DeBartola_B

Bridgestone RX Mindset – Unofficial MGS Forum Review by Michael.Sandoval33
This is my Unofficial Review of the Bridgestone RX Mindset balls. I had the chance to play the balls throughout 5 different rounds and also used the ball around the practice and chipping greens. Now sit back, relax, and get into the Mindset.


Aesthetics (7 out of 10) 
At first glance what stood out about the RX Mindset balls was the aid printed on the ball in red, yellow, and green. The aid provides a 3 step "Mindset" that golfers should utilize each time they approach a shot. The outer red circle and pointed arrows indicate the first step of the Mindset process: "Identify your target." The inner yellow circle is the 2nd step in the process: "Visualize the shot path." The aid's final part is the inner green circle, telling golfers to "Focus on the dot." I did not find the training aid distracting in my use, and the ball was easier to find in the rough thanks to the brighter colors on the ball as it stands out from the rest. What was interesting to me is that the balls have dimples within the dimples which give them a different feel than others on the market. There is nothing overly flashy about the ball and that was perfectly fine with me. 

On-Course (17 out of 20)
The balls performed well on the course from the tee to the green. Compared to my usual gamers the "Odin X" and "Maxfli Tour X",  the balls were usually 5-7 yards shorter on both carry and total distances from the tee. When using the ball swinging hybrids and irons off the grass I found the ball fairly easy to control with a smooth feel. The trajectories with the balls were generally middling, nothing too high but not a ton of low skipping shots. This caused me to miss some greens where I was looking for a higher trajectory to land firmly on the green and stop, instead staying lower and rolling over the green. On the putting green is where the alignment aid of the Mindset RX saw the most use from me. I found using the front pointed arrows along with the center green dot allowed me to line up my shots with my putter and hit the line with ease, taking one step out of the putting equation. I am a firm believer that the alignment aid helped me save some strokes on the course. The durability of the Mindset balls was never in question for me. I still have balls I played a full 18 holes with that I can take out and use for another full 18 without a problem. 


The Good, the bad, the in-between/Play it or Trade it? (17 out of 20)
The alignment aid was definitely good to me during my use of the Bridgestone Mindset RX. Compared to when I played the "Maxfli Tour X" balls, I shaved off an easy 1-2 putts by taking the time to properly align my shots with the Mindset RX. The durability of the ball was another good aspect of the ball, every ball that I used is still in good enough shape to be played. The bad would be the short loss of distance that I saw off of the tees. I believe we all as golfers know how big of a difference those few yards could be. The in-between would be the Mindset process overall, I didn't find myself fully using the Mindset process that the ball encourages anywhere other than on the putting green. If I had maybe embraced the philosophy more, it could have helped, but I did not in my time sampling the ball. I will continue to play the ball along with my other two gamers, especially because of the durability of the ball that I have mentioned, as well as the alignment aid very solidly helping me on the putting green.


Conclusion
The Bridgestone Mindset RX is a great ball. You may lose some yards off of the tee, but I believe the ball makes up for this loss in other areas. And if you are looking for a ball that can last, without question the Mindset RX ball is for you.

Final Score (41 out of 50)

Cut at +2
Low PGA Pro: Blockie

This looks amazing.  Could you walk us thru what all was done step by step? 

My latest build, refinished an old Titleist Vokey wedge.  This project turned out great, almost looks new again. 

I ordered a couple of uncut shafts to do a self fitting for a driver.  The manufacturer specs indicate to cut the shaft from the butt end.  I have bought a hacksaw to cut it with and watched a few YouTube videos. Seems easy enough but wanted to see if anyone has done this before and has any tips.
 
Shafts come in this weekend I am planning on cutting them down, attaching an adapter and new grip. I’ll post pictures when done.

Good call on the tape. I was not thinking of that, was just going to cut on the sharpie line. That should help, thanks!

I ordered a couple of uncut shafts to do a self fitting for a driver.  The manufacturer specs indicate to cut the shaft from the butt end.  I have bought a hacksaw to cut it with and watched a few YouTube videos. Seems easy enough but wanted to see if anyone has done this before and has any tips.
 
Shafts come in this weekend I am planning on cutting them down, attaching an adapter and new grip. I’ll post pictures when done.

