What worked for you to stop buying stuff all the time?

[Vater]

I believe that my desire to buy more gear comes from the resurgence I had in buying stuff during covid. I was fine with my clubs, bag, etc. for YEARS. Then once I got on a roll, I believe that I ended up changing out every spot in my bag - and more than one swap for a few spots - and the bag itself. Now that I'm done and genuinely tuned in, I still can't help but want to buy more stuff.

 

This is obviously a little tongue in cheek, but what has worked for you? Where you went on a rampage buying stuff then actually, successfully cooled off for a good long time?

[Jim E]

Inflation. A number of other things. I’ll have to leave it at that so I don’t go off on a political tangent.🤣

[MelloYello]

I always bought stuff with a purpose. Naturally I got to where I was happy with my overall bag setup. 

 

 

(1) Get off Ebay. 

 

I used to hop on Ebay just to kill time. I loved to experiment with different club types, lofts, shafts, etc. Quite frankly, I'm glad I did. It actually serves me well now. Having hit stuff is important. I constantly hear people talk who clearly have very little idea how equipment actually performs. 

 

(2) Figure out what works.

 

Following from the first tip, figure out what fits you and what doesn't. Once you've settled on what you like, such as 5w vs 2i, there isn't much reason to change until something breaks. And if you happen to find clubs that you really like, it'll actually become hard, if not impossible, to swap those out. 

 

(3) Start focusing on actual skill and handicap--equipment won't interest you much.

 

Ever notice that after you've worked out your body seems to naturally crave healthy foods rather than junk foods? The more I sit around and do nothing, the more I crave chips, burgers, etc. It's kind of that way when your focus is on playing golf rather than just shopping. This will naturally happen over time. Once you go through the equipment phase you'll hit a point where you want to start improving your game. Once you start in on fixing your swing and making better decisions on the course there won't be much thrill in the idea of swapping clubs. It might literally turn you off, actually. 

 

(4) Separate yourself from the equipment crowd.

 

Once you've gotten away from it, it's kind of ugly how obsessed people can be with equipment purchases. As I said, there's nothing wrong with experimenting and gaining practical insight in what works for you and what doesn't (i.e. hybrids). That's good experience, but there's a time to make decisions and move on. 

Edited January 19, 2022 by MelloYello

[14max]

I ran out of space...

[EDT501]

The more time I have to actually play golf (or even just hit the putting green), the less time I spend on here and the less I think about my equipment. I think a big chunk of my equipment junkie-ness and drive to try new things is finding a connection to golf in periods when I am otherwise too busy to carve out time for actually enjoying the game on the course. I've found over the last 6-9 months that devoting equipment cravings into going deep on golf history or course architecture satisfies the same non-play golf craving I get when I go to the course and surfing the classifieds and Ebay and reading new equipment reviews did.

[Abh159]

Once you accept the fact that buying new equipment isn't going to improve your scores then you'll stop. There are a lot of "the grass is always greener" people in golf. Don't be one of those people.

 

If you want to get better... go practice, go play, or take lessons.

[MelloYello]

Just now, EDT501 said:

The more time I have to actually play golf (or even just hit the putting green), the less time I spend on here and the less I think about my equipment. I think a big chunk of my equipment junkie-ness and drive to try new things is finding a connection to golf in periods when I am otherwise too busy to carve out time for actually enjoying the game on the course. I've found over the last 6-9 months that devoting equipment cravings into going deep on golf history or course architecture satisfies the same non-play golf craving I get when I go to the course and surfing the classifieds and Ebay and reading new equipment reviews did.

 

This is SO. FREAKING. TRUE. 

 

When your connection to golf is interrupted...that's when you start doing other tangential stuff like shopping. 100%. 

[cgallery]

4 minutes ago, MelloYello said:

The more time I have to actually play golf (or even just hit the putting green), the less time I spend on here and the less I think about my equipment

This is 100% true... winter is the worst 

[lefthack]

Following...

 

 

 

🤣 this year will be much lighter than last year, but I will likely always buy stuff as that's what I do.

[NZ315]

I too suffer from the buy bug. I just buy to buy sometimes I don’t even use what I bought. 
last year I went through my entire bag including the bag. I still have an want to buy something else. I don’t need anything. I will try to just buy golf balls and maybe some apparel lol…. Good luck

[jyamat]

When I started having kids the equipment junkie in me died.........but the golf shoe hoarder in me was born (primarily since shoes cost less).  I am a Nike Air Max, GFore and FJ Premier collector. I have stuff I order online sent to my club's pro-shop so they can immediately put in my locker to avoid my family seeing....

[drumdude96]

I have never stopping buying.  It is a bit of a sickness.  But I realized that for me, the newer irons are no better than older stuff in the forged player's CB category.  So I sold all my newer irons and have bought a few sets of older forgings that are still in great condition.  My gamers are MP 30's, and I have a nice set of Hogan Edge and a really nice set of Adams a4 forged irons that I just got.  Compared to new sets, they might as well have been free.  And I know I'll play just as well with them as anything new, maybe even better.  I had a set of i210's and frankly, they weren't that great for me.  Too much bounce.  I bought several older Titleist fairway woods last year in the 904f and 906f lines.  They are incredibly good woods.  And CHEAP now!  I buy wedges when I get good deals on them, because they wear out a lot faster than other clubs.  I got a brand new Wilson Staff Model 60 degree for only $60.  It's good to be a lefty sometimes.  I got a matching 56 degree for only $75 I think, new as well. They are still in the plastic and will get used when my T20's lose their mojo.  The newest club in my bag is a SIM2 Max driver that I got for $330.  I haven't even got to hit it yet, so hopefully it lives up to the hype.  

It's fun to be able to change things up in the bag, or just have multiple full sets like I do.  It may not be the greatest thing to do as far as being consistent, but it at least keeps me from getting bored with a set.  When I want a change, I just grab a different bag and head out the door.  I think the Adams bag I'm putting together is going to be REALLY good.  Super S driver, Super LS 3 wood and 19 degree hybrid, a12 Pro 23 degree hybrid, a4 forged 5-PW, MB2 50* GW, and MacGregor MT Pro forged 56 and 60 (not really loving any of the Adams specialty wedge offerings for lefties).  Gonna be a fun year. Especially because I left the CC and am rejoining the muni where all my friends are.  I realized the people you play golf with are more important than the course you play on.  Bye-bye snobs! 

[Hookasaurus Rex]

When my wife decided to set up a game of Jenga with all the old golf club boxes in our garage… But that lasted for a short time and we realized we needed more pieces/boxes, so I resumed buying clubs.

Edited January 19, 2022 by Hookasaurus Rex

[m3fuz]

Having a child worked.  

 

Jokes apart, I was never a serial club changer, but I did fiddle with things from time to time.  Coming back to the game after some time away has made me rethink my approach and it's more focused on improving mechanics and conditioning rather than looking for a silver bullet.  Do I still like shiny new stuff?  Yes.  Do I care about it as much?  No, not really.  

[Superbrit]

Find another hobby that you can do when you cant actually play, that preferably doesn't cost loads of money

 

Work out how much you spent in the last 12 months, if after the usual "holy ****" response you feel like buying again, then your doomed!

[Maroon_19]

9 minutes ago, Superbrit said:

Find another hobby that you can do when you cant actually play, that preferably doesn't cost loads of money

 

Work out how much you spent in the last 12 months, if after the usual "holy ****" response you feel like buying again, then your doomed!

Yeah... I tried that.  Bought a couple of Jeep Rubicons - his and hers.  Golf is cheaper 🙂

[WilliePPQ]

Yes, been a club junkie for a long time. But the thrill died quickly when I realized that once I found something that really worked with my crappy swing, trading or moving on was a mistake. There are too many sticks that I once owned that I wish I had back. So be careful that the lure of "newness" isn't fool's gold. It's what works for you that counts, regardless of the vintage. New isn't better. Better is better.

You might also want to consider moving away from current options and get into vintage persimmon or blade collecting. Satisfy your collecting bug without the complication of messing with your current active playing sticks. Sorry but on second thought that's going to prove to be addictive too!

[drumdude96]

8 hours ago, Superbrit said:

Find another hobby that you can do when you cant actually play, that preferably doesn't cost loads of money

 

Work out how much you spent in the last 12 months, if after the usual "holy" response you feel like buying again, then your doomed!

I'm obviously a drummer, and that ain't cheap either! Neither is bass fishing, at least when you do it like I do.  About 24 nice rod and reels and several tackle boxes full of thousands of dollars worth of lures. At least I sold the boat that I wasn't using because I took up golf.   A therapist once told me I have an addictive personality.  I'd say she was right! 🤪

Edited January 20, 2022 by GwrxMod
Profanities removed

[amace04]

Stop buying?  I'm not sure I follow.

 

I bought a SIM Ti 5w at the end of November, and just today found a SIM 2 Ti 5w for $10 less than I paid for the og SIM.  I think we all know what happened.

 

 

[dongodfrey]

Nothing 

I love it !!!

