OT: MGoGolfers: What's in your bag?
It has been really slow the past couple of days so I thought it would be alright to have an OT post. I have seen in the past that there are a lot of golf fans on the board so I figured there were lots of golfers as well.
For my part the I have loved the game since I first player during my teens. I actually got pretty good during my late teens, getting down to a 2 handicap when I was 20 (and playing every day, sometimes up to 36 holes a day). The thing I really like about the sport is that it is pretty easy to be good enough to enjoy the game, but it is incredibly difficult to get to an elite level.
Once I got married my golfing days took a big hit and over the past 11 years I average about 3 rounds a year and my game has really fallen off a cliff. I have decided this year I would try to get out more often and in doing so just bought some new clubs. I purchased the Taylormade Rs11 woods and mizuno jpx irons. I have played only one round (and had various range sessions) with the clubs but like them quite a bit. I am not sure the adjustability does much on the clubs though, I htink that might just be a gimmick.
Anyway, I'm wondering what clubs people are using. Maybe a brief review and possibly what your favorite club is?
For me I have never had any use for (or luck with) my long irons. Anything above a 6 has always been useless for me which has always reeked havoc with my game. I can hit my 7 about 180-190 yards, my 6 about 195-210 and my 5 about 160....4 and 3 I don't even want to get into.
My favorite club is my 7 as I have the most flewibility with it and the most control. I feel confident with it from anywhere between 160 and 190 and can usually put it pretty darn close to where I want it to go. Again though, if I find myself anywhere outside 210 and inside 240 I have nothing that hits that distance except maybe a hybrid iron if I'm lucky.
So let's hear what everyones playing with and what they think of the clubs they have. You might just help someone in making their next purchase.
a Taylormade R1. First time ever I am at the forefront of technology. I had a sizable Golf Galaxy store credit from winning an outing, so I decided why not? Found it used for $225. Love the adjustable loft feature. I'm hoping to go play it today.
Also, the RBZ 3 wood is no joke. When they say it adds 15 yards, they are not kidding. In fact, the reason I had to get a new driver is because I was hitting the RBZ 3 wood farther than my old driver.
Ok, this is starting to sound like a commercial...my irons are older Cobras (I love them), and I'm putting with a Odyssey White Ice blade. I may have to switch that up at some point, because the insert seems a bit marshmallowy on longer putts.
The only real advice I'd have for someone is to check out the used club market both online and at retailers like GG and Golfsmith. It really has saved me hundreds of dollars over the last 8-10 years.
Like you, I love my 7 iron. I can hit any shot from 170 and in with it.
And, on a course with a slope in the 120's I'm about a bogey golfer. Funny thing is, whether I play once (these days) or 15 times in a summer (before children), I'm the same. Probably because I have had the same swing since I was 7.
Weed
Titleist Driver and woods/hybrid. Scott Cameron putter. Man you hit your irons long. You hit your 5 iron 30+ yards shorter than your 6?
for some reason I can't hit my 3,4 or 5 iron with any consistency whatsoever, whether on the range or the course. It is painful to watch and even moreso to play when it's a long course where those irons would be an asset. Anyway, I can't explain it, I just can't hit them.
Even some of the top players on the regular tour have ditched their long irons (incl. 2-3-4) and replaced them with hybrids or the new round of driving irons. I believe even Tiger used one of Nike's new hybrids at Merion. The driving irons have a very low CG and might work with your swing speed if you are not a fan of hybrids. Titilest's newwest offering:
I did get a 4 and 5 hybrid in this set but have yet to try them. For some reason they freak me out a little bit. I am going to try to get to the range today and give them a shot. Hell, they can't be worse than my long irons so we'll see.
if you have trouble hitting with the irons.
My bag:
Ping i3 irons
Ping Rapture driver
Cleveland Mashie 3 hybrid
Cleveland 60* gunmetal SW
Cleveland 56* gunmetal SW
Odyssey White Hot putter
they're one of the rare Ping misses
I forgot wedges. I am using nike vr pro 54 and 58 degree wedges that I have really liked so far and they have helped my game a bit. I find the thing I lost the most from not playing a lot is touch, in that I can only basically hit most things 100%. If I am in need of anything less than a full shot I have troubles, so these clubs have helped a lot in the 100-130 yard range. Once inside 100 it's a bit of a crap shoot for me.
