Every golfer I know is excited when they purchase or receive new golf equipment. The possibilities are endless as they image all the great shots they are going to make with their new sticks. It is a euphoria that all golfers feel and rightly so. Unfortunately for some that feeling quickly evaporates and they are left wondering if they should go back to their old equipment. I would suggest that you stick it through as long as you making some inroads toward success. Regardless of what the manufacturer says, not all clubs have the same specs and not all clubs are created equal. Therefore, adjusting to your new equipment takes time and patience.
Over the years I have changed sets of irons four times. Each time I upgraded my equipment, I found that there was a large adjustment period. I am currently using my Mizuno MP20s and have been for about 5 years. When I first starting using these excellent clubs, I had to adjust to the ‘sweet spot’ on the club face. it was different than my previous clubs because of the different manufacturers specs. Additionally, I had to adjust to the shaft stiffness. Even though my old and new clubs were considered stiff, they did not hit or kick at the same point. All of these were small adjustments, but they did require some time on the range to master.
I have changed my driver and woods more than my irons over the years. I have tried most manufacturers and have settled on Calloway. For some reason, and I did test drive all the different brands, I found that Calloway drivers and woods best suite my game. I did switch to a Mizuno 3 wood a few years back, but still prefer my old Calloway fairway wood. Each time I switch clubs, I had to adjust several minor things in order to maximize performance. What I did find is that the adjustment was less if I stayed with the same manufacturer. That does make sense unless you are jumping many generations of clubs.
Lastly, I rarely change my putter. For some reason, once I find one that fits my swing I stick with it for many years. I currently use an Odyssey putter and have for about 8 years. Prior, I used a New Gear putter for 25 years. This is the one club I tend to stick too for many years. It provides stability to my game through consistency. When I did change to my new Odyssey putter, I had to make a few minor adjustments, but not many. I took a great deal of time to find this club as it closely matched my previous putter. Hence my adjustment time was very minimal.
My last discussion point about adjusting to new clubs to me has to do with my hickory sticks. This is a complete adventure that changes every time I play. I try different clubs as often as possible with about the same results. My current hickory set consists of all different brands, different shafts and different club faces. It has been about 3 years with these fun sticks and I still need to take the time to determine how each plays. It is a great deal of fun trying to figure this out and I will continue down this path in the upcoming golf season. Talk about adjusting to my new clubs.
Changing our golf equipment is always exciting. Whether your clubs are brand new or just new to you, adjusting to their performance is a process. Personally, I enjoy the challenge by first researching what I am looking for in my new sticks. Regardless, there is always a period of adjustment with new golf equipment. If you were lucky enough to get new clubs this year, enjoy the process of learning how to hit them best for your game.
I am a grateful golfer! See you on the links!