dabigkahuna

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.

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. 

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. 

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. 

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.  

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.

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.

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. 

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.

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.  

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. 

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. 

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. 

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. 

Hey guys, like most everyone here, I practice a lot on the range, and after two to three shots with each club, feel fairly competant with every club in my bag.  Segway to the course, and it's as if I'm beating a rabid raccoon to death with each swing of my mid to long irons!  Topping and deep divots seem to be the curse of each iron I swing.  Yes, I've taken lessons and have varied the club distance from the ball, and tempo, to prevent digging my way to China with each swing.  The only thing that ever seems to work is to pretend I'm laying up so the swing path is smooth and fluid through the ball, but even this doesn't always work.  So, before I knock another molar loose, have any of you experienced this, and if so, how did you overcome this agonizing part of your iron game?  The short irons generally don't give me trouble, but 3 through 7 are driving me to use hybrids whenever possible.  If this keeps up, I plan to move to Nepal and spend the rest of my days  meditating in a cave!  Thanks!

Hey guys, like most everyone here, I practice a lot on the range, and after two to three shots with each club, feel fairly competant with every club in my bag.  Segway to the course, and it's as if I'm beating a rabid raccoon to death with each swing of my mid to long irons!  Topping and deep divots seem to be the curse of each iron I swing.  Yes, I've taken lessons and have varied the club distance from the ball, and tempo, to prevent digging my way to China with each swing.  The only thing that ever seems to work is to pretend I'm laying up so the swing path is smooth and fluid through the ball, but even this doesn't always work.  So, before I knock another molar loose, have any of you experienced this, and if so, how did you overcome this agonizing part of your iron game?  The short irons generally don't give me trouble, but 3 through 7 are driving me to use hybrids whenever possible.  If this keeps up, I plan to move to Nepal and spend the rest of my days  meditating in a cave!  Thanks!