Popular Post Shankster Posted April 30, 2019 Popular Post Share Posted April 30, 2019 First off... brr. It was 36° by the time I made it to the demo day. Misting with the occasional snow squalls, it’s May tomorrow gosh darn it. There were: Titleist, Taylormade, Tour Exotics, Srixon/Cleveland, Cobra, PING, and Callaway. First stop was the Srixon tent. Had the guy fit a KBS Tour into the Z Forged. He said I was the first guy to ask for it all day. First impressions were meh, but after a few warm ups (yes I warmed up out of the car with a blade) I got to liking the club. Good stuff from Srixon. I bounced down to the Taylormade shack after that and tried a GAPR 3 iron. Not what I was expecting, but it plays less offset looking than I’ve seen in photos. I then looked out of the corner of my eye and saw a kid hitting these... I waited for 10 minutes in line for him to finish up hitting them. He cleaned them off and I took them for a ride. First impressions here... not a $2000 set of blades. They look good but felt or performed no better then the Srixon’s. Hit about 40 shots, extremely workable. They are nice for sure, if I could spend the 2K I’d probably do it. Hit the Mini Driver thingy... my goodness what a crunchy crack sound... love that thing. Moved on to PING... tried one swing with the i500 and put it back. Tried the G400 2 crossover... 2 swings. The Glide Stealth wedges are legit, best shaped wedge of the day. Skipped down to Callaway, grabbed the Apex MB, two swipes with a Modus 105 shaft and I put it back, and never came back to the Callaway tent. The rep was a real nice guy. Stopped at the Cobra shed... the guy remembered me from 2 years ago. Hit the MIM wedge. Feel department this wedge gets 100/100... the F9 driver is deadly. Love the sound, look, and overall build. All the way back to Srixon. Tried the Cleveland wedges... too tinty sounding (bummer). Tried the 745’s, wonderful feeling club. Next up was Tour Exotics. I grabbed the CBX blade 8 iron since it was the only blade he had. I’m sold. Best feeling club I’ve ever hit. Tried the ironwood 3 thing... rocket launcher.... can’t understand why this brand doesn’t get more attention. Saved Titleist for last. Shafted up the MB for me. No thanks. A bit on the small side comparatively to the other blades. TMB 2 iron was the club of the day. I wouldn’t need a 3 wood with that thing. I ended up trying the AP3, not for me. We tried a few shafts and the bone stock TT X100 was the best fit out about 8 we tried. Went back to the Srixon, and Tour Exotics tents and tried everything again. After a semi fitting with the titleist rep if I were buying clubs today I would have walked out with. Cobra F9 9° (white)Titleist TMB 2 ironTour Exotics 3-AWCobra MIM 56, 60Taylormade Spider X Navy Blue Thanks for reading. If you want more detail on blades I can get more in depth. I hit them all several times. tommc23, bens197, 00sportsman and 19 others 21 1 Quote Link to comment
MaxEntropy Posted April 30, 2019 Share Posted April 30, 2019 I'm interested in more pictures, if you have them.... Demo days are for us to live vicariously through you, not just through your words. Shankster, cksurfdude, 00sportsman and 2 others 3 2 Quote Driver: Epic Speed 9* (set -1) MMT 70X 3W: Tour B JGR Recoil 760ES 3H, 4H: Tour B JGR 19*, 23* Recoil 780ES 4-AW: Tour B JGR HF2 Modus3 Tour 105 SW: RTX Zipcore Black Satin 54* LW: TAIII Black 58* Putter: Scottsdale TR Senita Bag: BigMax Dri Active Lite Ball: TP5x or AVX (yellow) Pushcart: BigMax iQ+ Testing Complete, Final Review Posted: Sub70 TAIII Forged Wedges Link to comment
Popular Post Shankster Posted April 30, 2019 Author Popular Post Share Posted April 30, 2019 I'm interested in more pictures, if you have them.... Demo days are for us to live vicariously through you, not just through your words. Yeah unfortunately I didn’t take any more pictures, I was too caught up in the moment. Forgot to add though, I got hit in the thigh with a topped driver from the guy next to me... that was interesting. GolfSpy_BNG, GolfSpy MPR, cnosil and 10 others 10 3 Quote Link to comment
Shankster Posted April 30, 2019 Author Share Posted April 30, 2019 You have to remember I’ve been cooped up for 7 months. Like a kid in a candy store or toy store. Gimme gimme gimme. MaxEntropy, cnosil, palvord and 4 others 5 2 Quote Link to comment
