Willie T

TJ - I took Versa out the other day and it was very much as you described. For both Millie and Versa to be Seven style putters, they are so different. Is it the white hot (Versa) versus milled (Millie)? Anyway glad to see you are still rolling along with your AI ONE.

Day 102 (25 Apr 24) - Worked with the Divot Board again today. Set the board up where I had a card just behind the ball to reinforce ball first contact Following are a series of swings (actually 3 in a row) where contact steadily inproved. For DTL visuals, set up the grandson's toy field goal about 10yds out - the goal was to start the ball (hard foam) just right of the posts and have it draw back to the center. Overall, a good drill day.

Day 101 (24 Apr 24) - Easy afternoon with the wedges in the backyard. Worked on “not decelerating” thru down swing…

Gotcha - we gapped mine well as the SLDR PW is 46deg, so the 50deg GW slides in nicely. If I go a degree or two stronger, say to 44deg on PW, the 50 will still gap ok….glad to see you’re still able to get some rounds in.

I played several different setups - depending on what we’re doing. For the men’s group scramble it’s R580 driver (yup that old) 10.5deg, R580 5w (18 deg), Tommy Armour 845s Silver Scot irons (usually just 3-5-7-9-PW-SW) and putter. The 5w is extremely versatile off the tee or deck. The next set is just for fun set - SLDR 10deg driver, SLDR 3HL wood (17deg), Callaway Edge 3h (20.5 deg), Callaway X series irons…The primary set is Ping G400 SFT driver 10deg, set to 9.4 - senior flex; G410 3w (lofted 1deg up, 1deg flat) - senior flex; G400 hybrid trio 3,4 5; followed by SLDR irons 6-PW, Indi wedges, AIOne putter. All that to say the 3HL SLDR fairway is a hitting machine off the tee or deck, the G410 now that I’m playing it 1deg flat is very similar as both gap nicely (about 15 yards behind the driver). The 3hybrid(s) cover the next gap pretty well, etc. The recent banter on the pro community’s move to 5w/7w really speaks more to the distance gains we’ve seen in clubs in general, the better ball striking, and overall performance of pros is likely leading us to think the 3w is to go the way of the 2w, 1i - no longer a needed club. In the end it really comes down to the individual player’s wants and skill set - what works best for me may be a disaster for you…for example I love hitting hybrids and pe my son can’t, but can drill a longer iron or fairway like no one’s business.

Now that’s having the right “mindset” for sure….it’s so “next level” in terms of feel when the planned shot executes perfectly. A couple of quick questions: How are they paring up with the Haywood irons - in terms of feel, gapping, etc? Are you seeing any drop off in terms of spin control, etc? Lastly how has the fall weather been in NZ?

Day 100 (23 Apr 24) - Played in monthly church men’s super ball 9 hole event - used a 9 club setup (driver, 5w, 3,5,7,9 irons, PW, SW, putter)…always makes for fun shot making when you’re in between clubs….fun day of course management (and better yet playing golf with my grandson!)

Congrats to the test team….have heard a lot about these shafts….will be a fun test to follow

Congrats to all the testers! Going to be fun to see if this driver smokes what you’re currently gaming!

Day 99 (22 Apr 24) - morning round at local course. Another day focused on comparing the Mindset against a couple other balls I use from time to time. Great day of focused routine and making sure ball striking was as consistent as possible…

Interesting that you note that Rob, I’ve found that the Bridgestone does similarly in my testing thus far. Today I played the same “scuffed” ball from Saturday and it lasted all 18 holes….none the worse for wear. With yesterday’s rain, the greens were more receptive so it was a good day to see how well the balls stuck on the green as I did put into play for “feel” comparisons a Callaway ERC Triple Track as well a Pro V-1. The Mindset seems to hop and release whereas the PV-1 was more hip and super stop (one hole to 4”) while the Triple Track was somewhere in the middle.

Jamie, Garmin Appraoch S20 user along with the Garmin Golf App on my IPhone….very basic compared to the new stuff….still I’ve found it to be fun and a great basis for tracking my clubs thru the bag.

Day 98 (21 Apr 24) - Soggy, rainy day in Eastern NC. Had a planning meeting after church, but did manage to get some swings in with the MacGregor 9i in the backyard while it was only spitting rain. Worked on easy pitches to about 20yds, picking target point focused on getting the ball close….

Hey - thanks for the compliment. I like that the other testers do post as well…these wedges, though not a top finisher in ‘23’s Most Wanted, have proven consistent time and time again for me. What’s neat is that I took out my CBX’s out for a backyard spin and found what used to be a pleasant sounding wedge loud and cranky….i know the INDIs will fade as the grooves wear out, but till then I’ll enjoy the spin!

