Stuka44

Just watched it. That was great. Makes one wonder about spending a lot of money on equipment.

I use the Garmin S40, or S42, its one of those two. First like others have said, I have found when I start to believe, and that is what having an "exact" number to the pin, prompts in me, that I can hit a golf ball an exact number, especially if the distance to the flag is the exact number I think I fly one of my clubs, then bad things happen. I immediately begin to have wholly unrealistic expectations of where this shot is going to end up, and most of the time the results are not good AT ALL. I am entirely comfortable with I got 140 to the middle, my 9 iron goes 135, the front is 130, don't want to risk 145 yard 8 iron, because over the green is NEVER GOOD, at any of the places I play. C'mon baby hit the putting surface!! Is good enough for me!! I will say I NEVER thought of what someone said earlier. All groups should be required to have one range finder, for the sole purpose OF LASERING THE GROUP IN FRONT, to prevent undue waiting when, AS OFTEN HAPPENS, the group in which nobody has hit a drive 225 yards, is waiting to tee off, even though the group in front of them is at 285 already. P.S. And as Tom mentioned I am freaking terrible at leaving, or almost leaving things behind, haven't left anything behind YET, that is attached to my wrist.

Ok.... Now I am a little confused. Is everyone(like me) waiting to see if we can recover the original one. Or have people re-entered some of what we had before, and I'm just not seeing it. I'd hate to see this be the end of this thread.....

Seth. My advice which differs almost always from most on this forum would be this. There is only one thing in this game that will lead to poor play, quicker than thinking to little, and that is thinking too much. I don't believe there is anything in this game that is a "should", or is "necessary". I use a grip with both thumbs, straight down the shaft, I can't interlock my fingers. This is what feels good to me. I have never had a formal lesson either. Sure on occasion I have utilized written material, and or a video here or there to adjust my chipping stance a little, or when I went to left hand low putting because I realized that I couldn't keep my wrists from snapping all over the place putting. I'm not sure how many rounds you play in a year, but to believe you should come to a course in your first couple of years playing, and again depending on how many times you are playing , and hit more straight drives, and crisply struck iron shots, than average to poor ones is unrealistic. Many will disagree, make no mistake. The only thing in terms of equipment I would say is this. I once played regularly with a guy who was 6'6", but actually needed shorter than standard clubs because his arms were so damn long. So I would check into club length for your height as something to address at some point, if necessary. Other than this, find a swing that works for you, and go with it. If you were losing 9 strokes hitting driver off the tee....No need to sell your driver! Just don't hit it off the tee...There is NO RULE that says you must. Hit something you can keep in play, 3W, Hybrid, 4 iron(crap 7 Iron). You say you are topping your irons. I'm wondering if you are topping 7, 8, and 9 regularly or are you topping 4,5,6, and perhaps 3 woods on par 5's. Flatter clubs, and the 3w, are harder for EVERYONE to get off the ground initially, and make good contact with. This doesn't necessarily mean there is anything wrong with your swing, if you can get a 7 or 8 iron off the ground, but not a 4 or 5 iron at the present time. A more consistent, and repeatable swing will come with playing. THERE IS NOTHING YOU MUST ABSOLUTELY GET RIGHT....There is no such thing. This forum has many examples of people caught in the "black hole" of seeking to find the perfect, or ideal swing they saw on a video, only to change to the next one they saw, and then the next, and the next. I would urge caution on this. I would play more, and practice more, and make sure your expectations are in line with how much you play.

