What’s In the Bag? ***GOLF EQUIPMENT THREAD***

[Lexclone]

Wow, I am pretty envious of what most of you have invested in equipment $$$. I golf only once a week. Most of my clubs are from circa 2005:

Driver TM R540 9.5degree
3W Callaway Steelhead III steel shaft, stiff
Irons Nike NDS 3-PW (on so many new sets, why don’t they include a 3I anymore?)
SW Cleveland 56degree
LW Staff 59degree

 

[SayMyName]

Wow, I am pretty envious of what most of you have invested in equipment $$$. I golf only once a week. Most of my clubs are from circa 2005:

Driver TM R540 9.5degree
3W Callaway Steelhead III steel shaft, stiff
Irons Nike NDS 3-PW (on so many new sets, why don’t they include a 3I anymore?)
SW Cleveland 56degree
LW Staff 59degree

The long irons have progressively been phased out of the amateur game more and more over the past 20 years or so. Hence the evolution of the hybrids scene.

Also a cost-cutting move by the manufacturers - sell less # of clubs per set for the same (or more!) money. Plus a new market for hybrid clubs. $$$$

 

[Gunnerclone]

I had no idea clubs have massively gotten stronger lofts. Hit a buddies 8 iron about 175 this summer, my TM Burners from 1997 go about 155. I was like, whoah these are so much better, then I realized it was lofted the same as my 6 iron.

Yep but it’s a mental thing for me. Having a short iron where it used to be a mid iron fills a huge hole in my game. Plus I don’t have to carry a 3 or 4 iron anymore so I can carry 4 wedges or 3 wedges and a 4-7 wood depending on the course.

 

[enisthemenace]

The long irons have progressively been phased out of the amateur game more and more over the past 20 years or so. Hence the evolution of the hybrids scene.

Also a cost-cutting move by the manufacturers - sell less # of clubs per set for the same (or more!) money. Plus a new market for hybrid clubs. $$$$

All true.

For me, personally, I simply can’t hit a 3I the way it is intended to be hit. I’m not a bad golfer...low to mid 80’s, usually, with the occasional upper 70 and low 90 round in there; course really has no influence on those numbers either, as it’s my short game that usually dictates the number I post...but I’m just not a good enough ball striker to carry a 3. Took it out of my bag a LONG time ago. I can still hit a 4I though

 

[Lexclone]

All true.

For me, personally, I simply can’t hit a 3I the way it is intended to be hit. I’m not a bad golfer...low to mid 80’s, usually, with the occasional upper 70 and low 90 round in there; course really has no influence on those numbers either, as it’s my short game that usually dictates the number I post...but I’m just not a good enough ball striker to carry a 3. Took it out of my bag a LONG time ago. I can still hit a 4I though

I’m at about the same scoring range, but a 3I is a pretty big part of my game because the courses I play have a few par 4s that require either placement off the tee or a long approach shot. I have hit a couple of hybrids, but my question is: what is the difference between them and a 5 or 7W? Carry? Loft?

It’s time that I get another set. The technology has certainly improved over the last 16 years. It just chafes me that I would have to pony up another $100+ to get a 3I.

 

[steveocy]

Anyone have a ballpark number for what the cost is for membership at Ames Golf & County Club?

 

[Gunnerclone]

I’m at about the same scoring range, but a 3I is a pretty big part of my game because the courses I play have a few par 4s that require either placement off the tee or a long approach shot. I have hit a couple of hybrids, but my question is: what is the difference between them and a 5 or 7W? Carry? Loft?

It’s time that I get another set. The technology has certainly improved over the last 16 years. It just chafes me that I would have to pony up another $100+ to get a 3I.

The difference between the hybrids and traditional woods is going to be length (of the club) and loft.

There is a simple answer to your problem though. A 5I in a modern game improvement set will go just as far and with more forgiveness than your old 3I. So you don’t really need to worry about replacing that 3I with a 3 hybrid. I use my hybrids in place of a 4 & 5 wood.

I hit the 4 hybrid at 22 degree loft 225 with much more forgiveness than a traditional wood. My 5I is a 210-220 club. My traditional woods are screamers with a pretty low apex. Hybrids are going to get you that higher apex to land more softly. Also if you shape your shots at all it’s much easier with a hybrid than a traditional wood.

I was resistant to hybrids for a long time, now I really like them. There’s a 225-240 yard par 3 that I play often. Hard to stop it on the green with a 3I or 4I (unless you’re a super solid ball striker) but the hybrid takes care of that problem.

 

[Gunnerclone]

I’m at about the same scoring range, but a 3I is a pretty big part of my game because the courses I play have a few par 4s that require either placement off the tee or a long approach shot. I have hit a couple of hybrids, but my question is: what is the difference between them and a 5 or 7W? Carry? Loft?

