amac

When does spending money on new golf equipment become "buying a game"? Personally, I'd like to have the best, properly fitted equipment I can afford. Does that mean I'm trying to buy a better game? Currently, I'm reviewing and considering a driver shaft upgrade. It will likely cost $300-$400 for fit and shaft. Sure, its a want over a need, but if its all around better, then why not. I don't make equipment changes often. When I like something, I stick with it for a loooong time. I'm coming off a 2 year layoff and am just blown away by the amount of available technology and options to upgrade (spend more money) stock equipment. I find myself like a kid in the candy shop wanting everything! New irons led to a new driver, then 3 wood, and recently new wedges and a putter. Still in the bag are my hybrids (last purchases before the layoff). On top of club purchases, I'm also taking lessons to get the swing back on track. Would I be labeled as buying a game or just a golf equipment *hore? LOL

Maddog, I did/bought a set this past summer nearly exactly like you're referencing. I purchased the MP64's 5-PW and added the H4 4i. I don't find the 5i hard to hit at all. It's not intimidating and offers plenty of forgiveness. The H4 4i is my get out of jail club. It's extremely easy to hit no matter where the ball lies. I didn't like the H4 5i look or sole thickness. As for the MP64's, they are top notch. The forgiveness on off-center shots is greatly improved over my previous 704CB's. As a 2 hcp, I don't think you will have any problems finding the sweet spot on these clubs. Buy with confidence. amac

I agree with iacas. However, I will be more mindful of how I treat my putter.

Had a great visit yesterday with my Edel fitter. I hit several putts outdoors and he immediately said "something doesn't sound right!" He covered the face with erasable marker and I hit some more putts. Clack, clack, clack. I was hitting the top 1/3 of the putter face every time. Nothing in the center. Back to shop. We checked the loft vs the spec sheet and found the putter to be at 4* vs 2*, as ordered. Made a quick adjustment and went back to the putting green. Everything changed! The sound had a soft, sweet ping and the ball kissed the face at impact and went rolling to the hole. More marker on the face and more putts to hole. Impact was now dead center, inline and between the heel and toe dots. This is the feeling I was looking for. Problem solved! I did ask him about the article I read and why he put me in this particular putter. He gave me the subjective line of reasoning. Rules of thumb are just starting points, not absolutes. I felt better after that. I then asked about my current putter grip vs. the Edel stock. As for weight, he said my Winn Lite grip is probably lighter than the stock Edel and that it shouldn't have any impact on my putters performance. He had me hit 5 putts from 30' and I had them all within 2'. 10 footers went in the hole or just by. What I learned… Trust your instincts. If you've custom ordered something and it doesn't feel right, then it probably isn't. Have it re-checked for accuracy. Second, if you get fit for Edel clubs, you should return to your fitter after you've played with them for at least 4 rounds and them have them checked. As for their putters, my fitter said the metal is very soft and can get out of spec pretty easy - think throwing your bag into trunk and putter at the bottom, bag falling on ground and landing on exposed part of putter, leaning hard against your putter while on the green. He mentioned all these as possibilities that will put stress on this metal. He suggested I come back every 3 months to have it spec tested. Hope this helps and I'm back to being a proud, loyal Edel club player!

I like Club Rat's answer. Lots of practice at that yardage is essential for good scoring. I'll add to the idea of being aggressive. Make sure you aren't taking too much club and trying to swing easy or execute a distance control swing. If you know your distances, then pick the club that allows for your best, aggressive swing and go with that club.

My 2014 goal is to get back to consistently shooting in the mid 70's. To get there, my specific goals are... 1. Have 4 lessons on full swing. 2. Have 2 lessons on short game - putting and chipping 3. Establish a mid week practice / play schedule when summer comes and days get longer 4. Focus practice on distance control - I need to be realistic with how far I hit the ball and need to know max range with each club 5. Above practice to emphasize 140 yards and in 6. Work on mental approach to the game/shots - choking on pressure shots have been momentum killers - must be specific on target/outcome of shot - BETTER FOCUS 7. Improve / maintain strength and flexibility of swing muscles 8. Get rounds in with "better than me" golfers - my regular group has mostly high cappers Other golf related goal is to get my 12 year old son lessons. He has clubs and has been coming with to the range. He would like to get on the course, but he needs to improve his skills first. So, my other goal for he and I is to play a round together in 2014. Hope everyone reaches their respective goals.

