A look back at your BEST / WORST purchases in 2019

[I_HATE_SNOW]

TEE EXS 3 wood. Can't hold a candle to the old XCGV that is still in the bag. Might be the shaft, tried an R and it is too soft.

[Jamesng2003]

Best purchase for me was a set of Callaway Apex 16 irons with recoil shafts. Love the feel and ball flight. Got them new on Callaway Pre-owned. Worst was a TM M4 driver with Tensi shaft.

[spring70]

Worst

Winter Fitted AP1's - launch monitor goodness, on the course just too hot and low - traded in before the T series release - so only lost $400! lol

GAPR Mid - Tested it at the range, bought it, played it, hated it - My son who was with my asked why I test hit the GAPR lo and bought the Mid - again lol

EvenFlow Blue Shaft - feels like I am swinging a rope

Best

Hot Metal/Hot Metal Pro irons - I just feel real comfortable with them.

[memphishorn]

Best- Titleist TS2 and Scotty 2019 Newport Select

Worst- Tensei 3W shaft off eBay that arrived broken due to bad packaging. Over a month of messing with seller to get a refund.

[Broke100]

Bought two sleeves of (expensive) Truvis balls and lost all in first nine holes of play. Probably only lost one lesser ball the rest of round.

[DD4442]

Best (and it wasn't even close): The 10 or so bucks I spent having my driver shaft shortened by one inch (butt end).

Worst: Dodger blue Mizuno baseball "turf" shoes that I thought would be a good idea for golf. Uh, nope.

It's been a great golf-year, and I firmly resolve to get to more away courses in 2020....

[PuttforDoh]

At the moment it's a TM m3 5 wood with a MARU shaft.. I can't feel my clubhead

[Doyouevenblade]

Best - Diamana DF 70x for my 3wood. Though I believe it was because the shaft moved me from 43.75 to 42.25" in length. The 3wood went from liability to weapon overnight.

 

Worst - MpH5 2&3 irons. Blind on a whim eBay purchase. Wanted some forgiveness at that end of the bag... I hit my mp5 3iron better

[mjbaker80]

I never like to be negative, but, if I can be honest and save people a couple bucks, so be it. And, remember, results may VARY for YOU!

I am NOT a good wedge player and decided I was going to go all out on a set of Vokeyworks wedges (hand ground and the whole 9 yards). I was fit indoors (first problem) hoping that the fit could be done without seeing my divots and off a mat that obviously doesn't allow you to dig up ground.

These were NOT cheap. Like don't-tell-your-wife expensive. They also did not help a lick in terms of my wedge play. In fact, by the end of the year I was back to my off-the-rack wedges that were a fraction of the cost.

Let me be VERY clear on this point - I 100% believe that Vokey is an incredible wedgemaker that does phenomenal work for tour players and anyone who actually gets fit BY HIM OR HIS TEAM. But, for me, an indoor fitting followed by hand-grinding did nothing other than dent my wallet.

I also know it is ON ME to make good swings and deliver the club to the ball properly. But, after 35 years playing golf, my swing hasn't changed much and likely won't ever. I figured that by getting into the finest of details of my wedges may help when I do make a flaw in club delivery. Quite simply, it didn't.

Would I still play Vokey wedges? 100% and I still do sometimes. Would I drop $370 per wedge for handground, raw wedges. Nope.

The good news - I learned the importance of outdoor fitting and have a trip planned to go see the boys at Artisan this summer. Absolutely can't wait because I know that after they watch my action, the wedge will fit my swing flaws and strengths. I cannot say enough about the guys at Artisan and how nice they are to work with....I am counting down the days......

[groach]

My best purchase was the Spider X, at the PGA SS, the morning they were released to retail. I was literally helping them pull them out of the boxes and stock the shelves just to make sure I got a blue 33', 8 minutes after the store opened. That was fun.

 

My worst purchases were two accessories I bought for my clicgear 3.5 pushcart - the seat & the laser pouch attachment. I don't play rounds that are slow enough to need to sit down while a tee box is piled up. And the laser pouch was just another thing to attach and take off every time I took the cart off. Waste of money on both for me.

