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Golf Equipment That Changed the Game


Mr_Theoo

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Saw this article on golf.com this morning about equipment that changed the game? http://www.golf.com/photos/golf-equipment-changed-game/taylormade-metal-wood#296191

 

A lot these clubs were before i started playing golf but i can see how these clubs made way for clubs that i use today. But then i thought about some of the equipment I've had and the way they changed my own game. One of the biggest ones for me was the SLDR. That driver gave me confidence from the tee where i didnt have any before.

 

So what piece of equipment changed your game?

Driver:   :callaway-small: Epic 10.5 set to 9.5 w/ Tour AD-DI 44.5

FW:   :cobra-small: F6 baffler set at 16º

Hybrid:  NONE
Irons:   :taylormade-small:  3i 2014 TP CB  4-PW 2011 TP MC w/ TT S400

Wedges:   :nike-small: 52º :nike-small: 56º  :edel-golf-1: 60 º w/ KBS C-Taper XS Soft-stepped

Putter:   :ping-small: Sigma G Tyne 34 inches Gold dot

 

 

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Very good post Theoo!! That sideshow was informative. IMHO I believe 3 clubs changed the game.

#1 The Ping putter period

#2 Ping irons

#3 the TM Pittsburg Persimmon woods

Also ball technology has drastically changed the game now anyone has numerous options on balls to fit their game.

Now the new SLDR drivers are an easier way to incorporate old school way of doing things. they are easy to adjust. In the old days we used lead tape and moved it around quite a bit to get the club to our liking with both persimmon and metal woods.

Yes the equipment has went a long way on things. I can give you a good example. I still play some vintage golf along with my modern stuff. Now I still have and hit my Tony Penna persimmon driver that I gamed until around 2000 or so. In 2000 with the ball we had I was considered long for my age. I hit it on average about 275 280. Now when I play vintage golf I hit it only 230 or so. Now remember I am 57 years old. Now with my modern Hathaway custom driver with the balls we hit now I hit it about 260 on average if I absolutely jump on it I can go about 275. If we did not have the equipment we have now I would be honestly in the 230 range due to my age and less swing speed etc. Yep the equipment has evolved a lot in my span of playing this game period. And wow the shaft technology has changed so much even with the steel shafts. I have actually taken older blade irons and put more modern shafts in them tuned for the iron and wow! really woke them up. And we have better club building equipment with a good example of being the shaft tuning machine or frequency matching. The knowledge and the adaptation of that knowledge has really changed the game. I am not one of those old fogies that gripes about technology changing the game because I enjoy playing "modern golf" and vintage golf. sometimes when playing with the modern stuff like I was today and literally striping that Hathaway driver like I was today I think wow! wonder how long I would have been If I had had this thing when I was 21 or even at 41?

Driver ---- Callaway Big Bertha Alpha  Speeder 565 R flex- 5W TM V-Steel Fubuki 60r--- 7W TM V-Steel UST Pro Force Gold 65R----- 9 W TM V Steel TM MAS stiff---- Irons 2015 TM TP CB Steel Fiber 95 R--- GW Callaway Mack Daddy 2 52* shaft unknown junk pile refugee. SW Callaway PM Grind 56*  Modified sole grind--- KBS Tour Wedge-- LW Vokey 58* SM5 L grind--- Putter Ping B90I Broom Stick 

 

 

 G

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Tie between ball and light metal headed drivers.

 

If you make me choose one its metal headed driver for us, ball for those at the very top of the game.

Taylor Made Stealth 2 10.5 Diamana S plus 60  Aldila  R flex   - 42.25 inches 

SMT 4 wood bassara R flex, four wood head, 3 wood shaft

Ping G410 7, 9 wood  Alta 65 R flex

Srixon ZX5 MK II  5-GW - UST recoil Dart 65 R flex

India 52,56 (60 pending)  UST recoil 75's R flex  

Evon roll ER 5 32 inches

It's our offseason so auditioning candidates - looking for that right mix of low spin long, more spin around the greens - TBD   

 

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Tie between ball and light metal headed drivers.

