2017 Golf Thread

Time to Mo Vaughn

RIP Dernell
SoSH Member
Mar 24, 2008
7,203
A few more questions:
  • Having measured my wrist to floor and combining with height it looks like I should be a +0.5-0.75. Would it be cheaper/easier for me to just buy a +0.5 even if used rather than buying a standard size and getting it lengthened? (Does Bombtech do custom lengths?) There's some +0.5 4-PW sets on 3ball. How can I tell which Ping series I should be looking at? (Edit: Appears I may have answered my own question. Looks like G is current and then going backwards G->G30->G25->G20, so I should probably be looking for something used in G30 or G25 series and based on my height I should be looking at either Blue,Yellow or maybe even Green Dot as an equivalent to an average height golfers Black Dot)
  • Given that my revelation came from hitting the hybrid at the range, that's what I'd probably want to add to my bag first. What should I be looking at 2H-4H? 3H-5H? I'm pretty comfortable with my 5 iron (again, I had been shooting mostly irons, so 2i, 3i and 4i off the tees). What will I be looking at for cost and what brands should I be looking at?
 
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Light-Tower-Power

ask me about My Pillow
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Jun 14, 2013
15,947
Nashua, NH
I'm also a high handicapper and I've never been able to hit hybrids, so I still game old school 3 and 4 irons. I feel like I'm missing out.
 

Time to Mo Vaughn

RIP Dernell
SoSH Member
Mar 24, 2008
7,203
I'm also a high handicapper and I've never been able to hit hybrids, so I still game old school 3 and 4 irons. I feel like I'm missing out.
I honestly stayed away from them because I have far more trouble with woods and drivers and figured they would hit more similar to woods. 15 minutes with the one that was in my bag that I had never used changed all that.
 

Comfortably Lomb

Koko the Monkey
SoSH Member
Feb 22, 2004
12,959
The Paris of the 80s
I can't imaging gaming a 3 or 4 iron anymore. Basically throwing strokes away.

Regarding shaft length why would a floor to wrist measurement is good for anything more than a starting point. Your posture and swing itself will dictate preferable shaft length, no? And I say preferable because clubs are all different lengths anyway (if I recall correctly manufacturers have making shafts marginally longer over the past decade in the quest for iron distance bragging rights... along with lowering lofts so a modern PW is close in loft to a ~2000 9i). Lie angle matters a lot though.
 
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Papelbon's Poutine

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Dec 4, 2005
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Much like jercra is concerned about coming off as a Bombtech sales rep, I'll risk the same and suggest again looking at 3Balls.com for a used set of clubs. If you buy the higher rated sets, they are generally demo clubs or rack sets that have barely, if ever, been hit but can no longer be labeled "new" (I've bought some of these that arrive with the original shrink wrap still on them).

I recently got Ping G woods (D, 3W, 3H, 4H) all of which were labeled with their "awesome" rating (so one step below "new"), and other than a few brush strokes on the sole of the driver, you'd never know they weren't off the rack. It ran me about $550 for all four clubs, which were still the current rack model for Ping until they just released the G400. Had I bought these at my local shop a month or two ago, they'd have tallied up to about $1100-1200. They also have some sets that will have modifications, such as longer shafts or altered lie angles, if you are able to determine that's what you need. You should be able to find a gently used set of one or two year old tech in that $400-600 range quite easily.

As others have mentioned, I would probably not spend the money for a full fitting if you're looking to make only a modest investment; that will run you like $150 and unless you plan to buy brand new clubs, the credit is lost. I also wouldn't necessarily feel the ned to buy a set that already includes hybrids - most companies now sell sets that go 5 or 6 iron through gap wedge and it's reflected in price, which allows you to then go add whatever hybrid you seem to like best.

Also, your old clubs, no matter how old, will have some trade in value. Go to https://valueguide.pga.com/trade-in/, enter what your working with and you can get store credit at any shop that houses a pga pro and even some that don't (such as Dick's, which dropped all their pros). It might be only $20, but hey, it's better than them clanging around your basement.
 

Time to Mo Vaughn

RIP Dernell
SoSH Member
Mar 24, 2008
7,203
Now you guys have almost got me throwing down on a new (used) set of clubs. I'm 6'4 with a 37.5 floor to wrist, and while I agree with CL that it's just a starting point, my swing is probably not stable enough to go with anything other than to try to be fairly neutral. Using some online looks ups (including Ping's Color Chart) I should be about +0.5-0.75" and 1-2 degrees upright.

Looking at the following sets:
  • 3Balls: Ping G20 5-PW CFS Steel Regular Green Dot (2 degrees upright) Length 0, Condition: Very Good $219 after shipping (Regular length so would need to get lengthened 0.5-0.75")
  • Ebay: Ping G20 5-PW CFS Steel Stiff Blue Dot (1 degree upright) Length 0.75", Condition: Average $230 after shipping
  • Ebay: Ping G25 5-PW CFS Steel Stiff Green Dot (2.25 degrees upright) Length 0.5", Condition: Average $305 after shipping
  • Bombtech 4-PW, $253 after shipping, but I think I'd need the length and potentially lie adjusted slightly.
I don't know if there's any consistency between Conditions for Ebay vs 3Balls. The condition of the two on Ebay(which has actual pictures) looks great to me.

This still doesn't help that I'll need to invest in probably a 2H-4H hybrids, unless I just go 3H and 4H. Any recommendations for good value (or what used) to be looking at before the Bombtechs come back in stock?
 

