superfly777

Thanks for replying. The standard shafts are different and it is actually 45.5" in the standard XL but 45" in the Custom. But my pro can give me a fitting for no upcharge so I think he can get me which ever shaft (including a load of other shaft options) and length I need. Other than the adjustability the two heads do seem to be identical. Apparently there's three weight options in the Custom head so I'm assuming one of them is equal to the standard XL but if it isn't then that might be the only difference.

The new Cleveland Classic XL Driver is being described as the game improvement option and the Custom is being described as the better players version. Obviously the Custom will cost more however surely the added adjustability would actually benefit game improvers more than a lot of better players because the Custom allows you to change face angle which would help mid-handicappers reign in their slices or hooks. I believe both heads are 460cc so the Custom isn't a 'Tour' version like other brands. Does anyone know if you set the Custom to the same shaft, same loft, same lie and same weight, is it exactly the same as the regular Classic XL, or does the Custom have some other design that makes it for better players?

What I would say is try as many different ones as you can and forget about price (other than your upper limit). I went into my see my pro for a putter with the top budget of about £90 ($140ish). He showed me a dozen different styles and various options and models within each style. After swinging everything without a ball I narrowed it down to three mallet putters I liked (1xCleveland and 2xOdessey). I hit all three and although I was perfectly willing to spend the extra money on either of the £80 and £90 Odesseys I just felt that the £50 Cleveland felt better to me personally. I've had it 3 months now and don't regret it for a second. I picked the putter that felt right to me and for that reason it performs the best. Personal feel has an impact with every club but in putters it is much more important. Technology is very limited in putters so just pick the one that feels the best, not the one with the best marketing material.

Thanks. I thought Cleveland was a bigger name in the US so there would be more comments but I've googled and can't find many reviews of the Cleveland woods at all. There's a few about the new driver but even they all just regurgitate the Cleveland marketing material rather than actually reviewing properly by comparing it to other clubs.

Anyone at all tried the Cleveland Classic XL 3W?

Has anyone tested or bought the new Cleveland Classic XL Fairway Wood (3W specifically)? General questions I have: What standard is it aimed at? Good off both tee and fairway, or notably better at one? I heard there was a draw bias, any comment? How's the distance and forgiveness compared to other 2013 options? Anyone have direct comparisons to other 2013 models (particularly Callaway X Hot 3W)? Custom shafts? I'm basically looking for a 3W to mostly use off the tee but still want to be able to hit off the fairway from time to time (90:10 split). I currently use a stiff shaft Callaway Diablo Octane 3W. My pro is sponsored by Callaway so I think he has an X Hot demo I can try. Also Cleveland are pushing him hard this year so he has a fitting cart. He definitely can do iron and wedge fittings for Cleveland but I'll have to check if he has 3W demos. I don't want to spend money on a Cleveland 3W fitting if the Callaway X Hot is just better. Just though I'd get some ideas and opinions first if anyone has them. Thanks in advance.

Thanks. You too.

The 5W was by MD Golf which is an Irish company. I don't think they're well known in the US but they make good clubs that shoot well above their weight in all product comparison tests, particularly with wedges (still got an MD Gap Wedge). Being a regular flex shaft was definitely a big problem but it was also much more difficult to keep on target in the wind. I could probably have got used to the 5W in stiff shaft and it would have been good in certain circumstances. But in the end I went for a 19 degree (turned to 18.25) Titleist 913H and am very happy with that decision. I use it a number of times a round and I find it much easier to keep it under the wind. I think that would have been difficult even with a shaft suited 5W. I also got a 21 degree Titleist 913H which is half an inch shorter shaft so it fits in nicely above my irons and gives me the correct distance gaps. I just need to upgrade my 3W now to something a bit more fitted and modern.

I agree in part with what you've said, but I still think he should spend less time complaining that hosels are still too big and more time reviewing how the actually adjustability compares to the hosels of other clubs.

I have very mixed feelings about him. Some of his reviews are great and others are absurdly biased. I don't watch his tutorials particularly as I have proper lessons but I reckon they could be good for people who want free advice. I mainly watch him because he does more club reviews than anyone else I've found on youtube. I've found other channels but they only seem to review on average about one club a month whereas Mark Crossfield at least seems to bring out some sort of club review every few days. Can anyone suggest youtube channels for pros doing frequent club reviews that they think are better? Just to add, I'm not interested in reviews that simply regurgitate the companies product description (as lots seem to do).

I've got the CG16 in Satin Chrome and my dad has the Black Pearl. The Black's are nice but I'd say Chrome all the way. My 588 RTX wedges are Black Pearl which along with my black woods and hybrids gives the set a nice colour balance.

That was meant to be * "5 balls from the end."

After a slice-filled range session a couple of days ago it suddenly occurred to me what I had been doing wrong 5 balls. After hitting the range again today I'm pleased to be hitting my shots nice a straight again (mostly). I must say it is exciting to see my average drive (excluding worst 5%) rolling out to 265 yards with a few of my shots hitting the back fence of the range at 280 yards. Although the range is marginally downhill it was still using Top-Flite range balls so I reckon those distances are pretty accurate. Still I do wonder if I wasn't influenced by the knowledge that the standard set-up was Driver & 3 Wood, what would I (or most people who hit the same distance) be better off with. Once you take into account dog-legs, water hazards, fairway bunkers and par 3s there's quite a lot of holes in my club's 18 holes where a driver is either the wrong option or no real benefit. If I went without any bias, how would I score with a 13.5 degree and 16 degree set-up compare to if I went round without with the normal Driver & 3 wood combo. Just have to see how the traditional set-up works this year and then next year, when I plan on getting fit for a new 3 wood, I can see whether it's the right option.