It’s time that I get another set. The technology has certainly improved over the last 16 years. It just chafes me that I would have to pony up another $100+ to get a 3I.

Shoukd also mention that hybrids are much easier to hit out of the rough. Especially useful for when you miss the fairway on a Par 5.

 

[enisthemenace]

Got out on Friday last week for the first time. Felt good to swing them again. I need new grips BADLY though. I knew they were getting worn, but the winter really did a number on them. Almost embarrassing how bad they are.

 

[CycloneGourd]

Driver Ping G30 10 degree loft
Mizuno ST200 3 wood 15 degree
Ping Utility wedge through 4 iron
Callaway 56 degree (SW)
Odyssey White Hot II

I also keep a North Western "Chipper" on hand at times out of my dads original set from 1979

 

[Lexclone]

The difference between the hybrids and traditional woods is going to be length (of the club) and loft.

There is a simple answer to your problem though. A 5I in a modern game improvement set will go just as far and with more forgiveness than your old 3I. So you don’t really need to worry about replacing that 3I with a 3 hybrid. I use my hybrids in place of a 4 & 5 wood.

I hit the 4 hybrid at 22 degree loft 225 with much more forgiveness than a traditional wood. My 5I is a 210-220 club. My traditional woods are screamers with a pretty low apex. Hybrids are going to get you that higher apex to land more softly. Also if you shape your shots at all it’s much easier with a hybrid than a traditional wood.

I was resistant to hybrids for a long time, now I really like them. There’s a 225-240 yard par 3 that I play often. Hard to stop it on the green with a 3I or 4I (unless you’re a super solid ball striker) but the hybrid takes care of that problem.

D@mmit! This post just cost me around $1,000. The technology has improved vastly since my last purchase. It’s time upgrade. Thanks for a good post and useful information!

 

[Legend Hawk]

So I pulled the trigger on the PXG Gen 3 Full Bag deal. The club fitting they did was great. I ended up with

811X Driver
341X 3 Wood
317X Fairway wood
(Woods have the Hazardous Smoke Yellow XS Shafts)
311p (4I-GW) Elevate Tour S Shafts
56 degree Wedge
60 degree Wedge
Battle Ready - Bat Attack putter

Can't wait to get out and golf this year!

 

[Tre4ISU]

Driver- Cobra Radspeed 9*
3-wood- Cobra Radspeed
3 & 4iron- TaylorMade P790
5-PW- Mizuno MP18 MB
50,56,60- Titleist SM8
Putter- Either a Newport 2.5 or Phantom X 7.5

 

[Cyclonepride]

Lotta people in here with some nice stuff, what’s everyone’s handicap? With all the gear I hope those handicaps are low......lol.

I have a set of irons I bought like 3 years ago off rock bottom golf, Callaway Steelhead XR irons I enjoy, 4 thru A wedge. Hand me down Titleist 913 D2 driver, some old Callaway X forged 54/56/60 degree wedges I picked up at play it again sports in Des Moines and cleaned up and regrooved, and then an odyssey white hot putter.

It's about time for an upgrade for me.

My driver is a Taylormade R1. 6 year old Cleveland irons and wedges. Favorite club is my Taylormade rescue 3. Just has a lot of weight to it. Usually use that off the tee because 9 out of 10 are straight down the middle, and usually only about 30 yards short of where my driver can take me. Handicap is 12

 

[cyrocksmypants]

Weed, man.

 

[GMackey32]

Just picked up the Kirkland Signature KS1. Got the weight kit too as the stock was a little light for me. Haven't tried it out. Upgraded from a Odyssey White Hot Backstryke.

 

[Gunnerclone]

Just picked up the Kirkland Signature KS1. Got the weight kit too as the stock was a little light for me. Haven't tried it out. Upgraded from a Odyssey White Hot Backstryke.

Keep us posted on that I think a lot of people are interested in the Kirkland products.

 

[MeowingCows]

Got some balls for season. WalMart's usual boxes of reconditioned balls...got 2 dozen Spalding Pure Speed matte balls for $12. Nearly all of them look brand-new, no scuffs, no markings, no faded stamps. I take that as a win.

 

[GMackey32]

Keep us posted on that I think a lot of people are interested in the Kirkland products.

Will do. I've heard the wedge set isn't that great but it seems the putter reviews are pretty good. And for $150, that's a steal.

 

[Tegridy Farms]

Tour edge exotic driver
an old hybrid that needs to be replaced

Ping Irons
Titleist 56 and 60 degree

Odessey white hot

Ball, whatever I find