dabigkahuna

Callaway Hot X 4 hybrid. I can drive it, hit it off the deck, chip, and putt if needed. It's the only club I've ever hit a hole in one with from 165 yards. Any 5 club challenge will include this club.

I keep golf shoes until they walk to the trash bucket, and throw themselves in. My wife says I look like I'm homeless, and my reply is...."so what?".

What's my favourite ball? Anything I find, and that can last more than three holes! Having said that, I've actually paid for Titleist Pro V 1's and Trufeels. Next would be TM TP 5's, and finally Bridgestone e6's.

Bar none, it was a course played in the middle of the Fla Keys composed of sand, hard pan and shell rock. I had fortunately forgotten to bring my own clubs on this trip, so they loaned me a really beat up set of mismatched irons and woods that should've been in a museum. But here's the thing, I'd been under a lot of pressure at work, and my parents had rented a place at Faro Blanco on Marathon so my wife and I could kick back with them while our first born was on the way. So, I figured I'd grab a few beers, get away for an hour or two and relax. Despite the conditions, it turned out to be just the break I needed, and I felt refreshed despite handing them back a bent 9 iron when I finished. This was more than 30 years ago, and I'll never forget it.

I cannot hit a 3w off the deck to save my life. When I do make contact it turns into a horrendous fade and usually OB. A friend gave me a Ping G5 5w around 19 degrees, and I've pured it straight up the pike to around 200 yards. If I'm in the rough, my Callaway 4h is the go to club in my bag. I'm considering a TM M3 3w to complement my M3 driver, but haven't pulled the trigger yet.

I'm a bogey golfer who only upgrades about once every 10 years. I was recently in the market for new irons as my Callaway Diablo edges were just not working for me anymore. A buddy gave me a set of Pings Raptures, and I hit them far, but could not seem to work fades, or draws very well. So, in talking with guys from my league, the Mizuno 923's kept entering the conversation, and based on several recommendations, I decided to try them out. My golf shop guy had me bring in several 7i's from different sets to compare on his monitor. Lo and behold, the Mizunos beat our Callaway and Ping in distance, accuracy and forgiveness. I've been gaming them about three months now and cannot believe how high and far they go relative to my old sets. So, long story short, Mizunos are my irons. In fairness to Callaway, my 4 hybrid has essentially replaced my long irons, and 3W. Driver is a TM M3 which replaced my old Nike Sasquatch Sumo 5900. My 5w is a Ping G5 and is incredible off the deck. I'm not really a brand guy, but will put what works in my bag, even if it's a total mismatch. If it works, it stays.

I played in this format last year with some friends, and at the time chose Driver, Putter, and PW. In hindsight, I should've gone with 4 hybrid for drives and fairway. PW for approach and short game, and Putter for the greens and fringe shots. We had fun, and it really opens your imagination as to what a single club can be used for on the course.

Over the decades, many tips come and go, but the one that always resonated for me is.............. "See where the ball was" What it means is that you are keeping your head steady, and eyes focused on the swing plane as you sweep through the ball. It has required me to swing on a more level plane, and take a reduced backswing to about 3/4's my usual (beyond parallel) backswing. In all, it has quieted movement and improved solid contact with the ball.

My course has a dedicated short game area for chipping and pitching from various lies and distances. I devoted two hours using several different clubs, and hit each club high, low, short & far so I'd have an idea of each one's capabilities. I played the next day and was so confident from 100 yards in, that I shot in the low '80's for the first time in 20 years (at least). My mid irons will be next, as I've never hit them well and rely way too much on hybrids.

Although I own none of their albums," Foreigner- Rocking the Ryman" on Utube has provided endless hours of entertainment for quite a few years now. Every song is a hit, and the production qualities of the music and vocals are excellent. A close second would be "Dan Fogelberg live at the Capitol Theatre", also on Utube.

After a tour like that, I think I'd have to change my shorts in the parking lot! Well done on your narrative!

For me, the Titleist Tru Feel ball performs exceptionally well given it's price & performance. I don't have all the stats but know it sells for around $24 a dozen, and comes in different colors. Right now, I'm trading used Prov V 1's for them with my playing buddies, and could not be happier with the distance and spin I get with them. YMMV.

Considering what clubs cost these days, you cannot protect them enough. I'm a week into a set of Mizuno 923 irons and have covers for all of them. Yeah, I got some ribbing from my buds, but their clubs came over with Columbus, and look it. Take care of those puppies.

I'm a starter and show up for my tee times 30 min early at a minimum. Guys who show up late when I'm on duty are directed to a corner to wait for the next opening. This may sound harsh, but when you're dealing with 5 minute tee time intervals, you don't have time for idiots or hand holding. Clowns who give me crap are directed back to the pro shop for a refund. None have taken me up on the offer. If you're not early for a tee time, you're late!

On the course and driving range, I use a 8oz bottle of Shout fabric cleaner. It's about $3 on Amazon, and you empty out the soap and refill with water and a little detergent. The top of the bottle has soft plastic bristles to clean your clubs and deep clean the grooves. I've been stopped dozens of times on the range with people asking what I was using. I then dry each club with a towel, and they are as good as new from that point on. At home, I use a bucket of soap suds and a plastic brush to soak and clean when necessary.

I have a set of Mizuno JPX 923 irons on order as we speak. They outperformed the Ping 430's, and the Ping Raptures I brought with me by 15 yards using a 7 iron, consistently. In other news, I purchased an old set of Adams tight lie fairway woods, as the strong 7 wood in my bag is fantastic. What a mistake, I can't hit any of them! Guess I'll try to trade them in for store credit when the time comes. Oh, well. Update-5 12 23 Exchanged the Dynamic gold R300 shafted irons for UST Mamiya Recoil ESX 460 F3 R graphite shafts and noticed greater performance and distance immediately. You actually have to club down on these due to their incredible boring flight. For a guy my age, it's a good problem to have. Only had them for a week, but they will be in my bag for years to come.

