Bag for the Year?

[swbyps]

I keep seeing all these posts about "my bag for the year". I take that to mean that these folks get new clubs each year or at least frequently. Since I am not fortunate enough to just go get a new set of clubs whenever the wind blows, what I would like to know is does this changing of clubs so often actually do anything to help you game? Or is it all just a part of the club ho thing?

[AZPhys13]

Wondered the same thing myself. Up until this year, I played the same clubs for ~9 years and just replaced the old wedges. I would guess it's mostly a ho thing. Changing gear that much would probably hurt me more than help.

[msn2310]

Everytime I get a new set of irons, driver, wedges, putter I think I have my "bag" for the year complete but it never seems to be the case. Last year I changed irons 15 times throughout the season. Did any of them help? Not really but they didnt hurt either. Still shot the same scores I am used to. This year I am vowing to be different. I am still in the process of finalizing my bag, have two sets coming in Monday that our my finalists but once I decide I plan on having my bag set by this Wednesday.

Honestly, its best to stick to the same stuff for a long period of time, I just havent found it yet. My problem is the "blade vs CB" iron debate. I love the look, feel, and playability of blades but as soon as I have one off day, I jump to conclusions, sell them of and get a set of CB's. Then after a week or two of solid play, I go back to a blade. Play well for a few weeks then repeat the entire process allover again. Whats funny is that I mark my scorecard with what irons I used so that I can compare notes for the future. My scores with blades are about the same as when I use CB irons, difference is that I will hit a CB iron well the whole day but I will suck off the tee or in my short game. When I play a blade, I will hit a few thin or fat or pulled but my short game will bail me out and I did okay off the tee.

Its getting expensive though, I ususally buy slightly pre owned, like new condition stuff and the places I buy from have a 30 day play guarantee so I typically end up sending them back, same condition but it costs me shipping at $15 a set. Sounds like nothing but do that 15 times with irons, a few times with the driver, FW's, putter and it adds up to a new $900 set each year just in shipping costs. A few times I have gone past the 30 day mark only to sell them for half what I paid...

Again, I hope I find what I'm looking for on Monday. The whole process is getting old and the 2010 season for me has not even started yet!

[usfbulls09]

Well, bag for the year can mean different things. For many members on here, the bag for the year is completely different than the previous years' bag, while for others, perhaps they've changed only the wedges. In either case, the bag is different, but maybe not completely. A lot of people like to experiment with different clubs, it's just the ho'ing nature. For what it's worth, I had my bag for 3 years, wedges and all, and went from shooting in the 100s to low/mid 80s, and just recently changed my entire bag. In a few years, once I (hopefully) break 75, I'll buy myself a new set of stuff, though I'll most likely change the wedges a couple times once they get worn down. As far as putters go, I'm probably going to save for a while and then hopefully get a custom putter from Machine, TP Mills, or Byron Morgan...

Do I think changing stuff constantly helps better your score? Doubt it, but I think for a lot of people, the club ho'ing is more of a hobby than anything else...you may not need anything, but it's fun to do, and if you can afford it, then it's better than a lot of other vices...