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Should you get new clubs or lessons for quick improvement? Here’s some data…

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So I think I have solved the age old question: “do you need new clubs or lessons?” And I have data to back up my suggestions!

First, let’s look at the clubs I am using for this article.

You will see that I used an old Tommy Armour 845 Silver Scot, a forged TaylorMade Burner Forged iron from 2009-2010, and my current P790 from TaylorMade. Of course, we know that the lofts are different between these clubs, and there’s been years of engineering enhancements; we know it’s not an apples to apples comparison, and that’s the point! We are only looking at overall performance to see if we can get away with using older equipment for an extended period of time, or do we need to get rid of them and take lessons? How old is too old?

The Data

Dispersion

Trajectory

TrackMan data

From a dispersion standpoint, the P790 and the Burner have a tighter clustering. Obviously, the older club had the biggest miss pattern since it has the least amount of forgiveness. Therefore, I would say that the older model necessitates upgrade, but not necessarily the Burner.

As we look at the distances, we can see that there are huge differences in the three clubs: 161.1, 171.5, and 183.5 yards. Now from a club vs. lesson standpoint, if distance is a real issue in your game, then I would suggest changing since there is 20 yards difference between the old and the newest club. If not, then you can stick with your old bats and use the extra money to buy a few lessons, as long as your dispersion isn’t totally off.

The final thing I would look at is the height and landing angle of the clubs, and you can see that the last two clubs hit the ball about the same height and have basically the same landing angle into the green. But as we could guess, the older club is not even close.

Conclusion: If your clubs are more than 10 years old, I would suggest an upgrade from a technology standpoint. However, if your clubs have the somewhat newer technology that hits the ball higher with less loft, then you are safe…for now. I would say that unless there’s a serious issue with your clubs (not fit properly, dispersion is terrible, etc) then you should take lessons. To the guys with completely outdated sticks, I would suggest buying newer technology asap. And obviously, if your grooves are completely worn, it’s time to upgrade!!

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Tom F. Stickney II, is a specialist in Biomechanics for Golf, Physiology, and 3d Motion Analysis. He has a degree in Exercise and Fitness and has been a Director of Instruction for almost 30 years at resorts and clubs such as- The Four Seasons Punta Mita, BIGHORN Golf Club, The Club at Cordillera, The Promontory Club, and the Sandestin Golf and Beach Resort. His past and present instructional awards include the following: Golf Magazine Top 100 Teacher, Golf Digest Top 50 International Instructor, Golf Tips Top 25 Instructor, Best in State (Florida, Colorado, and California,) Top 20 Teachers Under 40, Best Young Teachers and many more. Tom is a Trackman University Master/Partner, a distinction held by less than 25 people in the world. Tom is TPI Certified- Level 1, Golf Level 2, Level 2- Power, and Level 2- Fitness and believes that you cannot reach your maximum potential as a player with out some focus on your physiology. You can reach him at [email protected] and he welcomes any questions you may have.

19 Comments

19 Comments

  1. Hayden

    Apr 27, 2019 at 5:34 am

    Thanks for this article.
    I actually have a set of Tommy Armour Golden Scots from the mid 1990’s! I couldn’t afford the 845’s… Interestly, 20 years later, with ball technology & better swing insight, I’m hitting the clubs the same distance & slightly further (5-10yds) – and I’ve gone from mid 20’s to mid 40’s in age.
    But the grooves are worn & offer no stopping power. My swing still needs work, so because it’s cheaper to get lessons than buy a new set of clubs, that’s what I’m doing with my $$. Good to know that once I save enough money, a new set will make a big difference. Getting them fitted will be vital too.
    Cheers!

  2. Gerald Teigrob

    Jul 4, 2018 at 11:57 am

    I still have a good part of my Adams A7 irons but are gradually moving more to Redline irons and have replaced my irons with the Cobra Bio Cell in both stiff graphite and stiff steel. I left some clubs of mine behind to pick those up and I nearly have a set of Cobra Baffler XLs. Not everyone has the luxury of upgrading like I do with our golf course but as long as you leave some clubs behind, you, it appears to be the honor system…these are demo irons. So with that in mind, I won’t need to upgrade for a while! I’m glad to have both stiff graphite and steel in the Bio Cell irons!

    • geohogan

      Jul 7, 2018 at 9:44 am

      Unless the shafts are identical in all of the irons tested, then you can bet your testing difference in shafts more than iron heads.