 

If you make me choose one its metal headed driver for us, ball for those at the very top of the game.

Tie between ball and light metal headed drivers.

 

If you make me choose one its metal headed driver for us, ball for those at the very top of the game.

I actually think the ball has changed the game for a multitude ( LOL how do you like that use of multitude?) of players across the board not just top echelon of players. IMHO I think it can make a difference in the game of a maybe 15 hdcp or lower if they make the right choice to suit their swing and game. There are so many different balls out there now with different properties that it can be overwhelming to some.

BTW Rev you can guess what I was studying a while ago by me using the word multitude cant you? Sorry Theoo got off your original post just a little thing for Rev to let him know I was reading the sermon preview from my pastor for tomorrow. I am the sound man I get those previews

Driver ---- Callaway Big Bertha Alpha  Speeder 565 R flex- 5W TM V-Steel Fubuki 60r--- 7W TM V-Steel UST Pro Force Gold 65R----- 9 W TM V Steel TM MAS stiff---- Irons 2015 TM TP CB Steel Fiber 95 R--- GW Callaway Mack Daddy 2 52* shaft unknown junk pile refugee. SW Callaway PM Grind 56*  Modified sole grind--- KBS Tour Wedge-- LW Vokey 58* SM5 L grind--- Putter Ping B90I Broom Stick 

 

 

 G

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Oh no problem going off topic Stu. I agree with you that the modern steel was probably another big changer that was left off that list. I know after getting fitting into a proper shaft for my irons I've had more consistent shots with them then the previous irons.

Driver:   :callaway-small: Epic 10.5 set to 9.5 w/ Tour AD-DI 44.5

FW:   :cobra-small: F6 baffler set at 16º

Hybrid:  NONE
Irons:   :taylormade-small:  3i 2014 TP CB  4-PW 2011 TP MC w/ TT S400

Wedges:   :nike-small: 52º :nike-small: 56º  :edel-golf-1: 60 º w/ KBS C-Taper XS Soft-stepped

Putter:   :ping-small: Sigma G Tyne 34 inches Gold dot

 

 

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I thought about this and yeah all this equipment changes did make hitting the ball easier, but the true game changer for me was not the equipment. It was forum participation. Specifically, this forum.

 

It has opened my eyes to different things and made me pay attention to different aspects of the mental game that really has been a game changer.

 

What difference does it really make if you can hit your solid core ball 300 yards with your big headed driver. You still have to keep it in play and get it in the hole.

 

Nice thread.

:ping-small:G430LST 10.5° on     T P T    POWER 18 Hi Driver 

:ping-small:G430MAX 3w  on     T P T    POWER 18 Hi Fairway 

:ping-small:G425 3H on     T P T    POWER 18 Hi Hybrid 

:taylormade-small:P790 Black 4-A 
on :kbs: TGI 80S
 

:mizuno-small: ES21 54-8° & 58-12° on :kbs: Hi Rev

:L.A.B.:DF2.1 on :accra: White

:titelist-small: ProV1  

:918457628_PrecisionPro: Precision Pro  NX7 Pro

All Iron grips are BestGrips Micro-Perforated Mid

Driver, 3w, 3H are JumboMax JMX UltraLite XS 

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Oh no problem going off topic Stu. I agree with you that the modern steel was probably another big changer that was left off that list. I know after getting fitting into a proper shaft for my irons I've had more consistent shots with them then the previous irons.

Exactly dead on. I am a big promoter of getting the "total package" on clubs whether being custom or off the shelf. A good fitter can take say a brand new set of TM blades and tune them for you and you will absolutely see a difference. IMHO the shaft is what drives the whole thing

Driver ---- Callaway Big Bertha Alpha  Speeder 565 R flex- 5W TM V-Steel Fubuki 60r--- 7W TM V-Steel UST Pro Force Gold 65R----- 9 W TM V Steel TM MAS stiff---- Irons 2015 TM TP CB Steel Fiber 95 R--- GW Callaway Mack Daddy 2 52* shaft unknown junk pile refugee. SW Callaway PM Grind 56*  Modified sole grind--- KBS Tour Wedge-- LW Vokey 58* SM5 L grind--- Putter Ping B90I Broom Stick 

 

 

 G

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I thought about this and yeah all this equipment changes did make hitting the ball easier, but the true game changer for me was not the equipment. It was forum participation. Specifically, this forum.

