What equipment are you thinking about?

[funkyjudge]

21 hours ago, chisag said:

 

... Well if you can afford it and it makes you happy, there are certainly more expensive hobbies.  My post was for those on the fence that may not be able to easily afford new clubs but think they may magically improve their game. And looking at the view from my glass house with a handful of decorative stones, I would never tell someone they shouldn't buy new clubs because this year alone I have picked up:


Cobra Forged Tec 4-pw ions
Cobra Black LTDx driver (for sale)
TM Stealth driver (sold)
TM Sim2 Max 3HL 
TM Sim2 Max 5 wood
TM Sim2 Max 3 hybrid
TM Sim Max 4 hybrid 
TM MG3 50* wedge 
TM MG3 46* wedge
Graphite Design AD-MT shaft
Tensei Blue AV shaft
Graphite Design AD-IZ shaft

Yes, there are certainly more expensive “hobbies”. Try owning a boat for any other reason than making a living as a commercial fisherman!

Even worse than being a golf equipment ho, becoming a musical instrument and accessories ho can put a huge dent in the bank account. Unless you can justify the purchases by working as a touring or first-call studio musician, you can spend many, many, many times more money on your musical gear purchases than you can ever recover from doing bar and nightclub gigs, even a couple times per week. I know this for a fact, as I was working for several years with one of the more-popular “bar bands” in my area that was working every week (sometimes as many as three gigs per week), plus playing many outdoor festivals every summer and doing a few studio sessions per year.  This still generated far less income than what I spent on my music gear (mostly bass guitars, amplifiers and some monitors for our PA system).  I am now working far less in the local music scene, and have been gradually selling a good deal of extraneous music gear, but there is still much more that could stand to go — it would be nice to recover some room in one of our spare bedrooms! As it is, we have another former bedroom that is used as a practice/rehearsal/recording space (my wife is also a musician).

Edited December 4, 2022 by funkyjudge

[MattWillGolf]

I’m looking at wedges for next season. My Callaway MD3 54* and 58* are the oldest clubs in my bag. But with the season over in my area, I’m in no hurry.

[Slypanther]

True Temper Dynamic Gold R 105 into my AP2's; LZ 4.5 into my D3. Work on my wedges, some DGS 400 39.5's or 40's into some Titleist Wedges. A lot cheaper than buying new clubs that offer no significant improvements over 10 year old models.

[cksurfdude]

On 12/3/2022 at 4:22 PM, chisag said:

sometime looking and dreaming is better than spending $1399 to find out the dream was better

Nahhh.... ..we should jump in head first

Kidding - I'm actually tempering .. a bit .. my previously totally impulsive club 'ho-ing .. as in: I was really intrigued by the latest Cobra Forged TEC-Xs so instead of just randomly buying a whole set, I purchased a single 7i ..  from a retailer with a 90 day guarantee .. so I could take it to the range and to the course and be able to compare it side by side with the current 7i.

(..see we're learning and growing )

(..long story short = love it but it's not *significantly* better vs current...)(disclaimer - not fitted; stock specs, stock shaft)

[funkyjudge]

2 hours ago, MattWillGolf said:

I’m looking at wedges for next season. My Callaway MD3 54* and 58* are the oldest clubs in my bag. But with the season over in my area, I’m in no hurry.

I just re-shafted a Cally MD5 wedge for a customer (the epoxy is curing as I type this).  It’s a very nice-looking wedge and the head/sole look great, but the assembly quality was absolutely atrocious, and this was a brand-new wedge with all of the labels and the plastic wrap still on it.

[Ubu]

Well am playing a Titliest 910 d2 hoping for new tsr driver and fitting for Christmas/birthday  present.

[Mike Z]

Just pulled the trigger on a new 3 wood.  Normally don't do the "latest/greatest" thing so this is a little new to me, but I had some pro shop credit to burn and I didn't really need much of anything else.  TaylorMade Stealth with KBS TD 70 Cat 4 shaft.  Sadly I won't be able to use it on turf until spring, but will be hitting the simulator as soon as it comes in.  Not sure what will be next, but SOMETHING will be next!

[GolfSpy_BNG]

Looks like my new putter grip will finally be available in February!

[GolfSpy_APH]

On 12/7/2022 at 2:46 AM, blackngold_blood said:

Looks like my new putter grip will finally be available in February!

Whats the grip? That seems like a long wait.

