Comments on: The Dream Season

By: Sure Signs of Spring | The Sand Trap

Sure Signs of Spring | The Sand Trap — Fri, 14 Mar 2008 14:22:49 +0000

[...] going to be gone. Winter is getting its last gasps in around here, and it's about time. We've been dreaming about golf for far too long. It's time to get out in the mud and hit some [...]

By: Drew

Drew — Mon, 25 Feb 2008 12:53:57 +0000

Move south!!! I'm from Dayton, but I go to college in Atlanta largely because of the weather. The end of January/beginning of February was always the worst part of the year for me because I was getting antsy, but spring was still so far off.

By: Jay Man

Jay Man — Mon, 25 Feb 2008 04:06:14 +0000

Thank you for your insight on new technology and the like. I am similarly Northerly challenged ( Thunder Hill, Madison Ohio) although my roots are in the south...(Bay Hill to be exact). It's taken me along time to understand the importance of the properly set up golf club. Thirty Six years to be exact. When my grandfather took me out to play when I was young it was whack it and find it. Since then, I've been in the rough, the trees, the ponds, the bunkers, and even hit the parkin lot a few times...just don't mention that to my insurance company...heheh. The older and hopefully wiser I get however I've realized the importance of matching my equipment to "My" game. I'm not tall....5'7" on a good day. I am somewhat athletic however and have some power when it's warm. I've played around with my golf shafts and have found a combination that works for me. If the average player could take the time understand their respective swing characteristics especially with regard to lie angle, shaft flex, and of course launch angle it could only help them. I thought I was a pretty long hitter ...and I am at my local club but...My ball speed was averaging between 155 and 165 on the monitor. Respectable for sure but not crazy speed. The average guy thinks he hits it way farther than he really does. Although I do hit it out there (250+) I would venture to guess realisticly my average drive is in the 245 range and carry even less than that. Don't get me wrong I impress my friends with the high launch downwind 300 yarder sometimes but that is rare. Be a realist...find your swing speed.....your playing conditions....firm fairways....soft fairways......do you need carry or can you run the ball. All these factors when put together can make an average golfer ...goood and a really good golfer great.

By: Allin

Allin — Fri, 22 Feb 2008 16:56:36 +0000

Sorry hit wrong button, meant to quote then respond. Eric your right, but the game of golf is right from Cervantes. Common sense will give way to the search for that tiny bit more and golf fanatics will overdo the shaft changes.

By: Allin

Allin — Fri, 22 Feb 2008 16:52:33 +0000

Erik J. Barzeski said on February 22, 2008:

Club fitters will tell you that your ideal ball flight is always your ideal ball flight with the driver - it matters not whether you're facing a little more wind, firmer fairways, etc. - players are best served finding the best ball flight for their swing and then sticking to it except in extreme cases.

Additionally, and unlike pros, amateurs aren't skilled enough to really notice much of a difference day to day. Changing the shaft of their driver out won't cure their 30-yard slice or that topped drive they seem to hit every round. And it certainly won't help their short game.

I think the "shaft swapping" technology serves two useful purposes, and they're both related to fitting. The first is that it will make fitting easier. No longer will manufacturers need to stock hundreds of driver head/loft/shaft combinations. That's handy not only for drivers, but for irons as well. Second, if the tech gets a little cheaper, customers can buy the club they've hit rather than order one with the same specs and hope they're identical.

By: Erik J. Barzeski

Erik J. Barzeski — Fri, 22 Feb 2008 06:15:15 +0000

Club fitters will tell you that your ideal ball flight is always your ideal ball flight with the driver - it matters not whether you're facing a little more wind, firmer fairways, etc. - players are best served finding the best ball flight for their swing and then sticking to it except in extreme cases. Additionally, and unlike pros, amateurs aren't skilled enough to really notice much of a difference day to day. Changing the shaft of their driver out won't cure their 30-yard slice or that topped drive they seem to hit every round. And it certainly won't help their short game. I think the "shaft swapping" technology serves two useful purposes, and they're both related to fitting. The first is that it will make fitting easier. No longer will manufacturers need to stock hundreds of driver head/loft/shaft combinations. That's handy not only for drivers, but for irons as well. Second, if the tech gets a little cheaper, customers can buy the club they've hit rather than order one with the same specs and hope they're identical.