Conference 7.286::golf

    	Could someone please advise me of what to about a new set of
    clubs I recently purchased. Before I bought these WILSON STAFF's
    my handicap was 10 now it has gone up to 15 and will go up even
    further if I don't do something about it soon.
    
    Should I get rid of them right away or should I give them a bit
    longer to perform up to my expectations.
    
    
    regards from down under!!!

    Hey; Down Under,
    
    This isn't PRO advice, but I bought new clubs last year and had
    the same problem. My H/C was 15, shot up to 23 before I started
    to come back down. Now I'm down to 12 and seem to be holding steady.
    I don't think I'll change clubs now for a couple of years. 
    
    I also thought, should I get rid of them, or give them more time?
    Now you get to the part, perform up to MY expectations. That was
    what I key'd in on. "MY" :: ME. As I asked around the CC I belong
    to,(Grand View), The answer I got most often was; It's you, not
    the clubs, but you do have to have confidence in them.(boy, what
    a head game). Well, Me and my clubs went to the practice range and
    slowly the old good and relaxed feeling came back. It was about
    a month to get back in the fairways. I also was fitted to these
    clubs by a pro which I think made a difference. I never was fitted
    before. Also the design of the clubs were more complex compared
    to clubs I had before. I don't know the reasons why you changed
    or how you decided to select the Wilsons. But I think if you have
    been fitted by the pro, get in some parctice on the range, and build
    that GOOD feeling and confidence back up, you'll be doing great
    in no time.
    
    Also D/U, maybe you could check with your CC pro and see if he can
    help a bit. 
    
    See you on the links, 
    
    "Good up Chuck"

    Any....repeat ANY change in your golf game will take time before
    it works....
    
    Ever change your grip/stance/swing/ball position/etc....???
    
    Give it a chance and expect that with ANY change your scores will
    usually get worse than they were until you adjust to what it was
    you have changed....GIVE THEM NEW CLUBS A CHANCE BEFORE YOU GIVE
    UP ON THEM.....
    
    just my experience....

                    <<< USER$1:[NOTES$LIBRARY]GOLF.NOTE;1 >>>
                               -< The Good Game >-
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Note 51.37                    Club Selection(type)                      37 of 38
MSEE::KELLEY "Custom clubs/club repair"               9 lines  18-JUL-1989 07:35
                         -< a few questions first... >-
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    Mr.(?) Wheeler (sorry don't know your first name),
    
    Before I will give a stab at a suggestion for you I would like to
    know what kind of clubs you were playing before you bought the Staffs
    and whether or not you were fitted for the Staffs or if you just
    bought them off the shelf. 
    
    Gene

                    <<< USER$1:[NOTES$LIBRARY]GOLF.NOTE;1 >>>
                               -< The Good Game >-
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Note 51.38                    Club Selection(type)                      38 of 38
CLSTR1::VARLEY                                        9 lines  18-JUL-1989 09:21
                        -< Drop 'Em Like a Bad Habit!! >-
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     Dump those "tour blades" fast! Unless you play real well (and a
    LOT!), you'd be better off with something forgiving (like Pings,
    Hogan "Radials", or my favorite - the Hogan "Edge"). 
     Tour blades look great, and most of us hit 'em when we were younger,
    but I think that the best thing I ever did was squash my ego and
    buy clubs that limit my mistakes. By the way, if you never hit "square
    groove" clubs, you wouldn't believe how much they help!!
    
    --the Skoal Bandit

    Hi,
    Before I would venture my opinion, please tell me if they are the
    Staff or the Gooseneck model of Staff's!
    Tom

    
     Can't agree more about those square grooved clubs.  My partner
    Sunday plays with Hogan "Apex" clubs that have the square grooves,
    legal, too.  I couldn't beleive the scuff marks on the balata balls
    or the action on the greens.  Definitely going to be seriously
    considered when I buy my next set of clubs!

    Mr Kelly,
    
    		to answer your questions, I was previously using a set
    of Gary Players that I bought when I was 14 yrs old. Obviously they
    became too short and the shafts too flexible for my swing that has
    quickened quite a bit over the last nine years. I went to the local
    golf shop "Ray Drummonds golf world" who recomended the "fluid feel
    STAFF's. He put my swing on the little meter and recommended Dynamic
    gold s400 shafts. I had a few shots on the range whith them and
    they felt pretty good at the time but not anymore.
    		He also said that if my handicap was 10 using "those
    old things" then using the STAFF's it should come down 3 or 4 shots.
    I'm beginning to think that he used that to get me to buy them.
    
