DJ Mico

Introduction Hi fellow Spies! My name is DJ, and I live in Sacramento, California. I played baseball through college, am 26, and finished graduate school in May. I used to borrow my dad’s clubs to go to the range or our local 9-hole course every few months but bought my own in April. The last and only time I had played a full 18 was 2013. My first round in April, I shot a generous 111. I've played over 30 rounds and now consistently shoot in the high 80s after lessons and club upgrades. I don’t have a launch monitor, so I can’t provide statistical comparisons for the balls or my swing. I did a Trackman fitting in October and have numbers for reference: 7 iron (34º): carry 153-157, 85mph club speed, -2º attack angle (shallow) Driver: total 270-280, swing speed 108-111mph, (+8 attack angle) Wedge (54º): carry 105, spin is 10,000 rpm My biggest strength is irons. I had a nasty slice like most former baseball players but now strike my irons consistently straight or with a slight draw. I’m mediocre from 50 yards and in. I usually reach the green then two putt. I don’t generate a lot of spin on pitches, so I play a lot of bump and runs around the green. I struggle to hit drop and stops. My biggest weakness is inconsistency with my driver, but I’ve improved since my fitting and lessons. First Impressions My initial thoughts on the Gamers started with the box, which would turn me away as a consumer, but don’t judge a book by its cover. The ball is actually simple and clean with a bright, glossy finish and green numbers. The ball looks and feels like Vice’s Tour and Drive with double dimples. The Gamers’ cover is difficult to dig into the cover with my fingernail like other distance balls but is a significant upgrade from a budget distance ball. With no launch monitor, testing was exclusively on the course and practice green. I occasionally switched balls or played two balls on one hole for comparisons. I went out to an executive course a few times to hit full wedge shots into the short greens with new Mizuno T20 wedges. As a recent graduate and golf newbie, I’ve searched for “premium” balls at a value. I tried Kirkland, Cut, Vice, OnCore, and Lost Golf Balls. I did Bridgestone’s VFIT and got 2 Tour BX balls which have been my favorite because they meet my all needs except budget: firmer for my swing speed and better feedback, good spin around the green, higher launch, and durability. Grading Looks & Durability (14 out of 15 points) The deduction is because this section includes graphics and packaging which are disconnected with the ball’s straightforward graphics and stylistic green numbers. I usually draw a line for alignment, so I prefer the dominant lines like Vice, Cut, and Triple Track, but most other balls use similar arrows, so the Gamers’ simple alignment doesn’t bother me. The cover is firm but undoubtedly durable. The cover was unfazed by mud and debris in the pouring rain. In one round, this ball hit asphalt and gravel cart paths, at least 5 trees, mud, and sand. There are some nicks, but these did not affect performance. Sound & Feel (11 out of 15 points) With putts and chips, the ball has a firmer initial feel with a more pronounced “click” compared to the more muted “thud” of urethane-covered balls. The feel is interesting because the cover is hard, so the ball feels firm initially but has no vibration because the core is softer. With balls like Chrome Soft X, the cover feels soft but reverberates more from a firmer core. With full iron shots, the Gamer is incredibly firm. It wasn’t any different than the firmer balls I normally use until I had to switch to Chrome Soft on a frigid day (40ºF w/ wind chill) because hitting irons with the Gamer was rattling my hands and wrists. The cover isn’t “soft” as advertised and feels comparable to firmer urethane balls with woods and putter, until it got cold, then it became “hard” with irons. On-Course Performance (31 out of 40 points) The Gamer performs well on the course, but I would say it is a sort of “jack of all trades, master of none” which may benefit some golfers. The