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Off the shelf or custom fit clubs - high Handicapper?

  • 09-06-2014 1:34pm
    #1
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 78 ✭✭


    Hi all,
    I am currently debating changing my clubs. Currently have a second hand set of graphite clubs that are probably manufactured 10 or more years ago. I am playing off 19/20 and wondering would a custom fit set of irons or an off the shelf relatively cheap game improvement set be better for now?

    Custom fit clubs may help me (although I am average height and stature, about 5 ft 9 / 5 ft 10), BUT with my swing being slightly inconsistant (some shots come out high and relatively straight, others low and draw, others draw severely/hook, dont play iron lower than 5 iron) would a custom fit be a bad idea, would it just plaster over my swing issues?

    Should I settle for off the shelf irons and instead try get to a consistant playing and swing level before taking this step to custom fit, and take some lessons?

    Also, I am mid 30's, and wondering would steel or graphite shafts be better for irons? I have an average swing speed, can hit a 7 iron 130-140 yards maybe more depending on if it goes straight or draws. Does the graphite go "dead" over the years and lose some feel or spring?

    Thanks for all your help.
    Tommo


Comments

  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 420 ✭✭Jazzzman


    Wow, that's a lot of questions!

    Perhaps lessons are where your money is best placed for now. Getting so technical playing off 20 is over doing it imho. Ask your local pro to take a look at your clubs too. He'll advise you if there's anything alarmingly wrong with your gear.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 8,711 ✭✭✭spacecoyote


    +1 on a couple of lessons first.

    Try iron out a few kinks in your swing before you treat yourself.

    It's unlikely a custom fit will benefit you now as by the sounds of things you've a lot on inconsistency in your technique.

    Not 100%, but usually graphite shaft in men's irons are senior shafts for people with a slower swing speed.

    Chances are if you're in your 30s & reasonably fit you should prob have steel shafts in your irons


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 3,174 ✭✭✭benny79


    Hi Tommo Im off 21 and have got a good few lessons now and have seen improvements didnt really buy into clubs make a difference, not in irons anyway. Defo in driver/woods, recently got a lend of an old set of irons as my game improvement ones which are only a few years old I was nt playing great with. Playing much better with the other ones I could'nt actually believe the difference. can even hit the 3 & 4I!! so booked myself in for a fitting in foregolf next month :) no excuses after that!

    Dont know if that helps! just my 2 cents.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 23,140 ✭✭✭✭TheDoc


    Tommo 76 wrote: »
    Hi all,
    I am currently debating changing my clubs. Currently have a second hand set of graphite clubs that are probably manufactured 10 or more years ago. I am playing off 19/20 and wondering would a custom fit set of irons or an off the shelf relatively cheap game improvement set be better for now?

    If you've the budget to spend, getting yourself your own clubs won't hurt. Graphite is an odd shaft choice. For me it's for older players, really young players and potentially ladies. Steel is going to be much more effective for you. Unless your in really bad shape in terms of your age, graphite is a hinderance. You'll have to keep a slow tempo, to ensure the shaft doesn't bend ahead. You could be loosing a lot of power and strike from using graphite.

    So off the bat I'd probably say look into clubs. If you like the game, can see yourself playing enough to warrant the investment, do it.
    Custom fit clubs may help me (although I am average height and stature, about 5 ft 9 / 5 ft 10), BUT with my swing being slightly inconsistant (some shots come out high and relatively straight, others low and draw, others draw severely/hook, dont play iron lower than 5 iron) would a custom fit be a bad idea, would it just plaster over my swing issues?

    i'd avoid this. At your handicap as you said yourself there are swing inconsistencies. While a custom fit might even be free now around summer with the major brands doing the tours, you could potentially go through a number of changes in your swing. The problem with custom fitting is when you are fit, its for a specific swing. Custom fitting isn't about "height", it looks at the angle the cluhead hits the ball, how your swing arcs, so they can fit the shaft and head, to ensure your getting a consistent strike.