MaxEntropy Posted April 30, 2019 Share Posted April 30, 2019 Just now, Shankster said: Yeah unfortunately I didn’t take any more pictures, I was too caught up in the moment. Oh I have no doubt it would be easy to not photo-blog things when you are there to swing clubs. Shankster 1 Quote Driver: Epic Speed 9* (set -1) MMT 70X 3W: Tour B JGR Recoil 760ES 3H, 4H: Tour B JGR 19*, 23* Recoil 780ES 4-AW: Tour B JGR HF2 Modus3 Tour 105 SW: RTX Zipcore Black Satin 54* LW: TAIII Black 58* Putter: Scottsdale TR Senita Bag: BigMax Dri Active Lite Ball: TP5x or AVX (yellow) Pushcart: BigMax iQ+ Testing Complete, Final Review Posted: Sub70 TAIII Forged Wedges Link to comment
forerightgolfer Posted April 30, 2019 Share Posted April 30, 2019 I'm assuming that the performance of the club is included in your "feel" comments, but were there any clubs that gave you added yards / added accuracy that surprised you? Thanks! Shankster 1 Quote Driver - G400 LST 3W & 4H - Orlimar High Energy 2 Irons - F7 OL (5I - GW) Wedges - Top Flight Gamer Tour 52* 56* 60* Putter - Orlimar HE2 Balls - Vice Pro Link to comment
Shankster Posted April 30, 2019 Author Share Posted April 30, 2019 Oh I have no doubt it would be easy to not photo-blog things when you are there to swing clubs.Super surprised at the quality of the Tour Exotics stuff. It’s top notch. Even the wedges are forged and would probably be on my list of stuff to get. Nunfa0, cnosil, tommc23 and 2 others 5 Quote Link to comment
Shankster Posted April 30, 2019 Author Share Posted April 30, 2019 I'm assuming that the performance of the club is included in your "feel" comments, but were there any clubs that gave you added yards / added accuracy that surprised you? Thanks! Yeah. I didn’t hit anything with a cavity except the Srixon. That 745 is a great club. Probably a little longer than the blades. The TMB 2 iron is ultra forgiving. The Tiger Blade puts a lot of spin on the ball. My fade was landing where I’d want it to but darting to the right very quickly. I suck at hitting woods so I can’t give you a fair assessment of them. Hitting frozen range rocks isn’t the best. cksurfdude and forerightgolfer 2 Quote Link to comment
cnosil Posted April 30, 2019 Share Posted April 30, 2019 2 minutes ago, Shankster said: Super surprised at the quality of the Tour Exotics stuff. It’s top notch. Even the wedges are forged and would probably be on my list of stuff to get. TEE is definitely and underrated brand. Always loved their fairway woods and the rest of the clubs are catching up. I'll have to take a look at the wedges, probably the next club to be replaced in my bag. M. Parsons, cksurfdude and Shankster 3 Quote Driver: G400 Max 9* w/ KBS Tour Driven Fairway: TS3 15* w/Project X Hzardous Smoke Hybrids: 915H 21* w/KBS Tour Graphite Hybrid Prototype 915H 24* w/KBS Tour Graphite Hybrid Prototype Irons: TR20V 6-11 w/Vizard TR20-85 Graphite Wedge: 54/12D, 60/8M w/:Accra iWedge 90 Graphite Putter: TM-180 Testing: Backups: Milled Collection RSX 2, mFGP2, Futura 5W Member: MGS Hitsquad since 2017 Link to comment
Shankster Posted April 30, 2019 Author Share Posted April 30, 2019 TEE is definitely and underrated brand. Always loved their fairway woods and the rest of the clubs are catching up. I'll have to take a look at the wedges, probably the next club to be replaced in my bag. I really liked them. Too bad they didn’t have non range balls for the wedges to try. Quote Link to comment
cksurfdude Posted April 30, 2019 Share Posted April 30, 2019 29 minutes ago, Shankster said: Next up was Tour Exotics. ..(etc.).. can’t understand why this brand doesn’t get more attention. Agreed! I only have one of their wedges so far - the "1 Out" (and it's "money" when I need it!) - but when in in the market for new stuff TEE *will* be demo'ed and tested. (But not this year: made a commitment a lá "Dave's Impossible Project" to learn to play .. better .. the s*** I have now!) cnosil 1 Quote WITB of an "aspiring" play-ah ... Driver...Callaway Paradym (Aldila Ascent PL Blue 40/A) 5W...Callaway Great Big Bertha (MCA Kai'Li Red 50/R) 7W...Tour Edge Exotics EXS (Tensei CK Blue 50/R) 4H...Callaway Epic Super Hybrid (Recoil ZT9 F3) 5H...Callaway Big Bertha ('19) (Recoil 460 ESX F3) 6i-GW...Sub 70 699 V2 (Recoil 660 F3) 54°, 60°...Cleveland CBX2, CBX 60 (Rotex graphite) Putter...EvnRoll ER5 or MLA Tour XDream (P2 Reflex grip on both) ...all in a Datrek bag on an MGI Zip Navigator electric cart. Ball often, not always, MaxFli Tour. Forum Member tester for the Paradym X driver (2023) Forum Member tester for the ExPutt Putting Simulator (2020) Link to comment
