What equipment are you thinking about?

[GolfSpy_APH]

I am starting to get the urge to just do a full bag fitting... because why not?

[Limping Lefty]

Teetering on the brink of adding a low loft iron to the set, have a 16 deg 3 wood gapping to a 24 deg 4 hybrid.   Really want a low lofted iron I can use to hit narrow fairways, and am balefully eyeing up a titleist U500 in 20 deg.....I have space in the bag as am only carrying 13 clubs.   Marketing hype tells me I should get the U510 to launch higher, but I want it to launch lower, as really what i want it for his to hit stingers and nothing else. 

[Mike B]

I am aiming to get new wedges. Looking at Sub 70 equipment. They have a store front that does fitting here in town. Any thoughts on their equipment?

[Hobert]

8 hours ago, Mike B said:

I am aiming to get new wedges. Looking at Sub 70 equipment. They have a store front that does fitting here in town. Any thoughts on their equipment?

I am a fan ("fanboy" if you will) of their irons/wedges. No regrets with my purchases.

[Hobert]

My wife and I toured Maple Chase Golf and Country Club here in Winston-Salem yesterday. Not equipment, but thinking about joining.

[Tom the Golf Nut]

On 2/9/2023 at 7:58 AM, Mike B said:

I am aiming to get new wedges. Looking at Sub 70 equipment. They have a store front that does fitting here in town. Any thoughts on their equipment?

I like their equipment as well. Irons, wedges, hybrids are in my bag. Been looking at the new wedges (TAIII Forged) they just came out with as well.  

[GolfSpy TCB]

If I can get to the course and play 2 rounds within a week, I'm going to go test some irons.  923 hmp and forged, paradym, cobra tour forged... at a minimum

I just stopped in at Golf Galaxy at lunch, and put the 923 HMP and the Forged on the ground next to each other (didn't hit a ball... yet), and not sure there is enough aesthetic difference for me to care about... a little thicker top line and a little more offset on the HMP of course... but enough to sway me... no.  It will come down to feel and numbers.  Maybe the HMP is the winner from Mizuno to go against the other company's front runners... BTW... it was very hard for me not to fall in love with the look of the Tours... actually... too late.  I just know I would be leaving better scoring on the rack by choosing them.   I'm not young and stupid anymore (aka playing blades from the tips).

[cnosil]

3 minutes ago, Golfspy_TCB said:

not sure there is enough aesthetic difference for me to care about... a little thicker top line and a little more offset on the HMP of course... but enough to sway me... no.  

As I go through the irons as part of most wanted testing the clubs look major and more alike as long as you stay in the same category.  I am sure if you really study them you see differences, aside from looking at the cavity, but like you said they are all basically the same.   Some people may be more put off by thinks like offset and top line thickness,  it to me they all look close enough to consider them to be the same. 

[chisag]

9 hours ago, cnosil said:

As I go through the irons as part of most wanted testing the clubs look major and more alike as long as you stay in the same category.  I am sure if you really study them you see differences, aside from looking at the cavity, but like you said they are all basically the same.   Some people may be more put off by thinks like offset and top line thickness,  it to me they all look close enough to consider them to be the same. 

 

... Being an iron connoisseur is a curse. What a club looks like in my bag isn't a factor for me. But top line, leading edge, over all shape, size and especially hosel grind really need to look good to my eye at address. But yea, performance is very similar in all iron categories these days. 

[MWLEFTY]

I’m kind of in pride swallowing mode this year. I just got fit for new irons with a brand agnostic approach that saw me land in P790s with much stiffer shafts than my previous set. I tried four different irons and they were the most forgiving, the longest, and second best on dispersion. I still spin 790 plenty and the yardage gain is too much to ignore. It was only Callaway Apex that gave me a tighter left to right dispersion but front to back was similar. But there was a 10yd difference with similar spin numbers and higher launch. 
Given it’s where I’ve landed I’m looking at accepting help elsewhere. 
My ego says get a 3 wood that is a bomber and get on those par 5s in two more often, but my head says keep the G425 Max 5 wood and get a 7 wood behind it. I have a 3 hybrid now but it’s a passenger a lot of the time because I draw the ball and it’s prone to drawing and drawing and drawing! 

The year I need to get those big numbers off the card. I shot in the 70s multiple times in the summer when I kept the same ball in play for 18 holes. I need to keep that mentality. 
 

I also play a Napa bladed style putter and my long distance putting suffers on slow greens. I feel like my attachment to that putter costs me a stroke here or there. 
 

