ryanf

Actually, the "on the course" not stock shot is valuable to track over time, thanks to the law of averages. Yes, each shot is unique and the same club can purposefully/correctly be hit varying distances based on conditions and requirements. But over many rounds (say a whole season) the law of averages makes the average number very useful in determining the shot needed. Say your "stock" 9 iron is 130 yards. Sometimes you hit it 138, sometimes 120 - depending on conditions and requirements. Those same and different conditions and requirements will repeat themselves, or not, all figuring into the average. So while the "stock" 9i is 130, your average maybe 125. Meaning, over time, the conditions and requirements of the shots made with this club tended to be at or about 125 yards. You know you can still hit the club 138 yards, but the most common shot for the conditions and courses you play is to hit a 125 yard shot with that club -- the numbers not only tell you about the club you hit but the conditions/courses/shot requirements in your game since you know the "stock" is 130, max is 138, but the average is 125. A lower average than stock might mean you play in windy conditions that keep the short irons from traveling. Or, that the courses you play tend to have more trouble in front of the green then in back, so you'd rather hit a smooth 9i then a strong 8i, favoring a miss long rather than short. Both the "stock" number and the true on-course "average" have meaning and are worthwhile numbers to know. As always, its up to you to apply them in a beneficial manner.

OnPar has the range as a separate hole (marked DR) on each course that I've loaded that has a range. At my home course I went out one evening and "marked" each of the flags since they don't move but the teeing area is highly variable (all grass, so there is lots of room to move the teeing grounds around to keep it in good shape).

I got this DVD a couple weeks ago and watched it immediately. I really enjoyed it and it wasn't too different than what I'm doing now, but I have much more solid idea of what I need to be doing and not just stumbling around in the dark hoping to figure it out (what I was doing before). Video was very well done and easy to watch.

In the what?

Anybody??

No GPS is ever going to be able to account for all factors - elevation change is just one small factor, then there is wind, temperature, humidity, lie (tight fairway, lush fairway, light rough, rough, heavy rough, mud ball) side/up/down hill lie, etc. Just because it calculates your average doesn't mean you can't think! Ever shot has conditions that take or give distance. Getting the recommendation is just a starting point. Not to mention its super easy to turn off at any time or tell it not to include a shot.

I agree. Thats one thing I'm really looking forward to - getting what I think I hit my clubs adjusted to reality. It's one of the big reasons I didn't go with a SkyCaddie. The SG5 has an easy way to measure shots but doesn't store them and calculate averages, etc. On top of that it only holds 20 courses. What's up with that?

It really is nice. I forgot to add that many people had trouble early on (beginning of 2009) as they company was new and didn't have tons of courses available. The course list seems pretty long to me know but you can easily check on their website without having to buy (onpargps.com). I live in the north Dallas area and there are just loads of courses available. I have found a few in the very outlying (in the sticks) areas that aren't available yet - but I've never even played them. I'm also heading out this weekend to Naples, Florida for the long weekend to stay with my grandparents. Going golfing with Grandpa twice and he sent me a three different courses he was considering and they were all available plus loads more (but Naples has roughly 1 billion golf courses).

I picked up the OnPar GPS just a couple weeks ago but have only had the chance to play one full round with it. I really like the ability to track shots so it gives you your average and max distance with different clubs. If you use the scorecard feature it keeps track of all your scoring statistics - fairways hit (and missed right or left), number of putts and avg. putts per hole, % of GIR's, % of birdie/par/bogey/dbogey/etc. I love all that about it. The map side of it isn't too different than what else is out there. One nice thing is there are no subscriptions or map fees. Download all you want. I hate the idea of continuing to pay if the device is already expensive (like the OnPar and uPro). If the device was $200 and they charged $50 a year I'd be okay with that. Not with a $400 device (I was actually able to get my OnPar for $340 shipped FedEx 2-day on eBay perfectly new from a reputable seller instead of $400 + 8% sales tax at my local store - about a $90 savings). Another feature I learned after I purchased OnPar was the "mark" feature. Not sure if the uPro has this but its probably got something like it. When you turn the feature on it allows you to "mark" the spot your at on that hole. So whenever your on that whole it will show your distance to that spot when the feature is on. You can add as many as you want and remove them whenever. So when I'm on a whole with water that I'm hitting to or over or a hazard somewhere I just mark the spot that I want to know that yardage and it shows it continuously on that hole. OnPar courses also show the driving range so the other evening I went out to the range and was walked to each flag (the flags don't move but the tee area is grass and is huge - so it moves and rotates around a lot) and set a mark at each flag. So when I'm anywhere on the range I get accurate distances to each flag. A nice bonus especially as they don't indicate the distance AT ALL - which makes no sense because it is a very nice practice area - one the best in the area. They just don't indicate any distances. Not a problem for me anymore.

