Replaced my 20 yr old set of clubs and the lessons learned

[wcdixon]

Some observations after updating my entire set of 20 year old steel stiff-shafted Callaway X-12 irons and Big Bertha Driver/Fairway Woods this winter.

1) I like my Callaway's.

sampled a variety of new-ish iron sets (ping i200's, srixon 355's) and first settled on a used set of Callaway Steelhead XR's 5-AW with Recoil 760 f3 graphite shafts...which I have no complaints about, but then found a like-new set of Rogue Pro irons 5-AW also with same Recoil shafts at a great price and am loving them. A little harder to hit than the XR's but am striking them solid most of the time and really satisfied with the feel, sound, and shot results. Plus the lofts on the Rogue Pro's closer to my old X-12's so not as much of a shot distance adjustment from old clubs to new ones....and the graphite shafts much easier on my aging wrists and right elbow.2) hitting balls indoors into a simulator screen not the same as hitting them outdoors during a round

this is kind of a 'duh no kidding' observation but was really surprised at the difference between how a club might feel and the ball fly indoors vs while in playing conditions...specifically wedges. Found online a used 50* and 54* Mizuno T7 wedge with Recoil 95 graphite shafts both in excellent condition and for all the great reviews and how they felt inside I couldn't stand them outdoors. Hard, clicky sound, and always flying around 10 yds less than I expected to get. They're now in the spare set bag along with the Steelhead XR's and happily using a Cleveland RTX-4 56* bent to 55* loft with Rotex 90g graphite shaft accompanied by a Callaway Sure Out 60* sand wedge.3) the shafts on today's drivers, fairway woods, and hybrids are too long.

tested a used Srixon 585 and Cobra F6 and both were fine but traded them in after hitting the Callaway Rogue 9* driver. My hat is off to the Jailbreak tech because sound, feel, and consistency with the club is so good...plus 15 more yards distance easy. However initially I felt too far from the ball and was always choking down on the grip. Same with the used Callaway XR16 3w and Steelhead XR 5w I picked up. So I cut an inch and 1/4 off the driver and one inch off both the 3w and 5w, regripped them all with Winn Dri Tec midsize, and now they all feel just right. No choking down, just swing away. So when I picked up a Cobra F6 3-4 hybrid and GAPR Hi 4 hybrid I took an inch off both of them as well...and both feel now like where they should be, for me anyway. I realize a little clubhead speed and distance likely lost by shortening the shafts but distance still good and way more consistent.4) speaking of hybrids

never owned or even hit a hybrid before this spring, and still adjusting to when and how to swing them. Snagged a Cobra f8 3 19* first and was sort of hit and miss...swing easy and leave it out to the right; swing harder and catch it flush and it would fly too far (using it for 200 yard shots). Tried a demo GAPR Hi 4 and liked that it feels looks more like an iron (though like I said the shaft was too long and trimmed it)...it's working well for around 185-190 yds. And a used Cobra f6 3-4 trimmed down with loft adjusted to 20* has felt better and have hit it more consistent than the f8 for those 200-210 yd shots.5) balls balls balls

in the old days each year I would buy a box of Callaway's and then when I lost them just play the balls I found for rest of the season but this spring decided to try out several new balls on the market and pick one. Callaway Chrome Soft gets a thumbs up and the ProV1's were and will always be a very good ball....but tried the Bridgestone Tour B RX and the Taylormade TP5 because I read they were good wind balls. It's windy a lot where I play. And surprisingly neither really stood out, in the wind or otherwise. Not terrible, but not 'Wow'. Plus both on the harder feeling side. In end I went with several boxes of the Chrome Soft X....love the feel, flight, distance and they still seem to navigate windy conditions decently.6) puttering around

tested all the new wacky putter designs but couldn't adjust to look/feel of most and ended up getting a like-new Odyssey White Ice Rossi putter that was very similar in shape, weight, and feel/roll to my now retired 25 year-old small mallet head Wilson bargain bin putter I had before. It's still all about the quality of your stroke IMO.

So there you go. Had fun trying out a lot of the new equipment that's out there and putting to test some of the technological changes of past 20 years...but for most part felt like I ended up in a similar place to where I was before. Callaway irons and woods...Cleveland wedges - change is hard. Big change is extra hard. Started season 2 weeks ago with an 86....4 rounds later shot an 80, so going in the right direction. Hopefully by the end of this season will be still happy with my decisions made, and lessons learned.

 

[Jeff58]

Good post. Glad you’re finding some clubs that are working for you.?

[DallasSteve]

Thanks for posting! Best of luck!

[wcdixon]

Thanks!

[wcdixon]

Thanks!

[wcdixon]

..

[rwc356]

Thanks for a great post on the “joys” of updating equipment. Sounds like you had a successful journey!

[iNeedMoreGolf]

Yeah this whole hitting in the screen thing is terrible. Nothing about it simulates real golf. Cant tell sound, feel or really even distance for that matter unless its one of the 2 or 3 legit flight readers like track man but still nothing simulates out door real time golf. Wish we had some kind of cool place like a driving range with real grass that has every club available to give a hit and read numbers.

[wcdixon]

Thanks!

[wcdixon]

And in Canada with the winters even more so.

[wcdixon]

 

.