Demo day revalation.

haplesshacker

haplesshacker

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Verwood, Dorset.
mid-life-crisis-man.blogspot.co.uk
Having just finished my weekly round today, the club had a TM demo day with the TM guy there and all the gubbins.

Current set up.

Mizuno MX500 12.5 reg Exsar shaft.
Ping G10 15.5 3 wood reg.
Mizuno CLK 17 reg.
Mizuno CLK 20reg.
Mizuno MX19 irons.

Normal shot shape, is a low flying hook and occasional high push.

Now, as you can probably tell I'm a bit of a Mizuno tart. But since the G10, I've become more open minded.

First off. Driver.

Hit the 12 deg Burner with neautral set up and reg shaft. Flight was my usual shape. So I was then offered one with a yellow stiffer and heavier shaft, but same head. Wow what a difference. Much straighter. Apparently it's not that I have a particularly fast swing, but more to do with a 'strong left side'!? So that was good. Wanted to try the R9, but they don't have a 12 degree yet apparently. But knowing TM, one will be out shortly, wink, wink!!

Next I tried the Tour Preferred 6 iron. By rights (as a 27 h'capper) I shouldn't be able to hit these. They have a small sweet spot, a noticeably smaller head, narrower soles and thinner top line than my MX19's. But as they have alot less offset compared to my MX19's, he thought that it would help with my typical shot shape.

First shot vibrated through my body, urgh! Dont like that feeling. But every shot after than was straight / draw with good height and landing 160 ish. (I'm aware of the stronger lofts of the TM range of irons!) Reading the blurb on the TM website. These Tour Preferred irons are supposed to have a lower ball flight. Not for me they didn't. In fact I really liked what they did shape wise.

Am I wrong in thinking that I really shouldn't be trying these better player irons at my level, or has anybody else at the higher handicap end, play with minimum offset clubs and stiff shafted drivers?

After today, I will never buy an off the shelf club again from AG, DG etc. CF isn't just for better players. Us 'hackers' can benefit from it just as much, if not more so, than the better players. Also bear in mind that this was Mk1 eyeball stuff on the range, and not computor generated fitting either.

Try it for yourselves. I think it would be worth it.
 
Hi Hapless,

I know exactly what you mean.

I was at a Cobra demo day the other month and was hitting the Pro CB`s beautifully!! As a fellow high handicapper this just should not have happened :)

My opinion is that on any given day, any standard golfer can hit a blade well, the difference is on a bad day, when everything isn't clicking right, it would be a disaster :o without the forgiviness of cavity backs/large sweetspots etc.

And as high handicappers we (no offence) will have those bad days more often that the single digit guys.

Just me opinion, may be rubbish.... :)

Rob2.

PS: In response to one of your previous posts, cheque sent for Belfry this morning, both days, going solo and mines a guinness :D :D :D
 
I've hit a few shots with TM T/P irons (from the states) and they were sweet.

Then again, so were most of my shots with Mizuno TP11 blades about 15 years ago. Anyone can hit a player's iron....it's just what happens when it goes a bit "off".

In fairness, the irons you are talking about are pretty friendly i.m.o. like a game improvement but not with the nasty offset and massive chunky-wunkies.....

Nice.....but, how much???? :mad:

If you have a hook, you should defo look at non-offset....
 
Yeah, may well have been. The amount of offset required will always be different from person to person depending on grip strength/club release etc etc.

If you have found the right club for you then you had better get your wallet out!! :)

Rob2
 
Obviously, I've never met you, or seen you swing a golf club, but a thought entered my head, uninvited, so I thought I'd share it. Feel free to refute :cool:

You may well be a high handicapper, but you obviously think about the game a lot.

Is it possible that you are actually a better player than the average 27 handicapper. ?

Why do you play to 27 ? Is it because you don't have the talent to improve ? Or is it because you are comfortable playing and improving at your own rate ? Or are you just lazy ? ;)

If you put me out on the course at the moment, I'd struggle to play to any handicap at all. But I'm playing with Titleist 962s - clubs that are so much better than I am. But rather than being frustrated when I hit the inevitable poor / bloody awful shot, these clubs talk to me. They're prodding me all the time to practise more, until I become worthy of them.

Maybe better clubs would push you to become a better player :D
 
Craphacker.

I think you have a point.

As to my ability. I think the forumers that have played with me are better placed to comment, as is Paul OH from GM. Though I haven't played anyone from the forum very well at my home club!
I tend to play either very well for my h'cap or knocking up 7, 8, 9, 10 plus a few times a round. Thus why my h'cap is 27.

Some say, that I can play far better than my h'cap suggests. But I always think it's folks taking pity and just being nice to me. I don't really believe them though!

