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Ben
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You know I heard somewhere the best player to ever play the game (jack or tiger) still lost 80% of the time, don't get discouraged, this game is impossible to master and has its ups and downs.
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Yeah thanks. He Took it really hard yesterday. But as Stephen Leaney said in out practice round, this is one event of what will hopefully be a 30 year career. The events are about a month apart on this tour. Next is a pretty big one. The Volvo China Open.

Callaway RazrFit Extreme 9.5 w/Project X 6.5
Callaway XHot Pro 15* 3Wood w/Project X 6.5
Callaway XTour 18* 2h w/S300
Callaway XHot Pro 4/5 irons w/S300
Callaway XForged III 5-PW irons w/S300
Callaway Forged 52*/58* Wedges
Odyssey 7 Versa 90
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@Ben , I'm curious.

I hope this isn't off topic, but how about some insight?  We get a lot of threads and comments about the ability of Tour Pros (especially PGA) relative to the average "good golfer".  You know the threads......"I'm a 6 hcp but think that if I work hard, I can make the show".....

You played a lot of pro mini-tours and are a VERY good golfer in your own right.....playing off what, +1 or +2ish?   Sam just had a poor showing in his first event on the OneAsia Tour.  A serious tour, but still not the European or PGA Tour either.  I don't want to put you in a tough spot with your player, so if you don't want to go there I understand, but can you give some insight as to how his game compares to your own?  I think it might be a little eye opening and serve as an interesting point of reference in terms of how good you really have to be to play at a serious professional level.....

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In David's bag....

Driver: Titleist 910 D-3;  9.5* Diamana Kai'li
3-Wood: Titleist 910F;  15* Diamana Kai'li
Hybrids: Titleist 910H 19* and 21* Diamana Kai'li
Irons: Titleist 695cb 5-Pw

Wedges: Scratch 51-11 TNC grind, Vokey SM-5's;  56-14 F grind and 60-11 K grind
Putter: Scotty Cameron Kombi S
Ball: ProV1

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@Ben , I'm curious. I hope this isn't off topic, but how about some insight?  We get a lot of threads and comments about the ability of Tour Pros (especially PGA) relative to the average "good golfer".  You know the threads......"I'm a 6 hcp but think that if I work hard, I can make the show"..... You played a lot of pro mini-tours and are a VERY good golfer in your own right.....playing off what, +1 or +2ish?   Sam just had a poor showing in his first event on the OneAsia Tour.  A serious tour, but still not the European or PGA Tour either.  I don't want to put you in a tough spot with your player, so if you don't want to go there I understand, but can you give some insight as to how his game compares to your own?  I think it might be a little eye opening and serve as an interesting point of reference in terms of how good you really have to be to play at a serious professional level.....

Hearing that there's a bigger gap between a scratch and a tour pro than there is between a 10 and a scratch is hard to swallow but if anyone would know it'd be Ben.

Colin P.

