What Have You Bought Lately? (CHA - Club Ho's Anonymous)

[03trdblack]

Incoming

[RichL85]

2 hours ago, ILMgolfnut said:

Codechaos 25, I believe. Nice! 

Dropped by Dick's last night for a few minutes. Somehow with all the hullabaloo about the Ai Smoke drivers I was not aware of the Max Fast version. Must resist... Or if not, find it used; a quick Google found one already on sale at Callaway Pre-Owned at a nice price.

The older 22 model actually, but I couldn't resist the price for $60. 

Callaway pre-owned is a dangerous site to browse. 

[ILMgolfnut]

8 minutes ago, RichL85 said:

The older 22 model actually, but I couldn't resist the price for $60. 

Callaway pre-owned is a dangerous site to browse. 

Understood. I wish I'd found a sale on my 22s. I paid the full $150. Much prefer those to the FootJoys I've bought since then though.

As for the Callaways, I think I can resist the temptation and instead will reshaft my current Mizuno gamer, possibly with Newton since I can exchange for different dot if the first one isn't working.

Edited September 11 by ILMgolfnut

[ILMgolfnut]

2 hours ago, 03trdblack said:

Incoming

Don't think I've ever seen that one before, and looking at the price tag at their website, I understand why. Nice looking club though. Which model is that? (I also see at their website that they offer nonconforming drivers with COR above the legal limit.)

[03trdblack]

Just now, ILMgolfnut said:

Don't think I've ever seen that one before, and looking at the price tag at their website, I understand why. Nice looking club though. Which model is that? (I also see at their website that they offer nonconforming drivers with COR above the legal limit.)

It's the 2020 Ryoma Maxima Type V at 9.5 w/ the Graphite Design Tour AD PT-6 shaft.  Other than being slightly closed at address, Ryoma drivers are really solid but as you mentioned, expensive.  I usually have to wait a few years to find used versions to get one that's affordable.

[ILMgolfnut]

16 minutes ago, 03trdblack said:

as you mentioned, expensive. 

The mere fact that they have Graphite Design shafts tells you it ain't gonna be cheap.

I'm kinda struck that they blatantly advertise nonconforming drivers. Are there really people who thumb their nose at the rulebook that much to pay a grand or so for a club to cheat?

[03trdblack]

Just now, ILMgolfnut said:

The mere fact that they have Graphite Design shafts tells you it ain't gonna be cheap.

I'm kinda struck that they blatantly advertise nonconforming drivers. Are there really people who thumb their nose at the rulebook that much to pay a grand or so for a club to cheat?

The versions that are non conforming are the "Special Tuning" editions and in Japan, golf is a lot different than here in the US.  It's more of a social/status event and is expensive.  Your clubs are a status symbol which is why you see a ton of clubs in bright gold and cost a ton of money.

While I don't personally play a non conforming driver, it really doesn't bother me they are out there since it's really no different than a breakfast ball off the first tee or a gimme putt you pick up and most people do these types of activities when they play.  People that can't swing fast can still get enjoyment and gain a few yards with the non conforming clubs.   People that have high swing speeds can get more distance but also are more likely to crack the faces of the non conforming stuff.

[RyanGi]

I think there’s a whole lot of golfers, in fact probably an overwhelming majority, that don’t care about the conformity rules because they’re not playing competitively at all…

[ILMgolfnut]

28 minutes ago, 03trdblack said:

It's more of a social/status event and is expensive. 

I remember reading in Michael Bamberger's To The Linksland in which he talks to a Japanese golfer in St. Andrews about their reputation for slow play. The Japanese guy said it was fully deserved. The people in Japan come to St. Andrews (or did at that time) for affordable golf, because golf in Japan was too expensive, and they weren't up to speed on pace of play and things like that. If it's still more affordable for them with Old Course tee times costing $420 in high season, I feel for them. He said most golfers in Japan have to settle for range time. If you're paying a grand to bash range rocks, I guess I can understand that, and it doesn't matter if your driver conforms.

Edited September 11 by ILMgolfnut

[RichL85]

58 minutes ago, ILMgolfnut said:

I remember reading in Michael Bamberger's To The Linksland in which he talks to a Japanese golfer in St. Andrews about their reputation for slow play. The Japanese guy said it was fully deserved. The people in Japan come to St. Andrews (or did at that time) for affordable golf, because golf in Japan was too expensive, and they weren't up to speed on pace of play and things like that. If it's still more affordable for them with Old Course tee times costing $420 in high season, I feel for them. He said most golfers in Japan have to settle for range time. If you're paying a grand to bash range rocks, I guess I can understand that, and it doesn't matter if your driver conforms.

