Golf clubs have changed perhaps more than any other single aspect of the game in the last 15 years. Factors like aerodynamics, component weight and better graphite shafts have allowed golfers to hit the ball longer and straighter. The head of the driver is now built with aerodynamics in mind.
Full Answer
How has golf changed over the years?
There is no question that golf has changed from what it once was. The days of wearing knickers and playing with a golf ball stuffed with feathers are long gone. Although some of these changes have potentially taken a bit away from the game, most of the additions have been quite impressive.
Why buy new golf clubs from manufacturers?
Manufacturers have hired top engineering talent and invested massively in research and development in an effort to win over consumers. Compared with the persimmon drivers and blade irons of old, there is now a real opportunity to get clubs that are completely dialed in for your particular golf swing.
Are golf clubs better now than 40 years ago?
On the whole, the clubs being produced now are very impressive. It would be difficult to argue that any golfer could pick up a club from 40 years ago and have better performance than one produced today.
How has technology changed the golf club fitting industry?
The technology used for golf club fitting has changed remarkably since the early days. Years ago, a set of clubs was purchased off of a shelf, and a golfer tried to adapt their game to get those clubs to work for them. Today things have changed considerably.
How have golf clubs changed over the years?
Golf clubs have changed perhaps more than any other single aspect of the game in the last 15 years. Factors like aerodynamics, component weight and better graphite shafts have allowed golfers to hit the ball longer and straighter. The head of the driver is now built with aerodynamics in mind.
How have golf clubs changed in the last 10 years?
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How have golf clubs changed in 5 years?
There is no evidence that golf clubs deteriorate over time. Well maintained clubs will last a lifetime. 10+ year old clubs should be checked for better options but clubs less than 5 years old do not need replacing except for wear and tear issues to which wedges and forged irons are most vulnerable.
Are new golf irons longer?
In short, today's irons are longer with better stopping power. And we haven't even begun to address the advancements in hybrids or even utility irons that make your old long irons not even worth saving, cryonically or any other way you might choose.
Has golf iron changed much?
If you play traditional forged irons, nothing substantial has changed in decades. However, if you're looking for the new thin-faced, low spinning, high MOI super game improvement clubs, you're likely to see changes every three to five years.
Do irons lose distance over time?
As we mentioned, truly worn out irons can be hard to come across, it would take me back to the days of using my dad's old clubs that were well past their sell by date. However, if you have truly worn your clubs out, you can lose about 7-10 yards on them.
Do new golf clubs hit the ball further?
Year-over-year, distance increases in new equipment are generally minimal. If you bought a driver in 2019, the 2020 model may only be 1-2 yards longer. But, if you have a driver from 2004, then the 2020 model could be 20+ yards longer.
Is there really a difference in golf clubs?
In short therefore while more expensive clubs, grips and shafts can make a difference as your golf game improves more money does not automatically mean better and it is far more important that you have golf clubs that are 'fitted' to your swing as opposed to simply being more expensive.
Do modern golf balls go further?
Using a modern golf ball, players are able to drive the ball much farther than players could when many courses were designed.
Are modern irons more forgiving?
Today's irons compared to your current ones are faster and considerably more forgiving. Shafts—even stock shafts—have gotten better, too. And if you don't feel like ponying up full boat for a new set, try a used-club outlet such as Global Golf and consider a set that's only two or three years old.
What is the hardest club to hit in golf?
A 1-iron is the hardest iron to hit because it is the longest and has the lowest loft of between 14° and 16°. The rise of hybrid clubs to replace long irons however means in the modern game 1-irons and 2-irons are very rare indeed resulting in 3-irons and 4-irons in reality being the most difficult irons to hit.
How much distance do you lose with old golf balls?
A wound ball which is approximately 10 years old, stored at room temperatures and low humidity, will have lost about 0.5 to 1.0 % of its IV (Initial Velocity) which will affect its distance by a couple of yards.