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I think I can answer that. I did get pretty good. At my peak I'd say I was playing to a +2.5. Which, is enough to play a tour, any tour, the problem is getting there. Sam literally had to win QSchool to get a full year of play on OneAsia. (66,69,66,74) Second and third place only got conditional status and maybe seven of the twelve available starts. The PGA Tour QSchool was so brutal because it was over four stages consisting of seventeen rounds. Slip up once and maybe you can recover. But slip up two rounds, and you're all but done. Now was you all may know PGA doesn't even offer a start straight to the big tour. QSchool gets you on the Web.com where you can fight it out for a season before maybe earning a spot to the big time. There is Monday Qulifying and trying to be that Cinderella story. It's very possible. But you've got to pick your spots. the SoCal spots are not the spot for a +2.5. There are so many people trying that route that there is pre-qualifying to get a spot into Monday qualifying. 100s of players playing for 4 spots. Sam shot 66 to get a Monday spot at Farmers. But didn't get passed that. Sam tells me a few weeks back in Texas 10 people got a spot and pre-qual took a score of over par to get to Monday. That's my type of spot. Back to the subject at hand. I honestly think a +2 could do it. So long as that player can keep a steady head. Sam's main coach is Pat Burke, who had spent some time on the PGA Tour. He says shoot -1 each nine holes of golf and you'll be able to have a solid career. Granted that won't win one many events. But think about that, -1 each nine is really all it takes. The main reason why it's me caddying for Sam and not a friend of mine caddying for me as we'll, is that I simply lost the fire. The mini-tours got bigger then what I could keep up with, which is great for the full-time players but I do have a job to keep and bills to pay, although they are quite minimal and I do work on a course to pay those bills. There is a dynamic at my club that doesn't allow me to take time off for my golf and also Sams golf. So I took the time to think which would be best and I chose Sam. Because he can and does treat this like a full time job, and I could see the future of his game and fully believe in his abilities. I am 38, only 38. I figure I've got 17 years of real golf ahead of me so who knows. Maybe my time is still yet to come.
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Callaway RazrFit Extreme 9.5 w/Project X 6.5
Callaway XHot Pro 15* 3Wood w/Project X 6.5
Callaway XTour 18* 2h w/S300
Callaway XHot Pro 4/5 irons w/S300
Callaway XForged III 5-PW irons w/S300
Callaway Forged 52*/58* Wedges
Odyssey 7 Versa 90
Callaway Hex Black Tour

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So what would you say that Sam is playing off of?

Prolly +4

Callaway RazrFit Extreme 9.5 w/Project X 6.5
Callaway XHot Pro 15* 3Wood w/Project X 6.5
Callaway XTour 18* 2h w/S300
Callaway XHot Pro 4/5 irons w/S300
Callaway XForged III 5-PW irons w/S300
Callaway Forged 52*/58* Wedges
Odyssey 7 Versa 90
Callaway Hex Black Tour

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. I am 38, only 38. I figure I've got 17 years of real golf ahead of me so who knows. Maybe my time is still yet to come.

Which takes you to 55. My age. Why doesn't that make me feel good? :~(

In David's bag....

Driver: Titleist 910 D-3;  9.5* Diamana Kai'li
3-Wood: Titleist 910F;  15* Diamana Kai'li
Hybrids: Titleist 910H 19* and 21* Diamana Kai'li
Irons: Titleist 695cb 5-Pw

Wedges: Scratch 51-11 TNC grind, Vokey SM-5's;  56-14 F grind and 60-11 K grind
Putter: Scotty Cameron Kombi S
Ball: ProV1

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Which takes you to 55. My age. Why doesn't that make me feel good? :~(

Hahahah let me expand. "Real golf" meaning golf at the highest level. Vijay peaked in his early 40s. Kenny Perry got a second wind in his mid 40s and Tom Watson made it all the way to his 60s I got a taste of golf beyond that when I played in my boot after breaking an ankle. Playing for pars was a lot more fun then I ever thought it would be.

Callaway RazrFit Extreme 9.5 w/Project X 6.5
Callaway XHot Pro 15* 3Wood w/Project X 6.5
Callaway XTour 18* 2h w/S300
Callaway XHot Pro 4/5 irons w/S300
Callaway XForged III 5-PW irons w/S300
Callaway Forged 52*/58* Wedges
Odyssey 7 Versa 90
Callaway Hex Black Tour

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Hi Ben,

I really appreciate you taking time to post here to let us know what the life inside the ropes is like.

It is something most people will never find out or hear about, unless they are fortunate enough to know someone inside the ropes.

And I think you are providing that insight to all TST members.

I wish nothing but success to you and Sam.  Hopefully one day soon, we will hear about you guys more regularly in the PGA.

