Golf Show

Went to the golf show in London - almost a complete waste of time. Only about one third the size of last year and loads of exhibitors missing. Well next year - if it happens - I also shall be missing. A rip-off.

I went to the golf show at the NEC a couple of years ago and thought it was a waste of time.

American Golf had a big shop there but nothing was any cheaper than you could get at your local American Golf.

Most of the stalls seemed to be holidays/time share companies.

Russ

I went on Saturday and must admit I wasn't very impressed.  All I can say about it is that I did get a discount on my driver.  Was advertised at £319.00 and was reduced to £299.00 but got it for £275.00 in the end.  Have looked and not found it that cheap anywhere. 

Probably won't be going next year though.

For £275, Richard, I would want some gaurantees, like 300 yards dead straight.

Even if I were loaded and I could not spend that amount of money on one golf club, and all the while we have players prepared to pay these stupid amounts then the prices will remain unnecessarily high. A club is a club is a club.

I tried some clubs and this one worked so I decided to get it.  It so happened that when I went out and used it that afternoon it went straight all day, apart from a couple ending up just off the fairway and they were bombing further than I'd ever hit a ball before. 

I've been playing with clubs bought off ebay for the last couple of years and decided I wanted to get something that would help my game.  I also have a set of irons, a fairway wood and a hybrid on order and have recently bought a new putter.  I know that it isn't the cost of a club that dictates how good it is going to be for you but if you find something that you are comfortable with and it works then I don't see any reason not to buy it.

The proof of the pudding Richard will be in a tumbling of your handicap, but let me tell you now, it will not be down to the clubs. One cannot buy a game.

You are quite right in that being comfortable makes a big difference in that it makes you confident when you stand over the ball.  Glad you've found the right club for you. What did you get (just out of interest)? 

John's point about the club does not maketh the man is also true so don't expect to be troubling Tiger in the near future, but if you and the clubs are well matched they will enable you to fulfil your potential. 

Surely not all golfers can use all golf clubs?  I doubt I would be able to go and pick up a set of blades and play the same as I do with my cavity backs.  I understand that spending a fortune on golf gear will not automatically lead to better golf but having clubs more suited to you as an individual surely will go some way to helping your game.  Not all golf clubs are the same.

Chris,

I got the Callaway FTiQ 10* neutral bias with stiff shaft.

Interesting point you made there Richard about someone playing blades better than you with your cavities.

In days gone by all clubs were blades and the maximum handicap was 24, so I think that puts paid to that argument.

Until you can play the game well enough to understand exactly what you are doing within your swing, will you be able to take benefit from having a set custom fitted to your, then, grooved swing. Until that day arrives you would be wasting your time and money in my opinion.

Not all golf clubs are the same, that would be fairly obvious to someone who does not even play the game, but a good player could play with any club. I know I can.

I am not exactly a good player so I am sure that having clubs fitted to me will help.  Not turn me in to a scratch golfer but help.  If all clubs were blades in the past then there was not a choice.  If there had always been blades and cavity backs then not every one would have used blades.  It's all down to personal choice.  I think we'll agree to disagree on this one. 

So with your experience you reckon that having the clubs fitted to your current swing will be of benefit. Personally I believe that your handicap is too high to reap any benefit from new clubs, money would be better spent on lessons.

I know where you are coming from re lessons versus clubs John, but I don't think it necessarily holds true.  Take Lee Miller as an example.  When I first played with him last year he was playing with off-the-shelf clubs and playing to a 28 handicap.  The lad is about 6' 3" and the clubs were obviously not right for him.  Since he was fitted and has now got the right length of club, his handicap has come down to 22 and his ballstriking is much more consistent.  Yes he would improve further with lessons, but his clubs were fundamentally wrong for him and that was affecting his score. 

I agree that long term there is more benefit to having lessons, but sometimes changing your clubs will help.  You are correct in your statement that "a good player could play with any club", but you need to remember that we are not all good players and sometimes we need that little bit of assistance from technology.  Having a raft of lessons may indeed make you a good golf, but you may also need to get the correct clubs to suit you/your game.  Like most golfers, I play this game for fun and if getting clubs that suit our game means we shave a couple of shots off our round and enjoy it more, I don't see what the issue is. 

I am not making an issue of it, Chris, just offering my thoughts on the subject.

I might also mention that you are a far better player than your handicap suggests as I have played with you, but I would also say that if you played with any clubs you would still play to the same standard as you do now.

