Should I Buy New Clubs...50
Who doesn't like new toys!
The answer is absolutely “YES”. At least I think that’s the answer you were looking for. However, if you were looking for more than a one-word answer, here goes.
The advance in golf club technology is ever-advancing—and improving. Today’s clubs have features that will benefit every player. But let’s understand that the coefficient of restitution (the trampoline effect of a clubface springing the ball forward) is capped by the USGA. The ball can only come off the clubface just so fast and most manufacturers are up against that ceiling already.
That notwithstanding, the clubs can produce more distance in four ways: the shafts can get longer, the clubface lofts can get stronger, the shafts can get lighter, and the clubface MOI (Moment of Inertia) can increase. Aside from these factors, you can garner additional yardage by having the clubs fit you: the lie angle is adjusted so the club face arrives with the sole parallel to the ground, the face/shaft combination produces optimal trajectory, and the grip size fits your hands.
For a “buying action plan”, consider the following:
buying a new set of pro-line clubs (e.g. Callaway, Cobra, Titelist, etc.) off the rack will deliver the benefits of improved technology. This will be more significant the older your current set.
buying a new set of clubs and having them fit to your and your swing takes the advantage to another level. This is especially true the further you are outside the parameters of a height of 5’10” to 6’1” and you’ve had more than 65 birthdays.
buying a new set of clubs should be second to having a trusted professional advise and commit to ensure you that your enjoyment and scores will improve with a change of hardware.
If you are looking for a reason not to buy clubs, ask yourself how your score would improve if you kept the ball in the fairway, eliminated 3-putts, and improved your up-and-downs by 50%. These have little to do with what equipment you have versus what you do with that equipment.
(Disclaimer: Yes, I’m a proponent of the effect of golf instruction and yes I just replaced my 4-year-old set with Callaway Paradygm).
Swing to the target,
Ed
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