Syks7

Sans the TPT shaft, its still very good. I did not have an easy time leaving PGA superstore without a stock steel one -- especially with multiple employees watching me putt and egging me on.

Congrats. Have fun!

Just a friendly reminder that your LAB putter works better when you trust your stroke and let it do its thing. I've had some struggles with my DF2.1 the last few rounds so I actually went out this morning and practiced -- exclusively on stroke. I spent about an hour tidying things up and did a simulated 18 putting round. The goal was to be under 36 strokes -- it went poorly at 39 putts(I made it hard on myself with a lot of 40+ foot lags) and I was frustrated. Took a break and realized that I was way overthinking everything and there was far too much going on in my head with every putt. Kept the routine, threw out the mechanical thoughts, and immediately started holing putts... which immediately brought this movie clip to mind. That led to what was basically the best chipping practice I've ever had. Creative, in command, trusting myself, and generally not having any extraneous thoughts. Gotta love this game.

Results posted and I feel much less bad. PCC was +3! (I've only seen +2 once) for the day and everyone in the tourney aside from the gross winner got thumped -- I wouldn't be shocked if they didn't have a great day either with a 78 in the top flight. Only a single person shot net par and the next closest was a net 78. It was a good reminder for me of what my instructor told me once. "If you're getting beat up by the course and your group is getting beat up, there's a chance that the rest of the players are too." I feel bad for anyone that went out for a random golf day and got hit with the pin positions and rough we ran into.

Had a very weird day for my first tournament of the year. Harding continues to be a golf course that causes me issues. 44/44 93. My last three rounds at Harding have been 91, 97, 93. Maybe it just doesn't fit my game or its gotten into my head. First time all year that I haven't been able to hold onto my goal of having fun. Lots of frustration, some bad luck, and a few silly mental mistakes. 49/44 93. The good news is that I can identify every stroke that I gave away and 90% of it was not being able to string a good tee shot and approach shot together. I'd either hit a great tee shot then a terrible approach shot followed by a third onto the green or I'd grossly mishit a tee shot, hit a good recovery, then hit the green with the third. It was intensely frustrating capped off by a wildly inconsistent day on the greens (partially because of wildly inconsistent greens with though pin positions). Green speed varied wildly from one hole to the next. It did not help that I was trying to one-putt most of them. Venting aside, most of my issue was the pressuring myself to hit a good shot. Something I've been very good at avoiding this year. When I remembered to relax I was fine, when I was too worried about the shot or putt I didn't. Too much going on in my head and not playing loose. It was a very distinct contrast to how I've been playing lately... relaxed with confidence and an attitude that sometimes I'll hit bad shots. If I can the solution is probably to make myself step off the ball when I'm thinking too much or feeling too much pressure. I also need to focus on the positive. I made some great putts, and hit a lot of very good shots. I just lost sight of that in my frustration. I was feeling a little down after the round, so I went and saw Dune 2 and it was awesome. So at least there was that.

I would also advise against this. LAB is pretty specific that there's limited tinkering you can do without throwing off the balance -- changing a grip +/-25 grams and lengthening shortening +/- 1/2" and that's pretty much it. Re-shafting is on the nono list. No two shafts are uniformly the same so each putter is uniquely balanced using their proprietary methods.

I have not, but I know there is someone within this thread that has. It might be a couple pages back if you want to search. If I remember correctly it was relatively straight forward and quick. Not sure they did any lie angle changes.

Could be a busy week coming up -- Tourney Thursday followed by a chance to play a bucket list course on Friday (if the rain doesn't screw things up). Figured I'd go out for a tuneup on the Van Nuys Par 3 since the Tourney course isn't one that I play particularly well and the other course is just plain hard. Not bad +3 front +4 back with a double. +7 total for a 61 on a par 54. Putter was back from the worst round I've had with it, short game still pretty good thought I did cost myself at least two strokes by being greedy (thinking I could hole a chip instead of setting up an easy putt) Irons, okay. I was a little stuck today but not so bad it was catastrophic. Just hung it out a bit right all day. If it was on a normal course with bigger greens I probably still would have been putting most of the time. Plus, I did 18 (3200 yards) in 1:45. Love to be able to play quickly. Helps me stay focused. I've been trying to figure out how to maintain that focus over a normal round that has a lot of waiting, conversation, and other things that break me out of my focus. It helps that I walk but I'm coming up empty. Any suggestions to avoid getting impatient or losing focus?