[GolfSpy_BNG]

10 hours ago, GolfSpy_APH said:

Whats the grip? That seems like a long wait.

It’s been a long time coming. Superstroke PT 2.0. The superstroke guy on wrx mentioned checking their website in February for it.  The 1.0 is just a little small and superstroke is terrible when trying to build up the grip with tape. 

[Berg Ryman]

The more I reflect on the season I just had, the more I think the Smart Sole isn't the answer and I need something a bit more versatile taking up the last spot in my bag. So the search for the wedge to replace it is on. Early contenders include the TW Grind MG3, Hi Toe 3, SM9, and whatever is coming from Cleveland. It's looking like a 60 degree wedge for gapping, maybe even tuned up to 61 for perfect 6 degree numbering between the wedges

[chisag]

14 minutes ago, Berg Ryman said:

The more I reflect on the season I just had, the more I think the Smart Sole isn't the answer and I need something a bit more versatile taking up the last spot in my bag. So the search for the wedge to replace it is on. Early contenders include the TW Grind MG3, Hi Toe 3, SM9, and whatever is coming from Cleveland. It's looking like a 60 degree wedge for gapping, maybe even tuned up to 61 for perfect 6 degree numbering between the wedges

 

... Such a great time for wedges! Everyone makes a great product these days and finding the ONE for you can be fun. MG3's are in my bag and the best wedges I have played. Mostly the look at address gives me complete confidence but the perform very well winning the MGS wedge category. But you can't go wrong with Vokey or Cleveland and the right grind/look.  I wouldn't worry about loft and gaps til you put them in play for awhile. I had planned on getting a 54* to go with my 46/50/58 having 4* gaps but I ended up loving the partial shots with my 50* so added something at the other end of my bag. On paper I would have never thought a 4* gap followed by an 8* wedge gap would work but it does for me. Even if you are replacing a specific wedge with a new wedge at the same loft, I would always experiment before making any loft changes. Good luck in your search!

[Berg Ryman]

1 hour ago, chisag said:

 

... Such a great time for wedges! Everyone makes a great product these days and finding the ONE for you can be fun. MG3's are in my bag and the best wedges I have played. Mostly the look at address gives me complete confidence but the perform very well winning the MGS wedge category. But you can't go wrong with Vokey or Cleveland and the right grind/look.  I wouldn't worry about loft and gaps til you put them in play for awhile. I had planned on getting a 54* to go with my 46/50/58 having 4* gaps but I ended up loving the partial shots with my 50* so added something at the other end of my bag. On paper I would have never thought a 4* gap followed by an 8* wedge gap would work but it does for me. Even if you are replacing a specific wedge with a new wedge at the same loft, I would always experiment before making any loft changes. Good luck in your search!

For sure @chisag, for sure. I started the year in Hi Toe Raw MG's, which were great on full swings and hit my gapping numbers fine at 48/53/58. The problem was the performance around the greens due to the similarities in the bounces across the bag and just not finding something that could do both for me, hence the search for something that led to the introduction of the smart sole and with it, a need to regap the bag a bit. I went to past gapping at the bottom I liked with 43 pw, which is 49/55. When I has the G710's in the bag from the test I was 55 and 61 in a Honma and Mizuno wedge. Hell, there was a period of time when I had the Jaws Bronze wedges with a 44 pw, then 54 and 64 in them!

Admittedly, the full swing or even 3/4 swing is never the problem, it's smaller stuff right now, like half swing, pitching, and having shots come in with a higher trajectory which is what I always search for. Simply I'm looking for stock 120 from PW, 100 from the gap, 80 from the sand, and 60 with the lob, with 3 quarter swings filling those 110ish, 90ish, 70ish yardages and luckily that's right about where I am right now, absent the log yardage due to the Smart Sole.

As far as build and grind, luckily from the MGS gettogether, playing with @McGolf and the subsequent Titleist fitting, I know I need to go higher bounce. The question is going to come down to turf interaction and that's why the MG3 TW intrigues me so much, the dual set grind with allowing open face and a higher bounce while still being good on tight lies speaks to me. The heel relief, trailing edge grind I have on my current Cleveland if the new RTX line offers that combo "s grind" again is also very good for my delivery and how I want to play with my wedges. Those would likely be the two leaders but I'd also want to compare them to two other wedges I love the visual of in the Hi Toe, finally back with a high bounce option and the classic SM9 which I loved the feel of during the fitting in Maryland

You're too right though, almost spoiled for choice, should be a fun or frustrating winter in the NE thinking the whole time.

