Grand Stranded

I’ve been continuing to struggle with my wedge game, and it’s been over 100* heat index down here for the last month it seems, so I have no desire to work on it. I’m already having second thoughts, but I placed this order yesterday… a 56* CBX2 56* and a Smart Sole chipper. I traded in a Smart Sole S wedge under playability and a Halo XL 4 iron, so it only cost me $60 out of pocket. The plan is to take my 54* & 58* out, and just concentrate on the 56*. That gets me down to 13 clubs, and I can add the Smart Sole C. I’m hoping the freaking chipper gets me back the 5 or 6 shots per round I’m losing with my now perfected chunk and skull routine. Desperate times, boys.

I have it in my 4H, and 5-DW. I’m liking it a lot more than the MMT shafts I had in my PXGs. @cksurfdude Here’s a little secret about that Cypher 50… the 5.0 isn’t 50g, it’s 59g. The 5.5 is 61g and the 6.0 is 62g. First time I saw that online, I thought it was a misprint, but it was confirmed to me by PXG and Cleveland sales reps. BTW if you’re enjoying the lighter more flexible shafts, when you have a chance, demo a driver with either the Distanza, Bassara or nvs orange in A flex. They’re all around 42-45g. I gained a little over 20 yards carry down here below sea level just by switching from regular flex Alta to a Distanza in my G425.

I bought the Rogue St 3&4 hybrids when they came out. They were very good, and I would’ve been fine if I kept them in my bag. In fact a part of me wishes I had done so. I’m doing way too much tinkering, and it’s not really helping all that much. It seems that there’s a trade off with every change I make. I gain something, but lose something else. Had I kept the ST’s I’d be getting better distance, but when I sold my PXGs and went to the halos I decided to go all in on forgiveness, because those irons have been such a godsend in that regard. The Hy-wood is a higher launching club than the Callaway but I’m not 100% comfortable with it’s longer shaft. Until I am I’d be lying if I said it’s more forgiving. I’m hoping the standard Halo 4H is that mix of forgiveness and launch I’m looking for, with acceptable distance. If it is, that might open another can of worms though, as I’ll look to compare the Hy-wood to the Halo 3H. It never ends….

I play my Halo Launcher XL irons 2* strong. After having a lot of fun hitting the 5-DW, I took things what looks to be a step too far by ordering a 4 iron at 18*. When I catch it, I get low screamers that run out to about 175 or so, but in that spot in my bag I’m looking for something with more reliable carry and an easy high launch. So today I ordered a Cleveland 4 hybrid. The 4 iron is going to be put out to pasture when it arrives. I went with the same Cypher shaft in my irons instead of the stock shaft they offer. It just didn’t make sense to go from 40g in the Hy-wood to over 60g in a 4H, then back down to 59g in my irons. This is me taking a leap of faith with Cleveland, and how well this current series they have is working for me. I’ve never hit a Cleveland hybrid, and to be honest, I’ve never seen one in anyone else’s bag either.

One thing I saw happened with their first event was people who know how to do such things (I don’t) went to the profiles or social media accounts of players in the LIV and they received free or discounted tickets that weren’t available for sale to the general public.

Let me help you out here Stu…. First of all the protests you’re referring to? It’s Portland. Out there they have protests to protest what they’re protesting about. Once they find out Pumpkin Ridge is about 25 miles from anything, they’ll just protest whatever the nearest protest to them is protesting. Second, yes it’s true a few people resigned their memberships, but those were filled with new members immediately by the club. In fact I heard one of those who left had second thoughts, but no openings for him to rejoin were available, and he had to go to the end of their wait list. I’m pretty sure he’s planning a protest now also.

That was always the plan though, no? Sign big stars like BDC, and Koepka, and augment them with big name players like Reed, Garcia, Louie and Charl, Westwood and Mickelson etc, and upcoming young talent like a Chacarra to round out the field. It’s a solid plan, and it’s coming together quicker than I thought it would. They keep adding players steadily, and chipping away at the Tour (who cannot compete with them financially). The longer this goes on, the stronger LIV will get.

Nice looking setup, OG. I agree with you, Cleveland is killing it with this release, I don’t understand why more people don’t play their product. Great quality, great price point and designed to help the vast majority of golfers. I don’t know why, (because I’ve been following your recent Cleveland journey here in various threads) but for some reason I thought you bought the Halo Launcher XL hybrid style irons, similar to the ones you played a few years ago. Now I need to go back and find your thread about the XL irons, Why they can’t they differentiate the naming better than they do is beyond me… they use so many words and yet it’s still so easy to confuse the two…

I always assumed it was common knowledge that in order to be considered a “credentialed journalist” a journalist would have to be issued credentials to cover the event in question. Apparently this is not something many people know.

He’s a former US Am winner and has (I believe) 3 wins on the European Tour.

