Hook DeLoft

One bit of information you need is how much more accurate you are with a fairway wood vs driver. Even on tour, you see players missing the fairway with 3 woods. I would lean toward adding a 4 hybrid or 7 wood. Given the distances you hit the ball, you could score hitting the ball 235 off the tee if the driver is acting up.

I carry a club that is 44 degrees, one that is 48 degrees, one that is 53 degrees and one that is 58 degrees. I don't care what they're called.

I am getting antsy waiting for this. NOT a criticism. For some reason I love reading the numbers in ball tests.

I hit better shots when I stand farther away from the ball than I'm comfortable doing. Just goes to show that what works for some may not work for others. I don't know if it would qualify as a tip, but years ago I took some lessons and the pro had me release my hands as fast as possible from the top of the back swing. It felt like I was casting and flipping my hands. Because I had spent years trying not to early release and flip my hands, the instruction resulted in hitting the ball first, taking a nice divot that started on the target side of the ball and high, slight draws with a lot more distance. That is a lesson I have had to relearn over and over. In the last 4 or 5 months, I have gone back to that swing thought and, sure enough, high draws with better distance. The irritating thing is I know I will slip back into holding off the release and hitting low bullets and have to start all over again. What works for me probably doesn't work for many others.

I think you need both. The popular swing speed products utilize both light and heavy weights. Moving away from speed specific products, I would say you need to work on balance and core strength. Years ago, someone did a study that showed that the number of pull ups a person could do was positively correlated to swing speed. None of the other exercises they looked at were. I have no idea if the study was well designed, but it might be worth it to add pull downs or chin ups to your work out routine.

In that case, it would be worth the time.

I could swear I replied to this topic earlier but don't see it. Anyhow, I'm going with 4'33" by Philip Glass. Look it up.

Just posted my final review.

I agree that it is irritating that a company would offer custom specs and then not come close to providing what they say they are providing. A final QC with a loft and lie machine would make that a piece of cake. Being off by 2 or 3 degrees tells me that step isn't being done. Maybe they are checking that the proper shafts and grips were used and maybe checking the length. Maybe they spot check every 10 or 20 or 40 builds. I don't know. Thank God they're not making medications or life sustaining machinery. My local shop will check and correct loft and lie on custom ordered clubs for no charge. He charges a small amount to bend clubs that he didn't sell. I am OC enough that I have had him check the specs on a demo iron before ordering a set. A recent example: I am testing MacGregor MT-86 OS irons. I had the lofts and lies checked and they were all over the place. I had them adjusted to the ordered specs. Just for kicks, I then took the 7 iron to another shop and had him check the lie and loft. He measured an exact match to the changes done by the other shop, so, in this case only, different machines and different users made no difference.

I'm pretty sure the PXG fittings aren't free. If they don't beat your driver, this allows you to get your money back, so to speak. But, you will only be able to compare their driver to your current driver, so if you are in the market for a new driver you won't be able to hit other companies' drivers in an effort to find the best for you. If PXG is so bent on being a DTC company, they need to start offering demo deals like other DTC's.

I recently switched to Bridgestone XS balls and am delighted with their performance on iron shots and around the green. I get the most spin since the late, lamented Maxfli Revolution of the early 2000's. I've also noticed no drop off in distance, despite Bridgestone marketing the ball to high swing speed players. The possible issue is control of the driver. Traditionally, driving is a strength of my game, yet recently it seems I am seeing a lot more curve in my shots leading to some blowup holes after hitting it in the trees or OB. It just seems more draws are turning into hooks and more pushes are going waaaay right. Of course, a swing path that is too much in to out can cause this and that certainly could be the problem. But I would like to know if others have seen control issues with this ball in the long game.

In that case, I would lean toward not having a membership. That way you can play different clubs without the guilt of paying for one course and playing at another. Well, "guilt" may be too strong a word, but you get the point.

Can I get a tester badge? Thanks

I've belonged to a few courses over the years and always found that having a regular group to play with made all the difference. If I mostly played with whoever the pro shop grouped me with, I would probably not pay for membership and play as many courses as I could in the area. Of course, you could have a regular group and not be a member but my experience is it's harder to maintain a group of non-members.

Wow. I looked at that without my sunglasses. Now I have spots in my vision.

What do I win for finishing in 629th place?

4'33" by Philip Glass is my favorite piece for the golf course.

Could it be spin?

My experience has been that a bowed wrist at the top of the swing results in my having an open club face at impact and a cupped wrist at the top usually results in a closed face at impact. I can't explain it. Perhaps an unconscious attempt to square the club face on the way down results in over doing it.

Far be it from me to be a bad influence, but the Cool Clubs robot testing show that the new ZX7 II has an extremely tight dispersion on mis-hits.

I'm sure there are different reasons for the fascination. Some have bought into the idea that Hogan had a "secret." Personally, I think his only secret was an incredible work ethic combined with the mental discipline and body awareness to make the same swing over and over. Also, there are stories from his contemporaries that indicate he was a great athlete. For example, in practice rounds, they would commonly bet on the longest drive on a hole. Despite not being known as a long hitter, Hogan always seemed to win those bets. Another told the story that they would play a game in the clubhouse where a piece of currency would be placed in the middle of a table. On a signal, everyone around the table would try to snatch the bill. Hogan always won. Others are amazed by his ability to become a great player after being merely good for so long. Some are taken with his comeback after the car wreck. Some are impressed by his ability to go from hitting a draw and fighting a hook to playing a dependable fade. Many find his origin story fascinating: his father committing suicide when Hogan was young, leaving the family poor and forcing Hogan to work hard as a child and teenager to contribute to the family's existence. And don't forget, he never had a swing coach. Add in the popularity of Five Lessons and you have the makings of a legend. I wouldn't suggest any amateur try to copy any great player's swing. How many amateurs have the the athletic ability and time to make the moves pros make? How many can spend 8 hours a day grooving a pro swing? How many can rely on others to take care of all the business of life while they dedicate themselves to honing a golf swing? How many can spend hours a week in the gym? How many have private chefs to maximize their diet? This is where so many Hogan enthusiasts lose the plot. IF you have Hogan's body and the time, body awareness and discipline to copy his swing, go ahead.

Yep. With the Macs, I go from a 44 degree pitching wedge to a 54 degree sand wedge.

I wish MacGregor would offer a matching gap wedge. Basically, the 5 through PW set I have is a 4 through 9 iron set. I am planning on buying a gap wedge from another DTC that I think would be a good match. Otherwise, I continue to be impressed with the clubs.

Same here. If you are able, walking is the way to go.