How often do you update equipment?

[Vegan_Golfer_PNW]

Got into a discussion with my wife about club tinkering and such and got me thinking. How often do you buy new equipment?

[dlow206]

Don't want to talk about it lol

[Vegan_Golfer_PNW]

2 minutes ago, dlow206 said:

Don't want to talk about it lol

I shoulda made a special line for you

[dlow206]

2 minutes ago, rbsiedsc said:

I shoulda made a special line for you

In actuality, I have a goal of only one new driver per year and one new set of irons per year. Putters are another story altogether. Add in the random hybrids and utility clubs plus the random training aids.

[Vegan_Golfer_PNW]

41 minutes ago, dlow206 said:

In actuality, I have a goal of only one new driver per year and one new set of irons per year. Putters are another story altogether. Add in the random hybrids and utility clubs plus the random training aids.

 I just got a new set (replaced a used speedblade set i had for 2 yrs) and already caught flak for wanting a driver shaft. Unless I am a tester or win a contest, these are my gamers for atheist ten years. 

[RickyBobby_PR]

Whenever I have an itch for something new.

[cnosil]

I think there are really two parts to this question.

I update my equipment whenever the mood strikes. Some clubs stay in the bag for years; I may try others a couple of times a year.

Part two is how much money out of pocket. The answer to that is generally $0; total out of pocket for equipment each year is probably less than $100. I usually trade clubs and/or sell clubs. Whatever I sell builds up my PayPal account for purchases without trade. I also get gift cards to a local store or Amazon as gifts.

[DaveP043]

I'm sure I'm a rarity here, I tend to buy new clubs at 5 to 8 year intervals.  I bought a new driver a couple of years back, before that I had used a Titleist 910 D3 for 7 or 8 years.  My previous irons were AP2 914, so I had them about 6 years before reviewing the new T200 irons this past summer.  My putter is 16 or 17 years old.  

[DiscipleofPenick]

Driver: 7 or 8 years
Irons: 8-10 years
I replace my 58* every 3 or 4 years, keep the grooves fresh. Though Vokey stopped making the 58-4 so I'll need to find something.

The rest of my bag doesn't change unless there is a total loss of confidence.

Take Dead Aim

[Kenny B]

I had a full bag fitting at True Spec Golf 1.5 years ago.  Basically, I was told that they couldn't recommend a club that performed better than any club in my bag.  So, there should be no reason to replace a club unless it breaks or wears out.

With that said, my clubs seem to "wear out" after 2-4 years, which coincides with my itch to try something new.

[fixyurdivot]

9 hours ago, rbsiedsc said:

Got into a discussion with my wife about club tinkering and such and got me thinking. How often do you buy new equipment?

Every 30 years.

[juspoole]

1 hour ago, cnosil said:

Part two is how much money out of pocket. The answer to that is generally $0; total out of pocket for equipment each year is probably less than $100. I usually trade clubs and/or sell clubs. Whatever I sell builds up my PayPal account for purchases without trade. I also get gift cards to a local store or Amazon as gifts.

Couldn't have said it better!  With this being said, I tend to tinker with different set makeups more than I should.  For example, fairway wood or hybrid or utility iron.  Different wedges by loft/bounce or manufacturer.  I don't usually purchase the big items that often, i consider this to be Driver and Irons, probably around 4 years on average for those.   Although it seems like I'm now getting that urge every 2 years.

[silver & black]

I'm on a 5 - 8 year cycle, usually. I've had my MP 64's since they came out. I want new irons, but I don't need them...lol. I stay with a driver for about 5 years. I upgraded to a TS3 last year, so I'm good to go for a while. Putter is ER2 and I'm happy with it. Wedges could be replaced (SM4's). But... no money...lol.

[Shank Aaron]

For me, it honestly depends on the club type. 

 

Drivers/Woods- I play with as many new releases as possible. Sometimes I switch, sometimes I don't (most of the time I do...)

Hybrids/Utilities- Constant inner battle. I'm always tinkering with different brands/models and types.

Irons- I always test new releases, but I very rarely stray far from my beloved Miura's.

Wedges- I always test in the late winter, and make a decision on gamers before the season starts.

Putters- I update my fitting every offseason, but I very rarely use anything other than my QB8 gamer. We just have a thang.....

[DaveP043]

I forgot to mention earlier, one guy at my home club is addicted to new equipment.  One year he used 19 different sets of irons.  I think he does buy and sell a good bit on the secondary market, he's not buying everything brand new, but I'm certain he's not breaking even.   He's a good player, scratch to 1, and each new set of clubs is the best ever.  The year he used 19 different sets, he started the season as a 1 handicap.  19 times he "improved" his equipment, and he finished the season as a 1.

