybrid or Fairway woods....

 

Then I proceeded to go to the PGA Superstore....been there before....looked and tried putters for an hour....and I really liked the ones with no-offset (LAB, Inovai, and Wilson Infinite SouthSide....the first 2, I almost had a heart attack when I saw the price.....

 

After the putters......the staff let me hit a few demo Hybrids & Fairway Woods.....I must say, now I know why everybody keeps raving about the Hybrids.....WOW...I really like the Callaway Apex 21s.....unfortunately no PreOwned in stock for that model.....

 

Lastly, went to the bag area and bought a Titlist Hybrid 5 Stand Bag....brought it home and it would not fit right on my old Knight push cart....the rods are interfering with the upper curved saddle where you strap the bag to it, feels like it will break them at the pivot point.....

 

But feel I did not come home empty handed....as the CPO website has some good prices on used Callaway Apex 21 Hybrids....better than the PO prices the Superstore had for other brands in their inventory...I will be ordering one soon.... 

 

Thanks to all who suggested CPO...

Sorry for the delayed response. Appears each GolfTec is different. What I don't get is the thought can't do a swing analysis without buying clubs. A swing is a swing regardless of the brand of iron in your hand. If you have a major swing flaw, you want lessons to fix the flaw, not clubs to cover up a flaw (which never happens). Glad to see you had better luck at PGASS. Enjoy you new(er) clubs!

[bigolherschel]

This is awesome. Welcome.

 

A few things have changed: 

- Bluetooth speakers (I’m a fan)

- Custom fitters, big box retail, online retail (new and used), and online classifieds (I use Facebook marketplace) have made for an ultra-efficient golf clubs market. Know that you’re going to buy and resell some of these clubs that don’t work out… there should be no fear of total loss because if you buy right you’re never going to be too far beyond a 30% loss or so. 

- Urethane tour balls are awesome. I buy them used from major retailers online or on eBay for $2 a ball (mint) down to a little over $1 a ball (3A). Buy recycled, not refurbished. I recommend buying and sticking with the same ball for mental reasons (it sucks to hit a pinnacle you found in the woods last hole as a re-tee… reminds yourself how much you suck and don’t deserve “good” balls). Ignore people here that cite pseudoscience of urethane balls hurting anyone non-scratch with too much spin. These people are the same ones changing their own oil to save $6 (while spending a couple hours of their time)… those men are nihilists, Donnie. 
- In my opinion, get irons first that you like to set your distances. Then the full swing wedges. Good idea on driver first. I also like a good hybrid (even an older Adams or Nike) to help get the ball off the tee if you can’t keep the mega driver on planet earth. I’m a bogey golfer, and I genuinely have seen clubs change my game for the better. 
- I used a top tracer bay to learn my distances. This is instead of having a pushy salesman do it for me. This is the difference between managing your own personal finances vs. just taking your parents’ financial planners advice (who is paid on commission). 
- Beware of people telling you not to swing a club until you’ve been fit first. These people are obsessed with memorizing what fitters (aka salespeople) have told them. 

[Lu5150]

well I returned the Titleist stand bag and got the Sun Mountain C130 5 way bag....it fitted perfectly on my old push cart with all the zippers now facing the front (very convenient 😎).....and doubled my storage to fit all my junk vs the old Crospete Nova bag....lol

 

I appreciate the feedback that getting a used set of irons should be priority, but to be honest, improving my game is a long term plan for me......and my current thinking is to get fitted for an affordable set next year (around winter).....for now, I just want to have fun, and upgrade the sticks that would get me closest to the pin (on those par 4 & 5s) with the fewest swings......the new driver is fantastic and looking to replace the old woods and long irons with used hybrids for now....

 

Edited May 15, 2022 by Lu5150

[pitchnputt]

On 5/15/2022 at 1:58 PM, Lu5150 said:

well I returned the Titleist stand bag and got the Sun Mountain C130 5 way bag....it fitted perfectly on my old push cart with all the zippers now facing the front (very convenient 😎).....and doubled my storage to fit all my junk vs the old Crospete Nova bag....lol

 

I appreciate the feedback that getting a used set of irons should be priority, but to be honest, improving my game is a long term plan for me......and my current thinking is to get fitted for an affordable set next year (around winter).....for now, I just want to have fun, and upgrade the sticks that would get me closest to the pin (on those par 4 & 5s) with the fewest swings......the new driver is fantastic and looking to replace the old woods and long irons with used hybrids for now....

