jmoc

I circle the requested item in the catalogue or print off the picture from the internet, including loft, lie, color, whatever details are needed to ensure the correct gift is purchased. My wife and I are well beyond trying to show our love by guessing the perfect item for each other. After too many rings taken to the pawn shop or sold for a fraction of the purchased price at a yard sale and closets full of shirts and ties that no one wears, we both agreeded to just simply ask what the other wanted. Saves time and money. You know the old saying "it's not the gift that counts, it's the thought." That's fine if you have unlimited funds, but buying the wrong $300 driver or [ring, shoes, jacket, insert wife's favorite item here] is a needlessly expensive way to say "I Care". I save the surprises for the times I really do know for sure it is the perfect gift, and usually don't wait for an occasion. That really scores "brownie points", more so than an expected gift they will never use.... jmoc

Draws tend to go farther (deloft and spin) and run more, so that works well with the driver, assuming you get it on line. You can also use the fade to drop distance off a club on an approach. There's like smacking an iron and watching it work toward the pin. Work ball, work...... jmoc

That is a toughy. Ping gives you a complete range, both forgiveness and control, but I'm not a fan of the hybrids and fairway woods. Nike is a strong second, Callaway third. Now that i think about, TM might be the best for one stop shopping, I have not hit a lot of TM, but everything I have has been very good. I just like the way the ping stuff looks.... jmoc

It is amazing what kids pu from tv. My son was 3 and we were hitting balls in the front yard, he says "you be the guy with the clubs". I didn't put two and two together until he spanks his 7 iron, then, without turning or even looking back at me, he "hands" me his club and walks off towards his ball. I was the caddy! I still chuckle at that one..... jmoc

It works for me. I started about 8 years ago and through trail and error, built this swing from what worked for me. Shot under 80 and won my company's golf league and season ending championship. But lost my swing a few months later and then when the swing and tilt appeared in the golf magazine, a light bulb went off, went out that afternoon and shot 80, bogeyed both 9 and 18, both with 3 putts. I do have a completly different swing with my driver, more slow and wide like a LPGA golfer, and as you can see, I carry no fairway woods (or rarely do). For me, this is the most accurate, reliable and repeatable swing I've come across. I certainly would give it a season and see what you think.... jmoc

Played with a friend who got the TF Freaks, seemed to be a great ball for the money. We are going to try the Gamers this week. Go to the TF web site and watch the commericals, especially the "interview" with "D2 Man", it is too funny. Callaway Warbird is a good ball as well.... jmoc

Bridgestone gc hybrids work best for me. Look good at address, very forgiving and you can work them. Best out of the rough, for me. I'd give them a look.... jmoc

There's a old saying, "Good Judgement comes from Experience, Experience comes from Bad Judgement". At some point we all were beginners and shot 115 on our best day out. The lessons learned from these experiences are what build us, give the frame work for later growth. When you take 4 shots to go 200 yards and watch you buddy spank one off the tee, you quickly figure out to swing slower off the tee for better contact and more distance. After the 20th time trying to reach a par 5 in 2, you learn that a Driver and 2 sevens will often produce a lower score. The range doesn't produce the same feeling as a fairway approach over water for your first round under 80, 90, or 100. That is done on the course. Yes there will be slow players, beginners and even asses, but as Capt'n Ron says "If it's going to happen, it's going to happen out there.".... jmoc

You are not in the wrong. With little regard to sacm3bill, we are never going to get more people playing if we keep them on the range for 6 months before ever setting foot on the course. If that only produces a 23 handicap, it was not time well spent. You cannot teach course management on the range. Big_M has it right, if it's noon on Tuesday and no one is around, relax and let your buds have fun (as long as they are not damaging the course). As soon as you see another group, let them play through, or tell your friends they get 1 drive, approach and chip per hole the rest of the way in. Then offer to go with them to the range to help them improve and not have to "pick up" next time. Too bad you have some course Nazis in charge at you club. With any luck, they will run off more new players and them their bosses will have to let them go because the number of rounds played ( = money) at their course have decreased.... jmoc

I've got the Nike HT, love it. Hits as far, farther sometimes, than my others. It is more forgiving, but, as was said earlier, you can still hook and slice with it if you get too lazy at impact. I have never hit the Callaway, but I like the look of the Nike better.... jmoc

I know his comments appear to be the ravings of a madman, but i understand the thought process. I know countless times I've driven a perfect ball down the center and walked away w/ bogey or worse, or dropped one 4 foot from the pin and missed the putt. You can look back and count up those shots from the day and say "if i had my game on, i would've shot 65, not 70." [or in my case, 79 not 88). Saying you should have won (by 10) does not win you any friends. You are right, he should just say "I left some strokes out there today and that's the difference between 1st and 2nd". Travelling the Sergio Highway and lamenting the "golf gods" is not the High Road, Woody would do well to hit the blinker at the next exit.... jmoc

P,A,S,L. Might not use the Lob but once or twice a round, but, when it's needed, it really comes in handy. I've noticed my Approach/Gap is rarely used, i'm thinking it might come out of the bag, but then i'll for sure have 11 shots next round of 105 yards and will miss it.... jmoc

47 for 9. 2 pars to start, 2 pars to finish, 12 strokes on the middle 5. That's been my story lately, 4 or 5 pars and the rest bogey or double, today was a little rougher. My "home" course is short but tight and you cross the creek 10 times from the whites. If your not in control of distance and trajectory it will tag you and today it did.... jmoc

235 is my average. Some days i'm feeling it and run out to 252 (I keep my numbers on the scorecard and use a sky caddie). I was amazed that it was 235 (day to day) as i thought i was longer than that, but after getting the sky caddie, you have to face facts. I have knocked a 275 and 291 once, but with the wind and just tagged the fire out of it. On the subject of swinging easy, that is true, you get better results and lower scores. Some of my best scores have come with a half set and no driver.... jmoc

I prefer the set wedges unless they have large flanges, like the Ping G2 or G5. The i5 and i10 wedges look good (with the set) and you can open and close them to work shots. The playability of these wedges, to me, equals that of non set wedges. To me its what lays behind the ball and says to you, "you can do this". If your equipment doesn't instill confidence, it's over, without regard to who made it.... jmoc

Golf tends to pay you back and Lori will get her's, hopefully on the show for all to see. I don't want to see a Lori/Sophie final. Kim just may be our last hope, there's still time for her to turn from the Dark Side.... jmoc

If "Global Warming" is true, direct me to the Wiki site that details the thermometer that measured the temp to 100th of a degree 300 years ago. I missed that one in Science class. Oh, by the way, there is about 40% more ice in the artic this year compared to last year. Is it time to drag out "Global Cooling", we could switch back and forth every 20 years or so.... jmoc