Papelbon's Poutine

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Dec 4, 2005
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I've got a Rocketballz 3H in the basement, it's worn and has some idiot marks but it was a great club for me and still in good playing shape, I just get itchy from time to time. It's got a brand new DriTac midsize grip on it. PM me your details, pay the shipping and you can have it.

Edit: I'm pretty sure I have a couple unused Golf Pride grips that I don't intend to use, I'll toss them in the box too.
 

Comfortably Lomb

Koko the Monkey
SoSH Member
Feb 22, 2004
12,959
The Paris of the 80s
Now you guys have almost got me throwing down on a new (used) set of clubs. I'm 6'4 with a 37.5 floor to wrist, and while I agree with CL that it's just a starting point, my swing is probably not stable enough to go with anything other than to try to be fairly neutral. Using some online looks ups (including Ping's Color Chart) I should be about +0.5-0.75" and 1-2 degrees upright.

Looking at the following sets:
  • 3Balls: Ping G20 5-PW CFS Steel Regular Green Dot (2 degrees upright) Length 0, Condition: Very Good $219 after shipping (Regular length so would need to get lengthened 0.5-0.75")
  • Ebay: Ping G20 5-PW CFS Steel Stiff Blue Dot (1 degree upright) Length 0.75", Condition: Average $230 after shipping
  • Ebay: Ping G25 5-PW CFS Steel Stiff Green Dot (2.25 degrees upright) Length 0.5", Condition: Average $305 after shipping
  • Bombtech 4-PW, $253 after shipping, but I think I'd need the length and potentially lie adjusted slightly.
I don't know if there's any consistency between Conditions for Ebay vs 3Balls. The condition of the two on Ebay(which has actual pictures) looks great to me.

This still doesn't help that I'll need to invest in probably a 2H-4H hybrids, unless I just go 3H and 4H. Any recommendations for good value (or what used) to be looking at before the Bombtechs come back in stock?
Are you digging the toe on shots with your current irons (and I mean good swings, relatively speaking)? That would be indicative of irons with a lie angle that is too flat for your swing. You're focusing on your body height but you're saying nothing about your swing and results right now.

Just because you're tall doesn't mean you have an upright swing; and conversely, if you were short why would you assume your swing is flat? Ping has their chart but it seems like it's trying to simply something that requires case-by-case considerations.

Additionally, for a player with an otherwise neutral swing, adding length to an upright lie angle iron seems like a recipe for encouraging a more upright stance (and possible closer ball to feet position as you get the clubhead flat/square on the ground) and all the problems that come with that. Getting too far off the beaten path without a consistent, tuned swing seems like guessing.
 

Time to Mo Vaughn

RIP Dernell
SoSH Member
Mar 24, 2008
7,203
Are you digging the toe on shots with your current irons (and I mean good swings, relatively speaking)? That would be indicative of irons with a lie angle that is too flat for your swing. You're focusing on your body height but you're saying nothing about your swing and results right now.

Just because you're tall doesn't mean you have an upright swing; and conversely, if you were short why would you assume your swing is flat? Ping has their chart but it seems like it's trying to simply something that requires case-by-case considerations.

Additionally, for a player with an otherwise neutral swing, adding length to an upright lie angle iron seems like a recipe for encouraging a more upright stance (and possible closer ball to feet position as you get the clubhead flat/square on the ground) and all the problems that come with that. Getting too far off the beaten path without a consistent, tuned swing seems like guessing.
This is actually a great question. It's really stopped to make me think about how I hit my shots and where I go wrong. My biggest current issue is that I'm always topping the ball sending it straight but only about 50 yards down course. My general blame for this is that I'm not keeping my arms extended enough and am slightly bending my elbows and pulling them in and thus hitting not getting under it enough. In the round I played Tuesday, I did have a few times, where I felt I had a good swing and ended up with a 6 inch divot starting behind the ball. I've honestly never thought about club length or lie as the cause of this before (really just contributed to shitty incosistent swing, which it might still be). This is a good chicken or egg question for me though: Do I go out and get a fitting as the first thing? Do I go out and take a few lessons with a pro first? Could I have adjusted my swing to clubs that don't fit me and could that then fuck up what my swing should be? (I've actually been wondering about this and buying new clubs before. I've always felt I should take lessons before getting clubs, but that I might need better clubs before taking lessons).

I'm honestly looking for a nice neutral starting point from where I am today. I'm not sure I've necessarily ever played with the right clubs. I also doubt that my swing has ever been so good that my clubs are ever really to blame. I mean, I'm averaging 115 with a number of literally wasted shots where I'm just not making proper contact.
 

Time to Mo Vaughn

RIP Dernell
SoSH Member
Mar 24, 2008
7,203
I've got a Rocketballz 3H in the basement, it's worn and has some idiot marks but it was a great club for me and still in good playing shape, I just get itchy from time to time. It's got a brand new DriTac midsize grip on it. PM me your details, pay the shipping and you can have it.