I ordered a couple of uncut shafts to do a self fitting for a driver.  The manufacturer specs indicate to cut the shaft from the butt end.  I have bought a hacksaw to cut it with and watched a few YouTube videos. Seems easy enough but wanted to see if anyone has done this before and has any tips.
 
Shafts come in this weekend I am planning on cutting them down, attaching an adapter and new grip. I’ll post pictures when done.

I ordered a couple of uncut shafts to do a self fitting for a driver.  The manufacturer specs indicate to cut the shaft from the butt end.  I have bought a hacksaw to cut it with and watched a few YouTube videos. Seems easy enough but wanted to see if anyone has done this before and has any tips.
 
Shafts come in this weekend I am planning on cutting them down, attaching an adapter and new grip. I’ll post pictures when done.

Put some blue masking tape over the area you are cutting to help prevent splintering and go slow and you’ll be golden. If you have a blade specifically for graphite that would be ideal, but not absolutely necessary as long as you have a decent high tooth blade. 
 I use one of these on my hacksaw. 

Spy testing is underway even as we speak for the Qi10 in all varieties (I believe there are two testers per head model). 
As for why you wouldn't play them, I've tried the Ai Smoke, the Cobra Darkspeed and the Ping since they came out. All nice clubs (Ai Smoke performed the best for me), but were any of them worth that kind of money? For me the answer was no; not enough improvement over my current gamer to justify $600 or whatever..

The 10K drivers typically have CoG toward the back of the head versus the LS models which are more weight forward.  Generally speaking, there will  be some loss of ball speed with the Max models and a little more spin.   From what I have  heard, forgiveness gains are not exaggerated especially if you hit more fairways; which means more rollout than the rough.   
MGS most wanted driver testing is completed and they have been writing articles, taking pictures, and compiling data.  I would expect the results in a few weeks.    Once released you should be able to compare average ball speeds between the different models.
With any new driver you need to hit the club yourself to see if you gain on your current clubs.   Comparisons for 10-15 handicappers will vary on how strong/weak driver is for each player.  There are always technological gains each year in new drivers but those gains may not be in an area that helps you.  For example if you miss heel side but they improved toe side performance you may see no benefit.  

I have been looking into the G430 Max 10k and Taylormade Qi10 Max for a few months now, been reading all the MOI info and how these are the most forgiving clubs ever made etc.  And please excuse me for asking a dumb question, but why would people not play these types of clubs?  I realize thats a bit of a loaded question, but is the Max and 10k drivers losing that much ball speed that its not beneficial to switch?  Are the forgiveness gains exaggerated?
 
Again these are unanswerable questions without going to hit them and play different setups on your own.  However it seems like what is being reported about these clubs is a huge technological shift in driver equipment for amateur golfers?  Or perhaps I am just reading too much into this?
 
I hope we get some true MGS testing on these clubs(I am confident they are working on this as quickly as possible, they always are) and comparing them to the OEMs other models as well as last years similar models.  I would love to see how the LS models compare to the MAX models, especially for your average 10-15 HDC player.

Was able to get a 4some pass for a Sunday in August, I have heard nothing but great things and already looking forward to it more than I should!

Looking to see if anyone has any experience getting passes at Sweeten Coves and can share any tips?  The process online feels entirely more complicated than it needs to be so I want to make sure I am doing what I need to secure the passes, I believe they go fairly quick.
 
Thanks in advance.

Was able to get a 4some pass for a Sunday in August, I have heard nothing but great things and already looking forward to it more than I should!

A small screw into the holes of the applicator works as well.

I have probably done 6-7 clubs on this dispenser and have ~30% remaining in the tubes.  That also comes with a few learning experiences so take that for what its worth.

https://www.rockbottomgolf.com/golf-clubs/club-making-gear/accessories/attachment-golf-adhesives-30-ml-quick-set-epoxy-kit/
I have used this a handful of times with no issues.  It is nice that it dispenses an equal 1:1 ratio for you.
 
It can get messy in a hurry though, I strongly advise having some alcohol wipes on hand.

This is very helpful! and I have all the necessary items except for the Junior Grips.  Thanks for sending this over.

I love this thread!