i've made an appointment to go back to my original Edel putter fitter for a check up. In the meantime, I have been reflecting on my first fitting session and then just read this article from another Edel fitter on Golf WRX. This artilce is about putter design and its affect on aim. I am now questioning whether my fitter new what he was doing. According to this referenced article, I got the exact opposite of what I needed! What to do?

iacas, the added weight of the grip was/is a concern, but hasn't seemed to affect my lag putt. I addressed my grip concerns at the time of my fitting and was given the same response you mentioned. I understand, but doesn't mean I have to agree or like it. I went into this knowing/planning on changing out the grip. I was unaware that my Special grip was discontinued. I will continue to search and try grips until I find the one that gives me the feel and confidence I'm after. As for the marks on the putter face, they are not from returning the club in my bag unprotected. I always put the cover on before doing so. I am sure the little lines/marks being left are from ball strikes. And YES, I am mishitting the ball on occasion becuase there are marks on the heel area as well as the toe. But, I've made enough strokes in my 25 short years of playing golf to know how to make center hits and what that feels like. I'm not getting the response out of this putter like I'm used to. The weird thing is the ball rolls to the hole every time. By the sound of it, I'd swear the ball would come up short. My touch is fine. My stroke might not be.

I feel the fitter knew what he was doing. I don't have anyone else local to compare to, but he recognized my tendecies pretty quickly and got the right putter in my hand. Again, the putter setup feels great when I address the ball. I don't have an insert and have had no problem lagging long distance putts. I've visited another location operated by my fitter, was aim tested and lined up dead at the hole. The problem I'm having is with the overall feel of the putter. Here are my thoughts... First, the grip is an issue. I am surprised that a company selling $400 putters don't offer every grip under the sun. I was using and have been using the same Golf Pride "Special" grip for the last 6+ years. After playing one round with Edel's grip, I have since changed it twice. Unfortunately, Golf Pride no longer makes the grip I've been using, so I am now using a Winn. It's not bad, but the angles are taking some getting used to. Plus, the softer grip may be affecting my feel. Next, the vibration (or feel) and sound at impact are different for me. My previous Never Compromise gave a different sensation and sound - more of a medium-pitch, pong noise. By contrast, my Edel has a solid whack feel and thud noise. My distance control is fine, but the sound and feedback I receive makes me think mishit. Thus, I believe this is translating into a lack of confidence in the putter. It's not with all strikes, but with most. I am planning a trip back to my fitter to re-evaluate the putter setup. I think there may not be enough loft. The thud I mentioned above may be because I'm striking the upper half/ridge line of the putter face. The metal of these putter is so soft it leaves marks. I have a lot of stike marks across the top part of the putter face and less in the center. There have been strikes where things feel supper sweet. I suppose those were the center hits. Either my forward press and stroke are the culprit or not enough loft. If the putter checks out okay, then I know what to do... buy another putter!

Freak, I got fitted and purchased an Edel about 3 months ago. Personally, my putting hasn't improved because of the new putter. I really like the new set up. The lie angle, weight and look of the putter feel real good at address. However, I don't like the sound or feel of impact coming off the putter. For me, the Edel is lacking the pure sensation I was getting from my previous putter. I commented on the fact that my fitting facility didn't have any "finished" examples to demo. Hopefully yours will. If there is another putter you like, most golf shops have the ability to bend a putter. Essentially, you can custom fit for loft and lie with an off the rack putter. What's missing is Edel's theory on weight and looks. How much is that worth to you? I do plan to return to my fitter and recheck everything, including my putting stroke, and see what updates can or need to be made.

Yes. Yes. And Yes! I recenlty upgraded my 8 year old clubs and the new technology is apparent. Mishits on my Mizuno MP64's are much straighter and longer than my previous Titleist 704CB's. The sweet spot seems to have grown too (it's not my ball striking!). What's more, GI irons are crossing over and vice versa to "players" irons. My handi isn't much different from yours and my beef was the chunky scoring clubs found in most GI sets. However, I appreciated them in my mid and long irons. My advice is to find a set that best suits your eye. What you look down at should send a confidence inspiring signal back up to your noggen!

