B_R_A_D_Y

I’m an old fart and grew up 100 yrs before utility wedges … I was taught to open my sand wedge varying degrees or bump & run a choked down 8 iron. I bought a 60* 2 yrs ago and love it because it doesn’t release as much from 20 yds in … or just drop in a full 50 yd shot. The biggest issue I have is the impulse to have my hands in front of the ball which de-lofts the club. Keep in mind that I do not have enough head speed to stop short pitches, but I have developed a feel for gauging the small release I get. Does that make sense? I do believe the key is a bounce that fits your course’s firmness and your swing. I’ve tried 60s I can’t hit well. But maybe that’s just because I took the time to get comfortable with my Calloway PM grind … a club I’ve never seen anyone else using

I love Winn Dri-Tac LT … I feel like I use a lighter grip pressure.

How long has the weather been horrible in MO? I’d like to buy one and hit it before snow hits here in Dec.

I’m getting close to pulling the trigger: 5-GW, +1/2 in length, Aerotech Steelfiber i95 reg, Jumbo max tour series & pondering -1* strong loft. I should be able to get them below wholesale … but think they r on back order right now. I would love to kno the specs on ur clubs & what price u r considering.

I have back issues and I am interested in the Corba one length irons for that reason …also waiting on the upcoming review of them. The big questions I have are: since they are 7-iron length, but I prefer my 5-iron posture more, would the lengthened set be playable? My guess is that they chose 7-iron length as standard because it’s in the middle of a 3-iron & wedges. And then how will a 5-iron length GW perform? Not crazy about ordering a longer set, and then questioning whether standard length would have been better. By the way, the closest clubfitters are 1-1/2 - 2 hrs away.

Now that the season is over for the golf masses here in Ohio, I enjoy the solitude on our course and I practice the shots that gave me problems during the year … on the course. Our back 9 is mostly side hill, up hill, & down hill shots. So while I don’t divot up the fairways, I do find a spot in the rough that is near or equivalent to where I end up on a round. Our greens have recently undergone aeration, so trying to hit 3 balls into them from 100-150 yds out is not going to take a toll. I do repair my ball marks WHEN & IF I hit one . My up hill and up / side hill shots have improved, but it’s tough getting a down hill shot up, in front of an upslope. I push that shot a lot … if I get it up that is. No wise cracks please.

To this day, I can’t swing a weighted whip training stick without having this story pop into my head: I was an Assistant Pro at a local country club back in 1980 … just a 20 yr old kid. On Mondays, the area Pros got together for a round of golf & poker. I loved those times, especially listening to the stories the older pros told. My favorite story was from the Pro I was apprenticed under, Bernie, and his best friend and fellow PGA professional, Irvin. Irv owned a course across the river, and the two of them flew to Scotland every winter to play the historic courses. That year they had flown to St. Andrews, but unfortunately, the airline had lost Irv’s clubs. The clubs had not surfaced by their first tee time two days later, so Irv walked into the pro shop and said, “I’m a PGA professional, the airlines have lost my clubs, can I get a loaner set?” The attendant said sure and that the caddie would bring them to the first tee. When the caddie and clubs arrived, Irv pulled out the driver to take a few swings before teeing off. Bernie said that as Irv swung the club, the shaft bowed like a rubber hose … I imagine it was like an training whip. Back then, the forerunner to the whip trainer was a weighted driver that Maltby sold … one that you might actually hit, tho they described it as a timing trainer, and not for hitting … being a kid, that’s exactly what I tried to do, and it was near impossible. Irv had waited all year to play a round at the Old Course. How could he possibly enjoy his dream round with crap clubs? Irv turned to the caddie and asked, “How am I supposed to play with these … are these the best you have?” The caddie’s response was quick and matter of fact … even tho I wasn’t there I hear it in my head with a thick Scottish brogue. “I’m sorry,” he said. “I thought you were a professional from America. A pro should be able to play with anything.” Irv didn’t say a word, teed up a ball, and played a quiet, uncomplaining round of the worst golf of his adult life. Bernie said he didn’t hear Irv utter a single curse word at any of his bad shots. Which to us was an impossibility because Irv seemingly couldn’t speak a single sentence without swearing. Bernie was grinning ear to ear as everyone pounded the poker table in laughter. Irv finally interjected, “The next time they lose my clubs, I’m not waiting for the airline to find them … I’m buying a brand new set … on the spot … no matter what it costs.” — FYI: Irv’s clubs were finally delivered to his hotel in time for the second day of golf.