package says distance is “11/10,” but well-struck shots weren’t noticeably longer or shorter compared to other balls. Mishits were not straighter but were also not more erratic. Was distance 11/10? No, but comparable/the same isn’t significantly worse. The Gamer performs as expected almost everywhere else. It fades/draws when I want and launches at my usual mid-high trajectory with irons and driver. On approach shots, my shots usually pitch into the green and spin back a little, and the Gamer did the same. The one weakness I noticed is the Gamer has less spin. The spin was not noticeable initially but was prominent when switching to another ball then back to the Gamer. The Gamer releases on greens more, and chips play more like “bump and runs” than “drop and stops.” As someone still learning those shots, not a big deal. For someone wanting the ball to spin and stay exactly where they want, the Gamer may let you down. Thin shots usually come out low and spinny for me and hold the green, but a thin 9 I hit with the Gamer hit the front of the green, left a pitch mark, then wound up 5 yards behind the green. The circle is where the ball stopped Overall, the Gamer performed as I would want and similarly to other balls. The Gamer did not improve my scores. In fairness, I don’t believe I’m not at the level where a ball will because I damage my score with bad shots. I played the Gamer on the front, and a Chrome Soft X Triple Track on the back—never birdie #1. On 5, I sliced my drive to the other fairway, then duffed my chip. On 9, I topped my drive, hooked my 3 wood onto a different hole, and skulled a chip. On the back, I sliced OB on 12 then hooked my third off the tee into trees. On 17, I hooked my driver behind a tree and clipped another on my second. Mistakes are on me, not my ball. I had the same number of putts and GIR with both balls. However, notice the durability differences in a Gamer used in a prior round and again for 9 holes vs. a fresh Callaway after 7. Miscellaneous (9 out of 10 points) While the Gamer is not mind blowing in any one area of performance, it is an incredible, all-around option for the value. A box of Gamers is $22.99, with promos through Dick’s/Golf Galaxy for 2 for $35. The balls I’ve played that most compare to the Gamer are the Vice Drive and Vice Tour. Online, one box of Drive with tax and shipping to California is $23.90, and Tour is out of stock. The covers on Vice feel like Gamer but are not as durable as the Gamer. I have not had any issues with balls I’ve purchased from Cut for $19.99/dozen, but I will note there were flagrant durability issues MGS found in the 2019 Golf Ball Buyer's Guide. The Gamer is at or near the top for quality, budget-friendly golf balls I’ve tried. Game Bag or Shag Bag? (17 out of 20 points) The Gamer is perfectly right in the middle of the competition. It’s not the longest or spinniest, but it’s also nowhere close to the bottom in any aspect. When I first started golfing in April, instead of trying different balls to see what I liked, I should’ve played a ball like the Gamers to find my game then tried different balls that fit my game. The Gamer is fantastic for someone starting golf and not sure about their game or what they want out of a ball and doesn’t want to spend a lot of money. They can order from Dick’s/Golf Galaxy and have quality balls. Gamer may also be an option for slightly better players playing a ball in the "premier ionomer" category that wants durability and more value without sacrificing performance because performance was consistent even after significant use. The Gamers are still in the bag until I lose them because they will survive everything. Conclusion & Final Score: 82/100 I am extremely satisfied with the Gamers. They exceeded my expectations because, for my game, it is a good ball regardless of price with equal performance to others I've tried. I really wish I would’ve started out playing the Gamers instead of trying everything else as I learned my game. Thanks for reading! Please feel free to ask me any questions and stay tuned for updates.

