Super Game Improvement Hybrids

[pshep68]

Hi,

I am new to the fourm and new to the game of golf.  I one season under my belt.  I am a 30 handicap.  My current cubs are Cobra Bio Cell with graphite shafts and senior flex.  I have no idea why I have senior flex... Can you folks please suggest some super game improvement hybrids.  Thank you in advance.

[WUTiger]

Welcome to the forum. One of my former college professors did some teaching at Wilfred Laurier U. in Waterloo area (well out west of your area), and he commented on having a fairly short golf season.

I did a quick online check, and I sense it may be difficult to find golf shops in Newfoundland. With this in mind, before I make suggestions, I have a few questions on you and your  game:

1. Have you had any golf lessons, or are you self-taught? If you have had lessons, your instructor might have some suggestions on the best equipment for you.
2. Are all of your clubs Cobra Bio Cell? If so, the irons are rated by Golf Digest as Game Improvement class. (GD has Players irons for very good golfers, Super Game Improvement for beginner/casual golfers, and Game Improvement for those in between).
3. Reviews on Bio Cell irons noted that they were a bit longer than average, and more upright in lie angle. (Both of these would favor taller players). These may be a bit difficult to hit for a beginner, or someone of more average height.

So, I'm reluctant to suggest - with so little info - SGI hybrids. If you've played for a season, I would suggest you get a fitting with your current set and see if they are close to what you need. If somewhat close, a clubfitter could tweak the irons.

If you can give us a bit of info on the above questions, we can do a better job of suggesting things to you. 

[pshep68]

1 hour ago, WUTiger said:

Welcome to the forum. One of my former college professors did some teaching at Wilfred Laurier U. in Waterloo area (well out west of your area), and he commented on having a fairly short golf season.

I did a quick online check, and I sense it may be difficult to find golf shops in Newfoundland. With this in mind, before I make suggestions, I have a few questions on you and your  game:

1. Have you had any golf lessons, or are you self-taught? If you have had lessons, your instructor might have some suggestions on the best equipment for you.
2. Are all of your clubs Cobra Bio Cell? If so, the irons are rated by Golf Digest as Game Improvement class. (GD has Players irons for very good golfers, Super Game Improvement for beginner/casual golfers, and Game Improvement for those in between).
3. Reviews on Bio Cell irons noted that they were a bit longer than average, and more upright in lie angle. (Both of these would favor taller players). These may be a bit difficult to hit for a beginner, or someone of more average height.

So, I'm reluctant to suggest - with so little info - SGI hybrids. If you've played for a season, I would suggest you get a fitting with your current set and see if they are close to what you need. If somewhat close, a clubfitter could tweak the irons.

If you can give us a bit of info on the above questions, we can do a better job of suggesting things to you. 

Hi,

Thank you so much for the reply.  I have not had any lessons... However, my golfing friends are very good players and I have been picking up what I can from them.  All of my clubs are Cobra Bio Cell.  Purchased as a full set from Golf Town in St. John's, Newfoundland... which has since closed down.  With regards to club length, I am only 5-7" tall.  I do have trouble getting loft with any of my clubs.  With regards to getting a fitting, there isn't a store in the province that that could do that.  Any advice at all would be appreciated.  I have been looking at oversize clubs... Callaway XR OS... Cobra Fly Z XL.   Any clubs suggestions from the last 3, 4, 5 years would be great.  It is my plan to purchase hybrids as well as irons.         

[dennyjones]

Welcome from Michigan.  

I'm glad you've found our great forum.   This forum is unlike many others you will find.   Most are friendly, quick to respond and helpful.   There are many experts here (not me) that are very knowledgeable.    Read the "How to" section and ask questions.   

Since it looks like a club fitting isn't in the near future, I'd suggest you post a swing video and you'll find that help is just around the corner.   I would suggest that before you switch clubs, have somebody look at your swing.   

[Release]

So, this will be your second season and you're holding a 30  for hdcp index.

Do you , have a favorite club in the bag ?  Is there a club that you hit well most of the time and have more confidence in it ?  I started my lessen with a 7 iron but my favorite club back then was the 8 iron.

Continue to hit the favorite club and learn to hit different distance with that favorite golf club, then expand to the next club to it and later the next .......many golfers stated that they could not hit the long irons .... simply because they stopped the practicing and learning process when they reached the 6 iron.

A quote from my first instructor, after I had learned to hit the short and the mid irons decent, he asked " so.... how do you hit the 4 irons ?"  I answered 50/50, then he asked how did I hit the 2 iron ?  I answered "lousy" ....... Then he asked how often did I practice the 2 iron and how many times did I use the 2 iron on the golf course ?    Of course, my answer was, not very often did I practiced the long iron and only used the long irons a few times if any on the golf course.

There is your answer.... there is no magic stick to hyper leap your golf game.  If anyone whom does not find practicing their golf swing to be fun and interesting then , they will probably not going to be a good golfer.

Truth in what Ben Hogan said, "find it in the dirt",  By practicing and trying out different stuff you picked up from lessons and from friendly advice, you will be able to find out what works and what does not work for you.

5'7" does not automatically put you in a standard to flat lie .  You don't hit the golf ball with your addressing posture, nor would the shaft of your golf club stay straight during the golf swing.

It matters how the sole interact with the turf when the club face meets the golf ball with your golf swing,   Believe it or not, there are head droop of the golf club with decent swing speed.    Hit some shots from a lie board or tape a piece of black electrical tap on the sole and observe the brush mark when you hit off the mat.

The brush mark will tell the story of whether the sole of the irons have good contact with the turf at impact.

In your stage, either find an instructor to put you on the right track ( much harder to try to correct the grooved in habits later ), or practice a lot to groove in your own way ( anything produce distance and consistency is the goal ).

Solid contact at impact should be your current goal, and later on distance and directional control should follow.

[Paul Kelly]

I am a Golf Professional and Certified Club fitter in St. John's with almost 30 years experience and thousands of satisfied customers. I have been operating a golf shop decades before Golf Town opened and will continue to do for for many years to come.  I would be more than happy to help you out and answer any of tour questions. Please contact me pkelly@glendenninggolf.ca

[Paul Kelly]

I would also like to add that I just returned from Callaway Headquarters in Carlsbad California where I was inducted into the Callaway Staff Professional Hall of Fame and completed a full Fitting Certification refresher on all Callaway product lines.  I have also been certified by Titleist and Mizuno.   Thank you.

[WUTiger]

@pshep68,

I contacted golfdom in Newfoundland, and one of the local pros said he can help you. He's an instructor and a certified clubfitter for multiple brands of golf clubs, and Glendenning can access equipment of any brand name. Contact:

Paul Kelly, Director of Golf

Glendenning Golf Club

120 Gabriel Road

St. John's, Newfoundland

Canada

709 368-4747 ex. 200

pkelly@glendenninggolf.ca

www.glendenninggolf.ca

Hope this helps. And, welcome to TST!