russtopherb Posted April 30, 2019 Share Posted April 30, 2019 44 minutes ago, Shankster said: Super surprised at the quality of the Tour Exotics stuff. It’s top notch. Even the wedges are forged and would probably be on my list of stuff to get. Tour Edge have quietly had a very good to great reputation over the past few years. They don't get a lot of recognition since they're not paying anyone on tour (IIRC, although they do have guys on the senior tour) but their prices are legit and their turnaround on custom orders is blazing fast. I wonder if their lack of distribution hurts them, just like with W/S. Shankster, MaxEntropy, JohnSmalls and 3 others 6 Quote In my carry bag: ST-X 10.5* Kai'li Blue R Flex ST-Z 15* Kai/li Blue R Flex ST-Z 4h Linq Blue R Flex Launcher 5h Launcher CBX 6i-PW CBX 54* & 58* Huntington Beach #10 e12 Contact CURRENTLY TESTING - Mizuno Long Game Link to comment
Shankster Posted April 30, 2019 Author Share Posted April 30, 2019 Tour Edge have quietly had a very good to great reputation over the past few years. They don't get a lot of recognition since they're not paying anyone on tour (IIRC, although they do have guys on the senior tour) but their prices are legit and their turnaround on custom orders is blazing fast. I wonder if their lack of distribution hurts them, just like with W/S.Was really hoping Wilson would have been there today. One blade I’d like to hit for sure.But another check in the Tour Exotics box... they all have the same offset. That is amazing for a guy that despises it. It’s 1.8 mm. About average for a blade PW. Big check in the like box. russtopherb, 00sportsman and cksurfdude 3 Quote Link to comment
JohnSmalls Posted May 1, 2019 Share Posted May 1, 2019 15 hours ago, Shankster said: Was really hoping Wilson would have been there today. One blade I’d like to hit for sure. One bit I learned from the Wilson rep here a couple of weeks ago was that their sales force had to split up sets of the new blade, so all reps only got a single iron and not of their choosing. Consequently the rep I spoke with only had a 4 iron. Not an ideal situation, hopefully it will be resolved by the time you can visit a Wilson demo day. tony@CIC and Shankster 2 Quote Gameday Vessel Sunday 2.0/ Ogio Silencer Dynapwr Carbon | Hzrdus Smoke Black Mavrik 3w | Evenflow Riptide FG Tour F5 Hybrid(20,23) | MCA Fubuki Staff Model CB 5-PW | DG 120 Vokey SM7 (50, 54, 58) | DG 120 Studio Stock 15 -ProV1x (left dash) Romans 10:9 Classic Bag Jones Collegiate Clemson Stand Bag Eye 2 Laminate 1973 Staff Dynapower 4-PW Anser DUO Link to comment
Shankster Posted May 1, 2019 Author Share Posted May 1, 2019 One bit I learned from the Wilson rep here a couple of weeks ago was that their sales force had to split up sets of the new blade, so all reps only got a single iron and not of their choosing. Consequently the rep I spoke with only had a 4 iron. Not an ideal situation, hopefully it will be resolved by the time you can visit a Wilson demo day.I’m not scared of a 4 iron. I’d rather try that out over the PW honestly. cnosil, GB13, tommc23 and 3 others 6 Quote Link to comment
GB13 Posted May 1, 2019 Share Posted May 1, 2019 53 minutes ago, Shankster said: I’m not scared of a 4 iron. I’d rather try that out over the PW honestly. Agreed, almost all blade PW are good, but a lot of blade 4 irons aren't. JohnSmalls, tony@CIC and Shankster 3 Quote Wilson Staff C300 9.0* Fujikura Pro 58 stiff Callaway Rogue 3W Mitsubishi Diamana D+ LTD 80 stiff Mizuno MP-18 MMC FLI-HI 2 iron UST Mamiya Recoil 95 stiff Ping I200's 4-W Aerotech Steelfiber I110 CW stiff Ping Glide 52* and 58* stiff Bettinardi Studio Stock #38 Armlock Link to comment
