Does your frequency of play impact your buying decisions?

[bryanwmilburn]

As the years have gone on, my frequency of play has gone down significantly and, thus, my handicap has crept up. I’m starting to put less value on equipment and more on just enjoying the game when I can actually get out and play which is about 2 times/month. When I was playing all the time and playing competitively, I was a bad off club hoe. I still have speed, and I can still play when I get it going, but I just don’t have that desire to try the latest and greatest any more since I don’t feel like I’ll even be able to have the time to practice to get used to clubs. I’ve also shifted my club buying from low spin monster drivers and blades (MP 69 are my favorite irons ever) to a slightly more forgiving and high spinning driver setup and more forgiving iron profile and am considering going even bigger (like a ZX5). 
 

I say all of this to ask - as the years have gone on for you and you begin to play less, does that change your buying habits? Has it transitioned you to more forgiving or stable clubs? Has it taken away your desire to try or buy the latest and greatest and made you just want to enjoy being out and playing? It’s hard for me to let go of my inner hoe, but I’m in the middle of transitioning my time and focus from myself to my kids on the golf course and I’m looking forward to making sure they are all set up for success in their game as well! 
 

You can consider this a former club hoe reflection session to remember the good days 😂

[Esox]

Indeed, frequency of play, and advancing age have made a huge impact upon whats in my bag.  In three years I went from Stiff shafted blades, to used R shafted cavity back forgings to the buying new Titleist T300's after a fitting. Fitter actually wanted to put me into S shafts, but that was on a good arthritis day. And my dispersion with the R was less than a yard and a half off the stiffs. Also dropped the 4 iron and now carry 1-3-5-7 &9 woods. No compulsion to have the latest and greatest, just what will work best for me. Back in the 80's and 90's I was playing 3-4 times a week, taking customers out, leagues, etc.  Now days I am playing 27 holes a week, 18 with my son and a 9 hole league, using the rest of my time fishing or hunting.

30 years ago I was one of those people changing clubs regularly as new stuff came out. Hell, I even played a set of Cleveland VAS Irons for a couple of months, which with my current T300's are the only cast clubs I ever played.

Edited September 12, 2021 by Esox

[Billfitz]

I'm semi-retired, so I'm playing more but not hitting as far. That means I no longer play clubs that work best with +100 MPH swing speed. My game can't rely on power any more, it has to rely on accuracy, and my club set reflects that.

[cgasucks]

For me yes.  Right now I play often enough so I can be able to hit my 990s on the button but if I can't play because of personal reasons or bad weather for an extended period of time I'll go to my stash in my basement an dig out a more forgiving set of clubs.

[OttoVonBizMarkie]

I work in education, so I have a lot more time to play in the summer - during the rest of the year I can fit in maybe a round and a couple range sessions a week. This past summer I was considering going with less forgiving clubs, but now that I'm not getting out as much I'm thinking "nah, these are fine".

 

I still like to try new clubs, but it seems that most clubs from the past 5 years or so offers diminishing returns on performance compared to added cost. I'm sure at some point there is going to be some new breakthroughs, but I haven't found any at the moment.

[circa3182]

The less I play the more equipment I buy. Find myself buying golf stuff when I can’t get out and play to scratch the golf itch. 

[bvmagic]

I'm in the same boat, in fact I have MP69's right now and have contemplated switching to more forgiving irons.  But then I think about how often I would even use the new clubs and it stops there.  No time to practice or play like I used to in college.  For the few times I do go out to play, I try not to take it too seriously and accept my game will not be all that great since I'm not practicing as much.  I don't see much value in getting any new clubs with the frequency of play / practice.  

[Unteachable]

I play once a week and am about to be on my 6th putter in 2 months 

 

my driver is 2 years old, 3w and hybrid are g425s bought last year, and I got some new zx7 irons early this year (4th different iron set in the last year)
my bag won’t change again other than figuring out the putter and maybe a new sand wedge for a couple of years. 

[sgersten19]

100% yes. I've gone to much more forgiving irons and stopped worrying about my score since I know I'm going to screw up a few holes per round with 0 practice and limited warm up.

 

Expecting perfection with no preparation is a fools errand especially with a game like golf.

 

All I focus on is executing on a few shots during the round and don't lose too much money to my sandbagging friends every Sunday.

[ckay]

Less I play the more I buy. 

[Willwinz]

23 hours ago, circa3182 said:

The less I play the more equipment I buy. Find myself buying golf stuff when I can’t get out and play to scratch the golf itch. 

Lol same here. Can't avoid looking at equipment in the winter

[aiyyer]

The more I play, the less I change or buy clubs.

[Pearlwhites]

I only buy clubs in downtime.

[sbjinx]

On 9/13/2021 at 6:43 PM, circa3182 said:

The less I play the more equipment I buy. Find myself buying golf stuff when I can’t get out and play to scratch the golf itch. 

Me too. Opposite of the OP. When I’m playing regularly I don’t like to switch up my equipment. 

[Radeon962]

I’m in the less I play the more I buy.  My problem is that I can’t pass up a deal even if I don’t need it.

 

 

[moadhia]

The more I play the more I realize that it’s the Indian not the arrow. 

[YoYoJumbo]

6 hours ago, moadhia said:

The more I play the more I realize that it’s the Indian not the arrow. 

 

Same, which means I buy less. The less I play the more I am more than likely in front of my phone on ebay and Facebook groups looking at garbage I don't need. 🙂