Conference 7.286::golf

    As one who's spent a few bucks on equipment over the past year or
    so, I have some opinions: I restarted golf a year ago last spring
    with a beat-up but serviceable set of Wilson K28's - the grips were
    in tough shape, but the grooves were still visible in the club face,
    and I managed to get around the course with them. But, I wasn't
    satisfied, so I went out and invested in a set of Pinnacle irons
    and woods. My frame of mind improved, and so, it seemed, did my
    golf. But maybe it would have anyway?
    
    Well, early this season I snapped the head on one of my "new" irons,
    which alarmed me because I hadn't done anything too much out of
    the ordinary, and I was worried I might swing one day and have it
    happen again and the head of the club would fly off and injure someone,
    so I got rid of them and picked up a set of MacGregor CG1800's,
    which, I was assured, were "very forgiving, but you sacrifice a
    little distance."
    
    At first, I was very pleased with the Mac's; but that idea that
    I'd sacrifice distance began to plague me, especially when my partner
    began outhitting me by 20 to 30 yards with his irons (that hadn't
    happened before), and it started to do a number on my head. It's
    gotten SO bad recently that I've seriously considered just getting
    the old K28's regripped and selling the Mac's! I found myself reaching
    too much, in an effort to regain that little distance and consistently
    mis-hitting, to the point of utter frustration. After a really bad
    siege, I think I have this under control (famous last words) but
    am still considering investing $40 for new grips, just in case...
    I really think that new clubs can be a blessing because they do
    make you feel more confident; the problem is that the first time
    you hit a bad patch, you start pressing (after all, these new sticks
    are supposed to be magic, eh?) and your game goes right into the
    porcelain facility! And if that happens, you'd probably have been
    better off sticking with the old clunkers, for which you didn't
    have such unrealistic expectations in the first place!!
    
    	Frank
             

               <<< STKHLM::$1$DUA12:[NOTES$LIBRARY]GOLF.NOTE;1 >>>
                               -< The Good Game >-
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Note 140.1                          Laser X2                              1 of 4
COOKIE::CHAVEZ "Dale C. - CXO3 Colo Spgs"            22 lines  13-AUG-1987 23:32
                       -< Clubs Can Make A Difference! >-
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In today's world, clubs can indeed make a difference.  Perimeter weighting
makes a tremendous difference in striking a golf ball.  You can mishit
a perimeter-weighted club, and the ball still manages to go in the general
direction you wanted to.  Try that with regular forged irons and you get
what you pay for: bad swing produces bad golf shot.

Sports Illustrated had an *excellent* article on golf club design about two
weeks ago.  Read it if you can.

There is a definite faction out on the pro tour regarding club modification
nowadays.  People like Ray Floyd, Greg Norman, Jack Nicklaus are *against*
modifications that make the game easier for the pro-level player.
Square-grooves in irons is a good example of an idea that has gone too far.
A *professional* golfer can hit a down-wind, downhill approach to a green
with the pin tucked in the back using square-grooves and the ball will
*BACK-UP* when it hits the green for krisakes!  The same pro can hit the
same golf shot using forged irons with v-shaped grooves, and the ball
rolls off the back of the green.

Bottom line: clubs *can* make a difference in scoring.

Dale

    
    Yes clubs can make a difference, but they can't totally transform
    you into a good golfer.  A new set of clubs may be more forgiving
    or maybe pick you up a few extra yards, but if you can't hit a golf
    ball to save your life then investing $400 dollars in a new set
    of pings, or any other famous name clubs, will not make you a golfer.
    
    A new set of clubs, assuming you can hit a ball, with solid contact
    the majority of the time, will probably shave a stroke or 2 off
    of your score, BUT be sure that you hit some balls with the clubs
    before buying them, most reputable places will have at least an
    indoor net to hit into.  Some people simply cannot hit some clubs.
    For example, I got a new set of woods for Christmas one year, to
    this point I have always been pretty long and fairly straight with
    my driver off the tee.  When summer came I tried out the new driver
    and could not hit it to save my life. After struggling with it for
    a couple of months, I finally started using my 3 wood off all tees
    and never used the driver.  I could hit the other woods great. 
    After a while I tried the driver again but to no avail, in a desparation
    attempt, I started using my old driver again and was back to old
    form off the tee, I still carry the new 3,5 woods but the old driver.
    Maybe it was something psychological, I don't know.
    