Why are golf clubs so advanced?
Golf clubs are getting much more advanced because of the materials that they can use. A wider range of materials, higher-quality testing, and machines allowing manufacturers to build clubs strategically have significantly impacted the game. If you are a golfer that struggles with distance.
How many pieces are in a golf ball?
The golf ball has gone from mainly being a two to three piece construction to sometimes having five pieces. Typically speaking, the more pieces a golf ball has, the higher the performance on the course.
What is the use of artificial intelligence in golf clubs?
This allowed Callaway to place the center of gravity in a unique location for every individual iron.
What are the features of a golf cart?
Modern golf carts are equipped with LED lights, Bluetooth speakers, and even GPS.
Do gas golf carts smoke?
If you have been around the game of golf for a while, you have probably seen some gas golf carts leaving large clouds of smoke behind them as they travel. This is not the case with the newer golf carts. They burn very clean, and the noise level on the carts has been adjusted to accommodate other players as well.
Can a golf cart tell you how far you are from the pin?
If you forget to bring along your GPS device, your golf cart may be able to tell you exactly how far you are from the pin. Golf carts are also becoming more environmentally friendly and fuel efficient as well. Believe it or not, some golf carts now function on solar power.
Can you use a golf simulator at home?
Golf simulators have been around for quite some time, but the access that players have now is much different. Golf simulators are available for at-home use, and players can work on their game, regardless of the weather and of the conditions outside.
How have golf shoes changed over the years?
The look of certain shoes tends to come full circle like we often see with pants and shirts. However, comfort and durability have been the biggest improvements in golf shoes over the last few years. Most golf shoes today are not only very comfortable, but also waterproof. More people than ever are playing golf and many of those players are walkers. Keeping your feet happy while playing golf is a must.
Why shouldn't you anchor your golf club to your body?
The purist, Tom Watson, will tell you that you shouldn’t be able to anchor your club to your body as a way to deal with a balky putting stroke. If you ask a “user”, Bruce Lietzke, he might tell you it added over 10 years to his career because of the improvement in his putting.
What is a long putter?
Long putters (belly putters) Long putters, also known as belly putters, might be the most controversial of all the innovations to our game. If you ask a golf purist about the long putter, you might want to find a chair and get ready for an earful on why it is a cancer to the game.
What is the heart of a golf club?
Many consider the shaft the “heart” of the golf club. Throughout the history of golf, the shaft, more than any other part of the club, has undergone the biggest transformation. Going from hickory to steel is still the biggest step up in shaft technology. Even though most golfers still play with steel shafts in their irons, ...
Why are oversized drivers better?
For amateurs and professionals alike, oversized drivers have made hitting tee shots longer and straighter much easier. The reason is the sweet spot on these bigger heads is much bigger, allowing for straighter miss hits and more shots hit solidly, thus increasing distance. Couple this with a graphite shaft that is lighter, and in many cases longer, and you have a recipe for more distance immediately.
What was the most popular golf ball in the 1970s?
In the 1970s and 80s, the ball of choice for most professionals was the balata-covered ball . This ball had a rubber core filled with liquid. It was wrapped in rubber bands and had a soft “balata” cover. At the time, this golf ball was top-of-the-line.
Which golf ball has the softer feel?
The balata ball tended to produce more spin and had a softer feel around the greens, preferred by many tour players. However, the liquid-filled core and rubber bands, when coupled with the softer cover did not produce the kind of distance the modern golf ball produces.
How often do golfers change their equipment?
Golfers on average change their equipment every four or five years. If you don't, you risk getting left behind in technology. Equipment Editor Mike Johnson's analysis of the 102 players on the PGA Tour who qualified for distance-stat tracking in 2013 and again in 2017 shows the average distance gain was 2.2 yards, from 289.8 to 292.0 yards. Sixty-eight players got longer; 34 got shorter. Rory McIlroy gained the most: 15 yards. Experts will tell you distance gain is actually greater because pros can hit it farther when they want to. There were 29 drives of 400 yards or more last year on the tour. But let's talk about us, not them, and why you should use this 15th edition of the Hot List ( View the complete 2018 Hot List) as a shopping guide. I'm calling in Senior Editor of Equipment Mike Stachura to testify:
How long is a driver shaft?
