chisag

... I think you would feel equally energetic if you used a good push cart as you get the same benefits of walking and your neck and back will thank you.

... I had back surgery in 95 and asked my Ortho surgeon what he thought of double strap carry bags, when the double strap was just introduced. He said he LOVED the double strap as it was going to put all 3 of his kids thru college. LOL, the human spine is not meant to carry a heavy bag that puts it in an unnatural position and it just puts a lot of stress on the spine. He said some may go their whole lives carrying a bag with little to no problems but most will end up suffering some sort of back ailment. My best friend in NC coaches the girls high school team and assistant coach of the boys. All the girls use push carts and they won the state championship. But all the boys refuse to push a cart because "it isn't cool". ... But with the advent of push carts it should be irrelevant. I use a remote control cart and love walking the course for 1) my health 2) keeps me more involved in the game and my specific shots 3) keeps my back looser and warmed up and 3) allows me to take in the beauty of nature more than zipping by in a cart. We played yesterday on a course where the distance form green to the next tee can be insanely long and I was fortunate enough to be playing with my son and two of his 20 something friends that took carts. I was able to walk the course like I had a caddy as my pard drove and let me walk but ride the 3 holes with too much distance from green to the next tee. So I stayed loose and relaxed the whole round.

... I think you are definitely in the majority of golfers but probably the minority when it comes to equipment forum golfers.

... Thanks. The Fly Z did that for me several years ago, although spin was a little higher than ideal but mishits typically high and on the toe were almost as long and accurate as center hits and it really improved my driving because I felt free to just let it go and no longer tried to subconsciously steer any of my drives. So far, the Epic seems to be doing the same thing but with a much more ideal spin rate.

... I go to the PGA Show and hit every new driver every year. (I missed this past year due to an injury). Technology is always improving. It is very rare for an older driver to hit on all 4 attributes, but of course possible for a given individual. For years low spin tour performing drivers had a lower loft because they were designed to keep the flight down. For those of us with a 95-105 mph swing and a "normal" trajectory, we could not launch the ball high enough to take advantage of the low spin heads, so we compromised with mid spin heads. Then the SLDR came along with up to 12* and even 14* lofts and we were hitting it higher with more roll and a better AOD even though carry was similar in normal conditions. But the forward CG made it less forgiving than higher spinning heads with the weight low and in the rear. ... But OEMs learned from the success of the SLDR and began R&D for low spin heads with weight low and in the rear creating a new class of lower spin drivers that were also forgiving. I just don't think you will find an older driver with the forgiveness of the Epic/M2, the low spin and the higher trajectory. And as much as we feel technology is maxed out, there will be something in the future that we don't expect and it will make another leap in performance. Of course that performance won't be there for all, but a specific golfer can reap benefits that can mean a few yards in distance and dispersion. Now the argument can be made that the few extra yards and added forgiveness is not worth the difference between a new driver and their old driver, especially at $499.

... I still get a chuckle from those that claim new drivers have been maxed out for years and there is no more yardage out there. I have found most drivers to be a trade off of 1) Distance 2) Trajectory 3) Spin and 4) Forgiveness. For many the SLDR was great for 1 and 2 with higher lofts as well as 3 but was challenged by 4. The Fly Z I played with great success for 3 years was awesome for 2 and 4 and pretty good with 1 but less than ideal for 3. ... I just started playing an Epic 10.5* and so far it seems to be hitting on all 4 and it feels and sounds better than any driver I have hit since my McGregor M85's. I will need more rounds to make sure the results are repetitive but I may have found another 10+ yards that I can reproduce consistently and maybe even more occasionally, all in a forgiving head. Poo-pooing new technology is just short sighted because you can test everything new for several years or more with no better results and then an Epic or M2 comes along that really provides a performance boost. I hope the M2 continues to impress you.

... If ya need a low round for your confidence, Cog Hill #1 is always at your disposal. $20 at twilight on July 4th ain't bad, so with the Mrs it only cost me $40. And we just about had the course to ourselves. That is a bargain in my book. As long as the greens are in decent shape, it is pretty easy to go low there. ... Combined with a new Epic, that to my surprise is longer than I expected, I shot a 68. The first hole, in reality a long par 4 at 490 slowly downhill the entire way masquerading as a par 5 especially downwind, always makes for an easy start. Two really good shots is an opportunity for an eagle, two pretty good shots a birdie but you can even hit a few bad shots with the 200 yd wide opening fairway and still make par. Two holes in particular were key to my low round. Playing #11 I pulled my tee shot into the hazard on the left and had to drop. Hit a 195 yd 5 iron to about 6 feet and made the putt to save par. Learning nothing from the previous hole, I pulled my tee shot again on #12 (where I didn't even need to hit driver but I was on a honeymoon with my Epic) and was against a tree and could only chip backwards into the fairway. Hit a 95yd sw to a few inches and saved par again. Two holes that could have derailed my momentum and really helped me avoid a let down. To be honest I hit too many loose shots to card a 68 and the fact that the rating is 69.7 on a par71 track tells you all you need to know about the course difficulty, but it was still a fun afternoon.