    The biggest room for improvement and change is when you are at that higher handicapp. Might not all come at once, but you'll get a tip or make an improvement to dramatically improve your game. I think custom fitting for irons is really for low handicaps, maybe up as high as 12, where there is consistent ball striking and swing patterns, if that makes sense. Point being you might get a lesson, or a tip playing, change to something better, but it wont work cause your clubs arn't right.
    [Should I settle for off the shelf irons and instead try get to a consistant playing and swing level before taking this step to custom fit, and take some lessons?
    I'd say off the shelf. I play off seven, and I bought new irons two year ago and went off the shelf. Cause I knew I had changes I wanted to make. So it would have been a waste to get custom fit, yet with standard OEM clubs, you can pretty much be fine with. I've made changes and my irons are fine in terms of the iron itself. Whereas if I had of got fitted, I'd be in big trouble, and out of pocket. I changed from a swing that promoted a fade, to a swing that promotes a draw. My clubhead impacts totally diferent now. I can do it with OEM clubs, with custom fit I'd have been nackered.

    Also because your using graphite, I've a sneaky feeling you might not know the potential in your swing. With graphite you need to swing slower to let the shaft accomodate and do its job, and the ball strike you get won't be near what you can do. Remember graphite was purpose built to enable those with slow tempos( elderly, ladies, juniors, injured players) to compensate for the lack of power and torque they generate. So the shaft is more flexible.

    If you gave me a graphite club, and while I don't bust balls , I've a tempo that works for me, the clubhead would be so far behind my swing because of the bend, my stomach would near be facing the target before the clubhead catches up.

    I'm actually using regular shafts. That's the run of the mill normal steel shafts, but I even think I need to go stiff. That in itself is a money sink.
    Also, I am mid 30's, and wondering would steel or graphite shafts be better for irons? I have an average swing speed, can hit a 7 iron 130-140 yards maybe more depending on if it goes straight or draws. Does the graphite go "dead" over the years and lose some feel or spring?

    Steel for your irons. Just no question about it now I think about it more. Unless you have a chronic muscle condition that means you can operate your body correctly, and are restricted in terms of movement, there is no need to be using graphite. If you go steel you will most likely gain some distance but most importantly some control and be able to improve your ball striking.

    Also you say those irons you have are ten years old, technology has come on a fair bit since then. I came back to the two years ago, after a seven or so year absence. I'm blown away with the leap in technology in that time. I used to have measurements of my 7iron for 145-150 yards. I now measure my 7iron at 165 yards. And while I've obviously grown up in terms of physique, I havn't got overly stronger, I'm actually in worse shape then when I was playing as a teen.


    So in summary ( and just my opinion)
    • Ignore custom fitting for now.
    • Look into getting a modern set of steel irons. Regular flex. Good deals to be had second hand.
    • Hold off the lessons. Play for a bit with your new irons, get used to them, see the improvement and start realizing what you can do with steel shafts.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 23,140 ✭✭✭✭TheDoc


    Where are you based as a matter of itnerest?

    I was pushing an idea around here last year about frequent meetups at driving ranges around the place. Idea being people getting to just put a face to the name, but also pickup some tips and help. Would be perfect for the likes of this.

    Regardless of that, you might have a driving range nearby that does demo clubs, so you can try out steel irons.

    It is a different world of swing tbh :D


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  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 3,174 ✭✭✭benny79


    Hi Doc sorry if Im highjacking but Im playing off 21Hc have had numerous lessons took about a 2 year break a while back, would off being of about 17 then. started back this being my 3rd year as a member of a club, playing much more and just cant seem to improve! have had lessons worked on it then something else would slip. I use game improvement irons(off the shelf) and was told I would not improve with these(by low hc players) as they paper over cracks etc

    Sick of getting lessons as its €40 for 45 mins and after 5 mins Im hitting it perfect, I really think its confidence and in my head which my pro agrees (he thinks Im thinking about it to much)

    Anyway I rang Fg about a fitting etc and my Hc. All be it that they are a business they told me high handicappers benefit more from a custom fit Than low. Plus I have spend hundreds over the years on different clubs mainly due to a good sales man giving me a pitch and convincing me this driver etc is the one.
    Your idea of meeting up in the range is a good one by the way.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 802 ✭✭✭m r c


    Hi benny I think this ( I use game improvement irons(off the shelf) and was told I would not improve with these(by low hc players) as they paper over cracks etc) in my experience bears true.