My vote goes for Mizuno's. I bought a set of MP 64's this year and was very reluctant because of the "player" status of the club. I have a 10 handicap and was concerned about off center hits. I had been playing Titleist 704CB's for close to 10 years before making this switch. I can say that newer cavity back clubs are way better than older models. Club technology is making CB's like the MP64 more forgiving than ever and still capturing the look and feel of a traditional blade. If possible, get the newest technology available. All of Mizuno's research is put into "that" club. As already posted, my advice is hit them all before making the investment. Good luck. amac

So, I got back into the game this year and retooled my bag. Here's what I got now... Driver - TM R1 Black - $300 3 Wood - TM Stage 2 - $180 i15 20* - Free from trade in of old club i15 23* - $140 Mizuno MP 64 4-PW - fitted $800 Edel Wedges - 54* and 58* - $400 total Edel Putter - $400 A whopping $2220! For my own justification, I hobby swapped to cover the cost of all my new clubs. Either way, don't tell my wife!

I hear ya! Just about every hole at my home course points to the right of the fairway. I'll tell you what the Pro told me when I inquired about the very thing. He said, "the shortest distance between two points is a straight line. Aim it down the middle and forget the tee box/markers."

A quick update on my early impressions with the new Edel clubs. First, the wedges came out perfect. The swing weight is exactly what I was hoping for. The fitting demo's were very club-heavy, but my fitter ordered mine to match my Mizuno's. The muted, dull finish of the clubs is great for sunny rounds. Playing down South, we get lots of year round sunshine! There is no sun reflection coming off these wedges. The rounded toe was easy to get used to and the extra groove coverage does seem to add more spin. Right out of the box, I have been striping these clubs. The turf interaction on full swings feels very different from my Vokeys. I was fitted for their Trapper design and I can definitely tell a difference in my divot pattern. Around the green, these clubs make playing shots I've been playing much easier. The sole grind creates a sharp, flat leading edge that gives the feeling that the club will effortlessly slide under the ball. Problem is, it does and that will take some getting used to. I have pitched a few shots shorter than planned due, I think, to the club's bounce sliding under the ball. Where before, I would take a bit of divot and shoot the ball. Once I get the feel for them, this should be an advantage going forward. The wedges do have some aggressive grooves and the ball has lots of zip on both full swings and around the green. The last point of concern was distance on full swings. I haven't tested exact distance, but can say for certain I haven't lost yardage. If anything, these clubs seem to have added a few. My ball striking with these clubs seems to have improved and thus, the ball is flying farther. Go figure. The putter hasn't exactly wowed me. It's a putter with different lines than before, made of a much softer metal than my previous. I didn't buy the Edel putter thinking it would putt the ball for me and everything would go in the hole. I bought the putter because it was fit to my setup and the new lines do instill confidence that I have my putter on line. The softer metal is going to take a little getting used to. My Never Compromise gave a different type of feedback when struck, especially the sound. I find that off center hits with my Edel don't travel the ball as far as my NC did. Center strikes with the Edel are pure. One thing I have noticed are the nick marks on the putter face from where the putter is striking the ball. Thats some soft metal. By the looks of things, I'm gonna need a putting lesson! In all, I am very pleased with my new clubs. I definitely feel my wedges are going to open opportunities for shots I've been trying to make, but didn't have the gear to consistently execute. The putter will be a work in progress. However, when I set the putter down and get into my stance, everything feels perfect. I don't have to make any hand adjustments to level the putter. It's just right. Again, I would recommend the fitting process to anyone out there considering buying new wedges and or a putter. You can go through multiple Scotty Camerons and never get one made just for you. Hope this helps. Amac

iacas, I see the logic behind the 65/25/10 practice principle. I probably spend more that 65% of my time on the full swing. I feel my "glaring" weakness is executing the full swing shot when on the course. Problem is, I rate my range handicap at +1, while my course handi is 8! My question is about your 1 shot per 4-5 minutes practice session. What are you doing to spend so much time between shots? Also, when practicing the full swing, how do you replicate the less-than-perfect range lies and how do you add the PRESSURE experienced/felt on the course? The phrase, "You play like you practice", certainly applies to the game of golf. Knowing how to practice might be something I need to learn. Thanks for a great read. amac

At first thought, this question appears as subjective as "do forged irons feel better than cast". I don't want to open up that argument, but to ask which facet of ones golf game is more important - long game vs. short game - appears subjective to the skill level of the individual. However, after reading several pages of this thread, I believe the best short game is a good long game . Personally, I hit great tee shots, but my GIR's suffer. I place lots of pressure on my short game to score. Where should I spend more time practicing? The approach shots. I'll add one more element needing attention - the mental game . How much better would your long game be if you knew how to focus and visualize the positive outcome of the shot you were about to play? I'd wager too many mid - high handicappers see the trouble and or allow bad swing thoughts to creep into their minds before hitting a long/approach shot.