I wouldnt call myself a "club maker" mostly because I have never done so before, but I am interested in starting up.  I found an old set of Cobra irons at Goodwill that were the same kind of irons I learned how to golf with.  They arent valuable at all but sentimental and I would love to clean them up and have them be a set my kids can learn to play with.
Has anyone done any sort of club refurbishing?  Or any tips of setting up clubs for 8-12 years from an adult set?  Thanks in advance.

I know @Mtbryant01 has, he might could help 

Unfortunately the Fall time is the hardest for me to get on the course, haven't played a round since early October.  But football season is winding down and I have a trip scheduled for New Years in Florida, I will fire it back up and send in an update post in early January. 

Yep totally understand this.  As with most metrics they are better when there is a larger set of data included, looking forward to getting more data in there.  Just trying to figure out how the sausage is made.
 
Thanks for the quick responses!

Hello MGS Members!
INTRODUCTION
I am excited to finally get an opportunity to be a tester. I truly love reading all the reviews of various products and, like most of you, use those reviews to make purchases. Although I have not commented as much in the past, I have been reading this forum for years and hoping that this process will get me more comfortable posting and getting into a rhythm of how this forum runs.
As for me, my name is Blake DeBartola. I am 33 years old, a father of 4 (ages 8 to 1 year old). We live in the suburbs of Atlanta, Georgia, in a friendly little community that is covered in golf cart paths and golf courses. I literally drive my golf cart out to eat, to the grocery store, to my kids' schools, and everywhere in between. It is a great place to be a golfer and an even better place to raise a family.  I have been golfing since I was a kid, maybe 10 years old, but didn't really start to get into it until I was in college. I always grew up playing a bunch of different sports and played college football at Georgia Southern University (Picture below of me attempting to block SEC DLineman). 

When I was done playing football, I needed a way to "express my competitive spirit" (aka I was driving my wife crazy), so I naturally started playing golf. I had always played a little before, but this is when I started trying to practice and get better. It was an interesting time for me because I didn't really have anyone to play with; my friends had never really played before. So it was a great combination of getting them to pick up the game and making new friends who already golfed. With that, I have been able to organize and lead a yearly golf tournament that has grown from 4 guys to over 32 this past year. I am sure, like many people, this is the event that is circled on my calendar every year, and my performance, equipment decisions, and every little advantage I can try to get revolves around whether it will help me win that tournament. (Picture below of me winning the tournament in 2022, no comment on 2023 results).

The strength of my game is certainly off the tee. I can hit it far, and for most courses I play, it sets me up to have short iron or wedges on basically all Par 4s and the chance to get home in 2 on all Par 5s. As it stands today, I am a 7.8 handicap, which to me is kind of a tipping point between a really good golfer and just a pretty good golfer. I have good rounds and bad rounds but am fighting to make my good rounds much more consistent. In that fight, I have tried to shave fractions of strokes off by looking at everything for an advantage: course strategy, equipment setup, practice methods, etc. I believe SwingU can provide me with some data to better understand where I need to improve and, more importantly, how to improve. I am excited to get started and looking forward to being able to provide all the members insight into my journey and how I think this product can help me be a better golfer.
As far as my plan for testing goes, I plan to use this app in a different way every time I play to see how much it benefits me. Currently, I use the Grint app, but only for score tracking and the small amount of free stats it provides. I typically don't love using my phone all the time on the course, and I do not wear a watch while playing. So, throughout this process, I want to play rounds and use this app in varying levels of involvement in my rounds: inputting data after the round, only using it for distances, using it for scorekeeping, and then using it 100% for everything, including club selection. This will give me a good gauge of how valuable this information is for me, and hopefully, I will be able to communicate it to you guys to determine if it is something you are interested in learning more about. If at any point during this review there is something specific you would like me to show or do on the app, please reach out on this thread or via DM, and I will be more than happy to include it in my next weekly review.
Looking forward to getting this started, I've got a round scheduled at TPC Sawgrass Stadium Course in 3 weeks. If I hit the ball in the water on 17, then I will blame SwingU for the wrong club selection!
 
First Impressions
Turns out that I previously downloaded and created an account for this app but just have not used it for a few years.  I am sure this is the period when I was trying to find an app that worked for score/stat tracking and handicap tracking.  Anyways loading and opening up the app is as simple as any app on an iPhone, and quickly navigating thru the home screen and some of the other offerings was smooth and simple. Below is the home screen when you first log into the app, it has your basic stats listed in the middle, a link toward all your played rounds and then a button to start a new round.  The black bar on the bottom is how you navigate thru different areas of the app.

