Willie T

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.

Day 93 (16 Apr 24) - Worked with the Edel SMS 7i today in lieu of the SLDR 7i. Just got the Edel back from their shop to have a couple of adjustments done. Would up switching the toe weight to 4g and the center weight to 6g keeping the heel at 2g. Before sending it off it was 6 (toe) - 4 (mid) - 2 (heel). Enjoying this iron more than ever...after settling the iron down, focused on setup and rehearsing swing. Plan is for tomorrow to get in some decent range time as I have a free "any size" bucket of range balls I won at a local course waiting for me.

Congrats testers…I am really curious to see how well these bags perform across varied course/weather conditions. As a “part-time” walker, a comfortable bag that performs well is essential….test well MGS spies..

Day 92 (15 Apr 24) - Picked back up 7i and resumed working on preshot routine, hitting a few hard foam balls along the way. Seeing more consistent dispersion.

Millie’s still looks brand and I absolutely love that Odyssey did away with Velcro and went to magnets (allows the cover to stick to an iron head while the putter is in use)…don’t have try to remember where I put it.

Day 91 (14 Apr 24) - Took a few minutes this afternoon to work with 9i and hard foam balls in backyard, focused on ball placement at setup.

Was thinking about that yesterday as I watched them finish up - just wondering if the plan is to keep the greens from being “too receptive” and in essence keep the scores pretty much where they are….

The commentators said he said “no matter where he was in the tournament, if she goes he’s gone.” I bet there’s bets on her going into labor…and which hole….and it’s while he’s about to drive or hit an approach or putt.

Day 90 (13 Apr 24) - Worked with 7i, Divot Board, hard foam balls - worked on target point and proper alignment (using the board as an alignment rod), i.e. aim small, miss small. Wrapped up session doing similarly with the 58* and regular balls hitting to about 25yds…

Day 89 (12 Apr 24) - Worked on pitches/chips with 8yr old grandson in backyard - however he made a good game of it as we had to hit from where he tossed the frisbee…made for some fun shotmaking on both our parts…love it when he comes up with new ways to backyard practice.

Day 88 (11 Apr 24) - Played 18 at Minnesott today - what started off let’s have fun with gusting winds with the threat of rain to gusting winds and steady rain. As I made the turn on the back nine, I had thought about calling it but stuck it out. Actually it was a good exercise in playing thru…still not something I would do every day.

Day 87 (10 Apr 24) - Easy day hitting chips and pitches in the backyard. Bounced between the 7i and 54* wedge.

As @Rob Person notes - the Divot Board is a good way to work on swing path and begin to develop a consistent swing. It can de used with or without a ball. Also - don’t try to make practice too complicated - look at what is the “worst” area of your game and focus there…for me it’s been the 150yd in (approach shots) so I do a lot of work on the irons. Also follow this page and see what others are doing and ask questions, post a video of your swing (down the line as well as face on) - preferably is slo-mo. In the end, small gains are the best gains!

1st run - Took the Bridgestones Tour BRX for their first run…along with Snell MTB+…It did not start well, hole one is a tee shot over water - promptly dunked one brand new ball, did the same with the Snell…two balls down (brought only one sleeve of each). First impressions - love the Mindset reminder; the feel of the ball off the driver is “soft” whereas the Snell is more “crisp”; wear through the round was nearly non-existent, and the ball found sand, a few pine limbs, edge of wedges; putting wise the ball reminds me of the way a SuperSoft feels - very muted. After a couple of holes I began to really enjoy how the ball came off the clubs (driver, fairway, hybrid, irons, wedges). I honestly believe that ball has a “flag magnet” in it / on three different holes I was pitching in the green and the TourB RX hit the flagstick…I’ve never hit the flagstick that many times in a round. Back to initial impressions - the ball was none the worse for major wear whereas the Snell had some dings: Note: the “well worn” ProV1 played head to head with these new boys…especially on the greens that has been recently top dressed and were sandy and none holding for the balls…. This was the extent of the “wear” on the Bridgestone…more to come….

Day 87 (09 Apr 24)- played Minnesott today, focused on testing both the Bridgestone TourB RX (as part of the unofficial test) along with the Snell MTB Prime+ balls….it was a fun day, especially around the greens as they had recently top dressed them…watching the sand fly as they land…had to adjust to more than usual release of the balls (they were all doing it).

So did it bump the 3h from the bag? Or are you keeping both for different shot needs? Good review of the value of a good fitting session and being willing to look outside the box.

Kewl looking gear - May the testers never have a bad day of rainy play! BTW - congrats to all the testers…

This fitting system does beg to be followed…congrats to the testers…Looking forward to hearing how it all plays out and if the process is as grounded as they claim…

Day 86 (08 Apr 24) - Picked back up with slap shot drill w/9i and hard foam balls. Really seeing a more consistent strike point with the ball first/ground second…hope to put it to the test on the course tomorrow.

Day 85 (07 Apr 24) - Worked with 50* wedge in the backyard - hooded pitches, opened up lofted shots….reenacting green side scenarios….

I find that it promotes ball first focus - just like the video…the way the “fish scales” work, is they go to the white side (replicating the divot pattern) where the club makes contact. Here’s a quick YouTube video that demos how it works…

Day 84 (06 Apr 24) - day full of other stuff (band rehearsal this morning, a couple of quick chores at church, furniture shopping with the missus)….managed to get in some Divot Board work with 7i, hard foam balls. Really like the visual the DB gives and correlating resulting ball flight. A good late afternoon half hour session.

Cut: +1 Low amateur: de la Fuente