Equipment

Bargain Challenge: Putting together a set of clubs for $500

Published

5 years ago

Dec 13, 2018

You have a golf trip planned in two weeks. One day after work, you head to your car to hit the range and get some grinding in for the trip. As you walk to your car you notice your car has been broken into and your clubs are gone. Not good. You need new clubs for the trip but aren’t in a position to shell out the $2,000-$3,000 for a brand new set. What are your options? I recommend hitting the used market.

Every year, thousands of used golf clubs go on the market. Some of the clubs had a rough life and some have barely been hit. As an exercise to see what you can get for your dollar, I browsed one of the web’s largest used golf equipment sites (3balls.com) with a budget of $500 for a full set of clubs in my specs. What I found was really interesting.

Rules: 14 clubs for under $500 shipped. As close to my specs as possible.

Driver

Since I play a low loft driver with a low launch, low spin shaft, I knew I was in for a challenge with finding a driver. Once I took a minute to search, I found this beauty of a driver. I remember hitting the Ping G10 back in the day, and it was one of the most forgiving drivers at the time. Plus, it was very close to my specs at standard length, 7.5 degrees, and a mid-launch Grafalloy shaft.

Wood

While searching for a 3-wood, I had two things in mind, I needed a X-stiff shaft, and I needed it to be heavy. After about five minutes, I found this great Titleist 913 with a heavier X-stiff shaft. Normally I play a 13-degree 3-wood, and this 3-wood would allow me to loft it down to get the desired flight. Really a solid deal for $50.

Hybrid

In an ideal world, I’d be hitting a 2-iron or a driving iron here. The problem is that driving irons can sell for $100-plus fairly easily, so that was out of budget. After searching, I found a nice 17-degree hybrid from Ping with an X-stiff shaft. The shaft is a little lighter than I would like, but it is not a bad pick up for 80 bucks.

Irons

I knew I would want to spend the majority of my money on some solid irons. After searching, with the parameters being a 3-PW set with X100 shafts, I found this great Titleist combo set. I current play a MB/CB combo from another company, so this set fits well with what I am looking for if I was to replace my current set. All of this for $200.

Wedges

Wedge shopping was hard because I needed a lob wedge with good grooves and a gap wedge that wasn’t trash. I got really lucky with the Ping lob wedge. It is in very good condition which is really what matters for the grooves since I will be using it greenside. Since it is blue dot, I can get it sent to ping to be adjusted for my specs. For the gap wedge, I picked up a heavily used 52-degree. Ideally, I would have more money for a slightly better grooved GW.

Putter

Can’t go wrong with a White Hot in my preferred length. Not much more to say.

Total

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Forum Thread of the Day: “Is it easier to hit players irons?”

Trey Buchanan

Trey is a former D1 golf recruit and the owner of College Golf Mentors, a consulting business helping kids achieve their dreams of playing golf in college. When not golfing, Trey is either paying the bills with his advertising job or powerlifting.

60 Comments

Duncan Cheslett

Dec 27, 2018 at 1:12 pm

This guy went one better.

A set of clubs for £25 ($30)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NrmZ1v_N0ns

Reply Report comment
Big White Eggplant

Dec 20, 2018 at 11:03 pm

The guy talking about the Wal Mart set is trolling. Don’t take the bait. It would have been a better experiment if the clubs had to be made in the 1999s.

Reply Report comment
ChipNRun

Dec 20, 2018 at 12:27 am

It’s hard to play this game with the limited graphics of this Comment box. I assembled a set for $632 – including a bag which is a handy way to carry clubs. The specs were for someone who wanted basically S-flex, right-handed clubs.

I can’t paste the JPEG summary grid for the set with Comment box limitations. Here is line-item report:
* Titleist 909D3 Driver 10.5°/ $49
* Tour Edge Exotics EX9 4W 16.5° / $51.99
* Tour Edge Exotics EX9 3H Hybrid 19° / $51.99
* Titleist CB 714 Forged Irons 4-PW / $244.99
* Edel TRP Trapper 50* & 55* & 60* Wedges / $99
* Ping ANSER 2 Putter / $49.00
* GoPlus Blue 4-Divider Stand Bag / $45.99

(Shipping costs, when not free, totaled $41.00

Reply Report comment
Rick

Dec 17, 2018 at 1:03 am

I can afford a better driver if I spend less on those Hybrid and fairway 3 wood. Maybe enough for a Golf balls, tees and shoes… don’t forget lunch!

