How long does it take you to give up on a club?

Got a new driver and I love it....g400 Max. I knew from the first three range ballls it was a keeper.

It got got me to thinking how quickly I make a decision on whether a club is going to work out ⛳️

Driver- like above, I know within a few balls whether it's going to stay...value accuracy over crazy distance

Fairway woods- tend to be more patient as I primarily use off the deck so looking for a particular distance....not more distance

Hybrid- versatility rules for me so when I find one I rarely look around...safest spot in the bag

Irons- I give irons a little more time than the driver spot. I know when they will not work during a range session....and will give them a season if they make it past the range

Putter- haven't changed in 4 years...and won't unless mine breaks

Let’s see USPS usually arrives in 3 days.

i care about looks. my no-nos are deep face woods, iron shaped hybrids and too big and thick irons. for a driver, i don't care much about how it looks. but i care about feels. Well, so after a few shots, i decide very quickly whether i would buy one or not. i know it doesn't sound wise but then i look at the numbers...

After 3 bad shots (OB, hazard, topped, chunked, poor distance/direction control) within 3 consecutive rounds.

Not a hard rule, but generally speaking...

I care about traveling in the direction I want for driver.

For everything else it is direction I want and consistent distance.

I learned I am happier when I shoot lower scores, so if an oversized 3 iron with a ton of offset goes straighter and a consistent distance it will help me shoot lower scores and I like that more than I like that 3 iron looking pretty.

All of the below is based on good swings.

Driver I know within 5 swings if it has a chance. I know within 6 rounds if it can be the tourney gamer.

3 wood - I know everything I need to know within 10 swings

Hybrid long/driving irons - 10 swings

Mid-Short irons - need a round in the wind.

Wedges - I know with three swings

Putter - I now with two long putts, two medium putts and two short putts whether it has a chance or not.

If it's worth buying, it's worth giving at least two full rounds. Never know when I might be having a really bad swing day or something. Most times, a questionable purchase gets a two-round tryout and then a half-hour driving range session. If it still isn't working after that, it's a goner.

I can think of at least two occasions where I violated that rule because a club was obviously, incontrovertibly not suited to me at all from the very first shot.

My most recent driver purchase (a total impulse purchase made when I was in the golf store buying shoes!) almost got the boot, so to speak, after about 12-13 holes. Just a total disaster. Because it was so darned expensive I stuck with it for two rounds, then a range session, then a third round and then on the first hole of the fourth round it finally started working for me. Don't know if I changed my swing to accommodate the driver or if I just had a couple bad swing days in a row or what. But after a dozen rounds I'm loving it now. Glad I stuck with it longer than usual.

18 holes usually tells me enough, sold many drivers and fwy woods after 18

Usually a few rounds, range sessions, or short game practice sessions.

10 swings, usually less

Odd but I have two time periods. First, when I hit a ball with the club. I don't care what club it is, it must feel really good at impact and look right trajectory wise. Surprising just how many clubs don't make that cut. Anyway, if the club passes then it's in the bag knowing there will be likely be a problematic period soon. It's when the honeymoon wears off. When that happens I have to find out how to repeat the first "put it in the bag" shot, it typically takes about 2-3 months. Never been one to give up or quit till something says, nope.

Sometimes it's one shot, sometimes it's five rounds. Depends on the club.

Used to be like 1 round and I would let stuff go and find something else, but now I love and was fitted for what I have and whenever I have a few bad shots I tend to just trust the process. Usually works for me, I had like 3 or 4 MONTHS that we’re horrible for me and my hybrid, and never wanted to let it go. I held on and practiced and eventually it came around, back to being faithful. I do agree tho that with putters especially it helps to get a new head to look at when your cold.

I'm getting better with age, but if a club doesn't work, I'll give it 5 honest rounds. If I am not feelin it by then, it's toast. Very, very satisfied with my current bag.

Hybrids are my safest followed by FW to last the longest. Never seem to buy those bad even when it’s on a spur of the moment. Irons will play usually last but all always on the cusp to sell. Drivers easiest to get rid of. Never found one I loved in the modern titanium era much as the Epic Flash.

