ChiefMikeOfficer
-
Posts
424 -
Joined
-
Last visited
Content Type
Profiles
Forums
Articles
FAQ
Tests
Classifieds
Store
Group Buys
Posts posted by ChiefMikeOfficer
-
-
On 6/9/2012 at 3:52 PM, RookieBlue7 said:
Just a question. Today, I played and drank zero beers. I've played rounds where I've drank a beer a hole. I try to restrict my drinking and playing to temps below 85 degrees. If its above I usually will stick with water. Sure exceptions are made, matter of fact when I go to Tampa in a few weeks I'll likely drink a few while I play with Rev. But that withstanding, my break even outside temp is 85. I wear pants a lot of times when I play and sweat more than most because of that, so I want to make sure I stay hydrated. I've found that there's no real way to say if I play better or worse. I've shot par drinking and I've blown past 90. But theres no regularity to my scores while drinking.
So do you or don't you drink while playing and why or why not? Just curious if others observe the temperature rule. I'm sure we have some that don't drink at all, while on the course or off.
Depends on the vibe of the round and other things like timing. I don't choose yes or no based on temp, but on a high temp/humidity day, might switch it up to a High Noon or something rather than beer. I rarely drink liquor on the course -- goes down too quickly and seems to hit harder because of that.
Our Tuesday night league? Yes, having a couple, and will adjust based on the temps (mostly beer, but on a high temp/humidity day, often pick High Noon rather than beer).
Scramble? Guys' trip? Definitely.
Legit practice round/session? Nope. But fun practice round? Sure, a couple.
Tournament round? Typically no, but it's mostly small-time tournaments these days, so if things aren't going well, might shift the vibe to casual and have one.
Weekday morning walking round? Unlikely -- might have one on the back 9 or after the round, depending on what's planned the rest of the day.
Performance change is only notable for heavy drinking on course, which I don't do that often -- putting is the first to go (it's not good anyway, but turns really bad after 3-4 drinks), but otherwise don't notice a huge difference in performance/scores.
*Edit...did I really just unknowingly reply to an 11-year-old post on this thread, thinking it was active conversation? I did... and now I'm not finding a delete button, so I'm just leaving it.
-
Took it out again today, and quickly realized I'm terrible at taking on-course pics (which is weird considering the phone is in my pocket and I take it out every hole to track scoring...), so here's a few behind the 9th green. Consistent with the last few outings - very light, comfortable, and stylish (got a few compliments too). Packed lighter today, and also switched up the storage with the glove caddy and a travel bag for the sunscreen, so the big pocket isn't as sloppy.
Started to develop a squeak, mostly when single-strap carrying (still using the double, but often go one-strap on shorter distances) - it mostly goes away when putting the second strap on. I'll try swapping the straps around to see if that persists.
Club section still seems very roomy - surprising for a small 4-way bag like this, so that's impressive.
~10 days left in the test, and one thing I definitely haven't tested: the umbrella holder. That's not a big thing for me because I'm mostly a fair weather player and took a hiatus from tournaments this year... But it's probably important to you all reading this, so I'll try to get a carry round in with the umbrella. Unfortunately I'm unlikely to get a cart round in until the test is over, but I do have one lined up for the 22nd, so I'll make sure to add a post for that (assuming it doesn't get rained out).
-
Been hitting a lot of close approaches lately...but still no luck on the aces. Buuut...while warming up on the range, I took out a ball and my LW, and made a "Par 3" by hitting one 65yds back across the path / over the carts to the elevated chipping green -- JARRED IT! Doesn't count, but gives me hope.
-
On 8/27/2023 at 10:55 AM, GolfSpy_APH said:
I am not sure if this is the same for most here on the forum, but the two hardest spots in my bag to find the right clubs are between my 54 and PW and from my 5 iron to my 3 wood. I have tried so many different things and various clubs, but have yet to find that solid 100% solution for them.
I had similar issues, and decided to prioritize the long end, especially after the '21 T100S/T200 test results. On the long end, have 1-3-4 irons, all utility build (1 is a bigger head), between the 3w and 5i (if I had to pick one to drop, I'd probably pick the 4). Then, reduced the wedges - replaced the 44* PW with a 46* Vokey, and then jump to 54 and 58. The gap from 9-PW increased to 15-20 yds instead of 10, but it also reduced the gap between PW and 54 (also about 15yds, instead of the ~20 I had between PW and 50).
