antnee94

My dilemma also. I have played a 5 wood for many years. In fact it is one of my favorite clubs. I use it for anything 215 and out. I use it off the tee on some select holes (I'm able to get it 225-240 teed up). I have the TM RBZ with an aftermarket Fujikura Rombax Type-X Shaft. It matches the 3 wood in my bag also. I can hit the 5 wood off the deck very well, but will rarely hit it if the ball is in the rough. I keep looking for something that will give me a similar distance but add the use out of the rough. Unfortunately I have tinkered with two 3 Hybrids (RBZ Tour 18.5 degree and an Adams Idea A12 19 degree, both with aftermarket shafts). Long story short, both clubs are an inch shorter than my 5 wood and I can't hit either of them flush consistently the way I can the 5 wood. It almost makes no sense. The hybrid should be easier to hit. It doesn't matter if it's off the tee, the deck, or out of the rough. The crazier thing is, I can hit both my 21 degree hybrids (same make as the 19 degree ones above) just as far (in some instances farther) than the 19 degree hybrids. Almost to the point the 4 hybrid can take off on me and go too far at times. I'm looking for that three hybrid to get me 207-215 consistently, and I just can't do it. My next step is cutting both down a half inch to see if that helps before I sell both clubs and just keep the 5 wood in the bag. I know it's me and not the clubs. One of those weird quirks with a 19 degree hybrid and my swing I guess.

I track all my swings with my GPS watch. I keep three sets of numbers, overall average, anything hit above a normal mishit distance, and anything hit in my sweet spot range. For example, I throw out any mishits for my driver that do not travel 225 yards (assume I'm playing into a stiff wind, hit high or low on the face, or smack a tree). Also, the same driver I count all shots between 225 and 290 (my sweet spot, which throws out any downhill, downwind or absolutely perfect swings). I also track the general number of swings with each club. I finished this year: Driver: 250.9, 253.4, 250.5 (275 swings) 3 Tour Spoon: 228.2, 238.7, 238.7 (19 swings) - as you can see, I never was consistent with this club 3W: 236.0, 242.1, 235.4 (72 swings) - threw out anything below 220, roughly 15 swings 4W: 229.3, 232.3, 224.7 (8 swings) 5W: 223.4, 224.4, 224.4 (25 swings) - one of my most consistent clubs and I continue to pull it for a 2/3 hybrid for more versatility that I don't get 3U: 217.6, 217.6, 213.5 (12 swings) - my impulse buy after the Masters when Adam Scott had this in the bag (off the tee deadly, off the fairway...I can't hit a 3 Iron consistently) 2H: 208.7, 222.0, 222.0 (3 swings) - my brother gave this to me at the end of the year to play with (too early to tell) 3H: 208.0, 217.8, 211.1 (35 swings) - I try to keep this in my bag but I'm so inconsistent with it (hit shots as short as 173 as far as 253) 4H: 204.7, 208.5, 203.1 (51 swings) - this is an interesting one, after I reshafted an Adams A7 I lost my distance gap between my 5 iron and hit it 8 yards further than my TM RBZ Tour (I can also play my hands forward on this one and stretch it to 220+ off the deck and tee) 4H2: 196.8 (12 swings) - there was no reason to take this out of the bag, but I did for the Adams A7 with a Diamana HY92 (I need to just keep this in the bag) 5H: 189.7, 194.9, 190.4 (27 swings) - Since the Adams A7 21 degree went too far, I picked up a 24 degree to close the gap on the above (but silly me put a blue board HY82 instead of the white board HY92, which will change for next season, again showing there was no reason to pull the TM RBZ Tour since it was gaped perfectly, but I like the A7 heads feel much better, I wanted 5 more yards on this club) 4I: 189.3, 193.6, 193.6 (18 swings) - I hit the hybrids so much better, not sure why I keep putting it in the bag 5I: 183.1, 185.8, 184.4 (27 swings) 6I: 178.3, 178.3, 175.3 (30 swings) 7I: 163.0, 162.0, 163.1 (41 swings) 8I: 156.3, 157.8, 153.3 (66 swings) 9I: 140.2, 140.7, 137.6 (46 swings) PW: 128.7, 129.3, 125.7 (54 swings) 50: 116.4, 117.2, 112.9 (28 swings) 55: 101.6, 102.6, 99.1 (21 swings) 60: 72.3, 74.7, 74.7 (3 swings) Pitching/Short Game Shots I have two shots with each club, hands forward punch, and hands neutral (I love these shots), keeping same 3 numbers above PW Fwd: 137.1, 143.4, 136.7 (39 swings) - most of these are 1/2 to 3/4 swings PW Ntl: 101.7, 121.2, 104.5 (9 swings) 50 Fwd: 96.4, 105.8, 103.7 (14 swings) 50 Ntl: 85, 88.3, 88.3 (4 swings) 55 Fwd: 87.1, 98.4, 104.5 (27 swings) 55 Ntl: 67.7, 70.1, 65.5 (33 swings) 60 Fwd: 62.0, 66.5, 57.0 (5 swings) 60 Ntl: 46.3, 46.3, 45.0 (15 swings) 60 Flop: 32.0 (3 swings)