Shankster Posted May 1, 2019 Author Share Posted May 1, 2019 Agreed, almost all blade PW are good, but a lot of blade 4 irons aren't.This is just me. My thoughts. My experience. My opinion. My feel. My whatever.My mishits are either low thinny ones or off the toe.I have a set of cavity backs or whatever the heck the RBZ Tour irons are classified as, that when struck on the toe or thin feel like garbage like they should. The blades low thinny ones feel terrible, out on the toe feels the same as the CB that I currently have. I’m talking off the flange of the club, or out passed the grooves on the bare chrome. Nothing is forgiving at those extremes that I’ve tried.With the same shaft and head I feel more comfortable with that look of a blade by the ball, whether it’s 2 iron or a PW. The ball flight for me is better, probably not much different if at all, but I get those butterflies of joy in my stomach when I flush one.To me a CB feels worse on a miss-hit. And doesn’t compare at all on a flushed one, they feel harsh when struck on the sweet spot. (Exception to my rule is the PING iBlade and the Glide wedges.)I’m weird, I know. But I prefer my tractors without power steering, my cars with manual transmissions, my coffee pressed frenchly, my water from a well, running for fun and my shoes polished. 00sportsman, silver & black, JohnSmalls and 3 others 6 Quote Link to comment
romeopapazulu Posted May 1, 2019 Share Posted May 1, 2019 @shankster what was the shaft in the TMB? I hit up an indoor golf show this winter and the TMB 3 iron was the standout. I liked the Mizzy HM Pro, but none of several shafts really stood out. That TMB with a KBS tour was heavenly with every stroke. Sent from my SM-A600A using MyGolfSpy mobile app Shankster and tony@CIC 2 Quote G400 LST 8.5 Ping Tour 65 Stiff Adams XTD Ti 18 deg 3Hy Ben Hogan PTx 22-46 Ben Hogan TK15 50, 54, 58 deg wedges Futura 5.5 Link to comment
Shankster Posted May 1, 2019 Author Share Posted May 1, 2019 @shankster what was the shaft in the TMB? I hit up an indoor golf show this winter and the TMB 3 iron was the standout. I liked the Mizzy HM Pro, but none of several shafts really stood out. That TMB with a KBS tour was heavenly with every stroke. Sent from my SM-A600A using MyGolfSpy mobile appJust a bone stock True Temper X100. tony@CIC 1 Quote Link to comment
B81Smith Posted May 3, 2019 Share Posted May 3, 2019 Great write up! You continue to impress! Shankster and tony@CIC 2 Quote Ben S Hailing from N Aurora IL WITB: Putter: Mizuno by Bettinardi BC1 w/SuperStroke MidSlim 2.0 Flamed finish (1 Degree) Driver: Ping G – Mitsubishi Diamana Blue 73 X (10.5 Degree) 3 Wood : Callaway Epic Flash – Mitsubishi Tensei AV Blue 75 S (15.5 Degree) 3 Hybrid: Tour Edge CBX 119 – Project X EvenFlow Black 85 S (18 Degree) 3 Hybrid: Ping G – Mitsubishi Tensei CK Pro Blue HY 86 S (19 Degree) 4 – GW: Ping i210 - Oban CT-115 X (22.5 - 50 Degrees) SW: Titleist SM7 S Grind - Tour Chrome - Stock S200 (54 Degree) LW: Titleist SM7 D Grind - Tour Chrome - Stock S200 (58 Degree) All Grips: Winn Dri-Tec Midsize - Gray/Blue w/ 2 extra wraps low hand Customizing: Lime Green/Hot Pink Custom Paintfill - all clubs White ferrules with Blue Stripes from Cell-Parts.net Irons fitted & built by True Spec Golf Custom Headcovers from Sunfish Golf PING White DLX Cart Bag Link to comment
Shankster Posted May 3, 2019 Author Share Posted May 3, 2019 Great write up! You continue to impress!Thanks Buddy. Hope to get some more playing time with my Hi-Toe now that winter is over for the 4th time this year. tony@CIC and B81Smith 2 Quote Link to comment
JohnSmalls Posted May 4, 2019 Share Posted May 4, 2019 On 5/1/2019 at 12:28 PM, Shankster said: But I prefer my tractors without power steering, my cars with manual transmissions, my coffee pressed frenchly, my water from a well, running for fun and my shoes polished. I second all of this. Except for the running part. That's a long way off. But other than that, spot on. Shankster, tony@CIC and jeremyreily 3 Quote Gameday Vessel Sunday 2.0/ Ogio Silencer Dynapwr Carbon | Hzrdus Smoke Black Mavrik 3w | Evenflow Riptide FG Tour F5 Hybrid(20,23) | MCA Fubuki Staff Model CB 5-PW | DG 120 Vokey SM7 (50, 54, 58) | DG 120 Studio Stock 15 -ProV1x (left dash) Romans 10:9 Classic Bag Jones Collegiate Clemson Stand Bag Eye 2 Laminate 1973 Staff Dynapower 4-PW Anser DUO Link to comment
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