[GolfSpy_BNG]

Alright I finally got to see pretty much all the new drivers in person today. Not a lot of time to browse as we were rushed so hitting was definitely out too. Of all the new ones 3 caught my eye in the looks department. Cally 8* Paradym TD, Mizuno ST-X 230, and the Wilson Staff DynaPower carbon.  All 3 looked better to my eye than the Srixon ZX5 LS but that’s in part of my love for the carbon fiber look. All 3 had a deeper face which I also prefer. The zx7 mkii also had a slightly deeper face but looked similar enough to me that it’s a wash with the zx5 LS. 
 

If performance is equal the Callaway will be in the bag with the autoflex as it looked the best to my eye with the other 2 behind but definitely ahead of the Srixon. However I will find a way to give all 3 a shot to dethrone the zx5 LS. 

[GolfSpy TCB]

After the performance during my first outing with the TSR2+ 3 Wood yesterday.... I am strongly considering a new shaft for my TSR3 Driver.  

Graphite Design Tour AD -  UB-5 in R1 flex

Not sure if it will outperform my current O-PH install... but it felt GOOD in the 3 wood!!

 

[ParFore74x]

Still struggled with my 4 & 5 irons last season so I’m contemplating looking into a hybrid. Stopped at the local golf dealer today just to look at used options but nothing tickled my fancy. May have to stop back in to hit a few new ones and see how it goes. 

[tdroma98]

16 hours ago, ParFore74x said:

Still struggled with my 4 & 5 irons last season so I’m contemplating looking into a hybrid. Stopped at the local golf dealer today just to look at used options but nothing tickled my fancy. May have to stop back in to hit a few new ones and see how it goes. 

Par, like you  I felt like I was not hitting my 4 & 5 irons well.  So I had tried several Hybrids, ended up taking out the 4 iron and replacing with Apex - 21 degree 4H.  It's adjustable up 2 or down 1 degrees.  Have mine set at 22 degree. After trying the UST Mamaiya Recoil Dart 75H F4shaft in it, I was sold. Best thing I ever done. Easier to hit than the 4i and more versatile use. Hybrid technology today is great. 

For my 5i I just reshafted taking out the Elevate 105S steel, replacing with Aerotech Steelfiber shaft - 110cw S and really like it.  

Good Luck! 

[ParFore74x]

1 hour ago, tdroma98 said:

Par, like you  I felt like I was not hitting my 4 & 5 irons well.  So I had tried several Hybrids, ended up taking out the 4 iron and replacing with Apex - 21 degree 4H.  It's adjustable up 2 or down 1 degrees.  Have mine set at 22 degree. After trying the UST Mamaiya Recoil Dart 75H F4shaft in it, I was sold. Best thing I ever done. Easier to hit than the 4i and more versatile use. Hybrid technology today is great. 

For my 5i I just reshafted taking out the Elevate 105S steel, replacing with Aerotech Steelfiber shaft - 110cw S and really like it.  

Good Luck! 

Thanks for the input! A 4H in the 22° area is exactly what I’ve been contemplating. Sounds like I may just need to talk with the local fitter about hitting some hybrids and see what we come up with. 

[tdroma98]

52 minutes ago, ParFore74x said:

Thanks for the input! A 4H in the 22° area is exactly what I’ve been contemplating. Sounds like I may just need to talk with the local fitter about hitting some hybrids and see what we come up with. 

If it helps, I purchased the Apex with the 21 degree setting, then played with the lofts to see what was most effective.  I kept the setting at 21 degrees for several rounds (with neutral bias, then draw bias) & range time. Then changed setting to 22 degrees testing same, neutral & draw bias. My intent was to keep at 21 degrees, but found the 22 degrees - neutral bias setting really worked well for me.  As we get more rain and courses soften, I feel confident I can take advantage of the 21 degree setting to offset the soft conditions. 

[KC Golf]

Still waiting to try the new Callaway and TM drivers, but I really like the numbers and the look of the TSR3 with a GD Tour AD 5S shaft.  

Sadly it’s very pricey…  

[GolfSpy AFG]

Finally wore SWMBO down, and I’m now officially shopping for a cart bag.  Have used a stand bag forever but I’m primarily a push cart guy now, and I’m tired of the rattling and twisting.

I have an old Clicgear 3.0 push cart; going to be looking for a good 14-way full-length divider bag.  I’m actually looking at a few with 15 slots for the alignments sticks, Orange Whip, etc.

Leaning towards Sun Mountain C-130, but open to suggestions. (Yes, I’m aware of the MGS Most Wanted for bags that just came out.)

[Tom the Golf Nut]

11 minutes ago, Getoffmylawn said:

Finally wore SWMBO down, and I’m now officially shopping for a cart bag.  Have used a stand bag forever but I’m primarily a push cart guy now, and I’m tired of the rattling and twisting.