Day 97 (20 Apr 24) - Hit a driving range near where grandson was to play baseball today. Spent time working thru the bag, staying consistent with pre-shot routine. There were a number of visual targets (old bus, bass boat, airplane carcass, etc)…used the range finder to shoot accurate distances and focused on trying place my shots left, right, short and long. Overall a good session through the bag. Yes, made my grandson’s game with loads of time to spare.

Yup - in fact, I don't see her going anywhere anytime soon for sure.

Apr 19 update - Today was the Bridgestone TourB RX's first "solo" round (only played that ball today) as I wanted to have a solid round where I truly focus on the ball and what is happening with it. I played in our Friday Men's group and was teamed up with a couple of regulars. We started off the back nine, so we are starting on the toughest hole on the back. My drive is a fade push that hits the cart path and this happens.... First thought was to go ahead and bench it and put a brand new fresh ball in play, instead I opt to see how much "more" damage would incur through a full 18 holes (pending I don't send it on a forever "hike in the woods" or a "deep dive in the pond"). So how did this all shake out....It's the first time in a while where I literally played the same ball on every stroke (all 82) on every hole (all 18) from the middle of the fairway to the rough (among the Carolina pines) - did avoid the sand though. (photos) thoughts from today: Drives: I was thoroughly pleased throughout the day as the ball came off the club like a rocket. I managed 8 of 14 fairways and even the misses where nearby. The ball just feels good, smooth and explosive. I am reminded of a ProV1 in terms of sound and feel but not as "solid" as a PV1x. That is a major tick "YES" for me. (Side bar - I have always liked how the few Bridgestones I've played have come off the driver, this ball just reinforced it even more). The RX is built to enhance distance and I was consistently long for me all day with drives - whether driver, 3w, 5h or irons. Using the Mindset process reinforces my own process (more on this later) Fairway (3w): Much like driver, it was solid and sweet feeling off the tee as well as the fairway. One thing I like is Mthat even when you don't see the Mindset reminder, its already in your head. Hybrid (3h, 4h, 5h): This is where the ball really begins to shine for my game as I sensed I could trust the distance would be there. Thoughout the round the ball consistently came off the club and flew flawlessly to its target zone (even with that 1st hole asphalt scuff). Irons: The ball just flew off the club (except for those two or three super thins we won't talk about). I was getting about 5-10 yds of extra carry today, even into the wind. So, where I was thinking I was short the ball was coming in nicely. The ball stuck the landing, not pro-level stops, but it was hitting on firmish greens and still rolling to about no more than 10' past. The ball was delivering. Wedges (Indi 50, 54, 58): This is where I began to really think, "this may be my new ball". I had several opportunites to get up and down. The ball came off the wedges with decent spin and release that made it less stressful wedge play around the greens. While I stayed out of the bunkers, I had some great up and downs, including one with the 58 that finished 6" from the hole for tap in par....Again the "feel" of the ball coming off the face was buttery (I know that word is used way too often), but still when you can trust the ball to do what you envision it raising the game play to a new level Putting (Odyssey AI Milled 7 DB "Millie"): This is where I really enjoyed the Mindset process as I was able to roll one hole using the "Mindset logo" and then the traditional alignment line. Coming off the putter face the ball just has that confident smooth roll. In fact an number of times my playing partners commented how smooth the putt was. I noticed how little the ball skipped on its way to the cup. Time and time again, I almost instinctively knew where the ball would roll. Mindset technology: I have to admit I felt like I needed to channel Jason Day (when watching the Masters in the early rounds, I knew what he was doing when he would close his eyes right before making his swing). Not quite that much, but still I would pick a small target in the distance, think about how the shot should go and then focus on contacting the ball. Over and over again the process kept me out of trouble. Durability: With a full round under the belt just how the ball fare? If it looks like a well worn range ball or shag ball after one round is it worth the expense? Here's some end of the round photos for the sleeve I took out today. As you can see, two of the balls look brand new - because they are! Never been hit! The scuffed ball only had one small blemish elsewhere (it could have been from a limb I hit on a punch out) - still the ball looks great and played solid for all 18 holes. Conclusions: The ball impressed me not only for its durability but overall distance, stopping power and feel. This ball is well worth a look if one is looking for a new ball. The Mindset process is well worth adding to one's preshot routine as I found it more mind clearing that anything else.

