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Everything posted by Brian A
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Tried the A3 setting, straighter but sky high.
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super excited to be picked, I was honestly at my local big box store looking at these the day before I was announced as a tester, glad I didn’t have my current wedges to trade in! I picked 56* and 60* low bounce, relief edge, rounded and hand polished. My current set is the RTX4 52*/56* mid bounce. My major miss is always blading it. I already have some sim time scheduled to compare spin rates and distances. Have a couple weekly rounds I plan on putting these in play I went with the 60* instead of the 52* on this as i needed something shorter and to be able to stick a short sided green.
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Cleveland Zipcore Tour Rack– Official MGS Forum Review by Brian A Intro Thank you to My Golf Spy for allowing me to test these wonderful wedges. My golf game is the definition of bomb and recover! I hit the ball far off the tee or second shot and hope it’s somewhere near the green. Then it’s my time to play. My wedge game from 50 yards and in is my strong suit and why I can score in the high 80’s to low 90’s consistently. My two main clubs are my 52* and 56* Cleveland RTX 4’s. I average 1.8 putts per hole, while I attribute that mostly to being able to chip it close and tap in a lot. The only time I struggle around the green is when I start to blade my chips. Taking full swings with my wedges I can hit them 90 and 75 yards respectively. The 56* is used mostly on short sided chips and the 52* where I have more room for rollout, as backspin is something I can sometimes struggle with. The short game play is why my friend who is a -3 handicap invites me to play in 2-man scrambles with him. First Impressions These wedges right out of the box were things of beauty. Cleveland does a great job packaging them up to protect them. I went with the 56*, sole grind: low, tour crafted sole grind: relief edge, tour crafted leading edge: round with a hand polished finish. The other wedge is the 60* with the same grinds and edges. The zipcore was new to Cleveland this year, it is a low density core that they claim shifts the center of gravity which should make the wedge a bit more forgiving. They offer they typical 3 standard sole grinds, low, mid and full. The relief edge will supposedly allow the leading edge to be lower when I open the face, so that should help eliminate my misses of blading the ball. The rounded leading edge is meant more for steep angles of attack, like mine. I have to say I have been a Cleveland wedge guy for years going from the old CG14’s with the controversial “zip grooves”, to the CBX, to the RTX4. Admittedly I learned I needed to replace wedges sooner than I used to. For me to give up my RTX4, I want the same performance (new grooves). I know numbers matter but there’s more to golf for me than that. Feel and how the ball moves to me are the most important aspects if I am going to game a wedge or drop it. For testing my plan is to hit the soft balls in the basement for a general feel and ability to open/close the face and pick it off some short grass, get some spin numbers to compare to what I have now and of course, on course performance. Now lets get down to the important stuff! Looks (9 out of 10 points) The patina is growing on me, I was never a fan of the rusty wedge until now. Although mine has rusted a ton. The wedges look clean and smooth. There’s no glare at address of the ball. The logos are not too large where it distracts from the beauty and simplicity of the wedge. Sound & Feel (10 out of 10 points) These sounds just like my old wedges, which I loved so it wasn’t a distraction or major change. It was a very crisp click when it makes contact with the ball. They feel just a bit softer than the previous version. The ability open the face more gave me a bit more feel with the club to control shots that I previously struggled. Basic Characteristics (20 out of 20 points) So before the wedges came, my local GolfTec had a Cleveland event and was nice enough to again let me come up and test wedges. I was able to compare spin rates from my current wedges and the soon to be my new tour rack wedges. The direct comparison I am able to make was for the 56* to 56*, since I didn’t replace my 52* or have a 60*. I did these on full swings and averaged shot #’s. 56* RTX Ball Speed: 58MPH, Backspin: 44558 rpm, Side Spin 88.4R, Distance 64 Zipcore Ballspeed 60MPH, Backspin: 5100 rpm, Side spin 80.2R, Distance 60 With the zipcore I did not lose much distance but was able to generate more backspin and less side spin. I was joking around with the instructor I worked with who was watching, I said “don’t worry, I won’t tell anyone I took lessons here”, her reply was “with that shot dispersion I’ll pay you to tell people I taught you that”. So to me that was good feedback on the wedges. The wedges were very forgiving, even on my worst mishits they still travelled reletivly close to the same distance and near the target. On-Course Performance (30 out of 30 points) Once they showed up I had to get out quickly and put them to the real test. I played a few rounds with both sets in my bad and took 2 shots for chips on several holes (I played the first one) alternating which wedge I used first. I can tell you these zipcores have a much more stop and drop on the green, to the point I’d have to aim closer to the pin or they’d be really short. I hit a wedge shot from about 55 out with the 56* that just hit and stopped about 8 inches from the pin. I could really see an advantage of the low edge as I only bladed the Zipcores once. I even had a chip in from about 25 yds out! (I wish I could give bonus points for that) With the edges and grinds I could tell the wedge was more versatile than the previous versions. Opening the face became much easier for a higher Phil type flop shot or closing it to get a little more roll out. I was able to control distance and dispersion well with the Zipcores. These match my normal high ball flight, which I believe helped me stick greens. I could tell the grooves on these wedges are newer and sharper as balls at the range were leaving some marks on them, as if it was pulling the cover away. The more I put these in play, the more confident I became and more I went at the pin vs trying to miss small. Final Performance Comments: These performed better than what I had and I am happy to say that these are the real deal in wedges. Cleveland again proves why I’ve always been a customer of theirs. The round I tracked my score I scored in my range but had 1.4 putts per hole, because I could get the ball closer on chip shots. Miscellaneous (10 out of 10 points) Confidence, I had it in my wedges before, now I really have it. Friends who used them to test all had great things to say. The drop and stop on the green was a key improvement for me. Even my dad who struggles with getting the ball in the air on chips, could put the ball off the ground and actually make it look like a chip. The customization to my style, preferences like the pro’s get was a nice feeling! Play it or Trade it? (18 out of 20 points) These are definite gamers for sure. The only reason I took points off was the cost. $169.99 for a wedge is getting to be a bit pricy to me. They are $20 more than the standard Zipcore wedges if you don’t need the special grind sole/leading edge. Is it worth the extra money, as someone who had the standard grinds before, if you’re spending $149, $20 isn’t that much more to feel like a tour pro. This wedge is for the golfer who wants to seek pins and lower their scores. Conclusion BUY THIS WEDGE. Seriously if you need a new wedge and are going to spend the money on a current gen wedge this is it. The ability to customize the grinds for your playing style is a major benefit. Better spin, more forgiving and accurate! I know I must sound like a Cleveland rep but I am in no way affiliated with them, other than just a major fan of these wedges. They are almost a perfect club to me. Final Score: (97 out of 100 points) Seriously this wedge is legit! I am hoping the PA weather breaks and I can get out more witht hem this. year. The pictures show the patina on the wedge for now. I am hoping for more rust!
