sosuHands

Played them today and I think these are pretty good balls for my current game and swing speed. Didn't really lose any distance on my long or full shots and short shots were not an issue, if there was any it would have been my bad short game. I was worried about durability but, it held up 16 holes without any issues. Very little scuff marks or damage to the "hybrid cover" or non-urethane cover even though I hit a few trees head on.

I went to True Spec, North Georgia for a Driver fitting a couple weeks ago and thought I'd share my experience.  
Previous Gamer: Titleist TS2, Accra FX 2.0 - 250 M3, fit by Club Champion 3.5 years ago.  It's been a good driver, was pretty good for a push-draw stock shot.  I kind of always felt like I wasn't getting all I could out of it.  My swing speed with it was usually around 108.  My good drives were usually somewhere in the 280's, best drives right at 300.  Before that, I played a Ping i15 with a stock Ping shaft (heavier and stiffer than the accra), and I think I was longer with it.  
I went to Mizuno at the Battery (Braves Stadium) to get a fitting a month ago ... I'd definitely recommend it because of the very reasonable price.  I mostly went for the iron fitting but the Driver part was interesting.  The Mizuno swing analyzer thing had me swinging a 7-iron 96mph with a very aggressive transition, so it recommended all the stiffest shafts.  So, the fitter had me try a Hzrdus Black 70g X-Stiff with the Mizuno ST-X 230 Driver and it was easily 10-15 yards longer than my Titleist.  280 was gone, everything was 300-ish. That got me to really thinking and you know how it is, I had to get a more comprehensive Driver fitting, which took me to True Spec.  I chose True Spec North Georgia primarily because it had the indoor-to-outdoor fitting environment.  I like that so much more than indoor.  I feel like I just don't swing my swing when I'm in a bay hitting into a Screen.  Something about feeling closed in and lack of true immediate feedback of ball-flight.  
So, the True Spec fitter also said he thought I definitely needed a stiffer shaft.  He clocked me swinging the Titleist with the accra around my normal 108.  Then he had me try a Ventus TR Black 6X.  Immediately my swing speed jumped to 111-113 and stayed there the rest of the fitting.  THAT was intriguing to me.  He said even though the Ventus was heavier than the Accra, sometimes a person's body/mind can perceive when they're swinging something weaker or stronger and will compensate.  That was definitely true of me even though I didn't know it for these last 3 years.  Now, what I did learn is that I also can't hit my normal push-draw with that stiffer shaft.  So, when I was trying to do that, I was hitting a pull hook (awful).  And, that may be why the Club Champion fitter put me in the Accra - because it "got along with" and promoted that push draw.  But, what I could do with the Ventus was hit a straight shot (Who knew?!).  So, I stopped trying to hit my push draw and just started hitting it straight with a small fade or draw sometimes.  My main miss with my previous Driver was a push-fade, when I'm trying to draw it (a secondary miss was an overcompensated hook).  The fitter said that was primarily a product of the weaker shaft that couldn't keep up as consistently with my swing speed/transition.  I think he was right.  With the Ventus, it didn't feel like that push fade was even possible.  OK, so we found the shaft!!  And, I've learned some very valuable info about my swing and what shafts can do for it.  
On to the heads... He tried me first in the Mizuno (because I told him about that previous fitting).  Then he asked what else I'd like to try.  I told him the usual suspects: Titleist TSR (I said 3, but he said, Nah, I think you need 2), Taylormade Stealth 2 Plus, Callaway Paradym (he thought the regular Paradym over the X or Triple Diamond), Ping G430 (He recommended the LST over the Max), and Cobra Aerojet LS.  So those were the candidates.  I'll put them in the order I tried them:
Baseline (Current gamer TS2):
Club Speed: 107.5, Ball Speed: 154.5, Spin: 2931, Total Distance: 281 (12.7 std dev), Control: Good.
STX-230: The Mizuno had a decent showing.  
Club Speed: 111, Ball Speed: 161.1, Spin: 2975, Total Distance: 287.9 (8.9 std dev), Control: Good. 
TSR2: I wanted to give Titleist the first shot since that was my previous gamer.  It was decent, but my face contact wasn't great with it. 
Club Speed: 111.3, Ball Speed: 161.5, Spin: 2975, Total Distance: 288.3 (12.4 std dev), Control: OK.
G430 LST: I wanted to give Ping the next try since I played a Ping Driver for a long time before the Titleist. It was surprisingly probably the worst performing of all. 
Club Speed: 110.8, Ball Speed: 162.4, Spin: 3285, Total Distance: 281.1 (12.2 std dev), Control: Awful. 
Paradym: No reason for the order from here on, just what the fitter gave me.  Paradym was very impressive, good distance and excellent consistency.  These were my 7 shots: 307, 300, 297, 308, 305, 299, 299).  We now have a strong leader in the clubhouse!  The fitter said that Paradym performed really well in True Spec's robot testing ... that it significantly outperformed others in "forgiveness" with very small drop-offs in ball speed with off-center face contact.  
Club Speed: 112, Ball Speed 164.3, Spin: 2576, Total Distance: 302.2 (3.9 std dev), Control: Good.  
Aerojet LS: Wow ... This thing was amazing ... for better and worse.  It hit bombs!  But, it was very unforgiving.  Big discrepancies, but the bombs made it very attractive.  These were my 7 shots: 310, 322, 319, 271, 269, 296, 326.  4 out of 7 were great, 2 were clunkers.  And, I had trouble with missing it exceedingly high on the face.  The fitter said he had seen this often with the Cobra with the high face contact.  He said he had a PGA pro in there recently who had the exact same trouble.  But, man, I am super intrigued by the distances I was getting ... For that alone, this one has to remain in contention.  Even the clunkers weren't that much shorter than my good drives with my old gamer.  
Club Speed: 113, Ball Speed: 162.1, Spin: 2281, Total Distance: 301.7 (21.6 Std Dev), Control: OK.
Stealth 2 Plus:  I have never gotten along with Taylormade Drivers, so I didn't have high expectations even though it won the MGS best driver award... This Driver stepped up to the plate and changed the game. It rivaled the consistency/forgiveness of the Paradym and the power of the Cobra.  I could swing it confidently and make decently consistent face contact.  These were my 8 shots: 307, 306, 309, 305, 309, 303, 300, 326.  The MGS winner was also my winner!
Club Speed: 111.3, Ball Speed: 164.8, Spin: 2275, Total Distance: 308.8 (6.8 std dev). Control: Good. 
The fitter then tried me in a Tour AD shaft just to be thorough ... He said that shaft had a little less torque than the Ventus. Club and Ball speed went down slightly and we could tell that from a few shots it wasn't going to be as good.  Then he tried an Autoflex (X-flex), at my request, and at his reluctance. Definitely not a fit. I had to gear back to swing it OK.  One thing I'll say about it is with a geared back swing with less effort it was doing pretty well.  I could see it benefitting some people (maybe me as I age).  
So, from that day to now, I've been looking for (and ordering) a way to build the Stealth 2 Plus with the Ventus TR Black 6X shaft on the cheap ... and I'm also going to try to do the same with the Aerojet LS just for some experimentation.  
Man, that was a really fun experience, and I'm feeling a lot better about myself and the distances I can get.  I didn't think the pros were swinging THAT much harder/faster than me, but with my old setup, I couldn't imagine averaging over 300 on drives.  I also didn't think equipment was going to make that much difference. I'm glad to be wrong.  I was really amazed ... almost every driver with the new shaft setup was going to be a significant improvement over my previously fitted one.  I mean I'm gaining like 27 yards on average from my gamer to the Stealth 2 Plus.  That's crazy.  
One thing I think I'm losing in this new setup is the ability to hit a playable draw. I am almost certainly changing my stock shot from a push-draw to straight or slight fade, but that may end up being an added blessing also.  I'm seeing why most of the pros are hitting fades with their equipment setups.  