I am down that dreaded rabbit hole lol. When I got fit, I narrowed down a lot of my irons based on looks initially. My current 762s are quite compact and narrow, and I wanted something with a similar profile, which is how I wound up really liking the i500 and Wilson V6. I am having second thoughts because of how inconsistent I was at my fitting. I feel like I was "fit into" the i500s because my fitter wanted me to get added distance and then tried to tune the shaft to help narrow dispersion. But, when I tried the Wilson V6s, they felt like they "just fit" if you know the difference I am getting at. With all stock specs, I had 3 shots with the V6s all with a very tight dispersion at around 155 yards. Despite the tight dispersion, my fitter suggested I go toward the newer models and with clubs like the i500 that would added distance to help my game. Currently playing around a 10-12 handicap, I don't think distance is where I lose strokes but rather when I'm way off target. When I struck the i500 right, it went a long way, but my shots were all over the map, and I don't want to be all over the place.

Currently, I play an ancient set of Titleist DCI 762 irons with very traditional lofts (34º 7 iron, 27º 5 iron). The irons have True Temper DGS300 shafts, which are stated to be low launch and low spin. I hit my irons great, but I am well overdue for an upgrade. Recently I had a club fitting and got fit into Ping i500s with Nippon Pro Modus Tour 105 Stiff shafts. In my post-fitting research, I've realized the i500s' lofts are all a club longer than my current set—the i500 7 iron is the same loft as my 6 iron. I've also found that the Nippon shaft is rated as mid-high launch and mid-high spin. Overall, I loved hitting the i500s. The ball exploded off the face, and the irons look great. I tried many different irons, but I got a little awed seeing myself carry a 7 iron 170 yards. I am not crazy about the feel or sound of the i500s, and don't feel like I should purchase something I am not in love with. I've gone back and demoed more irons and paid more attention to my dispersion with different clubs I've tested, and I feel being able to put my shot where I want will be better for improving my game than being able to hit a 7 iron 20 yards farther. The irons I have been keying in on are the Wilson Staff FG Tour V6—a MGS favorite I've learned—but I've also been thinking of saving up for the new Wilson Staff CB's due out after the New Year. I've noticed these irons have traditional lofts that are basically the same as my current set. I was curious how much I should consider the characteristics of the shaft if I were to purchase a set of irons with more traditional lofts compared to the strong-lofted i500s? I do like the feel of a lighter shaft like the Nippon 105, but if it is a higher launch compared to the DG, am I going to end up hitting towering shots that lose out on distance or tight dispersion? I feel I should find a shaft that matches my swing, but should I also try to match characteristics to the lofts of the club? Thanks in advance for the help!

Interesting point. I had not thought of changing grips. I'll give this a shot the next time I'm at the practice green. Thanks!

Thank you! I have learned about why bounce is important from my teaching pro as we have gone through chipping drills. I will see the results of my fitting next week and make a decision.

Thanks for the advice! I think as I play more I'll learn different shots or get more comfortable with different shots. I am just more confident in my distance and what a full shot with my more lofted wedges will do on the green than I am in my 3/4 swings. I will keep all of these things in mind as I keep playing more.

Thanks, lol. I couldn't agree more that it is the "frustration zone." I mentioned to someone else in this thread I'm going in for a full bag fitting next week, so I will be able to make an informed decision about it by then. Thanks!

Thanks! One of my playing partners even commented the last time we played that just a few lessons and playing more than once every few months really improved my game. I actually am going in for a full bag fitting next week, so I guess I will have more information about gapping and which clubs work for me. I think by next week I will know more about my own distance gapping and talk about it with my fitter to make an informed decision. In terms of my scoring, I know I may not be able to break the 70s, but I definitely feel if I can avoid a bunch of unforced errors and get better on and around the greens I could save myself at least 5 strokes a round. Like everyone, I would love to be able to not 2 and 3 putt and stop leaving my chips and approach shots over 20 feet away from the hole. I've definitely improved my lag putting, but I definitely need to improve from 10-15 feet.

If you asked me this question a couple of months ago, I would not be in the market for a 105 yard club because I was routinely hitting my PW 100-105. Since taking lessons and playing more, I've been able to make more solid contact and have been creating a bigger gap between my 54 and PW. I still am comfortable hitting a smooth PW from 105. So, I guess that was all to say, no I don't need a 105 club. I had not considered a 50 and 56 set up. I was looking at Mizuno's wedges, and I believe they offer wedges in 55º, so maybe a 55 to gap right between my 60 and I'll eventually get a 50. Thanks!