[RollingGreens]

I did a demo day for the PXG gen 5 performance irons. Was fitted into the steel fiber 110 shafts and really enjoyed hitting them. Cosmetically they are good looking clubs in the dark black and the private reserve shafts would have been awesome to have but they performed as well my my hot metals so no reason to upgrade just for cosmetic purposes. I tried the driver but I’ve been so bad lately I don’t think you can fit me into anything with the swing changes I’m going through 

[cksurfdude]

Jumbo Max grips - not for distance (see @McGolf vid review) but for improved grip comfort and hopefully clubface control.

The old fingers are starting to get a little bit of a sassy attitude when asked to keep a snug hold on the golf grip throughout the whole swing...

[fixyurdivot]

Sure was digging the ball flight of the ForgeTec X with KBS TDi shafts at last Friday's Demo Day.  Considerably longer with the same apex has to get one's attention.  I think I'll try them again at the PGASS just to make sure it wasn't an out-of-body experience .

[fozcycle]

On 12/2/2022 at 10:12 AM, Delhump22 said:

I've got a guy looking to sell me a bunch of Callaway clubs:

- Epic Max Driver, Mavrik 5 wood, Rogue ST Max irons (5-AW), and 56 and 60 Jaws MD5 wedges. 

I'm your typical high handicapper, and I've never bought new clubs before, always played hand-me-downs or a box set I got for my birthday when I was 18 (32 now). 

Does anybody have any experience with these clubs? Reviews or recommendations? I'd appreciate all the help I can get. Thanks!

If the price is right, go for it. They are all Callaway but are descent clubs.

[cksurfdude]

18 hours ago, fixyurdivot said:

Sure was digging the ball flight of the Forged Tec X

Same here - had a demo 7i and while I really like it .. great feel imho .. it's not significantly enough better vs current set to justify changing.

Would also like to try the Wilson D9 or D9 Forged but, for unknown reasons and still undisclosed after a customer service inquiry they are not currently running their demo program....... (Harry can you get something going here? )

[fixyurdivot]

4 hours ago, cksurfdude said:

Same here - had a demo 7i and while I really like it .. great feel imho .. it's not significantly enough better vs current set to justify changing.

Would also like to try the Wilson D9 or D9 Forged but, for unknown reasons and still undisclosed after a customer service inquiry they are not currently running their demo program....... (Harry can you get something going here? )

I played with a guy who had just recently purchased a set of D9's with Tensei shafts.  He was absolutely loving them and striking them well.  They did appear a wee bit big (now that I'm playing the ZX5's... aahhemm), but they, like the Cobra's, have some very aggressive lofts and definitely fly far.

[cksurfdude]

On 12/9/2022 at 7:28 PM, fixyurdivot said:

I played with a guy who had just recently purchased a set of D9's with Tensei shafts.  He was absolutely loving them and striking them well.  They did appear a wee bit big (now that I'm playing the ZX5's... aahhemm), but they, like the Cobra's, have some very aggressive lofts and definitely fly far.

Nice! I have a Tensei CK Blue in an EXS fairway and def like the feel of it. May have to see if I can demo a D9 at the PGATSS.

One thing with the stronger lofts is they can cause a gapping at short end/bottom of the bag .. I mean, if the set GW is getting closer and closer to 45° then you need another Gap-Gap wedge...

[fixyurdivot]

6 hours ago, cksurfdude said:

One thing with the stronger lofts is they can cause a gapping at short end/bottom of the bag .. I mean, if the set GW is getting closer and closer to 45° then you need another Gap-Gap wedge...

Newtons 4th Law... "there is no free lunch". 

[Muckinfiddle]

FJ Dual BOA's... I got Sqairzs at the end of the summer and I am not sure I like the fit for my fat foot. Thinking of a black pair of FJ's with a wide foot. This reminds me that I need to unsubscribe to MGS emails...

[heavygolffeels]

Got a Scotland trip booked up for next year and am looking at add a utility iron to the bag as a secondary tee club. Testing has begun with the Ping G425 crossover, Cleveland UHX, and Tour Edge EXS TI, but I'll add a few other I'm sure. 