Thanks again for taking time out of your busy schedule to let us get a hint of what the life inside the rope is really like

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Don

:titleist: 910 D2, 8.5˚, Adila RIP 60 S-Flex
:titleist: 980F 15˚
:yonex: EZone Blades (3-PW) Dynamic Gold S-200
:vokey:   Vokey wedges, 52˚; 56˚; and 60˚
:scotty_cameron:  2014 Scotty Cameron Select Newport 2

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Hahahah let me expand. "Real golf" meaning golf at the highest level. Vijay peaked in his early 40s. Kenny Perry got a second wind in his mid 40s and Tom Watson made it all the way to his 60s I got a taste of golf beyond that when I played in my boot after breaking an ankle. Playing for pars was a lot more fun then I ever thought it would be.

Yeah, I know. I'm just bustin' your chops. The clock's ticking on my game too, just at a waaaay different level, and a lot faster. :~(

In David's bag....

Driver: Titleist 910 D-3;  9.5* Diamana Kai'li
3-Wood: Titleist 910F;  15* Diamana Kai'li
Hybrids: Titleist 910H 19* and 21* Diamana Kai'li
Irons: Titleist 695cb 5-Pw

Wedges: Scratch 51-11 TNC grind, Vokey SM-5's;  56-14 F grind and 60-11 K grind
Putter: Scotty Cameron Kombi S
Ball: ProV1

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[sarcasm] Wanna know the best part(s) from start/week one on tour? Friday: Woke up with a sore throat, missed the cut, found out we can't change our 4/1 departure because all flights back to LA are full. Saturday: sore throat turns into full-on Death Cold. Sunday: have to change hotels to something cheaper/closer to the airport, cold just as bad. Although I did manage to get myself out of bed to take in a little bit of Jakarta an do a little souvenir shopping. Monday: check out in 1pm, flight is 10pm. Cold is a little better. What's ahead besides that time in the Soekarno Hatta Intl Airport? 7 hours to Seoul/Incheon Aiport, 7 hour layover, 10.5 hours to LA. And here I am, 8am on 4/1 In the KAL Prestige Lounge at Incheon INTL. The cold has turned into a brutally dry/sore throat cough attack every 30minutes or so. Saving graces. I've racked up 68K miles traveling around with Sam over the last year so I've got Korean Air Morning Calm status which gets me in the lounge, so I've got food and "drink!" on call. Incheon is an AWESOME airport. There are cute girls everywhere. And I've got a Xanax in my pocket waiting for the 10hour part of this journey! 검배

Callaway RazrFit Extreme 9.5 w/Project X 6.5
Callaway XHot Pro 15* 3Wood w/Project X 6.5
Callaway XTour 18* 2h w/S300
Callaway XHot Pro 4/5 irons w/S300
Callaway XForged III 5-PW irons w/S300
Callaway Forged 52*/58* Wedges
Odyssey 7 Versa 90
Callaway Hex Black Tour

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[sarcasm] Wanna know the best part(s) from start/week one on tour? Friday: Woke up with a sore throat, missed the cut, found out we can't change our 4/1 departure because all flights back to LA are full. Saturday: sore throat turns into full-on Death Cold. Sunday: have to change hotels to something cheaper/closer to the airport, cold just as bad. Although I did manage to get myself out of bed to take in a little bit of Jakarta an do a little souvenir shopping. Monday: check out in 1pm, flight is 10pm. Cold is a little better. What's ahead besides that time in the Soekarno Hatta Intl Airport? 7 hours to Seoul/Incheon Aiport, 7 hour layover, 10.5 hours to LA. And here I am, 8am on 4/1 In the KAL Prestige Lounge at Incheon INTL. The cold has turned into a brutally dry/sore throat cough attack every 30minutes or so. Saving graces. I've racked up 68K miles traveling around with Sam over the last year so I've got Korean Air Morning Calm status which gets me in the lounge, so I've got food and "drink!" on call. Incheon is an AWESOME airport. There are cute girls everywhere. And I've got a Xanax in my pocket waiting for the 10hour part of this journey! 검배

I got the death cold too... Horrible. Haven't felt this lousy in years... Going on day 6...

"My ball is on top of a rock in the hazard, do I get some sort of relief?"

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There are cute girls everywhere. And I've got a Xanax in my pocket waiting for the 10hour part of this journey! 검배

Nice! Any way to combine the two? Reminds me of the chorus from A Perfect Circle - Orestes - "...one more medicated peaceful moment..."