    So, yes, I believe that a new set of clubs MAY shave a couple of
    strokes off, they will not totally transform your game.  Todays
    technology makes it alot easier to hit a ball straight than with
    clubs of 25 years ago.
    
    --Bob
    

    
    RE: .0
    
    Equipment can indeed make a difference.  It's not the fact that
    the clubs are new or old, it's how the clubs match up to your ability
    and swing. 
    
    For example, let's say that you are currenly swinging a D2 driver.
    If you buy new clubs and the driver is D5, you'll probably have
    one hell of a time getting that club around.
    
    There are a lot of things that determine if new clubs will help
    your game.  The length of the shafts, the lie of the club, the
    stiffness of the shafts .............
    
    
    .3 gave a good example.  The old driver works fine the new one
    ain't worth a tinkers dam.  If you look at the 2 clubs I'll bet
    that you'll see they're different.  What's the difference?  Who
    knows, the point is that when you invest money in a set of clubs
    you should know what you are buying.  You have to buy clubs from
    someone who knows how to fit the club to your game.
    
    
    
    				KO

	Re: .4

>>    the point is that when you invest money in a set of clubs
>>    you should know what you are buying.  You have to buy clubs from
>>    someone who knows how to fit the club to your game.
    
	Since I'm thinking of buying a new set of clubs, I'd certainly like to
	follow that advice.  Can anyone recommend a good place in the 
	Boston/Maynard/So. NH area to buy the RIGHT set of new clubs?

	Thanks,

	-Tom

    Re: .-1
    
    Let me recommend "The GOLF SHOP" at Framingham Country Club. This
    is a private club with a super pro shop. The people there are very
    helpful. One of the Pros there makes custom clubs (Ping imitations)
    for $30 a club. He will match the club to your swing. His name is
    Steve.
    
    I have a friend who had a set made for him and he loves them. I
    myself play Ping Eye2 Beryllium Coppers and I wish that I had known
    about this before I bought my Pings. I would have had Steve make
    me a set.
    
    They have a nice grass range there so you can try as many clubs
    as you want. They also have a good selection of used clubs.
    
    If you need more info give me a call at DTN 297-7675
    
    Don
    

    Re: .6's reply to .5
    
    While I can't confirm .6's recommendation of Framingham CC in 
    particular, all the essential elements for proper selection are
    there.  Having clubs fitted after finding what appears to be the
    best set by hitting them on a real practice range is the only way
    to do it.  While it is true that certain club designs are more
    advantageous ( perimeter weighted ), it is most important that,
    the lie, weight, and grip sizes, and shaft flex are matched to your
    game.  This can only be accomplished by a professional who has watched
    you hit some balls.  Don't walk into Nevada Bob's hit some balls
    into a net and buy the Prima's (their Ping knock offs) that they
    will recommend.
    
    For many of us it is difficult to justify the expense associated
    with buying from a real pro shop, even though it is only about 15-20%.
    
    I have taken both paths and can assure you that I have seen the
    light. For example, if you are tall and buy clubs with a lie (not
    loft) in the normal range the face of the irons will be opened at
    impact pushing the ball to the right.  If your hands are smaller
    than "normal" the grips will be to large and will interfere with
    your hands rolling over through the ball.
    
    As an aside, I play with the Ping Eye 2, and have hit the clubs
    that .6 mentioned as they are also sold at Franklin CC where I play.
    
    They are an excellent value, and feel just like the Pings
    
    Have fun with your new clubs.
    
    Mike G
      
    
    

    
    	Hi,  I am kind of new to this notes file (although I have made
    it through all the entries, and I thought this would be a good time
    to enter my question concerning equipment. 
    
    	Now that the season is almost over in New England,  When would
    be the best time to buy a new set of clubs?
    
    	I presently own a hand-me-down set of Spaulding Signature junior
    clubs that I used this season but as they are Juniors I  did not
    has as GOOD a season as I thought I should.  My best 9 round was
    57.  My partner on occasion let me use his clubs which are full
    sized clubs and I was hitting his 3 wood about 65-90 yards further
    than I was with mine.
    
    	I am planning on getting a set of Wilson 1200 TE's but don't
    know anything about the best place to get them or when.  I heard
    the price's go down in november and then again in february is this
    true.
    
    
    
    mike