OT: Taking up golf again after over 20 years

[NTDawg]

I used to play golf on a semi-regular basis but not frequently enough to ever be any good. Quit playing regularly when my son was born 28 years ago. Haven’t swung a club since 2004 when played with my grandpa, he was a good golfer and shot his age a couple of times.

Back to my point. I recently went to Top Golf which I wasn’t looking forward to it because of how long it had been since I had picked up a club. I was surprised that I was just as good or bad as I was 20 years ago. But it gave me bug of wanting to start playing again.

All of that to ask what do you golfers recommend for clubs? My clubs are at least 30 years old and I’m sure the grips are dry rotten and I’m sure the newer technology is far superior. What brand? New or used? Any other recommendations for someone starting to play again?

 

[mstateglfr]

New woods, sure you could benefit.
New grips, yeah definitely get em.
Irons, wedges, and putter though?...likely not needed.

The biggest thing you might benefit from is getting rid of your 3 and 4 Irons and buying a lofted rescue club/wood. They are easier to hit than similar need Irons.

 

[DesotoCountyDawg]

I second the rescue clubs.

 

[OG Goat Holder]

Funny thing is the pros are getting rid of rescue clubs. But yeah you need them as a weekend warrior.

You say 30 years, so you need the weighted irons and wedges rather than blades. You’ll have to tell us what you have.

 

[jethreauxdawg]

New woods, sure you could benefit.
New grips, yeah definitely get em.
Irons, wedges, and putter though?...likely not needed.

The biggest thing you might benefit from is getting rid of your 3 and 4 Irons and buying a lofted rescue club/wood. They are easier to hit than similar need Irons.

With “glfr” in the name, I’m assuming you play blades and have a wear spot the size of a dime on the sweet spot of each one. Your opinion doesn’t help us regular hackers. New blades are probably close to 30 year old blades.

I recommend getting a new set of game improvement irons. I do agree with glfr in the long irons. Forget those, get hybrids. Also, OP must be looking for an outlet to use new cuss words.

 

[NTDawg]

Funny thing is the pros are getting rid of rescue clubs. But yeah you need them as a weekend warrior.

You say 30 years, so you need the weighted irons and wedges rather than blades. You’ll have to tell us what you have.

They are weighted irons. Old Titleist dci. Driver is a Callaway Biggest Big Bertha ( I never could hit it) and a Callaway Big Bertha that I used on the tee box

 

[DesotoCountyDawg]

Funny thing is the pros are getting rid of rescue clubs. But yeah you need them as a weekend warrior.

You say 30 years, so you need the weighted irons and wedges rather than blades. You’ll have to tell us what you have.

What the pros are doing is kinda irrelevant for the weekend hacker.

 

[Dawg1976]

Six iron is my longest iron but then again I’m a geezer. Hybrids are so much easier to hit than 3-5 irons. As far as brands go any of the big boys make good clubs. And there are direct to consumer brands that are good like Sub 70 for 1/2 the price.

 

[John Deaux VII]

Club technology has changed drastically in 30 years.

 

[OG Goat Holder]

What the pros are doing is kinda irrelevant for the weekend hacker.

Did you not understand my post? I agree with you.

 

[OG Goat Holder]

They are weighted irons. Old Titleist dci. Driver is a Callaway Biggest Big Bertha ( I never could hit it) and a Callaway Big Bertha that I used on the tee box

You should be fine. Just maybe get a hybrid/rescue club or 2. Usually a 4, maybe a 5.

 

[tbaydog]

I used to play golf on a semi-regular basis but not frequently enough to ever be any good. Quit playing regularly when my son was born 28 years ago. Haven’t swung a club since 2004 when played with my grandpa, he was a good golfer and shot his age a couple of times.

Back to my point. I recently went to Top Golf which I wasn’t looking forward to it because of how long it had been since I had picked up a club. I was surprised that I was just as good or bad as I was 20 years ago. But it gave me bug of wanting to start playing again.

All of that to ask what do you golfers recommend for clubs? My clubs are at least 30 years old and I’m sure the grips are dry rotten and I’m sure the newer technology is far superior. What brand? New or used? Any other recommendations for someone starting to play again?

I same as you. Went my son to Top. He played college golf D3. Was spanking him royally, after we were finishing up, on my last swing, thru my hip out. Said 17 it.

 

[MaxwellSmart]

I picked it up last Oct. after not playing for over 15 years. A few surgeries and hitting 60 made it a no go going back to my old clubs. I went to Edwin Watts and tried several. Ended up with the Callaway AI smoke driver. I hit it 30 yards further than anything else they had. Went with TaylorMade Stealth irons. Graphite shafts in everything but my putter. The graphite made a huge difference in the feel for my elbow and shoulder. I'll never be good as I was but it's still fun.........and frustrating.

 

[Jeffreauxdawg]

 

[karlchilders.sixpack]

Club technology has changed drastically in 30 years.

Shafts. And, maybe wood design.

 

[mcdawg22]

Shafts. And, maybe wood design.

