[Dave's Impossible Project: Same Gear For A Year]

15 hours ago, hckymeyer said:

Here is my only advice/tweak I'd suggest and you kind of have it built in already.  Commit to playing the same sticks, but break up the year into trimesters.  Commit for the first trimester.  Reassess, tweak if needed and recommit for the 2nd trimester.  Rinse and repeat.

Also when you evaluate the club try looking at it this way.  Can you hit it well to the best of your personal ability 80% of the time?  If the answer is no it probably doesn't deserve to be in the bag.  Does the club save you strokes or cost you strokes overall?  If it's overall costing you strokes then it gots to go.

Can't wait to see how this plays out, I'll be following along!

Maybe I should do it based upon the majors...

Like the 80% idea a bunch. That gives me something a bit more concrete to approach the assessment.

[Dave's Impossible Project: Same Gear For A Year]

10 hours ago, Peaksy68 said:

Good luck with the journey Dave. Have you done a fitting with the Mizuno Optimiser? For me it absolutely pointed me in the right direction. 

 

I'm currently going through my most significant equipment change since I bought my first set. Irons and wedges are sorted, driver chosen, just need to sort out fairways and hybrid. The putter will be in my bag indefinitely unless something unexpected happens to it.

One of the few good things about turning 50 is being a bit self indulgent

It has been about two years since I've done the Optimizer. That's how I ended up with Nippon 1150 GS Tour shafts in the 850 Forged. Another set I probably should have stuck with, and the reason that I took a somewhat blind shot at the Srixon 756 with the Modus 120 shafts. That shaft really seems to have the right weight and flex profile for my swing. I can easily keep track of the club position, whereas the Recoil 780s in my prior set of Apex irons cause the club to seem borderline etherial. 

[Dave's Impossible Project: Same Gear For A Year]

That really sounds like a solid plan. If the Callaway fitting doesn’t hold all of the answers, I’m going to work through the bag the same way.

Thanks for the details


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[Dave's Impossible Project: Same Gear For A Year]

Thanks for the positive feedback. I do welcome any of you to join me in the one set in 2019 crusade. Think of all the gear money that you can save and use for fancy booze instead. I'd have a case of Pappy Family Reserve ready to go based on 2018 

[Dave's Impossible Project: Same Gear For A Year]

No F-ing Way You Can Do That!

That's the response I received when I pitched this idea to my weekly play buddies. Somehow, they have come to the conclusion that I am a bit of a club ho. I've no clue where this idea came from! Sure, I've played with more putters in 2018 than most people have teeth in their heads, but that's just trying to be inclusive, I don't want the the garage multitudes feeling left out.

Somewhere along the way though, I realized that swapping out gear all of the time could be costing me strokes on the course. Crazy idea, I know. What really got me thinking about this was my current driver. I've been gaming the PING G400 driver since summer of 2017, and my driving stats have never been better. I know how to hit that sexy beast.

On the other hand, I played three (maybe it was four) sets of irons last year, and I can definitely leave my shoes on when I total up my GIRs for a typical round. I just never felt comfortable with any of the iron sets, or maybe just never gave them enough time to become comfortable. Some of these sets were custom fitted too, so that’s a little disheartening. Hitting nearly every fairway off the tee, and then not hitting any greens is a recipe for lots of post-round grumblings. I'd almost rather be bad off the tee too...

Only Score Matters

If I had to come up with a reason for swapping gear out so often, I'd actually list two reasons. The first, and obvious one, is that I like shiny new things. I experience euphoria when I slide new sticks into the golf bag. I’m sure that it’s a dopamine response thing. Replacing a fairway wood with a new one brings me joy, unlike replacing my currently defunct microwave oven. There is no joy in that expense. Woohoo $500 just to make something work the same again!

The microwave comparison brings to light the other reason that I think I swap gear: optimism. I don’t think that cooking will improve with a new microwave oven, but I did wonder if switching to graphite iron shafts could find the distance that I have lost in recent years (it didn't).