It's not the most common setup, and I'm sure some will disagree
but it works for me -- index is down to the lowest it's ever been, dropping 2 since I switched to this. There are other factors too, but two key things that led to that improvement: this setup provides a lot of versatility off the tee / for longer shots, and also gets myself out of my own head on shorter shots (fewer options, more confidence in the club choice).
-
On 8/23/2023 at 5:12 PM, KC Golf said:
A few Testers have mentioned the pockets are tight or too small. Any chance you can put 2 or so 3 ball packs into the ball pocket or put a phone or wallet in the valuables pocket or put a range finder into a convenient pocket and take some pics. Would like to see how small or “unworkable” these pockets are. Thank you in advance.
Alright alright alright, I played a bit more with the pockets last night and took a few pictures of different contents. Here we go:
Water Bottle + Small (Ball?) Pocket
Until I got a bag that had a separate ball pocket, I always used this one for balls and tees; with the separate ball pocket, my main use for this pocket is gloves and other soft goods (koozies, scorecard holders, etc.). So, with the SL2, I went back to balls+tees. With 8 unboxed balls, which is how this session started (yes, there is a glove in there because...habit):
Still lots of room, but that's me pulling the pocket open pretty hard. Now, the water bottle basically splits the pocket in two -- yes, those balls remain in there in this pic:
As requested, with two sleeves of balls -- this made it a bit of a fight to get the water bottle in, because the boxes take up more space, and the water bottle hits the tops of the boxes on the way in (need to maneuver it past the boxes):
Valuables Pocket
As I noted before, my Pixel 6 Pro plus a wallet and pocket-sized sanitizer basically filled this pocket up. If I were to pick a spot that's not hanging from my bag that allows "easy" access to my Rangefinder, this is the pocket I'd pick (also like to protect that thing, so the lining helps with that too). This is with my Bushnell Hybrid in there, which mostly fills it up -- if rangefinder is in there, can't really use it for other things, so I'm choosing not the put the rangefinder in there (in contrast, I think the Jones has two valuables pockets, and I used one of those for the rangefinder, specifically the one that was close to this pocket):
And, with my old phone only, a Pixel 4 XL (needed to use the 6 Pro to take the picture...so old phone it is) -- in order to fit and close the pocket, it needs to be angled. It does not fit horizontally, and this is vertical. There's a little more room in there for a wallet and other small things, but not a ton (can try other configurations later too, but I thought the rangefinder and phone were reflective of pocket size):
Big / "Clothing?" Pocket
Didn't do a lot to this one for the pocket test, because there really is a lot of room in there. But since it's just one big thing, it's just all jumbled together / disorganized (and any attempt at organization just kinda undoes itself as I start using things from the pocket). I'm still thinking of ways to add organization to it -- to start, I used this as an excuse to buy a Glove Keeper/Caddy (which is on the way), but need to think of other ways too. Like the small pocket, this is me pulling it open pretty hard:
- Woody83, KC Golf, GolfSpy BOS and 4 others
-
7
-
-
15 hours ago, KC Golf said:
A few Testers have mentioned the pockets are tight or too small. Any chance you can put 2 or so 3 ball packs into the ball pocket or put a phone or wallet in the valuables pocket or put a range finder into a convenient pocket and take some pics. Would like to see how small or “unworkable” these pockets are. Thank you in advance.
I still need to play with the pockets a bit more, but have some insight so far (didn't take pictures, but definitely can do that soon):
Ball boxes: I put 4 sleeves in the ball pocket to start, and they fit fine, but made the water bottle pocket seem very tight. But...I didn't actually try to put a bottle in with that many balls in there - reduced the balls to 9 and emptied the boxes before playing. I do see others having more success with 6 balls, but that's normally not enough for me - in a standard 18 hole round, I routinely go through 4 balls simply due to scuffing from normal shots (and then there's OB, trees, cart paths, etc. that can add to that count).
Valuables pocket: Pixel 6 Pro + Ridge Wallet + flat travel hand sanitizer (thanks for adding to my bag contents #COVID) --> very tight, could barely get the zipper closed (need to try without the sanitizer - didn't remember it was in there until we were already on the course). For the last round, I just put the phone into a scorecard holder and left it in my back pocket so that the other things fit well, which is convenient for our use of The Grint anyway.
