Mr Chalk v Mr Cheese!

What does it take for you settle with a club before you buy it? Does it have to perform in the net or on the range - or even on the course 'on approval' - or is it the looks, feel or simply the price that attracts you? ED
Posted: 13/09/2007 15:25

It usually takes me ages to pick up on kit. I'm not usually price conscious but I do like a bargain as and when they come about.

I spent 3-4 months trying out the latest & greatest in irons before settling on the ones I have now. I even tried them out, was pretty sure they were the ones, but waited til the following weekend to try them out again (just in case I hit them initially on one of my good days). Managed to source a set from a retailer in the US costing me £218 (all in) to the door within 3 days (and I ordered on a Saturday, arrived Monday) when the closest UK price for the same spec'd irons was £399.

Same with my driver: I had an original Cobra SS430. I wasn't going to change it until late on this year (non conforming), however, after playing in the Children-in-Need "night golf" charity thing at my home club (supplied with a bakerlite - well that's what it felt like - ball with a hole for a glow stick in it), the next day I discovered a lovely great crack across the face of it! That was in November, I found the make/model/spec to replace it (Titleist 905R) just before Xmas & took delivery (from my pro shop) in January.

The deciding factor is definitely feel & the shot characteristics that I prefer. Like Ernie I also know fairly quickly if something's not right for me. If however I don't think I was swinging it all that well during my initial test, I will retest at a later date when I feel as though my game is reasonable.

Posted: 13/09/2007 19:07

Got computer fitted for my driver (and ended up buying the cheapest in the shop). Irons were bought second hand from ebay - I'd tried a 1 iron from the same series (Ram tour grind with stiff graphite shafts and soft nickel iron heads - the ones the company brought out just before it got taken over) and loved it and when a complete set came up in the USA I snapped them up. Well worth even the extortionate customs charge. When I was a child/teenager I simply used the clubs I was given, and when I first resarted playing as a grownup I played with the set of beginner's clubs the pro said I 'must' have (within a couple of months I'd caved in the head of the driver *and* its replacement and the shafts of the rest of the set were way too flexible for my swing).

I try to read reviews, but all I'm interested in is: (1) is it a complete lemon? and (2) are there any signs of poor manufacturing quality? Anything about 'I bought these clubs, and instantly dropped 10 shots from my score card' I ignore.

If it comes to buying more clubs then I'd choose computer fitting every time. I don't have any great faith in just going by feel or performance on one particular day simply because there are way too many subjective variables. At least computer fitting offers some objectivity.

Posted: 13/09/2007 19:20

CC - do you remember who the retailer was? I am in the market for a set of cally x-forged irons and would like to take advantage of teh weak $ if possible!

Cheers,

Fen

Posted: 13/09/2007 21:22

http://callawaygolfpreowned.com/default.aspx

Without any advertising at all - I have bought a few bits and bobs. Their service is amazing. I had myself fitted before and bought one or two things when in UK and have just changed my irons having moved to Japan.

Delivery you can watch on fedex and took3 days

Posted: 13/09/2007 23:35

Great article about Phil and Els approaches to equipment.... I'm more like Phil and love to tinker with gear but once I have found its right it stays in the bag for a long time, unless its a driver . On the hunt for some new wedges soon 56/60* as mine are pretty worn out. Thinking of Sonartec Protos due to their multi bounce soles. Wondered if anyone has tried one ?...not many reviews on them and tricky to find in UK to view them first.
Posted: 14/09/2007 00:57

ED. NO!! You must have expected this... The 'inter'NET' it's sooo much cheaper!'

Dont shoot me at dawn... Yet....

Mizuno at Cumbernauld expect customers to release their hard earned cash based on their sims tracking data?! I was fiited for +5 2*up MP-30's (a few years back) but neither Miz or AGD (bought out by management at the time) would lend me a spec club to see my ball fly past the Mizuno's virtual driving range of 10 yards. £800 & commision lost for someone.

I eventually got the same 6i MP-30 +5" +2* spec iron off ebay. I honestly tried to be non biased when I pitted them against my current iron. Hmmmmmmmmmmmmmm, It was good but could have been a lot better. I have no doubt that with a bit of time on a range and not a stupid sim we could have found something consistant and Miz would of had a sale close to RRP.

Whats the point of having a major manufacturer like Mizuno on your doorstep in an area full of Driving Ranges with eager buyers when you cant try out the clubs for real!!

Sorry thats my moan against Mizuno in Cumbernauld...

There are a lot of people on this site with vast knowledge of club building & club choice & I'm sure most of the members would agree to the following.

Never buy a club from a 'NET' (never shows true ball flight)

Never buy on looks (flashy looks can be disguised with cheap shafts/grips & esp finish)

Never buy on your pals "it works for me" (I't probably wont work for you 5-2 odds?)

Never buy off the shelf (Ben Sayers, MD compete without the ££££'s)

ALWAYS BUY & GET FITTED ON ON A RANGE.

For the really serious check out Tom Wishon 'Search for the perfect Club'

Posted: 14/09/2007 06:42

I spend a lot of time hitting different clubs and balls - every opportunity - if something amazes me with its feel or competence then I search for the best deal on it.

Hence the fact that my current bag is full of good quality gear I bought ages ago -  once you have got the kit that suits your game why change? Also the advances in equipment over the last 3 years have been minimal - mainly cosmetic.  If it was a computer aided design 3 years ago then it would be the same CAD design today. They just change the colour scheme.

Posted: 14/09/2007 07:49