    I was using r300 Titleist ap1's and my distance control was all over the place. One day after I flew two greens hitting my pw over 150 yards on both occasions I went and got fit.
    I went to a fella and was fit for either the ping s56 with the kbs tour x stiff or the mizuno mp 53 with DG sl s300.
    I was hitting both really well but went with the mizuno's in the end because in the back of my mind I was worried about the x stiff day in day out.

    My h/c was 24 at the time and I'm off 18 ATM and should all going well get to 15-16 this year.
    I'd agree that your current h/c is only a snapshot in time and shouldn't let that dictate what clubs you use and especially If you want to optimise your ball striking.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 3,174 ✭✭✭benny79


    Yea Im am definitely convinced a chap that was in a society i was in used to play of 24 and went and bought a good second hand set of blades he's a golf nut and told me its the best thing he ever done it took him a couple of months to get used to them but hes now playing off 12 and improving although he didnt get fitted he bought a set "meant" for low Hc's and the clubs you bought MRC if you read all the marketing etc are meant for "The better player" single Figures!

    Plus my theory is if you get a proper custom fit you know the clubs are right for you so it has to be you etc and it eliminates buying a new driver every year!
    my mates father in law plays off 4 is retired and only ever had 2 sets of clubs which he was custom fitted for both and his second set he only received as a retirement Present!


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 5,295 ✭✭✭slingerz


    m r c wrote: »
    Hi benny I think this ( I use game improvement irons(off the shelf) and was told I would not improve with these(by low hc players) as they paper over cracks etc) in my experience bears true.

    I was using r300 Titleist ap1's and my distance control was all over the place. One day after I flew two greens hitting my pw over 150 yards on both occasions I went and got fit.
    I went to a fella and was fit for either the ping s56 with the kbs tour x stiff or the mizuno mp 53 with DG sl s300.
    I was hitting both really well but went with the mizuno's in the end because in the back of my mind I was worried about the x stiff day in day out.

    My h/c was 24 at the time and I'm off 18 ATM and should all going well get to 15-16 this year.
    I'd agree that your current h/c is only a snapshot in time and shouldn't let that dictate what clubs you use and especially If you want to optimise your ball striking.

    I dont understand what the problem with the AP1's was??


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 802 ✭✭✭m r c


    slingerz wrote: »
    I dont understand what the problem with the AP1's was??

    I don't honestly know myself. I was fit for a way stiffer shaft when measured. Could too regular of a shaft cause the odd big ball??
    Plus the ap1 pw would be closer in loft to my mp 9 iron.
    My point was anyway that after being fitted properly I'm getting way more consistency in carry.


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  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 78 ✭✭Tommo 76


    Hi all, thanks for all the information and replies.. I more or less had thought that custom fit at my level and swing wouldnt be beneficial so I bought a set of new steel shaft irons (Wilson fat shaft) on sale, and already have noticed a difference gaining extra length when I strike them correctly. I figured if for example I was custom fitted, perhaps I had a flat swing now which was causing my draw, if a pro had me more upright then these custom fit clubs would be not much use etc as they would just mask over the issues with my swing.


    I am an average ahtletic build with nothing that can inhibit my swing or medical condition that I would need graphite shafts etc, so I know I have changes to make (I like the idea of custom fit clubs though in the future once my handicap and swing are stable and consistant!) will work with the new irons, like the feel of them already, and get a few lessons to get a consistant swing and game. Only my first year in a proper golf club so its more about practice and experience. Thanks for alll your feedback.


  • Moderators, Business & Finance Moderators Posts: 17,852 Mod ✭✭✭✭Henry Ford III


    I reckon you'd need to be a very consistant player for custom fitted clubs to make much difference tbh.

    The average player has huge inconsistancies in their swing - speed, plane, path, timing and strike. A perfect shot is as likley to be caused by these coming together as a variation in shaft, club length, loft or lie.

    As long as you're not too far from "normal" height regular clubs should do you fine.

    Just my 2c.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 9,244 ✭✭✭rrpc


    Your height is about right for standard length shafts (usually from approx 5' 7" - 5' 10") so as a high handicapper, that's the only customisation that would be of any assistance and you don't need it.

    As with most sports, getting customised equipment is for when you can actually tell the difference and more importantly know exactly what you need.


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