| latively new golfer trying to concentrate not only | | | | dusty cheapies. When the caddie strapped them |
| on "how to play golf" but also correct swing | | | | to my golf cart, I looked at them and thought: |
| mechanics, I have often read in online golf tips | | | | "Geez, could he have picked some older sticks for |
| that the golf clubs I use make a difference. There | | | | me to play with? I thought this was a classy |
| have been times when I felt that the clubs might | | | | joint!" |
| help my swing or give me improved golf game | | | | Then I went to the course's driving range looking |
| results. | | | | forward to playing a beautiful golf course. I was |
| However, my initial logic based guess was "clubs | | | | told that because the driving range was in the |
| probably do not make a difference", at least for | | | | middle of the country club that the practice balls |
| beginners because I believed that our golf swing | | | | were manufactured to deaden quickly. |
| inconsistencies don't allow any technological | | | | Immediately, I felt that the balls weren't as dead |
| improvement in a golf club to make a statistical or | | | | as the caddie predicted because they flew farther |
| subjective difference. 'It probably works for | | | | than expected. |
| intermediate or expert golfers' was my rationale. | | | | I still housed a negative attitude regarding the |
| To be honest, I have always been skeptical of big | | | | Callaway golf clubs so it never crossed my mind |
| name branding on any products that have generic | | | | that they might be helping the cause, somehow.It |
| competition that might, in fact, be the same | | | | really wasn't until I was on the third hole of the |
| product with a different label. Generic drugs are a | | | | course and sailed my second shot over the green |
| great example of how you can buy a product | | | | from 225 yards out with a 3-iron that I realized |
| that works properly without all of the costs | | | | that the clubs just might be somehowÂ… better. |
| associated with brand marketing. Typically, it is the | | | | (A Three Iron!! Believe me: I Really Hated Using |
| same product at the ingredient level. | | | | Long Irons Prior To This!!) The more I played the |
| I backed up my belief that "it makes no | | | | more I realized the clubs were, in fact, improving |
| difference" which golf clubs you have in your | | | | my game. |
| hands by purchasing a basic set of clubs (in other | | | | I began to think that instead of downplaying the |
| words, dirt cheap) to beat up while I developed a | | | | golf club in the hands of the beginners who are |
| consistent golf swing. The cheapies I use have | | | | learning how to properly and consistently swing, |
| performed their job and my game has improved | | | | the better approach for us high-handicappers |
| significantly even with the 6 months or so of | | | | might be to ask the following question: "if I |
| downtime that is force upon me by the upper | | | | purchase a set of clubs (new or used) what is the |
| Midwest. | | | | lowest price point at which the golf club |
| However, during our harsh winters I sometimes | | | | technology becomes noticeably better for my |
| get to travel to warmer golfing climates. In order | | | | game as it stands now?" |
| to save my nerves from wear and tear at the | | | | Then, the next logical question should be "What |
| hands of the airport baggage technicians, I usually | | | | one thing should I look for in my next set of golf |
| rent golf clubs when I arrive at my destination. | | | | clubs that allows the clubs to maximize my |
| As a left-handed golfer, the clubs that are | | | | abilities?" The only difference in the clubs I could |
| available for rent are usually toss-aways from | | | | spot that was different from the clubs I currently |
| some generous benefactor of the course. Many | | | | own, besides their age, was on the face of the |
| times when I have rented golf clubs I usually felt | | | | irons. The area on the face of the irons that |
| justified in my belief that "it ain't the club, it's the | | | | usually houses the circle deemed to be the 'sweet |
| clubber" because there was no improvement in | | | | spot' was not a small circle but an oval that |
| my play, and most times there was the opposite | | | | extended over most of the face. If the sweet |
| result - I played much worse. | | | | spot was truly that large, I can easily see why I |
| This has been my general experience except for | | | | had such a good time with those clubs. |
| two occasionsÂ…On one occasion, I had the | | | | Regardless of the answers from the gurus |
| pleasure of swinging brand new Nike's and on the | | | | regarding whether club technology can help your |
| other, an older set of Callaway's. When I played | | | | overall golf game, I now personally believe that |
| with the Nike's I chalked the up the pleasant | | | | the technology can indeed make a noticeable |
| experience to something comparable to the | | | | difference to our enjoyment of the game and |
| excitement of driving a really nice automobile. I still | | | | that is a nice step for me! Unfortunately I can |
| downplayed the idea that technology could | | | | only speculate as to what variable or combination |
| significantly improve my play on the golf course. | | | | of variables the old Callaway clubs contained that |
| However, I must admit that the old set of | | | | made the experience different for me. The fact |
| Callaway's made a real impression on me. I can't | | | | that the "Truth Is Out There" keeps the game |
| say I have ever felt more at home with any | | | | highly interesting though. |
| clubs I have handled, including my own trusty | | | | |