I have a brand new 3 wood doubling duties as a decorative ornament (an expensive one). I only hit 3 balls with it last Spring, and that was that.

Maybe I'll dig it back out and see if it acts any better now than last year.

I buy clubs so infrequently that everything gets a long leash. I'm just now finally being able to hit the Cleveland DST driver that I bought off eBay clearance years ago.

Its proportional to the cost. I only have used putters in my stable so they get about 5 minutes each!

With woods and irons due to $ I give them a longer leash...probably a month or so of equal time between range sessions and playing....then I give them the "its not you its me" speech and send them on their way.

I know fairly quickly with a driver or shaft... usually 5-10 swings

With fairway woods and hybrids, I usually keep them longer than I should, even when things start going downhill. It took me years to find one I like, and I don't look around

Irons and wedges are like a driver, I know when I like them, it just takes some extra time to dial them in

Putters don't get traded in or sold anymore, they get hot and cold and hang out in their own bag together

Judging from the BST ads, seems like "9 holes and no range time" is a typical trial and rejection period.

I have had 2 callaway drivers that I was lucky to finish 18 holes with it as one was the square head and the Rogue which I never liked the look at address. I have had a few Callaway drivers that were the real deal but have moved on since

LOL. These are “new” or “mint”.

Honestly, I can typically tell as soon as I set it on the ground in the shop. Anything I have bought in-store has pretty much stayed in the bag for a long, long time.

It's only the online gear I buy that can turnaround quickly. Bought a Rogue SZ that was atrocious. Gave it 3 range sessions just bc I tried to avoid the hassle of selling it, but it had to go.

Usually fwy woods and hybrids are always on a trial basis in my bag....the 3w is safe but now I’m on the fence with the hybrid....epic flash....hated in initial test due to the cost but got one new for relatively cheap and have hit a few decent shots with it but not enough. The trial is essentially over and am leaning at going back to 5w.

I sold my Srixon (4-UW) after half a season of play. Funny enough, they were going too far for me that I visited places behind the greens that I never knew existed.

Went back to players irons after that to refocus on accuracy and distance control.

I put a new putter in the bag, went to my car for my old putter at the turn, never gamed the first one again

I just bought a brand new Mavrik 2 hybrid. Feel is horrible. I don't like it. I have been using my M3 2 hybrid instead. May go to BST within the next week unless something miraculous happens.

Driver: Probably took me 6 swings with the TS4 to put one center-face, but I attribute that to the wrong shaft. When I squared up the 6th swing, that was that.

Hybrid was a different story: I hit the 21* 818H2 with a Tensei Pro Blue and couldn't get the timing right. They handed me another one with a Pro White and I flushed the 1st shot. Looked at the salesperson and said "sold".

On the flip side, I put a 917F2 15* in the bag during the lockdown. It could be the shaft (Fuji Speeder Pro Tour Spec 84S), but I prefer the feel of both my 913F and 910 FD. I've used it at the range twice and on the course once. Maybe 30 shots with it. I'll probably put it on BST.

It typically only takes a few balls on the range to know if it has a chance. A few more on the course to know for sure. The club has to feel right or it has no chance and then it comes to performance. If the ball isn't flying where it's supposed to or the misses are out of character with the rest of my clubs, it'll never work. Unfortunately I've made the mistake of trying to force a club into the bag on more than one occasion when a little common sense would have shown it will never work.

Irons and wedges within the first 5 flushed shots. If sound, feel and numbers are good they have a chance.

Driver/fairways within 2-3 shots. If sound and numbers are good it's got a chance. It has to feel really solid though. (Favorite sound ever was the Cobra S9-1 Pro D. Still smile when I hit it!)

Putter within a couple of rolls. Haven't changed putters in a long time and probably won't unless something amazing happens.

Once something makes it into the bag, I'll give it a chance for a while. If were not getting along, its usually my fault anyway.

Brother I’ve tried to force a driving iron in my bag no less than 5 times.....with no luck yet. Love the idea but my game just doesn’t call for one....not yet anyways