Where do I start.........

[scooter99]

Well let me start by saying hello, my name is Scott, Scotty, or my brothers call me Scooter. Any of the three will do.

First here's why I'm writting this and if it doesn't belong here, ok I'm sorry and can someone move it, otherwise it must be in the right place.

Little bit about myself. I'm 33, I live in Sacramento California and I'm a family man. I have two lovely daughters, 3 and 5, and a beautiful supportive wife who enjoys the links with me as well, sometimes.

I started golfing about 10 or 11 years ago. I've been a baseball and softball guy, when I got older, for basically my entire life. So the two swings, while similar, I know completely contradict eachother. Well being a big guy, right now tipping the scales at 280 - 290, I'm a little, how do I say...........rough with my swing. I pretty much swing strong and hard everytime I pull a club. It's the baseball thing in me that comes out everytime I hit the course. Over the years I've been able to control it a bit better and now have been able to really adjust to be long and straight. My scores have gone way down from when i started 10 years ago. I was in the 120's then and now I've shot upper 80's about three times in the last 3 years. Doesn't sound like a lot but right now I'm golfing about 3 times a year. Sad I know.

Like I said I've been really heavy into soft and base ball for the better part of my life. This year things are just not going so well with my body and I've come to a decision in my life where I'm not having fun playing anymore, and have decided that I might just hang it up and instead pick up my clubs and start really taking this game seriously to get better.

Last week was my birthday. My brother took me out with a couple buddies of ours and played a round at a local course here that I absolutely love! Now I've not picked up a club in about 8 months I would say. I went out there and my drives were straight and long, I can remember 3 off the top of my head that went over 310 yards, and my irons were beautiful. I'm hitting my irons, and have been for the last several times I've golfed, the best I've ever hit em. I've gotten to the point where I'm about 90% within 30 to 40 feet of where I'm targeting. The other 10% are usually fading right and off target pretty bad. Not slicing but fading. I ended up shooting an 89, which is equal to the second best score I've ever shot. I have no doubt that if I'd have spent more time reading puts and acutally concentrating on shot selection and putt movement I'd have been around an 83 or 84. For me that's finominal.

This weekend I went, again for my birthday, to a local course that I'd never played before. My wife treated me to golf and dinner. We had a great day and I truely miss golfing together. We had the greatest times together before kids, golfing and just relaxing with eachother on the course.

So this weekend, my first 3 or 4 holes were in the ok category. Drives were straight, and my irons were pretty good, but my short game (usually my strong suit - ie chipping etc) was for not. Timid is the first word that comes to mind! Anyway along about hole 5 the wheels completely feel off. Drive wasn't working what so ever and no matter what I did to try and fix it, it just got worse. So we threw the card out and worked on some stuff and I think I've got it figured out. I ended up with a chip in from about 5 yards off the green and I had a put in from about 5 feet off the green and a total of about 32 feet. I also had a weird thing happen to me with the pitching wedge.

My pitching wedge and I have an agreement, it stays consistant and I'll use it for anything but a chip swing. So full swing or nothing, and the sand wedge gets all the chipping duties. That's our agreement and we have a happy relationship together. Well she bucked me on hole 18. She, my pitching wedge, is nails from about 125 out. I mean within 5 - 10 feet everytime of the target. I'm sitting 130 yards out on a long par 4 after a drive that I can't begin to explain to you cause it was the best I've ever hit. So I say oh this is money in the bank, I'll nestle it up there and putt in for my birdie bird and slavage an otherwise (explicative word) day. I address the ball, I take my normal about 85% swing and the ball comes off like nothing I've ever felt. Matter of fact I never felt it. It went up in the air, it was dead at the pin(which was on the front of the green btw), I'm thinking in my mind we're within a couple feet if it doesn't hit it. Next thing I know the ball lands about 15 feet over the green. I'm like WTF!!! So I was baffled after that.

But long story to a point, the last two weekend combined with the last couple years and I've made the decision to really get serious about this game. It's time for new clubs, why cause I've had the same clubs for about 7 years now and I'm ready to take a new leap. I have some cavity backs now, and I've had Nike Sling Shots before which I was never really happy with. They just didn't go anywhere for me, meaning distance. I've been looking at clubs and what I have in my bag right now is a set (driver, 3w, 5w) of Nike Ignite's. I have Nikent's, don't remember the models of them, a Titleist hybrid #3, and a Nike Oz putter.

Here's what I'm thinking of going to and I have some questions based on this.

DRIVER
I'm looking for a new Driver. I like the way the VR looks and feels, very similar or better than my Ignite. Im very very confused and know nothing about the STR8 system. Can someone explain this to me please.

WOODS
With the driver I'm looking to go with the Nike VR 3wood. Same thing don't understand the STR8 system.

HYBRIDS
I almost never am in a position to hit my 5 wood, and I cannot hit my 3 iron. I'm tempted to get a #2 hybrid to kind of fill that in between gap. Anyone have some thoughts on this?