Reply Report comment
Loc

Dec 15, 2018 at 1:26 am

Don’t you need a bag to carry these, lol!

Reply Report comment
Kirk

Dec 15, 2018 at 1:12 am

Very easy to build a great bag for cheap, golf clubs drop off quickly once you move away from current year….after owning all current stuff last 5 or yrs now my gamer bag is all 3 yr or older clubs…(do have new stuff but not played consistently) and there is no loss anywhere in performance….can buy brand new set of Hopkins cb irons for $199, new gear is nice to have but extremely highly over rated usually by those who have inconsistent games….anything within last 10 yrs is sufficient if you have anything that resembles a decent swing….

Reply Report comment
bj

Dec 14, 2018 at 7:31 pm

905R 8.5
Vsteel 16.5
Adams boxer 20*
R9TP irons 4-pw
TM Y Cutter wedges 50,54,58
cameron futura or odyssey 2ball 33″

Reply Report comment
- James
  
  Dec 14, 2018 at 8:47 pm
  
  So? Did you buy all that for under $500?
  
  Reply Report comment
Maxflier

Dec 14, 2018 at 5:29 pm

“Bargain” condition clubs can be pretty rough sometimes…

Reply Report comment
- shawn
  
  Dec 14, 2018 at 6:59 pm
  
  … particularly the chipped and scarred graphite shafts on the driver and fairways. Be prepared for a clubhead flying off the shaft or snapping the shaft at the hosel. Never a s s ume the graphite shafts are secure and solid. Caveat emptor…
  
  Reply Report comment
- Shallowface
  
  Jan 14, 2019 at 9:55 am
  
  Agree completely. $500 is a lot of money if one ends up with a bag full of junk. When I read something like this I come to the conclusion that it’s no wonder so many people are broke if this is any example of the decision making process they use in making purchases.
  
  Reply Report comment
Jagbor

Dec 14, 2018 at 3:58 pm

OR you could just go to a reputable custom clubmaker,like me, and I can build a set that is actually fitted to your game/swing etc. All the shafts would be the same instead of a mixed bag of…… Anyways…a bit ridiculous in my opinion…sorry

Reply Report comment
Dave r

Dec 14, 2018 at 3:47 pm

Hey Ogo are you the Smiz in cogneto . Relax buddy

Reply Report comment
- ogo
  
  Dec 14, 2018 at 7:00 pm
  
  Who is “Smiz”? … in congeto[sic] …. lol
  
  Reply Report comment
  - Dave r
    
    Dec 14, 2018 at 7:35 pm
    
    Sorry ment to say incognito the Smiz sometimes went postal on here (lol) also
    
    Reply Report comment
Scott

Dec 14, 2018 at 11:31 am

You need better car / home insurance. You should be able to get your set replaced with a $250 or $500 deductible instead of sorting though a rummage bin.

Reply Report comment
- SkiBum
  
  Dec 14, 2018 at 1:55 pm
  
  It’s a hypothetical, it’s not about car insurance. And the clubs he acquired are hardly “rummage bin” quality. Hey, it’s everyone’s choice. If people want to open your wallet and overpay for new release, they’ll add 10 yards, overhyped clubs, have at it. The club makers are hoping people will fall for the hype. But as Trey showed, with a little searching on the internet, you can put together a whole set for about the same as that new driver.
  
  Hell, if that Web.com Q school guy could shoot 63 and qualify for the tour using a made up set after his clubs were stolen, it helps to prove the old saying, “it ain’t the wand-it’s the wizard wielding it”
  
  Reply Report comment
  - James
    
    Dec 15, 2018 at 8:04 pm
    
    If your insurance covered replacement clubs would you buy the same clubs you already have?
    
    Reply Report comment
- Speedy
  
  Dec 14, 2018 at 1:59 pm
  
  Bingo!
  
  Reply Report comment
  - Gerald Teigrob
    
    Dec 14, 2018 at 4:54 pm
    
    I would stay away from Ping myself and I was able to get some demo Cobra irons from my golf course as an employee for trading in my own clubs – Adams Redlines and Adams A7 irons. So I ended up with better clubs (Bio Cells and Baffler XLs) than I came in with.
    