Definitely true about golf prices in Japan. I didn't golf back at the time, but when I visited my father in Japan for a month on the air force base, he would tell me that local guys would try to make friends with the guys that had access to the base. The golf course on the base was priced more like an American course, so it was significantly cheaper than the courses off the base. Many people made it a habit of making friends with guys that would basically pay for their round and some gifts in exchange for getting access to the course. Even paying for two rounds and gifts was cheaper than a normal round off the base. 

This was a long time ago, but golf in Japan has always been expensive from what I know, and most rounds of golf are the event of the day. It's not a society that sneaks in a quick 9 or 18 before or after work. It's basically the entire day. Especially when it is done for business. Full lunch between the 9s, sometimes massage after the round. The works. 

Edited September 11 by RichL85

[MountainManJeff]

Most recent purchase was my 5' x 5' Motivo golf mat.  This was the final piece of my super cheap indoor golf simulator (but now I get to practice all winter long - focusing on my wrist flection and working on my dispersion ).  I'm super stoked about that.  This is paired with my Garmin Approach R10....  Truly, not a fancy setup... but the total simulator for $350 (new launch monitor (from work with some points), net (super cheap off Marketplace) and the mat (OEM)), I'm set.

[Rob Person]

6 hours ago, MountainManJeff said:

Most recent purchase was my 5' x 5' Motivo golf mat.  This was the final piece of my super cheap indoor golf simulator (but now I get to practice all winter long - focusing on my wrist flection and working on my dispersion ).  I'm super stoked about that.  This is paired with my Garmin Approach R10....  Truly, not a fancy setup... but the total simulator for $350 (new launch monitor (from work with some points), net (super cheap off Marketplace) and the mat (OEM)), I'm set.

Excellent!  Great job on a budget!

[Rob Person]

So with a bit of haggling with the lady boss, I convinced her this was a necessary purchase...

The MGS Driver cover has been procured!

[Rickp]

2 minutes ago, Rob Person said:

So with a bit of haggling with the lady boss, I convinced her this was a necessary purchase...

The MGS Driver cover has been procured!

SWMBO is having a bad time tonight so I’ll see how it goes tomorrow.  
The head covers look great

[Rob Person]

8 minutes ago, Rickp said:

SWMBO is having a bad time tonight so I’ll see how it goes tomorrow.  
The head covers look great

Sorry to hear.  Prayers bud

[William P]

57 minutes ago, Rickp said:

SWMBO is having a bad time tonight so I’ll see how it goes tomorrow.  
The head covers look great

Hope she gets to feeling better quickly.

[ChiefMikeOfficer]

 

On 9/2/2024 at 3:24 PM, Gravenor said:

What are your initial thoughts on the PuttOut AirBreak? Been looking at getting one for sometime but haven't taken the leap yet. Looks great, enjoy! 

I'm gonna say that it's solid so far, but definitely some pros and cons. I have an 18ft Birdieball green set up along the back wall of my basement at all times, so that's a good comparison, but it also influences what I think about the AirBreak. 

Actually setting the break is awesome - really easy to just give it some pumps on a few of the bags, and it's a completely different putt. I like that way better than Birdieball's "stuff some foam strips under the green" system. It's hard to read the putt , but cool to hit something that's not straight and also kinda calculated. You can make it uphill or downhill too, which is really cool. 

The length is both a positive and negative. You max out at 6.5-7 feet, but at the same time, that's a good practice length, and it allows out to fit in smaller spaces. 

Negative: because of the airbags, it's very elevated. You need to stand on a platform to make it useful, and that platform seems fairly large (platform comes with it). Moving it is easy, but annoying (like if you want to hit 4 footers, need to move it a few feet). With Birdieball, I just stand right on it and hit anything from a tap in to a 16 footer.

Also negative: the storage footprint. if I rolled up and stored the 18ft Birdieball, it would probably take up about half the space of the ~7ft AirBreak. The reason is the multiple platforms (main one folds up, but still large; standing platform is just... there), plus the mat that lays on top. We have the space, so no big deal (although I haven't actually decided where to stash it yet...). This gives an idea of how much space it takes (the three components stacked on top of each other, not including the risers for the platform):

So, in short, seems like a great practice tool, but needs more space than you might think. 

[MountainManJeff]

29 minutes ago, ChiefMikeOfficer said:

 

I'm gonna say that it's solid so far, but definitely some pros and cons. I have an 18ft Birdieball green set up along the back wall of my basement at all times, so that's a good comparison, but it also influences what I think about the AirBreak. 

Actually setting the break is awesome - really easy to just give it some pumps on a few of the bags, and it's a completely different putt. I like that way better than Birdieball's "stuff some foam strips under the green" system. It's hard to read the putt , but cool to hit something that's not straight and also kinda calculated. You can make it uphill or downhill too, which is really cool. 

The length is both a positive and negative. You max out at 6.5-7 feet, but at the same time, that's a good practice length, and it allows out to fit in smaller spaces. 