... To nobody in particular, but I am always a little surprised to see the talk about "equipment hype". We don't live in Romania and it is just capitalism at work. I mean you don't see ads for refrigerators saying "we just keep your food cold" or even shirts "we cover your body to keep you warm, nothing more nothing less". Golf equipment isn't any different than any other product sold in the US. I don't think I have ever found any dishonest or hype above and beyond simple sales 101. "longer, straighter, better" and "advanced material design to increase performance" is pretty much standard for every club. ... I piked up an Epic driver after hitting one and loved the look, sound and feel. I will be pleasantly surprised if it produces lower spin like my SLDR combined with the forgiveness of my Fly Z all in one package. And even then I would expect a few more yards and as tight or slightly tighter dispersion. But most likely I will experience a different look, sound and feel with performance pretty much identical to what I have in my bag now and I am OK with that.

... A combination of Chicago Screen Actors Guild.

... Great topic! I have been writing reviews for almost 15 years and try to give it a combination of facts and fun. It isn't easy. One thing I really don't like is reviewers trying to be clever. I always enjoy genuine clever but not when someone is trying to be clever and just isn't. I find quite a few reviews from the MSG staff fall into that category but not here on the forum. I am not a fan of reviews that think the rest of the golfing world share their view. Golf clubs are not sexy, have nothing to do with sex and if they did it would be S&M so I always feel that reviewer needs to actually have sex more often (and with a partner) to have a proper reference point. Reviews need to appeal to a millennial or a get off my lawn senior so don't slant it to a white belt, white shoes and a flat brimmed hat listening to rap on a cart speaker or a khaki, black belt/thin socks and bucket hat player that would only entertain a Sinatra tune and even then only in the clubhouse entertaining a proper scotch with perhaps a splash of water and certainly no ice. ... I also think describing your swing style and making comparisons to others is a big help in reviews. For instance I might say with a smooth swing and transition and a 100mph swing speed the Matrix Black Tie in a M1 felt boardy and produced a low trajectory but someone with a fast transition and/or higher swing speed should demo this combo. And a description of feel and sound is a necessity today. The Fly Z+ was the loudest and most obnoxious head I have hit next to the Sumo SQ yet I have seen some describe it as the best sounding and feeling head they ever hit. While I think the Epic is the best sounding and feeling modern head I have hit, I have heard more than a few say it feels and sounds dead. So I will be more descriptive saying "I grew up with persimmon woods and prefer the deep and dense sound/feel of the Epic but those of you that like a more metallic and explosive sound/feel will probably not like the Epic and might wanna look at the Srixon 545."

"BY FAR the best brewing method for you if you prefer a light (almost tea like) cup of coffee that is very sweet and flavorful, but lacks body is going to be to use a Chemex." ​... I like a light roast but some body and a nice strong flavor, not a light cup like tea. One of the reasons I love Intelligentsia as their light roasts still have a lot of body and flavor and produce a strong cup of coffee. Maybe that is one of the reasons the FP works for me as light roasts in the Keurig were basically flavored water. Thanks for your help.

... Played Settlers Hill in the Chicago suburbs, a course on an old landfill I have not played in probably 10 years. Some nice holes and surprising elevation changes in a flat area. After playing it yesterday I remembered why I don't play there. Circus greens with a ton of humps, mounds and tiers. The good news was they were fast and smooth. The bad news is it was almost impossible to make a putt unless you were straight uphill and with so many mounds and slopes even that wasn't always possible. ... My son had a putt over a tier to a pin on the side of a mound. Came over the tier and it almost dies then took the slope and rolled 20 feet below the cup. Putted back up the hill to an inch right of the hole and then rolled right back to where he was. Repeat and then pick up. Shot a 75 hitting 15 greens in regulation because of silly greens and ridiculous pin placements. I won't be going back.

... Gotcha. That's why they make so many different kinds of irons.

... I am an equipment enthusiast, which sounds much better than Club Ho. Those of us mature golfers remember a time when we could buy new or used irons, play them awhile and then sell them for what we paid or a small loss and it was much easier to play everything out there. As a Teaching Pro with the IPGA I received quite a few sets from Titleist, Wilson and Tommy Armour when I was on staff. But I started reviewing clubs in the early 90's and that is the main reason I have played so many different irons.