Helpful hint #1:Abdominal surgery does not help one’s core stability, strength, or swing speed.

In spite of knowing better, I always wonder if new gear is the answer to playing better. The irony there is that by buying new gear to play better, I may actually be causing myself to play worse. That’s what got me thinking about doing this project. Could keeping the gear constant lead to lower scored?

But Does the Gear Really Fit?

As I mentioned above, some of the gear that went on the scrap heap was custom fit. I paid for two different sets of custom irons, taking financial beatings on both when I eventually sold them on Craigslist. Each time, I thought that the fitting would get me into a set of clubs that would be “the” set, and each time, they were not.

I still believe that if I’m going to do this, the clubs need to fit. Think of it this way. No matter how many times I try and wear a pair of size 32 pants, they are never going to be comfortable with my 34 waist (perhaps 36 after the holidays). This is the mindset that has kept me searching for better fitting clubs, rather than sticking with one set.

The Plan

I will turn 50 this coming February. How I got so old, I really don’t know. It just seemed to creep up on me year after year…

Anyway, since it’s a milestone birthday, I decided to celebrate by buying a new set of irons, and maybe woods too. Yes, I did also buy irons this past year as well, but this time I can actually use the birthday excuse to justify them. Ain’t twisted logic grand?

I am convinced that there is a set out there that will fit my swing better than all others. I know this because I’ve had that set in the past. A few years back, I was fitted for new clubs at Callaway headquarters. The first fitting put me into a set of RAZR X irons. I told you it was a while ago. That set was great as I learned how to play golf, and improved my swing. The next time I visited Callaway, I was fit into a set of RAZR X Tour irons. I had taken lessons for a year, and my iron play was solid. That set is my never should have left set of irons. I think that there has been eight, or maybe nine sets of irons since the RAZR X Tours, and every time the new sets fail to measure up, I lament the loss of those irons.

Why did I switch out of those irons? Like I said above, new and shiny things are attractive, and I am constantly seeking the ultimate new set, even if I may have already had it. And yes, I have thought about just buying another set of the RAZR X Tour irons, but every time I find a set, they always look like someone dragged them along the cart path. 

There is an interesting synergy with the Callaway story and this new project though, as I will be heading down to their headquarters to hit their new stuff next week. My hope of all hopes is that something in the new line will once again fit my swing. The Rogue Pro is actually pretty close, but maybe there is something else rolling out for 2019 that’s even better. I’ll let you know how the trip goes, though embargo rules may require me to call the new stuff Individual 1 for a while.

The Goal: Break 80 

This is my overall goal for 2019: to finally break 80. For someone who didn’t start playing golf until 40, I feel pretty good about my progress and my current 11.8 HCP, but that 80 barrier needs to fall. I’ve shot 80 three times, but never in the 70’s.

Gear is obviously one part of the score equation, and I’ll be trying to play more in 2019, hit the range more, and maybe even take a lesson or two as well. That 80 barrier needs to drop this season. It’s making me crazy every time I shoot low 80’s, especially when I've left easy strokes on the course.

The Plan and Timeline

I am thinking that everything will be locked in as of my birthday in February, making this a Shoot Under 80 while Over 50 project as the year rolls on. The February cut off should give me time to see the new stuff that is rolling out, and make the final bag selections. Who knows, it could actually be my current bag of sticks (posted below), but once the gear is set, it’s set.

Current Bag and State of Attachment

• Driver: PING G400 - Beloved, likely locked
• Fairway: Callaway Epic 3W - likely locked, like is so much I may add the 5W
• Hybrids: PING G25 - good, but not attached. Playing 3H, with 4H possible
• Irons: Srixon 765 - 4-PW, bought used a month ago. Seem promising, but I’m iron fickle. Modus 120s are nice!
• Wedge 1: Cleveland CBX 50° - bought on Cyber Monday to fill in set - so far so good
• Other Wedges: Cleveland RTX 3 54/58 - like these - KBS C-Taper shafts feel lovely
• Putter: Bettinardi Queen Bee 10 - Any putter would be the hardest club to keep in the bag, but this one is delightful to roll and has a good chance at longevity.

