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That's probably your problem. You shouldn't try to hammer a driver. Think 90 yard wedge shot. In fact, hit a perfect 90 yard wedge shot and then take that swing to your driver. Repeat. I cut my driver to 43.5". Works for me. I'm 5 10"Quote:
Originally Posted by commonlaw
If you guys happen to see Adidas Adipure or tour 360's on those DoD sites, please give me a shout. Need a size 10, can pretty easily deal with a 9.5.
I think I meant hitting it long by using the proper, controlled swing, not by trying to over-hit. But your post is my exact problem. Nothing about my driver swing feels the same as my wedge shots, although I know it should. My take-away feels similar, but I have a metal block re: the club length and feel like it is difficult to get it around on plane, clearing my hips and getting out of my own way to make a proper down-swing.I have hit some nice drives in my day, they are just so few and far between. The best ones are, as you imply, a result of good tempo and not trying to overhit.Quote:
Originally Posted by 4matic
I can hit my longer irons fine but like having a 4 hybrid/rescue for when the ball is sitting down off the fairway and an iron's going to grab. I only use it once every couple rounds but it always saves me strokes. People love the shit out of the TM RocketBallz* rescue, I've heard more than one unsolicited rave while out on the course.
You should definitely get on a launch monitor- indoor or outdoor- and hit some drivers. Part of confidence is knowing you have the right club and it might be that your current setup just produces way too much spin. And some of the newer drivers are just ridiculously forgiving- I hit a ball off the toe the other day and figured it was gone, but it just turned into a 250-yard draw that ran out another 30 yards.
*just a terrible name
I want that :) What driver are you using?Quote:
Originally Posted by Steven S. Dallas
Assuming the Ping G20 and TM R11 are in a lot of bags?
This is what a lot of it boils down to. I can hit other people's drivers considerably better because I have so little faith in my old pile of shit. I am ready to have a bag full of stuff I love as much as possible and then I can fully blame my poor game on myself.Quote:
Originally Posted by Steven S. Dallas
Another thing that worked for me recently (I'd been hitting 3 wood off the tee for more than a year) was to just hit driver on the range. literally hundreds of drivers. Maybe 300 in one session! That first session was horrific I never did quite get the feel. But, by hitting all those drivers you eventually get tired and your swing naturally slows down. The next session was better and now I know what I'm doing wrong and can fix it. Still not perfect but much better.Quote:
Originally Posted by commonlaw
Oh yeah, the shaft is what makes a driver. All the 460cc heads are pretty similar.
It's actually a 2009 TaylorMade Burner. Best launch monitor results for me even though it's not the latest and greatest.
The G20, i20, and R11 were my favorite new drivers.
Once I find the best* driver for me, I am going to murder the range with it.
Final question, and again I know it has much to do with my own swing and launch, but what lofts are people using these days with their driver?
* Final concern, a little apprehensive about buying new clubs that simply produce the best result for MY swing. My swing needs work, so I feel like I need theoretically better clubs, not practically. Not sure how to differentiate between the right club because it supplied a better outcome, and the club that will produce the better outcome if/once I get my swing more dialed.
I enjoyed the new Ping driver, can't remember if it was the i20 or G20. Not gloating, but the one that was more geared towards "players." 9.5, but I can't say I know what is best for me on the launch angle thingy.
I have mixed feelings about this. Golf will never be my job, so why not get a Game Improvement set that lets me score better with shitty contact? But, part of the fun of golf is the constant battle to improve... it is a tough question. Bottom line is, when you hit a pure shot that does just what you want it to, it is the best game in the world.Quote:
Originally Posted by commonlaw
9.5 driver for me (TM Superdeep) - I get it out there pretty good with a nice high launch, I do have trouble keeping it low when it is windy. I think the ideal launch angle for distance is 14 and change so get on a monitor with a tunable driver and you can dial it in pretty easy.
As for irons, try some of the bridgestones if you can find them. My bro got a set of J36 combos (blades/cavity/split cavity) that feel real nice. I think they might be the same molds as the nike VR pro combo!?!
Hey, hey! Alright!Quote:
Originally Posted by jfost
I don't think it makes sense to choose clubs based on the player you want to or think you should be. And there are a lot of very workable, yet forgiving, cavity or semi-cavity backed sets out there that will work fine for anyone within the range of +20 to +5.
^ Yes.
but I also don't think someone who is working hard to improve their game should buy a set that is designed for a particular plateau. When I go back and hit my old high-school set of King Cobra II's I can't do anything with them. There is a TON of offset and a smooth spot in the center of the face where the grooves dont cross (presumably to limit sidespin) It almost isn't fun to play with those. So the balance is in finding a set that lets you be who you want to be. If you play once a month and drink a 6pack per side, who cares, get something easy to hit.
It isn't unlike skiing, is it?
edit: ^^ it IS a freaking battle too!
Annika used cavity backs her whole career.Quote:
Originally Posted by Steven S. Dallas
Per the top 20 in the world...