 

It has opened my eyes to different things and made me pay attention to different aspects of the mental game that really has been a game changer.

 

What difference does it really make if you can hit your solid core ball 300 yards with your big headed driver. You still have to keep it in play and get it in the hole.

 

Nice thread.

You are dead on it too and on this forum sometimes you learn something and sometimes you find others that share your same methods. You are a good example. When I first met you on here you did the instinct putting thing I realized that was my SOP and I had done it for years. I did not know what to call it but I had done it and still do it. Like the other night I was talking to MBP on the chat thing and he was telling me that the board need insight from us older guys on here. I realized the other day that the younger guys like Theoo had not been playing long enough to realize really how much the technology had evolved in this game and how we did stuff in the old days and advanced from there. He started an excellent thread and I was more than glad to put in my insight. When they did the Golf Spy thing and posted the detailed profiles the other night on those guys it really woke me up and by reading Theoo's profile made me realize that I have some clubs that I have owned longer than he has been around. Like I said I was glad to offer some insight.

RR you and I do share a lot of the same philosophy on the game. A good example is what you said about keeping it in the short grass. I have a Hathaway custom driver that I love and can control hit it reasonably far for my age I think. Now I messed around and built an older Nakashima driver the other week. Now it is a bomber in fact when I tried it on the range I was 20 yds farther in fact honestly wondered if it was conforming but I checked and it was. the only problem is that I am not consistant on control with it. Guess what when I played yesterday the Hathaway was in the bag. Yep I have gotten older and wiser

Driver ---- Callaway Big Bertha Alpha  Speeder 565 R flex- 5W TM V-Steel Fubuki 60r--- 7W TM V-Steel UST Pro Force Gold 65R----- 9 W TM V Steel TM MAS stiff---- Irons 2015 TM TP CB Steel Fiber 95 R--- GW Callaway Mack Daddy 2 52* shaft unknown junk pile refugee. SW Callaway PM Grind 56*  Modified sole grind--- KBS Tour Wedge-- LW Vokey 58* SM5 L grind--- Putter Ping B90I Broom Stick 

 

 

 G

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Thanks Big Stu.

 

I thought about this off and on through out the night. One club did change the game for me. The putter.

 

Not really technology wise. My current gamer is not even an Anser type putter. It is a Scotty from 1997.

 

But it was the decision that I was going to make the putter in my bag the most expensive club in my bag. It was going to be the most interesting club in the bag. And when I pulled it out my playing partners were going to be envious of that putter.

 

A $5 Special Putter has the technology to get the ball in the hole. But a more expensive putt gives me confidence. I also embrace putting as my favorite part of the game. And a more expensive putter is key to that.

 

My reward for a GIR is to pull the putter out of the bag after my approach shot and hold it on the way to the green. Otherwise. I almost never pull a club out until I arrive near the ball.

 

It may be silly. But if you can not putt. And the putter is not your favorite club. Than I seriously doubt you will ever shoot below 95 on a regular basis.

:ping-small:G430LST 10.5° on     T P T    POWER 18 Hi Driver 

:ping-small:G430MAX 3w  on     T P T    POWER 18 Hi Fairway 

:ping-small:G425 3H on     T P T    POWER 18 Hi Hybrid 

:taylormade-small:P790 Black 4-A 
on :kbs: TGI 80S
 

:mizuno-small: ES21 54-8° & 58-12° on :kbs: Hi Rev

:L.A.B.:DF2.1 on :accra: White

:titelist-small: ProV1  

:918457628_PrecisionPro: Precision Pro  NX7 Pro

All Iron grips are BestGrips Micro-Perforated Mid

Driver, 3w, 3H are JumboMax JMX UltraLite XS 

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I'm an old timer whose golf experience goes back to hand-stinging blades and laminated woods. One thing the young guys don't realize is that prior to Ping, there was essentially no technology at work in the game. Good clubs were "crafted", not engineered, to a higher level of performance and all the really good clubs were essentially custom. They were expensive and hard for get.

