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This morning I had a scheduled driver fitting at my local Club Champion in Victor, NY which is about 15 mins east of Rochester. I've been curious about CC for years and after sometime, that curiosity won...a 15% off Father's Day coupon was purchased and away we went. I booked it all online which was super easy and from there I went. I arrived about 10 minutes early to a pretty neat looking shop. Putting area up front, counter and lounge chairs and a TV set to, you guessed it...the US Open preview on NBC Golf (Channel). My fitter greeted me and after I'd asked if I could bring my coffee in, I found my clubs were setup in Bay 2 ready to go. The expectations were set quickly and established from the outset. Here is our process, we start with your club, use that as the basis and work to find the proper shaft. Once the shaft is squared away it becomes a search for the proper head. Look / feel / performance were the priorities set for the final club build and I agreed with that logic. Unfortunately, I couldn't use my G400 LST as we tried other shafts as the hosel was non-conforming to their gear. We used my SIM2 that I am not hitting quite well and has been the motivation to pursue this venture...I like how they do this and allow us to compare shafts between heads....I see the value in that for the customer. So far, it all seems simple enough and while expectations are set, we did divert from the exact process a few times to see if a shaft / head combo did work as an outlier. Based upon my set numbers, the inventory of shafts we tried were: HZRDUS Hulk HZRDUS RDX Blue LAGolf Bryson LAGolf A series (mid) Ventus TR Among all of these I thought they were selected properly. I loved the feel of the A series the best but the dispersion for me was just a little sloppy. HXRDUS RDX Blue was a solid feeling performer and was eerily similar to my HZRDUS Yellow. I wouldn't be surprised if that shaft has a lot of borrowed traits. Hulk was not the shaft for me...it lives up to it's name and I am not a hulk. The Bryson felt nice like the A but again, just not a good match. The TR on the other hand, I like the loading characteristics and the feel throughout the swing. We stuck with this one for a while as we started to tinker with heads. G425 LST was first...didn't last long...I truly felt like it was a regression from the G400 LST... Callaway Rogue Max LS felt super good, played well but I could not get my eyes to jive with the look at address. At that point I asked to try a TSI3...Looks, feel, performance...like they wanted...this one was the right one...So which shaft? My fitter asked me since I liked the LAGolf if I would like to try the DJ shaft... This was where we diverted....the DJ was ideal for me. I didn't need to hit many to see my ball speed numbers were nearly the same if not better but the overall dispersion was better than anything else, including the TR. I was starting to get tired after an hour and that was when we decided to wrap things up. Between the two guys working, I didn't feel they were too pushy when trying to sell me a club. Let's be honest, they are in the business of selling golf clubs to a specific clientele. I knew that going in and knew my top end boundary price. They came in below and when presented with my proposed build, I said yeah, that's better than I expected so let's go. So I'll be going TSI3 in an 8* with an LAGolf DJ 65g 5 flex shaft. I am happy, relieved and have peace of mind knowing I advocated for myself in getting what I wanted that still adhered to look, feel & performance and I certainly would return. The image is my final swing with the winning combo.

It's summer time here couple weeks and he and Lys go back to Canada. They will be gone a month and it will be lonely for sure, but thankfully work/dogs will keep me busy. The little man is up to 6kg now which is double his birth weight and he is full of smiles.

I went back out today and played nine holes with my friends from work today at Bear Trace. It was a beautiful, but sweltering hot day. I took a screenshot of the temperature from about ten minutes ago and you can see the heat index at almost 9 pm was 99. My partner and I ended up carding a +9 45 and the other guys had a +3 39. It was fun watching Brandon and Poe play well, even if they decimated Chris and I. As for my play, my driver continued to be a weapon, the wedges were solid, and I had a good day with the putter sinking a couple of long (20 ft+) putts. My irons continue to be a problem, I think I hit two decent shots. I was plagued by the shanks again, but it bumfuzzles me that I could make not solid contact with everything else. It'll get there. I'm planning on calling a local pro this week to schedule a lesson and hopefully they can start the unenviable task of fixing my swing.

