Buy used vs Brand new Irons

[Jack Pearsall]

Funny thing about fittings. Initially, he did it and found the standard lie and loft were pretty much perfect. Of course, he challenged this in his mind..."JP isn't standard!"...but, in the end, it was correct. It has been a very nice thing to be standard, trust him. So other than fiddling with some different shafts and grips, checking the specs on a 'new' set to you is probably an okay idea. Forged irons can go soft on the lofts over time, but you should check them as there is some variance all the time. Actually, the variance on shafts is kinda a hidden issue sometimes, tho he figures it isn't a big deal and certainly not an excuse for outright suckage. Seldom is the gear the issue in JP own experience and in observing others. 95% of issues seem about swing mechanics and people largely prefer a gear based reason...your experiences may well be different though.

[dunn]

Used all day long.....but I am 5'10 and a half and own a loft lie machine sooooo....I agree, if you are off standards you have little choices used

 

Haha wow. So how many players really need the lie adjusted? What equates to needing the lie adjusting in clubs for ones swing?

 

 

I'm about 6' tall and have fairly short arms, I need to play something in the 63° range for a 5 iron lie angle (I spec as white dot on the Ping static fit, fwiw, and yes, I know it's only a starting point). I was playing standard lie irons when I started and faded everything, the fitting helped explain why. ;)

 

 

To be topical, I've generally bought used. I think I've only bought two set of irons new, in my early days of playing golf. I've been solidly in the Xstiff range until recently, when I feel I've dropped to borderline S or X, and when combined with the lie angle already mentioned, I'm not a stock fit for anything. Seems easier then to buy used and refit them.

 

Since I do my own clubwork, the whole process is not terribly expensive, and still generally cheaper than buying new. <shrug>

yeah, learning how to build my own clubs and tweak everything was prolly one of best things I learned in golf......can change anything I want for cost of materials only and can make it to whatever I want......I encourage anyone who even tinkers a bit to learn how

[A.G. Pennypacker]

Funny thing about fittings. Initially, he did it and found the standard lie and loft were pretty much perfect. Of course, he challenged this in his mind..."JP isn't standard!"...but, in the end, it was correct. It has been a very nice thing to be standard, trust him. So other than fiddling with some different shafts and grips, checking the specs on a 'new' set to you is probably an okay idea. Forged irons can go soft on the lofts over time, but you should check them as there is some variance all the time. Actually, the variance on shafts is kinda a hidden issue sometimes, tho he figures it isn't a big deal and certainly not an excuse for outright suckage. Seldom is the gear the issue in JP own experience and in observing others. 95% of issues seem about swing mechanics and people largely prefer a gear based reason...your experiences may well be different though.

 

.....are you actually writing all your posts in the 3rd person? :cheesy:

[niscur24]

Buy Mint/Like new from CPO/3balls/Global etc.

 

Save a TON of money especially with coupons and typically get new in plastic stuff at used priced.

[NRJyzr]

Used all day long.....but I am 5'10 and a half and own a loft lie machine sooooo....I agree, if you are off standards you have little choices used

 

Haha wow. So how many players really need the lie adjusted? What equates to needing the lie adjusting in clubs for ones swing?

 

 

I'm about 6' tall and have fairly short arms, I need to play something in the 63° range for a 5 iron lie angle (I spec as white dot on the Ping static fit, fwiw, and yes, I know it's only a starting point). I was playing standard lie irons when I started and faded everything, the fitting helped explain why. ;)

 

 

To be topical, I've generally bought used. I think I've only bought two set of irons new, in my early days of playing golf. I've been solidly in the Xstiff range until recently, when I feel I've dropped to borderline S or X, and when combined with the lie angle already mentioned, I'm not a stock fit for anything. Seems easier then to buy used and refit them.

 

Since I do my own clubwork, the whole process is not terribly expensive, and still generally cheaper than buying new. <shrug>

yeah, learning how to build my own clubs and tweak everything was prolly one of best things I learned in golf......can change anything I want for cost of materials only and can make it to whatever I want......I encourage anyone who even tinkers a bit to learn how to build clubs.......

 

 

I feel obliged to add....

 

I'm not a particularly handy guy, don't have a lot of DIY home maintenance skills. And I'm able to do this club building.

 

If I can do it, I expect a lot of others could also. ;)

[dunn]

Loft and lie are pretty easy to do, I never buy a set worrying about that much, my local shop can bend a set of clubs in few minutes for few bucks.....I usually by standard and forged irons so..

 

I do have every set checked and bent to correct specs, even if their brand new.......people would be surprised how many brand new sets I have bought that weren't correct on loft and lie

[Stonewalled]

Funny thing about fittings. Initially, he did it and found the standard lie and loft were pretty much perfect. Of course, he challenged this in his mind..."JP isn't standard!"...but, in the end, it was correct. It has been a very nice thing to be standard, trust him. So other than fiddling with some different shafts and grips, checking the specs on a 'new' set to you is probably an okay idea. Forged irons can go soft on the lofts over time, but you should check them as there is some variance all the time. Actually, the variance on shafts is kinda a hidden issue sometimes, tho he figures it isn't a big deal and certainly not an excuse for outright suckage. Seldom is the gear the issue in JP own experience and in observing others. 95% of issues seem about swing mechanics and people largely prefer a gear based reason...your experiences may well be different though.

 

.....are you actually writing all your posts in the 3rd person? :cheesy:

When you get to 689 likes and 2562 posts, like the well respected Jack Pearsall, you may have acquired enough sense to enjoy all that is GolfWrx.