 

No junior golfer in my circle had good clubs. We all struggled with crap clubs. Today, even the lowest rung of cheap starter sets you buy in Dick's or Costco are engineered far above what we played with. I well remember each time Ifirst played each of the "game changers". It was an OMG revelation that caused an instantaneous change of heart. Ping putter, perimeter weighted cast iron, metal wood, modern ball, graphite shaft. Nothing like that feeling in the past 15 years.

bag - SunMountain Synch with Ogio Synergy X4 cart
driver - :callaway-small: Optiforce 440, Paderson Kevlar Green stiff 46.5"
fwoods - :taylormade-small: Jetspeed, 3HL regular
irons - :taylormade-small:  Speedblades 3-8, 85g stiff steel, 2 up
wedges - :edilon-small: Scor 40, 45, 50, 54, 58
putter - :ping-small: Ketsch 35" slight arc, SuperStroke 2.0 mid-slim
ball - :titelist-small: ProV1x

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Ping eye irons

Ping anser

Callaway big bertha

Pro v1

Dual strap for carry bags

 

You could make a case for Bushnell rangefinder, lightweight carry bags or the hybrid.

Rest in peace long sticks - I'll remember you

 

TM Burner Superfast 2.0 TP Regular

TM RBZ Stage 2 Fairway 14.5 stiff

Adams Blue Hybrid No. 3 stiff

Adams Super xtdHybrid 21.5 Stiff

 

Ping G30 4 and 5 Iron - Regular CFS Shaft

Ping i25 6 - PW Regular CFS Shaft

TM Y Groove Gap Wedge

Cleveland CG10 Sand Wedge

 

PingTR Piper Putter, adjustable shaft, SuperStroke Fatso

 

Titleist StaDry Cart Bag

 

Motocaddy S3 Pro Trolley

 

Foot Joy City, Adidas Boost Boa and Adidas Superstar shoes

 

Pro V1x in the summer, Titleist Velocity in the winter.

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I can't say there is a game changer that I've experienced, I started playing at 40 years of age. I'm 55 now. Most of what is out there now was out there when I started playing. It has been tweaked a little I'm sure, but I really don't see anything all that different from 15 years ago.

 

Maybe I would say the adjustable hosel drivers?

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If you played through the changeover from wood to metal then it was huge, as was the introduction of balls that span a bit but lasted more than 3 holes!

 

It's hard to believe just how easily balatas cut. Or was it just me?

Rest in peace long sticks - I'll remember you

 

TM Burner Superfast 2.0 TP Regular

TM RBZ Stage 2 Fairway 14.5 stiff

Adams Blue Hybrid No. 3 stiff

Adams Super xtdHybrid 21.5 Stiff

 

Ping G30 4 and 5 Iron - Regular CFS Shaft

Ping i25 6 - PW Regular CFS Shaft

TM Y Groove Gap Wedge

Cleveland CG10 Sand Wedge

 

PingTR Piper Putter, adjustable shaft, SuperStroke Fatso

 

Titleist StaDry Cart Bag

 

Motocaddy S3 Pro Trolley

 

Foot Joy City, Adidas Boost Boa and Adidas Superstar shoes

 

Pro V1x in the summer, Titleist Velocity in the winter.

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I'm an old timer whose golf experience goes back to hand-stinging blades and laminated woods. One thing the young guys don't realize is that prior to Ping, there was essentially no technology at work in the game. Good clubs were "crafted", not engineered, to a higher level of performance and all the really good clubs were essentially custom. They were expensive and hard for get.