I had my fitting today with the Team Titleist group at TPC Sugarloaf. They had 6 stations set up with trackman at each, every shaft possible was available for irons, hybrids, fairway woods and drivers. (Probably wedges, but didn't check)
My assigned fitter, Jason let me get warmed up by hitting for 10 minutes. He asked what was I looking for and I told him the T150 irons. He then wanted me to hit 5 quality shots with my current 7 iron which is the 2019 Titleist T100s. After looking at the data, he advised that his objective was to get my ball speed increased, flight higher and spin up a little. He agreed that the T150 was a good starting point. I proceeded to hit 5 shots with the T150 with the same shaft I currently have. The height went up a tiny amount, but speed and spin were about the same as current irons. He then started changing the shafts with me hitting 5 shots with each and us discussing the data after each shaft change. Not only was I feeling and seeing the difference, it showed up on trackman. After about 45 minutes we narrowed it down to a little different shaft which increased my ball speed by 5 mpg, dispersion was better, flight higher and spin both like he wanted. I went with the T 150 irons. He suggested that I go with a different 4 iron, so we settled on the Titleist U505 with a Project X HZRDUS Black shaft. FYI - I could tell very little difference in the club head size of the T100s vs T150 irons.
I was fit for a driver at Club Champion about 16 months ago and it was a good fitting, but today was the most relaxed, attentive golf experience that I have had. There was never any pressure and my fitter kept me involved in the entire process, getting my thoughts and input. Titleist had around 10 guys available from Regional Mgr to local fitters.
I would highly suggest that anyone search the Titleist website and find a location where you could be fit. Additionally, I was provided with a Titleist T-Series goodie bag with some nice items. Later today, I received several emails. 1) with all trackman data from all the shafts that I hit. 2) confirmation of my order with details.
Irons should arrive in 2 - 3 weeks.