Driver - Titleist 913 D2: $399 3W - TM RBZ: $549 - aftermarket Fujikura Rombax Type-X 5W - TM RBZ: $429 - aftermarket Fujikura Rombax Type-X 4H - Adams Idea A12: $220 aftermarket pull off ebay Mitsubishi Diamana D+ HY92 Irons - Mizuno JPX 800 Pro - 5-PW: $600 Wedges - Titlesit Vokeys 50, 56, 60: $360 combined Putter - SC California Coranado: $300 Titleist 14 Way Premium Stand Bag: $220 ---------------------------------------------------------- TOTAL: Too Much $3,077 And this doesn't count the rest of my arsenal.

Right now I finished this season as a 10.5 Handicap and have taken lessons the last two years. I was stagnant at a 15 handicap three seasons ago and didn't see any improvement for the first time since 2006...the year I started to take golf serious. I realized I was never going to achieve my goals of becoming a single digit if I didn't figure out some consistency. I was a short driver of the golf ball...only 230ish with a push hook hitting only 42% of my fairways. I needed to figure out that part of my game to get better. I also had no short game. If the shot wasn't a full PW, GW, or SW, I was dead in the water from 100 yards and inside. That's why I went to my local golf pro as a 15 handicap. I took 12 lessons last year. I was playing on Saturday mornings and then I would take a lesson on Sunday or late that Saturday afternoon. I dropped to a 13 the end of last season. I was happy with the improvement, but still struggled driving the ball. I played two ways last season, either great or pretty bad. There was nothing in the middle. The really good rounds were between 77-81, the bad rounds were 90-94. There were very few that were in the mid 80s, the consistency I was really looking for. They shortened my swing which helped me improve my irons and greens in regulation. My driver went from a push hook to a nice baby fade. I actually learned how to work the ball off the tee (one of my major requirements). I could groove it all day on the range, but not on the course. I would set up for a draw and then fade the ball. I'd set up for a fade and draw the ball. And now you can see why my scores last year were either great or bad with nothing in the middle. I was in trouble off the tee and didn't know where my driver was going. The dreaded two way miss. I actually drove my 3 wood only 5 yards less than my driver too. This year I went for 5 lessons very early. I probably should have gone for another few, but I played more on Saturday and Sunday this year. The beginning of the year was a bit of a struggle for me, but I got down to a 9.9 in late September, before coming back up to where I finished the season...10.5. All the lessons clicked. Off the tee I was money this year. I'm a big stat *****, and tracked all my fairways and distances. Right now I'm +20 yards off the tee from my initial lessons averaging 250 yards and hitting 55% of my fairways. This was a big step for me. This year there were fewer great rounds than last year, but a hell of a lot more consistent rounds where I was 84-86. The bad rounds became 88-92 this year. And the good rounds stayed the same. What really holds me back is the time. If it was up to me I would go to the range 2-3 times a week after work and take a lesson in that span. Money plays into it, but also my job and family (my kid is still young). I can't complain though, especially when I get 45 rounds in between the 1st week of April and week before Thanksgiving. That's my season in NY. Once I hit into a 2-3 club wind, it's time to pack it in for the winter. I love this game and can play everyday. I'm always trying to tinker with shot making. My instructor jokes around and tells me it's OK to try and hit a ball straight at the middle of the green. Hell... that wouldn't be fun. I am not as good as I think I am, but I am better than most amateurs and really take pride in that. If only I had more time and money, I'd get down to below 5...I know it. That's my story.

See my signature below.

I have a 64 degree Vokey. Total waste of money. Played 3 rounds with it. I never use more than my 60. And when I'm trying to sure up the top of my bag the 56 is the highest lofted wedge in my bag. I barely use my 60 degree wedge. I mainly use it when I play a specific course which has a lot of elevated greens with bunker protection surrounding. It stays in the bag but can go rounds without using it sometimes.

I've had a 3 & 5 wood set up in my bag since I started golfing 18 years ago. No matter what I try as far as a hybrid is concerned, I still can't get that 5 wood out of my bag. I use it off the tee and off the deck. It is one of my most consistent clubs. I actually fear the 3 wood off the deck to the point I tend to baby my swing and lose it right because I'm always afraid of the pull hook. But with the 5 wood there is no fear to go after it. It goes dead straight for me 220. A mishit with that club is a little thin, which still gets me at worst 185-200 down the fairway. Bottom line is it's always straight. I play a 19 degree TM RBZ with a Fujikura Rombax Type X shaft. It's a beast for me. It's one of those clubs I just have total confidence in.

Freddy Couples So smooth and effortless. And it goes a country mile. I try to emulate that tempo and transition. Just not very well.

