Berg attempts to prove he has a Smart Sole

[Berg Ryman]

Hello, it's me. Yes, the quester of putters, the commissioner of your fantasy leagues, and weirdly enough, someone deemed responsible enough to lead a group excursion at a fantastic golf resort in Maryland. In the midst of this introduction, I have a confession to make. I think I might have the short game yips.

Now, Webster defines the word 'yips' as "a state of nervous tension affecting an athlete (such as a golfer) in the performance of a crucial action". Most golfers will know it as a crippling affliction that can take one of the strongest parts of your game and make it crumble. For me, that's been my chipping. For whatever reason after making the switch to my current Taylor Made wedges, whenever I have shots around the green which felt simple to me, I've been completely paralyzed over them. We're talking the shortest possible swings, chips from off the green, the low checker, the chunk and run type shot. This has even extended to my typical bump and run shots with my 8 iron, leading to near whiffs and shanks of bump and runs. Simply put, if it isn't a flop type shot right now around the green, it's a 50/50 proposition at best it gets pulled off.

For someone who has prided himself on his ability to scramble well and was a strength of my game for so long, this has really hurt me. Somehow I've managed to continue to play well due to bettering my iron play but on holes where I don't hit greens, what was once a routine up or down for par or at worst, a bogey has become the potential for double bogey or worse. I've worked a bit on some technique stuff but admittedly due to work and time spend with my wife, I don't have the time I once had to really drill down and dig it out of the dirt in the way I could have in my younger days, so I looked to technology to help.

Enter this...

 

That's right, I knuckled under and after reading how @Golfspy_Lukes (congrats on the promotion big guy) was getting on with his ChipR, a thread you should check out right here, I decided maybe this was the cure to my woes and I ordered myself as one of three new wedges, the Smart Sole 4.0 C! Set at a nice 42* of loft with a lie angle of 66* and a length of 34" with a Tour Issue Dynamic Golf Spinner (same shaft in all the wedges I ordered from Cleveland), it will get it's first test tonight in the final league night of our season. Nothing like the proverbial fire for this frying pan. 

So what do I hope to do. Well, I'll admit as we reach into September, my season doesn't have much longer to go. I've got probably 6 weeks left, maybe less if my local state park doesn't stop booking tournaments to get rounds in and I want to see ow this club performs. In youtube videos it has shown to be quite more versatile than around just greens to I'm intrigued to see how it may work when I go down to just PW, 49* and 55* for those shots maybe where the 58* or 60* was the play in the past. But the biggest test is going to be around the greens. Early carpet swings seem simple enough as it's about the same length as my putter and not as flat as any other wedge in the bag.

I do hope you'll enjoy the next few weeks of this. I can't promise pictures or regular updates like if I had a full summer of review, so thing of this more as an experiment... and maybe we all learn a little about ourselves along the way.

[Parshooter36]

I recently bought a Smart Sole 4 chipper after seeing all of the buzz aroung the Ping ChipR. I liked the higher loft and wider sole on the Cleveland chipper over the Ping. Although to be fair, I have not tried the Ping. 

I've had it in the bag for a few weeks now and have had a couple of chip ins with it already. I've also bladed a few across the green with it, so it's not fool proof but overall I still feel like my chipping has improved with it.

As an added bonus, I had a sizeable gap between my gap wedge and pitching wedge that the Smart Sole fits in perfectly. I know it's not designed for a full swing but I'm telling you, the thing is deadly from 115 for me.

[cksurfdude]

Cool. Use the right tool for the job, as the old saying goes.

Question @Berg Ryman - how'd you select this guy over the ChipR or, say, the Square Strike or the Cleveland CBX or other companies' wide -soled wedges?

[bens197]

I love it Ryan. Glad you pulled the trigger. 

[Berg Ryman]

8 minutes ago, cksurfdude said:

Cool. Use the right tool for the job, as the old saying goes.

Question @Berg Ryman - how'd you select this guy over the ChipR or, say, the Square Strike or the Cleveland CBX or other companies' wide -soled wedges?

100% boiled down to cost and comfort with the brand. I still had an open deal with Cleveland/Srixon from when I worked at DSG to get wholesale pricing so at the price I couldn't say no. I did consider the ChipR but the local Golf Galaxy didn't have it in stock and cost wise, knowing I'm also looking at new woods, I decided buying new wedges along side of it as a newly married man might end that marriage very quickly.

I did go wide-soled with the Gap Wedge as well picking up a CBX Zipcore after I saw one in the bag of a guy I was playing in league literally the day before I made this purchase. Also listened to @McGolf and went for more bounce in the wedge I'll be using as a sand wedge/lob wedge hybrid with the versatile grind on it, the Tour Raw Zipcore which there were really great reviews of here.

23 minutes ago, Parshooter36 said:

I recently bought a Smart Sole 4 chipper after seeing all of the buzz aroung the Ping ChipR. I liked the higher loft and wider sole on the Cleveland chipper over the Ping. Although to be fair, I have not tried the Ping. 

