Headhammer
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Posts posted by Headhammer
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3 hours ago, yungkory said:
Your food always looks so good. Just one question... Why don't you ever invite us over? Selfish!!
Nom nom nom
If you fly me over and put me up, I will be more than happy to cook for you and your fam for a week!
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Winn makes some really padded grips that are comfortable. And there's this guide.
https://www.golfgearbox.com/blogs/news/top-10-shock-absorbing-golf-grips
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Dinner last night pork tenderloin stuffed with goat & mozzarella cheese, spinach, prosciutto, caramelized red onion with balsamic vinegar and bacon with a side of stir fried green beans with toasted almonds and sesame oil. #Flavatown
- MattF, racingdaly, Muckinfiddle and 4 others
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A very nice pinto noir that paired well with our grilled cedar plank salmon.
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Never thought this would be a topic that would get me to click on, but here I am. PF sucks!
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Wow, I may have to start applying for testing opportunities again, but ya know I'm still scarred from that time I applied to test that Callaway driver and @GolfSpy BOS was chosen over me!
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On 4/17/2024 at 5:12 AM, GolfSpy_APH said:
While ppl can still say more member testing we are at capacity there and won't be bringing more than the max of 2 per week. Maybe if we get more ppl engaged and posting we could up the number of ppl selected, but for the member we are happy with where the schedule is and the number of tests as it suits the number of engaged members.
Can you please clarify this comment? Are you saying there are not enough people applying for testing opportunities or you're not getting enough member engagement on the actual testing & results to justify more testing? THX
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Worst Masters advertising faux pas? I'll hang up and listen!
- GaDawg, Another Steve and Rob Person
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I never watched the broadcast once preferring to follow the action on the app. The Master's App has set the standard for a fully immersive viewing experience and more and more casual fans are now aware of it and that it has most certainly impacted broadcast viewership.
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Dinner last night was pork egg roll in a bowl. Yep, all the contents of an egg roll without the nasty fried wrapper and topped with a siracha lime mayo.
- racingdaly, Fongle, Rob Person and 7 others
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Ad from Facebook market place. Just in case you did't win the lottery to attend this year or couldn't afford The Masters food experience, this woman will sell you her empty tubs for $60!
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On 4/4/2024 at 2:35 PM, Donn lost in San Diego said:
Henry Griffitts, still in business in Coeur d Alene, Idaho.
Tad Moore in Selma Alabamamama.
Both are custom club makers.
Any body here ever have clubs from these fitters?
Sure Tad Moore was a very well known regional club maker, sort of like what Bobby Grace is today.
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How about KASCO K2K hybrids with their Super Hyten metal that made them the longest hybrids ever. I fell for the marketing when they appeared on The Hot List, that was long before MGS was born. Damn things did go pretty far though, or perhaps I was just younger and stronger back then.
- injectedcutty and Rob Person
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13 hours ago, Bobbers said:
Had a chance to get the Runner out for an initial run (pun intended...).
I mentioned in my unboxing/initial impressions post that the head was large and, for me at least, confidence inspiring. I put it next to an L.A.B. Directed Force 2.1 for comparison purposes.
The L.A.B. is about 3/8 inch wider than the Runner.
I alternated between a sleeve of Bridgestone R XS balls and a sleeve of Wilson Duo Soft balls figuring that would give me a chance to compare a low compression, soft ball with something more traditional in terms of compression.
Other than the sound, obviously attributable to the ball, performance was similar. The Bridgestone ball came off the face with a "click" and the Wilson was a much more muted "tock".
Hit several series off the toe and several series off the heel just to see the impact of seriously off center strikes. Distance was affected but, in my opinion, the mass of the putter head kept the putts on line very nicely.
I could definitely feel the difference between center strikes, they felt very "pure", the way a perfect shot off a forged iron feels.
Short putts, four feet or less, felt pretty automatic.
Below are two photos of a series of three putts from a distance of 30 feet.
Keeping in mind I'm a 20 handicapper I'll take those second putts any day of the week from the starting distance.
Feel free to ask any questions that occur to you, I'll do my best to answer.
To be honest when I first saw the Runner I thought it was kinda ugly, but next to the LAB it looks like a damn Victoria's Secret Model!!
The one thing MGS has taught me is that sometimes the ugliest putters turn out to be the best putters!