[GolfSpy BOS]

On 12/11/2022 at 12:19 PM, cksurfdude said:

Nice! I have a Tensei CK Blue in an EXS fairway and def like the feel of it. May have to see if I can demo a D9 at the PGATSS.

One thing with the stronger lofts is they can cause a gapping at short end/bottom of the bag .. I mean, if the set GW is getting closer and closer to 45° then you need another Gap-Gap wedge...

That is exactly what I have now.... Forged Tec's 5-GW(49* bent to 48*) and 52-56-60 for specialty wedges.  The only reason I can stand it is because both don't say "GW" haha

I've shared it before and I'll add it here again though... if I just look at the yardage I'm not complaining for a  second about the gapping in this set.

When it comes time to replace the wedges I was considering going 50-54-58 and dropping the set GW for a long club, but realistically I think I like where the scoring end of my bag is with options versus an extra long game club that wouldn't see much use.  

That being said.... I've been thinking about trying to find a 3 wood head to swap out with my 5 wood to try out.

[GolfSpy TCB]

10 minutes ago, GolfSpy_BOS said:

When it comes time to replace the wedges I was considering going 50-54-58 and dropping the set GW for a long club

Yep, that is what I did with my current set.  I do have a little larger gap between the PW and 50 than I do with the rest of my clubs, but my set PW has been a good multi-purpose club for me... I have it dialed in for 3 specific distances... 125, 110 and 95.  My 50 is 100, 90, 80 (yeah... short hitter...)  but I have the GW sitting in my home bag, and opted for the 7w or 5Hy to bridge my 5 iron and 5 wood.

 

[GolfSpy BOS]

8 minutes ago, Golfspy_TCB said:

Yep, that is what I did with my current set.  I do have a little larger gap between the PW and 50 than I do with the rest of my clubs, but my set PW has been a good multi-purpose club for me... I have it dialed in for 3 specific distances... 125, 110 and 95.  My 50 is 100, 90, 80 (yeah... short hitter...)  but I have the GW sitting in my home bag, and opted for the 7w or 5Hy to bridge my 5 iron and 5 wood.

 

Currently I have a hybrid at 212, my 5 wood at 232, and then driver at 283.  I can adjust the hybrid to maybe stretch it out 5 yards or so, and then maybe a 3 wood over the 5 wood, but its really still pretty well covered.  I can very easily hit a cutty-driver 250 if I need to... been fighting that one my whole life! 

[Tyler Palmer]

I'm contemplating new irons and possibly a wedge.  I'm locked in with my driver, fairway woods, and putter but have been thinking about going to a set of Takomo 101Ts for irons, and may just pull my 4-iron out of the bag and put in a 60 degree wedge.  I play a 7w, so don't really need the 4-iron, and really don't strike it great anyway.

In all honesty, I don't really even need new irons.  They're old but I hit them alright.  They're not strong lofted like the new stuff, but new irons will just throw my gapping off.  I'll likely go and test some for fun, before I really think about replacing.  If I'm shocked by the newer tech and it's a crazy difference, then maybe, lol.

Edited December 20, 2022 by Tyler Palmer

[tdroma98]

with the talk about Wedges above, I just replaced my SM5 60 degree, for a new SM8 Vokey 58 degree M Grind.  My club sequence goes: Gap (50), SW (54 - Vokey SM8 D grind) & Vokey 58 - M Grind.  Feel better about a 4 degree separation than a 6 degree and having to finesse a SW because too much separation. 

Also changed driver last week to the PXG 0211.  Callaway EPIC GBB face cracked, perfect time to try PXG and take advantage of their great sale - $199! Driver Shaft is Mitsubishi Diamana S+ 60 Stiff. 

[GolfSpy TCB]

1 hour ago, GolfSpy_BOS said:

Currently I have a hybrid at 212, my 5 wood at 232, and then driver at 283.  I can adjust the hybrid to maybe stretch it out 5 yards or so, and then maybe a 3 wood over the 5 wood, but its really still pretty well covered.  I can very easily hit a cutty-driver 250 if I need to... been fighting that one my whole life! 

I'm thinking about adding a specialty PW, mainly because I LOVE the different shots I can hit with my 3 vokey system... but that GI tech in the Stealth PW was MONEY the last few months since dialing it in.  

A cutty driver to 250?  Sounds like my standard "big" drive.  haha

[Tyler Palmer]

Same for me on the driving front.  I'm not a long hitter.  265 would be bombed drive for me.  250-255 is more average if I square it up.