I currently play to about a 12 handicap/usually score in the upper 80s on good days. I have taken lessons in the last few months and dropped my scores from shooting in the 110s in May down into the 80s and 90s of late. I even shot a 79 on a par 67 course, but I don't count that as officially breaking 80—I want to be able to break 80 on a standard par 72 course someday. My current wedge set up is a set-matching PW at 46º, a 54º SW that was in below average condition when I got it in April, and a 60º LW that was only lightly used when I got it in July. I usually hit my PW for full shots from 110-120 yards, my 54º for full shots from 85-95 yards, and my 60º for full shots under 75 yards. I also use all three wedges for various shots in my short game. Assuming I can only buy one new wedge, which would benefit my game more: Upgrading my 54º SW to something with fresh grooves Adding a 50º gap wedge to my bag

I was wondering the same thing. In the summer months in California's central valley where it's a dry heat in the high 90s and even touching triple digits, I was carrying my 54º wedge about 115 yards and averaging about 280 yards total distance with my driver. I played a round the other day where I started at 7AM, and temperature at the start of the round was 58ºF, humid, and the ground was very dewy. My drives were maxing at about 255 and I was about one club/15 yards shorter than my summer distances all morning. I was not sure if it was just the temperature, just the humidity, or if the ball being wet after rolling in the dew-soaked fairways was causing a distance loss. Glad to learn from this post I could blame things besides myself for once on the course.

Interesting point. After the "fiasco" between my other two partners about whether playing what was already given to him, the guy that missed his initial tap in on later holes would get a gimmie from the group and said "Fine, but I want to move it and take a practice shot." There was no more confusion the rest of the afternoon.

You're not wrong. I posted there last night. I just wanted to get opinions from those that may only be in one of the forums.

While there is not an official rule in the game of golf for gimmies, when I golf with my buddies, we try to keep an accurate score by not taking mulligans or re-hitting a shot if we shank an approach shot. But we give each other gimmies within the leather for doubles or worse. Otherwise, we putt out bogeys, pars, and birdies. What would be your "ruling" of the following situation that happened the last time out with my playing partners: Player A got on the green at was putting for bogey. He rolled his putt to within 3 feet, so the rest of the group said "we'll give you that for 6." Player A responds, "Okay, but I still want to tap it in for practice." Player A missed his tap in, then tapped in on the next shot. Player B who had the scorecard put Player A down for a 7. Player A asked "Why a 7? You guys said you were giving me that for a 6." Player B argued "We were giving you a 6, but you turned it down by deciding to putt, you missed, then you made your 7." We are not too worried handicaps, and our scores are really nothing more than for bragging rights at the end of the round, but I just wanted to see how others felt about this situation. I tend to agree with Player A that the rest of our group already gave him a 6, so if he wants to putt out for practice that's fine, but it was already agreed he had a 6.

Thanks! I saw Callaway is also doing something similar. My local shop is a certified and renowned PING fitter, and they just re-opened for in-person fittings recently. I will definitely take advantage of these free fittings.

I actually did the PING nFlight fitting a while back and was recommended into green dot i210s, and my local shop is a renowned PING fitter that just started doing in-person fittings again. My birthday is in September, so I will definitely be going in for a fitting and doing demoing before then. The last set of PING irons I had were some hand-me-down PING Zings (it seems I oddly have a thing for using dated clubs). Thanks!

I have not heard of them, but I will definitely look more into it! Those do look damn good, and a full set for $550 sounds pretty good. Thank you!