Edit: I'm pretty sure I have a couple unused Golf Pride grips that I don't intend to use, I'll toss them in the box too.
This would be awesome. Would be happy to pay shipping plus for your next 19th hole. Maybe I can even re-grip myself the 4H that I've got. Check your PMs.
 

jercra

No longer respects DeChambeau
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Jul 31, 2006
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This is actually a great question. It's really stopped to make me think about how I hit my shots and where I go wrong. My biggest current issue is that I'm always topping the ball sending it straight but only about 50 yards down course. My general blame for this is that I'm not keeping my arms extended enough and am slightly bending my elbows and pulling them in and thus hitting not getting under it enough. In the round I played Tuesday, I did have a few times, where I felt I had a good swing and ended up with a 6 inch divot starting behind the ball. I've honestly never thought about club length or lie as the cause of this before (really just contributed to shitty incosistent swing, which it might still be). This is a good chicken or egg question for me though: Do I go out and get a fitting as the first thing? Do I go out and take a few lessons with a pro first? Could I have adjusted my swing to clubs that don't fit me and could that then fuck up what my swing should be? (I've actually been wondering about this and buying new clubs before. I've always felt I should take lessons before getting clubs, but that I might need better clubs before taking lessons).
The bolded is one of the biggest misconceptions in golf and one of the biggest problems high handicappers have. You're not supposed to "get under" the ball. You're meant to hit the ball first in a descending blow (outside of the driver). Ideally, you should have a divot that starts just beyond the ball. Sadly, topping the ball is caused by an innumerable possibilities. Generally, it's too much body movement pulling your head off the ball but if you're trying to get under the ball you're going to top it and skull it and chunk it as much as you hit it well.

Honestly, you'll be a much better golfer with the same gear and $500 in lessons than $500 in gear and no lessons. Think of it this way, any of the low handicappers in this thread could probably take your setup out tomorrow and break 80. I'm simplifying, of course. You should get a hybrid for your 3/4/5 at the same time as getting lessons. You shouldn't hit a 1-iron (unless you're @Phragle). But, at your stated level, level out your set to something cheap and modern and spend more on lessons than on clubs (says the guy who's never taken a lesson).
 

Time to Mo Vaughn

RIP Dernell
SoSH Member
Mar 24, 2008
7,203
The bolded is one of the biggest misconceptions in golf and one of the biggest problems high handicappers have. You're not supposed to "get under" the ball. You're meant to hit the ball first in a descending blow (outside of the driver). Ideally, you should have a divot that starts just beyond the ball. Sadly, topping the ball is caused by an innumerable possibilities. Generally, it's too much body movement pulling your head off the ball but if you're trying to get under the ball you're going to top it and skull it and chunk it as much as you hit it well.

Honestly, you'll be a much better golfer with the same gear and $500 in lessons than $500 in gear and no lessons. Think of it this way, any of the low handicappers in this thread could probably take your setup out tomorrow and break 80. I'm simplifying, of course. You should get a hybrid for your 3/4/5 at the same time as getting lessons. You shouldn't hit a 1-iron (unless you're @Phragle). But, at your stated level, level out your set to something cheap and modern and spend more on lessons than on clubs (says the guy who's never taken a lesson).
So then a really honest question: which first a fitting or a lesson?

And I mean this in a way that's completely agreeing with you on cheap and modern. I posted in here after playing shitty with hand me down clubs because I hit a hybrid and it changed my life. I've also hit a financial level, where I'm willing to finally pay for my first set of clubs since I'm spending $65-75 a round anyway. I figure that my stature, can be acknowledged and guided to attempt a neutral starting point.

I guess put this way: I'm on board with Bombatechs. I really don't need anything other than a basic set up to try to create a consistent swing. Am I preventing that by using the wrong clubs when I go out for either a round or at the range? I'm up for (for the first time) spending a few hundred bucks on clubs (this might be for woods or through irons and a putter) to make yourself better with something specific for myself. Where should I be investing my money? I'm up for spending a few hundred. If it's $500 all on Woods and Hybrids so be it. If it's $600 to just my irons then awesome. If it's $200 to take a lesson combined with a fitting to make sure that I don't get fitted to a really bad habit of a swing then that's good. I just want to know where I should be going to make sure I get that proper fitting.

Edit: It really comes down to, don't know what I don't know. Where should I spend my money? Can I get anything out of my basic measurements and acknowledging that maybe I might not have the same set up as an average person off the street.
 
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jercra

No longer respects DeChambeau
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So then a really honest question: which first a fitting or a lesson?
IMO, not A lesson, but a series of lessons. Like, take the winter and take lessons once a week. See where you stand in the spring. Buy used/Bombtech clubs. But buy hybrids sooner than later. You're new instructor can probably hook you up with used ones for cheap.
 

Time to Mo Vaughn

RIP Dernell
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Mar 24, 2008
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I'm in. Where's my best lesson slightly northwest of Boston? (starting area for distance measurement Lexington/Burlington)
 

Papelbon's Poutine

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So then a really honest question: which first a fitting or a lesson?
How often do you intend to play, how much time do you have to devote to lessons and how much overall do you feel like spending? If you have the time/money to devote like jercra is suggesting, by all means get lessons. But I'm going to be somewhat contrarian and say that if you don't have the time and money to devote to lessons, plus time and money to spend a couple days a week at the range practicing and it's all to go hack it up a half dozen times a year with your buddies, it's probably not really worth it. He's absolutely correct you'll get more mileage out of lessons than equipment BUT you need to put the time in practicing what you've been taught. If you're life is too hectic that you don't have time to hit a bucket a couple times a week and work on what you learned in this week's lesson, it's probably not worth it. Spending a half hour or hour with a pro a couple times a month isn't going to magically make you start shooting 80. You need reps to gain consistency. I don't say this to discourage you, but rather to prevent discouragement down the road. IT can be frustrating to pay for lessons ad see no improvement when the issue is that you're not applying what they taught you through repetition - much of this game is muscle memory and habits.
 