On the play tab you can search 1,000 courses they have available (seriously I typed in every course I can remember playing and they had everything).  I was quickly able to find a few that I play regularly and saved them as my favorite courses.

The drills tab was a bit overwhelming, there are a TON of drills available for you to review.  I will admit that after I carded my round of 88 with 38 putts I felt slightly attacked how much they insisted I use a couple putting drills.  But that is how the app works, it determines all your data and provides input on how to improve.

I was finally able to get on the course and use it this weekend and wanted to share a few things that I really enjoyed about it.  The first one is this map that shows varying distances when approaching the green.  It really allowed me to have some thought of club selection and not just take the closest club to the pin.

This was a great visual to me to see the distance to the “fat” part of the green and giving yourself more wiggle room with a miss left or right.  Very helpful and something that is difficult to do from 160 yards in the fairway.  As for the club suggestion next to the distance you’ll have to disregard that for now.  The app asks you to track every shot and every club before your swing and then stop tracking when you get to the ball.  To be honest, this is just too much for me.  It is difficult for me to remember to do this when I’m walking up to a putt or a chip shot and focusing on my next shot.  This is a feature that would be better suited for someone with a smart watch.  Also, I tried to manually input my distances as I know them, but it does not seem it allows me to do so.  The last in game feature I wanted to show was the green maps and to that note please know this is the last green map I will be able to share because when I screen shot it it sent me a notification that screen shots are not allowed and doing so again will lock me out of the green map feature.  But because I like you guys so much I am going to share this one with you.

This is a really cool feature but to me it just seems like information overload.  I can see how this can be extremely valuable, but I would need to really get into the weeds on this for it to be a tool for me.  I suppose that’s why I had 38 putts on Saturday…
Next, I want to show some of the strokes gained stats that were generated from just this one round.  All these stats are all set against a scratch player, which is different than the strokes gained stats you see on the PGA Tour.  The PGA Tour sets theirs against the Tour average.  The way SwingU does it is obviously the best way for amateurs and casual golfers to compare themselves.  Below are some the stats that don’t completely embarrass myself that I am willing to share.


Lastly I wanted to share the email that SwingU sends you when your round is completed.  I know this is not much but I love these, it’s a way for me review my round quickly and get a refresher of what went well and what went wrong.  Overall this app has way more data and information available than anything I have used in the past (Grint, 18Birdies, GHIN) I am excited to figure out exactly what data will help me both on the course and off the course as I continue to put more rounds in.  I am scheduled for 2 more rounds this week so I should get to 3 round minimum to determine a handicap and start to build these strokes gained stats up a little more.

 
First Impressions (9 out of 10)
This app offers a refreshingly intuitive experience, in my opinion. Navigating the app store to find it was a breeze, thanks to the absence of confusingly similar names. Downloading and logging in were equally straightforward processes. Upon launching the app and bypassing the login screen, everything you need is right at your fingertips. The interface is thoughtfully designed, with clear labels and easy navigation.
I'm not giving it a perfect 10 out of 10 because the app's simplicity sometimes hides its full potential. For instance, it took me a while to discover the course explorer section, a hidden gem in their catalog. This feature deserves more prominent placement on the home screen, as it's one of the app's standout offerings.
Overall, this app prioritizes simplicity while delivering a wealth of data for users to draw their own conclusions. As a data enthusiast, it provides precisely what I crave—minimal fluff and pure, unadulterated facts.
 
The Numbers (20 out of 20)
This is where this app truly sets itself apart from other golf tracking apps, and its standout feature is its unparalleled ability to provide valuable insights based on the data you input. Beyond offering precise distance measurements for every imaginable spot on the course (the green distance chart, as mentioned in my earlier review, is particularly impressive), SwingU excels in delivering two major metrics that offer distinct perspectives: Strokes Gained and Relative Handicap. These metrics are further divided into subcategories, including Drive, Approach, Chip/Pitch, Sand, and Putting, which contribute to an overall score or rating.
Strokes Gained utilizes your data to assess how many strokes you gain or lose compared to a scratch player. On the other hand, Relative Handicap evaluates your performance in each subcategory relative to golfers of a similar handicap. For instance, if your driving was stellar but your putting struggled on a day when you shot an 80, you might be rated as a 2 handicap for driving and a 25 handicap for putting. Despite a round differential of approximately 8-10 strokes, this analysis provides a clear breakdown of your performance in different aspects of the game.
While I've logged only about 10 rounds into this app, I haven't delved fully into the intricacies of these metrics yet. However, my initial usage, coupled with the suggested drills and practice plans the app offers, has already yielded positive results for me.
 