Maybe I am wrong, but I believe courses are looking to the future and it potentially is not good. So they are making their money now, while the hype is good. Using catch phrases like Dynamic Pricing, because of "demand" and all of the hype about "new golfers". Make no mistake it is the core, and not new golfers who are paying *****The golfer base increased by 4 percent in 2023, from 21.9 million players to 22.8 million. That's a net increase of 2.3 million people since 2019, and is the highest number of golfers in the game since 26 million in 2010. *****According to the National Golf Foundation's definition, avid golfers play over twenty-five rounds a season and core golfers play at least eight rounds. *****The approximately 13 million Core Golfers in the U.S. represent about half of on-course participants but account for over 90% of annual play and spend. These are the consumers really move the needle in the golf business when it comes to play, spend and overall engagement. *****The number of Boomers in the game increased 4.8 percent to 4.9 million players. (65+ years of age). I didn't want to attach a whole page, but trust me, it says that those 65+ accounted for 29% of all rounds played in 2022, and 1 in 6 or (16.66%) played 50+ rounds(the most recent I could find without paying for the data from NGF) ***** We haven't done a very good job of attracting the generation behind us. So part of our challenge as an industry is we're starting to age out. . . . We have a big gap in that next generation behind us that didn't take up golf like I did at (age) 24. ** Generation X, or those aged 55-64, however, decreased by 3 percent to 3.7 million players. It doesn't matter how many new people try the game , it only matters to courses how many of those people turn into core golfers, now and in the future, for long-term success. And 29% of a courses income is presently from golfers 65+ years of age, and they are they are going to decline over the next 5-10 years, through inability to play, or death. And think about core golfers (8+ rounds) of all ages, who play 90% of all golf(remember it's less than 50% of ALL PEOPLE WHO PLAY). Think about how many golfers play 24+ times a year, my two brothers and I all play 40+ times a year. That's the equivalent of 15, 8 times a year players. So think about how much of this 90% of play is played by relatively few individuals, when you think about individuals playing 100 times a year, or the listed 833,000 individuals over 65 who play 50 + times a year. Calculated at only 50 rounds a year for these 833,000 players, it will require 5.2 million golfers to replace their rounds at 8 per year. Those 65+ are still carrying this game. Now obviously the hope for the game and courses is that there are enough people "trying" the game who as they age will replace the number of rounds these individuals play. It doesn't matter they are a body, they must replace all the rounds being played by these individuals.

Cost is going to keep going up likely steadily.. The reason is that a majority of golf is played by a minority of golfers. So if golfers especially those 65+, 17% of which play 50+ times a year are not readily replaced by others willing to take up the 50, or 30, or 20 times a year, then more must be squeezed from those left in the core of 15+ times a year golfers.

Gigagolf is a "knockoff" place in Florida. For someone just starting out you can get these clubs, custom fit for well under $1000, and they were just fine. I used a set for 10 years, and still use a 3 wood I bought from them going on 17 years now.

I've putted left hand low for 10+ years. It took my wrists out of the equation, which was a real problem for me. My mallet is a face balanced Ping Scottsdale Wolverine. I hold a full grip, thumb straight down the grip, and I anchor my right hand index finger, on the pinky of my left hand. Love left hand low. I've found a medium sized grip good. Super Stroke 3.0. It feels INCREDIBLY WEIRD at first, but I don't think I could use a "regular" stroke again.

I'm afraid to look if .... "Golf Bag Exorcism" is an actual thing on the internet. Because I may be inclined to pay for one!!

