TimS65

Maybe Callaway BB V series Heavenwood? 20.5° loft with 3 wood length.

Came across this video which seems interesting! Not had a chance to put it into practise yet, but just doing a pretend swing at home I can feel the potential benefit! It immediately makes me feel as if I'm moving correctly: hips start the downswing but with an in to out motion. Just by a clockwise right foot motion it automatically drives the left hip across but keeps the right hip back, so it feels like it will help to stop an over the top or casting swing plane. Looking forward to trying it out... IMPROVE YOUR FOOTWORK:

How did you measure the distances? If the golf shop uses a computer to calculate distance then it could be set wrong. Also differences in temperature between golf shop and outdoors would have an affect. Different balls. Lots of variables...

I notice you tried several drivers, but not a Callaway V Series. The extra lightweight shaft may help you get more SS and hence distance. It works for me, and my SS was similar to yours. The V standard stiff shaft is only 43g - VERY light, but balanced and forgiving.

Quote: it's what FITS YOUR GAME Not what the masses use... onthehunt526 There are no rules other than 14 clubs. Choose what fits your game. I have 5 wedges because they fill the gaps nicely. 44° Benross PW from my normal clubs, 49° Benross gw then 52/56/60 Adams wedges. The gaps work for me: 125, 115, 100, 85, 70. If my local courses were longer and money was no object then I may change to 54/60 wedges and add another hybrid/wood. But my gaps are OK up to about 200 carry with 3 wood and then 230/240 with driver. PS: note my SIG block has 15 clubs while I'm playing for fun and working out my distances. Currently trying to choose between 4 hybrid and 5 wood.

Review by Rob Potter, 13 Handicapper, on Rick Shiels utube channel Callaway XR Irons Tested by 13 Handicapped Golfer:

Sounds like you're following this style: This helped me too, though I now tee up behind the ball. But this was what cured my slice...

Interesting article on distance irons v traditionally lofted irons. http://pluggedingolf.com/distance-irons-really-longer-golf-myths-unplugged/ Another thought to ponder is spin rates. I noted that the X Hot irons had really low spin rates in comparison, which suggests they may be difficult to hold on the green. So maybe distance isn't everything?

Depends on your gaps. But I'd suggest that once you have a gap you like you'll never adjust it again. So it doesn't really matter if it is adjustable or not. Just select one based on the yardage you need.

Just a thought, but if you are gripping down on the grip you are effectively shortening the club. Wouldn't that make it easier to top the ball? ie: a longer club would travel lower to the ground...

This is a few years old now, but still explains bounce very well. A Crossfield special... Golf Wedges How To Choose The Correct Bounce: I found it useful, see if it helps you too.

When it happens to me (often!) I usually swap club type. I usually find if my irons aren't working, my hybrids or woods will be OK. Or vice versa! Occasionally nothing works, and sometimes everything works!!!

With the ever increasing length of irons along with decreasing lofts, I wonder what the effect is on accuracy. With new clubs such as Callaway's XR being so long how do they compare? Let me suggest an example: You have a 150 yard shot to the green. These are the options: 1. 5 iron from a set of 3 year old clubs 2. 6 iron from last year. 3. 7 iron from this year. Does the 3rd option give any more accuracy than the other 2? Theoretically they could all have the same loft! Again theoretically a 7 iron should be more accurate than a 5 iron... Just wondered if anybody had had a chance to compare this scenario?

First of all let me say I'm not a good golfer. But I do have some understanding of the logic\physics behind the swing plane and lie angle. By flattening out your swing plane with your clubs fitted to a more upright stance, the toe of your clubs will effectively be lifted at impact. This has the knock on effect of moving the dynamic swing plane of the club face to point more left, and this effect is more pronounced as the loft of the club increases. The effect can be seen by sticking a kids suction pad arrow onto the face of the club. I suspect this is a prime reason why your direction has been throw off centre.

Up until recently I only carried a 3wd for shorter tee shots as I didn't like playing hybrids off the tee or woods off the deck! Now I'm happy playing either from tee or fairway.

I think you make some very good points here. That's why I quite like the idea of "stronger" irons, as by default they will spread the gaps between the clubs and give greater distance gaps between them. This is possibly better for the average recreational golfer as "we" aren't accurate enough to rely on 8 yard gaps between irons anyway. I quite like the 15 yard gaps between my wedges 70, 85 and 100 for 60, 56 and 52 deg.