On-Course (18 out of 20)
The more I committed to utilizing this product, the more I appreciated its capabilities. It truly shines when it comes to intermediate distances and providing hole-by-hole layouts. I discovered its immense value on courses I hadn't played before, where gaining a better understanding of hole layouts and strategic aiming points helped me save multiple strokes. Initially, I cross-referenced the distances with my rangefinder, but as the app consistently landed within 1-2 yards of accuracy, I grew to trust it completely.
The app also boasts a wind feature, which I admittedly overlooked. While it could offer a glimpse into general wind speeds in the area, I'm not inclined to rely on any weather type apps. The only aspect of the app's on-course performance that didn't entirely win me over is the process of inputting scores after each hole. This required a round or two of trial and error to get the hang of, but once mastered, it only takes about 20-30 seconds in the cart before your next tee shot. It's not that the process is overly complex, but I've found it necessary to input all data while it's still fresh in your mind, especially regarding the first putt distance.  This is just something I don’t always love to do while playing and found the data can suffer when I try to input after the round.
 
The Good, the bad, the inbetween (17 out of 20)
I'd like to touch on a few aspects of the app that haven't been covered extensively in other sections, without reiterating points already made.
First, the practice drill section is impressively extensive, offering a wide array of drills tailored to areas of your game that need improvement. While this is undoubtedly valuable, my personal philosophy on golf instruction differs slightly. I'm somewhat cautious about relying too heavily on instructional videos to learn. Many of these drills are simple and don't require major swing changes, but I mention my hesitancy to dive too deep into golf training videos and potentially get lost in the information overload. Personally, I tend to avoid this approach.
I previously highlighted the course explorer section's benefits, which allowed me to familiarize myself with a course before playing it. This feature gave me insights into the optimal distances and club choices for aiming at the most forgiving parts of the fairway or green. It essentially helps you establish a game plan for your round, which, in my experience, often leads to improved scoring.
However, I must deduct three points for a relatively minor issue: the app's lack of integration with GHIN handicaps. While this may seem trivial, it's somewhat frustrating to have to manually input scores, especially when striving for simplicity and minimizing the number of apps and devices. It's worth noting that the app developers may be working to address this, but it's an inconvenience that warrants consideration. Perhaps the real question is whether the deduction should be aimed at the folks at USGA and GHIN instead.
 
Play it or Trade it?  (18 out of 20)
In the realm of golf data, this app stands out as one of the best offerings I've encountered in a user-friendly format. As I've mentioned, I've logged only 10 rounds so far, but I'm eagerly anticipating the opportunity to explore how these metrics evolve over the course of a full golf season or two, especially when paired with various practice plans and strategies.
The only drawback, in my opinion, is the need to have your phone with you on the course at all times to fully harness the app's capabilities. The golf course, for me, is a sanctuary where I often seek a break from technology. Embracing this app to its fullest extent requires constant phone presence, which can be a minor inconvenience.
Nevertheless, this is a product I intend to continue using. When I commit to using it on the course, I genuinely appreciate its performance and the valuable insights it provides.
 
Conclusion
SwingU sets itself apart from other golf apps by delivering personalized data tailored to enhance your game like no other. At its core, it's a superb GPS tool, offering easy access,  intermediate distances and comprehensive green maps. However, it has the potential to become your virtual caddie, providing invaluable guidance throughout your rounds.
The app's value hinges on how extensively you embrace its offerings. If you fully commit to utilizing its features, it undoubtedly justifies its cost and then some. However, if you only intend to use it for scorekeeping and basic GPS functionality, you might not find it as worthwhile.
I've personally experienced some of my best rounds when I've leveraged the app's full capabilities. It helps keep you locked in and focused before and during your round, contributing significantly to your performance. I intend to continue using and experimenting with this app for the foreseeable future, as it has proven to be a valuable asset in my golf journey.
 
Final Score (92 out of 100)