[dlow206]

11 hours ago, rbsiedsc said:

Got into a discussion with my wife about club tinkering and such and got me thinking. How often do you buy new equipment?

Forgot to ask, what was your wife's opinion?

[Vegan_Golfer_PNW]

3 minutes ago, dlow206 said:

Forgot to ask, what was your wife's opinion?

So our conversation was in terms of shaft tinkering but lead to all things golf. Basically equipment can’t make you better and you should just learn to use what you have and how can you gain any consistency and improve if you are always changing things. She does have a point in that respect. I also have some issues in my history that I don’t want to divulge into here. I also have a problem with perfectionism which she told me, why not just go out and have fun, why do you need to have the best gear. 

[cnosil]

So our conversation was in terms of shaft tinkering but lead to all things golf. Basically equipment can’t make you better and you should just learn to use what you have and how can you gain any consistency and improve if you are always changing things. She does have a point in that respect. I also have some issues in my history that I don’t want to divulge into here. I also have a problem with perfectionism which she told me, why not just go out and have fun, why do you need to have the best gear. 

Her points are valid about getting better. Equipment gets you to a point but there is lots more to advance. Even with fit equipment, you can still play poorly. Part of golf is about managing and understanding expectations.

I’ll look at my game as an example. I can hit the ball well, I can putt well, and I can hit short game shots well. I can also do those things very poorly.

Let’s look at perfectionism. In golf what does perfect mean? I’ll use an 8 foot putt as an example. What is your expectation from that distance? That is the 50% mark for professionals. Maybe you can do slightly better, but you won’t be perfect. Also remember There are many things outside your control that impact a golf shot.

Also stop listening to golf commentary about pros. They say things because they are on television and need to generate ratings. Players have pretty big shot patterns and are far from perfect.

As for having fun, some people like to play new equipment and that is part of their enjoyment in golf.

Are you tinkering for fun or are you trying to achieve something?

[Vegan_Golfer_PNW]

1 minute ago, cnosil said:

Her points are valid about getting better. Equipment gets you to a point but there is lots more to advance. Even with fit equipment, you can still play poorly. Part of golf is about managing and understanding expectations.

I’ll look at my game as an example. I can hit the ball well, I can putt well, and I can hit short game shots well. I can also do those things very poorly.

Let’s look at perfectionism. In golf what does perfect mean? I’ll use an 8 foot putt as an example. What is your expectation from that distance? That is the 50% mark for professionals. Maybe you can do slightly better, but you won’t be perfect. Also remember There are many things outside your control that impact a golf shot.

Also stop listening to golf commentary about pros. They say things because they are on television and need to generate ratings. Players have pretty big shot patterns and are far from perfect.

As for having fun, some people like to play new equipment and that is part of their enjoyment in golf.

Are you tinkering for fun or are you trying to achieve something?

Tinkering for fun and a little performance. Excited to just try new things. Like is my driver shaft the right fit for me, yada yada yada super hybrid 
 

thanks for your comment. I fully agree as well. 

[RickyBobby_PR]

30 minutes ago, cnosil said:

Also stop listening to golf commentary about pros. They say things because they are on television and need to generate ratings. Players have pretty big shot patterns and are far from perfect.

So true. One of my buddies who I played with when I first started used to get mad at his putting. He watched pros making all the putts on tv and he was missing similar type putts. He said when he learned tv shows mostly the ones that go in he got mor confident in his putting 

[russtopherb]

I tend to change driver every 1-2 years. Irons maybe every 2-3 years. I think last year was the first one in a while where I really didn't change anything until the very end of the season when I added the Bertha Mini to the bag. I'm very cost conscious when it comes to buying clubs, I mean it's a hobby and it can be an expensive one, at that. So I'll usually look for closeout deals or good used values. 

[Shank Aaron]

3 hours ago, russtopherb said:

I tend to change driver every 1-2 years. Irons maybe every 2-3 years. I think last year was the first one in a while where I really didn't change anything until the very end of the season when I added the Bertha Mini to the bag. I'm very cost conscious when it comes to buying clubs, I mean it's a hobby and it can be an expensive one, at that. So I'll usually look for closeout deals or good used values. 

Or, just make a solid friend like me who knows a guy who knows a guy 

[BKordon]

5 hours ago, DaveP043 said:

I forgot to mention earlier, one guy at my home club is addicted to new equipment.  One year he used 19 different sets of irons.  I think he does buy and sell a good bit on the secondary market, he's not buying everything brand new, but I'm certain he's not breaking even.   He's a good player, scratch to 1, and each new set of clubs is the best ever.  The year he used 19 different sets, he started the season as a 1 handicap.  19 times he "improved" his equipment, and he finished the season as a 1.

