Would help if you gave us a breakdown of the equipment you are using, shafts includes.

It's difficult to answer this question... Newer clubs do often offer new technology, they have high moi and perimeter weighting which help with forgiveness and distance which all could yield some strokes. I often feel that having a newer set will create confidence in the club and my swing. I cannot speak for everyone but looking down at a Scotty gives me confidence on the greens and a Titelist iron down by my ball will bring out the best in my game. I know a lot of guys who still game older clubs and score just as well as the next but having that bag of Titleist clubs gives me a sense of pride, playing a proven brand used by champion golfers all over the world. New technology usually makes things easier for the average golfer, go to your local club or pro shop and swing the 716 AP1 and see what all the fuss is about!

Your gear is decent enough to get the job done. Put your money into your course time and watch some of the senior golfers on the course where steady gets the golf done. Keeping the ball in play and not trying to kill the ball will help you or anyone knock some strokes off. Good luck and nothing wrong with being a fun golfer!!!

Play what feels right and looks good to you. I play Tommy Armour 845 Silver Scotts which are at least 25 years old and I have played them for last 16 years. You are cheating yourself not getting fitted and maybe not updating to relatively new Woods and Drivers. I also update my Wedges every 2 to 3 years. My handicap is around a 2.

I've always been a proponent of utilizing the best gear you can afford. With the best stuff in hand, one truly knows it's them and not the gear causing any issues they may have with their game. That said, their is also a huge advantage to a proper fitting club. Getting fit for your clubs could be the key to getting over the 90 hump you mentioned. Besides, after you get your new clubs you have bragging rights over all your buddies! Sell your old set to recoup some of your green fees and you're back playing again and having more fun playing well.

Hey Ken,

Your question is interesting but I am unsure on exactly what you are asking. You mention more fun and mention never breaking 80. You seem like you're content with what you are doing. If however your goal to have "more fun" includes breaking 80 then just upgrading your clubs is not the completely answer. Better equipment will definately help. Some of the game improvement clubs that Titleist is making now is a vast improvement over clubs made some 20 years ago. Their golf ball performance has also improved significantly over that period of time. But if you want to break that 80 barrier you will need to prepare for it. Some things you should consider would be formal lessons with a certified instructor, more structured practice time on range and with short game, and work on improving your fitness. The improvement in equipment is just one more piece of the total puzzle. Maybe you could consider the secondary market for used Titleist equipment if you want to keep your budget in check. So it is up for you to decide how far do you want to move up the ladder on your journey. One piece of advice I can offer you about you having "fun" in this game is that the more you improve your game the more fun you will have playing this game. I am currently a scratch golfer. At one time I had a +4 handicap. The better I became the more I wanted to improve. Golf is not about reaching a final destination but enjoying the long journey. On this journey there are many roads one can follow with many obstacles and distractions to overcome. Choose your path wisely, stay focused, and then enjoy your ride.

Best Wishes,

DV

Quality equipment can certainly make a difference in your game. Not only is there equipment designed to help make the game a bit easier (think AP1 irons) but the quality that goes into the clubs make them consistent from one club to another.

I remember just starting at a club where the previous pro would only sell no-name or knock off clubs because they were inexpensive. When we did a seminar for the members with a loft and lie machine we showed them that not every 8 iron from the same manufacturer was the same loft. Some were closer to a 6 iron and some were closer to a wedge. We then started to cut them into slices. It was interesting that most of them had very large voids in them due to improper casting techniques.

Take all of this and them try to actually play golf and you set yourself up for failure.

Spend a bit of money on a properly fit set of game improvement irons (again, think Titleist AP1) and you will quite possibly enjoy the game a bit more.

Hi Kevin. There are many times that I'm just for fun guy on the course, but like you, I wondered if I could reach a certain level. What I did was spent some time working on simplifying my swing. When I got to a comfortable level, I spent the time to find the club fit for what I've built- my swing. Then I found Titleist company who has clearly great qualities in their products and are very supportive in improving everyone's game like the Titleist Thursday club fitting which doesn't cost us anything, Titleist loyalty program that gives us a break on golf balls...etc. All of those things are a big plus to me in a concerted effort together with my learning and strive to be better- to score better in golf.
#ILoveMyTitleist

Good luck!

Thank you all for your input. Yes I would like to be able to shoot under 80 but mostly improve. I have gotten to a point over the last 5 years where I have gotten to the 90's but have plateaued the last 3-4 years.