A LITTLE MORING GOLF STORY.......FOR YOUR READING ENJOYMENT! The day dawned chilly in N/E Ohio, then the wind blew even colder off Lake Erie. Powderhorn Golf Club, rough around the edges, but the fairways were in great shape, and the greens, were quite fast compared to previously. The cooler temperatures were not really a concern to me, as my brother and I play all winter long, if someone will let us out, often teeing off with air temps below 40 degrees. Hopes were high, it was a change of course(finally dry enough to risk it), but a place we play multiple times a year, and I know well. APPARENTLY on this Saturday morning, my number CAME UP, for the inescapable, unseen being(IT), VOODOO CURSE!!! I didn't suspect anything because I took a bogie on #1, the #1 handicap hole(OK), and then a par on a short par 4 #2. This is what "IT" does, so you don't suspect what is coming!! Holes 3&4, were allowed to proceed normally, not well, but without any exterior, malevolent force, that I could detect at this point it time. THEN THE ASSAULT BEGAN! On hole #5 a short par 3, I apparently was subjected to a VOODOO needle though the head, of my doll, because for about 6 holes, my mind was completely USELESS to recall, even though I have done it 100,000 times at least, HOW TO SWING A GOLF CLUB. For 6 holes every attempt to swing an iron, resulted in a shot projected off to the right at a 45 degree angle. Once this was over, the torture was a little more subtle. Apparently AT THIS POINT restrictive rubber bands were placed around the torso. No matter how carefully I planned out where I needed to land my chips/and pitch shots, I physically could not move my arms, enough to generate the needed momentum to carry the ball the planned distance, EVER. About this time the doll was apparently given to a VOODOO child, to play with. As would be expected with small children, VIOLENT SHAKING, AND DROPPING, ensued. The result was that apparently my head was unable to be maintained in a relatively still position, and was SNAPPING all over the place, and I hit about 9 balls off the tee, that barely made it to the forward tees...(I believe the last 4 years, I average 1 topped drive about every 3.5-5 rounds). And apparently after hole 2, the hands were pulled off. Because they were completely disjointed from my body. At no point was I able to communicate visual observation to them, NO ADJUSTMENT was able to be made, alternating between leaving putts, 6 feet short, or blowing them 6 feet past, with 40 putts overall (average is 33. something) . That my fellow Spies, is WHY you shoot 103, on a course your average 18 is 85. There was a sinister force at work, and nobody is going to tell me any different. I don't care if you blame me, but I sold my soul to have somebody else's doll pulled out of the bin next weekend! I DO IN FACT hope its "you", because I can't take the abuse again!!! Not really I hope nobody has to experience this.

Ooooops!! yeah there was already one going.

I agree 100%. My response is the same every time. New equipment costs, what it does...BECAUSE OF THE CONSUMER. They charge what they do, BECASUE THEY CAN. To be clear. No equipment manufacturer is LOSING money on any club it produces. ANOTHER TRUTH is this. There are not enough beginners, or people just taking up this game, who are running out and paying $700 for a driver, and $1500 for irons, because they are going out to a course for the first time. The club industry is supported, because there are enough people who purchase new equipment every year, or every other year is probably enough, to keep them going. I put it on one of two reasons. Either they purchase it because the price has not gotten to the point that they will choose to stop purchasing, or they likely believe the "advertising pitch", that each and every year for the last 25 years they have been able to come out with something "better", that will actually make the golfer better. Remember unless clubs are bought used off of a 2nd hand store, When the price is reduced by $150-200 because it was last years model, that it only done because enough were purchased at the higher price to have assured a profit. More than likely this 150-200 dollar reduction is still more than Dick's Sporting goods paid for them per piece. The only way prices are going to come down is when the club manufacturers begin to make A LOT LESS MONEY, because people stop buying all the new stuff every year it comes out. As long as they can MAKE MORE money, they are going to CHARGE MORE, until they don't make more.

Of course more rain this morning here in NE Ohio. Don't care! I am getting in my first 18 at my 2nd course Powderhorn tomorrow. I need a change, last 11 of 12 local rounds since October of last year have been at Erie Shores, hoping for a couple mud ball birdies!