I've had it in the bag for a few weeks now and have had a couple of chip ins with it already. I've also bladed a few across the green with it, so it's not fool proof but overall I still feel like my chipping has improved with it.

As an added bonus, I had a sizeable gap between my gap wedge and pitching wedge that the Smart Sole fits in perfectly. I know it's not designed for a full swing but I'm telling you, the thing is deadly from 115 for me.

I hope to have a similar experience... it would be nice to have my own as I believe @ole graycalled his Square Strike, "pocket picker"!

[Vegan_Golfer_PNW]

my question, what are you going to drop from your bag to accommodate this?

[Berg Ryman]

3 minutes ago, Vegan_Golfer_PNW said:

my question, what are you going to drop from your bag to accommodate this?

So right now for today's round I'm thinking 3 wood. I just like my hybrid that much more and find it more versatile. However, once my Tour Rack wedge comes next week, the current wedge set up goes out the window. We'll be swapping the 48/53/58 set up for 49/55/chipper, so I guess technically we're dropping the 58? Being fair when I played my best in high school, I only had a 56* wedge in the bag after PW anyway, so it's not something I'm unfamiliar with. I'm much more of give me options at the long end of the bag where I can attack and let me control the lower end through half shot, 3/4 shot, etc type guy. It's why I got the wedge grind in the tour rack with the heel relief and the trailing edge, like your 54, but adding loft and increasing the bounce by that 1 degree.

[null]

Love seeing more guys check their ego out at the door and jump on the chipper train. Can’t wait to see how you get along with it!

[Berg Ryman]

19 minutes ago, Golfspy_Lukes said:

Love seeing more guys check their ego out at the door and jump on the chipper train. Can’t wait to see how you get along with it!

I mean, here's my thought. I work a crazy job, am recently married, trying to be a pickleball player with my wife, and still try to find time for movies/tv/gym so I've have primarily shifted to weekend warrior/9 hole league during the week guy. At most I play 27 holes a week during the season, at least 9. If something can help me, I'm asking for the help!

[null]

16 minutes ago, Berg Ryman said:

I mean, here's my thought. I work a crazy job, am recently married, trying to be a pickleball player with my wife, and still try to find time for movies/tv/gym so I've have primarily shifted to weekend warrior/9 hole league during the week guy. At most I play 27 holes a week during the season, at least 9. If something can help me, I'm asking for the help!

Exactly! And we are always looking for equipment to make up for deficiencies in our game.  How is adding a specialty club for low shots around the green any different?  That name is what gives it the stigma.  

Hell if PING named their club the C525 or the GLIDE-C or something else it would probably sell 10x as much.  ChipR is a stupid name and makes it sound gimmicky.  But ping is a bit eclectic and the ChipR name is an homage to the original ChipO

[chisag]

30 minutes ago, Golfspy_Lukes said:

Exactly! And we are always looking for equipment to make up for deficiencies in our game.  How is adding a specialty club for low shots around the green any different?  That name is what gives it the stigma.  

Hell if PING named their club the C525 or the GLIDE-C or something else it would probably sell 10x as much.  ChipR is a stupid name and makes it sound gimmicky.  But ping is a bit eclectic and the ChipR name is an homage to the original ChipO

 

... I have never understood the aversion to any club because of the name. I know Rocketballz got killed because of the name even though it was a great product. But golf is a game of confidence and I think any club that gives you confidence is a great club. If someone is reluctant just because of a name that is their loss. Chipper, mini driver or whatever. If it works, it works. 

[null]

3 minutes ago, chisag said:

 

... I have never understood the aversion to any club because of the name. I know Rocketballz got killed because of the name even though it was a great product. But golf is a game of confidence and I think any club that gives you confidence is a great club. If someone is reluctant just because of a name that is their loss. Chipper, mini driver or whatever. If it works, it works. 

It's completely an ego thing, just like most things golf.

There are still people out there that refuse to game hybrids, lower flex shafts, more forgiving irons, etc because their macho ego won't let them.  It's the same ego that gets bruised when I beat them on a hole when my 3 handicap ass gets up and down with my ChipR and they blade their lob wedge across the green

[tommc23]

6 hours ago, Berg Ryman said:

100% boiled down to cost and comfort with the brand. I still had an open deal with Cleveland/Srixon from when I worked at DSG to get wholesale pricing so at the price I couldn't say no. I did consider the ChipR but the local Golf Galaxy didn't have it in stock and cost wise, knowing I'm also looking at new woods, I decided buying new wedges along side of it as a newly married man might end that marriage very quickly.

I did go wide-soled with the Gap Wedge as well picking up a CBX Zipcore after I saw one in the bag of a guy I was playing in league literally the day before I made this purchase. Also listened to @McGolf and went for more bounce in the wedge I'll be using as a sand wedge/lob wedge hybrid with the versatile grind on it, the Tour Raw Zipcore which there were really great reviews of here.