Escape Clause

Now that you have read all about how I am going to commit to this project, I am going to hit you with one caveat about not sticking with it. Basically, if this project makes golf not fun, or worse, makes me not want to even go and play at all, I’m ending the experiment.

Having fun is what golf is all about for me, and while shooting lower scores is definitely fun, not shooting lower scores is definitely not fun. If a club in the bag becomes the bane of my existence, evoking dred whenever I unsheath it, I am going to remove the offending object, and end this experiment.

Now lest you think that this club swapping sounds exactly like what I am doing now, it won’t be. I am going to assess progress on July 4th, 2019. If the scores are lower, or if I have actually broken 80, then the experiment will continue on with the bag locked in for the remainder of the year. If that’s not the case, some of the contents in the bag will be detonated along with the Independence Day fireworks. Hopefully it’s the former situation, but if there is no trend of improvement at that point, then the bag will need to be reassessed and maybe reloaded.

Updates to Follow

As the project progresses, I promise to keep you all updated. I’ll post the February bag contents, and then post scores and handicap revisions as they happen throughout the year. I’ll let you know if clubs are working out, or if some are moving toward the end of the plank. If/When that sub-80 round is finally shot, I’ll do some kind of giveaway for the loyal thread and social media readers. That way we can all share the joy of the accomplishment.

So stay tuned to this thread for more info. I’ll let you know about the Callaway trip results, as well and all of the other minutiae as we move along. Reporting the data back to all of you will keep me accountable and focused on the goal, so thank you in advance for that.

Hopefully this will be fun to report and read about, and not ultimately your source for weekly doses of schadenfreude.

 

UPDATE 1: The Callaway Fitting and First Bag Locks

 

[Official MYGOLFSPY Fantasy Football League 2018]

Congrats all. My maps will no longer include the state of Minnesota


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Going to need Minnesota to score 60 points tonight

[Dave's Take: Jaybird Tarah Bluetooth Headphones]

2 minutes ago, jlukes said:

Great stuff, Dave. So sound quality remains the same and the only stuff that is sacrificed is 2 hrs of battery time and some fit customization?

Seems like a great deal

Pretty much. If the fit and battery are an issue then I would say spend $30 more and go with the X4 model. Otherwise these are solid. I'll post any durability discoveries should they arise through extended usage.

[Dave's Take: Jaybird Tarah Bluetooth Headphones]

Dave's Take: Jaybird Tarah Bluetooth Headphones

 

The Jaybird Tarah headphones may have entry-level pricing, but they deliver great sound, especially when paired with the Jaybird app.

Jaybird is the Word

The Jaybird Tarah is the third pair of Jaybird Bluetooth headphones that I have taken through the review process, having previously reviewed the Jaybird X3 and Jaybird Run models. In both of the previous reviews, I was definitely impressed with the Jaybird products, especially since I had never even heard of the brand prior to the first review.

Well it’s been about a year since I published the Jaybird RUN review, and I am happy to say that those headphones, and the X3 headphones, continue to perform flawlessly. The Run headphones are a staple of my golf bag, and my son uses the X3s at the gym on a daily basis. Nothing better than your kid pilfering your cool stuff, huh?

Unfortunately for the Tarah headphones that I am writing about today, the previous experiences have elevated my expectations for this new model. It’s sort of like being the third kid to go to a high school when both of your elder siblings were valedictorians. 

Although I understand that the Tarah's role is as Jaybird’s entry-level model, it still has some big shoes to fill.