I'm really inconsistent with my driver and since I can comfortably hit my 3 wood 240 yards off the tee I usually tend to tee off with this. It's more accurate and with that kind of average distance I can usually hit the green with my second shot as long as I have a good lie. I'm looking at updating my driver and 3 wood for next season. With that in mind I had the possible idea of dropping the driver and replacing it with a 13.5 degree 3 wood (basically a 2 wood). Something like the Callaway X Hot 3 Deep or Titleist 913F.d maybe. Then I could add a 16/17 degree 4 wood which would be easier to hit from the turf so I'd be move inclined to use it than a traditional 3 wood from the fairway. Has anyone gone down this route themselves with success or failure? What's people's opinion on 13.5 degree 3 woods? Any other related thoughts.

Obviously technique is an issue for a 23 handicapper but I'd ask what loft your PW is and do you have any wedges with lofts between your PW and SW. I have PW (44*), GW (50*) then SW (56*). If the gap between your PW and SW is too big get a Gap Wedge and then you can either hit it 3/4 or move your hands down the shaft if you need to take some distance off. That might be better than trying to overhit your SW. I've found it's also better on windy days when you're trying to keep the ball down.

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I definitely don't root against them, but when Rickie hits a 180 yard approach to a foot from the pin I think: "Great shot! That mustache makes him look like a nob though. I bet he's a dick." That's what might actually run through my head at the time. In reality I'm sure he's a decent bloke but my subconscious is less pc than me.

I was looking for information on the PGA's slowest players and came across this article which shows the times of the fastest and the slowest players on the PGA Tour. http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748704013604576249071961744478.html It's not directly related to favourite or least favourite players but seeing as I'd given Rickie Fowler a hard times because he kept doing things that were kinda annoying (no. 1 being that mustache), I only thought it was fair to give him credit when it's due. Sergio appearing as one of the slowest players as well.

Sounds to me that if we assume a 56 degree opened is about 60 and my other club is a 60 degree wedge, then it comes down to a battle (for my personal playing style) of more bounce v more clubface to hit. So if I find that if the 12 degrees of bounce in my lob wedge is enough bounce for greenside sand shots then if I want a high trajectory then the lob wedge is the way to go. Better go and experiment.

Ok I get that as I like bounce in my wedges. I have Cleveland 588 RTX wedges in 56/14 and 60/12. 12 degrees is the standard bounce for Cleveland's 60 degree wedge although the average bounce for other companies seems to be about 8 degrees in their 60s. Seems then that my 60/12 is a higher bounce than other lob wedges. If I hit the 60 degree square then would you think my 12 degrees of bounce is about right or is that still not enough for a greenside bunker shot?

56 degrees seems to be the standard for a sand wedge although plenty of people have other lofts (54 seems to be popular). Most teaching I've seen shows how you should take your 56 degree, open your stance, open your clubface and use this added loft to give you more height out of the greenside bunkers. Fair enough. Thing is, if I open my 56 the loft would probably become about 60 degrees, and I have a 60 degree lob wedge anyway. Wouldn't it be easier to just use the 60 degree lob wedge and hit it with a square stance and square clubface? This would give me the same height/trajectory and give me a larger club face to hit whilst allowing more room for error? Also the grooves of the club would be straight on allowing more backspin once it hits the green. Is there some benefit to opening a 56 degree that I am not aware of?

What I meant was that for the first 3 rounds it was "the same way". My point was that by leading comfortably for 3 rounds he showed he had the technical ability to beat fields in the same way that some of the great players could. Obviously the gap was only 4 shots and he collapsed in the 4th round which was partly a mental obstacle that others may not have had but it still showed that he had technical supremacy over that field for three rounds of a majors. I actually agree. The cause of my question was initiated by my belief that players are touted as being possible "all-time greats" far too young. I personally think that Rory which win quite a few more majors, but whether he'll retire with 5, 8, 10, 12, 14+, no-one knows. The issue is that if he retires having won say 8 majors then people will say he fell short of the marks of Tiger and Nicklaus which is completely unfair as that many majors would be a great amount.

I guess winning the Masters by 12 strokes as a 22 year old will probably do that. I guess it's similar to Rory nearly dominating the 2011 Masters in the same way. Cheers.

As a Brit I'm a big fan or Rory Mcilroy. Obviously he's a bit of a slump now but even before he had won his first major there was a lot of talk about how he had the potential to win 10 majors and possible even challenge Woods and Nicklaus. Even if this turns out to be true I think this was a bit of a leap in my opinion but I guess it came from Rory was miles ahead at the 2011 Masters. Although he collapsed it showed how he could dominate a field. I'm 25 so a bit young to remember Tiger's early years. Can anyone remember how young Tiger was when his reputation had grown to the point when people thought he could beat Nicklaus's 18 golf majors record?