  3. Tom

    Jul 2, 2018 at 11:21 am

    Let’s talk about shafts.

    Just how much clubhead speed/distance is gained for every, say 10 grams, less shaft weight? Maybe 2-3 yds with a 7 iron?

    How much distance/ dispersion difference is there between stiff and flexible shaft tips? Maybe 2-3 yds distance, 5-10 yds dispersion difference with the same 7 iron?

    • Tom

      Jul 2, 2018 at 11:27 am

      On shaft weight, I way overstated the distance gained for 10 grams lighter shaft .5 to .7 yards is probably closer to reality.

  4. Dr Tee

    Jul 2, 2018 at 8:42 am

    Do both. Lessons and new clubs are not mutually exclusive. No new club will correct a bad swing path

    • Gerald Teigrob

      Jul 4, 2018 at 12:00 pm

      I have managed lessons at GolfTec, so now I need to apply those principles to my own game with newer clubs! Fortunately, I can go back to previous lessons and see what I did online and what the purpose of that lesson was! Lessons and club fitting can go along well…that way you get to see how well your playing with your current irons is in relation to newer irons!

  5. Lane Holt

    Jul 2, 2018 at 8:25 am

    This is not a serious test / comparison. Their is nothing in a iron head that will make a ball go further other than it’s loft. If folks ever learn that the shaft is the engine and it ‘s performance is many times more iimportant that the head these Mfgts. will not be able to charge their ridiculous prices .
    When are we going to learn ? Iron heads ( faces ) have not changed in 50 years. How many tournament did Sam Snead, Ben Hogan, Byron Nelson win ? The ball only stays on the face 1/20 th of a millisecond. Think about that and tell me what difference the head makes?
    Now- could a shaft with a flexible tip make a difference ? You betcha it does!

  6. JThunder

    Jul 1, 2018 at 2:07 am

    The distance question isn’t answered at all in this article; from what I can gather, the clubs were 5 irons? So, compare the 845s 4 iron to the 790 5 iron – loft and length are likely closer. If the dispersion and trajectory are better on the 790, then it is an improvement. Also, compare the 790 PW and 845s 9 iron – again, probably similar loft and length. If the 790 dispersion is better, then you’ve gained something. If not, then really all you’ve done is re-number the clubs, which is meaningless.

    For dispersion, I would double the number of balls. Either it will close the gap – make them more similar, or if the older clubs is less forgiving / harder to hit, the gap will widen.

    • NB Solets

      Jul 1, 2018 at 10:47 am

      Agreed. If the test did not reasonably match loft and length, then the test results are fairly meaningless. Most of these “tests” get this wrong.

      • Geohogan

        Jul 2, 2018 at 1:49 pm

        and use identical shafts both length and cpm. Then test all irons with the identical high end shaft.
        If they did that and new irons proved not to be significantly better than the old, would golfers stop buying new irons?

    • Johnny Penso

      Jul 1, 2018 at 7:25 pm

      There is a 4.5 degree difference in lofts between the 7 irons of the 845’s and the 790’s. That’s a whole club plus a bit. But your point is well taken. You’d think that someone in the golf business would now that you test dispersion at fixed distances not based on the arbitrary number on the bottom of the club.

  7. Tony

    Jun 30, 2018 at 8:22 pm

    845’s were my first irons. Shot my lowest round ever, 74, with those clubs.

  8. Dan

    Jun 30, 2018 at 7:02 pm

    readinf this I’m not thrilled I just dropped $1300 replacing my old irons

  9. SV

    Jun 30, 2018 at 3:42 pm

    Maybe it’s my eyesight, but dispersion for the 845s and P790s both distance and left to right appear to be about the same. The Burner has tighter dispersion. Trajectory is definitely better with the newer irons.
    If you want to improve find an old blade iron and practice with it. Add a real wooden driver also. It really does make a difference.

  10. K

    Jun 30, 2018 at 1:55 pm

    Usually far from a quick improvement but Im a BIG believer in the old “true blades are the best teachers”. I know it can be tough for some people coming from GI irons to stick it out and make it work. Though once it clicks in their head how to strike it perfectly they are on a whole new level of lower scores. Everyone is capable of making it work. They might not hit the blades as far due to lofts and club speed at that point they should switch back to the GI clubs when on course and want distance/lower scores. I think everyone that wants to improve should at least get a few (if not a whole set) of decent used bladed irons and start practicing.