I'd be curious to see what happened if he settled into something, for say, 6 months? 

[Nolan220]

It takes me a little while to get into a set of clubs or single club to get used to it and all, one I dont have the money to purchase clubs 6 months or every year but also I need to get used to them ... 

[viking]

7 hours ago, fixyurdivot said:

Every 30 years.

Almost as long as me.

Irons, wedges and putter from Dec. 1985.

Driver (won it) from ~ 2008.

Hybreds ~ 2006.

[viking]

3 minutes ago, BKordon said:

I'd be curious to see what happened if he settled into something, for say, 6 months? 

Watch 2nd swing golf and one of the famous British guys plus many others they tested PING EYE 2 from mid 1080,2 to the new PING G425 very little difference just a bit better in accuracy and 15 yards longer (if going buy iron number but not by loft) but not perfectly gapped i.e 10 yards a club like the EYE2s.

Just now, viking said:

Watch 2nd swing golf and one of the famous British guys plus many others they tested PING EYE 2 from mid 1080,2 to the new PING G425 very little difference just a bit better in accuracy and 15 yards longer (if going buy iron number but not by loft) but not perfectly gapped i.e 10 yards a club like the EYE2s.

oops mid 1980 typo.

[BKordon]

I've settled into my setup fairly well in the last 18 months.

The only changes were minor tweaks with a driver shaft, looking to go from S flex to X flex in the same shaft. I've been playing my driver since summer of 2019, and do have a newer model of the same driver head as a backup. Fairway woods are the same.

Irons have been in play since spring of 2019 and I will not be changing those out until the grooves are shot.

Wedges are all the same though I do swap them out based on lofts, depending on where I am playing; though I'm set on 50, 54, 58. The change here would maybe be 56, 61.5. 

The putter is set for 2021. 

[BKordon]

3 minutes ago, viking said:

Watch 2nd swing golf and one of the famous British guys plus many others they tested PING EYE 2 from mid 1080,2 to the new PING G425 very little difference just a bit better in accuracy and 15 yards longer (if going buy iron number but not by loft) but not perfectly gapped i.e 10 yards a club like the EYE2s.

oops mid 1980 typo.

I think technology is only one aspect of making changes though. There has to be a comfort level and a trust level with your equipment to play your best golf. Bad days, weeks, months happen, but I know that I will not be putting a new set up into play going into the club championship. 

[fixyurdivot]

But.... that was before I stumbled into this den of ill-repute and hoard of out-of-control Club-Ho's .  My barely 2 years old G410's are dangerously close to being replaced and the G410P just got a new appendage.  

[Buffly]

On 2/14/2021 at 8:56 PM, rbsiedsc said:

Got into a discussion with my wife about club tinkering and such and got me thinking. How often do you buy new equipment?

Define "new"?

Define "equipment"? 

 

New can mean new to me (pre-owned) or brand new. When you originally posted the question did you have one definition in mind?

Equipment could mean anything in the bag, a few items or categories of clubs, or everything including the bag. 

I flow things in and out of my bag in different intervals based on the category. 

• Putter - I'm always a sucker for a different vintage flatstick (Anser, Bullseye, 8802 style) for a few weeks, but my Evnroll mallet always seems to work it's way back in the bag for the last 2+ years. 
• Wedges - these seem to have only lasted about 9 months before I start looking at other options in either the used Cleveland 588 Tour Action Raw or new Maltby TSW wedges to replace my current gamers: Cleveland Tour Action Raw 588 51°, Maltby M+ Tour 54°, and Maltby MG Tour Forged DBM 60°. The Cleveland is a recent addition in the last couple months. The Maltby Wedges I have had for almost 2 years but it took a lot of in and out of the bag to land in these two vastly different designs. 
• Irons: been gaming my used Ping G2 irons for just over a year and change. Lots of different sets have wandered in and out, but all used
• Utility/Hybrid: added NEW Maltby KE4 3 and 4 driving irons about a year ago which I took out of my bag recently to go with the iron set 4i and the Titleist 816 4 hybrid that had been in my bag for about 2 years.
• Fairway Wood: still gaming my 5w for 3+ years and no 3w
• Driver: over 2 years with my Callaway XR16 and looking to get fit into a used club sometime this summer

All that to say, I will have only been golfing 4 years in June this year. I am a self proclaimed Club Ho with over 5 complete bags. I am starting to get into club building where I have a set of Cleveland TA3 Form Forged irons and shafts that I will be assembling soon. 

I have no idea how to answer your survey question ?