jercra

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How often do you intend to play, how much time do you have to devote to lessons and how much overall do you feel like spending? If you have the time/money to devote like jercra is suggesting, by all means get lessons. But I'm going to be somewhat contrarian and say that if you don't have the time and money to devote to lessons, plus time and money to spend a couple days a week at the range practicing and it's all to go hack it up a half dozen times a year with your buddies, it's probably not really worth it. He's absolutely correct you'll get more mileage out of lessons than equipment BUT you need to put the time in practicing what you've been taught. If you're life is too hectic that you don't have time to hit a bucket a couple times a week and work on what you learned in this week's lesson, it's probably not worth it. Spending a half hour or hour with a pro a couple times a month isn't going to magically make you start shooting 80. You need reps to gain consistency. I don't say this to discourage you, but rather to prevent discouragement down the road. IT can be frustrating to pay for lessons ad see no improvement when the issue is that you're not applying what they taught you through repetition - much of this game is muscle memory and habits.
This. This man knows of what he speaks. I'll add though, if the goal isn't really to improve then spend your money on good beer and whiskey. Nothing makes golf more fun faster than beer and whiskey.

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Byrdbrain

Member
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Jul 18, 2005
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I agree with everything these guys said but to attempt to simplify and recap here is what I think you should do.
-Get your Hybrid regripped - It will cost you $10-15 in a shop or you can buy the parts and learn to do it yourself. It will cost more upfront but it isn't hard and it will save money in the long run. There are tons of Youtube videos showing you how to do it.
-Spend a few hundred bucks on a used or relatively inexpensive set of clubs. Whether you go with D/3W or Irons is up to you.
-If you want to commit and have the time get some lessons over the winter.

Edit: I just realized I didn't touch on a fitting. I'd hold off on that but while you are doing lessons you can talk to the pro and if there is something way off he should see it.
 

Phragle

wild card bitches
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Jan 1, 2009
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DKnF, you seem to be on the right track. If you like Bombtech, I'd email them and ask if they do custom length, lie, grip size. Otherwise look around for used Ping G series with the custom specs you want. It shouldn't be too hard or expensive. I believe ping will bend the irons to your custom specs if they send them to back to them, but I don't know all the details.

There should be places around you that will fit the length, flex, grip, and lie for free. The hard and expensive part of the fitting process is picking the right type of shaft, but that's probably not necessary for you. I know a place that should be inside of 20 minutes from you. DM me if you want.
 

Comfortably Lomb

Koko the Monkey
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Feb 22, 2004
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The Paris of the 80s
So... came in +1 (36) today. A pair of birdies on the back, a bunch of pars, and three bogeys. Did a lot of golf stuff well. The problem is I went out +13 (48). Including a shank off the 8th tee with a 5-iron ("wtf was that !@#$ing swing"). Didn't do better than bogey until the 10th hole. Golf.
 
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FL4WL3SS

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I played in the Washington State Mid-Am this week. Drove the four hours from Seattle to Walla Walla at night and got into town at 1AM with an 810AM tee time playing a course I'd never seen, not exactly ideal.

I got up early so I could eat breakfast and hit up the range. Surprisingly, felt pretty awake and didn't really have any nerves. The first tee was interesting - I was the second one to tee off and as the starter announced my name we realized that the third in our group wasn't around and was still on the putting green. I decided to try and go as slow as possible so he wouldn't get penalized because nobody likes seeing that, but there was no avoiding it and as I teed off the other guy in the group ran over to get him and I topped my drive about 200 yards, great start. The second shot, from 225 out, wasn't much better and I ended up in a grassy berm in the middle of the fairway and now I'm scrambling on the first hole. Fortunately hit the shot of my life out of the gunch, almost hole out and was able to walk with bogey.

My swing on the first day was shakey and a rough stretch of bogey-bogey-double-bogey on 7 through 10 sunk my round - 81 on day 1. Day 2 was going much better, the first two bogies I took, I followed up with birdies until I got to 8-9 again and went bogey-double. Fortunately was able to birdie 10 and was only +3 after 13, but then the wheels came off a bit and finished at +7 (79).

I played good, not great and overall was pleased with how I played. Wish I could have avoided the doubles and scored better, but the greens were lightening and the course was pretty tough, especially on day 2 when the wind kicked up. For never having seen the course, I'd give myself a B.

If anyone has a chance to play the course, though, it's a pretty neat experience. Wine Valley Golf Club in Walla Walla. It was a ton of fun and I'd def recommend it - beautiful links type hybrid course that can tip out way over 7000 (we played at 7000 both days).
 

jercra

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Wine Valley is fun as shit.

We had a tournament today called the grinder which is a ln odd format of no handicaps higher than 14, no strokes on par 3s, alternating between 2 scores and one score every other hole. It's a bit odd but pretty damn fun and every putt must end in the hole. I didn't play great but I didn't play terribly and ended up with a 71. Partner pulled it together on the back too and we walked away splitting a college 1k. Winning is fun.

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Comfortably Lomb

Koko the Monkey
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Feb 22, 2004
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The Paris of the 80s
I had a chance to give a set of Ping g400 irons with a relatively similar setup to my i3 irons a workthrough at the range and chipping area. They're interesting. They feel OK and look so-so but they're straight, straight, straight and crazy forgiving. I clunked a few shots off the toe and these irons don't lose much distance on very off-center strikes.

They also have jacked up lofts. The g400 7-iron has 30 degrees of loft. My i3 6-iron has 30.5 degrees of loft. So they're long but they're lying.

