hawkeye

When Odyssey brought out the White Hot putter with the white insert, they said it was made out of the same material as one of their (callaway) balls. And recommended that you put like with like. I do remember getting a nice soft feeling and great sound (but no more than with a Titleist Professional 90!)

ESPN picture are great! with Sky commentary, it is great viewing in Ireland. Butch Harmon and Thomas Bjorn in the booth. Getting to see everyone (not JUST Phil) and gotta love that pinseeker shot.

Sky Sports - i believe it's on 3pm-1am thurs and fri (GMT) and 7pm to 12:30/1am sat and sunday

exact same club i got custom shaft so it's neither the regular or the TP the guys fitting it said it is another TM scam (like the Burner 2008 series, calling it "tour launch" when it was just a smaller head)

had him at 35/1 since last wednesday - delighted! doesn't do anything outragous, doesn't hit it far, but sure can get the job done. great frontrunner. could well win again this season. not at Bethpage though!

restitution?

why are they better?! You can't just say they're better - yes they'll be better for some people. But they'll be terrible for others. My shafts weigh 133g - I find it keeps my swing speed down a tad (tend to go at it hard a bit) and keeps me from picking the club up so quickly (tend to be quite steep a the ball). Also gives a more penetrating ballflight (though I still hit it quite high, it's a more solid ballflight)

oh no - another reason to dislike Nick! another reason for Jim Nantz to wet himself when he talks to him too. SIGH! At least i don't have to listen to him (them) next week at Bethpage - good old Sky Sports for US Open.

my mate had one - think he got rid of it because it was going to be illegal. His version anyway. Was a pretty good driver but it's been outdated at this stage.

I got some Cobra military hats a la Camillo Villegas - they're really cool, don't think anyone in this country has one. He hasn't been wearing them much recently but I still like them - great for keeping the rain off my glasses.

Throw in a 5 wood to match the R9 3 wood below (same shaft) and a couple more cleveland wedges with the KBS Tour X Stiff and I have everything! I've been fitted for all the clubs - just a matter of saving and splashing out. Just ordered the TMX Tour stand bag and a pair of Dryjoys - can manage without the 5 wood and wedges for the moment!

I have 2 Ping Tour W wedges - nice and forgiving club, easy to hit and get up in the air and stop. 54/10 and 58/8. They matched my old Ping set really well. I'm actually trying to sell them - pop me a message if interested, i'll gladly listen to any offers.

Sorry I don't know. I just got fitted with exactly what they said. The form just said KBS Tour X- Stiff. I wasn't aware that they came in different frequencies like Project X's - didn't see it on their website either. I'll try find out - hope to get 2 more wedges with KBS's in them when the next paycheque comes in.

Just got them 2 weeks ago - fitted with them on Taylormade Tour Preferred irons. Hit a wide variety of itons - S300's were too light, X100's didn't feel great, Project X were decent but not as smooth as the KBS's. When I was fitted, I didn't look or ask what I was hitting, just hit what they handed me and I told them how it felt, heavy/light/tip stiff/smooth etc and the KBS were way ahead. Don't know that they come in the same frequency range as Project X's - I am hitting KBS Tour X- Stiff which come in at 133 gm. PX 6.5 are 130gm, PX 7.0 are 135gm. I was hitting them flatter than the PX 6.5's and sweeter and smoother. I see on their website today that they boast winners of the last PGA and Senior PGA Tour events - Rory Sabbatini and Michael Allen. They're getting really popular on tour. I only ever had standard shafts in irons - these are the business.

It's about optimum launch angle, not angle on the club. That'll determine how far it goes (along with swing speed, ball speed, side spin, rpm etc) - I hit a 10.5 (it's probably more - have it set to a closed face which adds loft to it) - the premium is on accuracy but I can still hit it as far as my old 9.5. good story though - there's loads of those wannabe's out there!

Yes - I think so. I had 962's (great club) for about 7 years - bought them second hand. They were old for me then (nearly 2 years ago) and I don't know that irons keep they're shape too well after a long while. Getting them reshafted/regripped was an option but I had money and bought new ones.

have a Taylormade Tour Launch Burner 17.5 degrees - it's amazing. First 5 wood i owned and love it. Thought I might change it for an R9 as the gap between my 3wood and 5 wood is very little. And large distance gap between 5 wood and 4 iron. I'd get a taylormade or a mizuno.

I hit a fade generally - the guys who custom fit me figured I should have it set to L. That's what I hit best at the fitting. So far results are decent at the range but only one game on the course under my belt - hitting it left a good bit. But going to stick with the L settup for the time being. Interestingly, the less L you get (opening the clubface) actually decreases loft. So might be a good settup when playing the wind! Will try that too eventually but I like the L.

Just got a gap wedge - Cleveland DSG RTG 52 bent to 51 - absolutely class. Found it far nicer than Vokeys and Pings - just didn't suit my eye.

Didn't get to see Daly & Harrington - was horrible weather & I was delayed. Was lovely in the afternoon - sun came out. Saw Lowery get 2 birdies, and Clarke, Monty, McIlroy, Olazabal all birdieing the 9th. As for the winner....an amateur winning on European tour again?! Yes! Briing it on Shane. Watching it again now!

Deffo! Found out my PW is 47 and SW is 55 - even an 8 degree gap is huge (works our about 30 yards). Will have a 52 bent to 51 next week though - 3 iron has become unused..

Heading up to this tomorrow - I've been to The Irish Open only once @ Druids Glen (when Sergio won, saw Daly there too) - can't wait to soak up the atmosphere. The weather is typically Irish - soft - but hasn't stopped the fans so far. Great leaderboard - plenty of birdies. And an amateur (Shane Lowery 16th in the world) leading the Irish charge. This guy hits it as good as Rory thought doesn't look it. I'll be following Harrington & Daly in the morning and Lowery, Monty & McIlroy in the afternoon.

Spotted a few players using these - Ernie is one of them. They have a little red sticker near the top of the shaft Watch this space.

Just got fitted & this was the best club for me by far - with Grafalloy ProLaunch Platinum S Flex. They actually told me the shaft wasn't so important with the R9 because the head is so versitile. Anyway - I hit a high cut the with 2007 Burner (too high) and had the R9 adjusted to position L (the largest draw). Well i've never been so impressed with a driver. I couldn't believe how far the ball stayed in the air - straight and penetrating. Distancewise - I was consistantly hit the 07 Burner 280 yards (11/12 launch angle, 4000 rpm, 110 mph s/s, 160mph b/s). But that was all in the air - all carry, no roll. The R9 was going 4 yards less. (12 launch angle, 2200 rpm) But the roll was accounting for up to 20% of the distance. I'm looking forward to playing into the wind & on hard pan/links ground - the ball will go for miles! I was looking for a new 3 wood - hit that first. Was carrying 250 + roll. Staying in the air forever. Ordered that on the spot. But the driver required a little thought due to the cost and a "movement of funds" from my savings account. Ordered it today. Worth it? I'll tell you in 2 weeks.

I have 4000RPM with my Burner - standard 49g 47inch stiff shaft And with an R9 (with Prolaunch Platinum 65g 45 inch stiff shaft) i was knocking out 2200RPM. Awesome driver. Not sure if it was the head that made a diff - but the shaft certainly helped lower the spin rate.