Loved the tweet from HV3, and spot on with HV3 hopping on and getting away from social for a while. 
I am sorry to be that guy--but for clarity sake, a bush hog is a large rotary blade mower most commonly powered by and pulled behind a tractor.  It is used to mow fields with a mix of growth that would be difficult for a commercial mower to clear.  So HV3 is getting away from social and getting back to work.  @PeterHenric

+1. The elite players on the PGA Tour who stayed will never make up what DJ, Brooks, Bryson & Phil got from LIV $ to name a few. I could see how they'd feel betrayed today.

... I was offered a European Billboard campaign for a cigarette company back in the early 90's and had always said I would never sell out period but also kids would see the image and I did not want to be a part of the cancer causing problem potentially influencing kids to start smoking. They were going to pay me a one time buyout of $15,000 and as a semi struggling actor at the time that was a ton of money. My ex said "It is only gonna run in Europe and we could really use the money right now so maybe think about it?" and before I could answer my 5 yr old son said "Aren't there kids in Europe?"  I was a very proud Dad that day. 

A bush hog is a 4 wheeled all terrain vehicle that is typically used on farms. I'm guessing that HV3 wants to hop on and get away from any social media or news for a while.
My comment (from the top rope) comes from wrestling - it means completely demolish or eradicate with vigor...

I think it's terrible for the golfers for the most part. The ones who stayed loyal to the PGA Tour missed out on a boatload of money. And as a viewer, now I have to see Patrick Reed again. Lose/lose all the way around.

I like Scott Van Pelt's tweet. Pretty much sums up a lot of feelings about the change. 
 
 

COMING SOON: Chapter 2!

Follow along as I dive into the joys and sorrows of a set of muscle back irons.
 
We’ll laugh, we’ll cry, we’ll dig a little deeper into the psychosis that compels me to play these irons
 

Let me clarify this question, not who should play an MB iron or who can play a MB iron, but who looks at a well-crafted muscle back iron and says, “Nah.”
 
Golfer thy name is Hubris…
 
The conventional wisdom suggests the answer would be anyone who has tried to hit one and failed but leave that defeatist talk for the pessimists and the practical. In this golfing kingdom, we trade in the fantastical and visions of glorious, crisply hit irons that soar through air with a subtle draw and land as softly as a mother’s touch.
 
Now for a bit of back story, as to what prompted this question to begin with: I was perusing Callaway Pre-owned and noticed they were running a sale on Apex irons. I am always on the lookout for bargains on equipment, as most of us are. Through shear serendipity, I stumbled across the Apex MB 18 single irons for sale and noticed a 7 iron with a Project X 6.0 shaft could be had for what it might cost to feed the family at McDonalds. Throughout my golfing life, I have played cavity backs, game improvement, and players distance irons, but never a muscle back. To this point, price rather than fear or experience has been the determinant, so armed with delusions of grandeur, I clicked Add to Cart.

