Changes on the top end

[KevB_44]

It seems crazy to make changes this time of year, but honestly I wasn't happy on the top end of the bag and my patience ran out.   Here is a summary:

• In the off season I sipped the Kool-Aide and spent the money on a Ping G430 10K Max.   I was happy at first and things seemed to be going well.  I had a straight ball flight. distance seemed a little less than my TSR3 but I was straighter and fewer bad shots.   As time went on however, a big left bias appeared and I was steady on the left side or hooking into the trees on the left (this has never been me).   I was fighting it and losing distance.  On a whim, I put the TSR3 back in play and was noticeably longer---like 30 yards with a little fade.   It felt good and I now haven't looked back.  I can't explain the difference in performance but there was one.
• I have been playing a TSR2 3 and 5 wood.   No real issue whatsoever--good performance but I started noting that the 5 wood was almost the same as the 3 wood.  I played a round with my son who recently added a Ping G430Max 3 wood.   He was hitting it nicely.   He let me try it from the tee and wow it was nice and effortless.   I tried it again on a long par 5 and again with an effortless swing I got more than I expected.  Then some sales came out on the Ping fairways and I got to thinking about a 7 wood.   I pulled the trigger and effortless was an understatement.  Less carry and higher flight than my 5 wood which I think i needed as the 5 wood had become a 3 wood light (even with lofted up).  
• I really like a shallow fairway wood and the Pings are definitely that compared to the TSRs  (not sure if they actually are but they look that way to me).  I couldn't stop thinking about it and again with the sale in effect went for a Ping G430Max with the Chrome Tour 2.0.    I am liking the light a bit more from the fairway in particular and it is much easier.   I find myself not hesitating---if I need to dial up long distance, I don't even hesitate as I did in the past --i go for it.   Hopefully not just a honeymoon period.

In the end, I like how this turned out---TSR 3 driver, 430MAX 3 wood, 430 Max 7 Wood and I have found that the I actually have more use for the 3 iCrossover that I got last year.  I have it lofted all the way down and it gets out there and can roll.  Currently feel as though these three clubs have a bit more identity than what I had in the past.   Hopefully that kind of clarity leads to more confidence and clear shot selection.  

 

Wish me luck!

[Josh Parker]

Sounds like all positive changes at the top of the bag!  

I did some switching to mine this year as well.  Currently using Callaway mini, tsr2 4w, tsr2 5w and 19* hybrid

[KevB_44]

You have an interesting set up Josh.  
 

I am really happy with the move to 7w as I think I needed a bit more gap and while I haven’t had the opportunity yet, I think I have a better shot of holding some greens. (I have not had a high success rate with anything greater than 5i).  I wanted that 5 wood bad when I got it, but it was only a small increment less that the 3 wood and better in a less than perfect lie.  I thing the ping 3 wood will be a little friendlier and the 7 wood will be much better from

poor lies.  
 

The I crossover has been used only occasionally and a bit of an exotic club but I think now it is a 5 wood and or a low trajectory 3wood.  I need to spend some time working with it beyond just seeing how far I can hit it.  

[Shrek74]

1 hour ago, KevB_44 said:

It seems crazy to make changes this time of year, but honestly I wasn't happy on the top end of the bag and my patience ran out.   Here is a summary:

• In the off season I sipped the Kool-Aide and spent the money on a Ping G430 10K Max.   I was happy at first and things seemed to be going well.  I had a straight ball flight. distance seemed a little less than my TSR3 but I was straighter and fewer bad shots.   As time went on however, a big left bias appeared and I was steady on the left side or hooking into the trees on the left (this has never been me).   I was fighting it and losing distance.  On a whim, I put the TSR3 back in play and was noticeably longer---like 30 yards with a little fade.   It felt good and I now haven't looked back.  I can't explain the difference in performance but there was one.
• I have been playing a TSR2 3 and 5 wood.   No real issue whatsoever--good performance but I started noting that the 5 wood was almost the same as the 3 wood.  I played a round with my son who recently added a Ping G430Max 3 wood.   He was hitting it nicely.   He let me try it from the tee and wow it was nice and effortless.   I tried it again on a long par 5 and again with an effortless swing I got more than I expected.  Then some sales came out on the Ping fairways and I got to thinking about a 7 wood.   I pulled the trigger and effortless was an understatement.  Less carry and higher flight than my 5 wood which I think i needed as the 5 wood had become a 3 wood light (even with lofted up).  
• I really like a shallow fairway wood and the Pings are definitely that compared to the TSRs  (not sure if they actually are but they look that way to me).  I couldn't stop thinking about it and again with the sale in effect went for a Ping G430Max with the Chrome Tour 2.0.    I am liking the light a bit more from the fairway in particular and it is much easier.   I find myself not hesitating---if I need to dial up long distance, I don't even hesitate as I did in the past --i go for it.   Hopefully not just a honeymoon period.