I hope to have a similar experience... it would be nice to have my own as I believe @ole graycalled his Square Strike, "pocket picker"!

Jim had an effect on a lot of us that weekend. @cnosil going with graphite shafts in his wedges and I got swing tips which helped me out.

[Berg Ryman]

So you guys will be sad to know I hit 7 out of 9 greens tonight in league so not a lot of Smart Sole action. I did hit three shots with it.

First shot, I had roughly 25 yards left on a par 5 after my first two shots. Pin was front of green so I figured, let's run it in there! Left it in the fringe, about 18 feet from the hole, 2 putted for par. 

Second and third shot were on the last. Long par 3 and I just hit a high week push, doing nothing. Long punch shot required of around 40 yards, I take the Smart Sole, kinda of middle the ball and try ro run it up, just short of the green, maybe 8-10 yards. Hit a regular chip to 6 inches to save a bogey. Shot 37 (+2) bogeying the last three holes.

So Smart Sole report early is promising. I'm going to need to work on it obviously, but I can see the benefit of having it

[cksurfdude]

17 hours ago, tommc23 said:

Jim had an effect on a lot of us that weekend.

Loved his stories! And man that dude can talk..!! 

But back to Berg...

"So you guys will be sad to know I hit 7 out of 9 greens"

LOLing!!

But yeah sounds like you've got to keep experimenting and find the kind of trouble spots where the new Smartie will be the most effective for you. 

[Berg Ryman]

24 minutes ago, cksurfdude said:

Loved his stories! And man that dude can talk..!! 

But back to Berg...

"So you guys will be sad to know I hit 7 out of 9 greens"

LOLing!!

But yeah sounds like you've got to keep experimenting and find the kind of trouble spots where the new Smartie will be the most effective for you. 

a humble brag... for sure. No one is going to promote you if you don't promote yourself!

Seriously though, I do think we're in for some more putting green practice and hopefully getting everything smoothed out

[Berg Ryman]

So, I got a session in this weekend on a putting green. I think I'm getting delivery figured out a bit. I thought from the jump a putter stroke would give me the best results, but I think I need to use it a bit more like an actual wedge, so a bit more of a downward motion with the shot to really get the max out of it. Results though are promising. A captain and crew this week for our year end league may not give me the most chance for Smart Sole usage, but I do think I'm playing a round sometime this weekend as well.

[null]

On 9/6/2022 at 2:53 PM, Berg Ryman said:

So, I got a session in this weekend on a putting green. I think I'm getting delivery figured out a bit. I thought from the jump a putter stroke would give me the best results, but I think I need to use it a bit more like an actual wedge, so a bit more of a downward motion with the shot to really get the max out of it. Results though are promising. A captain and crew this week for our year end league may not give me the most chance for Smart Sole usage, but I do think I'm playing a round sometime this weekend as well.

One of the cool side effects of getting to know my ChipR is I have new techniques I’ve learned that I can use with my wedges. I never hit toe down chips or anything like that but now the technique that the ChipR has taught  with the putting-likestroke has allowed me add to my toolbox for shots around the green. 

[Berg Ryman]

So, I didn't play my weekend round. Why you may ask? Well, although I may now have a smart sole, no one ever said I was a smart guy. I set my alarm for the 7:30 and 7:40 tee times for 6:42... pm. A total disaster but I got to sleep in for the first time all week, so a slight win!

When I get back from court, I'll update you on the captain and crew. We had more smart sole than I thought.

[Berg Ryman]

So, the captain and crew round. I was hoping to not give the smart sole that much of a workout, and sadly, my wants were not met. 

First chip of the round was on the 13th hole. 265 yard par 4, I nearly drove the green, since it had rained the prior we were caught up in the fringe. We had about 50 feet of green and a few yards of fringe to work with. Took the Smart sole, chipped it to hole high, but about 15 feet left of the flag as I was expected the left side slope to help us out.

14th hole, we were short, took the smart sole from the rough, got it on the green but well short of the hole and someone went inside me. I was chipping third and the first two had flubbed so I wasn't as aggressive as I'd like but a better result that I might have done with the lofted wedges in my bag right now.

Last chip was more of a pitch on the 17th. In all honesty, I should have hit my 55* with the ball way above the feet stance but it was captain and crew and we were already on the green, not tight but on. Caught it a little heel heavy and left it short of the tier I needed to get it to and really didn't hit the right shot for the situation.

So, after a few excursions and as the season winds down, where are we with the Smart Sole. I think it's staying in the bag for now. I might not be using as versatile as it can be yet, but early results are promising when I get it in the situations I think I should be using it for. Do I think I need to work on it a bit? Of course I do, it was a very late addition to the bag, but I think it's going to be a solid addition for 2023 and going forward.