I have an old Clicgear 3.0 push cart; going to be looking for a good 14-way full-length divider bag.  I’m actually looking at a few with 15 slots for the alignments sticks, Orange Whip, etc.

Leaning towards Sun Mountain C-130, but open to suggestions. (Yes, I’m aware of the MGS Most Wanted for bags that just came out.)

I'm a fan of the full length 14 way dividers. I'm not trying to suggest a bag but rather suggest a layout of the dividers. Since you will be on a pushcart look for a layout similar to the Bag Boy Chiller. All the dividers run straight across. You also have a separate putter well. Some types have the club dividers offset to compact the diameter of the bag some. This makes it very difficult to get clubs in and out on the angle the bad sits. I've been using the Motocaddy bag and it has the offset dividers and I struggle with getting the clubs in and out. I'll probably go back to the Bag Boy Chiller but it is a larger cart bag. A bit to large but it works so much better.

[Rickp]

2 minutes ago, Tom the Golf Nut said:

I'm a fan of the full length 14 way dividers. I'm not trying to suggest a bag but rather suggest a layout of the dividers. Since you will be on a pushcart look for a layout similar to the Bag Boy Chiller. All the dividers run straight across. You also have a separate putter well. Some types have the club dividers offset to compact the diameter of the bag some. This makes it very difficult to get clubs in and out on the angle the bad sits. I've been using the Motocaddy bag and it has the offset dividers and I struggle with getting the clubs in and out. I'll probably go back to the Bag Boy Chiller but it is a larger cart bag. A bit to large but it works so much better.

The Chiller bag is pretty good for the money.  Still have one.

[GolfSpy_SHARK]

1 hour ago, Getoffmylawn said:

Finally wore SWMBO down, and I’m now officially shopping for a cart bag.  Have used a stand bag forever but I’m primarily a push cart guy now, and I’m tired of the rattling and twisting.

I have an old Clicgear 3.0 push cart; going to be looking for a good 14-way full-length divider bag.  I’m actually looking at a few with 15 slots for the alignments sticks, Orange Whip, etc.

Leaning towards Sun Mountain C-130, but open to suggestions. (Yes, I’m aware of the MGS Most Wanted for bags that just came out.)

Not a full blown cart bag but I love the ping traverse that I have. Plenty of space. Still pretty light (not full length dividers) but does a great job with club management.

[GolfSpy SAM]

Ordered this in a 6 and 9-iron to test against my current set. Very excited to see if they're as pretty in person as online. It'll be my first foray into the world of forged irons, which is pretty cool. 

[GolfSpy_APH]

5 hours ago, GolfSpy_SAM said:

Ordered this in a 6 and 9-iron to test against my current set. Very excited to see if they're as pretty in person as online. It'll be my first foray into the world of forged irons, which is pretty cool. 

Looking forward to seeing how these turn out and what you think of the "feel" of a forged iron!

[Placasse61]

11 hours ago, Lacassem said:

Not a full blown cart bag but I love the ping traverse that I have. Plenty of space. Still pretty light (not full length dividers) but does a great job with club management.

I like to walk and my carrying days are over. Looking at cart bags for my pushcart. I do like the Traverse but would like full length dividers because my clubs get hung up in the 6-divider bag I have now. 

[Billy-Bo-Jim-Bob]

Nothing better for the mind and soul than waking & carrying!! If the bag gets to be took much one day.....will buy a lighter bag and carry less clubs. I'm also thinking that the continued development of a versatile and fully adjustable single club will mean that I can get out there just carrying one club and a sleeve of balls in my pocket! Seen a few on the market over the years, but have not tried one yet....maybe I'll check it out in '23!

[GolfSpy AFG]

11 hours ago, Lacassem said:

Not a full blown cart bag but I love the ping traverse that I have. Plenty of space. Still pretty light (not full length dividers) but does a great job with club management.

I know it's kind of silly, but I'm kind of averse to having a big "PING" logo on the side of my bag when I don't play any Ping clubs at all.  Dumb I know, but I'm dumb like that...

[GolfSpy TCB]

I stopped into my local PGATSS yesterday, had them set up a couple of irons with similar specs to my gamer (which I had with me).  

I tried the JPX923 HMP and the Paradym X - 7 iron in Steel Reg.

They set the LM up with the green and pin at 155 yards (per my request).  