I actually use my 64 more than any club in my bag (sans putter). I hood it and use it to chip, very easy to pinch the ball and generate a ton of spin.
Ping is now on the sales floor of two of the biggest golf retailers in the country in Dick's Sporting Goods and Golf Galaxy.
It's only in their top 40-50 golf doors as of now, but I'm sure it's soon to be in all. I can't imagine that Ping can ignore the marketshare for too long.
I just made some upgrades to the woods in my bag. Bought the Nike Covert tour with a DI 7x shaft and the x hot pro, 13.5 three wood. Other than those two, most of my clubs are older. Cleveland halo hybrid, ping i10 irons, cleveland wedges and a Ping Anser putter. I've been debating updating my irons but they served me so well when I played in college, it's been nearly impossible to give them up.
Titleist driver (D2 or something, don't honestly remember whichwith a Booyah! graph shaft)
Taylormade V-Steel woods (with the classy steel shafts)
Titleist ZM forged blades (pitch through 3, all one inch longer and 1 degree upright)
Titleist Vokey sand wedge
Oddessey ProType Putter
Favorite clubs are the woods and the 7 iron. I never miss with them. Also that putter is pure gold. Worth every penny. For some reason I can't seem to hit that driver over thirty feet in the air despite the low flex point on the shaft designed for higher shots. Most of my distance is off roll and my drives are essentially immune to wind however I have trouble crossing water off the tee. But my 3 wood is good for at least 250 to 260 so it's not a big deal. The blades are absolute butter to hit well, and red hot pokers to hit poorly.
Unlike OP I've come to appreciate my longer irons, especially that 4 iron, and I occasionally try the Seve Ballesteros approach by using my 3 iron in the trap as practice. And if you are able to get your hands on V-Steel woods you have to get them. I have yet to hit a group of woods that comes anywhere near how they feel to hit.
Never thought I had enough game for blades, but swtiched about 5 years ago and never looked back. Coveting these, but might need to take out a second mortgage (and find a new spouse):
$2500 +/- 3-pw depending on shafts. Totally ridiculous but forged in Japan by Katsuhiro Miura.
But have you hit those in person? One of the smallest iron heads on the market...if you can perform consistently with those versus what you've already got...I'll have some mad respect for you.
These look beautiful.
Just bought the Nike VR Pro Combo irons last week and they are awesome. 3-4 irons are cavity back, 5-7 are split cavity, and the 8-PW are blades. Was a little intimidating standing over a blade for the first time, but they have a great feel and are very soft. Also have a Nike VR Pro driver from a few years ago, an old Titleist 980 fairway wood, Adams a12 Pro hybrid to replace my 3 iron, Titleist Vokey 52 and 60 degree wedges, Cleveland 56 degree, and a Ping putter that is super old and will be replaced with my next paycheck.
Shanky McHack here... Callaway Big Bertha Irons 4-10 iron and PW & SW with the Warbird driver and 3 wood and the Big Bertha Heavenwood 4H all with an Odyssey putter to round out the bag.
Just started playing last fall and now it's all I can think about (aside from Michigna football, of course). Now if only I could keep my left arm straight and my damn head down!
- TaylorMade R7 driver and fairway woods
- Scotty Cameron California Del Mar putter
Wouldn't trade my putter for anything in the world. Fantastic weighting and has shaved at least 2 strokes off my game in under a year.
To this day I regret giving up my R7. I have been through about 4 drivers since and have yet to find anything that compares.
Confession time. I am the only living person who has spent their adult life in sales that absolutely SUCKS at golf. Years ago I took lessons, bought new state-of-the-art sticks (for 1998 anyways) - Ping irons & Callway woods aaaaaaaand I still sucked. Charles Barkley type suckage. And when you work in sales you get dragged into scrambles & other outings repeatedly so all my friends and co-workers got to see just how bad I am at golf. A sleeve (or two) of lost balls per round? Almost every time.
