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Golf Digest has listed as a Silver... http://www.golfdigest.com/golf-equip...?currentPage=3

I'm trying to get myself educated on the forging process and what that means. I initially had a question on the differences between the different metals used (1020/1025/1030) but I found that its the amount of carbon in the steel (1020 is .20 carbon, etc). 1020 would be the softest of the three metals from what i've read. What i'm now trying to understand, and can't really get a good understanding of, is the forging process. I read the Mizuno's grain flow forging process takes 4 steps so the metals more uniform. I've also read more on Bridgestone's to where they use something called endo, but no one offers any decent description. I'm trying to understanding two things which are: 1.) what is forging (I thought it was metal melted, tempered, and cooled using some process but I think my take on it wrong) 2.) What are the differences in the forging process for each company (Mizuno, Callaway, Nike, TM, etc) Any insight would be great...

While i'm waiting for my clubs to arrive from the manufacturer, I had to play with an older set of cast iron irons from just a few years ago. I moved to forged irons about 2.5 years ago and havent been happier. When I moved back to the cast irons this past week, I struggled mightily. The thick top line and the offset at address really threw me for a look. Maybe it was mental, but I felt like I couldnt get under the ball because it was much bigger club then i'm use to. Least to say, it was a disastrous round. Has anyone else run into this problem, either going from forged to cast iron or vice versa. Im just wondering if anyone made the move either way and what their experiences were...

I've just started to about 1 month ago after my workouts (four times a week) for about 30 minutes, focusing on some deep chest, back, hip, and hamstring stretches using a stability ball. My big focus is on shoulder and waist turn. I was pretty inflexible about a month ago, but am now seeing good results and an easier golf game. I'd recommend checking out a few yoga videos. I was against it at first (ego) until my wife challenged me to even do one stretch that I couldnt even come close to doing.

Even though I had the TaylorMade TP MB and now the Nike VR Blades, I'd have to say the Callaway X Protoype that Mickelson plays...

Is it crazy that I like Adam Scott's though he's in a never ending slump?

Yes, they do. That's exactly what I did yesterday. I was at golfsmith and we special ordered it through Nike. Basically all they did was breakdown the clubs individually and order them through Nike in that matter with my specs. Mixing and matching wasnt a problem. I asked the rep if this could have been done with any set, and they said pretty much. The only ones that it couldnt be done on are those starter sets (driver through SW sold together) or if the manufacturer states that they can't. I just dont see a company being that restrictive...

Because of my penchant of not being able to hit the 3 and 4 irons at all, and the 5 and 6 irons consistently, I just ordered a combo set of irons (Nike VR forged Split Cavity and Forged Blades). I got the 3i-6i in the Split Cavity and the 7-PW in the blades. I just traded in my TaylorMade Forged TP MB blades for these combo irons. I sat there and tested out all at least ten different irons, and felt that the Nike's were the best feeling, easiest to hit, and appeasing to the eye. The question I really have is whether this is common? I know some tour pros use a combo package for their long irons (3,4, and sometimes a 5), but considering i'm not pro, I just felt that this was a good idea for my game and made most sense. I felt odd placing the order like I was an anomaly, but I did it anyways because I figured at the end of the day it about improving my play and gaining confidence. Feedback is welcome...

Thanks for all the info. I'm heavily leaning towards the combo set, 3-4 split cavities and 5-PW being forged. I dont have much problems getting the 5 iron up i the air so i'm pretty comfortable there. If cost wasnt an issue, id buy them tomorrow because i'm that sold on them. I think they're a great feeling set of clubs... I also am hesitant on spending that much right now, but if Golfsmith's trade in and discount incentives add up and make sense at the end of the day, then i'll pull the trigger. Right now, they're offering 15% and 30% on trade-ins, so if I can walk away with trading in my irons and some old drivers (2 in total) for nothing less than $400 and then get the 15% off the list price of the irons ($899), then id walk away paying no more than $350 after all is said and done. If I can do that, then its all game. We'll see on Sunday when I go in...

