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Post by Disgruntled70sHab on Jul 18, 2008 8:07:40 GMT -5
Was out on the driving range last night and one of the local pros asked me to try this new square-head Nike driver.
I must have hit about 30-odd drives and probably only sliced 3 of them. Not bad for a lefty. The remainder were pretty long and straight. Maybe one or two shots to the right, but that was due to lining up wrong. Still, the driver costs about $459.00 and while I'm used to using a cheap Top Flight set, I've been told that better equipment can make a big difference.
Yet, I can't substantiate that kind of cost, though the pro went on to say that if the price would come down substantially if I were to purchace an entire set.
Next year they plan on bringing in Callaway as a sponsor. Might wait to see what they offer.
But, I found that driver to be the real deal. What a piece of kit.
Cheers.
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Post by Polarice on Jul 18, 2008 8:33:20 GMT -5
Was out on the driving range last night and one of the local pros asked me to try this new square-head Nike driver. I must have hit about 30-odd drives and probably only sliced 3 of them. Not bad for a lefty. The remainder were pretty long and straight. Maybe one or two shots to the right, but that was due to lining up wrong. Still, the driver costs about $459.00 and while I'm used to using a cheap Top Flight set, I've been told that better equipment can make a big difference. Yet, I can't substantiate that kind of cost, though the pro went on to say that if the price would come down substantially if I were to purchace an entire set. Next year they plan on bringing in Callaway as a sponsor. Might wait to see what they offer. But, I found that driver to be the real deal. What a piece of kit. Cheers. I have a Nike Sasquatch Driver...the regular one, and I can't hit the damm thing and I'm a lefty as well. I just got the Ping G10 Draw and I can kill that thing...9/10 drives right down the pipe. But I still love my Nike Irons, best set I ever owned. My Brother has a Callaway set, loves the Irons, hates the drivers. He's also using the Ping driver now...seems to play well for lefties. |
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Post by Disgruntled70sHab on Jul 18, 2008 8:50:12 GMT -5
I just got off the phone with my golf course, PI. They're going to put the Nike driver (he told me what it was but I can't remember the darn name) and I'll be taking it out with me tonight.
Now they're talking about 'fitting' me for the right set of clubs. Don't know what that will lead to but I'm definitely leaning towards a new set of clubs at the end of the year; hopefully when they go on sale. Actually, I know the local pros pretty well so I might see what kind of a deal they could 'swing' for me in the near future.
That should impress Mrs Dis, no?
Might just hang onto my putter though. I'm pretty comfortable with that.
Cheers.
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Post by Polarice on Jul 18, 2008 9:11:22 GMT -5
I just got off the phone with my golf course, PI. They're going to put the Nike driver (he told me what it was but I can't remember the darn name) and I'll be taking it out with me tonight. Now they're talking about 'fitting' me for the right set of clubs. Don't know what that will lead to but I'm definitely leaning towards a new set of clubs at the end of the year; hopefully when they go on sale. Actually, I know the local pros pretty well so I might see what kind of a deal they could 'swing' for me in the near future. That should impress Mrs Dis, no? Might just hang onto my putter though. I'm pretty comfortable with that. Cheers. If its the square one its called a Nike Sasquatch Sumo, I never tried it, but thoes who have them love them. The most important thing when you do buy new clubs is to make sure you buy the right kind of shaft, whether its Firm or Regular shaft. I made the mistake of buying a set 2 years ago that were regular shaft, I found out later I should have bought firm or stiff. I kept slicing them, when I went to a pro for help he picked it out right away, my swing was too fast for the regular shafts. So I ended up buying new Irons, not from him, actually got them off eBay. They made a world of difference. |
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Post by Skilly on Jul 18, 2008 9:53:22 GMT -5
I hate graphite shafts .... No matter the flex (mine is stiff) I can't hit the ball worth a plug nickel. But I take out my 3-wood with the steel shaft and *bang*, same swing, same tempo, and I outdrive people I am with who are using drivers all the time. I can't remember the last time I used my driver (Taylor Made R580XD).
All my clubs are Taylor Made. I love them. I do carry around with me 2 king Cobra clubs (a 7 wood and a 3 wood), for those long shots into the wind (try playing a course in NL without wind!!, it doesnt exist!!)
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Post by CrocRob on Jul 18, 2008 9:55:35 GMT -5
It's funny that people spend $400-500 on a new driver, when to me the most important club in your bag is your putter. Two years ago I went out and bought a brand new Monza Corza putter for $200, and I haven't regretted it. Shaved 4 strokes off my round in a matter of weeks just from being able to hit the ball smooth and consistent.
