>>I didn't realize metal woods have been around that long, that's when I bought my woods- early 1980's. One of my fears is buying a new set of clubs, and relearning how to use them. It sounds like you've been using the same clubs for a while now. <<
Relearning - nah, it's the same swing, took me couple rounds when I change drivers to feel comfortable. 1st Metal Driver was a Pittsburgh Persimmon out of a grab bucket for $15 dollars. Replaced in 1995 with a Calloway Big Bertha Driver, I actually still use my 1979 PING fairway woods. I get the distance I need from them and can easily shape the shot I want with them. Replaced my 1979 PING irons in 1998, this was the more difficult transition as distance control is more crucial. The newer clubs are about 1.5 stronger than the older set. The only reason I changed was that I told my wife that I needed a new sand wedge because I had worn the groves of the face of the old wedge from so much practice in bunkers. She bought me a replacement sand wedge for Christmas, trouble was the loft was comparable to a normal wedge of my old set (clubs have been made stronger particularly in the 1980's). Naturally, I just went ahead and bought the remaining clubs to "fix" that little problem, heheh!
>>If I buy a set of metal drivers, do I have the option of material for the head and shaft? I've been hearing a lot a talk about titanium, is this for heads and shafts, and is this the top of the line or a standard? <<
Titanium is for the head, with graphite shaft. Debatable whether it's top of the line, Titanium is definitly more expensive. Calloway, for example, went Big Bertha (steel) to Great Big Bertha ( I think that's what it's called) that was Titanium, now they're back to steel. There's been some discussion about the "legality" of titanium heads. Personally I'm fine with steel, as I'm considered a pretty long hitter. But for most people I'd still recommend steel head with graphite shaft, as I also don't feel that it's worth the increased cost for titanium. Plus the design technology now is such that they've improved the performance enough to reduce the Titanium advantage from just a few years ago.
>>I believe the majority of my mistakes on the course are attributed to skill and technique rather than equipment. <<
Trust me on this: Todays clubs, particularly perimeter weight irons help a lot! I know a lot of average golfers that can enjoy golf more, purely based on today's clubs. They couldn't AND shouldn't hit a forged iron. So it's in most golfers best interest to take advantage of today's technology, even on the pro tour the # of "blade" (forged) clubs is going down every year.
>>...a golf shop due to the fact they may steer me to a more expensive set than really is needed. <<
When I've known exactly what I've wanted, like my wife's clubs that I bought in 1995, and my replacement PING's in 1998, I've used this place to buy, hands down the lowest cost place I've ever found:
dimmockhill.com
Happy shopping,
Jim |
