DTC or Used.

[jaayjay11]

I’m looking to upgrade my old Nike CCI forged irons. Are these DTC specifically Takomo worth it. Or am I better off getting a used set of irons from somewhere. I just don’t like not being able to try the clubs. I also don’t have a bunch of money to spend on a new set of performance irons from a Titleist, Callaway, or Taylormade. 
 

TIA 

[NCGOLFNUT]

My best recommendation is to get fit by a good professional fitter then find the clubs that work best for you whether DTC or quality used.  There are really a lot of options out there.

[cnosil]

if you read the Takomo forum review thread you will get testers opinions on the clubs, but in general they like the clubs and are worth it.   Some DTC offer demo programs to allow you to try the clubs.  If you go used,  you might have the ability to try the clubs but no guarantee you will find the best setup in a store.   
 

if you are trying the clubs I am also assuming you have some basic fitting knowledge or will leverage some type of fitter to determine if the clubs are a good fit.  

[Shrek74]

Sub70 has a great demo program, where they'll send you a 6 & 9 iron of the model you're interested in. They charge $120 up front, but when you return them they refund you $100. So for $20, you get 2 clubs to test out for a couple of weeks. If you call them directly, they may even allow you to test out 2 models at once for the same price (they did that for me a couple years ago). But no promises since it's been a while since I did the program.

New Level has a demo program. Haywood has a demo program. Takomo doesn't to my knowledge.

The Haywood CB/MB's just completed a forum test and last season the Takomo irons were tested. Worth checking out the two forum review threads to get some more detail.

I haven't really gotten along with my Takomo 101's, but did enjoy the Sub70 639CB's.

The DTC's aren't the giant question mark the used to be. Sub70, Takomo, Haywood, and New Level are all quality products. Sub70 has the most options and most customization, but they are all good clubs.

[Josh Parker]

So many great DTC brands these days and many offer demo clubs. Make sure to check out all the member test done on here.  

[GolfSpy_KFT]

Tons of great DTC options out there, and I would argue another benefit aside from cost savings is that you can get them built to your specs if you don't just play standard L/L/L. For me, the used market is extremely limited as I play my irons +1" and 3 degrees upright. So if I go used, I would be looking at most likely re-shafting, re-gripping, etc.

[TJ Hall]

I had never considered the DTC brands before, but all of the reviews have been very positive and seems like there is some good stuff there!

[Rob Person]

Seeing as you are a 10 hcp, I would suggest comparing your current set loft and lie numbers, shafts, etc against whats out there in person first. Find a place to demo club(s) that works well for you, get some numbers off that demo session. Compare that to yours, and then you can research those that fit your criteria.

 

[Wolfstrum]

If you are frugal but want a quality product that can be custom built you should also consider Maltby clubs from GolfWorks. 

[tdroma98]

I've never considered DTC clubs until joining MGS! 
Reading opinions & reviews and the education by MGS confirming the legitimacy of the DTC companies, absolutely changed my mind.  Sub70, Takomo, Maltby & I'd even consider Ben Hogan clubs. 

[KC Golf]

8 hours ago, Shrek74 said:

Sub70 has a great demo program, where they'll send you a 6 & 9 iron of the model you're interested in. They charge $120 up front, but when you return them they refund you $100. So for $20, you get 2 clubs to test out for a couple of weeks. If you call them directly, they may even allow you to test out 2 models at once for the same price (they did that for me a couple years ago). But no promises since it's been a while since I did the program.

New Level has a demo program. Haywood has a demo program. Takomo doesn't to my knowledge.

The Haywood CB/MB's just completed a forum test and last season the Takomo irons were tested. Worth checking out the two forum review threads to get some more detail.

I haven't really gotten along with my Takomo 101's, but did enjoy the Sub70 639CB's.

The DTC's aren't the giant question mark the used to be. Sub70, Takomo, Haywood, and New Level are all quality products. Sub70 has the most options and most customization, but they are all good clubs.

DTC offers some great options.  I agree with many on this thread. Testing is important and if you demo or use / borrow another persons DTCs that have a swing similar to yours may be a great option.

i remain a very satisfied Takomo 101T tester and gamer.  I can say that these clubs have been great for my game.

[AverageSizedDog]

I like the idea of DTC clubs, honestly I am really looking forward to the Vice irons but equally I want to see how well they perform compared to the seasoned manufacturers. I can look up reviews of clubs from at least twenty years ago and see how people like them and comparatively how they perform. I also like used because I feel, I can find a cheaper option rather than brand new. 

[Shrek74]

8 hours ago, AverageSizedDog said:

I like the idea of DTC clubs, honestly I am really looking forward to the Vice irons but equally I want to see how well they perform compared to the seasoned manufacturers. I can look up reviews of clubs from at least twenty years ago and see how people like them and comparatively how they perform. I also like used because I feel, I can find a cheaper option rather than brand new. 

