EasyPutter

The Vero X1 and X2 are perimeter weighted and the big difference is the compression value, essentially the X1 is better for my duffing as the X2 is more sensitive to club inducing a greater spin and my club control is likely to do some strange unexpected things with the X2, probably why the X1 worked better for me on the sim per the data the computer captured. The OnCore site is really good for information on all their ball choices. Go Bills!!! (I'm sure there are Bills Mafia in Oklahoma, we tend to show up everywhere.)

First on course drives were captured on the SwingU club tracker this afternoon. The first drive off the tee was in front of the clubhouse with other players gathering for their rounds. My playing partner Justin @just52887 was a witness to the first ever drive off a tee on real grass for the Max D and it could not have been a better strike. Straight and long into a Buffalo Blue sky, and visibly farther down the center of the fairway than I have ever hit a drive. I think it is safe to say that Justin was caught by surprise. The only disappointment was the immediate realization that no video was taken to capture the moment. At the end of the round, the SwingU app recorded the longest drive of the day at 172 yards with an average drive distance for 3 drives of 170 yards. For a comparison, the gamer driver Rattlesnake's average drive is 153 yards.

Me too! Not because I would aim for it, I would be aiming somewhere else, but I know @Yellow Ball is on this trip and no doubt he's going to be causing mischief riling up the rest of the balls to do his best at "being there" for us. No offense intended YB

Yesterday, golf life began after the end of the workday. It looked to me as I approached the OnCore Headquarters in downtown Buffalo, like the ground level clouds provided an aqueous induced smoke day (see what I did there with Ai Smoke?), "a sign from the Golf gods" according to playing partner Justin @just52887 I reacquainted with the OnCore crew and talked about the company, Veteran golf experiences, and MyGolfSpy testing. One of each OnCore ball was brought out for the ball fitting and test experience on one of their simulators I was hitting on and Full Swing was playing on the second sim screen, which for me was great because I am not a fan of being the center of attention hitting a golf ball. 5 shots for each OnCore ball; Vero X2, Vero X1, ELIXR, and AVANT first with the Rattlesnake and then with the Paradym Ai Smoke Max D. Some great shots with each club, some not so great but nearly all were fairway and only one sky shot rang off the rafters. Oops. Stats photographed from the main screen, total of 42 shots, lost track of numbers of hits so ensured minimum 5 for each ball. Review of results surprised us as I had always preferred ELIXR after being an AVANT user initially. The Vero X1 came up as the best ball response off both clubs. The software did not specify which ball was hit but knowing when it each ball was hit by which club the numbers tells a story. Top secret, these are not the stats you are looking for - move along. Today I went on the OnCore site to do a ball order and decided to give their online ball fitter feature a try. Entered my preferences for things like feel of the ball (firm or soft), swing speed and average carry distance. Half expecting ELIXR to pop up the fitter algorithm said my best ball fit was Vero X1. Best part of the experience was hitting the first golf balls that the Max D had ever hit and in the doing had captured visual evidence of an overhead camera with slow motion clubhead travel relative to the direct line to the cup seeing ball flight start and tee cone parting from the display, seeing analytics for direction of club face at impact, trajectory of ball, and immediate feedback of ball flight on the virtual driving range. Also good was video of my swing from good friend and OnCore co-founder that had my club doing things I did not imagine I was doing, thinking my swing was not as over the top as it obviously was, though the slower backswing does an amazing job and reducing the effect of the off plane swing and no doubt in my mind the Max D is effective at reducing the induced fade. We closed the place for the day and headed out making plans for our next round of golf. Gratitude for the support and encouragement can never be adequately said for the OnCore leadership who is committed to support to Veterans professionally and with personal investment of time and talent, and the generosity of actions over words. This is my hometown and true to the spirit of our region, generous outreach goes well beyond anything expected. Next play for the Callaway Paradym Ai Smoke Max D is today in about an hour. More to follow!

It's like a birthday Robert! Happy 1st day Retired @rkj427 time for golf

Good morning MGSpies on a very nice WNY morning indeed with so many positives going on, hot coffee in the mug, computer already going up on the network for the usual zero commute and knowing Robert @rkj427 has been checker flagged for winning the race to retirement on the first day of the new month! Not going to mention all the great camaraderie in the thread of mutual support for those in need of golf retail therapy, which I highly support and, I guess I did mention it Had a great day yesterday with more to follow about that in the Callaway Paradym Ai Smoke thread when I get a chance to post there today, and a very nice dinner with grown up niece and nephew from the Carolinas up for a visit to their grandparents without their parents and who I have not seen in a decade +3 Golf should be 9 on the course this afternoon in forecast early summer weather, hope golf is a part of your day too! 28

Attention! Your attention please. We are at Tee-minus 29 days and all systems are GO! That is all.