I wish I had some profound wisdom. I have just always been a let the club do the work type of player. Always opting for a softer swing with less lofted clubs, rather than trying to crush a more lofted club. This is the best I got. Don't think about golf in isolation. You have probably engaged in other things. Think about other sports, or activities in which you partake that perhaps you have been pretty good at. Did you put the maximum energy into these things, I would hope not. Golf is no different than any other target game you have ever participated in. Darts: Did you throw them as hard as you could from 6-7 feet( I don't remember what it is). No you had to hit a double to get in, or 3 20's, 19's etc. in cricket. Cornhole: Do you throw the bags overhand from 27 feet, because you can. Bass Fishing: Did you launch your lure 75 feet onto shore, or did you ease it the 20 feet up next to the downed log(in the water), because the 5lb largemouth is probably next to the log and not 75 feet up on shore. Tennis: Sure I had the right to swing as hard as I could, at every serve, forehand, and backhand. But like golf, which albeit has a much bigger court, the main object, which will help you be better at it, IS TO KEEP IT BETWEEN THE LINES SO TO SPEAK. The professionals make crushing the ball, look cool and sexy. And contrary to what the equipment manufacturers imply, clubs really aren't going to help keep a ball in the fairway that was overswung at and destined to be 30 feet into the trees. I am no expert ". I would submit as a quite inconsistent contact maker, AND as a, "horrible swing just appears out of nowhere guy AND THERE IS NO WARNING FOR IT", I have not come across any situation in golf, where long term goals were benefitted by striking, any singular shot harder, to try and get it to go farther. A single hole may be better, OCCASIONALLY, but goals are long term, not singular. EGO: I know lofts are different for clubs, but(relatively speaking) you have to find a way to be OK with yourself, to hit a hybrid to the corner, instead of trying to crush a fade with the driver around the corner(Unless you are ACTUALLY GOOD AT THAT). Ignoring the calls of what are you a wimp!!! You must develop thick skin, to shed the insults, and ridicule, that are heaped upon you, when you are in fact hitting a less lofted club 8I(and going to make a controlled swing), when they are hitting 9I, or PW god forbid...."Oh the Humanity". You just have to be OK letting the 9I, and PW hitters, burn!!! That's a Hindenburg Disaster reference!!

Well I purchased my Cobra King Speedzone driver in 2022. I believe it came out in 2020. Sooooooo! by my calculations that means I have till about 2030-2032 before I have to consider buying a new one. I figure it takes in reality a decade or more, before club manufacturers progress to the point where any difference is actually noticeable, and would help to a small degree. So I'm set!

This is my use of wedges PW/43d (set)... Full shots 125 Yards AW/48d (set)... Full shots 110-115 yds. & Partial no wrist break shots 50-75 yds. 52d/Cleveland RTX 4...Full shots 100 yards/ partial swing 100-75 yards..... No wrist break shots 50-25 yards ( and under depending on conditions, carry desired, roll out etc.) 56d/Cleveland CG 14 ....Bunker play... No wrist break shots 25 yards and less (depending on conditions (over bunker, onto downhill etc.)

When I bought new clubs, I did so specifically because the PW was 43, AW / 48, and prior I only had 56. With more aggressive lofts as noted I then added a 52d, wedge which gave me coverage with full swing, for 135, 125, 110-115, 100, 85. (9I, PW, AW, 52, 56). The loft which gave me 125 yards was missing in my prior set. I found this troublesome as noted on unfamiliar courses, to navigate my drives to try and avoid the 125 yards distance, which I had no full swing for. Our group tries to play at least 10 different courses a summer. Additionally what distance would a 52 full swing go for you. Theoretically should give you a full swing distance as opposed to half swing with GW, which in theory be more consistent than half swing.

Best Burger....Almost... They left off the hash! Burgers 2 Beer: Bun... Two pieces of "Texas Toast", cooked as French Toast. Fried Egg & Bacon Topping: Syrup on the side you can Dip or Pour On. They had a similar burger before covid, it had an egg, and corned beef hash on it. But the bun was a regular hamburger bun.( I didn't get any credit but when I had the burger originally with the hash, and regular bun...I told the server that the only thing that could make this burger better, is if the bun was two pieces of Texas Toast...French toast.) I HAVEN'T SEEN A DIME FOR MY SUGGESTION. I make these including the corned beef hash(the canned stuff), on my Blackstone at home. AWESOME! Ironic, that I am going to Wahlburgers in Cleveland tonight for dinner, before the theatre.

I visited Charleston two years ago, found it amazing. I took my clubs, and just played one round at a course I had played before in Santee SC, on the drive down. Clearly I should have looked a little closer, and looked for a course right around the city. Looks Like Great Courses.