    
    Thanks to all those who gave valued opinions, I shall certainly
    consider all of them. I only wish I knew about these notes files
    when I was looking for clubs 3 months ago. Found out how to use
    notes yesturday.
        
    
    
    Terry...

    
    Terry,
    
    	From your discription the Gary Player set is a junior set..!!!
  	or a cut down mens set. In either case I can see where it will
    	take you some time to adjust to full length S400 shafted mens
    	clubs. BTW, are you of average height? I would say that the 
    	recommendation of the Staffs for
    	a person shooting to a 10 handicap with your old clubs was not
    	a bad one (were the old clubs the same type of blade as the
    	staffs). Did they have you try any cavity back irons when you
    	were trying clubs (Ping type clubs)...?

    	Gene (Kelley)
    		  ^

>    Obviously they
>    became too short and the shafts too flexible for my swing that has
>    quickened quite a bit over the last nine years. I went to the local
>    golf shop "Ray Drummonds golf world" who recomended the "fluid feel
>    STAFF's. He put my swing on the little meter and recommended Dynamic
>    gold s400 shafts. 

    I would suspect that because of the longer/stiffer shafts you may
    have unconciously made some significant changes to your swing. You might
    want to invest a few bucks in a lesson.  Some adjustments may correct
    the problems.  

>    		He also said that if my handicap was 10 using "those
>    old things" then using the STAFF's it should come down 3 or 4 shots.
>    I'm beginning to think that he used that to get me to buy them.

    It takes a while to get used to different clubs.  A couple of years
    ago I changed from Staffs to 1200GE's which are perimeter weighted.
    No matter what they say about perimeter weighted clubs being forgiving
    it takes a while to adjust to the new feel of the clubs, the sweet
    spot moves, etc.

    I was a high handicapper struggling to get to bogey golf.  Those rare
    days when I was hitting all may shots on the sweet spot the Staffs
    couldn't be beat, however I rarely had those days.

    I would expect that as a 10 handicapper you are making more consistent
    contact & in the long haul they will help your game.  Perimeter weighted
    clubs unfortunately reward bad shots with reasonable results.
    
    Lasstly you probably suffer from some unreeasonable expectations as a
    result of the salesman.  He said you would shoot 3-4 shots better & you
    may over the long haul.  However, I know how hard I've had to work to
    cut a couple strokes off my handicap.  If you could cut 3-4 strokes off
    just by buying new clubs I would be the first in line.  (My motto is
    Better golf through technology!")  The expectations off instant success
    combined with the fact that you weren't expecting to have to go through
    an adjustment period with the new clubs is probably accounting for you
    feeling worse about the clubs than you should.

    So take a lesson, practice, you grow to like them, maybe even love them.
    I still miss mine.  

    Larry

    Ok Gene I'll start from the beginning,
    
    I bought the Gary Players, as I said, about nine years ago and played
    like all keen youngsters every weekend and school holidays. Then
    I gave it away for a while as other interests prevailed, playing
    only 2 of 3 times a year. 18 months ago the bug got me again and
    I started to take it seriously. I rejoined my old club and thats 
    when I realised all the changes in the range of clubs that were
    available and how out of date and unsuited mine were. I was beginning
    to get frustrated with practising every night at the range and 
    my scores not improving. So I asked and that was when it was pointed
    out to me that it was time to get new clubs.
    
    I am average hieght but my swing was faster than average so hence
    the "S" shaft. According to the salesman my particular hieght
    required 1/2 inch longer shaft than normal (I think my old set was
    1/2 inch shorter than normal. i.e. My new set are an inch longer
    the the old set.
    
    I have booked a lesson for this sunday morning with the club pro
    who will more than likely see something that I have altered 
    unconsiously straight away.
    
    
    
    regards
    from the golfing centre of Australia
    S.E. MELBOURNE
    
    TERRY...
    

    
    	Terry,
    
    	Since the new clubs are an "inch" longer than the old ones and
    	stiff shafts verses probably very flexible shafts and the swingweight
    	of the Staffs is probably 5-10 points heavier and larger diameter
    	grips - etc. etc., I can see why you are having some problems
    	adjusting to them... I am sure the lesson will help you out...
    	
    	BTW, I am surprised at the recomendation for � inch longer than
    	standard shafts if you are average height...
    
    	Keep us posted on how you make out...

    	Gene

    Gene,
    
    the pro pointed I thing out to me straight away.....I was standing
    too far away from the ball, probably over adjusting to the extra
    length of the clubs. I've moved 1 inch closer and it seemed to have
    immediate results. Here's hoping I can start my handicap on the
    downward move.
    
    
    
    regards
    terry...

    
    Glad to hear that the pro was able to help you out Terry...