The Golf Thread - 2017!

[HaplessBoyLard]

Blackpuddin said:

Ha! If I don't like them I'll send you an invoice!
I'm five eleven or thereabouts so I'm hoping the black dots will be OK for me.

It’s all down to the distance from your wrists to the floor with your arms at your side. If you don’t look like mr tickle or a T-Rex then they won’t be far off.

Might still be worth getting measured for lie angle to see how you deliver the club dynamically. It’s the most important part of club fitting to get right IMO.

[Rosscow]

kentlad said:

Rosscow said:

Playing at the The London Club tomorrow, International Course.

Weather looks OK! Should be good.

Had a good 27 hole competition at Rye last week, foursomes. We won both our morning and afternoon matches. Fantastic lunch in-between games!

If you need a stand in, i live round the corner & am free all day . Enjoy, it's a decent course - some spectacularly difficult holes depending on what tees you're playing off!

Had a great time, despite the back 9 being rainy! Played off the whites, but some holes were playing from the back tees (including most of the par 3's), so it was probably playing around 6700 yards.

Managed a pretty decent 88. Played the par 3's pretty well considering the length, including a solid par at the 8th which I was very happy with considering the 100% water 190 yard carry! Didn't lose a ball and only missed a couple of fairways off the tee.

Greens were excellent. Would go back!

[JamesNotJim]

Bought a new shaft for my 5 wood. I’ve had a Diamana Blueboard in it for years but it’s always ballooned if I hit it full. As it was so easy to hit High I’ve never had worry to change it. The new irons have caused gapping issues at the top end of the bag meaning I need to eek out extra yards.
Cue a X Stiff Rogue 100 MSI. Should hopefully allow me to hit it full and grab the extra yardage to bring the gaps back to right.

[bodhi]

JamesNotJim said:

Bought a new shaft for my 5 wood. I’ve had a Diamana Blueboard in it for years but it’s always ballooned if I hit it full. As it was so easy to hit High I’ve never had worry to change it. The new irons have caused gapping issues at the top end of the bag meaning I need to eek out extra yards.
Cue a X Stiff Rogue 100 MSI. Should hopefully allow me to hit it full and grab the extra yardage to bring the gaps back to right.

Interesting, how did you go about getting fitted for a new shaft in an existing club? I'm wanting to go down to Driver and a single fairway wood so I can fill the rest of my bag with irons - currently have Vapor Fly 3 and 5 wood with Blueboards in also, and the 5 wood would be great if I could keep the bloody thing down....

Also, I'm looking at purchasing a Rangefinder. I've had a look on Amazon and there are the usual Bushnell options, however there do seem to be cheaper models available, including one from Nikon that looks interesting - does anyone have any experience with the cheaper stuff?

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Nikon-18208089505-Coolsho...

[HaplessBoyLard]

bodhi said:

Interesting, how did you go about getting fitted for a new shaft in an existing club? I'm wanting to go down to Driver and a single fairway wood so I can fill the rest of my bag with irons - currently have Vapor Fly 3 and 5 wood with Blueboards in also, and the 5 wood would be great if I could keep the bloody thing down....

Also, I'm looking at purchasing a Rangefinder. I've had a look on Amazon and there are the usual Bushnell options, however there do seem to be cheaper models available, including one from Nikon that looks interesting - does anyone have any experience with the cheaper stuff?

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Nikon-18208089505-Coolsho...

I've got that very range finder. Have had it for a couple of years. It works perfectly well.

It can struggle to pick a flag up at over 220 yards, especially in low light conditions, but will always pick up larger objects. The lip of a bunker or a bush behind the green for example. Not many people are good enough to worry about exact yardages to a flag at those distances IMO. Front or back of the green are much more relevant most of the time, and I never struggle to get the information I need. It's got to be rare that a hole is so featureless you can't get a yardage from *something*.

I'm sure the newer Bushnells are "better", especially the slope models, but at less than half the price the Nikon is more than good enough for me!

[bodhi]

HaplessBoyLard said:

bodhi said:

Interesting, how did you go about getting fitted for a new shaft in an existing club? I'm wanting to go down to Driver and a single fairway wood so I can fill the rest of my bag with irons - currently have Vapor Fly 3 and 5 wood with Blueboards in also, and the 5 wood would be great if I could keep the bloody thing down....

Also, I'm looking at purchasing a Rangefinder. I've had a look on Amazon and there are the usual Bushnell options, however there do seem to be cheaper models available, including one from Nikon that looks interesting - does anyone have any experience with the cheaper stuff?

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Nikon-18208089505-Coolsho...

I've got that very range finder. Have had it for a couple of years. It works perfectly well.