I'm contemplating trading in my Taylor Made RAC M TP irons for a combo set of the Nike VR Forged irons (3, 4, maybe 5 in the forged split cavity back, and 5/6-PW forged blades). I play blades right now and admit that they've hampered my game in the last year since i've moved to them but are finally starting to come around (lessons this winter have changed alot). With that, I wanted an opinion of people who have the Nike VR series and what they think about them. I've tried all the iron sets out there and have come to the conclusion that the VR's feel and look the best to me. This is coming from a person who's been a life long Nike fan but wouldnt even go near their Nike golf products until earlier last month when I bought the VR Str8 Fit driver. I became a big fan. I've tried the VR irons for a few months and am close to pulling the trigger, but might wait until next winter to really go after them. Advice welcomed...

Just went to the Chicago Golf Show and picked up the Nike VR Str8-Fit Tour Driver and couldnt be more stoked and excited about it. It came down between the Ping i15 and the Nike VR but I liked the adjustability of the VR. Unfortuntely there's still snow on the ground as it remains in plastic. April can't come soon enough!!! Next up is new grips...

I went to golf show this weekend looking for nothing in particular and left impressed at the feel and look of the Ping i15 driver. I only had about 25 swings with it into a net 15 yards in front of me, but the feel of the driver was simply something I didnt expect. I've always been a Taylor Made kinda guy, but this new Ping has got me thinking to drop the $350. Im kinda put off a bit because the reviews I read state its a low handicapper club and i'm no low handicapper. I generally shoot in the low 90's and break 90 once in a while, but have gone through a complete and utter overhaul of my swing and am starting to feel more comfortable with it. With that being said, anyone play with this club, test it out, or can give some additional input? Let me know...

To answer one of the first questions, my clubhead swing was monitored at 104mph (computer capture). I just dont find them have the pop that i'm used to. When given to me, I was told they'll carry farther than any of the balls i mentioned in my initial post, but i'm really finding that it's the complete opposite.

I was given a box of these balls a few weeks ago and I really have to say that i'm greatly dissapointed in these balls. These balls seem to have less distance on them and less control. In comparison to other balls i've hit (Titleist NXT Tour, Bridgestonr e5 or e6, TaylorMade TP or Burner), they rate on the bad end. I've actually come to enjoy hitting the NXT Tour and e6 golf balls more than other right now which is pretty surprising to me. Anyone else have a bad expereince with these specific balls or another ball you thought was supposed to be good?

Like you, I have a been a TaylorMade loyalist for the past few years as i've believed solely in their products. Of lately, I have had a great lack of enthusiasm over their products and even new offerings, so much so that I am highly considering a sponsor change this fall (lol - sponsor change...i crack myself up) With that, i've been testing out some new products and am leaning heavily towards Titleist, specifically the 909D2 driver and the Z-B Forged irons. I'm young but i'm more of a traditionalist when it comes to look, playability, and feel. I dont like to mix and match products too much, so i'm pretty much a brand loyalist all the way through. Right now, i'm Taylormade but i'm looking for a brand switch. Anyone with any good information, please let us know why...

Ya know, I never thought about Titlest as I completely spaced on them for a moment. He use to use a Titlest driver so I think you're right on track there. It's one tournament granted, but I think if he never picks up a VR iron for the rest of the year, that's would be a blow to Nike's golf equipment line and maybe image....

The driver is one thing to change out as alot of pro's do, but alot of pro's stick with a set of irons that works for them. I guess where i'm going with this is what does it say about Nike's irons when your most prominent athlete decides to go back to older clubs and away from the ones "built specifically for tiger"? Honestly, this doesnt bode well for Nike irons. Their reputation was getting better in my mind, but I think this is a major blow to Nike's overall product line. If he continues to use the old clubs and not the VR, or if say Anthony Kim, Steward Cink, Paul Casey, or Trevor Immelman revert back to older clubs, Nike's image as a clubmaker is doomed. http://blogs.golf.com/equipment/2009...-memorial.html In my humble opinion, I think Nike has Tiger because they have the bigger wallets. If money wasnt an issue, I could very see him being a Callaway, TaylorMade, or Mizuno man. My two cents...

