The Golf Thread - 2017!

[thebraketester]

WindyCommon said:

Give them a call. I think they used to be Callaway’s UK pro repairers so they have a collection of assorted bits from older clubs. They really are super helpful. Maybe they’ll just post one out to you...?

Good idea... will give them a buzz tomorrow.

[Juanco20]

Perfect weather today for golf. Had 37 points (10 handicap) with a couple of blobs so not bad going. 11 pars and a birdie, just need to cut out the silly mistakes.

They've got us using little mats when on the fairway and around the greens to protect the course through the winter so that obviously makes things a bit easier as it's always a perfect lie. Only problem I've found is the ridiculous amount of spin I get off the mat, had one pitch 10 foot on to the green and spin all the way back off.

I've recently bought an 18 degree and 23 degree used callaway epic hybrids off ebay. Ridiculous clubs. It seems almost impossible to hit a bad shot and the distance they carry is unreal. Best golf related purchase I've ever made

Edited by Juanco20 on Wednesday 8th November 15:25

[thebraketester]

Ive got the similar 19º and 22º ping g30 hybrids and I agree, they are brilliant. Much easier to hit that 3/4/5 irons for me.

[bodhi]

thebraketester said:

Ive got the similar 19º and 22º ping g30 hybrids and I agree, they are brilliant. Much easier to hit that 3/4/5 irons for me.

I actually find the opposite - if I hit a hybrid, I can get it going OK but it's only ever really going to go left, so I've stuck with the long irons. Currently go from 3 Wood -> 2 iron, or my 1 iron if I'm feeling brave....

[Rosscow]

I have 19,22 and 26 degree Ping G hybrids. They are amazingly easy clubs to hit.

However, I have a love/hate relationship with the 26. Currently back with the 5 iron at the moment!

[Juanco20]

The best thing about them is they are fully adjustable so can fill the gaps nicely. I've actually got them set at 19 and 22 degrees which sits them nicely between my 5 wood and 5 iron. Although I'm pretty sure they are much longer than my 5 wood which is pretty old tech now so might be time for an upgrade there

In that regard, is there actually any point in a 5 wood now? Where would it be more useful than the 2 hybrid? Distances will be very similar and the hybrid easier to control. It seems a bit of a redundant club now unless I'm missing something?

Edited by Juanco20 on Wednesday 8th November 17:37

[Juanco20]

bodhi said:

I actually find the opposite - if I hit a hybrid, I can get it going OK but it's only ever really going to go left, so I've stuck with the long irons. Currently go from 3 Wood -> 2 iron, or my 1 iron if I'm feeling brave....

I've actually found the hybrids very easy to fade. Just open the face a tiny bit and swing down the line of a slightly open stance. I find this much harder to execute with a long iron

[kiethton]

Juanco20 said:

The best thing about them is they are fully adjustable so can fill the gaps nicely. I've actually got them set at 19 and 22 degrees which sits them nicely between my 5 wood and 5 iron. Although I'm pretty sure they are much longer than my 5 wood which is pretty old tech now so might be time for an upgrade there

In that regard, is there actually any point in a 5 wood now? Where would it be more useful than the 2 hybrid? Distances will be very similar and the hybrid easier to control. It seems a bit of a redundant club now unless I'm missing something?

Edited by Juanco20 on Wednesday 8th November 17:37

No point in 5 woods anymore IMO

I go Driver, 3 wood (14*), 19* hybrid, 4 iron - PW, 52* mid-bounce, 56* high bounce, 60* low bounce.

Getting rid of the extra club up top allows me to add a wedge below, only issue is I have a little gap between the 4 iron (~200yds) and rescue (~230 yds) but rarely have an issue there beyond one hole on the west course of my home club.

[DuncanM]

kiethton said:

Juanco20 said:

The best thing about them is they are fully adjustable so can fill the gaps nicely. I've actually got them set at 19 and 22 degrees which sits them nicely between my 5 wood and 5 iron. Although I'm pretty sure they are much longer than my 5 wood which is pretty old tech now so might be time for an upgrade there

In that regard, is there actually any point in a 5 wood now? Where would it be more useful than the 2 hybrid? Distances will be very similar and the hybrid easier to control. It seems a bit of a redundant club now unless I'm missing something?

Edited by Juanco20 on Wednesday 8th November 17:37

No point in 5 woods anymore IMO

I go Driver, 3 wood (14*), 19* hybrid, 4 iron - PW, 52* mid-bounce, 56* high bounce, 60* low bounce.