Interaction with turf seemed slightly better than my clubs. Hard to describe but slightly crisper. I also got the impression they spun less. Possibly the shafts (some sort of stuff rifle shaft vs JZ stiff) but it might be the clubheads. I spin my i3s a lot and it felt more like I was hitting knuckleballs with these. Maybe good for distance but less great trying to hold greens. Fwiw, I think i3s have non-conforming grooves.

I also hit the new G400 driver. It's really nice but IMO not worth the upgrade from the G. The shaft changes color from bronze to black when you line up over the ball so that's neat though.
 

Papelbon's Poutine

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I also hit the new G400 driver. It's really nice but IMO not worth the upgrade from the G. The shaft changes color from bronze to black when you line up over the ball so that's neat though.
I recently got new Gs for D/3W/3H/4H and have loved them outside of the driver. I need some range sessions with it, as I think i was getting into some bad habits with my grip/stance/ball position to alleviate my slice on the driver and now I've been duck hooking it, which is not my normal miss. I have no doubt it is user error.

All in all, I like them a lot and have hit the other clubs quite well in my limited ownership of them (maybe four rounds?). I actually like not having 4k options for adjustments on the driver, as I think that led me to having issues.
 

cshea

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Anyone have general advice for hitting long irons? I just can't do it. Anything with a 3,4,5 iron is either a worm burner or a nasty duck hook. I've tried hybrids but I have similar problems with them. Frustrating, any hole that requires an approach of 175+ yards is a debacle for me.
 

Time to Mo Vaughn

RIP Dernell
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Mar 24, 2008
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I played Black Swan today. Nice course, but I found it pretty challenging with narrower fairways than what I've been playing recently. Was a round with a lot of ups and downs for me. My first few holes were awful, poor tee shots which then led me to try to rush with groups behind us which then only made my shots worse. After the fourth hole, I settled in and had some really great (for me) shots off the tee and from the fairway. I got the 4H regripped during the week and that was a great addition to my bag. I pretty much didn't pull out my 3 or 4 iron the entire round except once when I punched out of trees with a low 3 iron. Another highlight was probably the best non Par 3 tee shot of my life. I had watched some YouTube videos earlier in the week to try and figure out what I was doing wrong with my driver (a lot) and did some time at the range with it and was actually feeling pretty good with it. Borrowed my buddy's Taylormade M2 for one hole and hit a perfectly straight drive about 250 yards off the tee in the middle of the fairway, it was slightly uphill so not much roll, but just never a shot I've previously ever hit in an actual round. The downs was that my short game which is usually fairly consistent was atrocious. Couldn't figure out green speeds and was struggling to even two putt most holes. Left myself a lot of really long par putts despite getting more than normal number of GIR. Ended up with only a single par made because of my putting.

Overall was great to get out on what was a really nice day. I need to figure out how to calm the nerves on the first few holes as that's a consistent pattern for me. I'd say it's warming up, but since they had a range I actually hit a small bucket before my round. Maybe I need to take a shot or shotgun a beer ten minutes before tee off.
 

Papelbon's Poutine

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Anyone have general advice for hitting long irons? I just can't do it. Anything with a 3,4,5 iron is either a worm burner or a nasty duck hook. I've tried hybrids but I have similar problems with them. Frustrating, any hole that requires an approach of 175+ yards is a debacle for me.
Question - when you're hitting a hybrid are you swinging it like you would a fairway wood or an iron?

You should essentially swing a hybrid like you would a mid iron, like a six or seven. Downward strike and even taking a divot is fine. You shouldn't be swinging them like you would a fairway wood and trying to sweep it off the deck.

I'm not sure of your game or your club set up but I'll make some assumptions that you probably shouldn't be hitting a 4 iron and definitely not a 3 iron. Club companies have been messing around with lofts (see a couple posts up) in order to claim they are 'longer' and the 3 iron you're carrying - if it's been made in the last handful of years - is most likely the same loft as a traditional 2 iron. Unless you're a single digit, you shouldn't be hitting a 2 iron. Or a 3 iron (likely your 4 iron in modern sets). And so on.

If you're worm burning and duck hooking hybrids focus on two things to work on. The mindset to hit it like a seven iron, downward plane and hitting thru it. And check your ball position in your stance, try moving it back a bit towards your back foot an inch or two inches. Go to a local shop and test out a couple on their range and play with it. Hybrids are awesome clubs and extremely user friendly. They were originally called rescues for a reason.

The other thing to consider is if you do hit a fairway wood well is getting something higher in that category to fill that slot. They make fairway woods up to 9 woods, or close to a six iron.

But don't sleep on hybrids. They're fantastically useful clubs, especially for getting out of the rough while still getting some distance and if you practice and get creative they can be quite handy around the green as well.
 

cshea

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306, row 14
Question - when you're hitting a hybrid are you swinging it like you would a fairway wood or an iron?

You should essentially swing a hybrid like you would a mid iron, like a six or seven. Downward strike and even taking a divot is fine. You shouldn't be swinging them like you would a fairway wood and trying to sweep it off the deck.

I'm not sure of your game or your club set up but I'll make some assumptions that you probably shouldn't be hitting a 4 iron and definitely not a 3 iron. Club companies have been messing around with lofts (see a couple posts up) in order to claim they are 'longer' and the 3 iron you're carrying - if it's been made in the last handful of years - is most likely the same loft as a traditional 2 iron. Unless you're a single digit, you shouldn't be hitting a 2 iron. Or a 3 iron (likely your 4 iron in modern sets). And so on.

