elchene

Callaway FT-5 Hot List's Editors Choice. I get ball speed, a great sound, and a great look all in the FT-5.

I play a Scotty Cameron Newport 2, 33 in. Great putter. Check out this limited edition Odyssey putter: I wish I had it. It's called the Damascus Grand Putter. Metal from the Crusades time, hence the Damascus. http://www.odysseygolf.com/en.ody.DA...html?gcid=1218

I don't know if this is funny... I have a practice cage in by backyard: 10 x 10 x 10. I often practice there when I don't feel like going to the range. There is a wall between my house and my neighbor's and some trees about 20 feet high. A couple months ago, I was about 10 yards behind the cage and trying to hit into it. I took out by 8 iron believing it wouldn't launch high enough to go over the cage. Sure enough, I hit it over the cage, and the wall, and hit my neighbor's house. The horrible thing is the house had just been bought and fixed up by some rich guy with a Lamborghini and Bentley and he was trying to sell it for $1.5 million. I probably hit another three balls into his house since then when I wasn't too careful where I was hitting from. It's been a year since the guy started trying to sell the house and I think it's probably my fault no one wants the house, an obsessed golfer lives next door.

Like many things in golf, there is no right answer. I'm basing my reply on Stan Utley's book, The Art of Putting. Stan Utley himself believes in a slight inside-inside arc. On the other hand, teachers like Dave Pelz endorse a straight-back straight-through stroke. Most tour pros have somewhat of an arc but players like Loren Roberts are really successful with a straight stroke. Unless you practice a lot, a straight stroke is really hard to maintain because it involves a lot of little muscles. An arc is more natural. You don't swing your driver straight-back straight-through. If you prefer to have an arc stroke, make sure to find a toe-balanced putter like the Scotty Cameron Newport. You can make sure it's toe balanced by balancing the putter on your finger. If the toe points 45 degrees down, it is toe-balanced. If the face evenly points straight up, it's face balanced. You might want to read The Art of Putting for more info.

Deciding between muscle backs and cavity backs really is tough. I have Mizuno MX-23s and MP-32s in my house and I just can't decide which ones to use. I can hit the blades rather well, it's just that when you have a blade, you feel like you have to hit the sweet spot. With the cavity backs, I feel like I can do whatever I want to without worrying about hitting bad shots. The blades really give you maximum workability and control though. I remember watching the Golf Channel and seeing the commentator talk about Camilo Villegas' improved ball-striking. He said that Camilo loved his new cavity back players clubs because they had forgiveness and blade performance all in one. The 67s are really great clubs though and I can't help but try my friends every time I play with him.