 
Yesterday afternoon I arrived home to the sight that every golfer has come to know and love, an oblong rectangular cardboard box waiting for me on the front porch. That moment (really, anytime golf clubs arrive in the mail) for me, is as close as I’ll ever get to recapturing the joy I felt as a child on Christmas morning. I’ve added photos below of the unboxing. Once I had club in hand, two thoughts occurred to me: 1) This must be how King Arthur felt holding Excalibur for the first time and 2) I’m going to need to swap this standard grip for a jumbo for comparison purposes
Armed with my current 7i and the new MB 7i, my Rapsodo MLM, and after further examination and consideration of the lofts of these clubs, my current 8i which is lofted one degree less than the MB 7i at 33 degrees, I set off for the driving range. Confidence, at this point, was running high and dreams of glory and the love & admiration of my peers danced through my head.  On my way there and all the way up to the first swing with this mighty stick, I developed and repeated the mantra: Do not fall in love with a golf club, do not fall in love with a golf club, do not fall in love with a golf club… And then I took my first swing.

IMG_0539.MOV    
Too late…
 
For those of you that have come this far, let’s dig a little deeper into the range session. I hit 12 ball with my current 7i, a Mizuno JPX 923 Hot Metal Pro with a KBS tour 120 stiff shaft. Here are the dispersion and averages
And now the 12 balls I hit with the Callaway Apex MB 18 7i with a Project X 6.0 stiff shaft

Overall, with the Callaway I  gained 4 yards of carry and a significantly tighter dispersion. Beyond the intrinsic value, the muscle back iron just felt better. Try as I might, there is no better way to explain it. 
 
My first foray into player’s irons have left me a little giddy and debating if I should replace the 7 iron in my bag for my next round. To avoid the pitfalls of confirmation bias, I need to hit this club in actual playing conditions. Obviously hitting off the mat is a controlled environment, but the initial results are encouraging. Now if you’ll excuse me, I need to decide which kidney I’m going to sell to finance a set of mb irons…

Thanks! Anytime, but the last time I checked, I need to pass a couple benchmarks on the beginner/intermediate 9-holes before a club will let me on to their 18-hole. No room for laggards. 😂
Yep. These folks have style to spare.

Heyo! I thought I’d give a small review of the latest club to hit my bag.
Who Are You
I picked up the game back in the 00s in my forties, played regularly at Tilden Park in Berkeley, California for a few years and got my handicap down to 20. Then my job and other priorities took myself out of the game for several years. Now after settling down in Denmark, I’m slowly getting back into golf. 
The nearby golf course has a waiting list for new members due to the sport’s resurgence. Hopefully by summer I’ll have a course I can call home. Until then, I’ve been hitting at the driving range and playing “public” nine-holes. And about twice a year, I play a mini-series with my brother whenever I get out to California.
When I first started, I had a firm belief that my game should be as good as my clubs, so I purposely bought clubs that I could grow into and when needed, shape a shot. I worked at it and got there.
These days, I’m at a crossroads. I’m starting to recognize that I don’t have the game I had 15 years ago. While I’m confident that with practice I can break 90, I’m not sure that I can or want to do it with all the clubs I currently have in the bag. This new club I bought might be an indication of what I’ll change with my equipment moving forward.
Just a note: All my club purchases have been in the US. Frankly, it's cheaper. In the past whenever I've tried to schedule a fitting places have been booked. Some day, I'll get one, but until then, I'll do what I usually do, read and look for recommendations online. 
A Change, It Had to Come
For a while now, I’ve been struggling with my 5-iron (Mizuno JPX 900 Forged, Project X LS 5.5 metal). My mishits on the range and the course made it my least trusted club when it came to middle/long-distance shots on the fairway or rough. I have no problems hitting a hybrid club, so I toyed with the idea of getting a 5-hybrid, but being left handed, the options were just too limiting. 
Sub 70 has been on my radar for a couple years, so when I saw that they were offering the new 699-U V2 at 23°, I jumped at the chance and ordered one from their site.
Yes, I just bought it. Timing on my side made it too difficult to test the club first and receiving what I order during my stay in California. Besides, the price was in the right target zone for me at $135, and from what I read and for what it’s intended, I was pretty sure it would be a safe bet. Moreover, as a lefty that’s my usual mode: Buy it before it’s out of stock.
699-U V2 Specs
Head Color: Black
Body Material: 431 Stainless Steel
Face Material: S450 Steel
Face Thickness: 1.7mm
Shaft: Project X Hybrid 476 graphite stiff
Length: 38.5” (standard)
Lie: 61° (standard)
Loft: 23°
Offset: 3.81mm
Grip: Winn Dritac 2.0 midsize
I did use the online virtual fitting feature. According to the site, I should have a lie of -1°. Unfortunately, while customizing club online, I found that when I went back to change any specs above the field for lie, it reset to standard, and I didn’t catch it till it was too late to change. I’m not that disappointed since my clubs are all at standard lie anyway, but it is something to keep in mind—double-check your specs before buying.
Look and Feel: Just Need a Brief New Romance
It’s a good looking club.



