hackerdave

If you can't take the volatility, you should do the following: 1) Buy only index funds, such as the Vanguard Total Stock Market fund -- these hold essentially the entire market with very low fees 2) ignore the advice of your "financial advisor" and so forth, they are more interested in looting your wealth and generally have no more experience than a used car salesman 3) don't look at your statements every day. Your net worth will go up and down a few percent every day, but if you look at it only once in a while you should notice a general upwards trend. That said, it's possible to see stocks go down 20% over a 1-2 year period.

So finally gave in and bought the Callaway X-tour 54*-13 bounce. Works really well, good feel and good distance control. Also found the X-tour 50*-11 bounce for $70 so I picked that up as well. So i've gone 45 (pw) - 50 (Gap) and 54 (sand)

How do the X-20's compare with the X-20 tours in terms of forgiveness? I'm considering moving to the tours for the better loft spacing and a better shaft.

So I was in the local Golfsmith today playing on the launch monitor and I noticed something very strange. My swing speed with a driver is pretty consistently 105 mph. I was hitting 8/10 mostly straight for about 220-230 carry, 250ish total distance. About 1/10 I would hit a draw for something closer to 250 carry /280 total. The launch monitor is telling me that the swing speed is the same in both instances. I was playing around with a Callaway X-460 10 degree with a regular shaft. I also noticed that in the last couple rounds on the golf course, I would also occasionally hit the "miracle shot" draw for 250 yards of carry (instead of a more typical 225). Any ideas on what I'm doing different on the draw shots?

I just picked up a Ping G5 3 wood and 5 wood on a closeout deal and was just wondering: Is there typically a distance gap between a 5 wood and a 21 degree 3-iron for most people? Also, what distance gap is typical between a 15 degree 3 wood and 18 degree 5 wood? If there's a gap, would the best plug be a 19 degree or 22 degree hybrid?

A gap wedge is certainly on the to-buy list. Going to play a few rounds with the x-tour wedge and see if I want a x-tour gap wedge or a cavity backed gap wedge. My range experience so far is that I hit the wedges completely straight.

So I finally decided and picked up a 54* Callaway X-tour (13* bounce). Took it to the range and was hitting it pretty consistently straight. Played around in the back yard also and managed to put tons of backspin on short chips. Hope to try it out on the course soon.

I see your point fastfed re: "Average drive." I'm clearly omitting obvious "mishits" from the average -- i.e. topping the ball and watching it bobble 10 yards -- as they don't provide meaningful information as to what kind of equipment i should be using. But they definitely do go 240ish on a clean hit. On the wedge side, I'm leaning towards going with the Cavity-backed x-20 gap wedge (50 degrees) and a 56 degree vokey as a sand wedge based on comments here. Will probably hold off on a lob wedge for now. I guess the headache that I'm dealing with is how the X-20's are 2-3 degrees strong, so the 9 is a 41 and PW is a 45, making it harder to mesh with a set of wedges. I suppose it might be ok if someone made a 55 degree sand wedge... Then again, the way I'm currently swinging, it might not made an iota of difference whether I have a 54, a 55 or a 56 degree wedge.

Well I did say that the 270 was the top end -- I only see that once in a blue moon. I'm measuring distance by eyeballing it off of the distance markers when playing at my local course and at the driving range. My high-handicap status is not from lack of distance, but rather an inability to hit the ball straight. My typical mis-hits are a very high push to the right or a low hook (with the driver) or blading the ball or slicing with irons. That said, why is it surprising to drive 240? I'm a pretty big guy. Also wanted to note that budget is not an issue here. A $100 wedge is equivalent to 1 round of golf at a semi-private course or maybe 2 at a municipal course around here.

On the 56* wedge, I'm wondering whether to go with the 14* bounce or 10* bounce. Seems like most sand wedges are higher bounce, but for some reason, many people here seem to like low bounce...

I'm a high handicapper who's working on his game and I have a few holes in my set. Right now I have a 9 degree Ping G-5 driver, Callaway X-20 3-PW and a putter. I hit my driver about 240, although I have hit it as short as 220 and as long as 270 (not very consistent). If I make decent contact on my 3-iron, i get about 190 yards. I've been thinking of going for some wedges next, as I find myself taking too many partial swings on the strong 45 degree PW. Based on the reviews on this site, here are some ideas: Vokey SM 54-14 and 60-8 or Callaway X-20 50 degree and Vokey 56-14 or Just the 54-14 (use as a sand wedge) On the longer end, I'm considering a 3-wood or a hybrid. Your thoughts?

1 wedge, 45 pitching wedge only...

Love the Adams RPM LP 3 (17degree) and 5 (21 degree). Very high launch, dead straight.

I bought a Adams RPM LP 5 wood and 3 wood for my wife in senior flex (Aldila NVS) but I tried them out at the course and loved them! Can't seem to hit a hybrid, (or my irons for that matter) but I'm rocking the 3 wood about 215 with very high 7-iron like trajectory and the 5 wood about 200. It's rather strange though, how high 3 17 degree 3-wood is getting the ball...

Speaking of old irons -- I've just started up playing golf with a 20 year-old set of blades (MacGregor something or other.) Any thoughts on what a good replacement might be? ~ 35 handicap (I can't hit straight to save my life) or putt. Was looking at Adams A2 OS / A3 / Tech OS or perhaps Ping G5/G10? I have a 105 mph driver swing speed (and I seem to be able to hit drives mostly straight at least!)