Thank you to all for the kind words. He passed this morning so the suffering has ended. The last couple weeks were pretty rough for him and really hard for mom to watch.

Didn't I hear that someone was originally picked for this putter but they never claimed it So they are asking for more entries before they choose another. Including Lefties!

This made me literally laugh out loud. “Surely”, I may be showing my age.

Don't believe em, and take it from experience... you're game is now screwed.

I was able to go through a fitting for these at Edel HQ back in May and I can promise you the technology works just like it does in the wedges! Amazing to see numbers, strike point, etc all change with a simple movement of the weights. You LITERALLY haven’t been fitted for irons until you’ve tried these. Once again, Edel leads the way! https://edelgolf.com/products/sms-irons

Amazing how these two have taken to Ivan. We figured all would be good ad they are friendly dogs but seems anytime we leave Ivan to play or roll around they jump right to his side to make sure he isn't alone.

Closed in my house here today. Bitter sweet… my wife and I worked butts off on this place for someone else to enjoy. Going to be tough leaving at the end of the month.

Dang man I was trying to be positive but we all know how Shanks goes and he gets happy just before he wants to give up again . Sorry Alan

Oh how I love* how this game can change so quickly: Played a friendly game on Friday, last chance to finalise the Nippon Modus review. 1st: 3 wood - 290y, chip & 2 putts - par 2nd: 3 wood - wedge to 5 feet - birdie 3rd: bunker - chip - 2 putts - bogey 4th: 3 wood - 5 iron - chip - putt - birdie 5th: 6 iron - 2 putts - par 6th: 3 wood - 8 iron - chip - 2 putts - bogey 7th: 3 wood - 7 iron - chip - putts - bogey 8th: 8 iron to 10 feet - lipped out - par 9th: 3 wood trees - chip out - 8 iron - chip - 2 putts - double 4 over after 9 - looking good and on for my best ever round!! 10th: Driver 320y - 5 iron - 2 putts - par 11th: 3 wood - 9 iron - putts - par 12th: 3 wood - 8 iron - chip - 2 putts - bogey 13th: 3 wood - 9 iron - 2 putts - par 14th: OB + rubbish - Triple 15th: Water - double 16th: Hack - hack - hack -etc - triple 17th: OB + rubbish - double 18th: 3 wood - 6 iron - 2 putts - par A great potential score ruined by 4 holes...

I know I will regret this… But man, I am absolutely striping it right now! Haven’t had better ball striking from Driver to 54° thet I can remember in recent times. The Home button is getting some good use. dang it… I’m screwed…

Was that the house you made an offer on?

They are basically the same shafts. The original hzrdus yellow became the smoke yellow which has now become Rdx blue. Similar to hzrdus black becoming the smoke black and now the rdx black. Not surprised you found the hulk not o won’t. That’s one of the lowest spinning/launch designed shafts on the market. I have a driving range buddy that’s pretty high swing speed and has tried it several times in different heads and hasn’t gotten along with and he was recently surprised how well a ventus red velocore 7x worked for him Nice write up and sounds like a good experience for you

Super bummed!! We are going to be there in 3 weeks.

The Yellowstone River set a new flood flow record yesterday at 49,200 CFS, topping the previous 30,000 mark! The park closed all entrances yesterday after the road following the Gardiner River was washed out in 5 places and they had numerous rock/mudslides around the park. What's nuts and a bit concerning is that we've really not had any long spells of warm weather. Locally, the Ruby River is just over maximum channel flow and flooding many of the fields. I'm scheduled to head out Monday for the PNW Meet-up... hopefully I can make it. Searching CL for one of these. Chris is so going to want to take it for a spin

Picked the wrong day to stop sniffing glue

Played yesterday in the sweltering Georgia heat and a tad hungover… needless to say I was shaky at best hitting the ball but managed to have a great day off the tee and with the wedge around the greens. Hit the flag stick twice and chipped in for birdie once. Playing well with a wedge is not typical for me but it’s something I’ve been practicing hard at this year. Overall I felt like I hit the ball pretty poorly(only hit 5 greens all day) but somehow managed to card a number that lowered my handicap(I typically hover around a 9-10 and carded an 81 yesterday) It was a weird feeling almost like I am primed for a break thru soon because some of the things I’ve struggled with have been what has saved me recently. What are some key occurrences that you guys see when you are about to break thru and put together a nice scoring streak? Interested to hear everyone’s thoughts.