Well, DF2.1 does not like slow greens... Or much more likely... This guy is a bad putter in slow greens. Woodley's greens also continue to perplex me with their flat yet also somehow still sloped weird break surfaces. Oh well. 44/42 86 from the tips at Woodley with (5) 3-putt bogeys. Ugh. Lag putting was very bad until the end. I also missed Multiple 5 footers. 38 putts total. Definitely not my best showing. The good news was that I was solid off the tee, my driver feels workable for the first time in history, and I was mostly decent on approach. 9/18 GIR. Short game was decent too even if I converted zero up and downs. Side note: I'm now feeling so solid with my 4 hybrid that I'm mulling being one the people that plays a 5 hybrid and only 6/PW in irons. .

New feature available. Will be trying it out tomorrow.

Thank you! I somewhat inferred the that but sort of simplified via left or right to make it faster on the green. It's a lot easier to guestimate 30" right vs. 30" at a 45 degree angle away or short of the hole. I'd imagine up or down the fall line has a lot to do with making sure you have the proper speed along with the proper break. Looks like I have some interesting reading to do.

I ran across some content on instagram that's been pretty solid help for me putting wise and I'm trying to find some more info about it. https://www.instagram.com/reel/C276uwOvlVt/?utm_source=ig_web_button_share_sheet&igsh=MzRlODBiNWFlZA== It's a basic algorithm that's -- Length of Putt * (1/2 of the Average Slope) = Inches to aim up the fall line. (For 10 stimp, more break for faster, less break for slower) In practice for a 40' right to left putt with an average 4% slope it means (40*(2*2)= 40*2 = 80" . So you Aim 80" (a little less than a flag stick) right of the cup. The way I've been using it is to pace off the putt when I get to the green, guestimate the slope by eyeball, run the algorithm and make adjustments based upon some other green reading info I know and whether or not the read looks too low or two high, pick my start line and go. I should add that I do this pretty quickly, and do a lot of rounding with the math. I also have a good eye for slope since I'm an architect and know 2% slope by heart. (good drainage is important if you don't want lawsuits) I've found that the algorithm gives me a great general start line and the small adjustments I make narrow it down. Provided I putt with decent speed it always seems to be a good enough read to leave me close. I've had very good success with it over three rounds, particularly with lag putting. I've been down around 30 putts 2-3 less than my average (my proximity to the hole on approach is not super awesome). It seems to have nearly eliminated my three putts (only one over the last 54 holes) and I've been making a lot more inside 10 feet and almost all inside 5. Maybe it's a placebo for my mind, because I sure feel much more confident standing over a 5 footer to save par with both a read I'm confident in and a putter I know will put it on the right line. I'm trying to find more info about this algorithm and coming up empty? Any suggestions? I know it's not aimpoint since there's no straddling the line or using fingers, but I can't seem to find any info about it. Is it tour read? https://tourreadgolf.com/ I don't have an Iphone to try it out? Or is it something else?

Another decent day on the course. Got some winter golf in up in the mountains and I broke 70 again. on a par 60. +9 on the day with much more good than bad. I hit a lot of good shots today and very few truly bad ones. The highlight of the day was this 134 yard blind approach for a tap in birdie. Feeling good about the way the year has started.

I was near a PGA superstore today so I got to play around with a stock DF3. Having played two models I can say this about the DF3. It feels just like the others. It works -- stable and able to put the ball on the line you're aiming down. The biggest difference was how compact the head is. The comparison overlay that's on the LAB website doesn't really convey how much smaller it is. It looks positively svelte in comparison to the others -- even the link because the face is so much narrower. Its a much more of a compact mallet head shape that I think will be more popular with a lot of golfers. Last, the little ball picker upper hole is pretty cool.

Date 02/09/2024 Course Name Rustic Canyon Gross Score 79 Course Handicap 12 Gross Strokes over/under par 7 Net Score to Par -5 Net Score 67 Net Birdies or better 8 Longest Drive 265 SIM Round? Just a killer day all around. I think mostly chalked up to good decisions made in regard to club selection. Didn't try to push and took what the course gave me. Also, made good contact all day.

