Newer doesn't always mean better...

[Baseballfrk8998]

Preface

By now, I'm sure that a lot of you folks have seen my bag. If not, it can be seen here. What most of you haven't seen is how many clubs I've been through in my short time playing golf (about 4.5 years now). Since I first started playing, I've been a big time club ho. It started about 6-9 months in but I think I'm finally starting to slow down and become content with what I have in the bag. 

 

In the time that I have been playing golf, I've literally been through 30+ sets of irons (no lie!) and at least that many drivers. I made of list of irons that I'd owned about a year ago and at that time I was sitting at 25 sets. It got so bad at one point that I had no less than 3 sets of irons at a time for quite a while.. I know, I know..

 

Anyways, I mention all of that to set the tone of the rest of my post. When it comes to new golf clubs, I personally don't think that equipment is getting any better. I'm currently playing irons that were released in 2010 (MP-53's) and a driver that was released around then as well (Titleist 910 D3). I've played plenty of irons and drivers since 2010, including some of the newest offerings, and I can honestly say that I don't think there is anything out there that I've hit better than the clubs that I have in the bag now.

 

Mizuno MP-53's

Personally, for those looking for a forged iron with a blend of forgiveness and a pretty nice look at address, I'm not sure that it gets any better than the 53's. The short irons aren't bulky at all and the long irons are easy to elevate. Combine that with the fact that they're as long as anything else (that's similarly spec'd) out right now and I think you have a winner. Not to mention that hey're a great looking iron to boot, IMO. 

 

These irons probably aren't going to suit the traditionalist that prefers a super compact look at address, but for those wanting to move away from the GI/SGI look but still retain some of the forgiveness that those clubs offer, these irons fit the bill perfectly. They also have that traditional Mizuno feel that we've all come to know and love.

 

Titleist 910 D3

This is probably the best driver that Titleist has produced in at least a decade, if not ever. There are plenty of reviews and threads out there on various websites that confirm my opinion about that. I had a 910 a few years ago (several of them actually), but this was during the peak of my club ho'n so I never really gave it a fair chance. I always liked it, especially the way it set up, framed the ball and sounded. 

 

Anyways, a few months ago I found a 910 D3 in Golfsmith with a MFT Ahina 70x shaft for $50. When I saw it for sale, it was a no brainer. I grabbed it off of the used rack, went up to the monitors up front and hit 10-15 balls with it. The numbers were fantastic (165-167 ball speed, 12-13 launch and around 2200-2500 spin). I then grabbed a 915 in the same loft with a similar shaft (Diamana D+) and the numbers were almost identical, if not a little worse than the numbers I got with the 910.

 

The 910 has that classic Titleist look at address, frames the ball really nicely and has a superb muted thwack that you just love to hear after piping one right down Broadway! Since I've had the driver, I've hit as many, if not more fairways than I was hitting with the G30 that I had previously. What I prefer most about the 910 over the G30 is the look at address.

 

 

Conclusion

Don't be afraid to give older equipment a look just because it's not "trendy." The major players in the golf industry have been putting out solid equipment for quite a while and there are bargains to be had on said equipment. In my experiences, it's completely possible to find older clubs that fit you perfectly for well less than the price of a brand new set of clubs.. As most golfers know, it's all about confidence when standing over the ball and if you can gain that confidence from older clubs while saving a few $$, go for it! It has worked for me and countless others.. Newer doesn't necessarily mean better!

 

Disclaimer: I will not edit this post when I've completely overhauled my bag with new equipment. Sometimes the club ho in me gets the best of me. Such is life!

[sp0rtsfan86]

Interesting thoughts. I've never been a club ho, I'm the type that I make one purchase and stick it out. That being said, one of the biggest problems I've seen about the golf industry is a lot of golfers saying technology has slowed. In the 90's it was all about the new drivers and titanium but since then you hear some of the most complicated jargon ever about materials and things.

 

Personally, I'm a guy who'd rather use years old equipment that's fitted right and works for me than the latest and greatest. I feel a lot of golfers are the same way on the Tour unless they are overwhelmed by a club.

[revkev]

This leads to a test request that I've made a few times. I truly wish that MGS a would take the top three Most Wanted drivers for the past few years, grab it's testing group and go head t head. That would be thet test that OEMs would not ever want to see but the very one players deserve.

 

I'm guessing that it's even money a driver from a few years past comes out on top.

[PlaidJacket]

I second that Rev. I'm currently having issues with a new custom fit driver. I'm not sure if it will work for me and that in the end I might stick with my current gamer. Jury is still out.

[RoverRick]

I have Titlist 980F in 13 & 17 that still out perform for me the newer FMs.

[Baseballfrk8998]

This leads to a test request that I've made a few times. I truly wish that MGS a would take the top three Most Wanted drivers for the past few years, grab it's testing group and go head t head. That would be thet test that OEMs would not ever want to see but the very one players deserve.

 

I'm guessing that it's even money a driver from a few years past comes out on top.

It would be interesting to see that type of test. Based on my own personal experiences (take that for what it's worth), the differences between drivers released this year and drivers released 5-6 years ago would be minimal. The same goes for irons too. If OEMs have done anything in the last 5 years or so with drivers, it's improve the forgiveness across the face so that clubs retain more ballspeed than before on miss hits.

 

As far as I can tell, the only substantial improvement in clubs started back in 2012 I believe with the Rocketballz Tour woods. Taylormade kinda set the bar here and basically told the other OEMs "if you're going to keep up with us, you're going to need to max out COR in your FWs and hybrids."

 

Up until that point, FWs and hybrids from most of the major OEMs were right up around the 0.78-0.79 range in terms of COR, with 0.83 being the maximum legal limit. TM then started pushing the envelope and now we have FWs and hybrids from all OEMs that are nearing the maximum COR limit.

[JohnBarry]

Sure would see the last 3 years top 3s go head to head

[Kenny B]

While we would all like to see that test, I am still of the opinion that if you re-ran this years test with the same testers, it's even money that the results would be different.  The drivers are that close.  So, I would say that most any driver from the last few years will compete favorably with any new driver.  The biggest difference will likely be in the stock shaft offerings.

[superduper]

i've been through about 10 clubs in the last 3 years.   What a waste of money.   No difference.  Especially with irons.  Hybrid iron to forged irons.  Distance is the same.   Forgiveness a bit different but it doesn't matter for me because I have improved my swing a lot in the last 3 years (my tempo was all off).   But some JDMs irons do have a better feel than the USDM.  Especially with miuras and tourstage (this brand is gone).   

 

The only thing you would gain from a new club if you get fitted properly.  For driver, it could mean 20 yards longer....  for irons, as long as your lie angle is tuned, you are good to go.    

[Kor.A.Door]

Still have the TEE xcg-5, 15*, 18*, and those came out what 4 years ago, I hit then so well, I don't even swing a fairway metal when I go to the store,the only thing I can see doing in that area is to restart them until I cave in the face, there is nothing longer or straighter for me out there doni don't even try

[silver & black]

I sold my 910 D2 to my brother. I replaced it with a 913 D3. I like the smaller head better. I honestly don't see any performance edge for either club... I just prefer the look of the smaller head at address.

[wbealsd]

I've got both 910 & 913 D2 models and don't notice a difference between them when they're both setup the same.  

 

I just keep the 913 set to 11.25* loft as my primary driver and use the 910 set to 10.5* if it's really windy.