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I slide too much instead of posting up and turning in the downswing; instructor confirmed as much this morning. Hoping this helps ingrain the right feels a bit…

A semi-impulse-purchase yesterday. Was surfing 2nd Swing's website as I do from time to time. Have been thinking about putting my MS-11s back into play; I've set them down for trajectory and spin reasons a couple times in the last dozen years. Those problems are not as pressing these days as they were 10 years ago. I've also been toying with trying a utility in the 17*-18* slot in the bag. And, have thought about even replacing Mizuno blade 3i with an MP-20 HMB. Well, as I poked around the site, I saw they had an MP20 HMB 2 iron, complete with Steelfiber i95 stiff. A shaft I am contemplating. Took it as a Sign from the golf gods. Hoping it gets here in time to use this weekend. Living in the same town as 2nd Swing HQ might help there.

Bought this last week. In my fitting I was able to both line this up perfectly and start the ball on line almost automatically.

After last weekend, my course closed for the season. Weather was taking a turn, overnight lows getting to 20*F and below. And, they've opened back up, with our high temps being in the 50s and even 60s, starting yesterday through next Tuesday. How about that? Playing today, tomorrow, Sunday, and hoping to set something up for Monday. After the last few years of early season endings, nice to have this little reprieve.

I have more rounds in with 699 Pro's. Man do I like these clubs. Only issue is they flight very high. Sunday's round and the scramble I played in on Tuesday I had more than normal balls plug in the green even with it being pretty wet around these parts. Still my dispersion is better and better shots I know I made the right decision on buying these clubs. If you are on the fence about buying these clubs, feel free to jump over, you won't be disappointed. I have a decision to make tho, I am not positive on the shafts. I had them built with KBS tour 130 shafts. I went and paid for a shaft fitting after I received them and that guy said I should go with Project X LS 6.5/1250. I have talked to Cody and he said no problem changing them out. After Bandon next week I'll decide.

Picked up a Scotty Cameron Phantom X 12.5 putter. I seen one on eBay that had the back flanges grinder down to match the look of the 11.5 and was hooked. Hopefully gonna be able to add a flow neck Hosel to it as well. Gonna be a fun winter project

No, it's just poor course design or tee placement. If it's intended to be played by average golfers then it should be set up so that average players can play it. Having said that, players should ensure they play off tees appropriate to their abilities. If I were faced with a 200 yard carry to clear the water, with no option to play out to one side, I'm playing off the wrong tee and should move forward.

Don’t want to link an article from another site so posting some of the interesting myths and his response to them. These are some of the ones that seem to pop up constantly on forums The letter flex code on the shaft tells me how stiff the shaft is No it doesn’t because there are absolutely no standards in the golf industry for how stiff any of the shaft flex codes are. Every golf company and shaft company is free to determine how stiff their various shaft flex letter codes are to be. As a result it is very common for the R Flex from one company to be similar in stiffness to the S Flex from another company or the A Flex from a third company. Not only that, but it is very common for a flex in one model of shaft to be stiffer or more flexible than the same letter flex in a different shaft model from the same company! There is no better proof than to offer a clear illustration. Following is a graph comparison of 7 different R-Flex shafts, from 6 different companies. These shafts were all measured using the same methodology to graph the comparative stiffness at 7 identical points along the length of each different shaft. The numerical measurements represent cycles per minute (CPM) of frequency measured with a 454 gram weight on the tip end of the shaft. For comparison of the relative stiffness for all these R Flex shafts, focus on the CPM measurements for the 41 in and 36 in columns in the data chart. At these points on the grip end of the shaft, a difference of 7 CPM in the 41/36 measurements is equivalent to one full flex, based on averages from more than 2000 different shafts. (when the tip weight is reduced to 205g, a 10cpm difference is equivalent to one full flex level) As you can see, among these 7 shafts there is a relative stiffness difference of 28 CPM, which is nearly four full flexes – and yet all of these shafts are labeled by their respective companies as being an R Flex shaft. Next let’s look at a graph comparison of a number of the R Flex shafts from different shaft models, all from the same company. Within these 6 different R Flex shafts all from the same company, can be seen a range in basic stiffness of 19.5 CPM, which equates to a difference of nearly 3 full flex levels. Yet all are labeled as R flex shafts. It is VERY IMPORTANT to understand that such variations are by intent and DO NOT represent a mistake or lack of quality in any manner by these companies. Remember, each company is free to determine their own standards for the actual stiffness for what each flex of each shaft is to be. It is not wrong – it just is the way it is. What’s wrong is when golfers do not know this and make buying decisions based only on a meaningless letter code imprinted on the shaft. So the next time you head out to buy a new club(s) or a new shaft, please remember that R does not equal R, S does not equal S, and none of the letter codes equal each other. If you want another good reason for why it is worth it to be professionally custom fit by an experienced custom Clubmaker, here is yet another one of many reasons to do so. Many of the experienced clubmakers are well aware of the variations among the flexes of all the shafts and can guide you into the very best shaft selection for YOUR swing characteristics.