Water Bottle pocket: sadly, forgot my actual water bottle, which was not a good move on a 90+ degree day... But it does feel small. I put a slim can in a koozie, and even that I had to wiggle a bit to get in. I'm guessing it's just competing with the remaining balls (only ~6 left at that point), so will have to try with fewer balls + the 18oz Yeti this weekend.
Larger pocket: disorganized (probably because I need to narrow what I carry in this bag), and... it feels tighter than it is. Once past the zipper, there's actually a solid amount of storage space, but the actual opening feels pretty narrow.
-
On 8/3/2023 at 11:32 AM, ChiefMikeOfficer said:
And, as if I needed another pair of golf shoes... Decided to try out Olukai. Love the look and feel. Stability and traction TBD. Remind me a lot of True Linkswear, at least based on look/feel, but they have this super cool feature where you can fold down the heel to make them easy slip-on/clog style (slight sarcasm there -- doubt that I'll ever use them that way. Maybe if they were casual shoes rather than golf...).
Uh, hi, me again. Been less than 3 weeks since my last shoe purchase, and I've already struck again. 45 holes in, I love the Olukai shoes. More than pretty much all of my others. So, naturally, this shoe ho needed a new color option, but they were sold out in my size pretty much everywhere (except the one style I don't like as much). Got lucky though - Worldwide Golf Shops claimed to have a single pair of 13 left in the Kapalua style, in one of the colors I liked, so I jumped on it. And, naturally, also contacted Olukai directly to see if they'll restock other colors any time soon...TBD on that.
- ejgaudette, ole gray, cksurfdude and 3 others
-
6
-
First time spotted in the wild - looking nice, and survived multiple peckings by the two vultures in the background.
2-pocket system proved challenging again, but it's workable - e.g. gloves were buried, because with my Ben Affleck kids, needed plenty of sunscreen in the bag, and gloves/sunscreen currently share the bigger pocket.
I added my two lefty wedges to the bag for the range session (see CHA post, but it's for solidarity with the 2yo), and the 16 clubs fit without a problem.
Also, chose my classic sticker to add to the bottom -- wasn't quite as easy as my other bags, but got it to work (other bags have bigger flat areas - have used a mix of this sticker and Kenny Powers on the others).
- PeterHenric, josmi15, Woody83 and 2 others
-
5
-
23 hours ago, jbsap said:
As the title would suggest, I am toying with the idea of ditching my 3 wood and adding an additional long iron. Distance is one of my strengths, and I play my 3 hybrid 19.5 deg. to 240 carry. My next iron is a P770 4 iron that I play to about 210 carry. I am horrendous with my fairway wood, but when it does stay remotely straight it is a 270 club and is rarely used for one reason or another. Thinking about getting a p790 3 iron and adjusting my hybrid to 18 degrees in the hopes of filling that 225 range and having the hybrid jump a few more yards.
Anyone else done something similar? My gapping towards the bottom of the bag is pretty good so an additional wedge wouldn't help me.
I ditched it for a while -- had no confidence in the 3w, felt like I topped it 60% of the time. So, I swapped out my 15* 3w for a 16* 1-Utility (specifically the Titleist U505 -- also considered the T200 2i, which is slightly more lofted and smaller profile, but decided to go bigger for the longest iron). Lost a little distance, but gained consistency and options off the tee. It worked well for a while, but decided I wanted a FW back, and made a couple minor swing (and mental) tweaks when buying a new Stealth2 3w that I cranked down a bit -- to make room for both, I actually removed a wedge from the bag(changing up my wedge lofts) -- actually love the new setup, and I think it's made short game easier because I have fewer options (haven't found a shot that I could hit with the 60 but not the 58, and it's easier for me to pick the best option between 54-58 than it was between 52-56-60).
-
First tee, in front of a crowd, hitting 3 after already piping a ball OB or in the water -- tons of pressure not to do it again.
That's mentally the hardest, but really it's just a stock driver. What I think is actually the hardest to hit: short-sided chip, off of a downslope, from the rough -- with some extra difficulty points for the green sloping away.
-
Bag arrived today (after an unfortunate FedEx delay that made it miss two planned rounds...) -- first impression section added to my main test post:
- GolfSpy BOS, goaliewales14, Woody83 and 2 others
-
5
-
Historically carried the PW from the stock set, along with 52/56/60 - in high school, that's what our local pro recommended, and I had that setup for almost 20 years. Started tweaking lofts a bit (like 50/54/60), and also long clubs, and just this year changed it up - now that I have both a 3w and driving iron in the bag, the new wedge setup is:
46 (replaces the PW from my irons), 54, 58. Haven't found myself in any positions where I miss the extra wedge, and my handicap is now the lowest it's ever been. Only issue is the bigger gap between 9i and PW, but that's manageable.
