I Need Your Club Advice/Help, please!

**dweso** · January 30, 2009

Here's my story...

I'm almost 20 years old and I've been playing golf for about 10 years now, so I'm really not that new to the game, but recently (end of last season) I've hit a real rough patch in my game and while I know clubs aren't everything, I'm seeking advice or just others opinions to help my game.

If I had to describe my game in one word it would be INCONSISTENT. I'm about a 15 handicap, but I can shoot anywhere from a 75 a couple times a year to 100 about a dozen times a year. It is really frustrating considering I belong to a country club and play about 2 to 3 times a week. I am coming to the realization that I am really just not a strong ball striker, as that is really the weakest part of my game and I have taken lessons on and off for years so that's really not an answer either.

You can see in my sig the current set of sticks I'm playing with. Money really isn't an issue, but we'd all like to spend less money if we have to. If you have any comment on clubs for me like I'm not good enough for the current set I have, or something of that nature let me know or anything else. Or if you have any club reccomendations...etc. Don't be afraid to hurt my feelings, I'm really just looking to gain consistency.

Thanks for any help/advice anyone can provide me with! I'm looking forward to discussing any reccomendations.

**-BAMA-** · January 30, 2009

if you're really that inconsistent why not try a different ball?? ive found that helps sometimes...

prov1's aint exactly for inconsistent ball strikers... wouldnt hurt to have some cavity backs... but im a firm believer in buying clubs out of your skill range so you learn to hit the ball right, instead of buying stupidly offset clubs that fix your slice for you...

**Jay-Bird** · January 30, 2009

You should definitely dump the MP57s. I'll buy them!

Seriously though, those are great clubs and should be perfect for you. Why are you an inconsistent ball striker? How often do you actually practice productively (goal oriented, working on your weaknesses)?

Most inconsistencies come from lack of practice. The more you practice, the more the muscles and brain will work together to repeat what they're used to. You can't just play once every couple of weeks, and hit balls for the hell of it.

Practice with a purpose, work on the things you are worst at. Focus on the ball. Hit through the ball, not at it. Work on shots, not just blasting ball after ball. Hit cuts, hooks, knock-downs, low runners, flops, punches, high fades, power draws etc.

**walfice** · January 30, 2009

If you feel like you are not a good ball striker then make life easier for yourself by using a more lofted driver (10.5*), you could always lower the trajectory with a lower launching shaft. Also, as nice as your irons are, they are not the most forgiving. Maybe try an iron with a larger head (if you don't mind that look), people tell me that Callaways are pretty forgiving, or maybe try the MX line of Mizuno's. The 585h you have isn't very forgiving for a hybrid, maybe demo a cleveland, taylormade etc. Just some ideas.

**dweso** · January 30, 2009

I'd say in the summer I play 3 to 4 rounds a week and maybe spend an hour on the range a week, I'm not big on the range just bacause it seems to make me worse haha.

You think I should dump the MP-57s or were you kidding?

**dweso** · January 30, 2009

If you feel like you are not a good ball striker then make life easier for yourself by using a more lofted driver (10.5*), you could always lower the trajectory with a lower launching shaft. Also, as nice as your irons are, they are not the most forgiving. Maybe try an iron with a larger head (if you don't mind that look), people tell me that Callaways are pretty forgiving, or maybe try the MX line of Mizuno's. The 585h you have isn't very forgiving for a hybrid, maybe demo a cleveland, taylormade etc. Just some ideas.

My dad has the newest big berthas and I hit them good, but I feel like im swinging mallets for irons haha, and I've never been a huge callaway fan. I like the feel of mizunos, so you think the mx line would be easier for me to strike?

And you are totally right about the 585h, i just got the sonartec and i like it so much better. I would say the irons have been the major striking problem and the driver just goes everywhere.

**Jay-Bird** · January 30, 2009

You think I should dump the MP-57s or were you kidding?

Kidding!

Were you fit for the PX 6.0 shafts? On the driver consistency issue, Do you always tee it up in the same place (relative to your stance) and do you tee it up the same height every time? Those two elements are very important in my opinion.

**dweso** · January 30, 2009

I was fitted, but you kow how some shops just try and get you into something they want you to buy. Also I was playing really well at that time.