Sub 70’s first version has a look that’s bare-bones with a get-the-job-done attitude.

Nothing wrong with that, but the V2 design in black adds an understated coolness to it. Think 1960s crowded gathering in the suburbs where everyone's in standard evening attire, and standing among them is a lone figure dressed in simple black, who’s looking at you with eyes that say, “Let’s get outta here.”

The 699-U V2 has a wider sole than my 5-iron, and the offset is apparent, but at address, I hardly notice those differences possibly because the black color has a way of slimming down the club to my eye.


And, I do love the black.
Out Here in the Fields
The first thing I did was hit some balls on the range. The big difference to me when comparing my 5-iron to the 699-U is the weight. Getting a graphite shaft was the right decision.
UPDATE: I followed up with Sub 70 to ask about details of the Project X 476 shaft. Apparently, CEO Jason Hiland worked with the folks at TrueTemper/Project X to make a special Sub 70 shaft that caters to a large audience of golfers. My takeaway from that is that I’m part of the mass of golfers that benefits from this kind of shaft.
Specs on the shaft:
Project X Graphite 6.0 476
Weight: 75 grams
Torque: 3.8
Launch angle: Mid
My club’s swing weight (per my calculation) is D0. I didn’t request anything, but Sub 70 does help meet customer spec requirements.
In my swing it felt similar to my hybrid, while at contact it felt and sounded like a 5-iron.

I don’t have access to a launch monitor, but here’s an average of the club’s stats based on two outings at two different driving ranges via Top Tracer.
Carry distance: 158 yds
Total distance: 170 yds
Ball spin: 113 mph
Launch angle: 19°
Landing angle: 40°
Height: 24 yds
The average carry yardage is 158 while the average total yardage for me is 170, which is the target distance I wanted on the range. What I love is that my ball strikes are consistently in the center.
I was more impressed with its performance on the course. With my imperfect swing on uneven ground on a Springtime course, it gave me the forgiveness that I was looking for, like keeping the line down the left side of the fairway even though my shot was toey, or keeping it straight and true to hit the green from 161 yards out. It gave me confidence in the middle of a longer fairway and helped me gain a couple GIRs during my rounds. 
About the Grip
I wanted to try something different. I liked the feel of the Dri-Tac on my old Ping Karsten Anser putter, so I thought I'd try it on a swing club. It is softer compared to my Golf Pride MCC+4 grips. That's not necessarily a bad thing. My goal is to have my gloved hand comfortably grip the club without squeezing too hard. But since I use Bionic gloves with its leather thicker than other gloves, the Dri-Tac might be overkill.

To Sum Up
Out of five stars ...
Ordering: ⭐⭐⭐⭐ If not for the glitch selecting the preferred lie, it would have been a perfect experience. I should say that I have emailed and spoken to customer service with questions and feedback, and the experience has been top notch. First impressions:  ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Good looking club. Performance: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ It met my expectations. Exceeded it, really.  This 699-U is definitely a keeper. I'd be tempted to try out the 17° or 20° version, but for the meantime I'm happy with my hybrids.
Chest of Treasure or Can of Worms?
Having some successful outings with this club bring a few questions to mind, including where do I go from here? The ease of wielding this club gives me reason to ask, do I have the right irons in my bag? While I've loved the feel of forged irons, I’m not finding the same kind of forgiveness I get with the 699-U. When I look back on my results on the driving range, I can see that accuracy with my Mizunos is not what it used to be. Sure, I've taken lessons to improve that, and I need more practice and a better stretching and exercise regime; but with my body this side of 55, I don’t know if I can ever make it back to driving 250-275 yards on the range. I don't know if I'm making it harder on myself to play a kind of game that’s showing less reward than I’d hoped.
Should I give up the feel of forged irons and steel shafts for lighter, wieldable hollow irons and graphite shafts? Should I give myself a break and consider getting 699s (or 699 pros) as a way to ease the path to breaking 90? While I'm sure I can shed more light on this subject with a fitting, I'll put those questions out to you folks as well. 
And while I consider all this over the course of the season, one thing I am certain of, more Sub 70 clubs are welcome to find a home in my bag.
... One More Thing
My club arrived with a few other things in the package, among them Jason Hiland's business card. Nice touch.