Day 96 (19 Apr 24) - Played in the Friday Men's group today. While I shoot 82, it was a pretty solid round with 10 pars, 5 bogies and 3 doubles. I really hated the doubles - but each one was followed by a par come back, so "accepting" the number has really begun to pay off and not letting it get to me on the following hole in thinking "I have to get that stroke back". Was also "on course test day" for the Bridgestone Tour B RX ball...will be posting on the "unofficial" page as how it fared/performed (pretty doggone well), also with a quick blurb as it worked the green with the AI One Milled 7 DB putter "Millie", the INDI wedges, and the Edel SMS 7i- I"ll be posting comments about each in those respective threads...a good day of golf....

19 Apr update - Played today in the local Men's group Friday round at Minnesott. Also was the first full round with the Bridgestone Tour B RX Mindset ball going solo (no other balls in play today) as part of the "unofficial" test. It was a great day to see how it reacted off the wedges and how the wedges worked with it. Today was my typical up and down for par day as 7 of the 10 pars were such. Three of those involved some serious wedge play - where the 58 and 54 were called upon the get the ball up and stop it close. The shot of the day was with the 58, just off the green on the side of the turtle shell (the greens are those turtle back style) from about 20yds total distance to the flag. An easy wedge - pretty straight on and the ball pops up and drops about five yards from the hole and gently rolls to a stop 6" from the hole for a tap in par....The 54 did almost as well on another hole where I would up about 18" from the hole. So the wedges keep wedging spin onto the balls to get them to hop and stop or at worst gently roll out. One thing is for sure - they love a urethane ball!

Apr 19 update - Played today with the Men's group at my local course. Teamed up with a couple of guys who play pretty much even with me, so it was a good day to see how things shaped out. Also I was testing the Bridgestone Tour RB Mindset ball as part of the "unofficial" test. I have rolled a good number of putts with "Millie" (Odyssey AI-One Milled 7 DB) using this ball, but not as a stand alone testing round. What were my impressions of this combo - the Bridgestone ball and Millie - first the ball feels deeply familiar as it reminds me of a ProV1 but maybe a little less muted off the face (at least to my ears). Second - the distance control is phoenominal as this putter continues to just roll the ball to the hole, several birdies that just missed the cup stoppign less that 18" from the hole. Last and most importantly - the "Mindset" premise carries well into the putting and Millie likes it! Had several comments about how "smooth" the stroke was on the putt and I have to think its more the putter than the puttee. This putter continues to impress as it just rolls the ball so smoothly - even when just off the green. Had several that where the putter just delivered the pace to go center cup....Overall putting average has dropped to where it is hovering in the <30 putts per round range (including a record 26 putts in the rain last week, 31 today). Hopefully the other "Milled" group continues to see consistent play from their putters as well.

19 Apr update - Today was the first round with the SMS 7i back in action as I had sent it back to Edel to have them bend it 1deg flat and shorten by 1/2" and refit to a GP Tour Velvet midsize grip. The wonderful part of this was that Edel did it for the cost of me shipping the club to them. The verdict - the adjustments of the club made it go from a good fit to a really good fit. Distance control and accuracy continues to be almost automatic. Also this club just sounds sweet, as one of my playing partners said on the approach on 1 (our 10th as we started on the back) - "that was a rifle shot!". Really digging this update - now a couple of more rounds and if all holds well, I will be talking to Edel about rounding out a full set of irons to go with this club as this is a single iron test.

Day 95 (18 Apr 24) ….Trail arm only drill with the LW…focused on letting the club drop, engaging the bounce and letting the club pop the ball up….wrapped up by repeating drill with both hands on the club…

Participated in the INDI wedge test last year, was fitted with comparable wedges to what I was already using in the Cleveland CBX line: 50* GW, 54* SW, and 58* LW. Rule of thumb, the 54* is the go to wedge around the green. 50* is the longer shots into the green wedge or if I need a low spinny, quick stopper. The 58* is purely short sided up and downs. The 54* is the primary sand wedge as well. As the distances covered overlap, I have a general rule - if its over 90 but short of 110- 3/4 GW will get me there, if its 80-100 and I have a big landing zone I will typically go with the SW and look for the middle of the green, if its less than 80 - it becomes pretty much an adjusted SW (I practice 30 - 50 yd shots so that when I am facing such, I envision the same shot as played out in my drills). BTW - I still pull the Clevelands out from time to time to stay somewhat familiar with them.

Day 94 (17 Apr 24) - Range time fell thru, picked back up with drills in backyard - setup, ball position, swing tempo….good easy day..

Have thought about it - pretty much been a local knowledge person. The courses I tend to play most often, I have developed some knowledge of how the greens play. Conversely when I played La Cana last year in the DR, the course book provided gave some great insight into yardages in, etc. The caddie was really good about helping read the greens and advising where to putt.