To this day, I can’t swing a weighted whip training stick without having this story pop into my head: I was an Assistant Pro at a local country club back in 1980 … just a 20 yr old kid. On Mondays, the area Pros got together for a round of golf & poker. I loved those times, especially listening to the stories the older pros told. My favorite story was from the Pro I was apprenticed under, Bernie, and his best friend and fellow PGA professional, Irvin. Irv owned a course across the river, and the two of them flew to Scotland every winter to play the historic courses. That year they had flown to St. Andrews, but unfortunately, the airline had lost Irv’s clubs. The clubs had not surfaced by their tee time two days later, so Irv walked into the pro shop and said, “I’m a PGA professional, the airlines have lost my clubs, can I get a loaner set?” The attendant said sure and that the caddie would bring them to the first tee. When the caddie and clubs arrived, Irv pulled out the driver to take a few swings before teeing off. Bernie said that as Irv swung the club, the shaft bowed like a rubber hose … I imagine it was like an training whip. Back then, the forerunner to the whip trainer was a weighted driver that Maltby sold … one that you might actually hit, tho they described it as a timing trainer, and not for hitting … being a kid, that’s exactly what I tried to do, and it was near impossible. Irv had waited all year to play a round at the Old Course. How could he possibly enjoy his dream round with crap clubs? Irv turned to the caddie and asked, “How am I supposed to play with these … are these the best you have?” The caddie’s response was quick and matter of fact … even tho I wasn’t there I hear it in my head with a thick Scottish brogue. “I’m sorry,” he said. “I thought you were a professional from America. A real pro can play with anything.” Irv didn’t say a word, teed up a ball, and played a quiet, uncomplaining round of the worst golf of his adult life. Bernie said he didn’t hear Irv utter a single curse word at any of his bad shots. Which to us was an impossibility because Irv seemingly couldn’t speak a single sentence without swearing. Bernie was grinning ear to ear as everyone pounded the poker table in laughter. Irv finally interjected, “The next time they lose my clubs, I’m not waiting for the airline to find them … I’m buying a brand new set … on the spot … no matter what it costs.” Just an FYI: Irv’s clubs were finally delivered to his hotel in time for the second day of golf.

I read an article on Jack Nicklaus back in the early 1980s in which he was quoted as saying something like, “you have to stop and smell the roses while playing.” He explained that even though you need to be focused on your round, you should not be so focused that you are oblivious to things that also make the game enjoyable … the beauty of the course, the beauty of the day, and for this example, the wildlife around you. While my home course has a few holes over run with dirty geese, it is a treat to often see a group of wild turkeys walking across the fairway on the back nine. But the course where I saw the most wildlife, was the Palms at Disney World, also back in the early 80s. What truly made this round stand out was a group of wily raccoons. After purchasing your food at the turn, you land your #10 tee shot across a creek. Driving your cart over the bridge, you park next to the landing area, and walk to your ball. As soon as your group abandons their carts, the raccoons come out from hiding under the bridge, and blitz the carts for the food you have just paid an arm & a leg for. And before you can hit & get back to the cart, they are gone, sometimes without even being seen by the unsuspecting benefactors. I was a single that day, so I was paired with a husband & wife from France … he spoke English but she didn’t. I had seen the masked bandits strike the group ahead of us, so I explained to the couple what was about to happen. We backed slowly away from our carts and watched expectantly as the critters rolled out from hiding, looking for their next booty haul. My sandwich was long gone by this time, but they did stick their noses in my chip bag, and took the husband’s last half of burger. The wife, however, had not gotten any food and was evidently feeling as if she was missing out on the experience, so she walked back to their cart as the gang half heartedly retreated from an interrupted caper. She rummaged thru her purse and retrieved the only eatable item she had, a roll of antacid tablets … a few heads were poked out of the shadows watching intently. She then proceeded to unwrap the tablets, and toss the colorful discs toward the raccoons, who snatched them up & gobbled them down. I would say, that on that day, after stuffing themselves on cart after cart of overpriced greasy food, those raccoons finally had a night’s sleep without heartburn.

As a reference point, Pros change Vokey wedges every 50+ rounds. Do your wedges wear the same or better?

I love the leading edge … I love everything about it. I was planning on getting a used corvette but maybe I’ll get one of theses wedges instead. I kno innovation comes at a price. I accept that. But I have a list of golf-wants waiting for funds. I paid $400 for a new putter this year, why not a killer wedge. Consider it added to my wish list.

Practiced green side chips … just shoulders, back 2-3 inches, then thru. Next opened face & repeated. We have a few downhill, next to green shots where you can’t go long. Saves 2 strokes if I can flop onto the apron.

I remember all the clubs I loved then sold, then regretted selling, then moved on ... then found a new one to love. You’ve got to play it to love it. Otherwise it’s just a pretty rock.

I’ve had ankle issues all year from trying to swing too hard … rolling to back of my left foot. Is there a difference between swinging fast & swinging hard trying to kill it? I’m going to rethinK my tempo & give fast swing a try … but I still believe someone can make a fortune with a golf lobotomy eliminating the kill thought.

Wanting to put shaft extensions on Ventus blue IRONS, anyone know what the shaft ID is? Only info I can find is that OD is .610 … which is of no help.