Colin P.

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Oh man Seoul, my home from 2004-2010. I can see it now. Cuties everywhere. I was told be a larger Canadian lady that I really didn't want to go out with, that I had "yellow fever". Hey Ben, thanks for all the inside info, I wish you and Sam all the best. If he can play his way into the Tour Championship here in Atlanta, I got free room and board for you. Good luck!

 :tmade: Stealth2 driver, 3 hybrid. :ping: G410 Fairway  :titleist: 5-AW  :vokey: 52/56/60 SM9

:tmade: Spider Tour X putter

:snell: MTB Prime X, :adidas: Tour360 22

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Awesome stuff, just now stumbled upon this thread. I'm a new Sam Yi fan. Can't wait til next month's tournament.

In my Bag: Driver: Titelist 913 D3 9.5 deg. 3W: TaylorMade RBZ 14.5 3H: TaylorMade RBZ 18.5 4I - SW: TaylorMade R7 TP LW: Titelist Vokey 60 Putter: Odyssey 2-Ball

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Note: This thread is 3378 days old. We appreciate that you found this thread instead of starting a new one, but if you plan to post here please make sure it's still relevant. If not, please start a new topic. Thank you!

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    • Day 12: Same as last couple days, but focus was on recentering aspect of flow. When I recenter earlier I make decent contact most swings but if I recenter late or not at all it’s a roll of the dice. 
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    • Let us be clear, unless you have proof of cheating, you just sound like a case of sour grapes.  In our club we have a guy who won club titles for many years.  Yes, he was a low single digit handicapper, but there have been quite a few others who played at his level.  Yet his mental strength and experience helped him win in many years when he shouldn't have.  Did he sandbag.  DEFINITELY NOT.  Did he just minimize his mistakes and pull out shots as and when needed.  Definitely.
    • Day 111 - Worked on my grip and higher hands in the backswing. Full swings with the PRGR. 
    • First off please forgive me if this is not a proper post or not in the proper location, still learning the ropes around here. Second, it's important that I mention I am very new to the game with only about 10 rounds of golf under my belt, most being 9 holes. Only this year have I started playing 18. That being said, I am hooked, love the game and am very eager to learn and improve. To give you an idea of my skill, the last 2 18 rounds I played were 110 and 105. Not great at all, however I am slowly improving as I learn. Had been having bad slicing issues with the driver and hybrids but after playing some more and hitting the range, I've been able to improve on that quite a bit and have been hitting more straight on average. Irons have always come easier to me as far as hitting straight for some reason. Wedges have needed a lot of improvement, but I practice chipping about 20-30 mins about 3-5 times a week and that's helped a lot. Today I went to the range and started to note down some distance data, mind you I am averaging the distances based off my best guess compared to the distance markers on the range. I do not currently own a range finder or tracker. From reading some similar posts I do understand that filling gaps is ideal, but I am having a some issues figuring out those gaps and understanding which clubs to keep and remove as some gaps are minimal between clubs. Below is an image of the chart I put together showing the clubs and average distances I've been hitting and power applied. For some reason I am hitting my hybrids around the same distances and I am not sure why. Wondering if one of them should be removed. I didn't notice a huge loft difference either. The irons I have are hand me downs from my grandfather and after playing with them a bit, I feel like they're just not giving me what could potentially be there. The feel is a bit hard/harsh and underwhelming if that makes sense and I can't seem to get decent distances from them. Wondering if I should be looking to invest in some more updated irons and if those should be muscle backs or cavity backs? My knowledge here is minimal. I have never played with modern fairway woods, only the classic clubs that are actually wood and much smaller than modern clubs. I recently removed the 4 and 5 woods from my bag as I was never using them and I don't hit them very well or very far. Wondering if I should look into some more modern fairway wood options? I appreciate any feedback or advice anyone is willing to give, please forgive my lack of knowledge. I am eager to learn! Thank you.  
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