In the end, I like how this turned out---TSR 3 driver, 430MAX 3 wood, 430 Max 7 Wood and I have found that the I actually have more use for the 3 iCrossover that I got last year.  I have it lofted all the way down and it gets out there and can roll.  Currently feel as though these three clubs have a bit more identity than what I had in the past.   Hopefully that kind of clarity leads to more confidence and clear shot selection.  

Wish me luck!

There's never really a good or bad time to make changes to the bag. I've been changing mine since May with new irons, wedges, woods, driver, and even putter. So I guess everything has changed over the last few months.

I am curious about something. You said your 3w and 5w were going the same distance. Is there a reason you went 3w instead of 5w? I'd assume the 5w was going higher and thus landing softer, but I know everyone's swing and ball flight can be different. I have 3/5/7 woods in my bag and on normal shots my 3w & 5w are about the same, but if I nut the 3w I do get more out of it. So I'm in that debate at the moment - keep both or replace the 3w with a 4 or 5 hybrid.

I think we all tinker to some degree all year with our bags, glad to hear you've found a set up that works better for you going forward.

[KevB_44]

4 minutes ago, Shrek74 said:

There's never really a good or bad time to make changes to the bag. I've been changing mine since May with new irons, wedges, woods, driver, and even putter. So I guess everything has changed over the last few months.

I am curious about something. You said your 3w and 5w were going the same distance. Is there a reason you went 3w instead of 5w? I'd assume the 5w was going higher and thus landing softer, but I know everyone's swing and ball flight can be different. I have 3/5/7 woods in my bag and on normal shots my 3w & 5w are about the same, but if I nut the 3w I do get more out of it. So I'm in that debate at the moment - keep both or replace the 3w with a 4 or 5 hybrid.

I think we all tinker to some degree all year with our bags, glad to hear you've found a set up that works better for you going forward.

So I probably should have been a little more clear.   I do get more out of the 3 Wood off of the tee than the 5 Wood.   I was pretty discriminant about using the 3 wood and would lean toward the 5 wood which had me thinking "...am I a mini-driver guy???..." I actually tried the G430LST but didn't get much more out of it versus the MAX.   

To answer your question--I think the G430 MAX 3 wood (which appears shallower to me) is more playable off of the tee versus the TSR and I believe as a result I will be a little more confident going to it and get more out of it than the TSR.   On the TSRs I would get about 260 off of the tee and I was getting 240-245 from the fairway if i had a good lie versus the 5 wood i would get 235-245 from the tee or the fairway (on average).  While i am still getting locked in with the G430's---the 3 wood is about the same from the tee but a higher flight and I have only hit 2x from the fairway (and these were clean fairway lies) and I was at about 250.   The I took the 7 wood down 1 degree in loft and it is still flying higher than the 5 wood, and from a good lie I hit the fringe from 235 (I would have played the same shot with the 5 wood honestly but I suspect I would have seen a hotter shot).   I have also used the 7 wood on a long par 3 that i scoped the flag at 218.   I purposefully hit it sky high and it came straight down it seemed.  I would have never attempted that with my 5 wood as I would have flown or skipped off the green.  I have struggled with this hole in the past, typically playing a 5 iron that would be a little short or I would pull left into a bunker.

[Josh Parker]

1 hour ago, KevB_44 said:

You have an interesting set up Josh.  
 