Jaybird Tarah: IN THE BOX

• TARAH Wireless Buds
• Silicone Ear Gels: S/M/L
• Cord Management Clips
• Cord Shirt Clip
• USB 2.0 Charging Cable + Charge Clip
• Color: Nimbus-Gray/Jade
• Price: $99.99

Comfort and Fit

Since they are of similar construction, most of my comparisons ended up being between the Tarah and the X3 headphones. The Run headphones are kind of their own thing, and not really an appropriate direct comparison.

Anyway, like the X3 model, the Tarah headphones fit into your ears using a combination of silicone fins and ear inserts. The difference here is that while the X3s had separate fins and ear buds, the Tarah headphones come with the buds and fins fused into single units.

Obviously this is going to cut into the versatility of fitting a bit. No longer can you pair small buds with large fins, or something like that. You really now only have three fit options. Hopefully one will work. For me, medium ear gels worked just fine.

One thing that I really like about the new single-piece system is that the buds and fins are always in proper alignment with each other. Occasionally, the fins can twist out of place on the X3, and the Run, headphones. On the Tarah, this can’t happen since they are single piece units.

Like the other Jaybird headphones, the Tarah headphones had no trouble staying in place through practice sessions on the range, or during workouts at the gym. Once I had the proper ear sock size, I just adjusted the cord a bit to secure them. After that, it was all about the music.

Ease of Use

Pairing is immediate. Not only for the first time that I paired them with my phone, but also when I paired them to my iPad later for movie watching. Just press and hold the power button and they are discoverable. So easy.

The controls are very intuitive. Press +/- for volume control; hold them to skip songs. Nothing crazy here, which I like. They work like they should.

Like the other Jaybird headphones, the Tarah headphones have a microphone and can be used to make calls. That’s not really a primary use for me, but they did perform just fine during some test calls.

Sound Quality

One of the things that I like about the Tarah and other in-ear headphones is that they block out a great deal of ambient noise when you insert them in your ear. They are not noise canceling, but they definitely block the noise.

The nice thing about this is that when outside noise is reduced, you can now hear your music at lower volume, saving your battery and maybe your ears as well. The Tarah headphones can still get plenty loud, but it’s not necessary.

The sound out of the box was good, but had a bit of that small speaker feeling. Bass was pretty absent, and overall I was not that impressed. However, after pairing the headphones with the free MySound app, and tweaking the EQ sound profile to add more bass, my mind changed completely.

Once you adjust the setting on the app, the sound from the Tarah really blossoms. It was a huge difference. If you buy a pair of these, or any Jaybird headphones, the MySound app is a must use. You’ll be very pleased with the sound changing option and likely find an EQ mix that suits your style.

Battery

The Jaybird Tarah only features a six-hour battery as opposed to the eight-hour battery found in the X3. This is likely going to cover any single-setting headphone need that I have, though it will probably require more frequent recharging than other models.

The cool thing is that the battery charges quickly. You can get an hour of play with only 10 minutes of charge.

Like the Jaybird X3, charging the Tarah requires a special USB cord. If you are not prone to losing stuff, this is not likely a big deal. If you are one that spends hours searching for missing cables, then maybe you should order an extra cable.

Jaybird Tarah Headphones Review: Summary

The Jaybird Tarah headphones are solid entry-level Bluetooth headphones. For $99, you get a lightweight, easy to use, and great sounding headphones. If you need more fit versatility, then you can go to the X4 model. If you want a longer battery life, you can go to the newly released Tarah Pro with a 14 hour battery!

I think that the Jaybird Run headphones will still be my go to headphones for the driving range, because of the charging case, but for most other applications, I’m going Tarah.

Find out more at the Jaybird website, and at Amazon.