I have the Taylormade TAC TP/MB blades after trying out all of the blades over a 2 month period. The reason i chose the TaylorMade's over the others? Its because the $1000 cost dropped to less than $500 for a brand new set with my specs. Honestly, and i hope not too many people argue with me here, allot of blades are exactly the same in feel. I didnt feel that much of a difference between the blades which were Callaway, Cobra, Taylormade, Mizuno, and Titleist. I really didnt feel that much of a differnce. If you want some professional rankings, then here are the ones from GolfDigest: http://www.golfdigest.com/equipment/...?currentPage=1

Born and raised in Chicago, but 100% Egyptian (unless of course you ask my father, then he'll tell you can trace my line back to Egypt, Saudia Arabia, Morrocco, and Greece). If that's the case, i'm Mediterrainian!

Ok, so here's what you need to know. Even if you just picked up golf, the MP52's for $400 is a steal! If I were you, i would jump all over the deal. As far whether they are too professional for you, they are not. I have a set of Taylor Made tour MB/TP which are pure blades, and i'm happy to struggle with them because even though I took a step back going from cavity back to blades, after a years time, my swing has become more consistent and I really do understand my swing alot better. The MP-52 are high quality but according to Mizuno, very forgiving. Those were the ones I was ( ) that close to getting until a friend of mine got me the Taylor Made's at a discount from $1000 to below $475. Mizuno's are always at the top of the list of irons as many people will argue they are the best irons out there. I love my TM's, but at some point, I can see myself moving over to Mizuno irons in the future. In regards to the shaft, stick with the S300. Your swing matches up closely with that so I wouldnt worry too much about it. I swing a bit faster and have x100 shafts which i find too stiff and am making the switch to S300 shafts in the future. In summary, go for it!

Shoot man, can you tell me your secret of breaking 90 consistently let alone 80? My best is an 85 but I consistenly shoot 92ish. It's annoyingly frustrating...

I had the RAC and now have the TP, and there's definitely a difference. I have the TP irons as well, and i'm not sure if the wedge is the same forging process as the irons are, but I believe they are. The grooves catch the ball better on the TP as i've noticed I have much more control. They're also a bit heavier and i've found I dont feel it being loose when I swing as i did with the RAC.

I think that's impossible to say because of (1) time and (2) geographic region. In North America, we're going to say Michael Jordan or Tiger. But North America is not the world. The world's most recognizable sports star is probably, by most accounts, going to be a soccer player. I grew up not watching soccer and only got into of recently, but the second you step outside of the states, you realize this world is a soccer crazed world. With that, if I had to go today, I would say that the most recognized athlete today is David Beckham, followed closely by Tiger Woods. I think they're 1 and 1a with little variation in popularity and recognizability between the two. I think Tiger was the most recognizable until Beckham came to the states. Since then, I think he's eclipsed him by a little. Third is MJ (im biased because I live in Chicago)... :)

Look into older models you can from those sights, or pre-owned clubs. You'll find alot of great deals out there...

Kudos gentlemen...kudos! Kudos for shooting down someones thoughts, dreams, and chances. In fact, I think you should go out and tell everyone to stop dreaming of success, to not blaze thier own path, and aspire for nothing more than janitorial engineering (not that there's anything wrong it...if it feeds the family and provides shelter, then my hats off to you!). I know there's a lot of pessimism in the world, but my god people! Give the boy a chance. Dude, if you think you can get better and you want to give it a shot...give it a shot! Even if the chance are "slim to none", "not a chance", etc etc etc, give it a shot! Do what you like. Who cares if the chances are less of being a pro at something than winning the lottery. At least try if you want! I think what you need to hear is give it a shot, but dont be in denial. Convincing yourself of something you are or something you're not will only lead to regret and self pity. Accepting one part of the many parts of your life is what you need to keep in mind. I played basketball in school and dreamed of the NBA. Was it going to happen? Probably not, but it never deterred me from working hard and getting noticed by schools. And that continues till today.