If you're worm burning and duck hooking hybrids focus on two things to work on. The mindset to hit it like a seven iron, downward plane and hitting thru it. And check your ball position in your stance, try moving it back a bit towards your back foot an inch or two inches. Go to a local shop and test out a couple on their range and play with it. Hybrids are awesome clubs and extremely user friendly. They were originally called rescues for a reason.

The other thing to consider is if you do hit a fairway wood well is getting something higher in that category to fill that slot. They make fairway woods up to 9 woods, or close to a six iron.

But don't sleep on hybrids. They're fantastically useful clubs, especially for getting out of the rough while still getting some distance and if you practice and get creative they can be quite handy around the green as well.
Thanks. I'm like a 16, so not very good and I know I shouldn't be using stock 3 and 4 irons. Hybrids are likely the answer. I have a Cleveland 4-hybrid that I won in a raffle a few years ago, but I haven't been able to get the ball in the air with it when I've brought it to the range. I probably need to commit more to working with it at the range. I'll try moving the ball back in my stance, I do think I play it too far forward.
 

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Thanks. I'm like a 16, so not very good and I know I shouldn't be using stock 3 and 4 irons. Hybrids are likely the answer. I have a Cleveland 4-hybrid that I won in a raffle a few years ago, but I haven't been able to get the ball in the air with it when I've brought it to the range. I probably need to commit more to working with it at the range. I'll try moving the ball back in my stance, I do think I play it too far forward.
Work on the range a little and I'd be surprised if you don't start to love hitting hybrids. I've used a 3 and a 4 hybrid for years and can't imagine trying to hit a 3 or 4 iron again. The worst club in my bag is now my 5 iron, and I've been thinking for a while that I should look into a 5 hybrid.
 
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Comfortably Lomb

Koko the Monkey
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Work on the range a little and I'd be surprised if you don't start to love hitting hybrids. I've used a 3 and a 4 hybrid for years and can't imagine trying to hit a 3 or 4 iron again. The worst club in my bad is now my 5 iron, and I've been thinking for a while that I should look into a 5 hybrid.
I think I'm there too. About the lowest lofted iron I want in my bag is 30 degrees, and in some current club sets that seems to be a 6-iron. Less than that loft and I'm in 180+ yard territory and ease of use trumps whatever else the club might be capable of doing in talented hands. Long irons are ancient technology.
 

southshoresoxfan

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So I joined a club. Norton Country Club which is 10'min from my home was running a special where if you pay 30% down for 2018 dues you get rest of 2017 included. I'm in the under 35 category for another couple seasons which runs me 2k per year. Added my wife to the pool for another 200.

I signed up last Saturday and I've played an 18 hole round, 2 9s and gone out and done a 5 hole loop twice. It's awesome being able to show up and just walk out and play. The course is in fantastic shape, is challenging (73/135 from the tips I believe) and has a good group of guys there. Kind of course if I get good at will travel well.

Going to combine this with a Joe and Leigh's full bag fitting in the early Spring.
 

southshoresoxfan

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Also whoever had the tip to shave down the driver THANK YOU. I've been in play much more w the driver this summer. My "bombs" are now 285 not 295 and my regular drives are in the 265-270 range. Still fight an occasional hook but have a cue to correct it quickly.
 

FL4WL3SS

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Had a pretty neat experience before my first round of the club championship yesterday. Got to the course early to warm up and as I'm hitting my first few putts on the putting green, I look over to the guy next to me putting and it's Kevin Chappell. I didn't say anything to him, not one to bother people, but it was pretty neat putting with him for a bit.

I then proceeded to completely lose my swing after 4 holes and played awful for a round and a half before waiving the white flag. I don't normally quit, but I couldn't even find the center of the club face and the round today was so slow I couldn't take the slow torture. Might have been the best thing to happen to me, though, because I went to the range for 2.5 hours and forced myself to practice fundamentals.

This game is infuriating, I went from thinking I was on the brink of putting up some really low numbers to feeling completely lost in a week at the worst time.
 

Phragle

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I had a chance to give a set of Ping g400 irons with a relatively similar setup to my i3 irons a workthrough at the range and chipping area. They're interesting. They feel OK and look so-so but they're straight, straight, straight and crazy forgiving. I clunked a few shots off the toe and these irons don't lose much distance on very off-center strikes.

They also have jacked up lofts. The g400 7-iron has 30 degrees of loft. My i3 6-iron has 30.5 degrees of loft. So they're long but they're lying.

Interaction with turf seemed slightly better than my clubs. Hard to describe but slightly crisper. I also got the impression they spun less. Possibly the shafts (some sort of stuff rifle shaft vs JZ stiff) but it might be the clubheads. I spin my i3s a lot and it felt more like I was hitting knuckleballs with these. Maybe good for distance but less great trying to hold greens. Fwiw, I think i3s have non-conforming grooves.

I also hit the new G400 driver. It's really nice but IMO not worth the upgrade from the G. The shaft changes color from bronze to black when you line up over the ball so that's neat though.
Oh yeah. All the Ping G series I've tried are straight, don't spin, and are bananas long. I remember shaft shopping this spring and averaging 186 with 3400 spin with a g30 7 iron.

If you're looking for upgraded Ping irons maybe look for a nice used set of ansers with the shafts you want. They have normal lofts, spin well, and wont break the bank.