-
2 hours ago, Ben Joest said:
Big thanks to MGS and Titleist for this incredible opportunity!
T150 vs. T100S -- love it! I will be following this closely. I'm considering upgrading to the T150, but don't have a ton of demo opportunities (at least not as a full set), so really interested in hearing your feedback on look and feel against the T100S (oh, and distance -- not convinced I need more of that on top of what T100S already did, but hey, a few yards never hurts).
-
On 5/30/2023 at 11:18 AM, ChiefMikeOfficer said:
Saw some early signs that this Future Club Ho is a lefty...
Turns out The Littlest Golfer makes the same set in left-handed, and got that over the weekend (video is him with big bro's RH set). Highly recommend these clubs if you're trying to get a 2-3 year-old into the game (worked wonders for our now 4-year-old, who actually still uses them in the backyard) -- they're light, well-constructed, somewhat realistic (heads are a bit oversize, but that's OK), come with a teaching grip on both the driver and iron, and they're plastic with foam balls so they are safe to use indoors on carpet (like during Wisconsin winters). The plastic is also the downside -- can't use them with real balls / at the driving range.
So... Made the decision that if Vanilla Bryce is going to be a lefty, I'm going to learn with him. Picked up the cheapest, unused LH wedges that I could find -- yes, I now own Top Flite golf clubs
but for the purpose and price (2 for $95, tax+shipping included), hard to pass up. Now just need to find a cheap 7i and a driver to complete the "set". 
FWIW... They actually look like nice clubs. Probably wouldn't trust the shafts for my normal game, but the heads are surprisingly nice.
- BallsLeon, Rickp and cksurfdude
-
3
-
Current: Tyrrell Hatton - can't get over the commentary. Joel Dahmen is a close second for the same reason -- if I were to follow someone on the course at a tournament, I'd pick either of these two over any of the bigger stars.
Up & Comer: Brandon Matthews - this full video is great, but the 3:55 and 4:48 marks show what makes him fun to track (one is his interview, the other his competitor's):
Former notables: (1) Steve Marino - big Monday qualifier guy, once shot 59 on a mini tour, and was a great guy when I met him. Fun to watch / pull for. (2) Camilo Villegas. Downside is he's a Gator, but I liked him before I went to FSU... he's actually the reason I discovered/met Marino -- won the opportunity to caddy for him (which was huge as my favorite golfer at the time) on Wednesday of the '07 Pebble Pro-Am, and Marino was paired up with us.
-
4 hours ago, DechamBRO said:
that is a good point. ShotScope definitely took a bit for tapping the sensor to become habit. I would still have Arccos missing shots for some reasons (typcially in the rough or sand, when the shot isn't as audible. Also, sometimes I like to hit extra shots while working on my game, so I like that ShotScope doesn't automatically track my shots. I can play 2 balls and track only my "real" one for my score.....or sometimes i get frustrated so on a tee box i might hit a garbage ball i found in teh woods into the lake to see what I am doing wrong....no need to go back in and delete that shot since shotscope won't track it unless I tap it.
The tapping was Game Golf, not ShotScope, right? A few years ago I had a ShotScope v2, which was a big bulky watch to track the shots. Game Golf had the belt sensor that you had to tap, until they released Game Golf Pro, which totally flopped (I tried it, it was awful, to the point of only catching like 3 shots/side - put up a fight and got my money back).
-
Continuing my unofficial quest to try a ridiculous number of newer/smaller golf brands...bit hard on some Bite Hard gear. Transfusion print polo, straight black, and a Masters-themed hoodie. Polos feel and look comparable to some more expensive brands, so we'll see how they hold up. The flatbrim isn't really my style, but it kinda plays on an inside joke within our group, so grabbed it anyway:
And, as if I needed another pair of golf shoes... Decided to try out Olukai. Love the look and feel. Stability and traction TBD. Remind me a lot of True Linkswear, at least based on look/feel, but they have this super cool feature where you can fold down the heel to make them easy slip-on/clog style (slight sarcasm there -- doubt that I'll ever use them that way. Maybe if they were casual shoes rather than golf...). Had to return the first pair and size up, despite multiple features on their website saying I should get the 12 (US12 = EU45 for them, but that wasn't specified -- I normally find EU sizing to be more reliable, and I'm a 46-46.5).