    Reply Report comment
Sydney

Dec 14, 2018 at 10:58 am

I think you can do better than “bargain” condition…. unless you are brand new to the game, why buy woods with sky marks and irons with worn grooves?

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joro

Dec 14, 2018 at 10:56 am

Newer is not alway better, just more expensive.

Reply Report comment
golfer

Dec 14, 2018 at 10:55 am

Adams.

Reply Report comment
fanboy

Dec 14, 2018 at 9:46 am

had to do this in college after a mishap with clubs. Put together a bag built around some nice used ping irons and hand me downs from teammates for less than 400$ and used it in competition.

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James

Dec 14, 2018 at 9:43 am

I’m thinking the author got a skewed deal on his clubs… usually clubs that are senior flex, EXTRA STIFF FLEX and left-handed are significantly less expensive to buy used. I’d like to see a similar set-up with Stiff shafts. Bet we’re talking around $800 now.

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Cyril Zupan

Dec 14, 2018 at 8:46 am

Good work….
Nothing wrong with those setups!
Lots of good shots left in those sticks!

Reply Report comment
- shawn
  
  Dec 14, 2018 at 12:50 pm
  
  Not for a 15 y.o. boy who is just starting the game! Get him new clubs from Walmart and he will be happy.
  
  Reply Report comment
  - Dad
    
    Dec 28, 2018 at 3:39 pm
    
    Shut the hell up Shawn. Literally no one wants to read your shit comments.
    
    Reply Report comment
Rob Ever

Dec 14, 2018 at 12:27 am

Everything in my bag is used. My bag is used. I don’t buy much from shops like 3balls as their trade in prices are low and their resale prices are high. Find a local shop that deals in used clubs and you’ll walk out with a full set of clubs and a bag too!

Reply Report comment
- ogo
  
  Dec 14, 2018 at 12:57 pm
  
  Obviously you are not a WRX forum gearhead who looooves his exotic golf clubs… all made in China even though they are branded with a USA or Japanese company.
  
  Reply Report comment
Simms

Dec 14, 2018 at 12:16 am

Whats really sad is to take that same idea and look at the trade in value places sale used clubs offer verse what they sell them back for…that $500 comes at about $250 or less in trade in value…..if you have any time at all Ebay will save you the most…

Reply Report comment
Aristotle

Dec 13, 2018 at 9:49 pm

“I recommend hitting the used market.”

-Socrates

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Tommy

Dec 13, 2018 at 6:31 pm

A few months ago I took on the challenge to put together the best set I could for a friend’s 15 year old son who is taking up the game. Here is what I was able to purchase, mostly on eBay (including from some larger resale companies). All of the purchased clubs are in excellent 9/10 condition and the driver and 3 wood were virtually new. Here is what I was able to put together for $290

TM Burner Superfast 2.0
Cobra Bio-Cell 3-4 FW
Adams 9031 Pro Black Hybrids- 20*, 23*
Taylormade R7 Irons 4-9, SW
Cleveland CG10 PW- 46*, 54*
Cleveland 588 Black -60*
Ping Karsten Anser 2
New SuperStroke TX-1 Grips
Titleist Stand Bag
Includes all headcovers, etc

Reply Report comment
Robert S. Sewell

Dec 13, 2018 at 6:21 pm

What about a bag?

Reply Report comment
ogo

Dec 13, 2018 at 6:07 pm

Why is the Odyssey putter $65 while the full set of Ti tleist 3-PW irons only $200 ?!! You can buy a brand new $25 Walmart zinc die cast knockoff that will do the job equally well… unless you are ashamed and need a used status putter for your fragile ego!!!

Reply Report comment
- ogo
  
  Dec 13, 2018 at 6:12 pm
  
  HEY.. GOLF WRX STAFF…. WHY IS THE FORUM SWEARBOT FILTER SO SENSITIVE TO A PERCEIVED SWEAR WORD BURIED IN A LONGER WORD…. LIKE “T I Tleist” ????!!!!!!
  CAN’T YOU FIX OR SHUT OFF YOUR STUPID FILTER TO ELIMINATE THIS LUDICROUS SITUATION ??!!!!!
  
