Golf is very expensive, isn't it? With a limited budget, how should I buy and upgrade my equipment?
According to Rick Shiels, a famous golf coach and YouTuber in the UK,
- Spend money on drivers and wedges and replace them when they are old,
- Use old irons and putters.
He says that drivers improve in performance as much as new technology comes out. I agree with his point that drivers need to be upgraded because the rebound of the face tends to decrease or break over time. Wedges need to be replaced if the groove surface is worn. If you leave it as it is, you won't get the desired spin amount. Of course, amateurs rarely use a wedge until it becomes dull, but he says that if the face groove is worn out due to age, it shouldn't be used.
Although iron technology has advanced in various ways, models from 10 years ago still perform well. Since the performance of irons is more important for accuracy and consistent distance than distance, older models are still usable. The same goes for putters. Even with technologies like zero torque, putting greens are inherently uneven beyond what you can see. Therefore, some luck is involved, and there are limitations to what a putter can cover. As long as you can roll the ball, most people will show decent performance.