    • Richard Douglas

      Jul 1, 2018 at 9:51 am

      When I see tennis players practicing with Wilson T-2000 rackets I’ll agree. Until then, practice with what you’ll play.

      • Johnny Penso

        Jul 1, 2018 at 7:30 pm

        When I see professional golfers playing with blades I’ll agree…oh wait…

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Instruction

Clement: Stop ripping off your swing with this drill!

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Not the dreaded headcover under the armpit drill! As if your body is defective and can’t function by itself! Have you seen how incredible the human machine is with all the incredible feats of agility all kinds of athletes are accomplishing? You think your body is so defective (the good Lord is laughing his head off at you) that it needs a headcover tucked under the armpit so you can swing like T-Rex?

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How a towel can fix your golf swing

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This is a classic drill that has been used for decades. However, the world of marketed training aids has grown so much during that time that this simple practice has been virtually forgotten. Because why teach people how to play golf using everyday items when you can create and sell a product that reinforces the same thing? Nevertheless, I am here to give you helpful advice without running to the nearest Edwin Watts or adding something to your Amazon cart.

For the “scoring clubs,” having a solid connection between the arms and body during the swing, especially through impact, is paramount to creating long-lasting consistency. And keeping that connection throughout the swing helps rotate the shoulders more to generate more power to help you hit it farther. So, how does this drill work, and what will your game benefit from it? Well, let’s get into it.

Setup

You can use this for basic chip shots up to complete swings. I use this with every club in my bag, up to a 9 or 8-iron. It’s natural to create incrementally more separation between the arms and body as you progress up the set. So doing this with a high iron or a wood is not recommended.

While you set up to hit a ball, simply tuck the towel underneath both armpits. The length of the towel will determine how tight it will be across your chest but don’t make it so loose that it gets in the way of your vision. After both sides are tucked, make some focused swings, keeping both arms firmly connected to the body during the backswing and follow through. (Note: It’s normal to lose connection on your lead arm during your finishing pose.) When you’re ready, put a ball in the way of those swings and get to work.

Get a Better Shoulder Turn

Many of us struggle to have proper shoulder rotation in our golf swing, especially during long layoffs. Making a swing that is all arms and no shoulders is a surefire way to have less control with wedges and less distance with full swings. Notice how I can get in a similar-looking position in both 60° wedge photos. However, one is weak and uncontrollable, while the other is strong and connected. One allows me to use my larger muscles to create my swing, and one doesn’t. The follow-through is another critical point where having a good connection, as well as solid shoulder rotation, is a must. This drill is great for those who tend to have a “chicken wing” form in their lead arm, which happens when it becomes separated from the body through impact.

In full swings, getting your shoulders to rotate in your golf swing is a great way to reinforce proper weight distribution. If your swing is all arms, it’s much harder to get your weight to naturally shift to the inside part of your trail foot in the backswing. Sure, you could make the mistake of “sliding” to get weight on your back foot, but that doesn’t fix the issue. You must turn into your trial leg to generate power. Additionally, look at the difference in separation between my hands and my head in the 8-iron examples. The green picture has more separation and has my hands lower. This will help me lessen my angle of attack and make it easier to hit the inside part of the golf ball, rather than the over-the-top move that the other picture produces.

Stay Better Connected in the Backswing

When you don’t keep everything in your upper body working as one, getting to a good spot at the top of your swing is very hard to do. It would take impeccable timing along with great hand-eye coordination to hit quality shots with any sort of regularity if the arms are working separately from the body.

Notice in the red pictures of both my 60-degree wedge and 8-iron how high my hands are and the fact you can clearly see my shoulder through the gap in my arms. That has happened because the right arm, just above my elbow, has become totally disconnected from my body. That separation causes me to lift my hands as well as lose some of the extension in my left arm. This has been corrected in the green pictures by using this drill to reinforce that connection. It will also make you focus on keeping the lead arm close to your body as well. Because the moment either one loses that relationship, the towel falls.

Conclusion

I have been diligent this year in finding a few drills that target some of the issues that plague my golf game; either by simply forgetting fundamental things or by coming to terms with the faults that have bitten me my whole career. I have found that having a few drills to fall back on to reinforce certain feelings helps me find my game a little easier, and the “towel drill” is most definitely one of them.

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Instruction

Clement: Why your practice swing never sucks

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You hear that one all the time; I wish I could put my practice swing on the ball! We explain the huge importance of what to focus on to allow the ball to be perfectly in the way of your practice swing. Enjoy!

 

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