Dis.. When they fit you for clubs, they adjust the shaft length and angle of the club head so with your natural stroke you'll be hitting the ball square. It will probably help, but if you have an.. ahem.. unrefined stroke it means that those clubs will then be made for that unrefined stroke. So if you "improve" your stroke, it means that the clubs will actually hinder your game. My stroke is really narrow (the ball's really close to my feet) and when the pro told me to take more of an arc on it, I ended up heeling the ball more often than not.
Shaft strength pretty much depends on how hard you hit the ball. I tend to hit the ball pretty hard, so I went for a firm shaft. Regular shafts are designed to generate club head speed for people without a strong swing by using the flex of the shaft. Stiff shafts, according to my local pro and the guy who fitted me for my r7's last year, are pretty much only for pros. Not many amateurs get the club speed on their swing to take advantage of it. I don't know much about graphite shafts (I didn't like how light the club was, so it didn't matter anyway) other than I was told they were for women when on irons (probably as a joke.. but maybe not?). I'm sure for some the lighter club would help, but I felt it swinging all over the place because of it.
Those square headed drivers sure do impress when I'm at GolfTown trying them out. My current driver I can hit pretty well, but whatever the square-headed Callaway one is (according to the computer simulator, which I'm a bit skeptical about) adds 30 yards to my drive and turns it into a bullet. However I can't justify spending $500 on a club that I'll only use 8 times a round that's only marginally better than the one I have, which is only a few years old.
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Post by CrocRob on Jul 18, 2008 10:00:32 GMT -5
I hate graphite shafts .... No matter the flex (mine is stiff) I can't hit the ball worth a plug nickel. But I take out my 3-wood with the steel shaft and *bang*, same swing, same tempo, and I outdrive people I am with who are using drivers all the time. I can't remember the last time I used my driver (Taylor Made R580XD). All my clubs are Taylor Made. I love them. I do carry around with me 2 king Cobra clubs (a 7 wood and a 3 wood), for those long shots into the wind (try playing a course in NL without wind!!, it doesnt exist!!) Holy crap 580 cc's is a monster. I have a 3 or 4 year old TM R420 that does me well. I'm also hitting TaylorMade r7's and I too love them. I think more than anything it's about whatever you feel you can hit. |
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Post by Disgruntled70sHab on Jul 18, 2008 10:29:09 GMT -5
It's funny that people spend $400-500 on a new driver, when to me the most important club in your bag is your putter. Two years ago I went out and bought a brand new Monza Corza putter for $200, and I haven't regretted it. Shaved 4 strokes off my round in a matter of weeks just from being able to hit the ball smooth and consistent. Red, I also found that it makes no difference if you can drive the green, but can't hit your second shot. I've got a buddy who is a hard swinger and can come 10-15 yards from the green, but ends up with a bogie. I have a short back-swing with my irons and a full swing if I'm using the Nike Sasquatch Sumo 5900 (thanks PI). I find a shorter back-swing gives me more control. However, I get good distance providing I "swing through the ball." The square-headed driver gives me accuracy I've never had before. It feels different, sounds different and gives me different results. I was told there are four grades of graphite shafts and each make a difference. I've since talked to my golf course and they're going to fit me sometime after work next week. I still don't know if I'll make a purchase just yet but at least I'll know what should work for me. That's the problem I have with the driver, Red; the cost. I just can't see forking out that kind of dough for an amateur hack like myself. I go out to enjoy the round, get a little miffed with myself for a flubbed shot (especially when you know what you did wrong), but always end up having beers with my friends afterwards. Getting Dis Jr out with the old man is good too. We'll do a round and head upstairs for some eats afterwards. He's just learning the sport and could be working at the golf course fairly soon. A lot of benefits to any game if you do it right I guess. Cheers. |
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Post by franko on Jul 18, 2008 10:53:53 GMT -5
You bunch of rotters! I haven't unburied my clubs from the back of the garage yet this year.
