Odyssey Marksman or Cleveland Niblick.......

[Old1964]

I have given in to crutches like cavity back irons and graphite shafts...

At any rate, I played around with a Niblick a little last year and like it. While I do have a consistent game around the greens, I found the Niblick to be easy and enjoyable.

I think that lots of people have never used one and don't know that ...

1. They have shortened shaft for greater control.

2. They set up like a putter - more vertical shaft to promote a simple pendulum swing.

3. They have more bounce to prevent fat shots.

I don't know if they are heavier...can't remember that.

The zip grooves are nice as well.

[Mordan]

Originally Posted by logman

The big difference for me between a B/R with an iron and the niblick is the connection. I always seem to hit chips in the sweet spot with the niblick and it seems to be predictable. If I had to hit 100 chips with either stick I'm pretty sure I'd middle the niblick more than the 8. IMO the COG of the cleveland is lower than my 8 iron. Secondly the club 's lie angle is more upright so I can set up with my head more over the ball and swing the club with a stiff armed putting motion. Also the club feels weightier and has a wide sole which seems to make chunking less of a problem.

I carry the 42/49/56 niblicks, so no lobs. I'm just not consistent with lob wedges.

I find the 8 iron bump and run a really forgiving shot. A little thin, a touch chunky and it still rolls a pretty similar distance. It's my go to shot around the greens if suitable.

What about out of bunkers? Do you have to chip it rather than play the open faced splash?

I guess you're just going for having one reliable shot rather than lots of options that may get you in as much trouble as they save you from but I'd find it hard to give up the versatility of normal wedges around the green.

[meenman]

Originally Posted by stogiesnbogies

oh and yes my God !!  I do indeed choke down big time on my FW woods as they are amongst the longest clubs in the bag...better to sacrifice a bit of distance in the name of hitting the fairway, eh?  LOL BTW I recently changed out my 4 and 5 hybrid irons for 7 and 9 woods with solid results -averaging an extra 10 yards with minimal loss of accuracy. I also tried swapping out my 6 and 7 hybrid irons with high lofted woods (11 and 15) but found that at those distances the hybrid accuracy is more desirable as these clubs are making approach shots at greens.

I recently traded out my 4 hybrid for a 9 wood - what a difference (although with loft changes, the current 9 wood is more like an old 7 wood). My only problem is I can hit it anywhere from 175-200 yards, so consistency is definitely not there - but with the height i get from it, landings are soft if i hit the green. I also put my old 2 hybrid back in the back - only because I always slice it and it is useful when I need to make sure my miss is right.

Originally Posted by stogiesnbogies

What do you plan to do about the long putter ban? As a recreational player will you simply ignore it? I know you dont have to switch out until at least 2016 but thought you must be considering all that non-sense.

I am not yet convinced that the ban on anchoring will go through. But since I have only been playing for 5 years, 3 years is a lifetime away. If it does in fact go through, I will play with different strokes with the long putter once the anchoring ban is official and if that doesnt work, I will go back to my old scotty. My handicap goes up 3-4 strokes every winter anyway - even though it does not get that cold in Florida, I play in the morning and often do not see 60 degrees until I have played 9 holes. I do not play well in cold weather and often have 55/46 splits during the cold mornings.

Originally Posted by Mordan

I find the 8 iron bump and run a really forgiving shot. A little thin, a touch chunky and it still rolls a pretty similar distance. It's my go to shot around the greens if suitable.

What about out of bunkers? Do you have to chip it rather than play the open faced splash?

I guess you're just going for having one reliable shot rather than lots of options that may get you in as much trouble as they save you from but I'd find it hard to give up the versatility of normal wedges around the green.

In soft sand, I play my 56 like a typical sand shot, hitting a few inches behind and splashing out.

We have problems at our course with the bunkers sometimes being rock hard - If I cant putt out (which I only do when playing with the superintendent to piss him off), I use a low bounce 60 degree.

[Ernest Jones]

Originally Posted by meenman

We have problems at our course with the bunkers sometimes being rock hard - If I cant putt out (which I only do when playing with the superintendent to piss him off), I use a low bounce 60 degree.

Subtle and funny!

[stogiesnbogies]

Originally Posted by meenman

I recently traded out my 4 hybrid for a 9 wood - what a difference (although with loft changes, the current 9 wood is more like an old 7 wood). My only problem is I can hit it anywhere from 175-200 yards, so consistency is definitely not there - but with the height i get from it, landings are soft if i hit the green. I also put my old 2 hybrid back in the back - only because I always slice it and it is useful when I need to make sure my miss is right.

I am not yet convinced that the ban on anchoring will go through. But since I have only been playing for 5 years, 3 years is a lifetime away. If it does in fact go through, I will play with different strokes with the long putter once the anchoring ban is official and if that doesnt work, I will go back to my old scotty. My handicap goes up 3-4 strokes every winter anyway - even though it does not get that cold in Florida, I play in the morning and often do not see 60 degrees until I have played 9 holes. I do not play well in cold weather and often have 55/46 splits during the cold mornings.

In soft sand, I play my 56 like a typical sand shot, hitting a few inches behind and splashing out.

We have problems at our course with the bunkers sometimes being rock hard - If I cant putt out (which I only do when playing with the superintendent to piss him off), I use a low bounce 60 degree.

Yes, my course is "bunker-challenged" as well....many are either hardpan or mud depending on weather and irrigation schedules....my method tends to vary according to the bunker in question ..however one reliable go-to approach to getting out of these ditches is to choke down on the 56 degree Niblick and hit a chip shot aiming directly at the pin......and yes on those rare days when there's real sandy bunkers you can indeed open up the 56 degree Niblick and play out....it does have a 14 bounce so one needs to kind of "pick it" off hardpan though!  LOL