Which clubs/balls are best??

[Pandaman]

I am confused by how many 'which (insert equipment) is/are best' questions we seem to get on here.  To me this is far too subjective to be of any real value.  And unsurprisingly the most common answer is some variation on 'try them/get fitted'.

So... beyond the very generalised 'What kind of thing may be worthwhile considering?' type questions is there any real point to asking?

Yes, we may all have personal preferences, but that doesn't in itself make that choice a 'better' product, especially when comparing the main OEMs.

For example...  I have always really liked Mizuno irons, yet on the three occasions when I have compared them with others, with a view to buying, they didn't work FOR ME as well as some other options.  Should I therefore conclude that Mizuno are not 'good'?  No, of course not, they just haven't been MY best option so far.

 

[cnosil]

The what X should I buy is a common thread on all golf forums.    I am guessing it gives the individual some kind of confirmation that the choice they are making  is correct.   It also applies to the swing itself;  that would be the what drill should I do threads.  The motivation for asking is as individual as the club itself; wish they would provide more detail on the questions going through their minds so we could provide a more detailed response. 

[RickyBobby_PR]

As mentioned it’s usually new golfers or those who are getting more into the gear side of things and don’t have a lot of knowledge on swing mechanics, shaft or cloud head design. All they have is the generic commercials and marketing. 
 

The commercial, website descriptions are all generic stuff to give the avg golfer who doesn’t get fit an idea of what to buy. 
 

Once the newer golfer or newer to the gear side starts digging all they have are the old notions of high swing speed needs X flex shafts, good golfers need player type irons, seniors = senior flex shaft, bad golfer = game improvement irons. 
 

Like cnosil said if they came with more information on what they are thinking and why, the help provided could be more focused.

Its not much different in other hobbies. Go to a Jeep Wrangler forum and you will see lots of new jeep owners asking similar style questions 

[Paul Hedrick]

I do like this thread.  For myself, about two and a half years ago I went in and got fitted for an iron set I was hell bent on to get.  Yes, it did improve my game, but I am now wondering if I should have gone in and let the fitter guide me.  I have  no complaints about my irons, but wonder if I could have done 'better'

[BostonSal]

Let me preface my remarks by saying out front that this is NOT an argument against Game Improvement models.

 

Our club opened in 1906.  Thus, for nearly the first seventy years of its existence, GI irons simply didn't exist.

Choppers played the very same model clubs that the club champion and the head professional at the club played.

Since then, the average handicap has dropped from about seventeen to about sixteen.

 

Again, this is in no way to say that GI models aren't beneficial to aspiring players and average recreational players.

That argument wouldn't garner much support, nor should it.

 

What it does say, however, is that if you really like to play blades and such, and you're not a scratch player,

you'll nonetheless get used to them because a hell of a lot of people have done just that in the past.

 

 

 

[tony@CIC]

On 11/11/2021 at 1:47 AM, Pandaman said:

I am confused by how many 'which (insert equipment) is/are best' questions we seem to get on here.  To me this is far too subjective to be of any real value.  And unsurprisingly the most common answer is some variation on 'try them/get fitted'.

My take on the question is a bit different. I think the members asking the questions are looking for answers that provide more knowledge so that they  can make a better or more informed decision rather then an absolute answer. There are a lot of personal opinions in the answers from our members which is understandable, but there are also some jewels of info that can help one better understand the technical aspects of equipment. 

[cnosil]

1 hour ago, tony@CIC said:

My take on the question is a bit different. I think the members asking the questions are looking for answers that provide more knowledge so that they  can make a better or more informed decision rather then an absolute answer. There are a lot of personal opinions in the answers from our members which is understandable, but there are also some jewels of info that can help one better understand the technical aspects of equipment. 

I wish they were clearer in their questions if they were trying to learn.   There are so many dynamics to golf equipment that can't be learned or understood with a few questions.   I still think most just want a straight up answer to play a specific piece of equipment.  Look at the people that participate regularly;  we don't even agree on equipment or what is important when making a decision.   I've even started qualifying my answers with "in my opinion" because that is all I can give.  Even with all the equipment I have tried I can't really give a definitive answer other than than the person needs to try the club, shaft, ball, etc without actually trying. it.  The only think that we can really definitively provide is technical differences. 

[GaDawg]

I like these.

[tony@CIC]

1 hour ago, cnosil said:

I wish they were clearer in their questions if they were trying to learn.   There are so many dynamics to golf equipment that can't be learned or understood with a few questions.   I still think most just want a straight up answer to play a specific piece of equipment.  Look at the people that participate regularly;  we don't even agree on equipment or what is important when making a decision.   I've even started qualifying my answers with "in my opinion" because that is all I can give.  Even with all the equipment I have tried I can't really give a definitive answer other than than the person needs to try the club, shaft, ball, etc without actually trying. it.  The only think that we can really definitively provide is technical differences. 

I understand. One thing to keep in mind, some of the members asking don't know what they don't know so they ask general questions thinking that there's one answer. I started playing 3 or 4 years before I joined MGS in 2017. I was one of those who initially asked those type of questions. I didn't know the difference between SGI or blades, lie angles, shafts, etc. etc. In those pre-MGS years, I relied on our Club pro who only sold Ping clubs and Titleist golf balls. The 'fitting' consisted of words like 'how does that feel"  - no other OEM fitting carts, no analytics, etc. So I sought out more answers- better yet, I figured out what are the important questions to ask.  

[Paul Hedrick]

49 minutes ago, tony@CIC said:

I understand. One thing to keep in mind, some of the members asking don't know what they don't know so they ask general questions thinking that there's one answer. I started playing 3 or 4 years before I joined MGS in 2017. I was one of those who initially asked those type of questions. I didn't know the difference between SGI or blades, lie angles, shafts, etc. etc. In those pre-MGS years, I relied on our Club pro who only sold Ping clubs and Titleist golf balls. The 'fitting' consisted of words like 'how does that feel"  - no other OEM fitting carts, no analytics, etc. So I sought out more answers- better yet, I figured out what are the important questions to ask.  

Well put. I completely agree with you.  All of us started somewhere, and it is all to easy to forget those days.