This has all been charted thanks to my Garmin S3. And yes I do own this many clubs and have used them all this year. I'm giving you the average throwing out the distances that I've mishit, and the ones that I absolutely caught pure and flew a much greater distance. I use a 25 yard range when I throw out short or long shots. I also don't record the distances when I'm playing into or with a strong wind. I pretty much only decided on my bag set up for the remainder of the season 3 rounds ago. I'm going with the 15/19 degree FW, the 21 degree hybrid, 5I-PW, 50, 55, 60 degree wedges. D: 247.3 (119 Swings) 13 degree Tour Spoon: 238.6 (12 swings) 15 degree 3 wood: 238.5 (24 swings) 17 degree 4 wood: 231.0 (7 swings) 19 degree 5 wood: 219.5 (14 swings) 18.5 degree hybrid: 209.8 (5 swings) 21 degree hybrid: 207.5 (18 swings) 21.5 degree hybrid: 196.6 (7 swings) 3I: 212.9 (12 swings) 4I: 194.7 (15 swings) 5I: 185.4 (16 swings) 6I: 174.4 (12 swings) 7I: 165.8 (20 swings) 8I: 156.2 (32 swings) 9I: 141.4 (24 swings) P: 125.7 (28 swings) 50W: 114.3 (17 swings) 55W: 98.9 (10 swings) 60W: 72.5 (2 swings)

Tiger woods -8 Alex Noren -6

I haven't posted in this forum in a while because my game is in the toilet right now. I'm an 11 trending upward on my handicap over two strokes and the can't figure out why. So... to say I'm discouraged is an understatement. But I finally had a shot that I've been proud of worth posting that led to good overall results. I have hit a bunch of good drives over the past 10 rounds only squander great opportunities with miserable irons or wedge shots. So here is my shot... I was playing the Red Course at Eisenhower and we were on the 16th hole. A short 150 yards to the center of the green with a front middle/left pin gunned at 136. I usually play this hole conservatively and just aim for the middle of the green with a 9 iron. We were playing Sixes in my foursome. The 1st team teed off and you saw the wind just grab their balls and knock them down out of the air. It was like they hit a wall and fell just barely on the green. My partner said to me the wind doesn't look like it, but it's up there and in our face. I asked him should I club up and hit a knock down 8 or try and club up even more and hit a cut into the green. Not willing to make a decision for me, he told me to hit whatever I was more comfortable with. So I grabbed a 7 iron and decided to hit a cut, since I'm more comfortable with that shot. Long story short, I executed the shot and landed on the same tier a few yards deeper than the pin and maybe 25 feet or so to the right. I almost made the birdie and thought I had it until the last foot when it broke down on the low side. I tapped in for par. It made me happy at that moment. Don't ask about 17 and 18 because they bordered on disaster.

On the 9th hole of the Blue Course at Eisenhower Park, I teed off with my TaylorMade RBZ 3HL (basically a 17 degree 4 wood) and hit a straight ball down the left side of the fairway 278 yards. I actually knew the second it left the club it was a home run I yelled BOO YA KASHA from watching Ninja Turtles with my daughter. I marked it off with my GPS watch. The next ball I hit a knock down wedge too strong to a back pin and had to chip and save par, which I did. I should never complain about any pars!

My last three rounds have been much better. I'm not where I want to be but I played a big boy course (Bethpage Red) and shot 90. I was so hot and tired by 16 and walking up the mountains that I had no stamina and really have away a 86/87 for a 90. But this was the 1st day my irons came back to me. Now on this day I forgot how to pitch and chip taking a few 2 fors on a holes that I should have been on and off in par or bogey at worst. The next two rounds I went to my feel good course (Eisenhower Blue). While I shot an 85 and 87, I really should be 4 strokes lower in both those rounds to really know my game is back. But again the iron play came back and was as crisp as it's been in years. I actually started making such pure and solid contact I flew a few greens from my normal yardages because of wind and warmth in NY. Up until the last 3 rounds it's been in 50s and windy. So I feel like I'm there. Shockingly life gets in the way of my golf game and I have still not had a chance to get to the range for a practice session. Tropical Storm Andrea and the remnants of it in NY stopped me from playing this morning and yard work stopped me from a practice session. I looked at my log book and have not been to the range in this whole time of the slump. Last year I was playing once a week and practicing once. Time constraints stopped me from doing that this year. I feel like I am now on the way to getting out of it because I'm hitting the irons crisp again. Before they were fat and thin. Not that flying greens are a good thing but I know if I hit it solid like I've been I'll be back in the low to mid 80s with hopefully another 4-5 rounds in the high 70s. My goal this year was to drop my handicap from an 11 to a 9. Unfortunately after 14 rounds its up to a 12. Thank you to everyone for the advice. I'm ready for tomorrow and the rest of the season...I hope.

Or you could do what I am doing and stock up with any 2009 Vokey Spin Milled wedges that will be put away brand new until I can no longer re-groove and sharpen the old ones. I'm actually a wedge ho, with all different bounces and lofts including multiples of the same. I'm not good enough for competition. And if I was, there would be a new SM4 or TVD in my bag for that. But by that time I wouldn't need the extra help spinning a wedge.