DO YOU JUDGE ANOTHER PLAYER BY WHAT CLUBS ARE IN HIS BAG?

[Alf. S]

I'm always checking out what clubs people play with, looking for new kit or clubs I may have played with in the past. In my head I don't think I judge but I know in one instance I just couldn't hold my tongue.

I worked away from home a few years ago for 4 years, living in Bed and Breakfast a couple of nights a week, 3 days in the office and 2 working from home. I stored a set of clubs in the office so in the evenings I could go golfing. I started going by myself then was joined by an enthusiastic beginner and we would play once or twice a week during the summer months. We then got talking to another guy who was interested and said he hadn't played in a while, so we invited him along. He turned up on the tee with an weathered leather bag with one strap and a full set of clubs and dressed a bit like Old Tom Morris with a thick Aran knit jumper and dress jacket.

After a few holes of him topping and chunking nearly every shot. I asked about his clubs "Yeah, my dad got them for me when I was growing up." he said. The guy was in his late 50s. I asked if I could have a try of one of the clubs. They were Wilson blades from the 70s, the grips were smooth and perished.

"Have you ever had them regripped"

"No"

I gave him a shot of my Adams CB3s and he was amazed by the feel.

I advised him to get them regripped but the next week he turned up with a complete new set of  Wilson Staff CB300s. It took about 20 shots of his round but he had taken about 150 to play 18 the week before,

 

[Paul Hedrick]

No, I do not judge anyone about their bags contents.  I have zero interest in that.  The larger question is, in my opinion, why would anyone?

[Hoyoymac]

When I play with someone I don’t know I look carefully at their bag, their clubs, their clothes, shoes, everything.  Especially if they want to have a bet!

I’m an equipment nerd and like working on and building clubs.

If I see lead tape or BB&F ferrules I know the guy is either a great player or a tinkerer like me.

My clubs frequently bring questions since they have no markings on them.  

[WaffleHouseTour]

Judge? No.  Curious? Always. 
Don’t pay much attention unless it’s clear they are playing something inappropriate for them - like 20 year old players clubs and they are a once a month happy to make a bogey player… Or the grips are obviously long gone - I see that all the time. I just hand them my club and ask “how does that feel?” 
I am super interested, however, into bag tags and head covers - always interested in other courses people have played.

[AndySP]

23 hours ago, WaffleHouseTour said:

Or the grips are obviously long gone - I see that all the time. I just hand them my club and ask “how does that feel?” 

Haha, this one baffles me too. I don’t understand how some people hold on. I played with someone recently using old golf pride green victory grips that were so hard they were cracking off at the bottom. He wasn’t bad either.

[russtopherb]

On 11/24/2022 at 9:44 AM, WaffleHouseTour said:

Judge? No.  Curious? Always. 

Same here. If you're asking this question on a golf forum, of course we're pretty much all going to answer along the lines of looking at their gear. I'm always curious what people have in their bag. 

But I never judge. I played once with an older gent who's newest club was a Ping G5 driver. He was dead straight all day long and deadly on the greens with 20+ year old clubs. I also have a friend who needs 2 new sets of irons a year and has never broken 90. I really don't care what folks are playing are wearing. I judge them based on their behavior and how they treat the course & their playing partners.

[ole gray]

Why judge other folks by what they have in their bag.  You have your own game to worry about so I'd stick with practice with a purpose and posting a good score. Personally I prefer a  set of  GI or SGI irons.  I have a set of Cleveland Halo Irons which are hybrid looking irons and a few of my friends have commented on how well I hit them.  One old fart who plays with us is going to buy a set so Cleveland you owe me one.... 

[Andrew75]

I judge their judgment, sophistication and intelligence, but by no means their skill. However, most really good players have serious clubs with decent specifications, but there are always anomalies. 

That said, I feel my own set ( divided between honma, yamaha, epon, vokey and rife) is inadequate not by choice, but by limitations of what is made and what is marketed. To that I blame mostly the operation of markets and marketing. 

[null]

2 minutes ago, Andrew75 said:

I judge their judgment, sophistication and intelligence, but by no means their skill. However, most really good players have serious clubs with decent specifications, but there are always anomalies. 

That said, I feel my own set ( divided between honma, yamaha, epon, vokey and rife) is inadequate not by choice, but by limitations of what is made and what is marketed. To that I blame mostly the operation of markets and marketing. 

Curious - what exactly are the limitations of what is being made and marketed?  What would be better?

[Jim Shaw]

I never judge another golfer, but I am only really interested in the best players clubs, more importantly how they were fitted and what the process was for them to get to their set especially their shafts. 

[Jim Shaw]

On 11/23/2022 at 1:52 PM, Hoyoymac said:

When I play with someone I don’t know I look carefully at their bag, their clubs, their clothes, shoes, everything.  Especially if they want to have a bet!

I’m an equipment nerd and like working on and building clubs.

If I see lead tape or BB&F ferrules I know the guy is either a great player or a tinkerer like me.

My clubs frequently bring questions since they have no markings on them.  

yeah, no betting with guys I dont know, 

[GolfSpy BOS]

@Lacassem this thread makes me think of Tom... You want to judge him from his ragtag set of clubs, knowing he doesn't play often, and has such a relaxed demeanor...

But he always seems to put up a sneaky low number against us!  Some guys just got skills man, regardless of what they're gaming.

[GolfSpy_SHARK]

 

1 hour ago, GolfSpy_BOS said:

@Lacassem this thread makes me think of Tom... You want to judge him from his ragtag set of clubs, knowing he doesn't play often, and has such a relaxed demeanor...

But he always seems to put up a sneaky low number against us!  Some guys just got skills man, regardless of what they're gaming.

Need to go back through this thread but yes, brother in law Tom was a great golfer from what I have heard back in the day, played in high school. Fundamentally is just very good. Could go 2 years of not playing and shoot a 90 no sweat.

To give you folks an idea....He often plays any ball but signatory a pink precept, he has a teenagers pink dunlop wood, among other crazy clubs....Hes a gem on the course

[GolfSpy BOS]

1 minute ago, Lacassem said:

 

Need to go back through this thread but yes, brother in law Tom was a great golfer from what I have heard back in the day, played in high school. Fundamentally is just very good. Could go 2 years of not playing and shoot a 90 no sweat.

To give you folks an idea....He often plays any ball but signatory a pink precept, he has a teenagers pink dunlop wood, among other crazy clubs....Hes a gem on the course

I forgot about that fairway wood!

[Placasse61]

4 minutes ago, Lacassem said:

 

Need to go back through this thread but yes, brother in law Tom was a great golfer from what I have heard back in the day, played in high school. Fundamentally is just very good. Could go 2 years of not playing and shoot a 90 no sweat.

To give you folks an idea....He often plays any ball but signatory a pink precept, he has a teenagers pink dunlop wood, among other crazy clubs....Hes a gem on the course

This is so Tom. He also has a 3 wood that insists on using that has been dead for 10 years..... I call it his stroke club because he wastes at least 1 stroke every time he uses it. That pink dunlop club is like a cartoon when he swings it, as the shaft wraps around him. 

Gotta love it!!!!

[Merlin1313]

Goes back to the teachings of Harvey Penick- 

He suggested that there's plenty to worry about when playing against a guy, or gal, with a poor grip and a bad swing. Those players had learned, by playing and practice, how to make it work.

I feel the same goes for clubs. I've seen players with all types of older clubs that could play- lights out. 

And I'll NEVER bet with them