 

Detailed Specifications: Jaybird Tarah

AUDIO

• Type: In-ear style
• Noise-isolation: Passive
• Impedance: 16 Ohm
• Speaker sensitivity: 99 +/- 3dB at 1KHz
• Output max. 10mW RMS (with level limit)
• Total harmonic distortion <5% (1KHz, 1mW)
• Audio format: 16-bit stereo
• Codec: Bluetooth SBC implementation
• Response bandwidth: 20Hz - 20kHz
• Driver size: 6 mm

BLUETOOTH

• Bluetooth version: 5.0
• Frequency band: 2.4 GHz
• Profiles: Handsfree , Headset , A2DP , AVCRP , SPP
• Wireless range: Class 2 standard range 10m/33ft

INTEGRATED MICROPHONE

• Type: MEMS, omni directional
• Sensitivity: -38dB +/- 1dB (Test conditions: 1KHz, 0db = 1V/Pa)
• COMPATIBLE PRODUCTS
• Any Bluetooth device with HFP, HSP and A2DP

WEIGHT & DIMENSIONS

• Headset: 528mm x 13.25mm x 23.6mm
• Controller: 45.7mm x 11.7mm x 5.6mm
• Charger: 112mm x 33.6mm x 7.2mm
• Weight of headphones (without ear gel): 13.85g
• Weight of charger: 6.5g

BATTERY

• Play time: 6 Hrs*
• Charging time: 2+ Hrs
• Quick charge: 10 min = 1+ hour playtime
• Charging: Via USB charging cable with Pogo pin connector
• Input power: DC 5V 1A
• Type: Lithium Ion
• Battery voltage: 3.8V
• Energy voltage in watt hrs per battery: 0.2wh
• *May vary dependent on usage, device & aging

 

[How'd you play?]

3 minutes ago, strokerAce said:

Nice!  50 yards on a par 4 is a huge difference for me.

Sounds like fun...wish more courses would do that.  I've played both blue/white/black this year and never thought about moving up to the white and back to the blue on various holes.  Seems like once you commit you're there and if you move you're somehow cheating.  I like this!

 

I figured if it's on the card then it must be cool. When I logged the round for NCGA, the app had the combo tees listed for HCP so all's good.

Also played a "cheap" ball. The Callaway Superhot matte orange. Bought one at check in on a whim, and bought a box at the turn. Really fun ball to play, and definitely longer for me. No problem finding it in the leaves either. Now the one that I pulled with ferocity OB with the 3W, that one was not going to be found without a machete.

[How'd you play?]

Played the new combo tees at my home course yesterday (Ancil Hoffman). Only knocked about 300 yards off the total (6500->6225), but man was it more fun to play. Having the Par 4 12th go from 421 to 371 made a huge difference. I think I've shot par on that hole twice, and never with two putts to do so.

I did feel like I was cheating a bit as I moved up to the white tees when the card said to do so, but I got over that. It was crazy how much more fun the round was. Didn't shoot any lower either. Actually scored two shots lower from the longer tees a few weeks back. I think that the stress of always needing long approach shots just gets tiring.

Viva Combo Tees!

[Official MYGOLFSPY Fantasy Football League 2018]

Am I seriously going to lose by 0.9 points? I need Russel Wilson to just throw one nice completion.

Amazingly close match

 

 

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[Collecting Putters and the Byron Morgan 006 LOL LN]

That's a horrible collection. They are all wrong. Worthless to people in their right minds

Silly southpaw sentiments

 

 

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[Collecting Putters and the Byron Morgan 006 LOL LN]

Aside from always making a post interesting and providing great accompanying photos.... you are a sick man Dave. LOL

 

There's a lot of posts put up by guys showing equipment but nothing tops the ones by Dave.

 

Great job!!!

Why thank you sir!

[Collecting Putters and the Byron Morgan 006 LOL LN]

That's a beaut. I have room in my basement whenever you decide to lighten the load on some of these

Putters do sometimes leave the garage. I'll add you to the potential rehoming list

[Collecting Putters and the Byron Morgan 006 LOL LN]

Call me Taneleer Tivan

Before we take a look at the sweet putter that I have for you today, I thought that it would be interesting to explore the question of how does a golfer go from having one putter in his bag to having a hundred putters in his garage?

