brutal brutus

I used the Stealth on the back nine today.
 
Huge potential - 
 
When I’m hitting 6 iron into the green into a 430 yard hole with a cross wind?
 
That's huge!

I finally got to go out and play today. Hit a small bucket and then played whites on the little 2500yd 9holer(Little Miami Golf Center Regulation 9). Took me a half a dozen shots to get in a groove on the range but when I finally did... 🔥 Was hitting tight draws and power fades on command. Since my return I've had trouble with the intentional draw without snap hooking it but this driver seems to be more attuned to my swing than the old TS3. Not sure why, maybe it's the hosel being set more upright?...
During the round, I hit it 3 times. On the 500yd (ish) par5 second, I pulled it a bit but made solid contact, 270ish. On #4, I hit a towering draw that just barely ran thru the fairway where the hole kinks to the right towards the green, 290ish.
Then I got to #8... I was a bit mad about 3 putting for dubogey on the par3 7th, so I went full on rage mode for my teeshot on the 325yd par4... Hit one of the best drives of my life. Was about 25yds short and left of the green on a beautiful tight draw. On a normal summer day, when it's drier(and also not blowing 15mph right in my face, lol), that shot probably winds up pin high left.
It's gonna take me some time to get used to it but True Love is looking like a winner for now...
 
 
Though, MLT is a close second... ahead of Toxicity, lol.

Have not tried the V2 yet but will be picking up a box next trip in to the big smoke. My attitude is that if they are 90-95% as good as the current ball I game then I and most golfers will never notice the difference. When I was on a <5 handicap I potentially could get the most out of a ball but today I simply do not have the consistency in my swing and therefore I am happy when the ball goes close to where I hoped it would. 

Just for my personal edification-- Does the new ball perform like the original one? I have always respected your observations and opinions--- I know when the original ones came out we could not get them in SC. One of my buds on WRX that you "know" sent me a sleeve. I was basically impressed with the distance and the spin around the greens. In fact if you dig back on here in the original Kirkland postings I questioned the legality of the ball. And I know the history on the original ones. Really I was curious. Right now I am tied in with Srixon so to speak because I have won so many the last 2 years. LOL did a car trunk inventory yesterday. I have like 4 doz Q Stars 2 doz Z stars 3 doz Soft Feels and like 2 15 ball packs of the Srixon Marathon. In addition to 3 doz Pro Vs some new some used and a dozen used assorted Vice. LOl one of my buds called and came by wanting me to slip a grip on yesterday. He got here when I was doing my inventory. Of course my S-500 has a trunk big enough to haul Jimmy Hoffa and 2 of his close associates. With all the balls and clubs he said I had a rolling pro shop. Man I thought about it I am getting just like my old man. My bud remarked good thing that Benz has automatic air ride suspension

Just for perspective, I played a round on a foggy day with a range ball. Didn’t want to lose a “good” ball. 
Shot 78. 
🙄

Sure, after watching Rick Shields and his glowing review yes I went right on down to Costco and bought a box.   My take?  Hard as in 94 compression, but to me very close to pro v 1.  They are worth the price/
.  

Just saw the video too. Very excited to try these out on my round this weekend. Received a few sleeves as stocking stuffers. Will follow up later. 

Rick Shiels just posted a very positive video review of the Kirkland v2 balls. He reviewed for putting, chipping, iron play, driving, and durability. He compared it favorably to the Pro-V1 in all categories. He didn't say they were as good at all things, but very close. He was within 2 yards of his normal distance, and at a 110mph clubhead speed, that amounts to no real difference for those with closer to average swing speeds. 

(Moving this from the driver sub-forum)
Figured I'd go ahead and document my journey with my most expensive purchase to date. Though it's not my first "top of the line" driver. Bought a new Hawkeye VFT back in the early 2000's and got it at a discount. But even at full price, i think they were something like $399. Though i did pay more for that one... Stay tuned for that story.
Let's start with the specs:
Titleist TSi3 10°
HZRDUS Smoke Black RDX  60g 6.5(extra stiff)
Standard length. Sure-fit set to D2 and at present, the adjustable weight is at neutral. 
 
Aesthetics:



I mean... Dayuum. She reminds of that song Long Cool Woman in a Black Dress by The Hollies 
If you like a "blacked-out" color scheme(which i obviously do, LOL), then you will probably like the looks of this thing. I also like how the weight track is hiding in the back and not interrupting the body lines on the sole. It is also very pleasing to the eye at address.
The sound this thing makes is very satisfying. The 915D3 i was using for a month sounded like a decent little league bat. My old TS3 was more like a loud cracking noise. The TSi3 is somewhere in between.
 
Now to the story behind my purchase. I will keep it brief as i went into more detail in my WITB thread... 
 
