A couple of years ago I started a thread about this, whether people thought clones were worth buying. Since then, I did buy a set of Pinemeadow clubs, then a couple of their hybrids, a 1-3 driver set and a couple of wedges.
I've gone from breaking 100 routinely to breaking 90 routinely so I can say I'm pleased with the clone clubs.
Anything over what I had was probably an upgrade but I was able to order them an extra inch longer for my height and added Lamkin grips which I had on an old sand Wedge and always liked the feel of.
I think the clones have been a good buy for me- inexpensive and good value. Anybody else have any thoughts or experiences with clones?
By clones do you mean knock offs or imitations?
Quote:A couple of years ago I started a thread about this, whether people thought clones were worth buying. Since then, I did buy a set of Pinemeadow clubs, then a couple of their hybrids, a 1-3 driver set and a couple of wedges.
I've gone from breaking 100 routinely to breaking 90 routinely so I can say I'm pleased with the clone clubs.
Anything over what I had was probably an upgrade but I was able to order them an extra inch longer for my height and added Lamkin grips which I had on an old sand Wedge and always liked the feel of.
I think the clones have been a good buy for me- inexpensive and good value. Anybody else have any thoughts or experiences with clones?
I saw a program on TV a few weeks ago that examined the problems with clone clubs. An independent evaluator tested clones against the authentic items and found significantly higher incidences of club failure with the clones. They also found that clone clubs caused golfers to hit the ball incorrectly because the clone lofts, lies, and shaft flex and material were misleading and erroneous.
Personally I would never knowingly buy a clone. My golf game is frustrating enough without the complications introduced by some shyster clone maker.
I always liked Wilson brand clubs. Nice flexibility when swining for someone's face.
I've twice done OK by researching a model I like form 2 or 3 years ago. (PGA website) And then buying a gently used set on eBay for around half the price or less.
Right now I've got an 8 year old set of mizuno mx irons that someone barely used. Paid $160 for 4iron-PW. ($800 new. )
Quote:I've twice done OK by researching a model I like form 2 or 3 years ago. (PGA website) And then buying a gently used set on eBay for around half the price or less.
Right now I've got an 8 year old set of mizuno mx irons that someone barely used. Paid $160 for 4iron-PW. ($800 new. )
I have a Mizuno driver I bought used. It's awful. I could do better swinging a 2x4. Needless to say, I'm looking around now for a replacement.
I had a set of Nike VRS-X irons earlier this year, but they were stolen. I bought a set of Adam's Golf Speedline S irons (4-GW) for a $160 new. I really liked the Nikes better, but I seem to hit more consistently with the Adams. And they were $100 cheaper.
Quote:I have a Mizuno driver I bought used. It's awful. I could do better swinging a 2x4. Needless to say, I'm looking around now for a replacement.
I had a set of Nike VRS-X irons earlier this year, but they were stolen. I bought a set of Adam's Golf Speedline S irons (4-GW) for a $160 new. I really liked the Nikes better, but I seem to hit more consistently with the Adams. And they were $100 cheaper.
Mizuno are known for their forged irons. Their woods/drivers have never been a strong suit. I use a taylor made driver and callaway hybrids. (Though the new Mizuno JPX driver and woods are reportedly much better than their previous efforts. Haven't tried them personally though.)
Khanm- by clones I mean legally produced imitations ("compare to the Taylormade Rescue clubs") as opposed to illegally made and misbranded knockoffs ("hey buddy, want some cheap Nike clubs?").
The avenue mentioned, buying used clubs on Ebay is another possibility but I find the whole array of clubs available absolutely daunting plus dealing with shafts, grips, custom fitting, etc. For short money I got all of that through Pinemeadow and cut 10 strokes off my game. Durability of the clubs is the next issue- to see if they stand up to 30 rounds/year.
There is also the age factor, if I were 30, I think I would want the best clubs I could afford, especially if I was a decent player. But at my age and playing level it matters much less. I've also been able to buy 4 of their inexpensive wedges- a 45-50-55 and 60 degree and have become pretty good with all of them...I don't know how I ever lived without a lob wedge. what a beautiful thing when you hit it right.
Quote:Khanm- by clones I mean legally produced imitations ("compare to the Taylormade Rescue clubs") as opposed to illegally made and misbranded knockoffs ("hey buddy, want some cheap Nike clubs?").
The avenue mentioned, buying used clubs on Ebay is another possibility but I find the whole array of clubs available absolutely daunting plus dealing with shafts, grips, custom fitting, etc. For short money I got all of that through Pinemeadow and cut 10 strokes off my game. Durability of the clubs is the next issue- to see if they stand up to 30 rounds/year.
There is also the age factor, if I were 30, I think I would want the best clubs I could afford, especially if I was a decent player. But at my age and playing level it matters much less. I've also been able to buy 4 of their inexpensive wedges- a 45-50-55 and 60 degree and have become pretty good with all of them...I don't know how I ever lived without a lob wedge. what a beautiful thing when you hit it right.
Just that alone would have me thinking "I did the right thing."
Now, when you get a consistent single digit handicap, it might be time to spend the money on a custom fitting by Ping or Mizuno and take it to the next level.
I promised myself I'd spend real money on clubs when I'm consistently under 90. I only play about 10 times a year the past couple years, so...
