Desert

I was just up at Dicks and they have smokin' deals on Cobra AMP ($169) and AMP Offset ($140). Logic says to go with the AMP since it can be adjusted from closed to neutral if my swing changes. However, reviews state that the AMP is for a mid handicapper, whereas the Offset is for a high handicapper. Is my "logic" wrong?

OK all. I'm definitely in paralysis by analysis. Since I started this thread I've been to the range a few times, and I'm starting to figure a driver out a bit. Still many more shots are push-slices than straight, but enough are straight that I'm getting excited. Problem is that I need to give the driver back to my buddy so I decided on buying a used driver, rather than 4W. I've read everything I could on drivers from 2010-2012, looking for "forgiving" drivers, and there are many. I've also seen threads here that suggests getting fitted for the correct shaft. And now I'm overwhelmed by information, trying to figure out the perfect driver for me which i know can't be done by reading articles. So I'm trying to simplify. With a swing speed of 90, and the understanding that I'm learning the game, am I correct to think that any regular flex driver in the "forgiving" category will work as well as another for me to lesrn the game? Some time down the road when I start to consistently hit the driver without the slice, I'll go for a fitting. Until then, does it make sense to look for adjustable drivers so that I have a bit of a bandaid on my swing now, but can adjust to fit my swing as it changes with lessons/practice? Is adjustability just marketing, or is it really a nice feature?

The one good thing about Ping is that they have amazing customer service. You should call their 800 number and speak to them about your situation. They will typically bend the clubs for free (though you will have to pay shipping unless you wanted to take them directly to their Arizona factory). But, don't get too caught up in the lie. If you are hitting the black dots straight and consistently, why change them? Another option is to go to an authorized Ping fitter where you live, and ask them to hit a yellow dot iron. You may love it, or you may hate it. For me, having my G20's adjusted to the right lie made hitting my clubs sooooooooooooo much better (As an example, my 7i went from a strong fade 130 yards, to straight/slight draw 155 yards...same swing).

I echo the lie issue. You might want to go to ping's website to do a "fitting." Basically, you input you height, distance from wrist to floor, etc. and they tell you what lie you're likely to be. It's a static fitting so it may be different based on your swing. If the static fitting is drastically different (i.e. it says you need a yellow or green dot which is more upright), and if you find that your black dots are starting right (not just a slice), you "might" want to get the lie adjusted. I would check with a club fitter first though. As far as hybrids go, I'm in the same boat as you, but you should probably consider a 3H (20 degree) and 4H (23 degree). Good luck!

Just curious, why the i20 hybrid over the G? I just got some G20s as well (4-PW, SW) and am in the market for a couple hybrids but haven't hit any.

Wow, interesting....*runs off to grab 7-iron, pencil, and scotch tape, tells wife he's reinacting a MacGyver episode*

I'm new to golf (so take it fir what it is worth) but have read a ton on this very issue. My understanding is this. A too flat club will cause the toe to hit first, thereby slowing the toe of the blade down while the heel powers through. Hence an open face and a left to right ball flight. I do not believe the left misses have anything to do with lie, but rather are more likely the result of your swing path.

I've wondered that too. I can tell you from first hand experience that a Bridgestone E6 can definitely be "mega-sliced", especially off a driver. Wonder if a tour level ball will slice more? I can't imagine that is possible! LOL!

Thanks guys. So the best choice seems to be 4W. Learn to hit it off the tee before moving to driver. Then, a 3H or 4H. After getting comfortable with that set up, get fitted for a driver. I likely can make due with my PW, SW, LW set up for awhile. Sounds like a plan.

Hey all. I'm a high handicapper who typically shoots 100 +/- 5. My major problems are driving (push/slice) and putting (f#cking 3 putts!!!). i feel confident chipping and pitching. I also feel confident with my 6i on up. 5i is hit or miss, and my 4i is more miss. Lessons begin in June. I bought myself some Ping g20s 4-PW (45 degree), SW (54degree) whichI LOVE! The rest of my bag is a hodge-podge of hand-me-down clubs: Ping G5 driver with stiff shaft, Tour Edge 3W (no idea the model but it is 15+ years old) with stiff shaft, King Cobra Speed LD 5w with lite/senior shaft, a Cobra Baffler Rail H 25degree (5H) hybrid with a lite/senior shaft, and a Tour Edge Bazooka 60 deg lob wedge. I love the lob wedge, the 5H and 5W are ok but I hate the 3W and driver. I know I need regular shafts, so my driver and 3W are too stiff and my 5W and 5H are to whippy. I'd like to upgrade the driver, 3W, and 5W, and add a 50 degree wedge, a 4H and a 3H.I will be doing this over time, one club at a time. Where do I begin? For a high-handicapper like me, does it make the most sense to buy the 4H or 3H first? I'd get a lot of use out of them. On the other hand, maybe I should buy a new 3W so at least I could have some minimal confidence off the tee? Any thoughts or advice is much appreciated.

Wow! Thanks for your help!

What about Nike PD Soft or Srixon Soft?

Thanks for the recommendation. Definitely not expecting a ball to fix my slice. I know it's a swing flaw. Since I can slice anything off the tee, I'd like to have more control around the green.

Preferably a cheaper ball too (under $25). I'm a high handicapper due in major part to an out-of-control driver monster slice and the dreaded 3 -putt. Given my driver slice, I decided on Bridgestone e6...and let me tell you that you can definitely slice the sh*t out of that ball too. LOL. So I really wasn't getting any help on that end with the e6. What was more disappointing was that there was zero stopping and significant role on all iron/wedge shots except short, very high pitches. So, since my driver swing is broken (getting lessons for that) I'd like to get a ball that would still be "forgiving", yet offer better spin and stopping power on approach shots which I can have some control over. Suggestions?

How different is the G15 and G5 driver? Is the G15 more forgiving? If it isn't that noticeable, I'm thinking it'd be cheaper to re-shaft my G5, plus I could get a shaft fit for me for length and flex.

Take it with a grain of salt, but I did not have a good experience at the PGA Superstore. Full disclosure, I'm a high-handicapper so my swing is anything but consistent. I also did not know very much about the fitting process other than that the lie may be adjusted. I was unaware of all of the shafts, grip sizes, and club length adjustments that could have been made. In hindsight, I wish I had educated myself a bit more. Prior to my fitting, I hit every iron under the sun and found I liked the Ping G20s the best. I went to PGA Superstore to be fitted. The "fitting" consisted of the guy having me hit a few other suggestions, trying to sell me on some Taylormade RBZ which I didn't like, and then when I was dead set on the G20s, taking three (yes three) swings on a lie board and him telling me "you need 1-3 degrees flat. You should be purple dot (1.5 flat) so you can bend them a bit later if you want." That was it. No static measurements. No suggested shafts. Nothing. Turns out the clubs were wrong and I had them properly fit at Ping who made the changes free of charge. Like the poster above said, I think it depends on the fitter you get, but also it is up to you to know what to expect in a fitting. If you know what to expect, you'll be able to tell right away if the guy fitting you knows what he's doing.

Background - high-handicapper with lessons beginning in June. I can't hit a driver to save my life. Typical driver shots are heavy slices. I currently have a Ping G5 driver with a stiff shaft. It was a friend's but he has lent it to me indefinitely. I am 100% positive that the shaft is wrong for me, as I need a regular or maybe even a light flex given my swing speed (Ping confirmed this at a club fitting). How outdated is the G5 in terms of technology? Does it make more sense to buy a new shaft, or would I be better off buying a "newer" used driver? Any suggestions on specific drivers that I should keep an eye out for on the used racks? Thanks all!

Played 9 and Shot 55. All in all I'm pretty stoked. Some of you may have seen my post on the lie fitting fiasco I went through with my Ping G20s (fitting 1.5 flat when I need to be 1.5 upright). After Pings awesome customer service, I had the irons adjusted Friday and they were amazing. Hit some great approach shots and had a ton of confidence with them. Unfortunately, my putting was horrible (3 put 8 of 9 holes) and my drives are even worse (monster slicing balloon shots off the fairway 25+ yards). If I get those two things marginally better, I'll be breaking 100 easy. Can't wait for my lessons to begin in June!

Yep, they were able to bend them. In fact, I left the facility at 8:30 this morning and they were ready for me at 11:00. And the best part....free of charge. LOL. Can't wait to give them a go this weekend!

A little update. Living in Phoenix, I'm lucky enough to be a 30 minute drive from Ping headquarters. So, I went there, explained my issue, and they performed a ground-up fitting without any assumption that my purple dot (1.5 flat) irons were correct. Going through the static measurement process, they placed me in yellow dot (1.5) upright clubs. I measure standard for shaft length and grip size, so that remained the same. Then they had me hit a yellow dot 7-iron and...BANG! What a stunning difference. 158 yards, starting very slightly left with a very slight fade landing the ball damn-near dead center. The next few shots were all consistently 150-159, some slightly left and some slightly right, but all were extremely playable. They then had me take two swings with my purple dot 7-iron. They started right, sliced horribly, and only went about 135 yards. I thin hit of a lie board with the yellow dots and I was dead center. I cannot believe how much better the swing felt, and the ball flew with the correct fit. My experience may be unique, but I highly recommend beginners use Ping's static measurement system on their website as a solid baseline for where they need to be.

Thank you for putting into words much better than I have been able to. This is exactly my question. Is it true that a beginner improving his/her swing through instruction will "tend to change in the direction of static fitting?"

I'm new to the forum and started a new topic asking a question about this. Looks like I should ave searched first!!! My bad. Anyway, I'm likely one of the hacks that UFGators is talking about. Using the tape and hitting off boards, I was "fit" to I.5 flat (Ping purple dot). But, I'm 5'9" and using Ping's static fit on its website I measure at 1.5 upright (yellow dot). I have lessons starting in June but, if I'm going to adjust my lie, I'd like to do it before lessons. Do I stick with the purple dot, as measured by my totally inconsistent and crappy swing, do I get them adjusted to yellow dot since fixing my swing with lessons is "easier" based on my static fit measurements, or do I adjust to black dot since I'm a beginner?

Hey all. I live in Phoenx and can't spit without hitting a golf course. So I figured...when in Rome. I put down my hockey equipment (have played ice hockey my whole life) and picked up golf clubs. Besides, hockey hurts too darn much at 36 years old!!! Looking forward to getting to know you all!

Hi all. A little background. I'm 36, have hacked it up on golf courses since high school but have never played more than twice a year and have never had lessons. I'm athletic but terrible at golf, having broken 100 just once in my life. I've decided to take the plunge and am going to start lessons. In anticipation I went into a very well known reputable golf store for a club fitting. I came away with some Ping G20s...1.5 flat. The lie was determined exclussively by me hitting balls with tape on the bottom of the irons. Problem is, my swing is not good and certainly not consistent. Going on Ping's website and inputting my measurements it says I should be 1.5 upright....huge difference from 1.5 flat. My question - should I get clubs based on my static measurements and build my swing through lessons with that club, or stick with the one's my inconsistent swing said I needed. Stated differently, will I have an easier time striking the ball through lessons using clubs meeting the static measurements?