[CasualLie]

Best: Tensei Pro Orange TX shaft....never thought I could hit it, but after a fitting that was the one and it has proven to be awesome.

Worse: Nothing comes close to the garbage known as Cobra SL irons. The worse idea ever for anything beyond 7 iron length. 3 - 6 irons beyond useless; unless you need extra sticks for stoking a fire.

[MelloYello]

Worst: Callaway Rogue 3-wood.

 

This was a total impulse buy. I paid full price ($300) for this when I suddenly got it in my head that I badly needed to upgrade my 3w. I ended up with a very similar 3w but the impulsive nature is what makes me cringe.

Best: Titleist 716 CB w. S300 AMT shafts

 

Both the heads and the shafts fit my game better than the previous set of MBs I had which were shafted with normal S300's. These irons really fit me like a glove and I look forward to playing with them for several years to come.

[hartrick11]

Best: Cobra King Forged CBs. Feel is phenomenal and they pair nicely with the $ Taper while looking awesome. I think they'll be in my bag for a few years.

Worst: Cobra King Utility. Feel was decidedly less than phenomenal and did not pair nicely with the $ Taper.

[justvisiting]

Best: $40 Adicross Spikeless shoes!! Awesome deal for an awesome shoe.

Worst: a Tie - between the EvnRoll ER2 - I really disliked the feel, very muted and firm. (Side note - for those with the same - a good alternative for me was the Toulon San Diego! Love it)

2nd was a Full Bag Fitting w Club Champion in Oregon - very pushy experience - like a glorified Demo Day, trying to sell me their custom clubs and not listening to the customer about their goals of fitting.

 

[Bentron]

Best Purchase: The $50 used Strata set I bought on Craigslist on the way to a course, because it introduced me to golf as an adult.

 

Worst Purchase: The $50 used Strata set I bought on Craigslist on the way to a course, because it introduced me to golf as an adult, and subsequently got me addicted.

[2PuttThom]

Best - Cally Apex MB / '19 Pro combo set

Worst - Cally Epic 3h. Can't figure the damn thing out for some reason.

[luckypolk]

Worst: EVNRoll ER8 putter. I was missing a lot to the left with my old Scotty Newport 2. Tried to fix it by getting too handsy. Knew that wasn't the right answer so got a mallet. I hate mallets and the ER8 didn't change my mind.

Best: Ended up getting a Scotty Squareback. It's the Newport 2's fat cousin so I didn't mind the looks. It has less toe flow so I quit missing left. Been putting lights out since the change. Shot a 79 on my final round of 2019. Only my second time breaking 80.

[specimania]

Best- TS3 driver and fw

Worst- i500 irons. The worst golf related purchase I have made period

[pollock21]

Best - Ping LST Driver and 3 Wood. Just awesome sticks. Also my JPX 919 Tour irons 4-PW. Only complain is the typical odd looking Mizzy set PW, but other than that, they are awesome. The long irons are ridiculously easy to hit and launch, it just doesn't make any sense.

Worst - Ping i500's and Epic SZ 3 Wood. i500's were just too long, and I never could get consistent gapping with them. They looked good and felt great, but just didn't fit my game as I really don't need the extra distance. And the Epic SZ 3 wood, we just didn't get along....just like every Callaway club i've tried for the last 3 years. I keep going back and trying their offerings due to the rave reviews, and they keep failing me. Lesson learned....doubt it.

[DannyK]

Worst purchase- TM Gapr Low 2 iron

Second worst- Titlist Driver I bought off the classifieds that snapped playing the second round with it. The round happened to be in a year long match play event. Driver snapped on the 5th hole.

Best purchase- Matching Callaway MD 4 Tatical Wedge Set, Mizuno MMC 3 iron

[VNutz]

Worst: Bridgestone XCBP Irons - Purchased on a whim because of a deal in the midst of winter boredom with great stock shafts, and the clubs were fine but it just wasn't the right fit.

Best: Bridgestone J15MB Irons - Purchased on a whim because of a deal in the midst of winter boredom with great stock shafts, and they've been phenomenal. Didn't think I could play blades but had some of my best rounds of the past few years with them, including my first ace.

 

Seeing a trend here...

[SUPERG]

Been weird year for gear for me lol. Not many moves through out the year but a couple of big bag shake ups.