—
Update March 2024
Heyo!
I just wanted to offer a quick update. It’s been a year since I posted this review, and I have a few numbers to share.

Avg carry: 164.8 yards Avg club head speed: 81.2 mph Avg ball speed: 115.2 mph  Avg spin rate: 4894 rpm (Not sure if it makes sense to including launching and landing angle for a this club, but I’d be happy to include.)
I’ve been working on my swing these past couple months with the result of eking out a few more carry yards. I was hitting a Vice Pro Soft, so I’d expect my carry yardage to increase a tad with my current balls Vice Pro or Wilson Staff Model. Still, 175 yards total is ideal, since my 4-hybrid lands somewhere in the 190-yard range.
Compared to what it replaced …
I was able to dig up some stats from my old 5-iron (24°), Mizuno JPX 900 forged:
Avg total: 165.5 yards Avg carry: 143 yards Avg ball speed: 107 mph This was on a Top Tracer range, so no other data was available. My ball was running up to that total yardage, so I wasn’t really getting a desirable flight path with that club. 
Most importantly, the 699-U is just a very forgiving club. I’m not worried about dispersion, and it’ll only get tighter as my swing gets better. 
Does the black finish hold up?
I’ve come across this question a couple times here in the forum. While I’ve been using the club moderately, I’ve been on the course and the range about 6-8 times a month since July 2023. It’s not a go-to club on every hole, but it does come out.


The black is a DLC, or diamond-like carbon, coating. Considering how often I use it per round, the finish should wear quite well.


Moving forward …
Currently, I have a gapping issue between my 3-wood and my 4-hybrid. I’ve thought about filling it with a 5-wood or a 3-hybrid—but considering the amount of ease and comfort I have in swinging a 699-U, a 17° is definitely in running.
It’s a fun club to hit.

OIk, it's been a while, but I thouvght I'd drop an update. 
Things are about to get fun!!
PING G430 Max with the Ventus TR 5S arrived last month, also have a stock Aldilia XTorsion 50g R that I'll try with it.   
NEW ARIVALS 

Titleist TSR1 arrived last week Shaft  I went with the Stock shaft designed for it the new Mitsubishi Speed Mesh 40G Stiff Flex.   I want to test it in the stock set up, but also have several Titleist Tipped shafts to try with it such as Graphite Design IZ5 and AD DI 5 and HZRDUZ Red 5.5 
Callaway Paradym  arrived today  9.0 Standard Paradym Aldila Flatinum 40G Regular Flex. 
 
So obviosuly some good data will come on these over the next few weeks including LM and on course results.  But a couple quick thoughts.
TSR...Feels AMAZING off the face and just swigning it.  Such an easy club to swing.  
You may have noticed my trend to go light.  I wasn't always convinced that was the best thing, and I still may nto be, as I feel at times you can lose the feel of the clubhead.   But the early thoughts of the SpeedMesh feel fine, so I'm curious to see how the lightweight Aldila feels. 
Also I upgraded my "testing lab"
I have the Garmin R10 along with the Awesome Golf and e6 software not only to be used on the outdoor range and on course, but also displayed on a 50" TV in our Pavilion area with the Spornia Net and RCT balls. 
Let the Fun Begin!
 

Kirkland’s KS1.
If Kirkland ever fronts an LH forged CB iron set, I’d definitely want to get my hands on it. I mean, I’d wait for reviews, etc., of course, but these guys have definitely jumped the queue for consideration of future club purchases.
This is a big deal if you knew me and the rants of my youth about how big box stores are ruining the socio-economic fabric of our western societies, not to mention the negative impact it has made on mom & pop businesses and industries and their local communities…
I’d throw all that away for a decent set of cheaper irons. 