-
Picked up a couple new patterns from BAK9 - played in a tournament with one of the owners a couple years ago, decided to try a couple, and now they're one of my go-to brands when I opt for a "nicer" polo (i.e. not the wilder patterns). The one on the left is my favorite of their designs (the Texas Scramble LSX). He made it sound like they were going to test and release new patterns often, and it's kinda unfortunate that hasn't really happened, but what they do have is still pretty solid.
Pictured with the newest addition to the Kenny Powers collection -- a Mermen 3W, which I picked up specially for the annual Myrtle Father/Son trip (which just happened this past week).
-
Stitch Golf SL2 Golf Bag - Official MGS Forum Review by ChiefMikeOfficer
Final Review
Alright everyone, it’s time for the final review. Back when I was looking at bags for the year, this bag was in my top 3 – I hesitated on this one based on size, and opted for a Vessel instead (comparable size/weight). After this test, those concerns were validated. I only carried for the test – I will be using it on 9/22 on a cart, so will post any meaningful updates from that round, but I’m guessing it won’t change much, because this is meant to be a walking bag.
Overall / Conclusion / TL;DR: 80/100
This bag is the “Perfect Fair Weather Resort/Caddie Bag”. Does that sound oddly specific? Well, that’s intentional – in that situation, you basically minimize what’s in the bag (caddie provides rangefinder, water provided on various holes, snacks probably purchased or carried by caddie, minimize the number of balls, etc.). As long as you’re keeping the bag really light and restocking before each round, you’re good. But, as soon as you start adding things to the bag that you might need during the round (rangefinder, rain gear, etc.), it goes downhill, and diverges from the more broad "Perfect Walking Bag". In specific situations, this bag is incredible, but it lacks versatility, which is kinda a dealbreaker for me, at least as my everyday gamer.
Aesthetics: 20/20
Amazing. Probably the best looking bag I’ve carried. I got so many compliments while using this bag. I heard similar comments with the Vessel VLX, but It’s a very different look, and this one gets the edge – it’s incredible. This is the highlight of the bag. Bring this to a high-end course, and it’ll fit right in.
The Numbers: 18/20
Lightweight, easy to carry, can walk all day with this bag on my shoulders. Did just about everything I need a carry bag to do, but with three things hurting the experience (more on pace of play / attitude, rather than actual performance): I had to change my routine around things like getting yardages, because the rangefinder and other items were not as accessible as other bags; my phone almost had to be in my pocket; depending on which water bottle I used, it could affect the walking experience (Yeti 18oz impeded access to things in the pocket; the taller, slimmer Sic Cups bottle jabbed into my hip). After actually adapting to these things, it wasn’t a big deal.
On the Course: 13/20 (some overlap with Numbers, so trying my best not to double-dock points – focusing storage more here than in Numbers)
There’s a lot to consider here. First of all, it’s super comfortable – it came with both a double strap and single strap, both of which are comfortable and easy to carry. It’s very light, so 9, 18, or 36 are all in the mix. The stand is easy to use and seems sturdy. I didn’t take the single strap on the course, but I did try it, and it seems great if that’s your style (or for a caddie). The 4-way divider is actually very roomy, easily fitting 14 clubs plus the (I’d even go so far as saying the middle slots are too big, and there’s room for a 5th, which I’d prefer to separate the putter into it’s own spot). I played one round with the umbrella in the slot, and it wasn’t even noticeable (which is great!). But…
“I’ve grown accustomed to a certain lifestyle”. Storage is the big downfall - it definitely can be worse, but this is why I can’t make it my everyday gamer. There are only four total pockets – small (“ball”?), large (“clothing”?), valuables, and water bottle. The two main pockets are tight, and just solo pockets – no attempt at organization within them (e.g. other bags have a pocket inside the pocket, but this does not). The valuables pocket is kinda small, but not too bad (would benefit from another half inch to inch of depth) – most rounds I carried my phone in my pocket instead of in the valuables pocket. The water bottle pocket totally interferes with the smaller pocket when there’s a water bottle in there, so it reduces the storage even further – it either needs to move, or get re-angled. This made it very difficult to organize, and forced me to take things out or store them differently from how I’m used to – for example, the rangefinder didn’t fit really anywhere, so I had to dig the hanging case out of storage (my preference is to have it in a pocket that’s accessible with the bag on both shoulders); gloves don’t have a logical place (it’s either in with the balls, or lost in the larger pocket); etc. Even after attempting organization by getting a glove caddy, travel bag for sunscreen, and a valuables bag for divot tools/ball markers, it was tough to get things in/out of the pockets and find the items among the other things. This feels like a significant step back for me compared to recently used bags / bags currently in my rotation, all with comparable size/weight (high-end like Vessel, trendy like Jones, and even lower priced like Sun Mountain all beat the Stitch in this category, and it’s not even close). I didn’t even try with the weather gear – if rain is in the forecast, I add the rainsuit, extra towels, possibly a couple other things – even though I have rain gear that packs down small, I can’t even imagine stuffing these pockets with that stuff (seems like I’d be better off packing them down and hanging from the bag).
