Garethw

I was using Cleveland RTX 2.0 CB wedges until recently when I brought some Ping Glide wedges, 50 and 54 SS and a 58 ES. These are without doubt for me the easiest wedges I have ever used. Full swing shots the ball is up in the air, pitches and chip shots just work. I think part of the reason is a mental one. The Glides to my eye are more like set wedges but more versatile. With no apparent swing changes I have gone from shanking full swings to hitting high straight shots. I spend a lot of time practicing 110 yards and in with those 3 clubs and that is paying off. However the confidence of standing over a ball with the 54 in my hand and 90 yard shot to the pin is something else. I play on all variety of conditions, soft and wet to hard pan lies and these just work for me.

I got my first one in my early 20's a small dragon on my right upper arm. This has since been covered up with a larger Japanese style fish. I then wanted a proper dragon and have a Celtic / Engish one on my right calf. When I continuously started scoring in the mid 90's I then got a Templar style knight with a castle in the background on my left upper arm. I already have ideas for a new one when I start breaking 90 on a regular basis. I have joked with my wife that if I ever get a hole in one, I will get the green tattoo'd around my belly button using that as the pin location with the date and place. At least I think I was joking......

Hit more GIR's, get my handicap down to 15 or below.

This is also my 2nd full year playing. Short game and putting. 50 yards and in I am confident of getting within 15 foot of the pin (unless its from a bunker). Driving I am hitting more fairways. For the coming year its hitting more GIR's which is where I am losing strokes. I can get it close but not close enough, according to Game Golf only 28% of shots outside 100 yards are on the green. I was around a 25 handicap at the start of this year, that is now at 17.

I've demo'd the 7 iron in these, the 716 AP1 and AP2. I currently use Z545 with Tour V regular flex stepped to play firm. For me the PSI was a hands down winner. I gained distance and dispersion tightened up with a nice ball flight. Loss of distance on mis hits were minimised. AP1's felt hard off the face, flew to high and were shorter than my 545's. AP2's felt good, flew high and about the same as the 545's, but loss of distance on mishits was worse. The AP's were shafted with NS950 shafts, which I have used before and for me do produce a high flight, the PSI's had C-Taper 105 regular shafts. I bit the bullet and brought a set online in the US saving myself $400 over the price here in Thailand.

My wife now plays. She use to sit down the range and watch me practice / take lessons. Out of the blue one evening she said she'd like to try it as well. Booked her a set of lessons with a local Thai coach who in hind sight didn't have a clue what he was doing but it was enough for her to get the bug. She now takes lessons from another expat coach here in Thailand. We brought a set of Cobra Amp Cell Ladies irons 6 - SW, a Cobra Amp Cell Ladies driver, a couple of cut down hybrids in mens regular and putter cut down to 33 inches. When she is swinging well she nails all of those clubs straight and reasonably long. Par 4's normally go driver, hybrid, 9 or pitching wedge onto the green or fringe then putts. She is making par on 3's and has par'd the occasional 4 and 5. With less than 20 rounds under her belt, her lowest score so far has been a 105, last time out on the last 7 holes (12-18) she was 8 over par, the 10th and 11th she scored a 7 on a 4 and a 9 on a 5 ended up with a 50 on the back 9 for a total of a 109. She loves it and will be booking tee times without me even suggesting it. We have had now even started looking at short trips away to just play different courses. For me I think its great I work away for 4 weeks then home for 4 weeks, when Im at work she is having lessons or just practicing then when I'm home we go and play. She'll be beating me on a regular basis soon.

I am working on a reverse K set up and keeping my left shoulder lower on the takeaway. When I do this properly and then strike the ball nicely, I now see straighter, higher and a bit more distance. When I set up incorrectly and then lift my left shoulder I see nothing but chunks, shanks and low slices / fades.

I was in a similar situation earlier this year, however I had a set of cheap clubs kicking about so went for a few lessons and got the bug. I spent a long time reading up on different sets, and narrowed it down to Taylormade RBZ's, Ping G25's and Mizuno JPX. Where I now live there is a very good Ping dealer with the nFlight set up, long story short I ended up with the Pings. I did the online fitting then took it into the shop and got to hit different coloured coded 7 irons with different shafts. To start with I only ordered 5 - SW in the irons, then 20 and 23 degree hybrid, then a driver and 3 wood. If Im honest the 20 degree and 3 wood I rarely use as I struggle with them, I should practice more with them, the driver and 23 degree get me up the par 4's and 5's. I am improving rapidly in the last 6 months but feel no need to swap those clubs for other ones. I'd try and use as many different clubs you can then just go with what feels best and which you hit best. Some people will say spend the cash on lessons first then go get fitted for clubs after a few months. Another suggestion is get lessons and ask the pro what he thinks would suit you, but do not fall into the trap of buying from him something he recommends, I have been down that route with my wife and it ended up costing me the equivalent of several lessons with a better pro.

Helicopter engineer, work a 6 week on 6 week off rotation. Fortunate to have the time whilst at work to practice and play the local course, then back home to practice as well.

Hi all, have been lurking a while so thought it right to say hello. Originally from England but up sticks and moved to Thailand a few years ago. Played for a few years back home then quit for 10 or so years. Picked the clubs back up 3 months ago and have got addicted to it again. Currently taking lessons to improve my swing, with the odd round as well. Aim for the next 12 months, get a handicap and work to get it down to below 20. I work on a 6 week on 6 week off rotation, so plenty of time to practice both in my off weeks and my weeks at work.