I currently game an old set of Titleist DCI 762 irons and am desperately looking to upgrade. I don’t need the absolute newest irons, but at least want a set made somewhat recently (at least in the last decade). I‘ve played off and on for a couple of years, but I’ve really been consistently playing a round or two every week since May. I am about a 12 handicap/usually shoot in the mid to high 80s. My current set is shafted with DG S300. I am looking for with my next irons to offer more distance and forgiveness like a GI iron, but maintains the look of a players' iron. Since my clubs are so dated, the lofts are very weak compared to my buddies I play with, and my irons punish me for slight mishits. In terms of my iron play, I strike my PW up to my 7 iron fairly consistently and with my shot being medium/high with a slight draw. My misses tend to be when I get a little fast on my downswing and I either keep my face open and slice, or I tend to overcompensate my slice and hook my next iron shot before finding my rhythm again. I carry my 7 iron (34º) about 155-160 and my PW (46º) carries about 115. If I can get within the 155-160 range, I have confidence that I am only a shot and at worst 2 putts from finishing the hole. I hit my long okay, but I have bad habit of trying to swing too hard and slicing them. I also end up fatting a lot of my longer irons, but since taking lessons, I have started to correct these mistakes. I have gained confidence with my longer irons to hit a couple of good shots a round with them, but I still mishit my 3–6 more than I would like. I have been looking at new and older models of Callaway Apex, Mizuno JPX forged, JPX hot metal, Mizuno MMC, Taylormade P790, Titleist T100S or T200, Sub70 699, and Wilson D7 forged. I've also done the PING nFlight fitting and was recommended i210s or i200s, and I have also heard good things about Srixon's line of irons. I have been able to find sets for all of those listed and others at comparable prices, so in terms of just the irons alone, which of those—or other models not mentioned—are the most highly recommended? I am planning on going to demo some of these clubs so I can narrow my field of what I like or don't like, but I am just looking for recommendations from anyone that has or has had some of these irons. I am also curious about shaft choice. I am not as researched on shafts and different specifications among them. My current set and my dad's set of Mizuno T-Zoids I used to borrow both have the DG S300 shafts, so those are all I really know. I know I need to do more research and probably need to get fitted, but I have read that different clubs work better or worse with different shafts. Any and all recommendations are welcome. Thanks for all the help!

Hi everyone, My name is DJ, and I am looking forward to discussing tips, new equipment, and all other things golf in the forum. I have been playing golf on and off my whole life, but have only really started making it more of a hobby. I played baseball my whole life through college, and I was always told focusing on one would ruin my swing for the other. I would always use my dad's custom fit clubs when I would play or go to the range, but I am 6 inches taller than him. I wanted to get into golf and was able to find a used—and quite old—set of standard clubs for pretty cheap so I could at least play with clubs more suitable for my height. Since I've gotten my own clubs and played more regularly, I have quickly went from shooting in the 100s to regularly scoring in the mid 80s. My love for golf stems from being a baseball player my whole life. I enjoy being outside and playing a game where you are aware of things like how the grass plays and the wind and that you need to do a little strategizing on the course. I also just love the feeling of striking a golf ball so pure that you don't even realize you hit it. As I was browsing clubs and other golf equipment at the beginning of my journey into golf and was reading and searching for reviews, I came across MyGolfSpy and enjoyed the "independent and non-biased" reviews. I loved the thoroughness of all the reviews and actually having various people test equipment or compiling all the data and giving it to the consumers in simple and easy terms. I noticed on the Instagram page that they were looking for testers for various pieces of equipment, so I joined the forum to hopefully get picked as a tester, but I am seeing there is so much more I can learn and discover in the forum. I am a native of Sacramento, CA. My home course is Haggin Oaks Golf Complex because they have two good 18-hole courses (including the Alister Mackenzie course named after its famous course designer) and a lighted driving range that is open 24/7 during the summer months. My other favorite local courses are Teal Bend and Apple Mountain in nearby Placerville. When I need a quick round during the week or just need to play a short 9, I enjoy playing at William Land Park or Bing Maloney because you can get on and easily walk both of them in the afternoon for under $10. Living in California, I love that the weather is good for golf (and baseball) year round. I would say the one thing I am not a fan of as a newbie to golf is that the nicer courses are either private courses or have insane green fees. If there are hidden gems around the area that I am missing out on, please let me know. I just finished law school and am currently studying for the bar exam to become a licensed attorney. Once I begin working, I look forward to playing more golf, upgrading my equipment, and being more active in the MyGolfSpy community. Cheers!