The Good, the Bad, and the In Between: 8/10 (miscellaneous stuff - trying my best to minimize overlap, but again, there’s some)
Good:
- Personalization options – lots of colors to choose from, and the one I picked I’d probably pick again. I noted my flaw with the ingot in one of my previous updates – I love the look of the stock SG / Stitch ingot, but it turns out they are inexpensive and very easy to swap out (I didn’t try this, just taking their word for it).
- Came with both styles of carry straps!! This seems minor, but it’s a step above the rest. The double is my preferred, and the single is preferred for double-bagging caddies, and it’s super easy to swap between the two.
Bad:
-
Organization. This is a knock on storage again, but I just could not figure out the best way to use each pocket, and each new attempt didn’t seem to work for me. I think this either needs more pockets, or some kind of organization option added to it – mesh internal pockets have helped on other bags, or Stitch could design an after-market organization insert for the big pocket or something.
- Related: especially with the lack of pocket storage, I think it needs a more logical place to hang something – the loop I used felt more decorative, whereas other bags seem to have a bigger loop in addition to the one I used.
In Between:
- Rain hood. At this price point, it would be nice to include a hood to complement the bag color, not just stock black (which doesn’t match my chosen color at all).
- Ingot flexibility – your options are two initials (top & bottom), or three (left-to-right, removing the line). Quite a few companies are expanding their customization options to include things like images, and I think that would be a positive addition here too (now, would I do that? Probably not…unless I could actually choose a legit custom image and not just a stock option).
Play it or Trade it? 12/20
I want to love it, but I just can’t get there. That said, I do have a spot for it in the rotation – likely will be going back to Sand Valley and then playing the Straits later this Fall, and as long as weather looks OK, this will be the bag for those rounds. It also works well for quick/fun evening rounds, where you might not need as much stuff (e.g. we have a Par 32 that we might go play at like 6 or 7PM in the summers – great for that round). In the meantime, I’ll be handing it off to a family member who plays less often and with less stuff in the bag each round.
Thank you again to both Stitch and MGS for picking me for this opportunity! Even though it didn’t work out as well as I wanted, I still enjoyed the process and hope the feedback helps both MGS members and Stitch!
************************************************************************************************************************************************
First Impression
Alright, after some FedEx delays (which made the bag miss two rounds
), I got the bag. Reminder that I chose the Fadeaway White version (which ahs blue trim), and I opted not to get the ingot customization -- why? Well, I actually think the Stitch Golf / SG reference looks great, and I didn't want to get it customized if I didn't know that I'm keeping it (had an awkward moment where I sold my HS irons to a college teammate, and they had my full name engraved on the hosel, which just felt odd, so I usually don't get name customizations) -- turns out the ingots are very easy to replace and are only $10, so probably should've just done it... Now, this is a nearly $400 bag, marketed as "the perfect walking bag", so I'm keeping those in mind when assessing it. Here goes:
Quick unboxing video:
That is niiiiice! 10/10 so far. The colors pop. The materials seem high quality. It looks amazing. The packing was top-notch (note the "Fragile" sticker
) -- but really, inside the box, it was very secure, the straps were stuffed inside the bag, and it included both a single and double strap (I quickly installed the double -- that's what I'll be using).
Now, on to loading -- keeping in mind I'm coming from a Vessel VLX, which is comparable size, it started out nicely -- like I kinda said in the intro, I prefer at least a 5-way divider (at least a 5th slot for the putter), but the full-length dividers are nice, and the top is very roomy (it's almost too roomy, at least in the two middle slots, but can't complain about that). Some quick pics of the loaded clubs:
Still 9.5-10/10. Loving it. With the clubs in place, tried it on, and after a few adjustments, it's comfortable and lightweight. Buuut....
