littlefish

I just picked up a Titleist 909H 21deg to fill my 3/2 iron gap. The new 909s are excellent clubs! The Diamana Blue 80 H shaft (made for Titleist) is very nice too!! I've been playing a 585H and find the new 909/shaft combo a great improvement. I've never been a real big fan of Hybrids, but these new ones are killer.

I carry both. 60 is good for green side chipping in addition to flops. 56 with more bounce good from traps and longer pitches. Two important clubs! 54/58 combo would be good too.

Does anyone like a lob wedge as their primary club for greenside chipping? I was thinking of concentrating on one club for everything from ~60 yds to greenside (excluding traps). Read about Daly and Woods doing this. Seems to work well, but requires a very precise setup and swing to be consistent. I like the idea of no indecision as to which club to use.

Give an 07 Big Bretha 3W a try. Good off tee and turf. It goes a real farway when you hit it too...

"I hit my 7 wood 280 with a 75% swing out of the rough...." love it!

I'm looking for what Ping considers standard length for their irons. How does the length work with respect to black and blue color (dot) code system? My Titleist 755 5i is 38" long (standard). Some of the Pings I've seen (on-line) show 37.75" but it's not clear what color code that's for. Is a standard (i.e. no length added or subtracted) black and blue dot club the same length? Also, do their newer clubs still use the color code system? Any help is appreciated!

Goblue, Good idea on rotating gloves. It's very hot where I play and that would help. In the past I've just been to lazy to do it. On your grip response, the difference from .600 ID to .580 ID is the equivalent of an extra wrap of tape or maybe slight less (according to GolfPride's website). The smaller ID grip expands a little when placed on a .600 shaft. That's what Titleist does with Vokeys to get a little larger grip size in their stock wedges.

"I personally carry a 3 iron and no 5 wood + 3 wedges(and PW) and I love the setup." Ditto! For me the 3 iron is more accurate than the 5W although I miss my 5W (sometimes it sneaks it's way back in the bag)...

I’d like to know how many rounds people get through before wearing holes in their glove. I’ve always battled the tight grip (re-grip) problem, but seem to have improved to the point where a better quality glove lasts 15 - 20 or more rounds, before the palm and/or the interlaced finger contact point start to wear through. I use to use cheap gloves that seem to wear through after several rounds (sometimes less), but through better grip control and a higher quality glove have improved. The glove still does eventually wear a hole in those spots and I know I still grip a bit too firmly. Just wondering what might be considered normal or acceptable. I suppose there are those who never wear out their gloves too. I’m also thinking of increasing the grip size slightly on the next change out (currently use .600 on .600 butt size and may try .580). Not sure if that might help ease the grip pressure. Any comments are appreciated!

The 56.10 is a very good sand wedge too and maybe a little more versatile. Good from the typical sand that most courses seem to have. I’ve only seen a couple places where the 14 degree bounce would have been nice from the trap. Depends where you play and how you swing though. Spin mill in the lob wedge is great.

Proper grip size is very important. I believe the Golf Pride site has a grip size (hand size) tool for estimating what you should be using. They also have videos/text there about re-gripping and how you can make slight adjustments in size depending on shaft butt diameter, number of tape warps used, and different internal dimensions of their grips. Re-gripping clubs is fairly easy to do yourself. Golf shops usually have demo grips around to check fit too.

Keep the 3W and get a more lofted hybrid to fill the gap. 3W has many uses too (driving, low flight, wind, etc.).

Not being able to hit well after a lesson seems to be fairly common (taking three lessons in short order you may be pushing your luck). It's no big deal though. Take what the pro said and work it into your swing a little bit at a time (on the range). Changing too many things at once can cause more problems than it solves, but over time you'll want to implement the suggested improvements/corrections. It's amazing how a very slight change can cause a great change in result (good or bad). People with engineering backgrounds seem to like this challenge.

Keeping both feet (front and back) firmly on the ground during backswing and not swaying seems to work well. Coil and only lift back foot heel during follow through. Timing and inside-out swing being important. I'm simple minded so need to keep things simple. The only other thing that might help is the alignment of your feet, in particular the front foot at address. I recently found much improvement in irons distance and control by opening the foot slightly (guess that's what your suppose to do?), rather than standing close to perpendicular. Makes it easier to complete the shot. Then aim correctly to fix left hits.

Big Bertha 3 wood. It's about the size that the old drivers were, seems easier to hit off the turf or Tee than others (at least for me).

3 iron. I miss it.

I recently discovered GolfPride "New Decade™ MultiCompound" grips. See link: http://www.golfpride.com/grips/cord/mc_nd.aspx I like cords too, but don't care for full cord (too hard on the hands). These seem to be the best of both worlds.

You should have at least two sets of irons (probably 3 or 4). One being cavity backed is nice when you're feeling weak, tired, and old (can't hit a mule in the ass from two paces). A quality set of cavities are very enjoyable to hit too, but feel different. Clubs seem to get boring so switching once in awhile can rejuvenate your swing.

Back to the original post. Matching fairway woods might be a good idea (hitting off the turf as apposed to teed up high). The driver hits enough different that whatever works should be used, which may not match the other woods.

Don't give up on the Vokey's! You might consider trying a 60.04 SM. I just picked one up and like it vey much, although it takes a bit of time to get use to.

As far as clubs I'd vote for Callaway X20's. I picked up a set as backup clubs (Uni-flex steel) and find them very easy to hit. And they hit high if your interested in getting your ball higher. Also nice in soft lies (wide sole). The sand wedge works fine for all different shots. I've always liked a steel shaft in irons. The ribbed Callaway grip is very good too.

52.08 Vokey w/slightly oversized grip (greatest golf implement ever devised).

I use to carry a #2 Hybrid (16 deg) instead of a 3W. Now prefer 3W (better distance, lower trajectory in the wind, hit it straighter (use to pull the #2 hybrid at inopportune times), way better off the tee). Still carry #3 or #4 hybrid though and use them often rather than a 3 iron. Can create a bit of a gap between the last iron and first Hybrid though.

I mainly use two low bounce wedges for everything from ~100 yards and in (52 & 58 - if loft needed, type of green, etc.). Exception being sand wedge for sand only (more bounce). The PW seems to be a full swing 10 iron for the most part (matches iron set in feel). I have better distance and direction control by limiting wedge selection and concentrating on perfecting half\quarter\small back swings. Less stress too. Just grab it and let it fly.

If you were going to play a "three club" tournament (18 holes on par 72 course), which clubs would you choose? I need to make this decision for an upcoming event and was think along the lines: 3W - for driving and everything long in fairway. 5 iron - for 125 to ~200 yards and long rough. 52 deg wedge - for everything less than 125 yards, sand and putting. Anyone try putting with a wedge?