WORST: Callaway Epic flash triple diamond - performed very well and felt good BUT THE SOUND!!!! I literally had to sell it (at a profit) becuase it was such a crazy noise. II swore off callaway woods since then but hope that in the future they can make a driver with great feel/sound.

also worst: Scotty Newport Select 2018 - insert sucked lets leave it at that.

 

BEST: big surprise for me as it was the absolute cheapest thing I got this year. Odyssey 3T O Works black best putter I've ever used , and it may just vibe well with me but I simply just love it. The shape, feel of the insert and finish all check the boxes for me.

also best: M5 driver (with BF 70TX) just a bomber with great feel and sound and it speaks for itself.

 

Got a bet with my GF in 2020 that I only get one equipment change (just for fun because she knows I hoe my clubs and thinks its funny) and I need wedges so hopefully nothing killer comes out so I won't be tempted lol. Here's to 2020 wrx, hit em straight.

[1hellaofashot]

With multiple things bought and sold this year I definitely narrowed it dow

BEST: Taylormade spider x single bend. I'm a scotty guy till the death but just never made all the putts I wanted/needed to. this thing has changed that tremendously! Then there is Jordan golf shoes. being a shoe fanatic and a former collector it has been the best of both worlds. collection will continue to grow

Worst: Nothing against the club but the original one mini driver just never got going for me. That thing is an absolute beauty and i really wanted it to work, but since I don't hit a driver at all and my ping g400 stretch is just such a perfect club I had to let it go.

[bgriff82]

Best, Mizuno MP54 irons. Had previously been using a very old set of Mizuno T Zoid Pro 2's and finally took the plunge and bought some new ones. They have been great.

Worst - Can't seem to get used to the Taylormade M3 Driver which I bought. Will try a little more before deciding whether to change!

[jrr811]

Best - Scratch SB-1 iron set - going from CBs to blades was a bit of a learning curve, but putting in the work and time definitely helped with making me a better player overall.

Worst - Adams 4h proto - Got it for a little more than I should have on the bay, never could hit it how I wanted, and can't get rid of it now :(

[Nollster]

Best: Mizzy ST190 - Best driver I've ever hit! Love the way it sets up and you can't miss it! Picked up a GD AD DI 6s to match below for 2020...Next best: Ping G30 3W with GD AD DI 6s - pulled the shaft and put it in the true next best purchase which was a Mizzy ST190 TS...This is a true beast of a 3W for me! Don't know why I waited this long to finally try this shaft!! Actually I do...they just cost too much...Next, next best: Adams Tight Lies Tour 18* - Unbelievable FW! Picked up a GD AD DJ 7s to put in this for 2020...Best deal of the year: Minty 2014 Scotty Select Newport - paid $100 from a friend and didn't miss a putt for a month! It's at the Continental getting murdered out for 2020...

2019 was a great year for BESTS...can't say I had any worsts...

[benclab]

Best: Odyssey O works black 1w. Love that thing.

Worst: M5. I wanted to love it so bad but couldn't. Hooked them all and I never had a hooking issue. Tried different heads, loft options, weight combos, shafts, etc always the same issue. I have a G400 lst and I've hit one bad hook since I put it in the bag in August.

[SwooshLT]

Clear best purchase is my Srixon Z585/Z785 combo....brought my 4-7 iron sets a year to screeching halt! For me, perfect in every way.....feel ,flight, forgiveness

 

Worst: Ping G410 plus/LST .....hard to explain as they were fairly consistent but couldn't get added distance I crave with LST feeling hard and loud. Went back to 2018 M3 ......perfect launch/spin parameters for my swing and twist face tor side is a blessing.....

[agood3putt]

Best: Titleist 818H2 21* set to 23* with the Atmos Tour Spec HB 8S Blue Shaft. It was benched for a bit but its an all around awesome club.

Best: TaylorMade P790 Irons. Great combo of forgiveness, playability, looks and sound/feel

 

Worst: The ongoing carosel of hybrids trying to dethrone the 818H2 (G410, TS2, TS3) and the 5W experiments (TS2)

[onafriday]

My best purchase by a mile comes from ams165 on these boards via BST! Excellent putter.