  Reply Report comment
- RJ
  
  Dec 14, 2018 at 8:57 am
  
  Hey OGO – Are you sponsored by Nitro Blasters Golf from Walmart?
  Shopping for golf clubs st Walmart is like saying a Yugo is the same as a Corvette.
  
  Reply Report comment
  - ogo
    
    Dec 14, 2018 at 12:54 pm
    
    … and you are obviously a gearhead who has impeccable taste and solid opinions on overpriced OEM clubs…. from Japan.
    
    Reply Report comment
  - ogo
    
    Dec 14, 2018 at 1:00 pm
    
    I bet you looove to shop for new golf clubs on a weekly basis at yer local big box golf store… and you know all the sales people with whom you can discuss all the technical stuff.
    
    Reply Report comment
    - Funkaholic
      
      Jan 17, 2019 at 8:43 am
      
      OGO just say you are too poor to play this game even at a discount and move on.
      
      Reply Report comment
ogo

Dec 13, 2018 at 6:06 pm

Why is the Odyssey putter $65 while the full set of Titleist 3-PW irons only $200 ?!! You can buy a brand new $25 Walmart zinc die cast knockoff that will do the job equally well… unless you are ashamed and need a used status putter for your fragile ego!!!

Reply Report comment
JP

Dec 13, 2018 at 5:41 pm

Best and most spot on article I’ve seen here in a while. Good job.

Hard to debate any of those choices. All well done

Reply Report comment
Chris Stallard

Dec 13, 2018 at 5:37 pm

Fantastic choices…. only query I have is hybrid is $80 and driver is $50…. I’d try to flip that around and perhaps get a better driver

Reply Report comment
ht

Dec 13, 2018 at 5:22 pm

love this! I have this conversation with my buddy all the time and, in my opinion, I think it can be done cheaper

Reply Report comment
Adam

Dec 13, 2018 at 4:16 pm

Fully endorse the Odyssey. I game an Odyssey White Hot that I bought on eBay for $22 and it’s awesome and works for me like magic. Would not give it up even if someone handed me a $500 putter right now.

Reply Report comment
- ogo
  
  Dec 14, 2018 at 1:02 pm
  
  … but how can you flaunt your status clubs if they are not bought new?
  
  Reply Report comment
Seth Mischke

Dec 13, 2018 at 2:40 pm

Would totally bag that set up and feel great about it! Overrated technology CAN be.

Reply Report comment
Shu

Dec 13, 2018 at 2:19 pm

I started this same experiment last year and my original goal was under $100. I quickly realized this would be harder than I thought so I raised it to the price most spend on a new off the rack driver ($400). Goal was to shoot around my handicap (4) with the setup. Mainly to prove to my friends that keep blowing money on new clubs that learning how to hit them is more important. Current setup is Titleist 910 driver, Adams rpm 3 wood, Adams hyrbid, Titleist 762 3-P, Cleveland 588 wedges, Oddyssey putter. Total cost was around $350. It’s actually been a pretty fun project.

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Equipment

A shocking Backstryke putter appearance + 7 interesting gear photos from the Zurich Classic

Published

5 hours ago

Apr 25, 2024

Andrew Tursky

Welcome to New Orleans, where TPC Louisiana plays host to the 2024 Zurich Classic. In between breakfast beignets and nightly Creole feasts, PGA Tour players are also competing in the unique two-man format at the Zurich this week.

Although the vibes in Nawlins are a bit lighter-fare than the recent back-to-back competitions the Masters and the RBC Heritage signature event), the gear news was no less serious this week.

We spotted some recent changes from Rory McIlroy, a very rare Odyssey Backstryke putter, dove into the bag of legendary New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees, and spotted Patrick Cantlay continuing to test new equipment.

Get your beads out and crack your crawfish, because it’s time for an equipment rundown from The Big Easy (meaning New Orleans, of course, not Ernie Els).

See all of our photos from the Zurich Classic here

Rory’s on-and-off lob wedge

Since the end of 2023, Rory McIlroy has had an on-again, off-again relationship with a Titleist Vokey K-Grind lob wedge. In his last start, it was on, and the wedge is back in the bag again this week. We got a great look at the complicated grind that McIlroy uses.