 

No junior golfer in my circle had good clubs. We all struggled with crap clubs. Today, even the lowest rung of cheap starter sets you buy in Dick's or Costco are engineered far above what we played with. I well remember each time Ifirst played each of the "game changers". It was an OMG revelation that caused an instantaneous change of heart. Ping putter, perimeter weighted cast iron, metal wood, modern ball, graphite shaft. Nothing like that feeling in the past 15 years.

You know in retrospect your post made me realize something from the past. I was very fortunante with my dad being a pro and running a golf course that I always had top notch equipment from clubs to balls. Thanks

Driver ---- Callaway Big Bertha Alpha  Speeder 565 R flex- 5W TM V-Steel Fubuki 60r--- 7W TM V-Steel UST Pro Force Gold 65R----- 9 W TM V Steel TM MAS stiff---- Irons 2015 TM TP CB Steel Fiber 95 R--- GW Callaway Mack Daddy 2 52* shaft unknown junk pile refugee. SW Callaway PM Grind 56*  Modified sole grind--- KBS Tour Wedge-- LW Vokey 58* SM5 L grind--- Putter Ping B90I Broom Stick 

 

 

 G

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If you played through the changeover from wood to metal then it was huge, as was the introduction of balls that span a bit but lasted more than 3 holes!

 

It's hard to believe just how easily balatas cut. Or was it just me?

LOL no it was not you those balatas cut easily in fact I have hit the flagstick at a side ways angle with like a hot 4 iron and laid the side of a balata open and remember the flagsticks in those days where I was at were made of steel or aluminum. If you had a buried lie in the rough and had to chop skull it out oops there goes another ball. My lifelong friend and I joke now when we hit one thin we say oops glad that was not a Maxfli HT-100. Back when I was in my late teens early 20s and got where I could really hit the ball you are correct they would go out of round after 3 or 4 holes. I still have my metal checker gauge that checks the roundness. And if you hit a rock or the cart path forget that ball too stick a fork in it because it was done!

Driver ---- Callaway Big Bertha Alpha  Speeder 565 R flex- 5W TM V-Steel Fubuki 60r--- 7W TM V-Steel UST Pro Force Gold 65R----- 9 W TM V Steel TM MAS stiff---- Irons 2015 TM TP CB Steel Fiber 95 R--- GW Callaway Mack Daddy 2 52* shaft unknown junk pile refugee. SW Callaway PM Grind 56*  Modified sole grind--- KBS Tour Wedge-- LW Vokey 58* SM5 L grind--- Putter Ping B90I Broom Stick 

 

 

 G

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I can't say there is a game changer that I've experienced, I started playing at 40 years of age. I'm 55 now. Most of what is out there now was out there when I started playing. It has been tweaked a little I'm sure, but I really don't see anything all that different from 15 years ago.

 

Maybe I would say the adjustable hosel drivers?

In your case the advancement in shafts both steel and graphite would be in your era and also ball improvements. Also in your era I would say knowledge on building clubs have improved

Driver ---- Callaway Big Bertha Alpha  Speeder 565 R flex- 5W TM V-Steel Fubuki 60r--- 7W TM V-Steel UST Pro Force Gold 65R----- 9 W TM V Steel TM MAS stiff---- Irons 2015 TM TP CB Steel Fiber 95 R--- GW Callaway Mack Daddy 2 52* shaft unknown junk pile refugee. SW Callaway PM Grind 56*  Modified sole grind--- KBS Tour Wedge-- LW Vokey 58* SM5 L grind--- Putter Ping B90I Broom Stick 

 

 

 G

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In your case the advancement in shafts both steel and graphite would be in your era and also ball improvements. Also in your era I would say knowledge on building clubs have improved

Now that I think about it, the ball has definitely changed. My first set of irons were Callaway X-12's. my next set was Mizuno MX-23's. Those were an improvement..... to me.

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I can't say there is a game changer that I've experienced, I started playing at 40 years of age. I'm 55 now. Most of what is out there now was out there when I started playing. It has been tweaked a little I'm sure, but I really don't see anything all that different from 15 years ago.