... Interesting. As you can tell I really enjoyed them and one of the few sets of irons I reviewed and I still own: http://www.golfwrx.com/forums/topic/313660-new-killer-forged-iron-from-lynxlx-tour-mc/

... I am sure I have forgotten a few: Spaulding Executives Tiger Shark Great White Shark Toski Custom CB's Tommy Armour 845's Tommy Armour Silver Scott MB Wilson Staff Tour Blade MB Wilson RM Forged Titleist DCI Black Titleist DCI 962 Titleist DCI 990 Titleist 681 MB Tiiteist 690 MB Titleist 762B Titleist 755 Forged Titleist AP2 710 Titleist AP2 712 Mizuno MP14 MB Mizuno MP33 MB Mizuno MP59 Mizuno MP63 Taylor Made Tour Preferred CB Taylor Made Burner Tour Taylor Made RAC CB Taylor Made Tour Preferred Forged MC Taylor Made RBZ Tour Cleveland TA1 MB Cleveland 588TT CB Maxfli Revolution Black Maxfli VHL Maxfli VHL Midsize Nike Forged MB Nike VR Forged Combo Hogan Apex 99 MB Tour Stage MR23 CB Tour Stage Z101 Precept Tour Premium Forged CB Bridgestone J33 CB Bridgestone J36 Combo Srixon I-701 Tour Srixon Z545 CB Lynx Parallax Lynx MC LX Forged CB Golfsmith Forged MB Cobra Pro Forged CB Cobra Amp Forged Cobra Fly Z+ P790 (2017) P760 P790 (2019) ... and some Ping i10's I bought and played with one round and immediately sold them.

... I bought a Harlo pour over that sits on top of my cup. Specifically? Everything you asked. Don't like the time and focus of getting the filter wet and the the delicate blooming. Then the slow pour. ... I load the grinder before I go to bed and then when I wake up it is like a zombie: Grind, add to press, pour to a line, wait 4 minutes. Wonderful coffee. Even that was more of a chore than I like and we bought a Keurig and stainless pods I loaded with Intelligentsia. I don't have to tell you what a mistake that was and it only took a few days to go back to my press. ... Second question, I love a light, bright coffee. Intelligentsia has quite a few I really love. As you know, many light coffee's from other sources can lack body and flavor. Any recommendations from Counter Culture?

... One of the reasons I LOVE this game is it is just so difficult. After playing great for a week with my swing on auto pilot and shooting under par my last 3 rounds, things just got off to a bad start yesterday. Hit a big drive cutting the corner and only had 181 to the pin and proceeded to top a 5 iron. WTF? Had 9 birdies and an eagle in my last 2 rounds but started off with 3 bogies on the front 9 and no birdies. My swing just felt out of sync and while I try not to pay any attention to it until after the round, swing thoughts started creeping in. 3 more bogies on the back before finally finding a rhythm with 4 holes to play and birdied 2 of them. Too little too late and it was such a frustrating day. But ... it is days like these that really sink it's hook in me and I can't wait to get out again!

... I am not a morning person and am crazy stupid for at least an hour before the brain fog starts to lift. Having coffee certainly helps. So for me, a French Press and Intelligentsia is my routine. The Mrs works in a building that has Intelligentsia on the ground floor so fresh beans are always available. I tried a "bloom and pour over" and hated it. Mostly the bloom and slow pour process when I am mentally challenged. So here is my question: ... Is there a method as easy as a French Press using another technique I should try?

... I just don't remember a Spring that was this windy seemingly every single day? We played Wedgewood today in Joliet and the wind was gusting to 25mph or so. I find it really tough to putt in those kinds of winds as I hold the putter very loosely and the wind blows it off line. Ok, enough cry babying. The greens were rolling very nice and they were a little faster than normal so no complaints. Very hot so the ball was really flying downwind. Shot a 72 with 2 bogies and only 2 birdies and I certainly had my chances but just couldn't convert more than 2 of them.

... I have a remote cart and follow two of your guidelines. Walking without pushing or pulling is the best way to play and most of us can't afford a full time caddy. Keeps me loose, involved with the course, the next shot and gives me more time with nature. Nothing quite like a screeching hawk overhead as you walk down a fairway.

... The Nippons launched very high for me in a set of AP2's. Nice shaft if you are a low ball hitter or need some help getting the ball in the air. I play Recoil 95/110's but have never hit the 780ES.

... Taper tips are built to a specific length. IE: 36.5" wedge and 39" 4 iron and you butt trim only. Parallel shafts are all the same length and you trim the tip and then the butt. Putting a 4 iron TT shaft in a PW means you are playing a very weak shaft almost 1.5 full flexes softer in your wedge. ... I would find a set of pullouts to install as the parallel shafts won't fit in the AP2's anyway. Personally I prefer the feel of TT shafts as opposed to parallel as I could never get them to feel the same. DGS300's parallel's trimmed according to True Temper just felt stouter than corresponding DGS300 Taper tips.

... I am always shocked at how much weight OEM's install in the hosel. Mizuno had radically different weights in the MP59's I took apart and reshafted. Titleist was just as bad with my AP2's. I prefer a slightly heavier swing weight with Recoil 95 and 110's, so I have lead tape on my irons to get them to D4. I would never add weight to the hosel unless I was adding the same weight to each club, which is just about impossible.

... Been there done that. Probably the most maddening shots for me are the iron safe play off the tee or lay up on a par 5 that misses the fairway. I have to be diligent in remembering to swing freely and not guide the ball. It is so easy to let your concentration slip just a little because it is such an "easy shot".