GolferXY

I'd say it's a mixed bag, but I have gained some nuggets here and there. I think that beginning golfers tend to get frustrated because of the quick fix nature of most of the content. Realistically, the only way to improve is to practice. So if you do find something that you think may work, you shouldn't assume it will be a 15 minute fix, no matter what the game improvement tips may be. If you're really interested in getting better, find an instructor who you can work with on the driving range. If you can't afford that, then find a guru online that you trust, and stick to that game plan. Good luck, a toast to better scores <clink!>

Hmmm....great pic! Is that an Autoflex on his Q10?

Atta way, testers! I've been seeing a lot of you around the forums lately, couldn't have happened to a better group of spies.

Congrats to the testers. I'll be following this one closely. I noticed Big Phil sporting one at the Masters.

Good question. I stocked up on balls in the offseason, but I'm going to buy a dozen to give to combatants in my Father's Day tournament.

I had an original FlightScope Mevo but gave it to a buddy when I got my Garmin R10. The Mevo had some drawbacks like connectivity issues, limited information available without the premium account, and having to place aluminum dots on the ball in order for the Mevo to be accurate. The R10 is much simpler to set up and use, is pretty darn accurate, and the integration between numbers and video is seamless. It also connects much easier than the original Mevo, and doesn't lose its connection as easily or as often. Unfortunately I don't have room for an indoor practice space in my home so I haven't used to R10 for simulation, but maybe in the future. That would be a lot of fun.

I used to be the drive for show guy and it made up for a host of sins on and around the green. Can't do that any more. Recent knee surgery has me rehabbing and part of that is short game practice. And guess what? I can now hit those delicate little chips when short sided on a slippery green and get the ball close. Pitch and run? That's now in the bag, too. Short iron approaches? Getting better and better. Putting? Well, putting may never be the best part of my game....I miss too many 4 and 5 footers! Argh! But I'm getting better there too. I miss pulling out the driver on short par 4's, miss going for the green in two on a par 5. But playing smart, staying on the short grass, and getting up and down has never been better. Golf is so difficult because there are so many distinctly different parts of the game to master. Putting is a whole different game than driving. If you're a golfer, you know how true this statement is. After a lifetime of golf, I have earned to appreciate it even more, and that is the beauty of our game. Just MHO.

Good point. I saw a related video to the above talking about how Arnie had trouble with speed control on his longer/lag putts due to his wristy stroke. Maybe, maybe not. There's a lot involved with sussing out the right speed on a 35 footer, down hill the first half then uphill the second, with a bit of turn at the end. To your point about the yips, I say "yeps". I have them and even though I went to a broomstick I still sweat those 4 and 5 footers. Its between the ears mostly, but I have noticed the nerves are breaking down too. They say getting old is tough, wear a helmet. Do you think I'd look odd wearing one with my weekly group?

Check out Arnie here. His style was unique in his knock kneed stance, but you can clearly see he uses his wrists to pop the ball. This wasn't unusual. Many of the great Golden Age putters did the same.

Odd though, isn't it, that some of the great putters of old were "pop" type putters who used hands and wrists to motivate the ball. Was it because the greens weren't as fast, is it the glassy smoothness of modern agronomy driven putting surfaces that make us want to take the hands out of the stroke? Thoughts?

Is there a rule as to how you hold a tennis racket? How about a table tennis bat? Baseball bat? I don't see why there is any rule against how you grip a club, driver through putter. I've tried armlock, didn't work for me. Unfair advantage? Couldn't prove it by me. But then, I can't putt with anything.

Ready golf for casual rounds should be the rule. However, once on the green, there is a possible advantage to play farthest from the hole play first, in order. This allows those closer to the hole to possibly get a read on their putt. I consider this to be a big advantage and should be adhered to barring extreme circumstances (someone is dilly-dallying with there equipment or catching a phone call ( happens to the best-and worst- of us).