Bought a SIM 2 head off the other forum… been testing the Sun 70 driver and have really liked it’s pop compared to my cobra, but since the Sub 70 uses a TM adapter I figure I should at least have a TM head lying around too… I may have a problem lol

There are lots of tips and tricks for playing links in the wind, I spent a summer working and playing at Bandon every day. If the wind is howling my best advice is to take 2 extra clubs and choke up an inch. Take a regular swing. As for the 699 Pro, great club! As for shaft change... If you are hitting them consistently center strike I wouldn't worry too much about changing shafts.

Yes, i have been working on flighting the ball down and also working on a controlled draw.

Some outlets have referred to the 2019 Foremost situation as an outright acquisition while others have referred to it as a joint venture which implies that Taylormade does not fully own it. Either way they now have full or majority control over the two biggest/best white label ball factories in the world. At a minimum they should be able to curb future IP infringement and have the potential to squeeze out or limit new entrants into the DTC market if they wish. I’m actually surprised that Acushnet didn’t do this years ago.

Much of this is incorrect. First, all ball brands under Acushnet are produced in a factory that they fully own, they do not outsource any ball production (plants 3 & 4 for multilayer cast thermoset urethane models, plant 2 for injection molded cover models, plant C for custom stamping). Next, Nassau did not produce balls for Nike as they specialize in cast thermoset urethane covers (process established in partnership with Taylormade in the mid-2000’s), Nike’s urethane models were all injection molded TPU produced by Bridgestone from 2000-2010 then at the SM Parker factory in China (formerly Fantom) starting with the 20xi line I believe. Nassau’s largest customer in the past couple of decades has far and away been Taylormade. Also, switching to a different factory is not an easy task nor is it without implications. The biggest challenge is going to be with the cover production method. I am only aware of 5 facilities in the world that currently have thermoset casting capabilities in any real capacity and those are all now fully or partially owned by Acushnet and Taylormade. Dimple patterns are also generally limited to what the factory already has unless the customer wants to pay for new tooling (which short of the big ones like Callaway, Taylormade, or previously Nike doesn’t really happen). Remember the Snell MTB Red? That was Dean’s attempt at offering a new option at a time that Nassau did not have capacity so he went to another factory (Fantom/SM Parker) which resulted in a ball with a TPU cover and Nike’s 336 dimple pattern which. The ball was universally panned and lasted less than a year because it was nothing like Dean’s prior work. Core and mantle production methods are more generic across the industry which makes factory migration easier, but I would imagine it is a bit more involved than a few weeks of back and forth.

As has been the usual lately, a mixture of great and terrible. I'm trying to laugh it off, but I'm fighting frustration with my current regression/plateau and the fact that as my iron play has gotten better it has fully exposed the weakest part of my game (really short approach). Its kind of funny that when I used to miss my approach shot by a mile I had an easier time getting up and down then I do when I'm 15 yards from the hole with a wedge in hand. I'm certainly more comfortable but confidence isn't there yet on the course. Anyway onto the round. I played Rustic Canyon today which was, as always, incredible. It was, however, particularly vicious today -- the course and golf gods gave me no love today with bounces, lies, and putting locations. I didn't put up a monster number but I would call my 92 a heavy struggle. That being said, if I can tame these blowup holes, even down to just bogey, I'm going to be in very good shape. The good: Off the tee -- Excellent. I hit 10/13 fairways (which has to be a record for me) Driver -- Mostly great, with a few what did you just do moments. 3Wood -- Best day I've ever had with this club. I was crushing it all day, both off the deck and off the tee, but getting truly unlucky on approach. A foot short into heavy 12" grass on a par 5, a yard left catching the edge of a bunker on a long par 4, and getting a mega kick forward that put me into the back of a deep pot bunker on a par 5. The Average: Irons -- I was either in great shape or just missing. Could have been better but just didn't really feel dialed all day. Wedges -- There were a few terrible skulls with par in play that led to triples. Otherwise they weren't bad. They didn't help me either. Putting -- It just wasn't an on day. My speed was okay but my aim was not. The Poor: My luck -- It was bad kick city today for me. Man its frustrating when you have the local course knowledge and the course says, "nope, that won't work today." My green reading: Usually I don't have a problem with Rustic, but today it gave me fits. I just read things totally wrong so many times today. (I recognize that it says 34 putts but because of the links nature of the course I had a putter in hand a lot more than it shows. There were a lot of 3 putt stroke holes that only count are only two official putts.