My buddy is a 4 cap and hits pitch and chip shots with one hand, side saddle. It seems like he holes at least one every round. In our Club Championship, he beat a 30 yo 2hcap 7&6 playing from the Blacks. (He’s 71 yo)

Man, I wish I could’ve joined you two (and Tom’s BIL) out there. I’m still not able to play yet, and Tom was here what? 3 weeks ago? This sciatica is kicking my butt. Every time I think it’s getting better, it flares right back up. I’m supposed to be a tester for a putter that’s arriving Wednesday, and right now I’m wondering how I’m going to pull that off. I’m glad you two had a good time, and Stu, good on you for showing Tom some Southern hospitality! BTW did you boys hit up the Masters or Dollhouse?

I play the Senior flex in my Halo irons also. I had the regular flex Hy-wood, but switched it to Senior once Cleveland had the LH heads available a few weeks ago. I haven’t been able to hit the Senior flex yet because sciatica has kept me from playing recently. If I were you, I’d go the Senior also. 1. I’m not a fan of having two different flexes unless it’s absolutely necessary, and 2. when I hit both, the salesman said with my SS I was right on the edge and could play the regular flex, but “ none of us are getting any younger or faster”. That remark hit home with me.

I think @ole gray might have made a mistake here. His 7 wood is probably 21* and that is what he thought you were referring to? The 5 wood is either 18 or 19, I can’t remember which. As for which one will hit the ball higher, I think the Hy-wood is designed to give the higher ball flight, but will give you a bit less distance than two comparably struck shots. If you follow such things, Rick Shiels does an excellent comparison between the two clubs on his YouTube channel breaking down all his numbers with both. I stink with FWs, so for me the Hy-wood is the much better option. I find it much easier to elevate than my regular 3 hybrid. Distance depends on strike quality. As far as forgiveness I’m not sure, the shorter the shaft the better I hit a club (except driver). If I had to choose, I’dsay that in order, I prefer Hy-wood, 3 hybrid, 5 wood. The reason I give the Hy-wood the nod is my 18* club is often used on either par 5’s or long par 4 second shots, and a lot of times those need to carry either water or waste areas where I play, so I need the carry distance. If I were playing more links style, wide open courses I’d go with the 3 hybrid for the low bullets that run out forever.

I have a LH Tracy in mint condition if anyone is interested….

Look at you, you playah you! What a gorgeous set of irons!!! I’ve said it before, and I’m sure I’m not the only one who feels this way… you’re the guy here I root for more than anyone. You’re just “that guy”, the one who always has a good word for everyone, is always upbeat, and grinding away at his game working hard to improve. These are the sticks that are going to take you to the heights you aspire to, and we can’t wait to read all about it!

I hope you enjoy the Elixir’s as much as I have. They are a really good ball for me.

Me and @ole gray… just two old guys feeling the Cleveland Rocks vibe. How does that 7 wood gap with the Hy-wood? I don’t think Cleveland makes the 7 in LH, but I’d have thought they would go about the same distance?

Reading only the first page, two things jumped out at me. 1. I’ve never played in a net skins game. I need to find one. 2. The league games I play in apparently have a much steeper buy in than what seems to be the norm. The cheapest one is a $20 buy in.

I’ve been chomping at the bit reading this thread. After almost a month without being able to swing a club, my lower leg is finally feeling better. I caught a break with this, as the original prognosis (an issue with the my Achilles’ tendon) was incorrect. I’m going to take it slow though, and just practice the short game for a week or so, and take it from there. I’m hoping the leg will be good enough to make the 700 mile drive from NY to Myrtle Beach, as I’ve had about enough of this Long Island “Spring” weather. I’m looking forward to boring the hell out of you guys again with my exploits on the course again!

I’d love to pick up a very lightweight 14 way stand bag. I was thinking of the Sun Mountain 2.5 14 way, but the color options are very limited. I’ve always owned plain black bags, but now that I’m feeling adventurous it seems the options are limited. Any suggestions guys? BTW the less “branding” on the bag, the better.

When I first moved down, that was the course everyone talked about. A guy I know played there about 12 years ago and said he met retired General Oliver North in the pro shop. I’d love to get the chance to play there someday…

For my money, there isn’t a better deal dollar for dollar than going down the street and playing Heritage.

I’m visiting family up on Long Island right now, and some old friends invited me to play today at a course that was about $40 on a week day two years ago. I’m dealing with a calf injury so I was disappointed I couldn’t play, until they told me they paid $85. It’s not exactly Pine Valley either. Like you said though, they’re filling up the tee sheet, so why not?

It’s a new world with all the new golfers due to Covid, Rick. You’d be amazed at the prices they’re getting. I used to have a “travel day” once a week, now I do it once a month. I stay in Barefoot and just pay the cart fee.