I played Black Swan today. Nice course, but I found it pretty challenging with narrower fairways than what I've been playing recently. Was a round with a lot of ups and downs for me. My first few holes were awful, poor tee shots which then led me to try to rush with groups behind us which then only made my shots worse. After the fourth hole, I settled in and had some really great (for me) shots off the tee and from the fairway. I got the 4H regripped during the week and that was a great addition to my bag. I pretty much didn't pull out my 3 or 4 iron the entire round except once when I punched out of trees with a low 3 iron. Another highlight was probably the best non Par 3 tee shot of my life. I had watched some YouTube videos earlier in the week to try and figure out what I was doing wrong with my driver (a lot) and did some time at the range with it and was actually feeling pretty good with it. Borrowed my buddy's Taylormade M2 for one hole and hit a perfectly straight drive about 250 yards off the tee in the middle of the fairway, it was slightly uphill so not much roll, but just never a shot I've previously ever hit in an actual round. The downs was that my short game which is usually fairly consistent was atrocious. Couldn't figure out green speeds and was struggling to even two putt most holes. Left myself a lot of really long par putts despite getting more than normal number of GIR. Ended up with only a single par made because of my putting.

Overall was great to get out on what was a really nice day. I need to figure out how to calm the nerves on the first few holes as that's a consistent pattern for me. I'd say it's warming up, but since they had a range I actually hit a small bucket before my round. Maybe I need to take a shot or shotgun a beer ten minutes before tee off.
Yeah that's my main course. I love it, but it's not easy.

Thanks. I'm like a 16, so not very good and I know I shouldn't be using stock 3 and 4 irons. Hybrids are likely the answer. I have a Cleveland 4-hybrid that I won in a raffle a few years ago, but I haven't been able to get the ball in the air with it when I've brought it to the range. I probably need to commit more to working with it at the range. I'll try moving the ball back in my stance, I do think I play it too far forward.
Can't get it in the air? Yeah that's user error. Maybe it's just me but hybrids always launch higher than irons for me, even when they have less loft. Their CG is low and the shallow face is easy to get under the ball.

Going to combine this with a Joe and Leigh's full bag fitting in the early Spring.
Oh shit!
 

TFP

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A few updates:

  • My game has gone to shit. Like complete shit. I had 10 straight rounds in the 80s, gotten down to a 12, and now I'm struggling to break 100. Shanks, slices, chunks, missed putts, you name it. Even my mental game (which I had worked very very hard on) has disintegrated. It's extremely frustrating because it came out of absolutely nowhere when I was playing my best golf of my life.
  • Marlborough Country Club, where I was planning to join next summer, is running a deal where if you put down a $500 deposit toward next year's membership, they'll let you be a member the rest of this year too. So I'm gonna do that and try to get a bunch of rounds and practice in there to help right the ship. Combining that with some free time off from work (long, other, good story), I hope to take full advantage quite a bit during this fall. If anyone else is interested in that, let me know.
  • I know I've talked about the Barstool Fore Play podcast in here, but over Labor Day Riggs (one of the co-hosts) went to Scotland alone to play golf for 4 days. Stayed in St. Andrews, hit up the Old Course, Kingsbarns, and a couple other local clubs. He then did a full 90 min recap of his entire trip on the podcast here and blogged about it with pictures here. Very interesting and motivating stories about how awesome golf is over there in Scotland.
 

Comfortably Lomb

Koko the Monkey
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Oh yeah. All the Ping G series I've tried are straight, don't spin, and are bananas long. I remember shaft shopping this spring and averaging 186 with 3400 spin with a g30 7 iron.

If you're looking for upgraded Ping irons maybe look for a nice used set of ansers with the shafts you want. They have normal lofts, spin well, and wont break the bank.
That 7-iron is basically a strong 6-iron!

The jacked up lofts don't matter to me so long as I have clubs with a wide range of distances but my brother bought those g400s and is going to order whatever they call the wedge above PW because he's hitting the PW 140 and it's just too much for the shortest Iron in his bag before his actual wedges. Anyway, I think they're good clubs.

Btw, I'm on the Ping website right now and there is apparently an option called Power Spec to take an additional 2 degrees of lift off each iron. Yeesh. They might as well just start slapping PW on a 30 degree club and bragging about it.
 

southshoresoxfan

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That 7-iron is basically a strong 6-iron!

The jacked up lofts don't matter to me so long as I have clubs with a wide range of distances but my brother bought those g400s and is going to order whatever they call the wedge above PW because he's hitting the PW 140 and it's just too much for the shortest Iron in his bag before his actual wedges. Anyway, I think they're good clubs.

Btw, I'm on the Ping website right now and there is apparently an option called Power Spec to take an additional 2 degrees of lift off each iron. Yeesh. They might as well just start slapping PW on a 30 degree club and bragging about it.
If I switch to blades will this mitigate the issue? Hitting my irons way too long lately. My PW is up to 150 when flushed
 

FL4WL3SS

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If I switch to blades will this mitigate the issue? Hitting my irons way too long lately. My PW is up to 150 when flushed
What loft is your PW and what is the head style?

You'll definitely lose distance with a forged mb. The faces on GI irons are super hot in comparison, regardless of loft.