Getting rid of the extra club up top allows me to add a wedge below, only issue is I have a little gap between the 4 iron (~200yds) and rescue (~230 yds) but rarely have an issue there beyond one hole on the west course of my home club.

When I had a gap test last year, something I hugely recommend btw, the 5 iron and 4 iron had too small a gap. It was absolutely pointless keeping the 4 iron, and so a change to 22* Hybrid, then 19* Hybrid.

Hybrids are great, I wish I'd moved over to them earlier!

[Juanco20]

DuncanM said:

When I had a gap test last year, something I hugely recommend btw, the 5 iron and 4 iron had too small a gap. It was absolutely pointless keeping the 4 iron, and so a change to 22* Hybrid, then 19* Hybrid.

Hybrids are great, I wish I'd moved over to them earlier!

I really need to get on a launch monitor for a gap test. I know from previous indoor lessons on trackman that I'm around 190-195 for a decent hit with a 5 iron. These new hybrids seem to be going a lot further than that though so not quite sure how to plug that gap other than gripping down on the 23* hybrid

[HaplessBoyLard]

bodhi said:

I actually find the opposite - if I hit a hybrid, I can get it going OK but it's only ever really going to go left, so I've stuck with the long irons. Currently go from 3 Wood -> 2 iron, or my 1 iron if I'm feeling brave....

A lot of hybrids are very draw biased. I used to have a TM burner that was an absolute hook machine. It was unusable.

I have old cobra baffler DWS 3 and 4 hybrids now that are much more neutral. I love them.

[kiethton]

Indeed, have one of the recent titliest hybrids and a Taylor made TP hybrid before that, got on L/T with neither and have reverted back to my old steel shafted Cleveland Halo - love that thing!

[DuncanM]

Juanco20 said:

DuncanM said:

When I had a gap test last year, something I hugely recommend btw, the 5 iron and 4 iron had too small a gap. It was absolutely pointless keeping the 4 iron, and so a change to 22* Hybrid, then 19* Hybrid.

Hybrids are great, I wish I'd moved over to them earlier!

I really need to get on a launch monitor for a gap test. I know from previous indoor lessons on trackman that I'm around 190-195 for a decent hit with a 5 iron. These new hybrids seem to be going a lot further than that though so not quite sure how to plug that gap other than gripping down on the 23* hybrid

Gap test is a must do for anyone who wants to absolutely know, rather than guess/assume distances. For me, I'm interested in carry distance, not overall as that's not how golf is played. The Gap test showed that the 4 iron only carried 6 yards further than a well struck 5. Put that on top of the fact I use blades, and the 4 isn't exactly user friendly, it just becomes pointless having it in the bag. I don't love hybrids to look at, but I cannae deny that they make the game easier at the higher end of the bag.

As previously mentioned, you can usually end up with an extra wedge at the bottom.

Gap test was only £40, it is a MUST DO people

The Callaway Apex are more fade biased from my friends experience.

What's everyone's feelings on golf balls these days? I don't play much, 4 games last year, up to 13 so far in 2017 which is good going for me (permanent injury). I am appalled at how expensive premium balls are nowadays, and can't accept using anything too hard, so over the last 4 years, I have been using the Dunlop DP1-V3. They're blooming good, really good imo, and you can grab them for £38 for 24.

https://www.sportsdirect.com/dunlop-dp1-v3-12-pack...

£45 for 12 balls? No thanks.

Before ye judge, Sumito own Dunlop/Srixon/Cleveland etc.... made in the same factory as Z Star, 3 piece, urethane cover.

[bodhi]

DuncanM said:

What's everyone's feelings on golf balls these days? I don't play much, 4 games last year, up to 13 so far in 2017 which is good going for me (permanent injury). I am appalled at how expensive premium balls are nowadays, and can't accept using anything too hard, so over the last 4 years, I have been using the Dunlop DP1-V3. They're blooming good, really good imo, and you can grab them for £38 for 24.

https://www.sportsdirect.com/dunlop-dp1-v3-12-pack...

£45 for 12 balls? No thanks.

Before ye judge, Sumito own Dunlop/Srixon/Cleveland etc.... made in the same factory as Z Star, 3 piece, urethane cover.