WEDGES
Right now I have a Nike 56 degree (my baby, favorite club in my bag), and a Nike 60 degree. I rarely ever use the 60 degree. So less in fact I'm willing to forgo it in the bag. I'm looking at a 52 degree A wedge though to replace it and get that in between of the pitch and sand wedge, for that in between shot.

PUTTER
I'm ready to upgrade to a better putter and I've always wanted a Scotty Cameron. Don't ask me what kind I've just been told almost all my golf life that they're the best it's worth the money. Well when you're a crappy golfer, 300.00 is a lot of money for a club like a putter. Course my way of thinking is changing and the putter is quickly becoming the most crutial club in the bag, so I'm finding out. So I've thought about the Cameron, but now reading reviews while looking at Nike gear, that the Meathod 001 putter is pretty damn good as well. I'm tempted now to go with that cause of the other Nike gear. I'm kind of a Nike guy!

BALLS
I even use Nike One Tour Platinums for the balls.

IRONS
Finally this is the biggin! This is where I'm stuck! I have to make a decision on how I want to go about this. I'm ready for the new irons. I'm very happy with my striking ability and I'm now learning about fade and draws. I'm looking at two different sets of clubs, again Nike VR, Splitbacks and VR Blades. I'm hearing that the splitbacks are more forgiving and easier to control than the blades and I'm also hearing that the blades are more forgiving than the previous sets of blades Nike has had. So my quandry begins. Do I buy a set of blades and better my swing for the clubs, I say that because I know that blades take a better refined swing than the others. So do I better my swing with the blades or do I go with the splitbacks and then end up buying another set of clubs, blades, down the line when my swing is good enough for them.

To me, my logic says to buy the blades, and practice and work on my swing, knowing that when I get on the course right away my scores are going to climb and my patience is going to have to be high to work on it. But then the lazy side of me says that the splitbacks are the better choice because they're going to allow me to improve the swing and not break it down terribly like the blades might. So I guess I'm looking for some help here in this category.

I know that was alot but I'm serious in trying to seek some help in mental preparidness (is that even a word) as well as physical. I'm not trying to go out and make the tour or anything, but wouldn't that be sweet, but I am trying to impove my game and get better everytime I go out and play. I'd like to have a shot in my bag that I can play when I need to. More importantly when i have an approach shot that's very makeable, and by makeable I mean getting it close, I want to know that I can do that without doubt that it may very well end up somewhere i never planned on it to go. I know that's golf.

So that's all I got to start with, I know it was a lot, but I look forward not only to meeting everyone on her but sharing and conversating about golf, shots, equipment, rounds, and other things as well. Hello all and thanks for taking the time!

[timnsr72]

I am in a similar position to you, and I have decieded to get the blades (pending a little budgeting). Your results wont be great at first, but with a little work you will play better than you did before.

[jamo]

Blades for high handicappers is a common thread theme.

My opinion: many people use the rationalization for blades that they will make your swing better because you will learn where your misses are. That's BS. You make your swing better through lessons, video, and knowledge of the golf swing. Blades will just make your hands hurt and make the game harder in the interim.

But the problem with going with Super Game Improvement (SGI) clubs, on the opposite end of the spectrum, is that you don't get that great forged feel and you have zero perception of where on the face you hit the ball. Thus, I recommend a more Game Improvement (GI) set in between blades and SGI clubs. My two favorites in that category are the Mizuno MX 200 and MX 300 because they are forged.

But you seem to really like Nike, so if I was you and had to pick between the Split Cavity and the TW Blade I would go for the Split Cavity. The Split Cavity is in another different category, the Players irons. They are between blades and GI clubs and are a little less forgiving than GI clubs.

But all of this is just IMO. You need to search all of the high handicapper blades threads out there because there are a ton.

[Game]

I was just fitted for the split cavities and I must say that if you are worried about the full cavities not being able to carry you into the low handicaps think again. Many Nike pros will get their long irons in the split back and sometimes even cavity back for the extra help up in the air. So really anything in the victory red line will treat you well if you get fitted into them. My advice for you is that if price is not that big of a deal (and if you are considering blades I'd say it's not because those things are pretty spendy) go get fitted at a reputable place that preferably fits off of grass rather than into a net or off a mat. You'll really get the right clubs for you and the professionals there will be able to give you better advice because they'll see your swing firsthand.

As for the STR8 system basically it allows you to adjust the angle of the head by yourself by using a wrench to screw the head off and realigning an arrow on the head with an arrow on the shaft. Nike claims this will allow you to change the trajectory of your drives. Again if you get fit at a nice place then they will be able to reccomend the settings for the str8 system that work for you. Personally, the STR8 system is cool but once I have it dialed in (as in after fitting what worked best) I'm not gonna change it unless I really start swinging differently.

The split cavities are nice though, and they look smooth. But i think you should get fit. Sorry for the scattered post

[scooter99]

Wow great information from everyone. Thank you.