And iron lengths and lofts. Just because it says it’s a 7 iron doesn’t mean it’s not a 5 iron loft on a 6 iron length club.

 

[DesotoCountyDawg]

Six iron is my longest iron but then again I’m a geezer. Hybrids are so much easier to hit than 3-5 irons. As far as brands go any of the big boys make good clubs. And there are direct to consumer brands that are good like Sub 70 for 1/2 the price.

 

[Conman90]

Look at Takomo, Sub70, or Maltby for irons (some also have drivers, woods, and hybrids). All Direct to consumer, good clubs and less than the big brands.

Look at Callaway pre owned. You can find some decent deals on clubs made within the last 5 years. Hackers like us don't have to have the latest and greatest, but 30 year old clubs vs 3 year old clubs can make a difference in forgiveness and in some cases distance (swing dependant).

I love my hybrids. Longest iron in my bag is a 5 iron, and is probably about to be a 6. Also going to a 5 wood (instead of 3) and adding a 7 wood. I'm 53. Can't swing the same as 30 years ago. Lol

Look into graphite shafts for irons. Your elbows will thank you.

Lastly, don't spend a ton(any) of money until you figure your swing out again, then decide if your happy where you are or want to chase getting better. If the answer is the latter, then think about lessons or getting fit and then use the above advice on getting new clubs.

 

[mstateglfr]

With “glfr” in the name, I’m assuming you play blades and have a wear spot the size of a dime on the sweet spot of each one. Your opinion doesn’t help us regular hackers. New blades are probably close to 30 year old blades.

I recommend getting a new set of game improvement irons. I do agree with glfr in the long irons. Forget those, get hybrids. Also, OP must be looking for an outlet to use new cuss words.

Yeah, I assumed the OP has some game improvement style cavity back cast irons. If so, that same style would be what he would want now.
There is improved tech in game improvement cavity back irons over the last couple decades, but it's pretty minimal. And relative to how much some rescue clubs and a new driver will feel, the impact of new irons to replace old game improvement irons will be really small.


My name has been in place since the 90s. Funny, since I now play like twice per year and only when a niece is in town.
You don't need a driver when you play from the reds because you 'just want to tag along and have fun'!

My irons are from 2000, a 3wood from '94, wedges and putter from '02, and the driver plus rescue are from '08 or so.
Good timing on this thread- I remember thinking last summer that I will need new grips the next time I play.
Time to find where I tossed my bag!

 

[grinningmule]

 

[HRMSU]

I used to play golf on a semi-regular basis but not frequently enough to ever be any good. Quit playing regularly when my son was born 28 years ago. Haven’t swung a club since 2004 when played with my grandpa, he was a good golfer and shot his age a couple of times.

Back to my point. I recently went to Top Golf which I wasn’t looking forward to it because of how long it had been since I had picked up a club. I was surprised that I was just as good or bad as I was 20 years ago. But it gave me bug of wanting to start playing again.

All of that to ask what do you golfers recommend for clubs? My clubs are at least 30 years old and I’m sure the grips are dry rotten and I’m sure the newer technology is far superior. What brand? New or used? Any other recommendations for someone starting to play again?

Funny....it was almost like I wrote the first paragraph. I'm in the exact same situation. About to get deep in it again.

I'll probably blow a lot of money that may not help me improve but seriously considering a garage simulator setup for both fun with friends and practice feedback. I just want to be a better ball striker not too worried about score right now.

 

[Dawgbite]

I didn't start playing golf until I was 55 about 5 years ago. Tried a few sets of hand me down irons and drivers. Finally bought a set of Cleveland Launcher XL irons, the entire set are hybrids. They made a drastic improvement on my ball striking. Bought a Krank XX super high core driver. Krank is Bryson DeChamboughs driver. The super high core is not USGA legal but I'm not playing any tournaments so what do I care. It added 25-40 yards over the Taylormade M2 I had been using.

 

[Dawgzilla2]

If your clubs are really 30 years old, then you should know that a modern 7 iron will probably have the same loft and shaft length as your old 5 iron. Don't worry about the numbers etched on the soles, since you will need to relearn distances anyway.

But you will probably need one or two wedges to fill the gap between your pitching wedge and sand wedge.

 

[Msuirondawgs]

I would get fitted 1st off. Then from there I would buy used clubs and you can get some killer deals on either eBay or sites like Global Golf. Make sure you you get to a golf shop, and just hold some of the various grips in your hand to see what you might like because new grips are important. I highly recommend Golf Pride Multicompounds.

 

[CottonDog_]

If you’re gonna get back in for real, get fitted. May be able to find what you want used from there. Some places give you a slight discount if you buy from them if they fit you. Worth the investment.

 

[NTDawg]

If you’re gonna get back in for real, get fitted. May be able to find what you want used from there. Some places give you a slight discount if you buy from them if they fit you. Worth the investment.

I would like to get back in it for real, but who knows. I don't know what goes into a fitting, and obviously, some measurements don't change, but are there other things related to my swing that are likely to change after 6-12 months of playing?

