Best Bang for the Buck?

[crankky]

I've got the itch to replace some of the older gear that I've been carrying around and am trying to figure out where the money is best spent.  I know, lessons, let's get that out of the way. .  I tend to buy and hold (great investment advice too) and therefore I'm many generations behind in golf technology.  Plus I'm thrifty (cheap?) so last year tech is ok with me too.

Current driver is a Callaway Big Bertha 460 10.5-R that I've used for several years.  Overall, I hit it pretty well but have lost some distance over the years.  Getting out-driven by my playing partners is no fun, so I'm looking to replace it.  I've found a demo Callaway Epic Flash 10.5, Mitsubishi Tensei Blue R driver in a local shop at a pretty nice price that seems right based on their launch monitor.

On the other hand, my irons are self-built Snake Eyes 675XC 5-PW, FST115 shafts, that I still think are pretty sharp.  I hit them pretty well.  No real complaints. But, I feel like I'm losing distance. Again, I've got the itch and have found a set of Srixon Z-565 irons at a local shop that I like.  The set is 7-AW, so I would probably buy a 6 iron to fill out the set.

Hybrids and FWs are another story for another day.

So, with the driver and irons being roughly the same price, where's the best bang for the buck?  More distance off the tee to set up shorter approach shots?  More modern irons to add distance and accuracy?

Thanks y'all!

 

Edited August 11, 2020 by crankky

[EEZurg]

I would go with the irons....seems more has changed in the iron dept over the last years.  And you hit more irons during a round than Drivers....

 

[Rchang]

More modern irons add distance by lower loft. Not going to improve accuracy much. Go Big imo

[Flip4000]

Irons, you hit more irons per round than you will drivers

[crankky]

Well, I ended up buying both.  Got a good deal and couldn't pass it up.  So far the Callaway Epic Flash driver is a 10/10.  Clearly better than my old Big Bertha 460 with no swing changes.  The Srixon Z 585's are good so far, but because of the stronger lofts I'm still trying to dial in the distances.  

[ZenGolfer]

Glad to see you got both and eliminated having to choose.  Its interesting when you talk about improvements in equipment over the last 20 years and compare woods vs irons.  Im personally more of the mind that woods have improved more than irons, simply because the improvements in irons is mostly in making the lofts stronger.  Woods have gotten longer and more forgiving with the same lofts and you could even go so far as to say that driver lofts have gotten much weaker over the last 20 years.  7 degree drivers used to be the norm.

With irons, theres been many tests that show if you compare today's irons with irons from 20 or 30 years ago when the lofts are the same, the old irons are pretty comparable to new ones.

[NRJyzr]

On 8/10/2020 at 9:00 AM, ZenGolfer said:

Glad to see you got both and eliminated having to choose.  Its interesting when you talk about improvements in equipment over the last 20 years and compare woods vs irons.  Im personally more of the mind that woods have improved more than irons, simply because the improvements in irons is mostly in making the lofts stronger.  Woods have gotten longer and more forgiving with the same lofts and you could even go so far as to say that driver lofts have gotten much weaker over the last 20 years.  7 degree drivers used to be the norm.

With irons, theres been many tests that show if you compare today's irons with irons from 20 or 30 years ago when the lofts are the same, the old irons are pretty comparable to new ones.

 

A fair number of the 7* drivers of Olde were actually 9* or 10*    

[ZenGolfer]

2 hours ago, NRJyzr said:

 

A fair number of the 7* drivers of Olde were actually 9* or 10*    

Very true.  Telling people what they want to hear instead of the truth is nothing new in the golf industry.

[TeeBrain]

Also glad you got to get both.

But if I was forced to make a choice, it'd be driver 100 times out of a 100. Most of the distance gains you're getting on the irons isn't from technology, it's loft. Not much different than using the next stronger club in your old set. But, getting new sticks is a nice treat every once in a while so enjoy them.

[Buffly]

On 8/10/2020 at 4:28 AM, crankky said:

Well, I ended up buying both.  Got a good deal and couldn't pass it up.  So far the Callaway Epic Flash driver is a 10/10.  Clearly better than my old Big Bertha 460 with no swing changes.  The Srixon Z 585's are good so far, but because of the stronger lofts I'm still trying to dial in the distances.  

Congrats. 

Glad the new clubs are getting you closer to the hole!