 

Crazy as that sounds, it is exactly what happened to me, and to more than a few other putter collectors out there. Somehow, we transitioned from needing a putter to play golf with to needing to have lots of putters.

 

How does this transition happen? I'll try answer that from my experiences, perhaps serving as a pathway, or a warning, for other would-be putter collectors.

 

I've Always Collected Stuff

 

I was not really joking when I said that you should call me The Collector (Did you get that reference above?). When I think back on it, I've collected various things my entire life. Baseball cards, comic books, Star Wars action figures, beer coasters, and the list goes on from there. I think that for me, collecting is 20% value speculation, and 80% the hunt. I get a bit of a rush when I find something cool/rare.

 

I remember being super excited to open up a pack of Fleer NBA cards that had a Shaquille O'Neal limited edition Rejector card inside. Was certain that it would be worth a bunch of money eventually, not the 99¢ list price currently all over eBay. The thrill of acquisition definitely outpaced value on that one…

 

 

So I suppose that I had a predisposition to collecting before I ever started amassing putters. Without getting into my entire golf biography, I started playing “serious” golf late in life (age 39). By “serious” I mean that I took lessons, bought nice equipment, and overall cared more about how I played than I had during my previous drink beer and hit balls golfing escapades.

 

My first real putter was an Odyssey Rossie 2 that I received from my father-in-law as a Christmas gift. That putter probably started the cavalcade of flatsticks.

 

Once I became aware of the vast putter options out there, the constant putter well rotation became inevitable. The Rossie quickly became a Cleveland VP Milled #2, which then became a Scotty Cameron Circa 62 #1, and so on and so on. Lots and lots of putters have moved through my bag through the years. Understatement of the year right there.

 

Moving Off The Rack

 

At some point, I became aware of the custom putter market. I can't remember the exact situation regarding how this happened, maybe it was when I found PutterTalk.com, but it was a mind blowing revelation. It was crazy to think that there were small shops out there making putters that were truly unique, most containing way more personality than those found in the golf shop, and at a price that was not much above off the rack retail pricing.

 

I had to have one.

 

I think that people order custom putters for two reasons. They either have very specific putter specifications that match their putting stroke, or they want a putter that is cool and unique. Sure, you can have both of those, but I can admit that my motivation for acquiring a small shop putter was the latter. I had no real clue about my stroke needs, but I definitely wanted something cool to putt with. Thus began my long-running love affair with the LOL longneck.

Byron Morgan 006 LN

 

This Byron Morgan 006 putter that I have to share with you today was my first custom putter. Thing is, I didn't order it directly from Byron, so it wasn't custom to my specs, but as soon as I saw it, I needed to have it. Nothing that I had seen in a shop was even remotely similar.

 

When I think about the attraction, I think that it was the overall character of the putter that drew me in, and what keeps me a fan of small shop putters to this day.

 

 

The most important thing about a custom putter for me is that you can see that a person made it, putting some of their life into the metal. Maybe that's a bit woo woo for a putter, but whenever I look at one of my Byron Morgan putters, I can envision Byron with a hammer adding the stamps, grinding away at the wheel, or torching the neck to be able to twist it.

 

 

His hands were all over the making of this putter, and I appreciate that. Not all of the stamps are quite the same depth, and the position of the stamps is definitely organic, compared to a machine-driven engraver where everything is all squared up. You may not find the same variable aesthetics as pleasing, but I definitely value the feeling of connection to the person behind the putter.

 

I gamed this putter for almost a whole year, which some of you may recognize as being a labor worthy of Hercules. I own my putter philandering. Though it's a little heavy for my stroke, I still sneak the LOL LN out to the course here and there. It's just fun to roll balls with, and when I look at all of those smiley faces, how could I get angry about anything that happens on the green.

