bigalun

I don't want to be "that guy" but how is your putting. Im off 11 and tend not to get many GIRs but nGIRs are just as good to me because I enjoy chipping and can get it close enough to save. Also as the other guys have stated, hows your chipping, do you have a stock chipping technique you use for every chip or do you have different chip shots in the bag, i.e. the one hop check, the land and roll out, the flop shot. I quite often see higher handicappers (which I wouldn't class you as) trying to play spinny chips from thick rough or flop shots from tight lies. Make sure you have the best chip for the shot in your skillset. Start with one, id recommend the putter stroke style chip and run and practice hard with it then add more, at least that way you will always have a decent option greenside

Im really surprised you didn't go for a HL/LS model, you are of a standard that could easily justify it and couls squeeze monster numbers out of it. The number of high handicappers I know bought the SLDR or ping LS and think its rubbish is insane, purely because they cant hit the middle of the face. If you don't mind me asking, why did you do this on the course, id as a minimum expect my fitter to let me hit all the lofts and different weight positions on the launch monitor, how else would you know if the settings are optimal? I do love the look of that Nike driver, I don't think I could get away with it with my swing tho, ill just look on with admiration and jealousy

I cant speak of wedge fitting as ive never had one, but I would certainly say cheap wedges hurt your game. IMO there is an argument to be made about the technology, quality of build and bounce options alone. You're clearly aware of how important custom fitting is, what did you learn during your fitting that was worth having it? surely these principles will apply to your wedges. Regarding quality, I bought a RAM SW and a Cleveland CG15 about the same time, both stored in the same conditions and used a similar amount, I didn't particularly care for my clubs maybe the way I should have back then but within 6 months the ram shaft had started to peel and flake and rusted quite heavily. I still bag the Cleveland. Could just be a duff club, but I wont hold my breath on that one. This is kind of like the whole $300 driver and a $3 putter argument, you use the putter WAY more than the driver and the scoring with the putter is more important so why treat them differently. Maybe im talking nonsense, im sure someone will back up the argument with similar experiences soon. hope this helps

I prefer the look of the ap2s and Ive read the 716 ap2s are as forgiving as the 714 ap1s. They are a bit over priced tho, seems to be a much larger price gap with titleist between models. Why are you switching to ap1s if you don't mind me asking

+1 on the Bridgestone E6 and the Titleist NXT tour S, I love these balls, prefer to hit the BE6 with a driver and anything around the green the NXTs are wonderful for me lovely sound and feel and very predictable results and both balls are much cheaper than the ProV and X's. I buy used balls in pearl grade and 20 BE6's cost me £12 and 20 NXT tour S cost about the same I think. BARGAIN!

Thanks for taking the time to read this, Currently playing off 11.3 (CONGU) and have a set of Ping g15's in the bag, have had for a few years, when I bought them I got the static fitting and then tweaked with a bit of dynamic fitting too, when I bought them launch monitors weren't really as popular as they are now, id never used one until a few years later. Anyway, im thinking its time for an upgrade as when I bought them originally I was playing off 17 and many moons and lessons later im down at 11 and my clubs are looking a bit dated and rusty. Im liking the look of the new Ping g's and the AP1/AP2 (AP2 are a bit pricey to be honest). Anyone hit any of the above, im open to suggestions too! I will be getting fit for them soon. Any advice or opinion is valued! much appreciated

Shorter backswing is something ive worked super hard on over the last couple of years, every pro ive ever seen has told me if I could shorten my backswing id be more consistent. This year I think ive finally cracked it with my "long" backswings going parallel and even then I can feel it and know im compensating on the way down. My 2 causes were common but hard to fix, 1) I was straightening my right (trail) leg during the backswing and 2) my left arm was breaking down. To sort the arm issue was relatively easy, focus on relaxed hands arms and shoulders, particularly the shoulders! The leg issue was massive and probably the main cause allowing too much rotation of the hips (reverse pivots/sways etc). My feeling now is to start the backswing with my arm/hand/shoulder unit keeping the hips quiet and relatively square until the point where they need to break (for me its when the club is parallel to the ground. From there, remaining in posture, I feel the thigh and torso pinch together, like my hip is moving up and behind but I accept the resistance it provides and know that's the limit of my swing. I have found this feeling promotes a lot of the good points many of the main instructors talk about. just my two pennies. I definitely think these two causes along with bad rhythm is to blame for the long swing in amateurs. That and pros making us think its possible to hit a 350 yard drive :)

+1 This! I remember my first comp, been playing well doing my cards, hcp of 17, felt like I could rip the course up, couldn't believe how nervous I was on the first tee, never experienced anything like it, hit a duck hook into the greenkeepers shed. Ruined me! Now I don't even get nervous and usually end up on the next fairway but I know that's not because of nerves. Just keep playing!

This is quite common, especially in cast clubs, some argue this is why distance control is easier with forged clubs, you see it on tour sometimes, someone flies the green but he knows he hit it solid, I think they say it comes off a bit "hot" my local pro says its true but ive heard this happen many times. In general whilst I agree blades are a pure form of club and id love to to put my old set of mcgregors in the bag but where do people stand on the difference between weight and how blades feel to practice with compared to practicing with their gaming clubs, wouldn't the difference (although small) make a difference?

yea that's what the Cleveland launcher does, my gapping is about 5i - 180, 3h - 195, 3w - 230 so im hoping the 5 wood will fit in there, the covert tour has adjustability so I could crank the 3 wood if needed but im not sure if I give up a lot of forgiveness for adjustability that I may never need

yea ill fill that in now, but ill post here for now, Ping g25 10.5 (-0.5) tour stiff shaft Nike sumo dymo2 15* 3 wood Ping g20 17* Hybrid reg tfc shaft (soon to be replaced with Nike covert 5 wood) Cleveland launcher 20.5* hybrid Ping g15 irons +0.25 (3.75* upright) 5-sw) + Gap wedge Cleveland 588 60* 8*bounce Nike method concept/odyssey white hot putters

Thanks for that, I had the ping g20 hybrid and although it was great the par 5s I play have trees that need to be overcome to get to the green, I think the 3 wood would give me more height than a 17* hybrid can give me. I have found that callaway clubs in general are quite heavy, had an fti9 driver and I couldn't get on with it. and they are still a bit more expensive than the covert stuff

Hey guys, Im thinking about getting a covert tour 3 wood as they have now come down in price, but I need a little advice on whether the tour is that much harder to hit than the regular? just to give a bit of background - I only started using a 3 wood in the last 4-5 weeks, always been too afraid of it, (used to be a prolific slicer) but ive noticed the advantage on having the length of a second shot. ;-) I play a parkland course where the par 5's I feel are reachable in 2 if im hitting it straight. I can get about 210 out of my current, nike sq dymo 2, 3 wood but my bad shot with it is a 5yd fade. im a better iron player and my putting is shocking which I feel is hurting my progress. Anyway just traded out the ping g20 17 deg hybrid for the covert 5 wood (it was the only one I liked in my price range) but now im thinking about the new 3 wood. Anyone have any experience with the covert 3 woods, is the tour much harder to hit?:-\ sorry for the novel, any help would be much appreciated

Thought id join the site eventually, read loads of reviews and loads of threads on here, am a member on another site, but through no fault of theirs, this on is just far superior! off 15 playing about 10 years on and off started seriously about a year ago, dropped 2 shot this year and hoping to get down to single figures ideally. look forward to chatting with you all! Alun