 

[CottonDog_]

I would like to get back in it for real, but who knows. I don't know what goes into a fitting, and obviously, some measurements don't change, but are there other things related to my swing that are likely to change after 6-12 months of playing?

Not sure how much things like swing speed will change. Likely not enough to change shafts. You may play with your current set for the summer and do a fitting towards the end of the year.

 

[22yardpunt]

I used to play golf on a semi-regular basis but not frequently enough to ever be any good. Quit playing regularly when my son was born 28 years ago. Haven’t swung a club since 2004 when played with my grandpa, he was a good golfer and shot his age a couple of times.

Back to my point. I recently went to Top Golf which I wasn’t looking forward to it because of how long it had been since I had picked up a club. I was surprised that I was just as good or bad as I was 20 years ago. But it gave me bug of wanting to start playing again.

All of that to ask what do you golfers recommend for clubs? My clubs are at least 30 years old and I’m sure the grips are dry rotten and I’m sure the newer technology is far superior. What brand? New or used? Any other recommendations for someone starting to play again?

Persimmon woods off eBay - can’t go wrong.

 

[MrKotter]

I would like to get back in it for real, but who knows. I don't know what goes into a fitting, and obviously, some measurements don't change, but are there other things related to my swing that are likely to change after 6-12 months of playing?

As you get back into it and improve things like how you load a shaft and release the club will probably change. If you find some sticks that work for you now you always change shafts after the fitting or trade them in if necessary.

 

[Colonel Angus.sixpack]

2ndswing.com is a good source for used clubs too.

 

[NTDawg]

update: I looked on Titleist's website, and the type of clubs that I have were manufactured between 1996-2000. So they are 29-25 years old. I bought them used, not sure what year I got them, sometime in the 90s.

 

[paindonthurt]

New woods, sure you could benefit.
New grips, yeah definitely get em.
Irons, wedges, and putter though?...likely not needed.

The biggest thing you might benefit from is getting rid of your 3 and 4 Irons and buying a lofted rescue club/wood. They are easier to hit than similar need Irons.

Good advice. Definitely can get some newer clubs for cheap though. Callaway used golf is good.

3 and 4 hybrids are great to replace those irons also.

You can also get some good lessons for fairly inexpensive and they help. $300 for 5 1 hr lessons.

 

[patdog]

Did you wake up one day and think, I'm just not swearing enough, maybe I should take up golf? **

 

[paindonthurt]

Did you not understand my post? I agree with you.

We understood it. Its just the way you said it like you say everything else. Like you live on the square in oxford and wear a bow tie every where you go with penny loafers and no socks.

 

[NTDawg]

Did you wake up one day and think, I'm just not swearing enough, maybe I should take up golf? **

no I'm a State and Saints fan so I've got the cussing taken care of

 

[paindonthurt]

Funny....it was almost like I wrote the first paragraph. I'm in the exact same situation. About to get deep in it again.

I'll probably blow a lot of money that may not help me improve but seriously considering a garage simulator setup for both fun with friends and practice feedback. I just want to be a better ball striker not too worried about score right now.

Simulators are fun. Just understand if you want one that is realistic and will translate to real life its EXPENSIVE!!

 

[patdog]

no I'm a State and Saints fan so I've got the cussing taken care of

Ha. BTW, I also went to Top Golf after not playing for 20 years. The experience was humbling to say the least and did not make me want to start playing.

 

[horshack.sixpack]

I used to play golf on a semi-regular basis but not frequently enough to ever be any good. Quit playing regularly when my son was born 28 years ago. Haven’t swung a club since 2004 when played with my grandpa, he was a good golfer and shot his age a couple of times.

Back to my point. I recently went to Top Golf which I wasn’t looking forward to it because of how long it had been since I had picked up a club. I was surprised that I was just as good or bad as I was 20 years ago. But it gave me bug of wanting to start playing again.

All of that to ask what do you golfers recommend for clubs? My clubs are at least 30 years old and I’m sure the grips are dry rotten and I’m sure the newer technology is far superior. What brand? New or used? Any other recommendations for someone starting to play again?

Ping G440 irons. Go get fitted. Nevada Bob's if you are in Jackson area. The Ping 1 and 3 wood are solid as well, but those irons will make a big difference.

 

[horshack.sixpack]

New woods, sure you could benefit.
New grips, yeah definitely get em.
Irons, wedges, and putter though?...likely not needed.

The biggest thing you might benefit from is getting rid of your 3 and 4 Irons and buying a lofted rescue club/wood. They are easier to hit than similar need Irons.

I agree on putter. Irons, however, I'd encourage you to go hit some new ones vs your current ones. It can make a huge difference.

 

[HRMSU]

Simulators are fun. Just understand if you want one that is realistic and will translate to real life its EXPENSIVE!!

Thinking about Skytrack+ or Mevo, displaying on an iPad and hitting into a net to start. I already have iPad, net and thick hitting mat.