It can struggle to pick a flag up at over 220 yards, especially in low light conditions, but will always pick up larger objects. The lip of a bunker or a bush behind the green for example. Not many people are good enough to worry about exact yardages to a flag at those distances IMO. Front or back of the green are much more relevant most of the time, and I never struggle to get the information I need. It's got to be rare that a hole is so featureless you can't get a yardage from *something*.

I'm sure the newer Bushnells are "better", especially the slope models, but at less than half the price the Nikon is more than good enough for me!

I've taken your comments and the various glowing reviews on t'internet as a good thing and the Nikon arrived this morning. Very small and light, and accurately told me that my cat was 6 yards away, which is nice One of the Driving ranges I use doesn;t have any distance markers, so I shall be giving it a proper go later on this afternoon. Very impressed so far however.

[SpeckledJim]

bodhi said:

I've taken your comments and the various glowing reviews on t'internet as a good thing and the Nikon arrived this morning. Very small and light, and accurately told me that my cat was 6 yards away, which is nice One of the Driving ranges I use doesn;t have any distance markers, so I shall be giving it a proper go later on this afternoon. Very impressed so far however.

Once it said 6 yards to cat, did you pace it out to check, or was it a tape-measure job?

I've a pleasant mental image of the cat wondering what on earth his pet human is doing, and pondering changing you for a less mental one.

[bodhi]

SpeckledJim said:

bodhi said:

I've taken your comments and the various glowing reviews on t'internet as a good thing and the Nikon arrived this morning. Very small and light, and accurately told me that my cat was 6 yards away, which is nice One of the Driving ranges I use doesn;t have any distance markers, so I shall be giving it a proper go later on this afternoon. Very impressed so far however.

Once it said 6 yards to cat, did you pace it out to check, or was it a tape-measure job?

I've a pleasant mental image of the cat wondering what on earth his pet human is doing, and pondering changing you for a less mental one.

I paced it out afterwards I now have a very real image of a cat meowing at the front door waiting to be let out, so he can go to one of his homes where the humans are less mental

[Blackpuddin]

HaplessBoyLard said:

Blackpuddin said:

Ha! If I don't like them I'll send you an invoice!
I'm five eleven or thereabouts so I'm hoping the black dots will be OK for me.

It’s all down to the distance from your wrists to the floor with your arms at your side. If you don’t look like mr tickle or a T-Rex then they won’t be far off.

Might still be worth getting measured for lie angle to see how you deliver the club dynamically. It’s the most important part of club fitting to get right IMO.

Quick update on my 'new' (old) Ping G10s - they're lovely. Don't seem to go quite as far as the more modern Clevelands but they're sweet to hit, forgiving on direction, and seem to encourage a more relaxed swing.

[HaplessBoyLard]

bodhi said:

I've taken your comments and the various glowing reviews on t'internet as a good thing and the Nikon arrived this morning. Very small and light, and accurately told me that my cat was 6 yards away, which is nice One of the Driving ranges I use doesn;t have any distance markers, so I shall be giving it a proper go later on this afternoon. Very impressed so far however.

Good stuff. I’m sure you’ll be very happy with it. I certainly have been.

[JamesNotJim]

bodhi said:

Interesting, how did you go about getting fitted for a new shaft in an existing club? I'm wanting to go down to Driver and a single fairway wood so I can fill the rest of my bag with irons - currently have Vapor Fly 3 and 5 wood with Blueboards in also, and the 5 wood would be great if I could keep the bloody thing down....

Also, I'm looking at purchasing a Rangefinder. I've had a look on Amazon and there are the usual Bushnell options, however there do seem to be cheaper models available, including one from Nikon that looks interesting - does anyone have any experience with the cheaper stuff?

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Nikon-18208089505-Coolsho...

A playing partner had one in his 3 wood. Used that a few occasions, so thought it worthwhile for a punt. Quick look about eBay netted me one.
Turns out its perfect. Made a once redundant club my go to club. love it. Now searching for one to slip into my hybrid.

Disto wise. Great choice, I have a Bushnell V3. Which i only have as I had winnings to spend in the pro shop and he only sells Bushnells. If I had to buy one I'd have the exact one you've bought.

[bodhi]

JamesNotJim said:

bodhi said:

Interesting, how did you go about getting fitted for a new shaft in an existing club? I'm wanting to go down to Driver and a single fairway wood so I can fill the rest of my bag with irons - currently have Vapor Fly 3 and 5 wood with Blueboards in also, and the 5 wood would be great if I could keep the bloody thing down....

Also, I'm looking at purchasing a Rangefinder. I've had a look on Amazon and there are the usual Bushnell options, however there do seem to be cheaper models available, including one from Nikon that looks interesting - does anyone have any experience with the cheaper stuff?

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Nikon-18208089505-Coolsho...