Ryan's fitter story is an amazing technical marvel, so much there for a newbie like the tester writing this who has a much different fitter story... There was a golfer who had never had his own fitting but was now intent on getting one as soon as he found out he was selected to test the Callaway Paradym Ai Smoke Max D driver and read the conditions for the test, all of which must be agreed to, in order to accept the selection as tester. And a driver fitting was on that list of conditions. He knew his local Dick's SG was a club fitter doing a quick online search and even set up his fitting appointment thinking he was being on point by selecting the first available that fit his schedule. Then found out the next day he was the last one to get fitted, not fast out of the blocks at all. The instructions were good at Dick's SG online site with what to expect and what to have on hand and take with him. It was adventure carrying in his own bag of clubs, tags, towels and such hanging and banging like one of the caddy's at the PGA Championship last May. The golf desk knew his name and appointment time, a good feeling for the first time doing something. He said why he was there and the fitter went to get the appropriate club while he stretched and did some practice swings to warm up. He had his driver out and showed it to the fitter who took some notes. The fitter looked at his SwingU app data of FirstStrike Rattlesnake driver tracked shots. The fitter had him take a few swings to warm up then tracked 6 shots using a Callaway golf ball for the current driver stats. The results of the driver were reviewed for ball flight, ball speed, launch angle, ball spin, and a few other data points. He put down his Rattlesnake and was handed the Paradym Ai Smoke Max D to do an initial set of 6 shots. A pressure sensitive club face sticker was adhered to the Max D and the first swing was amazingly straight and 20 yards longer than the gamer went. After 6, the stats were reviewed and compared to the gamer. The big concern was a high spin rate in the 5000 range. Adjustment to reduce loft was made and another 6 shots with new club face sticker producing similar results, again analyzed. Then a lighter shaft was put on the club head, loft returned to standard and another 6 shots with a new club face sticker. The fitter wrote down the settings and suggested a slightly shorter shaft length by 1/4 inch, not a lot but his logic was agreeable. Then they talked grips, the fitter had noticed his fingers wrapped on the standard grip had fingertips pressing into the palm. The fitter handed him a thicker grip that felt good but left a gap where it was mentioned less gap is better. It was explained a standard grip with additional wraps of tape would make it slightly bigger and get fingertips to touch heel of thumb without pressing into skin. The final write-up was done while he put his clubs away and got ready to complete the hour (that didn't seem that long) fitting session. He paid the $30 fitting fee at the golf desk and understood the $30 would be taken off the cost of buying something from the golf department so not to lose the receipt. Again it felt like being some kind of caddy waiting for the next available checkout register thinking how in all the years going to Dick's SG had he never seen someone carrying their golf equipment like they owned it. Checkout was easy and then was out the door, no questions asked except if everything looked for was found. Fitting folder in hand, clubs were loaded into the vehicle, golf shoes changed out of, and sitting in the vehicle as it began to warm, he read the fitting report. He had done it, his first fitting and he had confidence in the process, and the approach of the fitter that gave him the confidence he had a good workup for what was to be built by Callaway and sent for testing as a custom fitted club. ... of course I couldn't write that in first person voice because (sniff) I know what a fitting is and "all of my fittings" have been really good. Yep, that's my story and I'm sticking to it. For all you golf obsessed do it yourselfers, like I was, you really ought to try a golf club fitting. It is a well spent hour doing what we love to do anyway PLUS you learn more than just what club(s) is/are good for your unique style of play.

Good morning MGSpies from an early dawn of cloudy skies that proves the season is changing here in WNY. Yesterday was vehicle repair maintenance but only half done as one job turned into two, just glad not to spend it on the current labor rate. Also got to the unboxing of the Smoke Max D because today I have something planned and the details are top secret so too bad y'all have to wait (practicing for the meetup) Blank & Jones' Nite Glow on Pandora going well with the coffee before heading into the office. Hope golf is a part of your day 29

Got it! Inspiration comes from many places and this time it goes to Matt @GolfSpy SAM Now while I might not be wearing my driver on my back like a backpack, I will be using another device of perspective(s) and that is all I am saying for now... More is definitely to come: or which is it? I don't know!!!

Good morning MGSpies from the beginning of what looks like early summer here in WNY on this last Monday of April. Taking advantage of the weather, only going to slog through the network morass of workplace issues for an hour on the zero commute before taking the rest of the day for driveway mechanics replacing rear wheel bearings on the prime mover Then maybe golf later on, maybe an unboxing to do, the day will tell. Stoked for Robert @rkj427 on his last Monday of career before retirement and color me envious. Thankful Jamie @GolfSpy_APH is taking us on his railway and golf adventure today and hope golf is a part of your day too! 30

@Lockwood33 Good timing on this post! Just received the Callaway Paradym Ai Smoke Max D - have not yet unboxed it (if you can believe that) will probably do that tomorrow and on we go from there. My link in my signature will give you the easy jump over to the just started testing thread. Welcome into the MGS Forum and looking forward to seeing you contributing to the threads

Good morning MGSpies from a cloudy rain in the forecast WNY with too much on the plate already for today. Yesterday was Imagine RIT with son Patrick for breakfast before going to see the university wide celebration of 400+ projects and demonstrations, something we have wanted to see since he started at RIT but COVID and other things preventing the experience before now, and he graduates in 13 days. Also wife's grandmother had her 104th birthday party in the evening and my count was 35 family members were able to join in the celebration including 5 great grandchildren. Welcome in to The Good Morning Thread @Corentin Vadillo and looks like you have some good golf going on in your neck of the woods. Hope golf is a part of your day! 31