[envy taking hold . . . ]
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Post by Skilly on Jul 18, 2008 12:12:14 GMT -5
I hate graphite shafts .... No matter the flex (mine is stiff) I can't hit the ball worth a plug nickel. But I take out my 3-wood with the steel shaft and *bang*, same swing, same tempo, and I outdrive people I am with who are using drivers all the time. I can't remember the last time I used my driver (Taylor Made R580XD). All my clubs are Taylor Made. I love them. I do carry around with me 2 king Cobra clubs (a 7 wood and a 3 wood), for those long shots into the wind (try playing a course in NL without wind!!, it doesnt exist!!) Holy crap 580 cc's is a monster. I have a 3 or 4 year old TM R420 that does me well. I'm also hitting TaylorMade r7's and I too love them. I think more than anything it's about whatever you feel you can hit. I'm pretty sure the R580XD is only 460cc's ...... I recall a friend of mine telling me I was full of doggy poop one time when I told him the name... his words "580 ccs, BS!, not tour approved and I've never seen one".... when I came home I checked the name on the club and it was R580XD, and I think it is 460cc's .... now why do they call it 580XD? |
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Post by Skilly on Jul 18, 2008 12:13:28 GMT -5
Monza Corza putter for $200, and I haven't regretted it. Shaved 4 strokes off my round in a matter of weeks just from being able to hit the ball smooth and consistent. I have a Taylor Made Monza Rosa putter .... love it as well. |
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Post by Disgruntled70sHab on Jul 18, 2008 12:18:51 GMT -5
Do any of you guys have a golf ball you favour more than others? I'm curious. I'm using this particular Callaway (Callaway CTU 30 Red though this picture show an HX Red):  It's a ball I've gotten used to and I thought, it was supposed to give me a little more distance. However, from what I've read it supposed to bite the greens well. I guess it does or doesn't depending on how I stroke the ball. I know there are distance balls and high-spin balls, but I've stuck to this one for a while. I was talking with another golfer a few weeks back and he said he uses the blue, Callaway Big Bertha. He said it's good on the greens, but I'll be honest, I'm not sure how to tell the difference. Cheers. |
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Post by Skilly on Jul 18, 2008 12:27:37 GMT -5
Dis,
I was always the type who'd use any old golf ball. Go into the woods looking for one I lost and come out with 8 others that would get used. Then one day I was with a guy who found all kinds of balls and kept giving them to me. I had to ask how come he didnt want them. He told me that he didnt know how long they'd been there, if the rain had made them heavier. He said he'd never fish for balls out of a lake.... that sort of stayed with me, and I started to notice that I did in fact hit new balls further than found balls.
So now I typically use one of three balls (depending on which is cheapest when I go to the shop):
1) Callaway Blue Big Bertha - they do roll good on the greens
2) Titleist HP Distance - I get about 20 yrds further off the tee (when I hit it straight), but going into the green I dont have my control. Although that can be a by-product of me not knowing how to spin the ball..... and playing with trying to draw the ball (almost figured that out)
3) Pinnacle Gold/Red ... I find these the best for approach shots.
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Post by CrocRob on Jul 18, 2008 14:37:04 GMT -5
For balls I tend to buy anything that isn't a distance ball. Frankly, as an amateur hack I can hit it 280 yards and when it's a little off-line, I don't really want to going further. I was using TaylorMade balls for a while, but I've now started using Callaways. I was using a Nike Sasquatch ball that I found for quite a while (3 or 4 rounds), which was fantastic. Eventually I lost it, but when I went to get some it was like $80 for 12. No thanks. Generally I purchase whatever's on sale that fits the "control" variety. My personal rule is I take a 3-pack of "good" balls per round. If I lose one, I play with a found ball for that hole and start fresh the next hole with a good ball. If I use all three, I spend the rest of the round using found balls. For amateurs like me/us, balls are possibly the most expensive part of golfing. Oh, and Dis, that buddy of yours who can drive within 10-15 yards and ends up with a bogie? That's me  I swear I can get it within 50 yards within 2 shots nearly every time. Then I spend 3 shots getting it on the green and 2-putt to victoryan albatross! |
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Post by cigarviper on Jul 18, 2008 21:17:45 GMT -5
Putt for cash, drive for show. I can usually whack em a fair distance. Nice and straight down the middle of the fairway...and then my short game takes over. People usually take cover.
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Post by Skilly on Jul 19, 2008 14:47:14 GMT -5
Putt for cash, drive for show. I can usually whack em a fair distance. Nice and straight down the middle of the fairway...and then my short game takes over. People usually take cover. "You drive for show, I putt for dough" "It's not how you drive, it's how you arrive" I'm not the longest hitter. I am typically anywhere from 180-240 yrds off the tee (depending on the wind ). I hear "A guy your size should be pounding the ball" alot. But I am usually putting for par ... and when my putting is on I par and bogey quite the bit. And the long guys are scratching their heads wondering what just happened. The short game is where it is at ... I practice it alot. Nothing worse than looking at a 50 foot putt, and thinking "This is three putt territory".  |
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I swear I can get it within 50 yards within 2 shots nearly every time. Then I spend 3 shots getting it on the green and 2-putt to 