 

I have a couple Adams/ tm hybrids in perfect shape and doing me no good that I can pass along for not a lot to another bogey golfer trying to keep the kids more in fashion than his clubs if you want. Shoot me a pm if interested. Happy swingin’

[Lu5150]

[Striker Ace]

7 wood 21 degree

5 hybrid 24 degree

Game improvement irons with the correct weighted shaft and spine for your swing.

Friendly forgiving 48, 52, and 56 degree wedges.

 

Golf Galaxy 2021 Maxfli 14 way stand bag is a good deal if you're looking for a bag.

[Striker Ace]

Just seen your pic. That Apex hybrid is a beast. Had one but opted for Cleveland. Nice choice. 

[NSCohen17]

I’ll get kicked out of the guild for this for sure, but:

1. Play

2. Play some more

3. Play even more

4. Stop thinking about clubs and play more still

Edited May 28, 2022 by NSCohen17

[llewol007]

You have so many options. Look at the Tmag line of irons from 2014. The 2014 MC/CB is as solid a setup. Just look around garage sales as well. Some times you have pandemic golfers who end up giving up on the game and are selling off their equipment.

[Lu5150]

I see what you guys meant that I should make irons a priority..........

 

Been playing a lot...more 9 hole rounds though, but I feel my game is improving.....today as I was loading my bag into my pulling cart, I noticed my trusty SW was missing......I realized I left it on the last hole of the course my cousin and I played last weekend...we played the 9 holes and I missed 2 par opportunities because I had to use my pitching wedge and overshot the green......after our round I called the GC clubhouse and somebody turned in my club......I immediately went to pick it up and when the attendant handed me the club I said "oh baby...I missed you today"....the guy replied "that's what we liked to hear"...lol 

[lefthack]

This was where I was when COVID set in. I decided I was going to put effort into my game, so I started with a combo iron set from 2nd Swing for like $250. It kinda spiraled from there, but my whole bag was refreshed for under $500 the first round.

 

I went on quite a ho stretch last year, but my bag will be pretty set this year. My game shows the effort, too. 

[Matt023]

Callaway CPO is a great place for gear

 

Haywood golf 

 

Sub 70

 

2nd swing

 

i would look at carls golfland or tgw for stand bags, sales are usually pretty decent.

[unprecedented_three]

I was in a similar boat as the OP. Before you buy anything, I highly recommend getting a proper fit. Then, you buy new or used the clubs that the fitter recommends. 

[Lu5150]

I just got fitted for an Edel EAS 1.5 putter at Club Champion...wow...the process was phenomenal...I was consistently putting the balls left all the time....the fitter added weights to the shaft and head and I was sinking putts like crazy....

 

Now I got to wait for the delivery....it's going to be a long 4-6 weeks..... 

[AC in TX]

Several recent post re: Callaway Pre-Owned. They currently have a 25% off sale which includes their stuff and the Other Brands category. There are some really good deals on woods, irons and wedges ... Happy hunting!

[Baconator]

I know this is WRX, but I have to agree with the folks who say "just play more." Although I'm sure you could benefit from a variety of club changes I think you'll appreciate the changes more when you feel like you're attacking specific deficiencies rather than randomly swapping out certain clubs. It seems like you did that with the hybrid. As you continue to play more certain things will eventually steer you in a particular direction, say for longer par 3s, short approach shots,putting, etc. Eventually you'll get to where you realize that the biggest problems with the clubs you have is the person holding them. That's when the true hoing actually begins. 

[Zena]

+1 for getting fit for irons. These are the foundation for every bag that everything else is built around. You can play without a driver, fairway wood, hybrid, but not without irons. A 600yd par 5 is reachable in 4 with a 150yd iron.

 

Once you get your irons sorted, I recommend that you fill out the gap between Driver and your longest iron. You may only need anywhere between 1-4 in there depending on your irons. I have 3: 3 wood, 3 hybrid, 4 UDI. If I had gone for a set 4 iron, I would have probably only needed the 3 wood and the hybrid.

 

Then you finish off with wedges. Variety of bounces and grinds for versatility and ease of scoring.

 

Welcome back to the game 🙂

[Lu5150]

Well picked up my Edel putter..can’t wait to game it later this week….

 

[Tanner25]

As others suggested, CPO is great. Since, there's new Rogue clubs out, there's got to be great deals on older models. Your Apex hybrid looks nice. 

[Lu5150]

4 minutes ago, Tanner25 said:

As others suggested, CPO is great. Since, there's new Rogue clubs out, there's got to be great deals on older models. Your Apex hybrid looks nice. 

I love that hybrid.....I got to wait a few weeks before my next purchase in CPO (a 5 wood is next)....the wife is starting to notice and ask me where all this new equipment is coming from....🤣

[betarhoalphadelta]

Wow that putter looks fancy! 