LOL. My current putter has been in play for 8 years. My wedges for 6. I make a habit of not changing, just perfecting what I have. : )

After reading all the great talk about Edel on the forums here, I decided to take a closer look and went for a fitting this past Friday. The decision to custom fit a wedge was a no brainer - I miss lots of greens and thus, rely heavily on my short game. I won't bore you with all the details, but suffice it to say I have more bounce on my 58* than before. After completing my wedge fitting, we headed indoors where I fitted into a new putter. Again, this was a no brainer. The aim test was very interesting. I'm sure many of you out there feel they are good putters and point the putter at what they see. Well, I wasn't too far off, but was aiming 4 inches left of target. When I stroked the putt and hit the laser, the fitter said I was holding the toe open to make the ball go straight. Ah ha moment right there! After configuring my putter setup, I stroked several putts dead on line with a proper toe release. Amazing stuff. My negative spin on this experience is this - the fitting wedges are heavy. No issues on the green side shots, but I had a hard time getting a good feel on the full wedge swings due to the weight. The fitter did have some finished products for demo, but they too were on the heavy side. The clubs I ordered will match the swing weight of my MP64's, so hopefully there won't be any issues. Then, the fitting putters are clanky. I was surprised they didn't have more finished putters for testing and to simply show off. When you are paying $400 for a club, you want to know how it feels when striking the ball. Luckily, I was able to stroke a few with the fitters personal Edel putter. The precision milled putter was very solid. It felt so good that I would have bought the putter without the fitting. Be sure you get a chance to hit puts with a finished Edel. When the day was done, I ordered a 54* and 58* wedge set and a new putter. This was definitely an investment in golf clubs. I went into this a bit skeptical and wasn't planning on buying anything. The knowledge I gained about my game through the process compelled me to purchase the clubs. I would recommend to everyone out there, look for an Edel fitting sight and pay for the fitting and treat it as a lesson. You are not obligated to purchase the clubs. But when you learn that custom fit wedges and putter will increase the chances of you executing the shots you currently play, prepare to break out the wallet! : ) Now, it's waiting time… amac

I've been rolling the same Never Compromise Milled Series #5 for about 10 years. I use an oversized Golf Pride chord grip. I'm not sure of the name, but I've been using the same style grip for at least 20 years. I don't like to change up putters. The NC is heavy, two tone and has a very pure feel. A classic setup that suits my eye. I'm not sure how much offset, loft or the lie angle. I am contemplating an Edel fitting session this Friday. I'm thinking it may be time for a change and if I do, I want custom and professionally fitted.

+1 This has been my approach so far. I have logged two practice sessions and worked exclusively on the 130 and in shot. Spent hours on the putting green. We'll see if this helps. But again, my range swing rocks! : )

Great responses. I am wondering if a slump in more a state of mind. My swing doesn't feel off, it's just my ability to score. The chicken and egg question is whether I am not scoring and thus down on my game. Or, am I / have I gotten down on my game and thus, am not scoring? The range game is solid. The course game fails to execute. Tee shot is/has been excellent. Iron play misses the mark. I'm pointing to my inability to take advantage of great drives that is leading to all this! Perhaps I need to use this time to focus on my short game.

I fear the slump. I fear I feel one coming on. My last two rounds have been off. Maybe it's the mental approach. Was I tired? Hungover? Not really into the round? What do you do when your confidence level says you should be shooting lights out, but the scorecard disagrees? And then, the dreaded slump takes over! How do you get out of the slump, quickly?

Great read and interesting thread. The origin of this thread dates back to 2009. How has the teaching in golf changed now from then? The swing keys pro's use seem to change and evolve. For a while, several pro's were limiting hip turn on the back swing to generate more coil power. Now, I'm noticing more pro's with level shoulders at the completion of their through swing. Add to that more bend at the knees and waist at address. Is the hip slide to the "wall" still common practice? Additionally, is too much slide to the left the culprit of "getting ahead of the ball"? Thanks

You mention reading greens isn't your problem, but how well are you lining up your putts? What you think is on line could be right or left of target. The mind perceives and the body attemps to achieve. I see this in lots of golfers - aim way right and hit it straight down the fairway. They are compensating for poor alignment with their swing - some days it works, others it goes way right or hooks hard left. Have a friend check your aim on the practice green - on a bad day. For a few bucks, you can purchase a chalk line from Home Depot or Lowe's. Find a straight put at your course and chalk a line. Work on putting down that line - over and over and over! This will reinforce your alignment and stroke. Hope this helps. amac