I'm also cautious regarding 'better' clubs after some of the reports we've had on here from mid h'cappers struggling with 'better' irons.
 
Craphacker.

I think you have a point.

As to my ability. I think the forumers that have played with me are better placed to comment, as is Paul OH from GM. Though I haven't played anyone from the forum very well at my home club!
I tend to play either very well for my h'cap or knocking up 7, 8, 9, 10 plus a few times a round. Thus why my h'cap is 27.
Some say, that I can play far better than my h'cap suggests. But I always think it's folks taking pity and just being nice to me. I don't really believe them though!

I'm also cautious regarding 'better' clubs after some of the reports we've had on here from mid h'cappers struggling with 'better' irons.
Click to expand...

So we'll put you in the 'lazy' category then :rolleyes:





JOKE !!!! :eek:

I'll agree with everyone's fears about playing with tricky clubs. There will be days when it just doesn't work. You have to accept that. But when you ( me ;) ) hit a 'proper' iron onto the green it feels better than hitting a GI iron - the GI iron helped, but to hit the 'pro' club it was me that did it. Totally me, no help with technology. ( shhh I know the frailty of this argument )

Does that make any sense ?

It boils down to how you like to play the game. Make it as easy as possible, and be a bandit off your handicap on your day.

Or push yourself a tad harder, and have a ready made excuse when you inevitably cock up :rolleyes:

Of course, when I can afford to change my clubs, we'll see if I've got the balls to back up my own argument, :D
 
Hapless,

I've played with you and I think you are definitely a better player than your handicap suggests. Personally I think you may be in the "overthinking" category, and my bet is that one day soon a switch will be triggered (in your head or your swing!), it will come together and you'll get to low twenties in the blink of an eye.

just my 2p. ;)
 
Some say, that I can play far better than my h'cap suggests. But I always think it's folks taking pity and just being nice to me. I don't really believe them though!
Click to expand...

A bit off topic...I'm always intrigued when people make judgements about a player based on a general impression.
I've heard good players and Pro's say stuff like "ooh, you must be a bandit off that mate" and similar.

I expect a high h'cap player to hit some good shots and to hit some bad, probably far more costly than in my nightmares.

If folk say you seem good for 27 (or whatever) I say you should take the compliment and take huge heart as well.
What this means is that "if and when" you really get to grips with all the aspects of your game, you could be a player off a really nice h'cap.

I improved most during a period playing with a set of Tommy Armour 845s. (21-9) These were a mid-level club (in term's of forgiveness), but also played by a few tour players as well (Davis Love III i.i.r.c.) I honestly believe that "having" to hit the ball better to get the most out of them helped my game no end.

What am I saying?....anyone should consider a set of "proper" irons if they are keen and want to "focus" their work to get better. If I'd had a set of Big Berthas (original-ish ones from 1995?), I'm sure they'd have spoiled me rotten. Get a nice set, but just beware of the gleaming blades.

If you can hit a good ball and folk compliment you, read into it that they are not only impressed by the good shots, but are willing you to get better. I "will" all my regulars to get better, so many of them play some cracking golf at times and I'm jealous.....difference is, I dink it around steady and they have moments that cost them dear.....


:)
 
I have to say I've been beating the demo day drum for a whil eon here. They really are a good free way to get to try the latest gear and get some good C/F advice at the same time. I'm going to the TM one soon to try the our Preferred model.

I've heard enough people HH that say you have the game to be better so I'd take it as a compliment and jsut do what is right for you and your game/life balance in terms of trying to improve. If you get the burning desire then lessons and hit the range. If not stick with what you have and enjoy the game and wait for your day(s) of glory to come. The game is there it justs needs to manifest itself so just keep the faith
 
Ok, it is cobblers to say high hcappers need gi kit to improve. But, most high h/cappers hit a weak slice, so they benefit from offset heads and heal weighting.

BUT,

Golfers like HH, whose bad shot (average shot?) is left biased, would benefit from players clubs, less offset, maybe less spin promoting.

Get c/f'ed, see what works, open mind, etc.

Don't just go with the flow.
 
Thinking of going to the Cobra open day in Leeds in July with a view at looking at the S9 fairway and driver, do you guys think they custom the shafts on the S9 range or will it just be the L5V driver they custom the shafts for? Otherwise if not might as well buy off the shelf and save online.
 
Not sure what sort of range of shafts they do.

I have an open mind TBH with the driver.
Was C/F for mine but sort of fallen out with it.
I have been working on my alignment and when I catch the sweetspot it goes well. Trouble is I think the sweetspot is just that,,,, a spot!!! :rolleyes:
 
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