1. Luke Donald - Cavity
2. Rory McIlroy - Blade
3. Lee Westwood - Cavity
4. Tiger Woods - Blade
5. Bubba Watson - Cavity
6. Matt Kuchar - Cavity
7. Justin Rose - Blade
8. Hunter Mahan - Cavity
9. Jason Dufner - Cavity
10. Martin Kaymer - Blade
11. Steve Stricker - Cavity
12. Phil Mickelson – Cavity/Blade Mix
13. Webb Simpson - Blade
14. Charl Schwartzel - Cavity
15. Louis Oosthuizen - Cavity
16. Zach Johnson - Cavity
17. Adam Scott - Blade
18. Rickie Fowler -Blade
19. Jason Day -Cavity
20. Dustin Johnson – Blade recently
Quote:
Originally Posted by 4matic
cool info. thanks.
I was agreeing with you. I caught some guff here earlier for saying the same fucking thing. I'm sure it was out of context though.Quote:
Originally Posted by jfost
Edit: I bet almost half of those cavity back players play the AP2. It's a wonderful club.
That's why I really like the idea of those combo sets, or at least sets that are designed to change the forgiveness/workability ratio across the irons. I certainly don't have the same swing everytime, but I can hit a much more repeatable PW than a 3I...
http://www.golfsmith.com/product/300...h-steel-shafts
/\/\/\/\
Those made a shit ton of sense to me, and for the high handicapper, the cavity back to hybrid makes a shit ton of sense to me too.
guroo - haha, I guess I didn't catch it when you said it... hmmm, may have to try me some AP2's someday. I have Forged CCI's from a few years back - they sure are plain-jane but nice feel when well struck. I bought them thinking that the additional feedback would help me learn vs. something like TM Burner's... I am playing better than I ever did, but I'm still only a bogey golfer. Waaaaay less blowup holes than I used to have though.
edit: I think it is getting harder to categorize blade/CB's anymore. And as for the tour pros, their shit is bent, ground, shafted, and swingweighted to perfection anyway, so it may be a bit hard to compare to mostly off the rack sets. I had the golftec set analysis done, and I guess I was within spec for my CCI's and VR wedges, so we didn't change a thing loft/lie-wise.
For spook (these are specs on my CCI's, which I think are pretty "standard" lofts at least historically. many new clubs are stronger, like the TM Burner series and prob the RBZ's too) *********
Club Loft Bounce Offset
---- ---- ------ ------
PW 47° 9° 0.080"
9I 43° 8° 0.080"
8I 39° 7° 0.080"
7I 35° 6° 0.095"
6I 31° 5° 0.110"
5I 27° 4° 0.125"
4I 24° 3° 0.140"
3I 21° 2° 0.155"
2I 18° 1° 0.170"
(I don't carry the 2I)
woods are TM Superdeep in 9.5, and TM R9 in 19deg (5wd), wedges are 52/10, 56/14, and 60/6. Again, I am just a bogey golfer but got this setup looking to improve. It is working because when I bought this stuff a few years ago, I was mid-high 90's, now I am right around 90 most of the time and shot a legit 83 about 6 months ago. (I usually only get out for 9 so I don't have a real HCP)
Right, but the cavity backs that these guys use might not be appropriate for a 20 handicapper. I'm not saying that good players only play blades, I'm mostly saying that bad players shouldn't because they might someday be good. And that Commonlaw shouldn't worry about outgrowing his irons.Quote:
Originally Posted by 4matic
I've got some Nike Slingshots I've had for a few years and plan to keep for a while. They have a more classic look than the newer versions. Regular steel shafts. Graphite shafts feel weird to me on irons.
Went out for the first time this weekend, had a good time, man you really have to practice and know what to look for if you want to hit it decent.
Also to Spook, not too many years ago, when hitting the ball farther was getting so much emphasis, some of the sneakier companies changed their loft on their clubs 2 degrees or so, so instead of hitting a a 5 iron, you were hitting something between a 4 and a 5. And OH LOOOK, this 5 iron goes 8 yards farther than the one I have! WOW! So it's at least something to look at when you're buying new clubs. If you are hitting one better and it's going shorter, check the lofts.
My current clubs are kinda bladey, and I love the feel I get with them when struck well, but know I am leaving shots on the course.
And, much like skiing, I try to find what I will have the most fun with but golf just seems a bit different for me. I have a new urge to really get good at this game. It used to be a round every other week or so, moderately disciplined play. My sports analogies to tennis are probably old hat by now, but it is the one sport that I know the best: I used a smaller, less forgiving head as a youngster because I knew that if I got good enough, it would be an amazing feel and I would be able to do more with it. I never regret that decision and frankly still like my old 85 sq in sticks better than the new shit I demo. I plan to treat golf with the same discipline.
Old school dudes think any beginner should play a small blade type to progress faster. I tend to agree with that statement for the serious player and anyone that practices more than 1x per week.
The choice to hit blades or cavity backs should be made depending on your current ball flight and ball speed. A 6 iron with a ball speed above 120 can choose whatever they like for feel. People who hit the ball too low will benefit from any cavity back and vise versa, a high ball flight will really like a blade if they can hit it.
Many so-called cavity back designs, are really just more forgiving blades. Small head, virtually no offset ( offset can be another discussion entirely) and a more narrow sole. Cast or forged, the shape of the head and the amount of offset and sole width really determine flight.
You can buy a better game. Don't let the old school guys tell you otherwise.
No! DO NOT use the same swing for your driver as your wedges. Maybe the same type of easy tempo, but other than that those clubs should be swung very differently.Quote:
Originally Posted by 4matic
Also: where did you get that list of the top golfers and the iron style they use? Did it also list the specific clubs?