High Hcp'ers can be Custom Fit with a Tape Measure and a 10p piece.

Mid Hcp'er need an Expert eye with a Tape Measure and a 10p piece.

Low Hcp'ers need all the Technology that comes with a Launch Monitor.

A £400 Driver can produce the same result as a £100 Driver but a lot of people WANT the latest Model and are willing to pay for it. The only people to benifit from that mentality are the Retailers and not the Golfer.

Recently bought a full new set of clubs myself. Used to play with Mizuno MX17 irons and some old woods that I had collected over the years. Changed to Cleveland Hibore xls driver and fairways with a set of Nike VR split cavity irons. Don't know if it's just coincidence but my first 3 rounds with this new bag of goodies went like this.....

1st round - 88. usual score for me with old clubs.                   
                    
            

2nd round - 83, a very good day for me normally.

3rd round - 82. can't believe my form. Can these new clubs really be helping me this much???

Only time will tell I suppose, but long may it continue.

If you want to see the latest equipment, buy it, and enjoy watching some golf too. Go to The Open Championship. The "Tented Village" is by far the best place to seek out any new technology.

As everyone on this forum knows I am not the best person with a wood in his hand. Desperation made me take out my PGF 3 wood of 40 year vintage and the two occasions I felt I needed to use it, surprise, surprise I hit two excellent shots with it.

The first was a little bit hooky but finished safe and the second one was on a very long par five at my club and is all uphill, yet I connected well enough to get over the second ditch and actually was in range to get on for three, but  did not go for it as I play percentage golf when I am near the green. taking advantage of the stroke I receive.

A good player can play with anyyhing but only to a certain extent.

I think everyone would agree that the shaft is the most important component of the golf club but the clubhead also has a part to play.

I was recently trying new equipment, Taylor Made tour preferred irons, and although i had the right shaft the head weight was completely different and the ball went straight up in the air and consequently i lost at least one club in distance. It was the same with the R9 driver (i have a swing speed of about 120 mph)  and although i got a stiff shaft the weight was lighter and torque was 3.5, as opposed to the 2.2  I was used to in my V2 shaft, i hooked the life out of it.

Anyway no i can't play with any clubs I need a certain amount of dynamics from a golf club and I don't think anyone can debate that

So you are admitting that you do not have the capability to quickly adjust to a golf club that has different characteristics to what you are used to. I would have thought that someone of your ability would be able to solve that minor problem pretty quickly.

John

Like i said i have clubhead speed of 120mph, to get the best out of my game i will get the best shaft suited to that speed.

Yes i could use any club but not to the same level of consistency i would if using the correct equipment.

Common sense John please.

That sounds to me as though you hit everything at 120mph, quite amazing that.

Dont be facetious John

As well you know i was talking about my driver as it would be an impossible feat for me reach that with my irons.

Still an impressive speed with a driver and I would assume you can knock it a very long way. I envy you.

I would be interested to know how you see the game when you are playing. Are a swinger that uses the same swing for all your irons or are you a flair player, like myself, who is always looking for the best way of playing the shot.

Trajectories are one of my favourite subjects and I was wondering whether you play shots of differing trajectory with each of you clubs, as I am sure you will agree with me that the higher you hit the ball the more difficult it is to judge the distance of the shot.

My old club pro was an excellent striker and had a long game which was very consistent, but I knew that if I put him in a certain spot that he woud not have a clue how to play it. He was just too methodical, no flair, certainly no imagination.

It really depends John on how you describe a flair player, My last round was 6 under with 3 birdies in a row followed by an eagle but i don't think that's flair. I am a more consistent golfer (Faldo like) not like i can play like him mind you but that is how i would describe my golf.

I totally agree with you that trajectory is the key and if you can master your own trajectories you will become a far more consistant golfer.

I think i can play most shots in golf and use my imagination and thought which is vital to everyone's game.

But i still maintain that you have to have the correct equipment as i would not have scored that low with a standard set off the shelf and a driver with a shaft that didn't suit my swing speed.

Martin

Just picking up on Richards comment about buying a Driver. 

At the end of the day if you have the money, it works for you and you get enjoyment and ultimately happiness then go for it, life's to short.

The golf equipment and skill level analogy can be applied to cars, I've seen some pretty high spec cars (EDIT:typo removed) but not being driven by Jenson Button   

Know nothing about cars or cards (in relation to gambling)