 

 

Since acquiring the 006 LOL LN, I've ordered a few custom putters from Byron, and every time that I open up the box and see the putters for the first time I am amazed at what Byron has produced. Sure, I sent him the specs, and maybe some ideas about aesthetics, but Mr. Morgan is the one who breathes life into the metal.

 

As I write all of this, I can feel the urge to order another putter grow stronger and stronger. I know that I now need different putter spec than my previous Byron putters. I've even got a theme in mind. Perhaps it's time to send an email to Huntington Beach...

 

Any other putter collectors want to chime in on how you got started collecting?

 

Here are some bonus shots of the 006 LOL LN

 

[Dave's Putter Profile: The Miura KM-009]

How does it feel when you roll the rock, Dave?

 

 

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At risk of cultivating innuendo I say the feel is thick and firm.

 

 

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[Dave's Putter Profile: The Miura KM-009]

Dave's Putter Profile: The Miura KM-009

"This classic toe-weighted design proves it is possible to match looks with performance."

-Hoyt McGarity, President of Miura Golf.

 

Miura Makes Great Irons (and Putters!)

 

Since I've actually never owned a set of Miura irons (sadness), I'm actually going with a bit of faith on the first part of that title above. However, I've never met a person who has bemoaned anything about Miura irons. OK, so maybe I've heard some grumblings about price, which is why I don't own a set of them, but I have never heard anyone talk trash about the irons themselves.

 

I do have first hand experience with Miura putters though, and to a putter, the build quality has been exceptional. Putters for Miura Golf are not just haphazardly produced to fill that fourteenth spot in the bag. They are a legit Miura product, and they live up to the Miura name. For reference, you can read my takes on the KM-007 and the KM-008 putters by clicking those links.

 

Today, we are going to take a closer look at the newest Miura Golf putter model, the KM-009.

 

 

"Although putters aren't our core focus, the Miura family has never attached their name to any product that did not live up to their extremely high standards."

-Hoyt McGarity, President of Miura Golf.

 

The KM-009 is not a Cameron 009

 

Let's get the potential elephant out of the way first. Some of you leading the putter-obsessed lifestyle are well aware that Scotty Cameron makes a 009 model as well. The Miura KM-009 is in no way intended to mirror that putter at all. In this case, KM-009 just happens to be the next number in the putter naming sequence. You saw the KM-007 and KM-008 numbers above, right?

 

Though both the Cameron 009 and the Miura KM-009 are heel-toe-weighted blades, when you look at the putters, you'll quickly see that their common ancestor was a while back on the putter tree of life. These are cousins, not twins.

 

With that out of the way, let's explore the looks and play of the KM-009.

 

Looks

 

The KM-009 is a classic in the looks category. I love the lines of this putter at address. Though the topline is rolled, it still has that overall rectangular profile that I like to see behind the ball.

 

The one thing that stands out is the thickness of the topline. Here is a shot next to my Vault Anser 2 so you can see just how much thicker the top of the KM-009 is in comparison.

 

 

This thicker topline is one of those putter visual elements that some of you will like, and some of you will not like. I had one friend tell me that the thicker top makes it appear closed to him. I don't get that, but the point is that these little visual tweaks will affect each of us a little differently.

 

 

The white chrome finish is a bright one in full sun, but not to the point of needing to only look at it indirectly like a high polished stainless finish would require. You are not going to get Twilight-vampire sparkle with the sun overhead, but this finish is a bright one for sure.

 

 

In terms of precision, the milling on this putter is pretty darn spectacular. I know that zero Miura fans are shocked at this, but even so, the tightness of the milling really stands out. I love that they have mixed in a bit of flair on the bottom with the giant logo. Most of the putter is subtle; then the bottom gives you BAM. Love that design element. The milled lines on the back corners are a cool aesthetic touch as well.

 

Performance

 

The KM-009 gave me a bit of a surprise on the course. I anticipated the feel being a bit heavy for my tastes, and it was a bit heavy feeling during the swing. No fault to Muira there, of course. My preferred head weight is around 345g, and the KM-009 weighs in at 360g. The extra weight does make it very stable during the swing, but I just like it a bit lighter. Again, you may go the exact opposite of me on this, preferring the feel of a heavier head.