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Playing in a 2 man scramble past weekend. I had a shot of the day as did my partner. mine: were about 15 yards off the green, were walking to ball, halfway my partner says to me “you forgot your putter” my reply, won’t need it... chipped it in (in all reality I did forget to grab putter) were on the 18th I shank my shot in to trees on right, partner in water. He wanted to take the drop because we’d have to hit a low stinger out of trees, downhill, over said water and stop it. Of course I chunk mine. He has the look that he’s going to kill me, hits the perfect stinger under the trees, over the water in to the hillside of front of green pops straight up and last 6 in from pin.
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Isn't A3 a +1.5 loft? So my 9.5 would now be an 11. I will give this a try at the range sometime soon
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Need some advice. I have the TS2 with the smoke black shaft stiff. I hit the ball high and slice and I’ve turned it to D2 which is upright and -.75 loft. I see the have weights you can buy for the back of the club, will changing that help bring the ball flight down or straight ?
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what I can do with it. Id putt with a shovel if I could hole any putt.... Comfort and confidence. Looking down at the setup I need it to be just simplistic but also know where its going. When I start getting putting "yips" (for lack of a better term) my rounds become insufferable
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What is a club you regret selling/wish you still had?
Brian A replied to Cory O's topic in General Equipment Talk
My ping G30 4 hybrid, was the most consistent in my bag. Demo'd the Titleist TS3 hybrid and hit it better... bought it and now its 50/50 -
Both myself and buddy got our rejections as well.. its becoming a time honored tradition
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I wanted to try this but went with Par every hole since Birdies are a stretch for me... I finally did it this week with a Par on the 8th hole which is the hardest hole on the course!
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5'10" and 35 in putter but I choke down on it about 3 inches
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Anyone else pick this up? I'm loving the career mode but thats about it. The course editor is a bit too complicated for me. Has anyone started an MGS club on there? (I searched this topic and couldnt find anything)
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If you need any diet killing places let me know, I know them all in Pittsburgh
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Not saying I'm a fan but they are selling like crazy. It supposedly out sold Budwieser for a month or so last summer
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Depends on conditions and course familiarity. My local course that I'd consider home course, I pretty much know the greens enough to know breaks without studying them. Dried out or just rained adds some complexity because I am def more of a speed/control putter vs accuracy. (Will use break of green w speed vs trying to drill it center cup, strange but it works) New course I will look about 10 feet behind the ball and if I cant tell will walk the other side but rarely happens
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+1 after 3 for a 51 on 9... First 4 holes hit the driver pure then couldnt keep the ball in play off the tee
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Finally hit my goal weight of <180.. 179.8, its been hovering around 180ish for a few weeks. Since January I've lost 16lbs! A lot of running, cycling and patience. Also got sick in February and dropped 7lbs pretty quick and just kept it off. I know it sounds crazy but work from home has helped because we don't buy a lot of the junk food for the house that shows up in an office or a vending machine. If I could kick the sugar habit/cravings I'd be in great shape
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What 3 pros would you like to play with on a Sunday
Brian A replied to xOldBenKenobiX's topic in The 19th Hole
Tiger, Arnie and Spieth. Love to see TW up close and in person, Arnie is a legend and somewhat of a local to me and Speith even in his slump has always been one of my favorites -
Depends how I got it... if someone who went gave it to me as a gift because they know I love the game then absolutely. Would I buy it as clearance, no
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Still don’t understand this game, shot 101 yesterday, 89 today... it’s been this way all summer! Good rounds to terrible and back no consistency. Now it’s my putting that’s gone to crap
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My experience with them was the original driver. My friend had one, he let me hit it, I crushed it close to 300 almost dead straight, so he let me use it when played together for a few rounds and I was hitting the best drives of my life. Finally take the plunge to order it, mine comes (same specs) and I can't hit it to save my life, neither can my buddy or anyone we played with, yet all could still hit his really well. We compared the clubs side by side after a bit, his club head was more closed than mine (he didnt put new shaft or pull and reset or anything like that). Sent pictures to BT they agreed, replaced the driver and it was the same story. I'll admit when I hit the thing, it went far, when I didnt it was bad and it was a 1/18 good hits with the one I ordered
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If its not a money thing, see if there is any local organization you can donate them to. I know maybe a little work but could change someones life and bring someone love of the game
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I know theres been a lot of talk on the 50 rounds and wedges are done. Is that true for amateurs as well? How would I know when my wedges are starting to go? My wedge game has slowly decreased and Im not sure if its something I'm doing or the wedges just arent responding how they used to?
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Absolutely love mine, the long irons are forgiving!