Anybody have any other club ideas?

**walfice** · January 30, 2009

Something to try with your driver is to take an inch off the shaft. The longer it is the wilder things can get. 230 yds down the middle is much better than 280 yds in the trees, more loft will straighten it out too.
I am not a fan of oversized irons (most manufacturers have their own variation of the big berthas if you don't like callaway, Nike slingshot for example) but ask yourself why you playing the game, is it to have a bag full of good looking equipment or a good looking score card? If a mallet on the end of a rusty stick take a few shots off your score them keep them in the bag.

**walfice** · January 30, 2009

What is the problem with your iron play? Is it hooking, slicing, hitting fat or thin?

**dweso** · January 30, 2009

thats very true, thats the idea ive been battling with for a couple years with titleist and mizuno irons and now the older i get, the more i realize its about a consistent score then good looking clubs.

**dweso** · January 30, 2009

the irons are more of a fat and thin kinda thing.

**Par Fore** · January 30, 2009

75-100 is a huge difference.....HUGE.....

Since you mentioned irons, I'm guessing that the scoring difference is in your irons.....I am guessing that you have a solid short game, can get up and down reasonably well, manage a reasonable number of putts, and don't have big issues off the tee....the reason I am trying to eliminate all these:

Driver - it can cause you 4+ strokes a round, and often many more....I only hit driver on wide open holes.....otherwise, I poke a 3W out 230, or hit a 3I about 210......unless wide open, I hit 3I off the tee on holes less than 330, and 3wd off the tee on holes less than 360.....try it out, being in bounds and out of water is a big key to scoring...

100 yards in - lot of strokes here, how is your bunker play, chipping, and wedges.....you should always be able to get down in 3 when within 100 yards....

I bring these two up because these parts of your game, coupled with course management, make a huge difference in score.....play smart shots, play to the center of the fairway, to the center of the green....

If it is truly your irons, Mizuno makes some great cavity backs....a buddy of mine also loved his Ping I10's.....he just switched to some Ping S57's.....upon leaving the range, he called me and said (hey, I just figured out I have a slice, those I10's were covering up my swing flaws).....cavity backs do help and can improve your scores....

**walfice** · January 30, 2009

the irons are more of a fat and thin kinda thing.

Then I would demo (on turf, not a mat) something with a wider sole (maybe ping G10's, they look pretty good) they offer greater forgiveness on fatter shots.

**dweso** · January 30, 2009

how does anyone feel about the forgiveness of the mx line compared to my mp-57s?

**leo3** · January 30, 2009

The MX line is way more forgiving than the MP line. I don't really care for the blue/yellow graphics on the new Mx100 & MX200's, prefer the cleaner look of the MX19's & MX25's that they replaced. That being said, I also don't buy into "growing into your clubs', play what allows you to score well with the swing you have, not everyone has the ball striking ability to score with blades, a large number of tour players use cavity backs.

**walfice** · January 30, 2009

The MX line are certainly more forgiving, I think the MX 200 irons are also forged. Try to demo them along with a few other clubs, without any brand prejudice! Lol

**elchene** · January 30, 2009

how does anyone feel about the forgiveness of the mx line compared to my mp-57s?

The MX line is definitely much more forgiving. But... if you like the way the 57s look, keep them because they are pretty forgiving irons. Switching to a shovel may not be the answer.

As for my odd advice, maybe you should get a set of blades and practice with them until you start hitting it pure... then you're bad days won't be so bad. I've noticed that in the last year and a half since I've had "blades" (are the 32s blades?) my bad ball-striking days are actually quite manageable. I've shot 45 on nine holes without hitting a GIR but my ball was at least always close to the green. I also had an 8 GIR in a 9 hole round in a high-school match, (I got up and down on the last hole after the missed green because I was on the fringe) something I never would have dreamed of before I started using blades. With blades, your bad ball-striking days won't be so bad and so often. That's just my philosophy and opinion though. If all else fails, getting lessons from a pro different from the ones you've had in the past could help. A better understanding of your swing may kill the inconsistency - as you will know how to fix your natural tendencies/faults.

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I Need Your Club Advice/Help, please!

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