 

One aspect of play that sent me back to the spec sheet was the firmness of impact. In a blind taste test, I probably would have said that the KM-009 was made of stainless steel. It's not. The KM-009 is made of mild (carbon) steel, but it feels firmer at impact than what I usually associate with carbon steel. It's carbon though. I did the magnet test to be sure...

 

The firmness culprit is likely that thick front section. There is a bunch of mass behind the ball at impact, this likely imparting that thicker/firmer feeling at impact. It's a thunker, not a clicker. The firmness is coming from mass, and not metal. Those of you who have rolled the thick-fronted Kronos Touch would know what to expect from the KM-009.

 

 

Once you get used to the impact feel, you'll see that the overall feedback is excellent. You can definitely pick up the differences when the ball hits various parts of the face. Just play some dead-off-the-toe putts on those short downhillers, and you will feel how the KM-009 lets you know where the ball hit the face.

 

All in all, the performance and play of the KM-009 is old school. It relies on shape and metal to roll the ball as opposed to modern materials and fancy groove technologies. It is probably not a putter that will make you immediately better on the greens once you roll it. This is more of a long-term relationship putter. You spend time with it, roll balls with it, discover its nuances, and with the investment in discovery, you will likely find that you have developed an effective putting relationship with this finely-crafted flatstick. 

 

And the price...

 

Here is where things get crazy. The price on the KM-009 is only $400! Wild stuff there, right? Now before you frugal crusaders attack your keyboards, think about the fact that most premium putters in the market today are above $300, with the new 2018 Scotty Cameron Select line also costing $400. Like it or not, that's what these putters run these days.

 

I actually thought that the KM-009 would cost more. Miura irons are expensive after all, and the KM-008 was priced at $450...

 

The thing is, I have a feeling that this putter will be exactly what some golfers are looking for in a market that has not satisfied their needs. Some putterheads are not happy that the last few lines of Camerons have had the face insert, as opposed to being fully milled. The KM-009 is forged mild steel, through and through. Nothing but milled metal here.

 

Milled putter purists should welcome this one with open arms.

 

Miura Golf is known for making some of the finest forged irons in golf. Why would their putters be any different? Hopefully you have a Miura dealer near you so you can check out the Miura KM-009 first hand. If you've never rolled one of their putters before, you are in for a treat.

 

[What Did You Smoke Today?]

It was silly huge

 

 

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[What Did You Smoke Today?]

My Driver!...Extra long off the tee today!..Guess the back was a bit looser than it's been in a while...No doubt the the Aleve I took before playing helped!...

How about we keep SLDR salutations in club threads?

 

This thread is for cigar stuff like this ridiculous thing I smoked in Bandon Dunes.

 

 

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[Heading Back to Bandon Dunes]

Day one highlights

Stupid huge cigar

Punchbowl madness

New toy!

 

 

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[Heading Back to Bandon Dunes]

And we are rolling to Bandon Dunes!

 

 

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[Heading Back to Bandon Dunes]

Have you done the Solstice?

I'd love to try but have not been able to do that yet. Probably need to soon before the body gets too old

 

 

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[Heading Back to Bandon Dunes]

Is there golf on the docket for Sunday? If so, would there be room for an interloper?

 

Asking for a friend....

The Sunday plan is Shorty's, Punchbowl, meatloaf, cigars, and adult beverages.

 

No big golf til Monday

 

 

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[Heading Back to Bandon Dunes]

SWIMBO and the Daughter are out of town this weekend, and I have Sunday and Monday off....... It's only 2 hour 42 min drive to Bandon Dunes Resort........ I have a Bandon Dunes Gift card that is burning a hole in my wallet..

 

What to do, what to do..

We will probably get there at 2-3 Sunday

 

 

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