[Do you have a golf course nemesis hole?]

On my home course have two holes, both on back nine. The 11th hole is a Par 5 dogleg left at 540 yards.  The second shot is either a layup as there is a creek with tall plants anywhere from 160 to 210 away depending on tee shot and creek run diagonally, from left to right.   Problem on second shot is that if you carry the creek it is a thin green and thin fairway- no good landing zone- with houses behind and creek alongside green.  I am 1 for 60 on the 3 wood carry, nowadays try to play the drive on the right side of fairway so won't be tempted to try the carry.  The 16th is a Par 3, 190 yards. the trouble is on the right is a pond and on the left are sand traps- tee positions seem to mainly be toward water.  My go to shot is a drawing 5 or 6 iron, this has to go over the pond and come back.  I have tried to teach myself a fade for this one hole with little success, may try again this summer.               

[Fairway woods, hybrids or long irons?]

Recently added a Driving Iron, in trying them out in the store did better with the 3 iron than the 2 iron. So now have 3 Driving iron 210 carry, 3 hybrid 220 carry, 4 iron 205 carry-but mainly used as rescue from under trees.  The driving iron is more consistent and less disperse than either the 3 hybrid or the 4 Iron. However the 3 hybrid is great out of rough, and the driving iron is not. Next step may be to change the 3 hybrid to a 2 hybrid.                

[The Masters - 2024]

Not sure this year, but live in Colorado and we typically have terrible weather on Master's weekend, perfect for watching a great tournament, with the fracture in men's pro golf, the majors are event more of a treat.  

[Do You Own A Launch Monitor?]

Have Garmin R10, live in house where have to hit outside currently, this limits year round golf.  It adds reasonable statistics to your shots and you can play courses that are fun.  Believe anything you can do to hit more measured golf shots is a positive for getting better.  

[Premium Driver Shaft or New Driver?]

i can relate, I was fitted for the exact same Callaway Rogue ST MAX LS. Ended up replacing it last November.  What I liked was the Rogue allows one to move the ball right to left and left to right; what I did not like is a few times a round it s a harder to hit straight then other drivers.  The Rogue 3 wood was even worse. Had a round last year with a 314 yard drive right to left down the center and then tailed balls into the scrub for 2 doubles.  Typical.  Once you lose confidence it is over.                        

[Organization/ Routine when walking]

I try to walk whenever it makes sense, believe it helps me get in the game better and provided some exercise.  On organization use Golfshot on phone and on Apple watch.  Phone goes in the bag during the round, as also get distracting calls.  In right pocket have 2 balls, a few tees, green tool, and marker.  Used to keep phone in left pocket.  Have water with me in the bag.  I have stretch routine prior to teeing off.  On shots, try to force myself into the same routine.                 

[Just got fitted, club head speed varies from 115-120]

I can only give you some anecdotal advice.   Agree with comment above that you don't want to pick a driver or any club with doubts in your mind.   I have a swing speed of 110-115 with driver so a little less than yours and I am no doubt older.   In a fitting had solid numbers with the MAX Callaway Paradym and Three Diamond, but noticed that the Max Paradym was much more forgiving even in hitting with a launch monitor.   The fitter stated this as an advantage.  Would have similar carry numbers and direction with essentially occasional mishits.  Ended up buying a Paradym Max with a Ventus Blue shaft last Fall.   With snow and busy life this year it has been harder than expected to get used to this new club.  Only recently do I feel comfortable with this club on the course, as example right to left draw is now rare but am still gaining consistency when decently hit as ball goes straight.   Would suggest, if feasible, hitting with a launch monitor your last 2-3 finalist drivers to make a selection.                        

[Launch Monitor (affordable somewhat)]

I have a Garmin R10, it is directionally accurate for a decent set of variables and relatively inexpensive.  Requires 10 ft from net to ball and another 6-7 feet ball to unit.                

[Do you incorporate any specific fitness routines to enhance your golf performance?]

Have worked on two different golf routines, when I show up at the course do a mobility routine of:

• squat (try to get butt below knees) into back stretch move,  bend at hips and go forward to touch ground -move side to side,  shoulder openers, and warrior 2 (yoga) move on both sides.  This gets hips, shoulders, and back open.  Note that if late to course have found this is more important than hitting a few balls.

Then 3 times a week in gym: 

• squats, arms work, forearms work, legs work, shoulders work. Specific to golf,  do a dumbbell swing, single arm shoulder press from kneeling (both sides) and kneeling low to high with dumbbell (both sides).      

     This I believe, also with solid technique, is the only way I can keep swinging at plus 110 mph at my age. 

[Thoughts on buying one year old clubs?]

Key it to get fit and then take advantage of the price and quality difference,  I am plus 1/2'', 2 UP,  (with wedge exceptions).    Surprisingly, 1/2 plus is common in the pre-owed market.  The 2 Up and better grips can be added. Many clubs come in plastic and do not look like they were ever used.         

[Driving irons, what are your experiences good and bad]

On 2/6/2024 at 1:54 PM, chris_ said:

Which courses did you play? I rarely play with guys with a driving iron. There's definitely some hard downhill holes that a stinger is the shot to play. 

Played Lookout Mountain and Wigwam.  Like your idea of stinger shot.    

[What Wedges Are You Currently Using?]