Man, I wish I could’ve joined you two (and Tom’s BIL) out there. I’m still not able to play yet, and Tom was here what? 3 weeks ago? This sciatica is kicking my butt. Every time I think it’s getting better, it flares right back up. I’m supposed to be a tester for a putter that’s arriving Wednesday, and right now I’m wondering how I’m going to pull that off. I’m glad you two had a good time, and Stu, good on you for showing Tom some Southern hospitality! BTW did you boys hit up the Masters or Dollhouse?

Welp. We are screwed. This third house was crap too…. It’s at the point where I have to make a choice if the juice is worth the squeeze. Signs are pointing to… No. might be time to move on.

Well, we have "teed off on the 18th" of my Dad's life round. This tough old WWII marine is 96 and last Friday I had to get Hospice involved as his pain level and other medical issues got to the point of needing the more powerful drugs to make him comfortable. He and my Mom have lived with us since March of 2020 when the covid lockdown's started. They were about ready to transition from living alone anyway and the daily life complications brought on by the lockdown worked in our favor to have them move in with minimal resistance. His decline over the last couple months has been rapid as the heart failure condition brought on many other related issues. We hope to provide a dignified and mostly painfree '18th' for him to play out the round.

Man, listening to Brandel on TGC the last couple of days and he has a serious axe-grinding issue with LIV and the defectors. This helps explain some of that angst. Brandel Chamblee Contract, Salary Cap Details & Breakdowns | Spotrac It took him 15 years of tour play to make almost as much as Schwartzel made in 3 days But seriously, these network folks are losing their collective minds over this. I get they are defending the knife that butters their bread, but wow, move on already. Keeping this front and center is both detracting from the US Open and helping LIV.

It's going the wrong way!!

I was just going to say, it looks like Shankster's new house was going to be delivered via river boat

That video is bonkers. The way the house remained intact I can’t imagine watching my house disappear like that. I grew up in a small town just south of San Francisco on the coast. One of the neighborhoods a couple miles north of me overlooking the ocean lost a block of homes to beach erosion. One day you are looking out your front window at houses across the street and later you have ocean views.

... Great write up and thanks for sharing! It is hard to beat smooth for a feel player when it gives you the results you are looking for. But com' on dude a 1.49 smash factor? Perhaps if you dial down that club head speed to something like 109.5 you could hit the center of the face.

2nd this, and its going to happen quickly. Its on its way right now with higher median priced houses staying on the market longer where those houses were being eaten up quickly in the past year. Same with building. starting to slow down in the area and hopefully material rights itself. Holding out for a house when this thing comes twirling down.

This thread is the gift that keeps on giving.

I believe this one is still open for mods to apply yes?

It was brutal...I get why he pulled it as an outlier but holy smokes that thing felt like rebar. Thanks man, I was anxious about the sales part in fear of it being almost like a car buying experience...it was not and that was a good thing.

Of course! at least for the time being I suppose...

Wow! (..so uhh this means no more excuses off the tee, right? )

Bah!! Why do I play this game. I have a tee time tomorrow morning. Driver was all over the map it seemed. Only 2 fairways hit. Hitting my irons thin again. Only needed my hybrid and 3 wood once during the 9 holes and hit them both as well I could possibly hit them so that pleased me. I had a sand save lip out on the 9th hole and settled for a bogey. Another 9 holes in the low 50s.

that was me last month, i feel you. an eagle and 5 birdies, squandered by a quad, a triple and 2 doubles...