[dekez]

Used all day long.....but I am 5'10 and a half and own a loft lie machine sooooo....I agree, if you are off standards you have little choices used

 

Haha wow. So how many players really need the lie adjusted? What equates to needing the lie adjusting in clubs for ones swing?

 

 

I'm about 6' tall and have fairly short arms, I need to play something in the 63° range for a 5 iron lie angle (I spec as white dot on the Ping static fit, fwiw, and yes, I know it's only a starting point). I was playing standard lie irons when I started and faded everything, the fitting helped explain why. ;)

 

 

To be topical, I've generally bought used. I think I've only bought two set of irons new, in my early days of playing golf. I've been solidly in the Xstiff range until recently, when I feel I've dropped to borderline S or X, and when combined with the lie angle already mentioned, I'm not a stock fit for anything. Seems easier then to buy used and refit them.

 

Since I do my own clubwork, the whole process is not terribly expensive, and still generally cheaper than buying new. <shrug>

yeah, learning how to build my own clubs and tweak everything was prolly one of best things I learned in golf......can change anything I want for cost of materials only and can make it to whatever I want......I encourage anyone who even tinkers a bit to learn how to build clubs.......

 

 

I feel obliged to add....

 

I'm not a particularly handy guy, don't have a lot of DIY home maintenance skills. And I'm able to do this club building.

 

If I can do it, I expect a lot of others could also. ;)

 

I'm curious what equipment you've procured to support your hobby. I'm also a tinkerer.

[apprenti23]

I like my stuff to be built to exact specifications. I pretty much always buy new; but if I buy something used, I have it rebuilt to the specs I need to ensure the length, loft, lie, swing weight, etc. is spot on perfect. Always nervous that there are going to be extensions on top of extensions, but that's only happened a couple times. Can't handle buy any shafts used anymore because so many clowns are doing way too much tipping it makes them almost unplayable.

[bubbagumpshrimp]

Buy Mint/Like new from CPO/3balls/Global etc.

 

Save a TON of money especially with coupons and typically get new in plastic stuff at used priced.

 

I think I'll do that for my next set of irons (Callaway pre-owned). $400 or so for basically new irons that they'll adjust the lie, length, grips, etc. Take them out of the box and go play.

[NRJyzr]

I'm curious what equipment you've procured to support your hobby. I'm also a tinkerer.

 

 

Fairly minimal, compared to some. I have a hacksaw with a grit blade, a tube cutter, a Black & Decker Workmate that I use as my vise and work table, a butane torch for pulling shafts, a wire brush to help clean out hosels (bought from Golfsmith or GolfWorks, not sure anymore), a paint pan that I use to catch solvent, and a retractable blade box cutter with hook blades (for cutting off old grips).

 

I also bought fluted reaming bits in .335, .355, and .370 from GolfWorks, along with a handle for them, use them to clean out hosels, but these aren't necessary.

 

Beyond that, it's the usual supplies, some ferrules, grip tape and solvent, epoxy, stick for mixing epoxy, etc.

 

I don't have a shaft puller, so I don't try pulling graphite shafts. I had some success 14-15 years ago doing it myself, but also some failures; with graphite prices having gone up as they have, I stopped trying and put "shaft puller" on the list as a prerequisite for the next attempt. :)

 

I think I got everything. <shrug>

[MillerLowLife]

I like my stuff to be built to exact specifications. I pretty much always buy new; but if I buy something used, I have it rebuilt to the specs I need to ensure the length, loft, lie, swing weight, etc. is spot on perfect. Always nervous that there are going to be extensions on top of extensions, but that's only happened a couple times. Can't handle buy any shafts used anymore because so many clowns are doing way too much tipping it makes them almost unplayable.

 

I want to go to golftec for an official fitting but unfortunately, they only carry 4 brands (Callaway, Mizuno, Taylormade, and Ping). Seems like they'll try to get me into one of those brands which 2 I wouldn't mind but I was hoping for a bit more to demo. I'll look into other places but not a ton to choose from in SLC,UT.

 

I'd imagine at the very least I'll get the specs I'm looking for and be able to find what I need either online or custom order elsewhere.

[Greyboy]

I'm all about buying things used with proper research. I buy my cars used (a couple years old with minimal miles / 1 owner / clean car fax etc..), some of my watches, etc... and save 10s of thousands that way. When it comes to golf clubs, if you hit the used clubs well, then yeah great. In my case (since I don't see opportunities to demo used clubs often), I prefer to just get fit and buy new so I know the clubs are right for me and take peace of mind in that. But if you can take the specs that you were fit for, and can find a used set then by all means go for it

 

thats my 2 cents

[SwingBlues]

Depends on when you want it.

 

New irons may take a while to get to BST/ebay at a decent price, but, if you can find the usual suspects such as DD who can do you a deal, new. Take it.

 

I've bought new and used. My G25s were new, RSi2 were used for a great price. G25 is immaculate, RSi2 face cave issues...think that will be my last slotted irons abliet I will call TM to fix this once I get my replacement irons.

 

Now I am eyeing the JPX 900 Hot metals which I will get new. Pristine finish and I always keep my irons that way.

 

So it all depends and the more "standard" fit you are, the better bargains you will find used.

[jreed]

I have rarely bought new clubs....never new irons. I went off of Ping's recommendations and fit myself that way. I figured that would get me close enough and I can say it helped. However, I dont think the more minute adjustments would help that much as Im still trying to get my game in order and my swing is still somewhat inconsistent.

 

My latest set of irons are i25 that I got like new on ebay for several hundred less than new.

[Other Barry]

picked up a set of Cally Apexs on here, had them tweaked a bit and they are quickly becoming scalpels out on the course. I buy used almost everything, too many Dave Ramsey podcasts talking me out of new.