Thank you. The biggest things with it have been recent mental discoveries... realizing that I have way more control and less risk playing when I play it low it low and realizing that there just aren't that many situations where I need to play it high. Those bumps off the slopes yesterday felt way less intimidating to stand over than I a higher swing speed flop off a tight lie.

To you as well. Always feels amazing to have a great day on the course.

Exactly what I aspire to. Thank you for answering.

Well, it didn't feel like I was playing lights out, but my score would say otherwise. 40/39 79 at Rustic Canyon. 2nd time under 80. I felt relaxed, collected, and in command. It matches my low score and its a definitive personal best from a differential perspective -- 6.1. I was in command enough of my game enough that I tried and converted a couple Scottie Scheffler low driven bump and runs off the face of the steep slopes in front of the green. Saved bogey once and got up and down on another. They started us on 10 because of wet conditions on the course if I'm being honest it felt easier playing the back 9 first. Having front 9 energy in the hillier back 9 made a difference. Instead of 10 straight holes headed mostly uphill that chunk got broken up and with 5 uphill to start, 8 downill, then 5 uphill. This one feels way better than the first time I broke 80, because I didn't pressure myself at all. I just enjoyed the day. I noticed where I was with 6 to play and thought to myself, "well if I par out this will be an awesome day." Then didn't think about it again. I went +1 through the last 6 including closing with 4 straight pars. On the front 9 (back today) all three bogeys were lipped out up and downs to save par. I hit 11/14 fairways 9/18 Greens and had 34 putts. The number of putts doesn't tell the hole story, I hit some beautiful very long lag putts today -- the best being 75' from the collar on 18 to virtual tap in range at 2'. Longer putts didn't miss by much and I had virtually no cleanup left. I probably only made 30' of putts today. Sneaky good, but it doesn't look quite as cool as 100+ feet. I also had a great day with wedges in hand. The only thing to complain about was pace of play. It's been very rainy and today was walking only. No big deal for me since I almost always walk, but terrible for the older guys who never do. Lot's bailed, but some stuck it out and boy did they struggle. 5.25 hours and I thought I might have to call EMS for the two guys in the threesome we were following -- they were absolutely gassed.

Genesis is pretty awesome. I've gone the last couple years (thought not this year unfortunately) and have spent a lot of time at the course. Riv is a pretty great viewing experience. You can get very close to most of the greens and its very easy to follow a group around. You can get very close to the action. Here's some tips-- Friday is a good day to go. Last year it was pretty quiet in the morning... less quiet when the big cat and big names came out in the afternoon. I recommend getting to the third street shuttle bus stop early. It can get crowded quick and you're still going to spend 20-30 minutes on the bus getting to the course because they have to fight through west side traffic. Its up to you, but I like to walk the course first in the morning, stopping to watch a few groups here and there, then I'll spend the afternoon following a single group. To each his own though. Comfy walking shoes are must. Even if you don't walk as much as I do you'll put in a lot of steps (I vaguely remember being north of 20,000. It is a pretty easy walk though. If you're interested in seeing the big cat follow the crowds. Or... a better option IMHO is to catch him on the range, then find an empty spot at a green or tee box three or four holes ahead of the group. You'll catch him up close. (This is from the spot on 9 that I marked on the map and the video is from.) #4 greenside is amazing. It's a brutal hole and most of the players are happy just aiming for par. Its 229 yards, into the wind, and the landing area to hold the lower part of the green might be a circle 3 feet wide. I've spent a large amount of my time at Genesis watching from here and I've seen 3 birdies. Be cautious and watch the tee shots. It was it hazy last year I lost track of Nick Taylor's tee shot. I looked down just in time to catch the flash of a ball as it passed the bill of my hat and landed between my legs. Close call. In front of #9 tee box there's a pedestrian crossing with a little sharp peninsula in the rope. If you post up there you're literally 100 yards down the direct line that they'll tee off over. No joke, it looks like they're hitting straight at you. The sound the tee shot makes as it rips over head is incredible. You just can't really conceive of how far they hit the ball until you see it in person. The Genesis Pavillion in front of 15 is fun. They have have coffee and some nice seats. It's a good spot to chill. Beware though, it's influencer central and you'll see a bunch of youtubers doing trick shots with wedges and such. There's also a simulator with a closest to the pin challenge. You get three shots and it's a good way to scratch the itch that you'll get to swing a golf club. I always find it helpful to know where I'm going. So here's a map I made to help you navigate and point out where a few areas are. Have fun. It's a great way to spend a day. EDIT: Forgot to mention that the entry pavilion drops you right at the barranca running through the last 1/3 of #1. You can head right toward the clubhouse or left toward the back 9. #2 is the only hole where it's harder to follow a group as there's no access to the range side of it. You have to go back up #1, cross the fairway near the vendor tents, then cross #2. Everywhere else is pretty easy to navigate.