Date 04/25/2024 Course Name Cazenovia Park GC Gross Score 105 Course Handicap 21 Gross Strokes over/under par 33 Net Score to Par 12 Net Score 84 Net Birdies or better 0 Longest Drive 0 Like a carbon copy to the first round posted this week except hits seemed to be much better, resulting score no different. Slope: 105 Course Rating: 34.4

Date 04/23/2024 Course Name Cazenovia Park GC Gross Score 105 Course Handicap 21 Gross Strokes over/under par 33 Net Score to Par 12 Net Score 84 Net Birdies or better 0 Longest Drive 0 Early season play - trying to get back in the groove after 6 months off. Slope: 105 Course rating: 34.4

Good morning MGSpies on an early Saturday (well for me I am usually sleeping in) with rain inbound for the day here in WNY waiting for coffee to be ready full day planned for a drive to Rochester with MyGolfSpouse for breakfast with son and our once possible visit to see Imagine RIT, an annual event that profiles student and faculty projects we have not been to before because of COVID and such, last one of everything as he graduates in a couple more weekends no outdoor golf yesterday cutting the grass in advance of this weekend's forecast and getting my Introduction up (see below) Welcome to our new forum members @BORDO and @ZachN97 who are sharp enough to make their debut with a good morning in The Good Morning Thread, cannot think of a faster better way to get into the mainstream forum flow and welcome in! Hope golf is a part of your day 32

I know this question was directed to Ryan but I will weigh in as many of the other testers have. My answer should be not much longer than this preamble. This is my first experience with a Callaway driver and from the fitting it should revolutionize my game. As testing will soon begin, there should be plenty of my posts to update on what happens with tracked distance, direction, and consistency of my drives which is what will be the focus of my review for those who like me are late to the game and interested in finding fairways with drives.

Posted my Introduction for everyone to read and see who this selected tester is and what he's been doing so far getting ready for all the Smoke and Mirrors for the Magic on the fairways!

That will account for the Max D drivers for the test

The difference between me receiving a product to test previously and me receiving my 6th product to test is (not boasting here mind you - showing maturity or so I'm deluding myself) now it is here, how do I set up an unboxing worthy of the product that is creative, unique and interesting to the membership and public who will access my review Previously it was, "oh I will just do it over there" (somewhere within a few strides) and blah blah blah, click click click, whatever. Experience gives me an understanding that the test will take a while, I get in 4 rounds (9 holes) per week on average, and there is only one unboxing so it is worth doing it right - and I have been thinking of what I want to do for a week so far...

And now it begins, no delivery was expected but a delivery was made. Smoke and mirrors time and not everything is yet to be seen...

Good morning MGSpies from another frosty start to the day in WNY on this awesome Friday (aren't they all?) with coffee hot in the mug, space heater warming the workspace in the basement on this zero commute workday and tossing around options for this afternoon with the options of golf and lawn mowing as the main features because the weekend will be wet and we have a full day away from the house for Saturday and who knows about Sunday and the coming week only gets busier with two PGA HOPE sessions starting for the WNY PGA Section and both are over an hour drive away so (I know I didn't mention finding time to replace the rear wheel bearing assemblies when I finally get the parts delayed in shipping...) hope I don't get into problems with bearing noise slowly changing, like a little bit over hundreds of miles (and yeah I am that kind of driveway mechanic). community call was fabulous and connecting in from the golf course again this week was a 2fer with Justin @just52887 listening in with me, another round in just over 80 minutes is always a good option, just saying, and hope golf is a part of your day 33

Great focus piece for playing on course listening to the details about wedges and the design and finish on them. Great questions and again hearing from a subject matter expert who has forgotten more about his craft than most of us will ever know.

Good morning MGSpies from frosty (it's 25F here) clear and bright WNY on this Community Call Thursday warming up after having to start MyGolfSpouse's vehicle (I am the remote starter) to clear windows of frost more inside than out with the heat though outside was scraping growing frost crystals coffee magic warming me up under my electric lap blanket in the basement workplace for this zero commute workday great to see the new testers wanted notice up, so much going on and glad to have got out in yesterday's rain for another 9 holes with Justin @just52887 at an 80 minute round pace under umbrellas (can you believe we only saw 2 others on the course? private golf course experience indeed!), we will likely be connecting into the call again today from the second 2/3rds of the golf course so those who cannot get out today yourself can do so vicariously hope golf is a part of your day 34

What I will say is the fitting I had was my first ever touching the Ai Smoke Max D - first used my own driver to warm up for some "before" numbers and then the first set of hits with the Smoke and being an ball striking as shown by the pressure tape on the face of the driver and even making my own slight adjustment on address seemed to find that part of the club face even when setting up a half inch to inch in the direction that should have then been a center of face contact. Mental thing I am sure but I am aware of it now so...