I play the Titleist MB irons, my PW has 48 degrees of loft and I hit it 155. I could never use anything hotter, my distances would be way too much.
 

jercra

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If I switch to blades will this mitigate the issue? Hitting my irons way too long lately. My PW is up to 150 when flushed
It will totally mitigate the issue, but mostly because you'll be hitting from 210 out instead of 150. There's not really a difference between MB and CB for COR. If you have clubs of the same loft/shaft material/length/lie/etc., they're going to travel about the same distance. The difference is really that CB are generally much bigger heads with much larger sweet spots and much lower CoG to get the ball in the air further. People don't play blades because they don't go as far. They play blades for control and feel. When my swing is working, I love blades so I can hit it high/low/left/right on command. When it's off a bit, I love CB to reduce the bad repercussions of the bad swings. I hit a PW in my blades the same as in my CB irons (Hogan 2015 blades, Mizuno Mp 850 Forged CB). I'll likely move to something like the new MP18's over the winter with a mixed set bent to have a 47* PW.

With all of that being said, what difference does it make what the number stamped on the bottom of the club is? If it said "150 club" and you pulled it out for a 150 yard shot, would that be something to be concerned with? If you've got a large gap between PW and GW then you can get them bent to close the gap. That's a much wiser and cheaper plan than switching to blades (unless you're a low single digit with a pretty grooved swing).
 

Papelbon's Poutine

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Yeah, focus on gaps more than the number on the bottom. Add another wedge at the end if it's an issue and lose something on the high end, a fairway wood or hybrid. I'm not nearly the golfer some are here but I've seen many a person make the bad choice of switching to blades when they got too overconfident and didn't realize what they were getting into.

There's tons of options for wedges now and if your PW is truly flying 150, a gap/sand/lob combo should handle you for the most part up to at least 100-90 yds depending on specs, most people have a 12-15 yd gap between lofts.

Either way, MBs are probably not your answer unless you're a low single digit.

Edit: as jercra notes blades are for being able to shape shots and getting feedback. Distance is pure physics (for the most part) of your swing speed, angle, loft angle of the club and clubface COR/MOI. If you're not really good at it, blades can be a pox.
 

southshoresoxfan

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Interesting. I'm indexing at a 13 so not a low capper here. I'm a newb in terms of equipment knowledge.

Planning on a fitting this coming winter anyways so I'll address the distance gaps then. My problem is I have a 145-150 club, then a 125 club (52) then a sand at 100 or so. I'd like to tighten that range up to 140-125-110ish then add maybe a 58 on top.
 

bostonbeerbelly

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Interesting. I'm indexing at a 13 so not a low capper here. I'm a newb in terms of equipment knowledge.

Planning on a fitting this coming winter anyways so I'll address the distance gaps then. My problem is I have a 145-150 club, then a 125 club (52) then a sand at 100 or so. I'd like to tighten that range up to 140-125-110ish then add maybe a 58 on top.
I play a PW (43*) - 48/52/56 combo

Distances are
43* - 145
48 - 125
52 - 105
56 - 85

48-56 at about 75%-80% swing I never am trying to crush those clubs. I opted for not carrying a 60 as I can open up my 56 when needed.
 

Phragle

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Interesting. I'm indexing at a 13 so not a low capper here. I'm a newb in terms of equipment knowledge.

Planning on a fitting this coming winter anyways so I'll address the distance gaps then. My problem is I have a 145-150 club, then a 125 club (52) then a sand at 100 or so. I'd like to tighten that range up to 140-125-110ish then add maybe a 58 on top.
What irons are you using now?
 

Papelbon's Poutine

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Interesting. I'm indexing at a 13 so not a low capper here. I'm a newb in terms of equipment knowledge.

Planning on a fitting this coming winter anyways so I'll address the distance gaps then. My problem is I have a 145-150 club, then a 125 club (52) then a sand at 100 or so. I'd like to tighten that range up to 140-125-110ish then add maybe a 58 on top.
Yeah, if you go to a good fitter, they'll include fitting your wedges to tighten up those gaps. My current set (Taylormade R11s; Vokey SM4 wedges) I'm gapped

9I - 40* - ~145 yds
PW - 45* - ~130 yds
AW - 50* - ~115 yds
Vokey SW - 54* - ~100 yds
Vokey LW - 58* - ~85 yds

specifically to have those yardages covered with 5* gaps, the wedges being a little stronger so I don't have to step on them; with having less sole/bounce, I'm more likely to chunk them (I have a steep swing), so the fitter suggested those instead of 55/60 type set up.

As Phragle asked, what are your clubs? But also what is the composition of your bag setup? You're better off losing a longer club and adding a wedge when trying to improve scoring. I'm going through this now and was just talking to a friend last night as I'm looking at possibly getting a new set for next year - as mentioned above, the lofts have been getting stronger and stronger in new sets, so a lot of the one I look at, the 5 iron is the same loft as my old 4, or within a degree. My 4 iron collects dust in my basement, so I intend to custom a set and drop the 5 iron as well; I'm just not sure if Id add another wedge or another hybrid. I do know I'm not going to pay for a brand new club i don't intend to use. I don't really care what the numbers on the bottom say as long as there's a consistent yardage gap of around 15 yards, give or take a few.
 

Comfortably Lomb

Koko the Monkey
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Switching to MB for anyone other than an extreme low handicap player is a terrible idea. There is a reason even the PGA Tour is moving away from pure MB lately: they're brutally punishing on off-center strikes compared to CB. The ball shouldn't fly shorter (at least not significantly?) with a MB assuming the same loft vs. a CB iron... unless you count distance lost because off-center contact is brutally punished.

That RBZ PW is 45 degrees. It's basically the same loft as my 9-iron. Also, 45 to your 52 wedge is a relatively big gap IMO. Being able to take more full swings from 150 in is a good thing if possible.