About a year ago I decided to just give it up. I finally figured out, after about 30+ years of trying that golf was simply not my sport and it would take too much money and WAY too much time to be anything other than terrible so I gave my clubs to my youngest son and "retired" from the game. I wish you guys the best....I will no longer be slowing any of you down while I search my ball that travelled 250 yards straight and then hooked 150 yards dead left into the trees or some poor souls back yard.
I don't mean to laugh, but that post was pretty good and fairly represents my late Father. He enjoyed golf at first and was actually the one who got me into it. When, after only the first summer, I got better than him he decided to give it up pretty much because he played much like you described.
We could always convince him once every couple of years or so to join my brother and I on the course, but not too often. Anyway, good luck at whatever you chose to fill your liesure time with after you gave up on the golf, and thanks for the post. It got a laugh out of me!
Taylor Made Burner (10.5 degree loft)
Cobra Baffler T-Rail +3W (13 degrees)
Cobra Baffler Rail 2 and 4 Hybrids
Cobra Oversize Irons (6-PW): I've had these for 20 years
Calaway Jaws Wedges (52, 56, 58 and 60 Degrees)
Guerin Rife Bimini Putter
I used to hit the 2-iron like a beast, but I am a hybrid convert.
I've been hitting the TaylorMade Burner 2.0 driver very well this year too. Averaging rounds in the low 90s. Am slowly getting better.
AMP irons are an awesome choice. Too many people overlook them because of that color, but they are a fantastic blend of distance, forgiveness, and feel. "Downgraded" to them this year from TM rac MBs and they have knocked off about 5 strokes a round for me. Every level of golfer looking for a new set should give them a chance. Rest of the setup:
Cleveland HiBoreXL 9.5 (270 carry, zero roll...love it, but looking for something new)
Tour Edge Exotics XCG5 3W (230 carry)
Adams Idea Pro A12 20 deg hybrid (210 carry, drops and stops. Also, if you hook hybrids, give these a look - set up neutral and not draw biased. A lot of tour pros still use these)
Cobra AMP 4-GW (195 - 100 carry)
Callaway VIntage Forged 52 and 58 wedges (anything from 100 in)
Odyssey White Hot #6 (over a decade old, but haven't had a reason to switch)
Driver: Ping G10. Amazing value - I've yet to find a driver that's as pretty to look at over the ball, either.
Irons: TItlest 990. These have served me well even as my game has changed a lot in the 13+ years that I've had these. You can do a lot with these clubs.
Wedges: Cleveland 900 Gunmetal (52, 56, 60). These are great. The 60 is my favorite club in the bag. It's extremely versitile. I never got into Vokey wedges - never saw the appeal.
Putter: Ping Anser 2. I've always been meaning to upgrade, but this guy performs so well anytime you put a good stroke on the ball.
I totally redid the top of my bag this spring and couldn't be happier. My X-Hot hybrid really has been helping me cover that 200 yard distance when I invariably miss off the tee. The wood is sweet too as it gives you a nice POP when you hit it clean off the fairway. I would highly recommend trying these out.
X-Hot Driver (10.5 degree loft)
X-Hot Wood +3W (13 degrees)
X-Hot Hybrid (3)
Callaway X-Forged Ironss (3-PW) ...*yes, I did buy these because of Phil because I am a lefty
Calaway Forged Wedges (52, 60 Degrees)
Odyssey White HotPutter
I know you said that in jest but there has been many a time that when I lost my stroke off the tee I would tee off using my 7 iron to good effect. I don't know exactly why it has worked out this way, but for whatever reason my 7 iron has served me very well over the years. Even my friends who still golf all the time and are scratch golfers tend to wonder how the hell I get the kind of distance I do with my 7-pw. I don't know what it is, but if it weren't for those irons my game would be utter crap.
which is why I said I knew he said it in jest.