 

Maybe I would say the adjustable hosel drivers?

 

I'd have to agree with you. No real game changers in this century. Maybe the Prov1, custom fitting, and the Bushnell come close, but they are perhaps evolutionary not revolutionary. Yes, it's really nice to know my exact yardage all the time, and to tweak my specs, and have a premium ball that doesn't wear out, but are they OMG revelations?

bag - SunMountain Synch with Ogio Synergy X4 cart
driver - :callaway-small: Optiforce 440, Paderson Kevlar Green stiff 46.5"
fwoods - :taylormade-small: Jetspeed, 3HL regular
irons - :taylormade-small:  Speedblades 3-8, 85g stiff steel, 2 up
wedges - :edilon-small: Scor 40, 45, 50, 54, 58
putter - :ping-small: Ketsch 35" slight arc, SuperStroke 2.0 mid-slim
ball - :titelist-small: ProV1x

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There is one in the last few years that everyone my self included left out. Trackman. I am old school and don't use or understand it fully TMI for me. But it has helped a lot of folks in swing changes and equipment selection. I was reminded of that this morning while watching reruns of the Re Max long drive comp and they kept mentioning it with the club speed ball speed etc. Like I said it would over tax my pea brain and make me think too much

Driver ---- Callaway Big Bertha Alpha  Speeder 565 R flex- 5W TM V-Steel Fubuki 60r--- 7W TM V-Steel UST Pro Force Gold 65R----- 9 W TM V Steel TM MAS stiff---- Irons 2015 TM TP CB Steel Fiber 95 R--- GW Callaway Mack Daddy 2 52* shaft unknown junk pile refugee. SW Callaway PM Grind 56*  Modified sole grind--- KBS Tour Wedge-- LW Vokey 58* SM5 L grind--- Putter Ping B90I Broom Stick 

 

 

 G

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There is one in the last few years that everyone my self included left out. Trackman. I am old school and don't use or understand it fully TMI for me. But it has helped a lot of folks in swing changes and equipment selection. I was reminded of that this morning while watching reruns of the Re Max long drive comp and they kept mentioning it with the club speed ball speed etc. Like I said it would over tax my pea brain and make me think too much

Very true, when I practice I now practice using foresight, another launch monitor, and video so I can see what's happening. It's been a major help for me.

Driver:   :callaway-small: Epic 10.5 set to 9.5 w/ Tour AD-DI 44.5

FW:   :cobra-small: F6 baffler set at 16º

Hybrid:  NONE
Irons:   :taylormade-small:  3i 2014 TP CB  4-PW 2011 TP MC w/ TT S400

Wedges:   :nike-small: 52º :nike-small: 56º  :edel-golf-1: 60 º w/ KBS C-Taper XS Soft-stepped

Putter:   :ping-small: Sigma G Tyne 34 inches Gold dot

 

 

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No one else has said it so I will...SCOR4161 wedges. Wedges have been the same since Adam played and then Terry came along with a different philosophy.

 

A wedge that is relatively easy to hit and can be played in pretty much any condition you find yourself, innovative to my mind.

 

And the "worst" part is, very few people know about them.

In the bag:
Driver: :titelist-small: TSR2 Project X HZRDUS Black 5.5
Fairway: :callaway-small: Apex UW 19° & 21° Project X HZRDUS Smoke RDX Black 5.5

Irons: :mizuno-small: JPX 923 HMP 5-PW UST Mamiya Recoil 95 F4
Wedges: :mizuno-small: T-22 Denim Copper 48°, 52° & 56° UST Mamiya Recoil 95 F4
Putter :Sub70: Sycamore 005 Wide Blade
Bag: 
:Ogio: Alpha Convoy 514
Balls: :callaway-small: Chrome Soft X

Cart: :CaddyTek: CaddyLite ONE Ver. 8


God Bless America🇺🇸, God save the King🇬🇧, God defend New Zealand🇳🇿 and thank Christ for Australia🇦🇺!

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