Give the man a break! If the AVERAGE is 240 then some people must hit further. He is one of those. I have no qualms with the distances of his woods, I just think his golf app was over-reading some of his club speeds substantially...

Being a man and loving technology, I'm always dreaming about upgrading my clubs. I've taken up golf relatively seriously (ie: try to at least make the range weekly and more in summer) for the past 20 months or so. I came into some American Golf vouchers about 18 months ago and treated myself to a complete set of Benross Hot Speed clubs - good value GI clubs from 2013. Prior to Christmas last year I added a set of 3 Adams Tom Watson wedges. And finally a Callaway V Series driver which I LOVE. Could spend all day just hitting the driver... Anyway, I'm thinking what I'd like to upgrade IF I could afford it. And the inherent pitfalls. I've already posted my distances in another thread - after 20 months I can now hit all my clubs much more consistently. Its a little hard to judge summer distances at this time of year but "total" distances I'd expect my driver to be 250 minimum (mid to high 90's swing speed) and then a drop to maybe 215 for 3 wood and fairly even gaps down to my wedges. It would be nice if I could get a 3w up to circa 230 to make those longer holes easier. And wider gaps between irons wouldn't be an issue as I'm not accurate enough to worry about +/- 5 yards. So... It would be nice to see how I got on with the latest longer iron sets such as Nike Vapor Speed and Callaway XRs. Trouble is they would then overtake (probably) my hybrids which would also mean replacing hybrids and fws. Starts getting expensive!!! I guess the cheaper option would be to start with just a longer 3w and accept a big gap to my next club. But at least then it would give me a longer option from the fairway. Then add fw/hybrids/irons in that order as finances allow. But on the other hand, a 3w would get much less use than a whole iron set. Choices, choices... Just wondered if others out there had faced this dilemma and how they had approached it?

I noticed my issues from a mat when swinging on a very wet, soft muddy fairway in December. Whereas on a mat you get away with slightly catching the mat first, on the wet fairway the club would bite into the soft mud and totally mishit the ball. The soft ground accentuated my swing issues. I think its made me concentrate more on a good connection on the range mats since then.

Nice video here highlighting the fact that gapping is more important than "club type/name". Basically pick the clubs that suit your swing and give useable gaps. Should I Use A 3-Wood Or 5-Wood?:

Played 9 holes last Sunday for the first time since early December (though been on range weekly). So these distances are full distances in cold, very soft conditions - little roll. Driver. 230 3w. 190 4h. 170 5h. 160 6i. 150 7i. 142 8i. 134 9i. 126 PW. 118 GW. 110 GW. 95 SW. 80 LW. 65 I'd expect those figures to jump quite a bit in hotter, firmer conditions. But it gives me a good starting point. Also, I've really gained confidence in using the 3 wood off the fairway - I hit it beautifully. So I will probably drop my 52deg GW (100yd) and replace it with 5wood which should go between 4h and 3w quite nicely. Short game is much better than last year so I'd now be happy to do a partial swing with 49deg GW to fill the 100yd gap. Shame I still 3 putt too much!!! Driving with V Series is SO much better than last year, I'm really confident with it. I'm confident of reaching my 250 yard target in Summer with ease, while hitting more fairways!!!. (Carry plus roll).

I'm not good enough to use them and they probably won't be fully available in the UK, but I thought you American low handicappers may like this review. If the link doesn't work, just google Rick Shiels Ben Hogan on utube... They look great!!!

Callaway Big Bertha V Series driver. Not because I'm good with it, but I just WANT to use it! Love the feel and sound. I guess the lightness just suits me... I really should spend more time on my irons! :-)

I noticed the specs for the new Callaway XR irons - I believe the 4 iron is 20.5 °. Is there any chance that a high handicapper can hit that? If with the CoG and hot face it IS use able, then fair enough. But the though of hitting an iron of that low loft scares me...

Agree 100%. What suits one person may not suit another. I bought a driver recently and the ones I expected to like (G30, X2 Hot) just didn't FEEL right TO ME. Note my emphasis on Feel and Me! I'm in a minority. The G30 was inconsistent, and felt wrong. The club that worked for me was the Big Bertha V Series - it just did! Straighter, longer and better feeling.