Yep, guilty as charged. I am guilty of leaving divots in the fairway, and after reading some of these posts, I DO feel like that a-hole. No excuses, and in future I will be extra vigilant to fill or repair them as much as possible. I often feel pressured to hurry because pace of play is terribly slow. It affects my play tee to green and I hate that I am manipulated by circumstances. Therefore I often don't replace divots, and if there's no sand or I'm in a cart, I leave the damn hole for the next guy or gal that happens to find that place. Truly, I apologize to any whom I have disadvantaged. Starting tomorrow, I will fill every hole, replace every divot, and fix not only my ball marks but as many of those others while time permits. If I can see the error of my ways, anybody can. Can't we all just get along and be conscientious of the next golfer who happens upon the remains of our latest effort at moving the ball forward?

Yeah, walk up music to the first tee would be the theme from Jaws.

I have found that the best way to enjoy golf is indeed one shot at a time. I prefer scotch.

The chipping video played flawlessly, the putting stuttered just a tad at the beginning but both were better than the videos uploaded directly to the chat.

Thanks for bringing an engineer's eye and hand to the testing. Great photos, videos, and I really appreciate the time, effort, and thought put into the testing. The most intriguing aspect to me is the consistently on-line putts the the Maxfli provides. A ball that rolls the same way every time came shave strokes, especially as you get closer to the hole. Great review, Spy!

vandyland, very nice review with good pics and nice testing numbers. In looking at the numbers it looks like the Maxfli was actually more consistent than the Prov1 in all but the wedges in terms of shot variance. Nicely done! Your numbers are similar to mine, so this is a very good approximation of what I would see I think. I also sport a L.A.B. putter and love seeing a fellow lab rat! Thanks for the review. XY

What wedges do you use, and are they new?

So you got the shaft twice!

I had a driver fitting with them and it was okay until I found out that they were charging me $100 for the fitting and $150 more for the club than I could get at a golf store with the same specs. A couple years later I bought a fitting for my son and he never used it, so I went in for an iron fitting. The young man who worked with me had a great attitude but wasn't interested in my input and pushed me toward a brand rather than try to fit me appropriately. Seemed more salesman than fitter. Late last year I went to PXG, paid $25 for an iron fitting, and I was frankly astounded by the professionalism and courtesy, not to mention the accuracy, of the fitting. My friend also got fitted, and he was fitted into the Gen 5 while the Gen 6's were sitting on the shelf. I thought that was indicative of a company that is trying to fit you into the best club for you instead of the best club for them to sell. Also, unlike Club Champion that charges you $100 [minimum] for the fitting whether you buy or not, PXG applies your fitting fee to the price of the club[s] you buy.

I ordered a set of Ping i525's a couple of years ago and was fitted for them. They came out way out of spec from the factory. Never buying Ping again.

Absolutely critical and believe me, I've done it twice! I dropped a member-review a couple of years ago on the Mezz Max - fairly comprehensive I think. Just got knee surgery in February and bought a Mezz Max broomstick to help me with my recovery. Absolute nirvana! Lady I spoke with told me they're coming out with a DF3 broomstick in a couple of months, I think that may be the one I've been waiting for cuz you can literally pick up those gimmes while still getting 90% of the DF2 advantages. I'm going to be selling the first putter, though it breaks my heart. The broomstick is just easier to use, more consistent set up and stroke, and I like the way my eye sets up over the ball, too. Hope you find the right putter for your game, just remember if you're gaming a LAB you have to let the putter do the work. Interesting thing to me is that if you hit the ball toe or heel side it typically goes the same distance as a center strike, but will go a little right or left. If you are within 5 feet your chances of bagging that birdie are still very good. If you miss the center from 10' of beyond the ball will more likely miss.

EEEeeeyup! Got the lens replacement surgery last January, and it is the bees knees alright. Found out my truck is actualy light blue, not white!!!!

I've got both the dark and regular Prizm lenses. Dark works better for bright sunny winter days here in the North West where the sun is lower on the horizon all day, making it more likely you'll look up from your shot and into the sun. Regulars are great for spring and summer. Still take them off for green reading, though.