According to the trackman data from the fitting -- with the 0317 (7 Iron is an average of -4. Max of -5.2 min of -2. with an average of -4AoA) with my gamer Z585 (7 Iron average is -4.8 max of -5.8 & min -3.6). Divot wise the video below is a fairly decent look at what kind of contact I see on the course. A mix of decent and heavy contact. I definitely make a divot, but its rarely a beaver pelt.

Definitely a lesson learned.

Having a very hard time getting the 0317T's out of my head... I think I'm going to pull the trigger. That said, I'm going to have to do a bit of funding work first. Garage cleanup/old club sale coming soon. On another note I'm starting to get very curious about bounce and turf interaction -- less about the amount of bounce and more about the location of the bounce on the sole. I've been following a semi-local club-fitter/small manufacturer up in Ventura (https://www.foreward.golf/) https://www.instagram.com/matched_up_golf/ He talks a lot about this in his instagram feed along with some other factors in the fitting system he developed. It's a pretty interesting listen. I noticed that 0317T are higher bounce (5º @3I & 14º@PW) than a lot of irons with the location of the bounce toward the rear of the sole -- a construction shared with the wedges I'm gaming (RTX Zipcore). Out of curiosity I pulled out some older wedges I have and found that all the ones I got along with best (hit reasonably well most days and in most conditions) are the ones that share this construction -- rear bias and higher bounce. The ones I remember being inconsistent with (big variation between good striking days and bad striking days) are all still mid-high bounce but with the bounce biased towards the center or leading edge of the sole. This includes my current irons along with the 639 CB's and MP60's I've cycled through over the last couple years -- wish I could find a good picture of the sole of the RSI2's because I loved those. I'm curious if the higher bounce and rear location compensates for my heavy contact miss by keeping the leading edge (and sole) up just enough that I get a better turf interaction that doesn't kill the clubhead speed & ball speed. Obviously this is just one factor, but I'm wondering if it's overlooked by the vast majority of us. Thoughts from fitters? @McGolf

My Driver cruising speed is right around 100, but I don't think that matters that much. I've played the zstar, xv, and diamond over the last couple of years. While I prefer the diamond there's not much between them truth be told. Particularly if you reference the ball test. https://mygolfspy.com/buyers-guides/golf-balls/2023-golf-ball-test/ As far as the diamonds performance goes. It seems to fit the way that I hit the ball better than the other two and it feels like I have the most control with it. If I hit the green with it, in firm conditions, it will bounce forward, check, and stop. If the green is soft it will zip back. It gives me some aiming options with my scoring clubs. With my longer irons I find that it will release in the fairway and run up or check and roll out if I hit the green. The tradeoff is that I sacrifice a few yards of distance since my driver flight is high with a soft landing -- something I can live with. I suspect if I paired it with a lower launching shaft I'd be able to counter this, but I don't know if I really need to. I would suggest buying a sleeve and giving it a go to see if you like it.

My wife and I slowly migrating even further west in the San Fernando Valley... from Van Nuys (still LA) to Woodland Hills (still LA) next. It's not a stretch to see us moving out toward Ventura eventually. Lots of great courses out that way and plenty of opportunities to do some side hustle fitting and building clubs. Definitely try it out. I was one of those people who didn't like the PXG commercials and had a pre-judgement of the clubs before even hitting them. I humbly admit that I was very wrong. I don't think I've disliked a single one of their products since I picked up the OG 0211 driver.