Driver lengths have settled back down, generally to around 45½ inches. Longer isn't longer; properly fit for length (and loft and face angle and weight and bend profile) is longer. Although longer shafts generate more speed, shorter shafts might give you more distance because you find the center of the face more often.
Bruiser419
I currently use a set of Ping G15 irons. I haven't had them for 10 years but I know they were released 10 years ago. Has iron technology really changed that much that it would be worth buying new clubs? Or if they work well enough, stick with what I have? They're still in pretty good shape other than probably needing new grips.
Valtiel
I would say iron technology has definitely changed quite a lot, but whether or not it is in an area you plan on taking advantage of is another matter. I'm referring mostly to the various hollow/filled designs and the use of multi material construction to move CG around. First and foremost though, iron's are about comfort and confidence.
RogerinNewZealand
In November i bought a set of i15 irons.Really easy to hit and with a reshaft for lower flite would have been great.Same age as your g15s.My mp63s are 7 or 8 years old and as new as i need! This is WRX..just buy a set every 90 days to test and add to your knowledge base then sell again.
bluedot
Though I am at risk of defending what I use because I use it, I would say "Yes". The hollow head/driver-type technology in irons IS different.
aquapig
If the question is, is technology "different" or "changed" the answer is obviously yes.
NRJyzr
I don't know that there has been much change at all. The OEMs are certainly presenting these irons as new, but are they? Hollow bodied irons aren't new, they're merely being explored further now. People are willing to buy into the concept, so more efforts are being spent in that direction. Slots in the sole have been done.
cgasucks
Me personally, iron technology has changed quite a bit in the last decade, especially with the trend of foam filled irons for the GI and SGI genres. But that doesn't mean that they're more forgiving than past irons. I personally think that Callaways made in the 90s and early 2000s were the most forgiving irons ever made.
What to notice about lofts in golf?
In addition to realizing how strong lofts have gotten over time, the other thing to notice is the lack of standards in the golf industry . You can walk into a store and try two different 6 irons that are going to be a club to a club-and-a-half different!
What is the meaning of "egos" in golf?
2) Egos . Specifically, the egos of better, stronger players. If I drive it 40 yards past you, we should not be hitting the same club into a par 3.
Golfers Did Not Have Many Options
What Changed?
- A lot of advancements have been made over the past several decades. The golf world has attracted top-level engineering talent from places like aerospace industry. These brilliant minds have been able to design, manufacture, and measure club performance better than ever. Every manufacturer is investing major dollars each year trying to push things forwards in order to capt…
The Modern Blade vs The Classic
- The test I was most interested in was comparing an older-style blade iron versus a modern one. Truth be told not too much has changed in the looks of a blade iron over the years. Many companies are still producing the classic forged blade that is a symbol of craftsmanship. I purchased a McGregor Jack Nicklaus 7-iron from eBay, which is representative of a run of the m…
Ball Comparison
- The invention of the Pro V1 by Titleist marked a major shift in golf ball technology. It has allowed golfers to get the best of both worlds – longer distances with the driver and optimal spin conditions when you need them. Many of you remember the wound golf balls from Titleist. Older balls are hard to come by unused, but I was able to purchase a box of DT Wound 100 that were n…
Wrapping It Up
- I have learned a tremendous amount about golf equipment since I first started Practical Golf. What I can tell you with certainty is that the clubs and ball you play can have a large impact on your performance. As you know golf is a very challenging game, and playing the wrong equipment will make it that much harder for you. On the whole, the clubs being produced now are very impr…