:teehee: Might be a while before I retire my ebay clubs :teehee:
I'm with you on the wedges. My wonderful lady bought me a Titlest Vokey 56 degree sand wedge for my B-Day 2 years ago. (again - I found it for her on ebay - a demo model at a pro shop for $80) I love it. I open it up to lob with and carry a gap wedge too. PW- 48 , GW - 52, SW - 56. My short game and scrambling has salvaged many a bogey after horrendous drives or approaches since I added the GW and got a great SW.
Pick up a 60 degree lob wedge and mess around with it although your opened 56 likely achieves the same effect if you can control it. I love the lob when you have a trap between you and the green and not a lot of green to work with. When it's hit right, it is beautiful...of course sometimes you don't get under it you can hit a line drive deep into the woods.
Watch a few Phil Mickelson youtube instructional videos on wedge use. They improved my short game.
Quote:Pick up a 60 degree lob wedge and mess around with it although your opened 56 likely achieves the same effect if you can control it. I love the lob when you have a trap between you and the green and not a lot of green to work with. When it's hit right, it is beautiful...of course sometimes you don't get under it you can hit a line drive deep into the woods.
I like the 60. I had one for a season and left it laying beside the 18th green at the end of an outing. Someone put it in their bag before I got back to claim it an hour later. It was very fun around the green.
Basically - in the course of getting to 14 clubs - I elected to go with a Gap wedge instead of replacing the lobber. It eliminates the pressure of having to hit my SW 12 yards farther than it wants to go - and I seem to find myself between the PW and SW about 5 or 6 times per round.
So far the 56 has been enough loft. I know some like to carry four wedges, but I like to have extra options off the tee and par 5 fairways. I carry D, 3W, 2I Hybrid, 3I Hybrid for the long stuff. I guess some would skip the 2I (or 5 wood) in favor of an extra wedge.
Do you carry 14 clubs?
Hey NYC, I know next to nothing about golf, does it matter how many clubs you carry?
I carry an extra one that doesn't touch a ball. It is used to beat the earth and trees while yelling profane incrimination at the tauntingly fickle golf gods.
That's a good idea to carry an extra just to slam around. You have to hold the impulse to do that until you can go to the bag and get the throwing club or just carry it with you as you know you're likely to screw up the shot.
Senor, 14 clubs is the max you can carry. I don't know if there is a minimum (NYC?). I try to go out once a year by myself for 9 holes at a local course (in Essex, MA- it's a great course to walk b/c it isn't that long and it overlooks the marshes out to the ocean, sorta like the Hecksher Drive area in Jax) with just a 5 iron and assume that all greens are 2 putts (I'll putt anyway with the 5 and 2-putt most of them anyway. I always pick a crisp, sunny day and it's a nice walk.
NYC- I do carry 14 clubs and vary them by the course. I'm not as good as I'm letting on but it's fun to attack the course with an idea. I leave the 3H behind on shorter courses and bring the gap wedge so I'll have 4 wedges there. I've left the 3W behind a lot lately b/c I seem to hit the 3H or 4H off the tee just as well with more control.
The 460cc head drivers and the hybrids have made the game so much more enjoyable for hackers like me.
If you want a cheap lob wedge, check out Pinemeadow's web site. I think they are around $25-...I just peeked, they are on sale this month for 21.21. You can add or subtract from the length of the shaft (I add an inch for my height) and have them put on a different grip (I like Lamkin's standard grip), get a steel or graphite shaft (steel is fine in a wedge, IMO) and vary the flex if desired. They also have 64 and 68 degree wedges...wow 68 degrees, I thought 60 was the max.
One big change I've made over the last year is to abandon my long irons and replace them with RBZ2 hybrids. I had just totally lost confidence in my long irons, but I now feel like I can actually hit the green again with the hybrids.
I took a while to get used to them, as they have a slight draw bias. But I feel very comfortable with them now.
The thing I keep tinkering with is changing my putter. I've had this old Titleist putter for at least ten years. I put a thick grip on it and I just love it. I keep picking up new putters when I'm in golf shops, but I always put them back. I don't know why I keep trying out putters, I save myself multiple strokes on the greens just about every round with the old one.
Quote:One big change I've made over the last year is to abandon my long irons and replace them with RBZ2 hybrids. I had just totally lost confidence in my long irons, but I now feel like I can actually hit the green again with the hybrids.
I took a while to get used to them, as they have a slight draw bias. But I feel very comfortable with them now.
I also gave up on my 2&3 wedges for hybrids. I added a good bit of distance and lost some accuracy. I still suck regardless.
To the OP. I have a "imitation" putter that mimics the taylormade and fools everybody. I believe it is exactly the same as well. Paid $25 plus a $15 custom grip instead of $145.
Quote:That's a good idea to carry an extra just to slam around. You have to hold the impulse to do that until you can go to the bag and get the throwing club or just carry it with you as you know you're likely to screw up the shot.
Senor, 14 clubs is the max you can carry. I don't know if there is a minimum (NYC?). I try to go out once a year by myself for 9 holes at a local course (in Essex, MA- it's a great course to walk b/c it isn't that long and it overlooks the marshes out to the ocean, sorta like the Hecksher Drive area in Jax) with just a 5 iron and assume that all greens are 2 putts (I'll putt anyway with the 5 and 2-putt most of them anyway. I always pick a crisp, sunny day and it's a nice walk.
Ahhhh, I see - thanks!
I think I speak for most golfers when saying I wish I could use the long irons with the consistency of the short ones. Besides the ability to shape shots, I'm convinced 75 percent of a professional's status resides in consistency with the long clubs.