Pretty good start with reviews for these clubs. Granted, he's a way faster swing speed than me, it's the first review I've actually seen so far.
He also did reviews on the wedges and putters.

 

[Bossfan]

My Sub 70 experience has been excellent. From the quality of the clubs to  their service. 

[Rob Person]

I can't say enough about the stix clubs I'm using.   With steel and graphite options,  the Perform series is really good!  

[Golf2Much]

I can't tell you how many times I purchased used clubs.  With the exception of the Callaway Paradym X irons (which I got for a MyGolfSpy review) and my Ping G425 Max driver (a warrantee replacement for a used Ping driver), every one of my current clubs were used before I got them.  

The one downside I've found is that often I had to settle for something when I purchased used.  Maybe the shaft wasn't the exact one I wanted or needed.  Maybe the loft and/or lies weren't perfect for me.  Or the grips all were the wrong size or needed to be changed.  Very rarely did I find the perfect club I was looking for.  So, compromise came into play!  Also, depending on the source, there's always concerns about counterfeits.  

With DTC clubs, you can specify exactly what you want, have them made personally for you and delivered at a very competitive price.  No compromise.  Plus, they are guaranteed.  

[Albatross Leather]

The best thing you can do is get fitted. Then you will at least know what shaft and lie angle is best for your game. There probably will be DTC sets similar to what worked for you. The worst feeling is getting excited for a newly purchased set, and finding out on the course that they're wrong for your game. 

[NoRebound]

I've become an advocate of don't buy anything that you can't be fit for.  If you look around there is someone out there who will work with you to do a fitting and get those specs to a DTC manufacturer.  I know in my area there is one that advertises that he works with PXG and Sub 70.

[JAYER38]

Fitting or atleast know you current Loft/Lie/Length is key!

After that you can order whatever club you'd like. I recently became a big fan of GolfWorks and Malbty. Great customer service and spec'd to order for $400-$500.

[MNUte]

On 6/16/2024 at 6:24 PM, Golf2Much said:

The one downside I've found is that often I had to settle for something when I purchased used.  Maybe the shaft wasn't the exact one I wanted or needed.  Maybe the loft and/or lies weren't perfect for me.  Or the grips all were the wrong size or needed to be changed.  Very rarely did I find the perfect club I was looking for.  So, compromise came into play!  Also, depending on the source, there's always concerns about counterfeits.  

With DTC clubs, you can specify exactly what you want, have them made personally for you and delivered at a very competitive price.  No compromise.  Plus, they are guaranteed.  

I think this is a really big factor that is impacted by what you're looking for in the club. Used can often times be better for learning purposes and development since you can find pretty great deals on used clubs. But there's a cost to be paid in terms of settling and inconsistency. 

 

My irons and putter were both bought new, but my driver, 3 wood, 3 hybrid, and wedges were all used. The reason? I was confident in what I wanted in my irons and putter at the time of purchase and was able to find something that fit that. Whereas with where I was at in my game when I acquired them, I had no clue what I wanted in my long clubs and so was able to get the cheapest ones I could to start learning how to play them (my R1 driver and G400 3 wood were free and my Halo 3 hybrid was $40). And with my wedges, I wanted cheap clubs with good enough grooves that I could beat the crap out of them while I learned what the heck a short game was (free Silver Scott knockoff 48 degree which is my bump and run club, Bridgestone 52 degree that is a very limited use club, and SM8 58 degree that has become one of my most confident clubs). 

But I've put in the work and learned. I'm not great off the tee and not ready to replace my clubs there, but I have a much better idea of my needs whenever I am ready (e.g., I now know that I do better with woods than hybrids). And with my wedges, I'm probably getting to the point in my short game where DTC might be the way to go to get a bit more consistency club to club without having to sell my kid like I would for 3 Vokeys... 

[Dschaef19]

Personally, I️ got everything in my bag used and was able to save considerably. But I️ also didn’t get fit or try out different clubs because it was hard for me to find the time. I️ read a bunch of posts from consumers and third party reviewers and based my decision on what I️ knew about my playing habits, style, and preferences. I️ wanted something I️ felt would retain some resale value in case I️ didn’t like what I️ got. I️ ended up loving my irons, but shuffled around the top of my bag without losing much money, so I’m glad I️ went the way I️ did.

 

That being said, I️ was heavily considering Ben Hogan or Sub70 when I️ was purchasing irons. I️ hear amazing things about the quality of their products and their customer service. Maltby also gets high praise on forums I’ve read. If you know what you want/need as far as shafts, grips, etc, go with the DTC and get exactly what you want.