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A full look into McIlroy’s bag above also shows that he switched out of the TaylorMade BRNR Mini Copper that he used at the RBC Heritage, and he’s back into the Qi10 core 3-wood. As we discussed last week, McIlroy will likely keep the BRNR around as a course-specific club, trading it in and out for the 3-wood.

See Rory McIlroy’s full 2024 WITB from the Zurich here

Turning Back the clock

Unless Tommy Gainey is in the field, it’s unlikely you’ll ever see Odyssey’s Backstryke technology make an appearance on the PGA Tour.

But then, when you least expect it, Russ Cochran shows up.

For more than a decade – since the 2013 Sony Open in Hawai’i – Cochran has been stuck on 599 PGA Tour starts. This week will be his 600th.

Cochran is in the field at the Zurich this week playing alongside Eric Cole, whose regular caddie is Reed Cochran, Russ’s son.

The Backstryke putter was first released back in 2010, and its unique design helps shift the axis point of the putter closer to the CG of the head. And, the putter is getting a nod this week at the Zurich Classic, thanks to Cochran’s 600th career PGA Tour start.

The putter is certainly awesome, but don’t forget to check out Cochran’s full WITB from this week.

Drew Brees with a Super Bowl winning Scotty Cameron putter

Drew Brees, a legendary retired quarterback for the hometown New Orleans Saints, made an appearance at the Zurich’s Wednesday Pro-Am, playing alongside Zach Johnson, Ryan Palmer, and current Saints QB Derek Carr.

Brees’ bag included a TaylorMade Stealth2 Plus driver, a BRNR Mini 13.5-degree, a Stealth 5-wood, a mixed set of P-790 and P-760 irons, Milled Grind Hi-Toe wedges, and a custom Scotty Cameron “New Orleans Saints” putter, which Scotty made for Brees following his Super Bowl MVP-winning performance in 2010.

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It should also be noted that Brees has his Venmo QR code as a bag tag.

If you’re gambling with Brees on the course, just know that not having cash won’t work as an excuse.

Brilliant.

See Drew Brees’ full WITB from the Zurich here

Stricker’s unrecognizable putter

Steve Stricker has made numerous upgrades to his bag recently, including a new TSR3 driver and T100 irons, but his longtime Odyssey White Hot No. 2 putter is still going strong. It’s the most recognizable unrecognizable putter ever.

Here’s a better look at Stricker’s flatstick, which he started using back in 2007.

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Patrick Cantlay has opened the equipment-switching floodgates

Over on the PGA Tour’s Equipment Report this week, we covered Cantlay’s recent switch into Ping Blueprint S irons, and a Titleist TSR2 driver.

Cantlay hadn’t switched irons for about seven years, so the iron switch he made at The 2024 Masters came as a shock to the norm. He simply isn’t one to change gear very often, so anytime Cantlay makes a switch, it’s news.

It seems the floodgates of equipment testing have opened up a bit for Cantlay, who was also spotted testing a custom Scotty Cameron blade putter on Tuesday this week. By Wednesday, Cantlay was back practicing with his familiar Scotty Cameron T5 Proto mallet, but it’s certainly something to keep an eye on going forward.

Daniel Berger’s custom Jailbird site lines

Berger, who’s currently using Odyssey’s Ai-One Mini Jailbird mallet putter, has a unique 3-dot, 2-line alignment on the crown of his navy-white-navy-white mallet putter. Looking down at the putter, it’s easy to see why this alignment system would help; it just seems impossible to set up to the ball off-center, or misaligned to the target.

Also, for anyone worried, you can rest easy. Yes, he’s still playing the 2013 TaylorMade TP MC irons, which we highlighted in our recent “Modern Classics: Old vs. New” video testing series.

FitzMagic teams back up

Brothers Matthew and Alex Fitzpatrick are teaming up once again at the Zurich this year, and Bettinardi Golf hooked them up with some festive “FitzMagic” headcovers to match this week.

See what else is in Alex Fitzpatrick’s WITB here

And, with that, we say goodbye to the Zurich Classic in New Orleans. Don’t forget to check out all of our photos from this week, including 30 unique photo galleries full of equipment photos.

We’ll see you next week in Texas for the 2024 CJ Cup Byron Nelson!

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