To make a long story short, my TS3's weight cartridge broke loose and was rattling around inside the head. I had built a relationship with the owner of a small shop near my house and had him contact Titleist even though he's not an "official" Titleist dealer. Even though it was well out of warranty, he was able to get me $100 off if i did get another Titleist. I couldn't really justify spending that much on a new driver, especially after i had just purchased a barely used TSi2 3w, so i told Greg I would take the 915D3 he had and call it even and would be there the next day to get it... That night i won $300 on a scratcher and then another $150 the next morning. I took that as a sign and placed my order.
For those of you thinking about placing an order with Titleist, that was Dec 2nd. Since he isn't an official dealer, it worked the same as if i had ordered it off their website myself. Even if he hadn't gotten me the rebate, i would have ordered it thru him anyway so i got the free fitting session. It finally showed up the first week of this month after 9ish weeks. It also didn't have the correct shaft. I ordered a 6.0 stiff but they sent it with a 6.5 extra stiff and said they could give me the correct one when they got back in stock. Not sure what I will do yet. I kinda like the ES but I can feel a day not too far down the road when i won't have the swing speed to properly load the shaft.
During my fitting session, i tried a couple different shafts for comparison. My old Adila NV, Tensei Blue,  Proforce V2 and another I can't remember the name of. The HZRDUS was clearly the better of the three and we settled on D2 for the hosel setting. I may tinker with the weight at some point but I'm content for now.
Got a good range session in this past Monday. Took me a few to get loosened up and dialed in but once i did, i was killing them. It's amazing how far a ball can travel at that low a trajectory with a 15-20mph tailwind. My "at or near 300yds by late spring" prediction might be a bit underestimated. I'm pretty sure I hit multiple over 300, though it's hard to tell at this particular range. It has a hill out around 280-290ish and while my eyesight isn't the greatest, I'm pretty sure i hit half a dozen over it.
 
 
 
 

I finally got to go out and play today. Hit a small bucket and then played whites on the little 2500yd 9holer(Little Miami Golf Center Regulation 9). Took me a half a dozen shots to get in a groove on the range but when I finally did... 🔥 Was hitting tight draws and power fades on command. Since my return I've had trouble with the intentional draw without snap hooking it but this driver seems to be more attuned to my swing than the old TS3. Not sure why, maybe it's the hosel being set more upright?...
During the round, I hit it 3 times. On the 500yd (ish) par5 second, I pulled it a bit but made solid contact, 270ish. On #4, I hit a towering draw that just barely ran thru the fairway where the hole kinks to the right towards the green, 290ish.
Then I got to #8... I was a bit mad about 3 putting for dubogey on the par3 7th, so I went full on rage mode for my teeshot on the 325yd par4... Hit one of the best drives of my life. Was about 25yds short and left of the green on a beautiful tight draw. On a normal summer day, when it's drier(and also not blowing 15mph right in my face, lol), that shot probably winds up pin high left.
It's gonna take me some time to get used to it but True Love is looking like a winner for now...
 
 
Though, MLT is a close second... ahead of Toxicity, lol.

Beautiful set up. but if you are on this site, the chanes that bag makes it through the year without a change as nice as it is, is well pretty remote.   I should pin this post and refernce it if/when we notice you post in the What Did I Buy Thread 😉
 
 

Apple Valley May 15 late morning. I will put a hold on my calendar. I am a definite "Maybe". 🙂

Well... You know what they say about opinions and Aholes, right?

This might turn into one busy day for me... 
Though, if i had to choose, I'd pick the outing and then see The Who Oct9 in Cbus.

Sunday May 15th at Apple Valley. I'll try to get times for around 10.30 so those of us that have a decent drive don't have to get up at sparrows fart to get there.

https://www.titleist.com/sweepstakes/TT-Year-Supply
 
Good luck everyone!

LOL If I find one at the thrifts or a yard sale I would purchase it if it was cheap enough. Just to mess with for kicks and giggles around the yard. I do not front line play such equipment but love messing around with it

Nah, what you really need instead of a 60°, is a 55° Sand Hybrid...


 
 
LOL

Not sure if this is appropriate to mention in this thread but if I do attend, it's possible I will still have my set of 2019 T200s 4i-GW for sale then. So, if anyone is interested and wants to see them in person, I will bring them.

Mid April, so I can make sure I can get them.
10 minutes from my house. Let me know if you do this and I might tag along, as a home brewer I love snooping around commercial places.
👍
So you should be. Always.

I'm envious, but not enough to recommend to my wife that we should head back north early. Remember pictures, pictures, pictures. 

Maybe. I'm considering taking an extra day to visit a friend who opened a new brewery in Kent.

Hmm... I might be interested. Is there a deadline to lock in the teetimes?.
Would you be interested in carpooling if i go?

I give you 5 stars for this detailed post 😄
Seriously, one would think that there is nothing else to add to "how are testers chosen", but here comes a new thread with more details, new info, freshly updated for 2022. Good stuff, Jamie! 
Now... 2 more months for golf season to begin?

Love the transparency. No other golf site provides this level of transparency (and if they did, it would show just how much of a sham their selection process is)