Agree completely, I've seen a very few courses where someone playing the appropriate tees has an un-manageable carry. But to the original question, there's no rule of golf.

I was surfing Titleist’s website this morning looking at the new navy camo release along with clubs. Went to their fitting page and they have a nice little fitting “booklet” http://media.titleist.com/images/titleist/files/US/2021_Ball_Fitting_Booklet-R.pdf?_gl=1*1py8s91*_ga*MTYyMDQxOTgzMS4xNjM1ODU0NTIy*_ga_NDEGCLSWHY*MTYzNjExOTQxNS4yLjEuMTYzNjExOTc0MS4w

Was pretty decent outside so the lad and I played 18 at River Heights today. We started a little rough and never really got it going for any extended stretch. Still a good time as always, of course. I had three three putts and a four putt and a total of 39 putts, 2/14 FIR, 3/18 GIR, and a score of 102. He shot 100. Sun was shining and I was playing golf in November... I'll take it!!

I have both the 939X 4 hybrid (21* loft) and 949 Pro 5 hybrid (24* loft) in my bag, and I concur with you. I have not been able to hit a 20 to 22 degree hybrid more than 195-200 yards in more than a dozen years, but I hit that 939X 4 hybrid close to 220 yards on solid strikes. Yesterday, I played in damp 35-45 degree weather when I would have expected to get reduced yardages — and I did with most of my clubs. However, I hit several shots of more than 200 yards with that 4 hybrid, and a few of 185 to 190 yards with the 949 Pro 5 hybrid. On one shot yesterday, I had just over 200 yards to the green, hitting from a slightly uphill lie in the rough, which should have given me reduced yardage. I didn’t want to hit my 19* 5 wood because the lie was rather sketchy and I was afraid of topping or chunking it, so I hit the 939X hybrid, hoping for a short chip shot from just short of the green (15-20 yards, at worst). Instead, I pured the shot, and it carried just past pin-high and bounded off the back of the green into tall fescue. I found the ball, but had to take an unplayable and a lateral drop. One of my playing partners said, “you were in there in three, right”. When I told him that I was in that deep rough/junk over the green in two, he replied “how did you hit it that far from that ugly lie in the rough?” All I said was “4 hybrid “.

I was playing Wilson Di7 irons for about 5 years and thought I needed an upgrade. I picked up the Cobra Bio Cell irons and hated them. My son liked them so it was a "hear you go". I went back to Wilson and got the D200's which I liked and was playing until last year. I was selected to test the Sub-70 699 Pro irons last year. That was a game changing surprise and still sitting comfortably in my bag.

It's probably targeted to those of us who simply cannot get enough golf analytics . And, before you ask, the answer is an emphatic no.

Small 1/4 swings in garage just to move. Back a little stiff but not bad. Getting there. Hopefully able to get to a range next week

With my shaft problem and your head problem, we can make a full set of just drivers

Picked up a used SM8 as my current 54* is a SM7 I bought from CPO a year and a half ago on a whim (price was right) and is a half inch short and isn't the right grind for me. I had been waiting for one in good condition for a good price! Really excited to finally land one, had to comb through a lot of listings to find the right one!

In an ideal world that would be great. But there are plenty of places that do this already, and the quality of the fitters is generally inferior to paid fitters (obviously there are exceptions on both sides, but they can be very hard to spot in advance).

Just joined yesterday. Thanks.

Will need some feedback on those, I queued them up in the cart yesterday before deciding against them.

Sliding is a hard habit to break. I did it for years; you can play that way, but it's not efficient. Hope this works for you.

sweetness...if memory serves, these were the heir apparent to the ProLite. I cannot say enough good things about the ProLite35 as it was one of the best shafts ever made and a steal at $40ish when it was being made. Keep us posted...

Something tells me that Adam never intended this to be about having a meaningful conversation - and he did everything in his power to prevent a meaningful conversation from happening on that podcast

TaylorMade owns Foremost iirc. They make balls for other companies there. I don’t see anything changing with Snell or other DTCs that use Nassau. TM will be beneficiary of getting paid to make other people’s golf balls

Day 2 post surgery for SWMBO going painfully slow but okay for now. Meanwhile I got more steroid injections in my lower back today. So back is stiff and I am moving around very carefully. I think I know why Atty’s sue for pain and suffering….