Depending on how far I need to hit the ball, and when I say hit the ball, I actually mean!! More or less.....Roll the ball, I go to my 4 or 5 iron, to get out from under the trees. Unfortunately I get more practice than I like, and have become quite adept at answering this question correctly before I hit the ball. "How hard do you hit a 4 Iron from 130 yards?( or any given yardage. FYI 4 Iron is my 185 club.)

He is a very good player, the best at this moment in time. VERY deliberate, and as stated reacts to good shots the same way as bad ones(which is not at all). And unfortunately, not to bash on the #1 player in the world, but on Monday speaking of the tournament with others who play, I was not really surprised when all 3 of them also indicated they had turned it off with 4-5 holes to go, because Scheffler is like watching paint dry. I know many(golf swing technical evaluators, who perhaps find it thrilling to watch) will ardently disagree with me, but I don't necessarily view it as a good thing that the "snooze fest", that is watching Scottie Scheffler play golf, keep occurring on a regular basis. I'm not proud of this.... BUT I was actually hoping for him to have to leave for his pregnant wife the whole final round. He was just too.... "Impressively Boring" to keep my interest.

I believe I said it was only a matter of time. I also said the PGA needed to get off its high horse, and stop believing that it was better than everyone. Also that it needed to stop trying to convince their players that to be paid their worth, in an industry that makes BILLIONS OF DOLLARS, made them a bad person. We'll see! If Rory does go, then we'll see who the first major network, that realizes people will watch Rory McIlroy, is to offer a TV deal. PGA needs to be VERY CAREFUL, at this point. Golf is not better, it is not special. And the players who are making others, FILTHY RICH, now realize they should be getting paid more. Rory is worth just as much to golf as Shohei Otani is to baseball. I'm not saying its right, or its good for the game, but I believe the PGA's "We are golf" stance since the beginning, and currently has forced the issue. "That's just the way it is" as Bruce Hornsby sang! The National Golf Foundation, valued the golf industry, in the United States ONLY in 2022 at 101.7 BILLION dollars. Now who is responsible for golf being worth this much now. its the players, that allow these organizations to make all this money. Oh and a $50,000,000 a year salary for McIlroy is 0.0004 % of 101.7 Billion. Anybody know any of these people....Buddy Hield, Keldon Johnson, Clint Capela, Malcolm Brogdon, Gary Trent Jr., or John Collins. I didn't think so. These are just a few NBA players that NOBODY KNOWS, who make between 18 and 25 million dollars a year, to help Lebron James make 47 million dollars a year, and owners, and equipment, and shoe makers, a WHOLE CRAP LOAD MORE MONEY THAN THAT. The guys who miss the cut, allow there to be a golf tournament, which IS THE REASON all of the club manufacturers , and ball makers, and shoe makers, can pay the stars all the money, to make even more money for themselves. The PGA is mad because it and all of the equipment manufactures, and everyone involved with the game of golf is realizing that the amount of people willing to be FREE LABOR, for them is going away. The "Genie" is out of the bottle, and there is no putting him back in.

"Fitting/Fitted clubs or No"

Congratulations to everyone!!! I will be watching this one closely. And this is the first time I have actually said this to one of these. I will be looking closely to see if anyone can offer empirical feedback, on making more putts, with the putter!!!!

I would agree with Stroker Ace for the most part. Most golfers find the 3 Wood the hardest club to hit effectively. I remember my beginner set that came with woods, and irons, had D, 5w, 7w.... I just realized you are in Scotland... Now I bought what would be considered a "knock-off" probably 25 years ago, in order to add a 3 wood, and 2H to my bag(Gigagolf Florida, USA). At that time they cost me $37 a piece(and that included shipping and handling). It goes the distance I need, has not come apart, and I am still using it to this day. I just replaced the 2H in 2022, because I gave it to my brother, not because anything had happened to it. I was still using it as my 200 yard club. I would perhaps check for a similar place around you. This way you can try a 3 wood(for less expense) and see if it is a club you are going to be able to hit, get used to, and as you improve see if you find a need for one. My brother doesn't carry one, never could get used to hitting it, has no confidence in it, so he rarely even brings one.