Here is my current setup:
Driver is the cally RazrX White (about 2-4 years old). I have a TM 3 Wood from about 1996 (strangely or maybe not this gets me my most consistent expected distance). My 5 wood is a Tommy Armour. My Irons (including PW) are Tommy Armour 847i (the basic set from Sports Authority and about 4-5 years old). I bought a Wilson 60 degree late 2014. My sand wedge is a Sandy Andy from probably 1980's.

I like the suggestions about getting fitted for clubs. That is something that I had heard people doing but once again being a cheapskate I thought it was only for the high-end clubs. But the more I look into that it seems like it is a good process to go through no matter the level.
Thank you all again for your input.

Hi Kevin,
You've received some good comments already, but I thought I would add my "two cents" worth in an attempt to introduce a different perspective to it.

You seem to really enjoy your golf and so long as you are satisfied with it, then by all means continue doing what you are doing. HOWEVER, you posed the question so that leads me to believe that you are not entirely "happy" with your current level of play and are looking to try and break into the 80's.

As such, its important to remember, it's the "archer and not the arrow" that is responsible for shots. Yet, with good equipment (such as the 716 AP1's and perhaps a new driver or hybrids) you will be more confident with your equipment.

I know from personal experience and from many friends and colleagues that when you buy a set of clubs like Titleist, there is a certain level of pride in your ownership of the equipment. This can provide you with more motivation and incentive to practice and improve your scores. For me, it meant that I wanted to achieve my goal of getting back to a single digit handicap and I have achieved that with my new Titleist equipment.

Buying Titleist meant having a certain "expectation" of myself and fostered incentive in me to get out and practice, work with my coach and thereby improve my scoring and my overall play.

I may not shoot my desired scores every round, but there are few joys better IMHO than having good equipment and striving to play my best. In my situation, with my AP2 irons, I committed myself too regular practice 90 minutes per week minimum and I have seen tremendous results and progress accordingly. Only you know for sure, but I think you may have it in you to accomplish a similar type of goal/progress!

Get fitted and take some lessons. The old saying practice practice practice. Hit um straight.

Think that you might have answered your own question with you ending statement. "Thus would rather spend the money on course fees than upgrade to another set and lose out on course time".

19hole has given you some good advice to make golf more enjoyable and getting a set of fitted clubs would indeed make get you headed in the right direction to solving your problem, if you are serious. It's all about choices and Titleist makes some great equipment. With respect.

I would say that gear can have an impact on your performance to a certain extent. I have friends who have clubs that are 20+ years old they have inherited from their father or grandfather and I hit their clubs as well as I hit my 714 AP2s. The new clubs provide technology that will help you hit the ball farther and straighter. Not to brag or anything like that but I am also a low single digit handicap which may be why I am able to hit both old and new, expensive and cheap clubs relatively well. But to conclude I would recommend buying from a reputable brand such as Titleist! TM cally or png and now matter the price a club from those brands should yield good results.

Instead of buying the new "latest and greatest" equipment, put the money into lessons. I'm reminded of the movie TinCup, where Roy plays a round of golf with a shovel and a rake and wins. When your swing and scoring ability improve to the point where shooting 80 is regular as a clock, then get fitted for some good quality equipment. If you want to ignore this advise, go get fitted for some AP1's, you can't go wrong.

Keeping mind that Lee Trevino also won a lot of money in real time doing the same with bottles and such and they were hustlers. A combination of matched set, lessons, and spending some time practicing, equals more fun on the course. A buddy of mine I play with three days a week, has a really old (probably 20 years old) fitted set of clubs, not a major brand, who is 75 years old, hits his 7 iron maybe 120 yards, shoots consistently around par and under. Has been playing for many many years and learned the game the right way.

Glad to hear you play for enjoyment. When I was younger I was super competitive. I now play (age is 66) for the love of the game and enjoy each day on the course regardless of my final score. Seen too many times where some playing partners let their score dictate their moods for the rest of the day.
That being said, keep enjoying your rounds and should you get the "itch" suggest 1. Lessons 2. Fitting for best equipment for your game 3. Practice and 4. Titleist fraternity TT.

Just a thought, If you have a PGA Super Store near you they have preowned clubs in stock. Try some there you might find a gem for you at a low cost.

There is nothing wrong with shooting in the 90's. And if you enjoy yourself while doing so, all the better.
Golf is a tough game, even with the best equipment. To get better, it may help to get fitted. But you don't have to break your budget on equipment. Getting good at 100 yds and in will have the greatest impact on your scores. Analyze your game...can you eliminate penalty strokes, duffed shots, and three putting?
Some of this will demand practice time. Do you have it? If not, just realize how lucky you are playing bogey golf and enjoying yourself.