A playing partner had one in his 3 wood. Used that a few occasions, so thought it worthwhile for a punt. Quick look about eBay netted me one.
Turns out its perfect. Made a once redundant club my go to club. love it. Now searching for one to slip into my hybrid.

Disto wise. Great choice, I have a Bushnell V3. Which i only have as I had winnings to spend in the pro shop and he only sells Bushnells. If I had to buy one I'd have the exact one you've bought.

Haven't tried it in anger thanks to today's lovely serving of rain, but randomly measuring stuff I can see from the back garden I'm pretty impressed, picks up yardage quickly and is a good size to slip into a pocket. Only slight concern is it is very light and can be a challenge to hold still, don't fancy it in Links conditions or mid-hangover.

In fact, I've just ordered some lead tape to tinker with my fairway woods and try to add some draw bias, I'm tempted to turn it into a Mickelson approved model

Very interesting on the new shaft, at my lesson on Monday my coach thought my issues were more swing related than shaft related, but I never turn down the chance to have a tinker..

[kiethton]

Played in the monthly stableford last weekend, started and finished with double bogeys but still managed to shoot a +8 round for 37 points....annoyingly I've now been cut to 8.4, just one more bad round until I get my shot back! Haha

[Blackpuddin]

Blackpuddin said:

My crew is planning a February overnight outing at Old Thorns, and I'm wondering whether to join in. Has anybody played there? Looks like an interesting challenge for an 18-handicapper.
https://www.oldthorns.com/golf/

The Old Thorns thing is happening this weekend and I'm wondering if I've bought enough balls.

[HaplessBoyLard]

Blackpuddin said:

The Old Thorns thing is happening this weekend and I'm wondering if I've bought enough balls.

I'm sure they'll happily replenish your stock when you run out

[Blackpuddin]

HaplessBoyLard said:

Blackpuddin said:

The Old Thorns thing is happening this weekend and I'm wondering if I've bought enough balls.

I'm sure they'll happily replenish your stock when you run out

As a 100% lake ball purchaser I will simply walk off the course if I run out of ammo.

[The Tea Boy]

Morning gents,

Well I did end up buying myself some clubs.

Did lots of research on wrist height measurements and worked out I needed roughly 0.75inch extra length.

Got lucky on ebay and got some 2016 Taylormade M2 5-sw for a smidgen over £200 😊

Still been putting alot of time in kn the range and had a few lessons and roll up sessions.

Finally played the par 3 (Norwood park, Southwell) and it went well for my first time out on the grass.
Played to 25hdcap over 9 holes.

We then added a partial round in and also did 4 holes on the main course as it was the end of the day and quiet.

Managed to work out where I was going wrong with my irons and absolutely loved my first trip out.

Can't wait to get out again in the next week.

Thanks again everyone 👍👍

Matt

[nw28840]

Blackpuddin said:

Blackpuddin said:

My crew is planning a February overnight outing at Old Thorns, and I'm wondering whether to join in. Has anybody played there? Looks like an interesting challenge for an 18-handicapper.
https://www.oldthorns.com/golf/

The Old Thorns thing is happening this weekend and I'm wondering if I've bought enough balls.

Nice setup there, some interesting holes , signature hole is the 5th ( I think it is ) , elevated tee with a great view. Some of the holes are reasonably short, key to keep the tee shot on the fairway. A couple of short’ish par 3’s (depending on tee box placement of course).

Can’t remember the hole number but a steep uphill from the tee to a 3 tiered green - don’t leave the second shot short or the ball will roll off the green down the slope 50 yards ( maybe not so much in the winter time ). The green is a nightmare if the pin is on a different level to your ball......enjoy !

[adamwri]

What a difference a club fitting makes. From a push-fade at best, and slice at worst, to hitting some nice drawing shots. Have a new set of Taylormade P790's on order based on the fitting session.

Anybody made any particular targets for this year? It will be my first chance to have a full year of Golf, so hoping to make some big improvements and win some competitions.

[thebraketester]

Target for this year is to be able to score <90 consistently. Need to work on my <100 yard game as it absolutely dreadful. I don't have game golf, but if I did my last round would be hilarious viewing. Multiple thin bullets over greens.

On a plus side I had another lesson the other day and my driving just went up a notch in terms of strike and direction. I am finding the centre (or thereabouts) of the face way more often. I leant I had my shoulders aiming left of target (and left of my feet), and since addressing that, its just "clicked". Still not getting a great deal of distance (210-220yds), but hopefully I will be able to gradually increase speed.

My pro recently just bought trackman too, which is amazing. Found I am hitting my irons ~2-3º in-out but with a face closed to that, so my tendency is a big draw, so just working on fixing club face angle at the moment.

Edited by thebraketester on Saturday 10th February 18:55