- jbern, HikingMike, Northern Monkey and 4 others
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On 3/26/2024 at 1:44 AM, Bobbers said:
Introduction
Hello. My name is Bob and I'm a golfer. (Audience replies, “Hi, Bob!”)
Player Profile
I've been golfing for about 60 years which should tell you something about my age. Lifelong resident of Wisconsin and have lived in the southeastern part of the state for the majority of my life with the exception of stints in Stevens Point, Eau Claire, and Green Bay.
Grew up playing municipal courses long before irrigation was a thing which makes me a “picker”. Trying to take a divot, particularly in the summer months, was literally a question of whether you were trying to sprain a wrist or break it. Golf balls were covered with balata until the glorious day that Surlyn was introduced. Finally, a chance to play a round without having to worry about how many “smiles” our bladed irons were going to inflict on the ball due to a less than perfect strike. We'd put our golf bags on our backs, bicycle an hour to the course, play 18, and head home. A round of golf, a Coke, and an Acushnet “Club Special” cost all of $2.00.
I'm left handed...except for golf. Only clubs I had access to were my mother's discarded set from long, long ago. Blades of course, a persimmon driver, a blade putter which was hard to differentiate from a 2 iron other than by the length of the club. Yeah, spent my first six years with a short set of “Miss America” hammer forged blades. Steel shafts, before chrome became a “thing” covered in an acetate sleeve to prevent surface rust from showing. Immediately below is a photo of my first putter. I recall vividly that my score for my first round was 150. Yet I persist to this day.
I play a mixture of courses here in the southeastern Wisconsin area. Our season is unpredictable but averages sometime in April until November/December depending on the year. I shoot anywhere between 85-98 depending on how the day goes. I'm a “driving range rat” and honestly enjoy hitting a bucket of balls as much as playing around. I'm the guy who flips to the “you generally hit the ball straight but a lack of distance puts pressure on your game” advice columns in a golf magazine. My short game is pretty good as, for the most part, is my putting.
For the past ten years or so I've used a mallet style putter of one sort or another, I find them more forgiving. I also tend to favor a somewhat heavier head. I have a pretty straight back and through stroke and favor face balanced putters versus those wth a lot of toe hang. I tend to point my left elbow toward the hole, something of a “chicken wing” position, to help keep my stroke straight.
I entered to test the Runner putter because I liked the futuristic look, my assumption was that the company having been recognized with a “Most Innovative Product” award at the PGA show reflected respect from the industry, and perhaps foremost the adjustable weights at the rear of the putter offering the ability to potentially “dial it in”. I'm hoping the Runner will become a “dependable, reliable friend”and can enjoy an extended stay in my golf bag.
My weekend round is generally early morning so I'll be testing my Runner mallet at various times when the dew is still on the green. My weekday rounds tend to be mid-morning to early afternoon so I'll also be testing during the heat of midday when things have firmed up.
I'll be comparing the Runner to my Cobra Nova. I've enjoyed the confidence the Sik face offers. I feel that variable face loft helps compensate any variations in the amount of forward press present in any particular putt.
I'll also be comparing the Runner to a LAB Golf Directed Force 2.1.
I enjoy a good one putt, as we all do. I can live with two putts. I absolutely abhor three putting. We can debate whether those three putt greens are caused by a poor first, second, or third putt. But for me it's missing that 3-6 foot second putt that lights my fuse.
I'm sure I'll be testing from close to distant from the hole. Predictable distance control is important to me. More subjectively the “feel” of the ball coming off the face is a big factor in how I relate to a putter. I have a preference for what I guess you'd call a softer face be that via the material, an insert, or milling magic.
Right or wrong I'm a golfer who uses a softer ball in the early and late stages of our season and a more typical compression ball during the height of the season. I intend to run tests using different balls (all of which will be yellow) to determine if I experience any noticeable difference.
Unboxing/First Impressions
It's here!
I received a notification from Simon at Runner on Monday of this week that my putter would be shipping. I have to admit I stopped for a second and asked myself if "April Fool's Day" was a thing in France...
The email from Fedex on Tuesday morning confirmed the package was on its way. Expected arrival was to be next Monday, April 8th. Lo and behold the doorbell rang at 4 p.m. CDT this afternoon and there it was.
I was amazed at how pristine the shipping box was given it traveled 4,000 miles in three days. I've had packages of golf equipment travel from Minneapolis to the Milwaukee area end up looking like they'd been around the world twice before arrival...
Upon opening the box the putter had the head wrapped in plastic and inserted into the head cover. The shaft was wrapped in plastic and the entire club was in a plastic bag which was then covered with nicely taped bubble wrap. The head was further encased in a semi-rigid "foam". In short the putter was very well packaged and arrived in pristine condition.
I had a video conference call with Simon, the CEO of Runner SAS, as part of the fitting. He'd asked if it was possible to see a video from an overhead view of my putting stroke. My wife climbed a ladder and we managed to send him what he'd asked for.
During my call with Simon he stated he was going to build my putter at 34 inches in length. I normally use a 33 inch putter, we discussed it and agreed mutually that he'd do the build at 33 1/2". Which is exactly the length that arrived.
The initial impression, keeping in mind I'm a 20 handicap golfer, is confidence building. The head is futuristic looking (which doesn't bother me at all) and has a very "clean" design look.
The rear of the putter has to moveable weights.
As a tip of the cap to MGS the putter head was laser engraved with our logo. Is that sweet or what??!
The shaft is a black KBS 120 stepless steel shaft which, with the black grip, gives what I consider a nice "stealthy" look to the putter.
The headcover is lined with a velvet feeling material, the closures are strong magnets (which I prefer to velcro) and if the cover is not made of leather I'd be surprised.
The grip we agreed to during my fitting conversation was a Winn 1.18. I normally use a round Edel grip, the Winn was close and the fit feels fine. More importantly to me the flat edge of the grip is perpendicular to the face of the putter. Nothing drives me crazy like a flat faced putter grip that's installed in a non-perpendicular manner.
The adjusting tool for the rear weights has a carabiner which allows it to be hooked to the golf bag and be easily available. I considered that a very clever embellishment.
The size of the face is significantly larger than my Cobra as you can see below.
Runner putter face:
Cobra putter face:
I mentioned the playing length was exactly what I asked for.
Gross weight of the putter is 530 grams. And the swing weight, which I list simply as a matter of technical detail, is E 8.
Now if the rain and snow will stop and the wind will blow at something less than 20 miles per hour I can get some balls rolling.
If I've left something out just give a holler and I'll update this post.
If you've any questions please feel free.
Nice. Love that they added the MGS logo to the putters. 1st Class!!!
- Bobbers, Rob Person, sirchunksalot and 2 others
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This barolo was not the best stand alone drinking wine, but perfectly complimented our classic Italian meatballs in red sauce.
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Dinner last night was classic Italian meatballs with some pretzel bread.
- Muckinfiddle, Rob Person, MattF and 1 other
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13 hours ago, bens197 said:
I would say yes. Before you guys collectively drag me let me just say this…all I’ve ever wanted is a practice round pass. The TV experience for competitive rounds is the paragon of all sporting events. The coverage is elite. I could be perfectly content seeing the sights on a Tuesday so I could return home seated next to my $3,752 worth of shop merchandise while on my couch.
This is a fair point. I have also been lucky enough to attend every practice and tournament day at Augusta and can honestly say the TV viewing experience for this event is so much better than the limited action you will see, or not see based on being 22 people deep in a crowd, in person. That being said, every golf fan should have the experience of being there in person at least once.
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There is a person on our local Nextdoor who has TWO tickets to the Tuesday practice round at Augusta and wants to trade them for ONE 4-day pass to the tournament. This person seems flabbergasted that no one is taking them up on this incredible opportunity. So I ask my fellow spies-If you had one 4-day tournament pass would you trade it for 2 Tuesday practice round tickets so you could take a friend/spouse/significant other?
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I would really like to learn more about shaft technology/fitting in plain, short form, simple to understand english and who the shafts might be good for. It's sort of like when I go to an OEM site and they have 6 different iron sets available. It's pretty clear who their super game improvement irons and blades are meant for, but who are the other 4 set best suited for? So much ambiguity around this stuff and would love some more concrete ideas as to who this stuff is best suited. I know, I know, go to a fitter! But the reality is the majority of golfers are never going to get fitted so how do we decipher all this sorcery? (steps down off his soap box)