 

Good stuff going to the Sun Mountain cart bag. I saw the post about a stand bag for your push cart... If you play with a push cart, you don't need a stand bag. Heck, I don't even keep the shoulder strap on my bag because all it ever gets carried is from the garage to the car, and then put on the push cart in the parking lot before the round. 

 

I was in a similar place as you. I got fitted for a full set of clubs in 2001. I played a fair bit until 2010, then it dropped off over the next five years, and then I didn't play for 5 straight years until COVID hit in 2020. I got back into the game and was bit in a big way. A lot changed in 20 years, so I've replaced almost everything in my bag. 

 

Most important was driver. My previous driver was big by 2021 standards... Maybe 300CC? With a DG Dynalite S100 steel(!) shaft. One of the buddies I was playing with let me use his old Ping G25 for a few weeks to test out, and I ended up buying it from him for $100. Sure, it's now an ~8(?) year old driver, but it's light years ahead tech-wise than my previous one. 

 

I then swapped irons. Part of it was tech-based (essentially went from oversize CB to players distance style), but also that I ended going up single-length to attempt to simplify the game as I tried to improve. In all honesty, I don't believe that iron tech is as big as it is made out to be. Maybe it is in the GI/SGI level, but IMHO those classes of irons largely exist for people with poor swings that have trouble compressing the ball and getting it airborne. That's not my problem, so while I may get a little more forgiveness from players distance, I don't think they're a massive difference from CB. 

 

Next was wedges, because my previous setup was the set PW and SW (and no LW). So I got a couple specialty wedges. I don't have enough knowledge of my wedge game to obsess (or even know) about grinds, so that was a pretty basic purchase. 

 

I also changed putter. Nothing was wrong with the old one, but I wanted something longer due to my height, and I went from blade to mallet partly because I wanted to try it out, and partly also because having the longer alignment lines was helpful. I've definitely started saving strokes on the greens since putting it in the bag 10 rounds ago. 

 

I still have a problem with my gap from driver (250-270y) to 4h (200y). I took my old 4w out of the bag as I couldn't hit it consistently to save my life. It was older technology and it was sporting a DG S300 steel shaft, probably WAY too heavy compared to modern woods. I bought a pre-owned 3u at 0.5* less loft than my 4h but 2" longer, but I think that went to the opposite end of the spectrum that with an ~80g graphite shaft, it's too light for me. I'm considering getting it reshafted or maybe getting away from it entirely and adding a 3w/5w combo (or 4w and split the difference). 

 

But overall, despite the gap problem at the top, I'm pretty happy with the purchases I've made. I may end up bending my PW/GW a little weaker and dropping my 52* specialty wedge if I determine I need two clubs to fill the gap between driver and 4h, But I'll likely keep it the same if I only fill that gap with one club. 

Edited August 10, 2022 by betarhoalphadelta
D'oh! Fitted in 2001, not 2021!

[Scotch021]

I would say irons would be very important if your current set is very old and has a lot of offset and you have issues with hooking/over drawing the ball. Yes I know the main issue has to do with the Indian but a newer “arrow” could be the difference between a 40yd hook OB and a 20 yd hook in the rough while you continue to get back into it.

[Striker Ace]

Don't overlook Cleveland golf.

[Lu5150]

Just to wrap this thread up.....I finally finished upgrading my equipment.....some of them are new (Cobras, Edel, TM Driver).....and some are used from CPO....I'm really looking forward to this season....as we all know....upgrading golf equipment will never end.....thanks to all for your help and recommendations....

 

Driver: TaylorMade Sim2 Max - 10.5*, Reg Flex <== Wilson Invex 10.5*

Wood: Callaway Rogue Draw Driver 15.5* <== Callaway Big Bertha B21 5W

Hybrids: Callaway Apex 21 4H - 21* <== Woods: 3 & 5 Wilson Aggressor 02E - Std Flex; 3i & 4i

Irons: 6, 8, P Cobra T-Rail <== 5-9, P Wilson Aggressor 02E - Std Flex

Wedges: Callaway Jaws MD5 56*-10* <== SW MacGregor - 56*, Multiflex

Putter: Edel EAS 1.5 <== Slotline 9801 Classic

Ball: Callaway Supersoft Yellow <== Anything cheap

Bag: Sun Mountain C-130 5-Way Cart Bag <== Nova 14-Way Divider

Cart: Clicgear Model 4.0 Golf Push Cart <== Knight Connexion 2 wheel Pull Cart