It is. You young bucks provide us old guys a constant supply of golf tech hand-me-downs. I have @Thin2winV2. Maybe his V3 when the V4 comes out and a GC3 when the GCX hits the market .

So I got in my Sub70 949x 4 hybrid with UST Proforce V2 shaft yesterday and took it to the garage today to see how it preformed and I don’t think the reviews that say rocket does it justice. I got it to go between my 7 hybrid and 3 hybrid. My 3 is usually between 210 and 220 and my 7 is 180 ish. Apparently the 949x has a warp drive because it was a consistent 240 and would be straight or I could fade or draw on command still playing with the weights but seem to like both slots with the heaviest weights. So I guess my 3 hybrid will be my in between club lol. I will see how it preforms on the course this weekend but what a beautiful club it is.

For me wholesale changes in the irons and wedge department due to my ongoing nerve issues in my back---- Driver and Fairways mostly the same--- Putter always the same when not playing vintage---- I comitted to this set up 2 weeks ago and have played and practiced and have 4 rounds in pain free. Irons 5 thru PW 2016 TM TP CB Steelfiber 95 R shafts pristine shape in fact 5&6 irons still had plastic on them when I traded for them. I have been messing with them a year or so on the range and have more or less gotten used to the different feel for me overall SW Callaway Mack Daddy PM Grind 56* modified from 13* bounce to 10* bounce Stock KBS steel Wedge shaft was new when I did a trade deal for it GW Callaway Mack Daddy 2 52* 8* bounce Stock Cally shaft - This wedge was found in one of my junk pile finds rusty but did a Coke soak for 24 hrs turned out fine. Grooves like new. Have the 56 and 60 to match all have raw finish I have built a basically TM clone Turbo Power 25* hybrid that the head was in some of my stuff still in shrink wrap. I think it came from my buds shop when he retired like 5 years ago. found a stock TM R hybrid shaft in my stash. Have not hit actual balls on the range or course yet. Will not get to do this weekend because a nasty Coastal storm with rain and wind is moving in. Did hit 10 whiffle balls in the yard this AM but it was cold and the wind getting up but it felt good weight wise and felt good on contact. Liked the weight on it from the get go. I think I can get a little more out of it from the fairway than I can the 5 iron but it is still experimental. I reluctently made the move from my steel shafted Machogans but do like the feel of the TMs sorta an acquired taste I guess. I decided to make the wedge switch since my beloved 588s are starting to get concave

Welcome! I also play Bridgestone pretty exclusively, and I've been lucky enough to visit their ball factory in GA once upon a time. I don't ever notice "weird anomalies" with BStone balls, and I think we usually all know when we hit one kind of sketchy. I suppose if it's in your mind, try a different ball that has close to the same characteristics (LOTS of good info on this site) and see if that ball works for you. We all need to have a clear mind and eliminate as many variables as possible to have any chance at this bloody game. Again, "Welcome!", and I agree: Fix Your Ball Marks.

Doesn’t show up when I browse the forums.

Tried a few shafts including the smoke 70 and the results of both Tensei and Smoke were similar - too heavy for me. Tried to swing at normal course speed and evidently i'm swinging a lot slower than I used to a couple years ago. I ended up going for a 60 gram Accra Tour z X455 m5 which reduced both spin and dynamic loft, distance increased and that spin rate should be good for the links golf I play. First 3 are tensei and last 4 are Accra:

Cut the head off the shaft, remove the grip and use it as a Tomato Stake

I made my order for my 425's on June 10, 2021 from Edwin Watts. The last time I called to ask for a status update, I was told late December to early January... I hung up the phone and promised myself to not call for any more status updates. If I don't receive them by mid-Feb, I'm complaining my @$$ off.

... I had been fit as well as fitting myself over the years and knew exactly what worked for me. Mizuno wanted me to do a review of their new MP59's and wanted me to go through a fitting with one of their reps before building and sending me the clubs. First thing he did was have me take 3 swings with the optimizer and it came back with a first choice of: KB Tour S-Flex, 1/2" long and soft stepped once. The is exactly what I was playing in my MP63's. I was very impressed. Interesting to me, I had the same numbers as Luke Donald, just a little slower swing speed. The rep had me hit balls to make sure the trajectory and spin were where we needed them to be and they were, so all good. As others have said, it is a great place to start as it shows how you swing not so much how fast you swing.

Yea, he was in awe. Did I mention the Square Strike he pulled? The D7's seem to be treating you just fine, but it's always good to let them see other shiny metal and fend off "in the bag" complacency. It is crazy how some iron designs just don't work. Outwardly, one wouldn't expect that to be the case.