On Sunday afternoon I got a hall pass to get out and go golf for a 3 hour window between the responsibilities of life. I met up with a single on the first tee. Nice guy, grew up right beside the course but only started playing last year in the covid boom. a college baseball player, and once he works out a consistent golf swing he is going to mash the golf ball. My game was fine, my short game was really good. 11 putts through 9 holes and a -1 total score. I got a par on 10, then birdied 11 to get to -2 for the round. This was easily the lowest score I have had on a course this late in a round. But... my 3 hour hall pass expired and I had to head off the course and to Home Depot to pickup some drywall screws and thin set... Yep, I left my best round going ever to get back to remodeling a bathroom...

Yeah. It’s only a matter of time… but like I said, I will have “forced” layoffs coming up soon… So hopefully I don’t forget the good things while I can’t play.

Growing quick! There is good golf and internet service in Canada... just saying.

Trust me it happens and this is coming from a guy who had 9 birdies in a Mini Tour event one day and still shot 80---- No Joke--- But I did win most of the 2 skins pots---- In fact I won more on the skins pot than the guy who won the event did--- LOL won one skin on a difficult Par 3 with a Par chip in the only par I made all day. Crazy game

Owen and I got in nine at River Heights today. Right as I was setting up at the first tee, I got a notification that my new driver was delivered. Final send-off for my R9. Pretty ugly round. Putting was atrocious. Two 4 putts. Wedges were coming up short. Overall just a battle. Ended up with a +16 52.

No Masters or Dollhouse this trip. Heck even the beach didn’t have many sight seeing opportunities. In Tulsa now. Southern Hills tomorrow baby. On a pleasant 96 degrees and humid day.

Rabbits are dumb!!! Stupid rabbit had a litter of babies under my deck and my 3 hunting dogs found the nest and brought me them all some wounded some not. We will see how many survive but this is the second time this has happened! I guess being OOS due to back pain and my dogs not being outside much made them feel like it was safe.

Shot pretty well today, back to back birds on 11 and 12 will fix many things. its nice when you’re fully warmed up and swinging free. That’s a place that’s harder and harder to get to, when you’re just getting older and older

Well I had a learning weekend for sure, frustrated but I am learning. I had two great starts to my rounds this weekend. I was 37 on the front, then really fell off the back to shoot 79. Then I had my best start ever of birdie birdie par par, then I got nervous trying to save it and finished at 40. I was really frustrated yesterday when I blew my 2 under start, mentally I go into protection mode and start trying to guide the ball instead of releasing the club. I talked to my pro afterwards frustrated, and he laughed because of two things, one some of my thought process on the bad holes. Also, because these are my comfortable scores, and he said I have to learn to get comfortable at being better. I was not comfortable I was so nervous. My driver is really killing me, the toe strikes just put me in bad spots and put a ton of pressure on my approach game, it may be on the chopping block soon. My short game has really improved, and I watched some old Brad Faxon videos and my putting was on fire this weekend. Best putting in a long time. Going to try and hit the range this evening if the heat will let up. Saturday Sunday Score 79 40 FIR 6/14 1/7 GIR 5/18 2 PUTTS 30 13

I FINALLY got out to the course today after a couple MONTHS!!! I didn’t keep score, just popped it around for 18. I hit about 6 REALLY good shots because the swing is all over the place. It was nice to get out there again! Hoping to get back at playing consistently here in the next month or two!

The hospice decision is never easy but when it’s right you know it’s right. If you need anything let me know. He is a lucky man to make it through WWII and to make it to 96

Alan Shipnuck was one of the golf journalists thrown out of an LIV press conference. Shipnuck sent Norman a tweet shortly thereafter, shows how Norman operates...loser.

I'm thinking Jay will have all the Liv Tour players refused entry into the USA ??

He was extremely lucky regarding WWII - he fought on Okinawa and his unit lost over 50% of their men. After growing up i realized how mentally strong he was to survive and live normally after going through that