I started with the Mizuno and it felt good, comfortable, like an old friend (even though I'm currently playing the TM Stealth Irons).  My first swing was dead straight at the pin, landed just short and rolled to about 3 inches just past the cup.  The tech said... I guess you won't to test any more... you found your club.  My subsequent shots were equally nice in feel, though I didn't scare the hole again haha.  I grabbed my gamer and the shot patterns (shape, trajectory, spin, carry, total) were almost identical to the JPX.  So I was thinking... "well... do I just want a new set of sticks in the bag... and would be ok with similar performance, or should I just stay with what I have?"  Granted, it was early in the testing process, and my initial thought was based on just a few comparative swings on a mat into a net with LM data at the PGATSS... so I wasn't ready to make that decision yet.  

Then I tried the Paradym X.  Frist swing flew the virtual green.  carry was 165 and rolled to 170.  Second swing was a bit of a miss... off the toe, pulled left, landed at 150 and rolled out to 165 ish.   Hit the next shot square, and it launched with a little higher trajectory, landed just on the back of the green at 163 or so, and rolled out just a few more yards off the back.  I had the tech move the green back to 165, and proceeded to find the green with the next 5 or 6 shots.... all ending pin high.  Mis-hits were landing short and rolling up onto the green, solid shots were flying to the the center of the green and stopping.  My trajectory was good, and the spin was between 5K and 5.5K on the well struck shots.  

So... that is a long winded way to say... with the Paradym's hitting the shelves today... i am strongly considering doing a more in depth session (which would include testing the Paradym as well as the P-X) and possibly finding my irons for 2023 (or at least for the first half of 2023 haha).

[GolfSpy BOS]

28 minutes ago, Placasse61 said:

I like to walk and my carrying days are over. Looking at cart bags for my pushcart. I do like the Traverse but would like full length dividers because my clubs get hung up in the 6-divider bag I have now. 

The Traverse has been great for me Pete.  I like that I can set it up either direction (the top is flat, not sloped) so If I know I'm going to be riding in a cart for a number of rounds I can set it up like a more traditional cart back versus when I know I'll be walking and using my push cart.

I haven't had any clubs getting caught up.

[cnosil]

16 minutes ago, Getoffmylawn said:

I know it's kind of silly, but I'm kind of averse to having a big "PING" logo on the side of my bag when I don't play any Ping clubs at all.  Dumb I know, but I'm dumb like that...

But the goal is to play the best equipment and not worry about the other brands in your bag.   I have a Callaway branded bag and don’t play anything else in the callaway family.   

[Tom the Golf Nut]

16 minutes ago, Golfspy_TCB said:

I stopped into my local PGATSS yesterday, had them set up a couple of irons with similar specs to my gamer (which I had with me).  

I tried the JPX923 HMP and the Paradym X - 7 iron in Steel Reg.

They set the LM up with the green and pin at 155 yards (per my request).  

I started with the Mizuno and it felt good, comfortable, like an old friend (even though I'm currently playing the TM Stealth Irons).  My first swing was dead straight at the pin, landed just short and rolled to about 3 inches just past the cup.  The tech said... I guess you won't to test any more... you found your club.  My subsequent shots were equally nice in feel, though I didn't scare the hole again haha.  I grabbed my gamer and the shot patterns (shape, trajectory, spin, carry, total) were almost identical to the JPX.  So I was thinking... "well... do I just want a new set of sticks in the bag... and would be ok with similar performance, or should I just stay with what I have?"  Granted, it was early in the testing process, and my initial thought was based on just a few comparative swings on a mat into a net with LM data at the PGATSS... so I wasn't ready to make that decision yet.  

Then I tried the Paradym X.  Frist swing flew the virtual green.  carry was 165 and rolled to 170.  Second swing was a bit of a miss... off the toe, pulled left, landed at 150 and rolled out to 165 ish.   Hit the next shot square, and it launched with a little higher trajectory, landed just on the back of the green at 163 or so, and rolled out just a few more yards off the back.  I had the tech move the green back to 165, and proceeded to find the green with the next 5 or 6 shots.... all ending pin high.  Mis-hits were landing short and rolling up onto the green, solid shots were flying to the the center of the green and stopping.  My trajectory was good, and the spin was between 5K and 5.5K on the well struck shots.  

So... that is a long winded way to say... with the Paradym's hitting the shelves today... i am strongly considering doing a more in depth session (which would include testing the Paradym as well as the P-X) and possibly finding my irons for 2023 (or at least for the first half of 2023 haha).

The Paradym's lofts are a litte jacked up so when you are trying to compare irons to one another make sure you are comparing the same lofts. They had to add extra wedges into the lineup to compensate.  They have a gap wedge, then approach wedge then the PW at 41 degrees. PW's used to be around 46 degrees. But everyone is doing the same thing to make you think you're hitting it much further.