Because I work at a golf course, I find balls of every make & model. The mint ones go in one pocket, medium and water balls into two others. I lose about four balls per round on some tight courses around Tampa Bay. If by some miracle, I keep one an entire round, it'll be used as a back up the next time I go out. The water balls are sacrificed for long carries over the drink all the time. I'm trying to keep the same ball in play for more consistency and to mentally shake off how bad it feels at times to lose a $5 ball.

Roberto De Vicenzo blades (what a mistake) Titleist cavity back knock offs Wilson Fat Shaft II Taylormade Midsize (wedge grooves would shave the ball) Callaway Big Bertha Ping G30's ( found out they were counterfeit) Callaway Diablo Edge (best looking irons I've ever owned) Ping Raptures Mizuno 923 hot metal irons (on order) This covers my 1st 35 years of playing this crazy game.

As you can see, I'm a high handicap largely due to poor approach shots, but I'm working on it. Lately, I've used the sight lines on the golf ball to line up the shot and once I've decided it's ideal, I don't look at the hole again, but instead focus on the putting stroke, and speed it imparts. It has taken about four strokes off my score in the last few months, and I'll use it on putts of about 20 feet and under. Beyond that, I'll hide the markings, and try to roll the ball within a foot or two of the hole. I've had the greatest success with the Pro V1 as it has excellent roll, and the Chrome Soft Triple Track due to it's alignment stripes. I've also traced triple track lines on my Odessey two ball putter to really line up the putt. It's been working for me but YMMV.

This happens to me more times than I'd care to admit, and it's even worse when playing with a $4 ball with a carry over water. Several things I've tried include.......... Taking a stance further away from the ball. This forces full arm extension and puts focus on swing path rather than ball contact. Pretending to lay up on the shot. This relaxes me, slows my backswing, improves tempo, and seems to allow for good contact, and a more effortless swing. Choking up on a wood or hybrid to mimic iron loft can allow me to hit past water and bunkers and then chip back toward the hole. Any fear or pressure of using an iron is eliminated by blasting past trouble. Crude, but effective. The last thing I'll suggest, is to walk nine holes alone with your irons, and just hit each one to gain better feel and familiarity with each. Accept the bad shots, and build off the good ones. I'll do this several times a year, and it's a nice refresher. Yes, I carry a high handicap, but it's one I can live with as a man in his sixties with shoulder problems. Hope these suggestions help. Good luck in your journey!

Wow, hate much? Your response should be retitled......"When Golf Snobs Attack!" I know a few very good golfers who use Kirkland balls and like them alot. As far as my reply went, alerting other golfers to the existence of underrated quality performers will allow them to sample and make their own decisions down the road. It will be up to them to determine what qualifies as their "best ball". Pompous and effette responses like yours are a good reason why there is a widespread perception that golfers as a whole are elitists and stuffed shirts.

I generally play balls I've found as opposed to shelling out for "soon to be baptized new balls". Several that I know sell for less than $40 a dozen include Pinnacle Soft, Slazenger $ Money, Noodle,Top Flite Hammer Distance, and TF Hammer Control. I've played each of these, and was satisfied with their performance. I have all the top brands in my bag including Pro V1's, TP5's, but my favorite these days is the Bridgestone E6. I cannot believe how long and straight the ball goes, not to mention the confidence they instill when standing on a Par 3 hole with a carry over water.

My foursome decided (over a few post round beers) to limit our next outing to five clubs each per player. After laughing and joking about how light our stand bags will be, each of us commented about the five we'd choose. I decided on .......... Driver, avg 220 yards Hybrid 3 160 yards, low runners and in the rough shots as well Putter 7i , 140 yards and long pitches. Pitching wedge, 100 yards, and can butterfly the face to mimic a sand wedge to complete "the set". Has anyone done this, and if so, what clubs did you use differently from the ones I intend to use, and how were the results? Thanks.

Thanks for all the replies, and I totally agree that my issues are mental rather than process oriented. I intend to resume lessons in January and practice more in the areas that are driving high scores and penalty strokes. My best round was a 79 ages ago, so I know I've hit every club in my bag well at one time on the course. I'm thinking less practice and more playing once the kinks have been addressed and worked on will be the way to go. Thanks again.

To answer Ricky Bobby as follows................... What do you do at the range when practicing? I hit two large buckets each week starting with the short game, pitching and chipping to get feel and rhythem. I then head over to hit off the grass (no mats) with short irons first, then hybrids, long irons and a few drives. I'll then change clubs each swing with a short break between each to replicate the pace of play on the course. I'll warn down with a AW or PW to ensure good tempo and what appears to be good process. I'll then break out the putter to roll a few from the fringe, and get the feel of the speed of the greens. I'll usually rest a day, then hit the links in a day or two after that. How many balls do you hit? A large bucket is around 120 balls, but I'll reuse a good many over at the chipping area, so I can easily hit around 200 any given day. How long does it take you to go thru the number of balls you hit? Anywhere between 2-3 hours depending on how my back and major organs feel after plowing the grass area. Do you practice anything from the lessons you have taken? Yes, several things. I went to the Colbert-Ballard connected swing school clinics in my 30's and learned about using the larger muscles in your back and legs to swing with, as well as extension and keeping the arms close to the body. In a recent lesson, the instructor had me place the club about four inches behind the ball, and swing toward that spot to improve contact and accuracy at impact. Sometimes it works, other times not so much. When was the last time you took a lesson? Just about this time a year ago.