I am really happy with the move to 7w as I think I needed a bit more gap and while I haven’t had the opportunity yet, I think I have a better shot of holding some greens. (I have not had a high success rate with anything greater than 5i).  I wanted that 5 wood bad when I got it, but it was only a small increment less that the 3 wood and better in a less than perfect lie.  I thing the ping 3 wood will be a little friendlier and the 7 wood will be much better from

poor lies.  
 

The I crossover has been used only occasionally and a bit of an exotic club but I think now it is a 5 wood and or a low trajectory 3wood.  I need to spend some time working with it beyond just seeing how far I can hit it.  

I wouldn't mind trying a 7w over the hybrid. The 4w is turned down to 16*

My course calls for use of everything but the hybrid.  It's a good club for rough or needing to hit a dart on windy days on par 5s but I don't use it often.  I use both the 4w and 5w off the tee on several holes. 

[KC Golf]

I have tested a few things and I am finding the 5FW goes too far for me, so I need a 7W.  Liking the TSR3, but I guess I should try the GT.

This part of the bag is a challenge for me.  My hybrid / driving iron are a mixed formula for me.  None working well for me.

 

[KevB_44]

I have spent too much money and tried too many hybrids---callaway, cobra, titleist (3 and 4 H) with the stiffest, heaviest shafts, adjusted flat, to see most balls go sailing left....   I don't know why....   That is why I went to the iCrossover which was much better for me, but friends of mine have tried it and handed it right back clinging to their hybrids....  

This area has at times been a struggle for me and fortunately I don't have to make a lot of these long distance shots as if I make a good drive I am in range with my favorite club the 5 iron on par 5s, but if i miss hit the drive or i am playing an exceptionally long par 5, i didn't always have a good answer.   Not that I think I have it figured out, but I think now I have a few more shots from 200+ that previously took more luck than I care to rely on.  There are a few holes that I can think of that I may play differently in the future---maybe 7 woods versus trying to clear a pond with the driver and then pitch it in, etc....

 

[TJ Hall]

1 hour ago, KevB_44 said:

I have spent too much money and tried too many hybrids---callaway, cobra, titleist (3 and 4 H) with the stiffest, heaviest shafts, adjusted flat, to see most balls go sailing left....   I don't know why....   That is why I went to the iCrossover which was much better for me, but friends of mine have tried it and handed it right back clinging to their hybrids....  

This area has at times been a struggle for me and fortunately I don't have to make a lot of these long distance shots as if I make a good drive I am in range with my favorite club the 5 iron on par 5s, but if i miss hit the drive or i am playing an exceptionally long par 5, i didn't always have a good answer.   Not that I think I have it figured out, but I think now I have a few more shots from 200+ that previously took more luck than I care to rely on.  There are a few holes that I can think of that I may play differently in the future---maybe 7 woods versus trying to clear a pond with the driver and then pitch it in, etc....

 

I have never found a hybrid that I’ve agreed with, just can’t hit ‘em.  Found some utility irons that I love.

My dad plays a number of hybrids and will never look back at a long iron again!

[Shrek74]

1 hour ago, KevB_44 said:

I have spent too much money and tried too many hybrids---callaway, cobra, titleist (3 and 4 H) with the stiffest, heaviest shafts, adjusted flat, to see most balls go sailing left....   I don't know why....   That is why I went to the iCrossover which was much better for me, but friends of mine have tried it and handed it right back clinging to their hybrids....  

This area has at times been a struggle for me and fortunately I don't have to make a lot of these long distance shots as if I make a good drive I am in range with my favorite club the 5 iron on par 5s, but if i miss hit the drive or i am playing an exceptionally long par 5, i didn't always have a good answer.   Not that I think I have it figured out, but I think now I have a few more shots from 200+ that previously took more luck than I care to rely on.  There are a few holes that I can think of that I may play differently in the future---maybe 7 woods versus trying to clear a pond with the driver and then pitch it in, etc....

 

I'm like your buddies. Never been able to hit utility irons, but have no issues hitting a hybrid. I'm in the discussion portion of replacing my 5-iron with a hybrid so I can keep my 3/5/7 woods.