Negative: because of the airbags, it's very elevated. You need to stand on a platform to make it useful, and that platform seems fairly large (platform comes with it). Moving it is easy, but annoying (like if you want to hit 4 footers, need to move it a few feet). With Birdieball, I just stand right on it and hit anything from a tap in to a 16 footer.

Also negative: the storage footprint. if I rolled up and stored the 18ft Birdieball, it would probably take up about half the space of the ~7ft AirBreak. The reason is the multiple platforms (main one folds up, but still large; standing platform is just... there), plus the mat that lays on top. We have the space, so no big deal (although I haven't actually decided where to stash it yet...). This gives an idea of how much space it takes (the three components stacked on top of each other, not including the risers for the platform):

So, in short, seems like a great practice tool, but needs more space than you might think. 

Thanks for the insight.  I too was curious about how it would be to try and read the putts. 
 

my personal opinion, for the shorter things… keep the practice simple and drain the putt. If anything, use something like the Green Aid Pro (it sits inside of the cup…making the hole smaller and improving aim). 

[Jmglass]

I recently jumped on a Sub70 sale and got a 5 utility iron from their 699 Pro V2 line. I previously bought their 699 Pro (version 1) irons (6-pw) on closeout and have been thoroughly impressed. So I decided to commit to a somewhat matching 5 iron for the set. They are one of many "foam-filled" P790-ish irons out there now. I have been very pleased. I was afraid the irons would be rocket launchers, but they feel great and I have been able to hold greens and get good spin. I still need more time to test the new 5 iron, but so far so good. 

Sub70 overall has insane value in my opinion. 

[Awtatman]

On 9/8/2024 at 11:42 AM, cksurfdude said:

Oh and did buy something yesterday - 2 grips. I know I know very boring but now, for possibly the first time, I actually have the same matching grip (MCC+4 Mid) on every club (except the putter of course)!

Same - regripped last holdout about 2 weeks ago! Also with MCC+4s. My wife was making fun of me for being excited about it! Not boring!

[Awtatman]

10 minutes ago, Jmglass said:

I recently jumped on a Sub70 sale and got a 5 utility iron from their 699 Pro V2 line. I previously bought their 699 Pro (version 1) irons (6-pw) on closeout and have been thoroughly impressed. So I decided to commit to a somewhat matching 5 iron for the set. They are one of many "foam-filled" P790-ish irons out there now. I have been very pleased. I was afraid the irons would be rocket launchers, but they feel great and I have been able to hold greens and get good spin. I still need more time to test the new 5 iron, but so far so good. 

Sub70 overall has insane value in my opinion. 

Insane value. Looking forward to their new driver this fall. 

[Gravenor]

14 hours ago, Rob Person said:

So with a bit of haggling with the lady boss, I convinced her this was a necessary purchase...

The MGS Driver cover has been procured!

I was on the Google Meet when they were announced! Stunning designs, the whole company (CMC Designs) are doing wonders at the moment! 

[Gravenor]

On 9/11/2024 at 2:10 PM, 03trdblack said:

Incoming

Ryoma driver with a Graphite Design Tour-AD Shaft?! Wow... 

[MattF]

These Callaway shorts. And a pair of CR2 batteries, you'll find out later.

Edited September 13 by MattF

[cksurfdude]

19 hours ago, Rickp said:

SWMBO is having a bad time tonight so I’ll see how it goes tomorrow.

Sorry...  Hate to see people in pain and uncomfortable....... Hope things get better 

[Shankster]

I bought a sleeve of these today, not knowing that my Hybrid was showing up.  Why?  Because it is the first time I have seen Mizuno balls in a pro shop.  I will be reviewing these too.

[Ole Miss Rebel]

I have noticed as I get older, and my club speed slows just a little bit, my drives have lost a few yards. I have been doing some research and learned that with a softer ball I will get good compression off the club and maybe some distance back. So, I am going to try and work the Titleist Tour Soft into my play. I will let you know what I think about this change.

[MattF]

7 hours ago, Shankster said:

I bought a sleeve of these today, not knowing that my Hybrid was showing up.  Why?  Because it is the first time I have seen Mizuno balls in a pro shop.  I will be reviewing these too.

They're actually very good balls. If I didn't love the Chrome Tour X so much I'd be playing the RB Tour X.

[rkj427]

Ordered the Cameron Baby T grip from his site when they recently became available for my 2012 Newport Notchback and bought the Golf Pride Pro Only Green for my Phantom 5.

After installation of both today, looking to using the Phantom during tomorrows round.

PS: Baby T was almost  3X's the price of the Golf Pride, but even at $41.00 for the grip, a lot better than the prices on the big auction site, and I know it is not a counterfeit.

 

 

 

Edited September 14 by rkj427

[Off Map Oscar]