My wife got my an OGIO Straight Jacket travel bag cover as surprise gift for an trip we're leaving for on Saturday. It's seems like a nice bag but is soft sided and I was concerned with my driver taking the brunt of any force that it is applied to the ends. I've seen here or there a metal pole type thing to go in the bag. I was wondering if I could just use an appropriate size and length piece of PVC in one of the club sleeves. Has anybody done this or something similar successfully? TIA, Ryan

I don't have a current picture of my Ruger P95, but its almsot the same as this model. Just got back into shooting after being out for several years. I used to be able to shoot with my brother then I moved! Eventually I want to pick up a 1911 (or inherit my wife's grandfathers Colt 1911 - his WWII service piece, but I'd rather wait on that if you follow me). So little money, so many toys!

Great coverage! And Breed is doing a good job. Don't think he's ready for the full TV job, but for the "fun" internet coverage. Volume on the broadcast commentators is too low. I'm on a web conference and its BLARING because I had to run the speakers up to hear the coverage. Obviously, its muted now, but they need to fix it.

I went to one several years ago when I lived in Atlanta. My brother invited me. It was lots of fun and a very good learning experience!

I agree. It's a must have for me. I don't know why they make bags without full length dividers! I can't stand them! On the other hand, I also have to have covers on my irons because I don't like hearing them clank around all the time either.

You mean you took them to the range and used them? Ammo prices these days have slowed me down. In TX its been hard to find some of the most popular ammo for some time. My wife complains that golf is expensive, ha!

Congrats! The Kimber 1911's are sweet. My brother has two and I just love to shoot them. I'm going to get myself a nice Kimber 1911 (probably UC version) one day here.

I play a 17* 2h instead of a 3w or 5w. I rarely use it off the tee because I generally hit my driver pretty straight. The 2h is so easy to hit, its great for attacking par 5 greens and bump-and-runs from under trees in the rough when you need to advance the ball along way.

Okay, here's a crappy cell phone pic but it'll have to do.

I have two "spring tees" that have a "par 3" (small/low) tee attached via a cord. I put the big tee in the ground, plug the small tee in nearby and even if the big tee gets knocked out, the cord and the small tee keep it nearby! The small tee I use on par 3's or if I tee off with less than a hybrid. I just reverse the setup using the big tee as the "anchor". Works great!! I had a couple just spring tees and lost them when they went flying. Then I got three of these "tethered" tees and love them. I've actually only used the blue one - I've been using it just over a year (I've not played with ANY other tee in over 1 year!). I gave my brother one and have the second as backup. The blue one is bound to wear out sometime, right? (It's *only* been about 28 rounds so far!) Sorry for the oversized crappy cell phone pic.

I recently bought the 07 burner after hitting it, the 09 burner and the r9 460. It was simply a matter of how consistently I hit the ball with the different clubs. I tested different loft and shaft combos on each and the best for me was the 07. Get which feels and performs best for you - that will often be the latest, but doesn't have to be.

I've purchased from 3balls several times as well and had a similar experience -the clubs were always in better condition than I expected. I think they do things right over there, I like shopping there a lot.

I'll try to get a pic tomorrow, but for now here's the lineup, back-to-front (as seen when standing behind the cart looking at the bag): 2h - D - 3h 6i-5i-4i-4h GW-7i-8i-E--P SW-PW-9i E=empty to protect from clubs banging my putter which is in an seperate sleeve. The bag has 14 full-length dividers so it's basically long clubs top back then they wrap in descending order, but the wedges are bottom and outside for easy access.

Lately I've been playing Nike Ignite balls as a nice compromise between performance (ProV, Nike ONE, etc.) and price. I really like the ball and its been great but you know golfers - we can never leave good enough alone. I was given a sleeve of Nike ONE Vapor balls and played a round with them on Sunday. Well, had my best round ever (not just the balls doing) - shot an 83 - and didn't lose a single ball! So I played the entire round with one ball - another first for me! I thought the Vapor was great, but its to pricey for my regular ball. So I was looking around and the TM Burner LDP gets really good marks despite being only a 2-piece ball so I thought I'd see if anybody has played with it and what your reactions were. TIA! Ryan

A rules expert needs to weigh in here but I'm almost positive the your provisional cannot be played once your ball is found, whether you want to play it or not. But, for non-tournament play on a weekend round I think playing the provisional is a much better solution then going back to the tee just for the sake of pace of play.

I've ordered used golf books several times through Amazon. They all come from independent delaers but they are always in the condition described and are great prices. I've gotten several for dirt cheap (less than $5 plus shipping). I actually ordered a couple of things yesterday. Two sort of on a whim - one was $1.38+s/h the other was $.01+s/h. Both in "like new condition" (their description) from a reputable dealer. Can't go wrong there. Golf Is Not a Game of Perfect and Golf is a Game of Confidence I found very helpful. Putting Out of Your Mind was just okay. Some good stuff but it didn't really get me anywhere.