45 degree 2018 X-forged PW, 50 degree Jaws Raw, 56 bent to 55 degree Jaws Raw, and 60 degree Mack Daddy 4.  The 50 degree might have to go for a Driving Iron in the future as can use 55 and 45,  the 60 degree is starting to show wear. This Spring when the snow melts will work on a carry distance card with 6 oclock-9-12-full swing for each wedge.     

[Driving irons, what are your experiences good and bad]

Recently played golf in Arizona.  Courses had high tee shots off hills to fairways below, with seemingly thin landing areas.  Being the traveler and playing with good golfing locals, was only one without a driving iron.   I tried hitting 3 wood and driver but shots were towering and lucky to his fairway, also tried hybrid but again towering although slightly better controlled.   Driving iron looked to limit dispersion and had lower trajectory.  Thoughts?            

[When Do You Normally Golf? (Times/Days)]

This year reshuffling my courses, but for last few years have played Saturday first tee time and Wednesday first tee time (or try to get these).  On Wednesday, during high daylight can be at work by 9 AM.     

[Does Golf Remain Fun?]

This is a great topic, the first time I got good at the game in my twenties, the better I got the less I enjoyed it.   Lining up putts and looking for grain was draining as was thinking about wind, cut v draw, etc . Would be upset missing shots.  Now many years later, enjoy the game more, it is a sport that is infinitely challenging.  There are  some days where you are grinding ( and that can be a fun mental challenge ) and others where it all comes together (still mentally challenging).  Walking a course and swinging a driver 110-115 mph is beneficial physical exercise.                         

[Assuming you have been playing for a number of years, are you expressing more anger/frustration on the course or have you mellowed?]

About 6 years ago played on a somewhat unusual course with an 150 yard par 3 that had the worlds biggest pricker bush in front of the green. Below the bush had about 1000 golf balls. Started laughing at this setup and have not gotten truly upset since.   Try to focus on basics when shots go wrong.          

[Do you have a drill that has helped improve your game and that you would like to share with the community?]

Would like to add drills for putting:  Prior to round get on practice green and hit long putts uphill and downhill to understand speed- goal is to get ball to stop either on next cut or within a few inches above on the next cut;   for putting practice, from 6 feet, putt five in a row both hands, then left hand only, then right hand only.  This drill can be done in your house in winter weather.           

[Running and golf]

During the week in season, with 1st tee time like to play golf running between shots, use 4 wheeled push cart.  Get funny looks but can be in the office by 9 AM.   Side benefit, is the running seems to keep one a little looser.            

[Bunker Play]

Like anything in life you need to practice sand shots, it is at the simplest opening the face and hitting behind the ball.  The more light sand the harder the swing.  To get high and low shots practice them.  One story, from Colorado where wind takes sand out of traps to visit New Orleans.  On first hole, hit into trap, swung, covered myself with super fluffy sand.  Was able to go back into the clubhouse and with towel cleaned up and started round again, lucky course was not busy.         

[2024 Season Goals - What Say You?]

Want to get Driver swing to 110 mph,  make Driver swing consistent and repeatable with my new Driver,  make iron swing like the pro analysis I got this Fall (finding easier said then done),  and lastly get a 230 yard super repeatable shot (may be Driving iron or other solution).        

[Are non-major golf tournaments diluted going forward?]

With John Rahm, Smith, Kopeka, DeChambeau on one tour and Scheffler, McIlroy, Hovland, Schauffele, Cantlay on another (2023 majors 2 each).  We have reached the point of significantly lesser fields in the Pro golf across the world.   Hopefully this doesn't effect the quality of viewership.             

 

[Paradym vs. TSi3 - 3 Woods]

The 3 wood is a tricky club for me so like the ideas above.  I currently play the Rogue ST MAX LS 3 wood and now looking for a different club (as well as have goal to fix the wood swing this Winter).  Recently played in Arizona, from the Tips with target golf had 220 to 240 yd carries.  The 3 wood or possibly 4 wood or 5 wood for me needs to be more accurate than the driver, and able to hit low dispersion and 240 to 260 yards.  Btw, hit the Rogue once 285 yards over the green into the street on a par 5 (worthless).  the guys I was playing with were using Driving irons, so broadening my options on this club.   Also agree that shaft is really important on this club as used from the tee and on the deck.                    

[Paradym triple diamond 3 wood vs regular Paradym 3 wood]

I am at the same crossroads if you will,  I noticed in clubs that in Pro winners played clubs write-ups that many pros are no longer playing the 3D type fairway woods and instead going for main model, easier to hit 3 woods.  This may be anecdotal.  However have decided that I need the 3 wood to be a go to club when Driver is too risky.   Also need it for consistent carry in target golf.  Have hit the Paradym 3D fairway on Trackman and my current ST Rogue LS on course.  There is a front weight added in both that is designed to add distance but seems to impact consistency.   DO you think this makes sense?                

[Anyone used the off brand speed trainers?]

if you want a cheap solution,  took and old hybrid and wrapped a fishing weight that brought the club weight to slightly less than the highest weight.  Followed the recommended training from Stack system without the software.   Also have Garmin R10 so can see progress on swing speed. It is about 4-6 weeks before you see any real improvement, but any in house swinging during the Winter is a positive.           

[The difficulty of learning golf]

Have recently found that with a busy life, complex swing changes take real practice for anyone.  Recently went off the rails for a few weeks then took lesson.  This setup is much better - on Trackman added 20-40 yards per irons and hit much straighter.  However had two golf outings on difficult courses scheduled and went right back to old swing on back nine.  Still can't believe myself.  Either I get better at complex motion changes or start playing pickleball.