Then I looked closer at the rest of the functional features, and it's a bit disappointing. I don't know if this is exactly the right word, but in terms of features, it's quite...minimalist. And that's not really me on the course, so this is a big step back for me -- Vessel, Jones, and Sun Mountain (my three most recent brands) are all more "full" featured, IMO.
Things I typically have in my bag, at least in transit, but also on the course (very not minimalist): balls, tees, ball markers, divot tools, Sharpie(s), gloves (3-4), rangefinder, scorecard/yb holder, water bottle, wrench, sunscreen, koozies, snacks, phone, wallet (but not keys! Thanks Ford for the keyless entry options). I also have both a brush and a speaker hanging on the bag. On some days, I also include, a greenside towel, rain gear, and/or the rain hood. I've also gotten used to how I split these up among the pockets (balls/tees in one, gloves and koozies in another, ball markers in with the rangefinder, etc.).
The SL2 only has two functional pockets (excluding water bottle & valuables), and they're just solo pockets (no interior pockets or mesh pouches, at least not that I've found) -- I currently have balls/tees in one along with ball markers & divot tools in a valuables pouch, and "everything else" in the other. I'm asking some of the other testers how they're setting it up, but on night one, this is a bit of a struggle for me -- I might even look around to find some kind of dividers I can add into the pockets to work around this. One example of the struggle is gloves -- I had to choose the ball pocket or "everything else", but I don't like either (balls can be wet or dirty; things like sunscreen could leak). For the rangefinder, I had to dig my case out of storage to dangle on the bag (which took me a while, because I haven't used it in years), because there's no dedicated rangefinder pocket (step back from my recent bags), and it is a squeeze to fit it in the valuables pocket (which I'd use for other things anyway).
Other notable things: There's not a great place to hang things -- I now have speaker+brush+rangefinder hanging from a small metal loop (the three are barely coexisting on that little loop - might need to add something else to make it work well), while other brands seem to have a bigger feature for hanging. Umbrella slot is a leather strap rather than the typical elastic, which is nice, but minor. The rain hood was in one of the pockets, and is just a typical black hood with Stitch-logoed features (at this price point, why not make it match the bag in some way?). The water bottle pocket seems good and insulated, but the placement competes for space with one of the two pockets.
I'm keeping an open mind, but my gut says this will be a comfortable carry bag that won't fit all situations. E.g. I am struggling to see myself using this on a day where I need to carry full rain gear. But, maybe I'll find some good ways to adapt and the bag will change my mind. Final First Impression Score: 9/10.
************************************************************************
Intro
Hey everyone - big thanks to both Stitch and MGS for giving me the opportunity! I legitimately came very close to buying this bag a couple times, but hesitated on size, so I'm pumped to be part of this one to see how it actually stacks up.
Starting out, the intro: probably gave a way-too-long-winded intro in my last test (naturally, this one will also be long-winded…), so if interested in some deeper history, that's still available (link in my signature). But first, some basic info: I've played pretty much my whole life, low-level competitions through college in upstate NY, and have been in Madison, WI for the last 15 years. Currently playing to a 1.9 - first time ever under a 2! I have two boys (4 and 2) that are both getting obsessed with the game, and will likely use this test as even more of an excuse to take them out to the local Par 3 course (note: also grooming them to be walkers).
For the rest, I'll focus more on things related to bags to keep it more directly relevant:
I'm a walker. Always have been, and will continue as long as I can. Thus far, I’ve resisted the recruiting efforts of the local push cart posse and still carry my bag. I will ride in certain situations, like scrambles, drinking rounds (bachelor parties, etc.), or riding-only events/courses (I’ll do my best to include a cart in the test too, but no promises on that). I think that makes this this the ideal bag test for me because I've always used somewhat comparable bags (never got something bigger than a stand/carry bag). Plus, the fact that I always tinker with my equipment means that I have used a lot of different carry bags over the last few years (for the longest time I was a Hoofer guy, but the 2017 Hoofer 14 ruined it for me – so I’ve branched out more recently, and am still searching for that perfect bag).