I actually called a buddie of mine this morning, he's not a pro but he's a 3 handicap I think was the last I knew. Anyway, he's also working at a golf store and can get me fitted and take me out with their demos and go to a range and swing etc. They also have the machines in there with the cameras etc to break down my swing etc.

I'm not 100% tied to nike I guess. I guess it's like most people, me being ignorant, that you see the best golfer in the world swinging these clubs and helping to design them, you want to get the best. That's where I was at. So I'll go get fitted, and lessons are for sure in my near future.

Jamo, I'll look into those clubs too. Looks like I'm in for some serious research and swings! Can't wait!

[scooter99]

Alright so I went to my local golf shop yesterday and did a little testing and got fitted for what I need for my swing. Here's what they came up with.

Basically all Mizuno equipment. Xtra Stiff Shafts, because apparently I swing a little hard.

Driver: Mizuno MP-630 or MP-630 Fast Track. Fubuki xs shaft

Not sure I need the weighted club (Fast Track), might just stick with the tour club and save myself the $300.00 and buy a better putter.

3 Wood: Mizuno Titanium Fairway Wood 15 degree - Fubuki xs shaft

Not going with a 5 wood, I just don't use it that often. Instead we're going the hybrid route.

Hybrid: Mizuno MP-CLK Hybrid 20 degree - Fubuki xs shaft

Irons: Mizuno MP-58 3-pw - FST KBS Tour X xtra stiff shafts. I also need a 3 degree bend on the heads, I guess I'm a little over the top on my swings.

Wedges: Mizuno TP-10 wedges - 52-06 degree and a 58-10 degree. I was thinking of keeping the 56 degree I have but the pro suggested the 58 would give me more ability in stopping and moving. I can still use it to chip with etc from close range as well, which is why I like my 56 degree so much cause i feel like I have much better control over it.

Also putting the 52 degree in because I sometimes have that range between a 56degree and a pitching wedge, so by going to the 58 degree and adding the 52 degree it fills that hole, or so he says. I'm buying in so I'll go for it and see what happens.

So that's what we came up with. I also need to decide on grips. I currently have winngrips on my clubs and I love the feel of them. But I'm not sure I want to stay with them. So I have to decide whether to go with the grips that I get with them, or go with something else.

Next on the list is to go check out putters. I'm sticking to Scotty Cameron or The Nike Method for now. I'll see what else feels good out there when I go testing.

Overall I was very happy with yesterday. I tried about a half dozen clubs before we even came to the mizunos. Most were cavity backs with exception of the nike splitbacks and a taylor made he said was a combination. They all felt pretty good, the taylor made's and nike's on top. Then he said I'll be right back take a break. And came back with the MP-58's on the xtra stiff shafts. I went from slight draws and little distance and a very high trajectory, to straight and about a quarter less trajectory, and much greater distance. Then he helped me understand better how to fade and draw, and after that these clubs felt like magic in my hands. I was drawing and fading the ball because I wanted to, not cause it was an accident. It felt so good to have actual control over where the shots were going.

Also the driver is my best club in my bag next to the 56 degree. But I also have issues with tragectory and ball flight being left or right, again on accident. Putting that mizuno in my hands with that xtra stiff shaft I teed off and the ball flight again was way lower than with mine. I have a nike ignite driver with a stiff shaft and it's an 8.5 degree. I was swinging the Mizuno with a 10.5 degree loft and I was so much lower on ball flight then with the other. I was averaging about 275-280 yards with the ignite, my current club. With the mizuno, I as averaging about 300-310 yards. That's a huge difference. Then to be able to add a fade or draw with that. It's going to add an entirely new deminsion to my game. I can see my scores dropping already.

So there's a ton of things to do. Practicing is on top of the list. I need to hit the range more and get the stuff I learned yesterday engrained in my swing. I'm also not clearing my hips enough. That was when I was hitting my longer distances, was after he showed me that. So I have lots to work on. But I'm very excited about what I found. Now all I need is to figure out how to make $2,000.00 for a new bag-o-clubs!! Gonna have to work on that!

Comments or suggestions?

[boogielicious]

Welcome Scott. I am also a Scott who gets called Scotty and Scooter.

Whatever clubs you get, it is important to take lessons and practice to get better. Don't crowd the lessons too close together. Also, be patient with yourself as it takes time to build a repeatable swing and confidence. Since you were a baseball player, be advised that it is a totally different swing. Think smooth tempo versus crushing the ball. I've only been playing for about a year and play much better when I relax and swing smooth.

[Joeyvee]

Did you go to the Mizuno store for a fitting? hahaha. If they were suspect clubs I would say be wary but they're far from it. Excellent equipment. If that's what you're fitted for then go for it. Just buy a different bag or something so you're not a complete Mizuno fanboy. hahaha. If you look at what a lot of the pros are playing and get ideas from that then take a look at the Odyssey putters. I LOVE mine. That's a personal preference thing of course, but I dont think anyone should go putter shopping without at least picking up an odyssey 2 ball and stroking a few on the practice green.

[tws1098]

The 58s are pretty sweet. Love mine so far. How do you like the 3w and wedges?