When Nike pulled out of equipment I spotted that RZN Tour Platinums and RZN Tour Blacks were both available for £20 a Dozen - currently have 5 Dozen Blacks and 7 Dozen Platinums. Better balls than a Pro V1 imo (prefer the feel, the Blacks are longer off the tee, whilst still spinning as you would expect), for half the price.

[DuncanM]

bodhi said:

When Nike pulled out of equipment I spotted that RZN Tour Platinums and RZN Tour Blacks were both available for £20 a Dozen - currently have 5 Dozen Blacks and 7 Dozen Platinums. Better balls than a Pro V1 imo (prefer the feel, the Blacks are longer off the tee, whilst still spinning as you would expect), for half the price.

Skilz bodhi! When deals like that come up, you've got to grab them

[bodhi]

DuncanM said:

Skilz bodhi! When deals like that come up, you've got to grab them

I've found a couple of places that still have that deal, but I'm keeping sources to myself as I want to pick more up

Part of it is the love of a good deal, but it's mostly because I've been using Nike balls since the old Tour Accuracy TW in 2002, and am a bit of a fan Except the 20XI's....they were rubbish.

For those not wedded to the swoosh however, there are a few other really decent options out there. Srixon Soft Feel are always a favourite, usually about £20 per Dozen and they are very playable golf balls. Either that or search out last year's model - for instance with Titleist bringing out the AVX, I'd keep an eye on NXT Tour prices over Xmas, there could be some bargains to be had.

[kiethton]

bodhi said:

I've found a couple of places that still have that deal, but I'm keeping sources to myself as I want to pick more up

Part of it is the love of a good deal, but it's mostly because I've been using Nike balls since the old Tour Accuracy TW in 2002, and am a bit of a fan Except the 20XI's....they were rubbish.

For those not wedded to the swoosh however, there are a few other really decent options out there. Srixon Soft Feel are always a favourite, usually about £20 per Dozen and they are very playable golf balls. Either that or search out last year's model - for instance with Titleist bringing out the AVX, I'd keep an eye on NXT Tour prices over Xmas, there could be some bargains to be had.

I generally play with Srixon Z-Star X or Prov V 1 X but do often switch to the AD333 over winter - a far better ball than the soft feel IMO

[Juanco20]

bodhi said:

I've found a couple of places that still have that deal, but I'm keeping sources to myself as I want to pick more up

Part of it is the love of a good deal, but it's mostly because I've been using Nike balls since the old Tour Accuracy TW in 2002, and am a bit of a fan Except the 20XI's....they were rubbish.

For those not wedded to the swoosh however, there are a few other really decent options out there. Srixon Soft Feel are always a favourite, usually about £20 per Dozen and they are very playable golf balls. Either that or search out last year's model - for instance with Titleist bringing out the AVX, I'd keep an eye on NXT Tour prices over Xmas, there could be some bargains to be had.

Thanks for the heads up on this. Just ordered 4 dozen RZN online at 20 quid a dozen plus a 5% discount code. Currently playing with the yellow and black Chrome Soft Truvis but they're actually a nightmare to find at this time of year with the low sun and brown/yellow leaves everywhere. They usually stand out really well during the summer months

Played again today. 5 over on the 15 holes i scored on, the less said about the other 3 holes the better. The wind was very strong which made things interesting/difficult. It was that windy that on the 10th hole I needed a hybrid to reach the green from 145 yards and then on the next hole I used the same club on the tee and was through the green 310 yards away

Edited by Juanco20 on Thursday 9th November 17:13

[HaplessBoyLard]

I buy boxes of used pearl grade Callaway chrome soft on eBay. £28 for 24. Works out at £1.16 a ball. They’re butter soft feeling, and spin as much as any other premium ball.

I’ve never had one that did anything other than what it should, and you’d struggle to tell they’ve ever been hit. Sod paying full price.

Edited by HaplessBoyLard on Thursday 9th November 23:23

[Rosscow]

As above, I'm a Chrome Soft fan.

However, I usually buy a bulk box of brand new 'practice' balls. Sharpie and a line gadget and just draw over the practice stamp.

Last lot I got I paid £50 for 50 balls including delivery.

I quite like Titleist NXT Tour S - I feel they're not a million miles away from a Pro V1 but much better value.

I have a Tour player that uses Srixon Z-Star XV so have quite a large amount of those in the locker at the moment as well (but they're yellow so save them for winter!).

I don't like the Soft Feel, they're pretty rubbish. AD333 Tour are pretty good though.