I’m currently on Vessel. I have a Player II 14-way that was relegated to my travel bag because of size/weight (most storage and easier to keep the clubs secure, but gets heavy quickly), and then picked up a VLX 2.0 as my lighter option this year – got the Green/Gold as a Masters-like theme (not Packers – Let’s Go Buffalo!), and the gold trim is…gaudy. I think the VLX vs. the SL2 will be a great comparison – I was actually debating between those two as the lighter-weight option, and chose VLX because of “size”. Apparently I didn’t look closely enough at the specs, because they’re not all that different and some were false perceptions – I was concerned with the SL2’s top dividers, but both bags are 4-way, and the SL2 top is actually bigger; I was also hesitant on the number and types of pockets, but for that, it looks like the VLX might still hold an edge.
For this test, I opted for the Fadeaway White color – risk of getting dirty, but I think it will pop the best on the course, and will be more versatile with various accessories (switch between a wide range of things like towels and headcovers).
-
Cut +2
High score 86
-
I walk whenever possible. Just feels better to me - stay looser, play better, and get some exercise in the process. Exercise is also my excuse to take days off of work to play - somehow telling the wife "I'm going to use a vacation day and ride around in a cart" doesn't go over as well as "gonna walk 5 miles with 25lb on my back". I also don't buy the perception that you play faster in a cart - it's definitely true if you have a solo cart, but when paired up, it completely depends on cartner dynamic.
I also carry. Always have. Not against the push carts, just haven't made that leap yet, and still feel good carrying the bag.
- CudaKota66, DrRob1963, cksurfdude and 1 other
-
3
-
1
-
For me:
Irons: Mizuno Pro (1997-1999) -- to this day, my only solo, scratch tournament victories were with these irons.
Fairway (specifically 3w): Tour Edge Exotics E8 Beta -- really regret getting rid of this one, wish I swapped out the shaft instead.
Driver: Torn. Absolutely loved the Cobra Speed Pro (S, I think), which I was using after a brief break on golf, specifically inspired by Camilo, and friends still rib me about replacing it. But I think my best driver performance came with the Callaway FT-3 Fusion (when I was playing all the time).
Wedges: Odyssey Blackspin - probably more nostalgic at this point, though.
Putter: Rife 2-bar (the original - I'm sure the remakes are fine, but this is another one I regret replacing).
Wild Card: Callaway Big Bertha Heaven Wood. It was my dad's, and I occasionally borrowed it for a round (he also swore by the Divine Nine). But it was so easy to hit back. In fact...still have it, might regrip and try it again.
**And now...keeping my original comment there so you can follow my rambling thought process...it actually looks like it's not the Heaven, and my dad was sold the previous model with the Warbird Heaven Wood cover
I swear it was the Warbird Heaven Wood head too, but I'm pretty sure this is his original (very possible he had both and only kept this one...):
-
Hi I'm a hockey player but I'm playing golf today.
Picked up a putter from Caliber Golf - a new (and apparently somewhat local to me) operation that is basically turning putters into hockey sticks (opposite of the classic Happy - this one's a real head with a hockey stick shaft). They have various putter heads in stock from Sub70, Odyssey Pre-owned, Betti, etc., or they'll convert your current gamer. Oh, and it is a conforming club - their story is actual kinda cool, first designing a non-conforming version, then making the stick a "grip" to conform.
I opted for the 37" Two Ball White Hot OG (lightly used, but great condition) - decided not to go too pricey because who knows how it will work. So far, it actually feels great on the basement putting green - we'll see when I actually try it on the course.
And now side by side with the only other Odyssey in the collection:
Stitch Golf SL2 Golf Bags - 2023 Forum Review
in Forum Testing Reviews
Posted
Final Review is up!
I took it out for one last walking round over the weekend, and really tested the limits of storage -- my 4-year-old was my walking buddy "carrying his own bag", which of course meant I needed to carry both for 7/9 holes and also needed to stash things of his in each of our bags (snacks, water, his headcovers that keep falling off, etc.). And it reinforced that storage is the big downside to this bag -- I got his putter cover into the Stitch, but the driver (which is really FW size to fit his club) would not fit alongside it, at least not without crushing or folding them. This is also the round where I swapped to a new water bottle that I expected to fit better -- the Sic Cups Mickelson Jump bottle (taller and slimmer, I think 27oz) -- well, it didn't help, and actually made the experience worse because the top of the bottle kept jabbing into my hip while walking (so...water bottle really needs to be short and slim). Some last-minute photos of the bag in action:
And then, a swing vid from the kid: