Budget Golfer: Purchasing/Gaming 15-20 + Year Old Clubs

[Bow Hunter]

I've spent the past week adding various sets of 2010s era Mizunos to my favorites list. 3-PW or 4-PW sets are around $300-$400 shipped. 

 

I currently game Ping G425s, but I have a sweet spot for Mizunos, especially older models. I am 2 hcp, so I can usually get just about any set of standard irons with DG S300s working for me.

 

Anyone else a fan of shopping for/gaming older iron sets?

[Greenie]

I still have and game my Mizuno MX 200's occasionally. They are great feeling irons. They are probably not the ones for a 2 cap though.

The MP 32's are great older irons.

[grochol17]

On a number of occasions I've looked through ebay for a set of T Zoid Pros, but not found any that were in good enough shape.  That, plus the fact that they aren't on the conforming groove list keeps me from pulling the trigger, but I'm curious to know if I like them as much as I did in the late 90's early 00's.

 

I've got a set of MP 60s boxed up in the basement, but I doubt I'll go back to those.  Great irons, but as my playing time decreases, I think my next set of irons needs to be something more forgiving.

[xkilgorextroutx]

I can't say I go *that* old, but I think the newest set of irons that I own is from 2017. Drivers I'll usually buy one generation older, but irons I'm fine picking up sets at least 5-6 years old. I know what shafts/brands usually just tend to work for me, and can often find those sets at great discounts gently used. 

[RCGA]

As a fellow budget golfer, learn how to reshaft and regrip your own clubs. It's stupid easy and allows you to buy "heads only" sets which can be better value than fully shafted sets. Similarly, you can buy sets without any regard to shaft specs because it's simple to swap them out. 

 

Another tip - try to get yourself into a blended set. Everyone needs a little extra forgiveness in their long irons, and it's almost impossible to use them enough that they wear out. When I need to replace my irons, I only really need to replace 7-pw, which saves me even more money. 

[HGLucky13]

A few years ago I started with a set of MX-25's 3-PW I bought for $150. Added new grips, extended them 1/2" and was playing for less than $300 all in. Great clubs. I only changed them cause I wanted new and shiny. Every once in a while I pull them back out and they still work just fine.

[tocino]

I had a set of MP-14's that i wouldn't mind having back and I still have an original taylormade v-steel 5w that was in my bag for a good 10 years before i replaced it with something newer.  At my age, handicap, and free time after all my kids' extra curricular stuff i just don't have the time to practice with clubs that don't offer at least a little bit of forgiveness/distance outside of putters. That probably won't stop me from collecting a few older sets of irons and putters but I'd never use them in a round that's even remotely competitive

[MN Moose]

24 minutes ago, RCGA said:

As a fellow budget golfer, learn how to reshaft and regrip your own clubs. It's stupid easy and allows you to buy "heads only" sets which can be better value than fully shafted sets. Similarly, you can buy sets without any regard to shaft specs because it's simple to swap them out. 

Man, I would love to work on my own stuff!  Sure it is pretty straight forward but the equipment needed to do everything is not cheap.  I'm tall so in most cases I would need to adjust the lie angle so it's more than just re-shafting/re-gripping for me.  I feel that if I invest in everything needed, I would need to run a little side business for people out of my garage to try and recoup the costs. 

[vonbonds]

45 minutes ago, RCGA said:

As a fellow budget golfer, learn how to reshaft and regrip your own clubs. It's stupid easy and allows you to buy "heads only" sets which can be better value than fully shafted sets. Similarly, you can buy sets without any regard to shaft specs because it's simple to swap them out. 

 

Another tip - try to get yourself into a blended set. Everyone needs a little extra forgiveness in their long irons, and it's almost impossible to use them enough that they wear out. When I need to replace my irons, I only really need to replace 7-pw, which saves me even more money. 

What tools do you use to swap them out? Have any pictures of your workshop/workstation? I’m an avid tinkerer and while I do my own grips which is super simple I have wanted to start getting into this space.

 

Thanks

[Gopher68]

I really like the older Bridgestone/Tourstage irons along with the Mizuno Mp52 and older Callaway forged models from the early 2000's.

[Bow Hunter]

Just now, Gopher68 said:

I really like the older Bridgestone/Tourstage irons along with the Mizuno Mp52 and older Callaway forged models from the early 2000's.

 

Yep. I think for blade/players cavity backs, there isnt much technological difference than today's MB player's CB. In some cases, the older forgings have a softer feel.

[RCGA]

45 minutes ago, vonbonds said:

What tools do you use to swap them out? Have any pictures of your workshop/workstation? I’m an avid tinkerer and while I do my own grips which is super simple I have wanted to start getting into this space.

 

Thanks

 

A $20 blowtorch and a $10 tube of JB Weld. Add in a $5 pack of ferrules. There are a few other necessities to have (like a vice, ruler, hacksaw, acetone, etc.), but a lot of them are something any homeowner should own anyway or could all be acquired for less than a muni green fee. 

 

Sure, you can get fancy with swing weighting, lofts and lies. But if you're the type of golfer buying 10 year old irons for $300, you really have no idea what you're really buying. The amount of used clubs that have undisclosed shaft extensions, weird swing weights, and jacked up lofts/lies is alarming. 

 

It cost me maybe $400 for all my clubfitting gear (including a $200 loft/lie machine bought used), but I can do anything to any iron/wedge within 30 minutes. I think buying budget clubs without being able to do your own work on them is way too risky; you'd be better off buying clubs from large retailers via end-of-year sales. 

[RCGA]

Also keep in mind Mizuno have B weighted heads for lengths 0.50" and longer.  I bought some used 919 Tours on a sick deal, but they were all B rated heads and were all ~6-10 grams lighter than they should have been. 

 

When buying used Mizuno irons you have no idea what headweights you're actually buying. They could easily be B weighted heads, but then cut down. 

[Bow Hunter]

7 minutes ago, RCGA said:

Also keep in mind Mizuno have B weighted heads for lengths 0.50" and longer.  I bought some used 919 Tours on a sick deal, but they were all B rated heads and were all ~6-10 grams lighter than they should have been. 

 

When buying used Mizuno irons you have no idea what headweights you're actually buying. They could easily be B weighted heads, but then cut down. 

 

You can get the serial # from the seller and contact Mizuno USA. They will tell you if the club was sold as a SLLL. 

[st1800e]

11 minutes ago, RCGA said:

JB Weld

Not wanting to start a debate.  A rookie should start with golf specific epoxy.  See other threads on Epoxy, search.  

[CROUSE99]

I currently have a set of MP 64’s on my watch list. Don’t know if I’ll pull the trigger but it sure is tempting. 

[lambo428]

Just bought a set of Taylormade RAC forged TP irons and have a set of Titleist 704.CB irons that I play occasionaly.

[Ger21]

3 hours ago, MN Moose said:

Sure it is pretty straight forward but the equipment needed to do everything is not cheap.

You don't really need much equipment at all. Torch, tubing cutter, hacksaw, sandpaper. One of these makes things a little easier.

https://www.harborfreight.com/1-in-x-30-in-belt-and-5-in-disc-sander-69033.html

[Binson]

Quite a bit less shiny and pretty, but my old Ping Zing 2's and ISI's keep eventually kicking my modern irons out of the bag every year.  1994 and 1998 models respectively.  

[J-Blade]

7 minutes ago, Binson said:

Quite a bit less shiny and pretty, but my old Ping Zing 2's and ISI's keep eventually kicking my modern irons out of the bag every year.  1994 and 1998 models respectively.  

Ditto... My S59s are still my gamers. There is something to be said for old Ping iron sets. 

[Barfolomew]

Got back into golf bout 9 years ago and needed clubs..... picked up a set of MP-14s 1-P minty for only $200ish.... couldn't believe the used club market was so cheap lol.... Only new clubs got now are the wedges cause of fresh grooves

[MN Moose]

23 minutes ago, Barfolomew said:

Got back into golf bout 9 years ago and needed clubs..... picked up a set of MP-14s 1-P minty for only $200ish.... couldn't believe the used club market was so cheap lol.... Only new clubs got now are the wedges cause of fresh grooves

1i?  I've heard that only God can hit a 1i, lol.

 

[Binson]

3 hours ago, J-Blade said:

Ditto... My S59s are still my gamers. There is something to be said for old Ping iron sets. 

Will always have a soft spot for the S59s. They are the set I hit my only HIO with. I only wish I could hit them like that all the time 🙂

[betarhoalphadelta]

5 hours ago, MN Moose said:

1i?  I've heard that only God can hit a 1i, lol.

 

 

I believe the joke is that if you're in a lightning storm, hold a 1i over your head...

 

...because not even God can hit a 1i 😉

 

[Ger21]

You don't have to go back 15-20 years to find great bargains.

Bought my very good condition 2015 OnOff's last fall for $375. Just had to wait a few months for the right set to come along.

Have both a Srixon Z745 and Z545 that I got the heads for < $40 each. 9-10 years old. The Z745 has an Attas 11 that I got new for $100. The Z545 has a 13 year old RIP Phenom that was new for $70. Overpaid for it, but hard to find new ones. My playing partners of the same ability have played every major new driver in the last few years, and my $100 driver is right alongside them.

[Dan Drake]

I have a set of righty & lefty Eye 2’s.  Dollar for dollar, they still can’t be beat.

[RolandofGilead]

15 hours ago, Bow Hunter said:

Anyone else a fan of shopping for/gaming older iron sets?

✋

 

I’ve settled on Titleist 975/980 series woods and irons from the late 80s and early 90s. Great stuff from that time period and you can absolutely still play good golf with older clubs.

[philly2kuk]

My 20 year old rescue dual and dual tp are currently in the bag for my next round. Bag is settled but I’ve two slots between my 4w and 5i that I just cannot settle with.

[ShortGolfer]

15 hours ago, st1800e said:

Not wanting to start a debate.  A rookie should start with golf specific epoxy.  See other threads on Epoxy, search.  

Golf epoxy is designed to come apart easily.   Consider the extra cost as insurance for easily correcting mistakes.

 

With a proper shaft puller for graphite clubs, or tough steel clubs, it becomes practical to take clubs apart so you can swap ferrules just because you want something new!

Edited May 7 by ShortGolfer

[ingster1]

I currently game Mizuno JPX 825 pros that I bought a few years ago in near new condition.  I played MX 300s and MX 23s previously- all bought used.  I really like these older Mizuno one piece forgings.