[drumdude96]

1 hour ago, Vater said:

I believe that my desire to buy more gear comes from the resurgence I had in buying stuff during covid. I was fine with my clubs, bag, etc. for YEARS. Then once I got on a roll, I believe that I ended up changing out every spot in my bag - and more than one swap for a few spots - and the bag itself. Now that I'm done and genuinely tuned in, I still can't help but want to buy more stuff.

 

This is obviously a little tongue in cheek, but what has worked for you? Where you went on a rampage buying stuff then actually, successfully cooled off for a good long time?

If you really want to stop buying stuff, get off this site.  Seriously.  Nothing gives you the itch more than reading about all the shiny new stuff and how great it must be.  If a crack addict is around a bunch of people smoking crack, guess what's going to happen?! 🤔

[Honeybadger]

I always find the analogy of how both men and women like to accessorize (I know this doesn’t apply to all women and men): women don’t NEED 15 pairs of shoes; men don’t NEED 15 different putters, but it’s fun to accessorize. 
At some point I realize that it actually hurts a my game by having too many option… I’m down to 2 putters and 3 driver shafts- everything else is stable… for now. 

[Jc0]

This is why I started buying nicer head covers. I wanted something shiny in the bag and while a $75 headcover seems ridiculous, it's much cheaper than a $400 driver and still gives me the same shiny new feeling. 

[MelloYello]

16 minutes ago, drumdude96 said:

I'm obviously a drummer, and that s#!t ain't cheap either! Neither is bass fishing, at least when you do it like I do.  About 24 nice rod and reels and several tackle boxes full of thousands of dollars worth of lures. At least I sold the boat that I wasn't using because I took up golf.   A therapist once told me I have an addictive personality.  I'd say she was right! 🤪

 

I hear ya!

I play guitar and that can also add up very quickly. I didn't even realize it but I managed to buy 4 guitars last year totaling about $5k...and I feel like I bought the value-oriented options shopping on sites like Reverb!

 

I'm looking around now and seeing more guitars than ever in the $5k+ range. Golf ain't even really that expensive when you get right down to it. From my perspective, the only "expensive" golf is when you start getting into Country Clubs that are high-dollar. That's where your jaw really drops.

 

$1k for a driver though? Please...that ain't even a drop in the ocean compared to so many other hobbies! I was talking with a work buddy about cycling and he was quoting me what new bikes can cost...wow!

 

Glad I play golf, LOL. 

Edited January 19, 2022 by MelloYello

[minteq]

for me its winter, once I can get out and play/practice I rarely buy anything

[dubbelbogey]

Spend more money on golf activity. If you live in an area where you can play during these months, you're lucky and just go out and play.

 

If not, go find one of those indoor simulator places or even go to Top Golf. It's pretty fun and a better diversion than scrolling eBay.

[LoopySwing13]

Got drunk and changed my PayPal password.. it worked for a month or so before I finally gave in and changed it back. 

[BCULAW]

For me, it is all about the supply and demand. I used to be an absolute club HO. It was not uncommon for me to tinker with a dozen or so iron sets a year, and to a lesser extent wedges, drivers, hybrids, etc. Buy new releases, sell or trade them in quickly while demand was still high, break even by buying a slightly older or less “demanded” option, and then rinse and repeat until I had to drop some money to get back into the latest and greatest. But then prices started increasing and ALL clubs went in “high demand” pile!  
 

Even before the pandemic, we were seeing fairly significant price increases on new releases. Vokey wedges went from $109 up to $159 in a couple of product cycles. Drivers lines that used to start at $299 went up to $399 and then $459 very quickly. Even then, my “strategy” was to buy the latest and greatest and then “drop” into the discontinued new and then used markets for my tinkering fix. Now that we are in full supply chain crisis mode, however, even those markets are in high demand with exaggerated pricing. 
 

Bottom line is that I’m a bargain shopper at this point. With the exception of iron sets, I do very little tinkering now. With irons, I’m either shopping values (like the PXG sale) or looking at alternatives like exotic refinishing (Just got some MP32s in satin finish with all the logos welded in). 
 

I expect I’ll get back into it at some point, but it’s become much too an expensive hobby for me at this stage of my life. 

[rondre3000]

Once I got fitted and saw the results.

 

I'm lucky/unlucky enough that with my swing and skill level (12hcp) there isn't an appreciable difference between what I've got right now and what else is out there. So it really comes down to aesthetics and feel. So unless something comes along that looks or feels appreciably better, I'm sticking with what I've got in the bag right now. The only sticks I'm looking to swap out right now are my 54* and 58* wedges (to JAWS Full Toe) and I'll wait until the Spring when CPO gets some stock of those.

Edited January 20, 2022 by rondre3000

[getitdaily]

I died.