I know my bias and my bag mostly shows for it. It's Callaway and Mizuno.
The bias might be from when I learned and played golf in high school I played Mizuno irons and Callaway woods...
I did try to get fittings for my irons and driver and ended up in Mizuno irons and Callaway woods. For some odd reason, I just do better with Callaway woods.
Maybe if I'm making a second bag I'll give PXG and Sub70 a proper look, I really did enjoy demoing Sub70 Irons.

I know my bias and my bag mostly shows for it. It's Callaway and Mizuno.
The bias might be from when I learned and played golf in high school I played Mizuno irons and Callaway woods...
I did try to get fittings for my irons and driver and ended up in Mizuno irons and Callaway woods. For some odd reason, I just do better with Callaway woods.
Maybe if I'm making a second bag I'll give PXG and Sub70 a proper look, I really did enjoy demoing Sub70 Irons.

Come on, there's plenty of room on the Club'Ho bus!  Jump onboard 🙂
 

I've had enough fittings to know that if I don't take an active role, the outcome will be subpar.  If I went to TXG HQ, I'd probably let Jesus take the wheel a bit more.

I think I have need for a 218 yard 6 iron... can you send it to me?  I'll pay shipping.  😉

Confirmation arrived! 💣

"You are all set
Friday, February 17th @ 1:30pm for an irons only fitting
Our staff looks forward to hosting you next Friday!"
 
Blake Adams
Director of Player Development
The Kingdom at Reynolds Lake Oconee

Ok guys & gals I requested  a fitting for 2/17 at the Kingdom.  I'm a bit nervous as all the youtube videos are showing LOW handicapers striping shots down the range. I'm a 12 handicap and shoot mostly around 80 - 84 with some upper 70's here ad there. I'll probably show up  nervous as a fat rat at a cat ranch.... Anyways being 72 I figure I have maybe 10 good years of decent ball striking left in this old body so I'll give it a shot. It could be $300.00 bucks down the toilet or it could be an eye opening experience.  I plan on doing a mini review of my journey once the dust settles.   Prayers will be appreciated! 😁

Fujikura came out with the Ventus HB specifically for hybrids a couple years ago.
Build this club out in the custom cart on the TM website and it will come to $417.  But, they have a military discount, and if you buy it through a military course pro shop and you're Active Duty, you can get the military discount AND avoid paying tax.  Got it for $350 even.
Yeah, still wasn't cheap, but outside of the occasional tub of creatine, protein, or pre workout, I don't spend money on anything else.  I joke about keeping it off the radar with the wife, but honestly it wouldn't be the end of the world...just don't want to deal with the grief.  😂
And if you're not familiar with the DHY, give them a look.  @chisagwill tell you, crazy versatile club.  Maybe a few yards shorter than a more traditional hybrid, but if you gap it right in your bag it's handy.  I've had one off and on a couple times now, (hopefully) this one will be around for a while.

Just mentoning it to be clear.  It is a 5 S Ventus TR Red, 6 would have been a bit too heavy for me.
And yes, it is too early...LOL    Although one of my co workers when he saw I was taking it down to the pavilion to hit, said don't take the plastic off the head, you'll be able to get more for it when you sell it in 3 weeks 😧

@Golfspy_CG2 thanks for sharing your experience.  You're swing speed is roughly in the same range as mine, so it's encouraging to see representation on the "lower side" of the swing speed range.
Getting back to your original post that started this tread, I'm thinking of writing a new self-help book for those who get caught in the annual club purchase frenzy induced by the latest and greatest marketing.   I'm going to pattern the book based on Progressive Insurance's Dr. Rick, where golfers are turn into club buying fanatics every January.  

The words are almost writing themselves.....Let's all take one more walk-through Golf Galaxy and we're not going to buy anything.  No, we're NOT going to walk into that hitting bay and hit the latest and greatest!  You hit your current driver great.   No, you don't have to take every brochure from all the manufacturers (most of the classs doesn't even know what the numbers mean).   Don't interrupt the customer in the putting practice green telling him/her why they are missing left.  Do you really need that twenty third putter or driver do you!?  
I may have to pitch the idea to Golf Club Anonymous.