Tat14

Defining around the green as within 15-20yds - I know players who like to hit a variety of shots with one club, and others who make the same motion and adjust the club based on carry vs roll. I fall in between both of these camps. I look at any given shot and decide what the safest, shortest swing will produce and how quickly I can get the ball rolling on the green on the way to the pin. This could be punch, bump and run, or a flop. This can be done with almost every club in the bag. I suppose I am more 'bump and run' rather than 'drop and stop'. Most of my short shots require a soft 50 degree wedge. I putt from the fringe a lot. I've tapped a ball from deep rough with a small 3W chip. Imagination makes it fun for me.

I always thought that hybrids, born from the Rescues ad Bafflers than preceded them, were designed to play better from the first cut and beyond. Maybe you simply make better contact with an iron, in which case you've answered it already. Me - I like a 7W over hybrids or long irons.

Good. I like scrambles myself because of two simple things - fun and access. If golf isn't fun then what's the point? As was at least alluded to earlier, this format also opens the game to others who may be intimidated by stroke or match play events. I run an annual scramble for my town's youth club. The scramble yields more players which means more cash for the program.

As soon as the music hits me.

65 grams in a hybrid shaft seems light - mine have always had 85. Looking at shaft names, the shaft weight (not overall swing weight) is usually part of the label, i.e. Fujikura Fuel 60 weighs 67g. The 50 weighs 55-56g, etc. This is for the Stiff flex. I like to peruse 300yards.com which is an aftermarket custom shaft site. Lots of specs there.

Damn. I wish they'd release the Rhino to American car buyers... Where's the pre-order list?

I'll make an experienced guess that your shaft weight in the hybrid and irons are all >85 grams, and that your 3W is much lighter than that, especially newer stock models. Of course the swing plane differs, but I'll skip that here. As many others will likely repeat here, get fitted. By trial and error (not the cheapest method) I have found shaft flex, length, torque, and weight combos that work for me. Beforehand, I had all the typical long club problems.

I currently have five putters, two of which are normal - Odyssey 2-Ball 35" and White Ice #6 33". The other three apply counter-balance in two different ways. My TM Daytona 34" has a SS Fatso grip on it, and my even older Ping Anser2 33" has the skinnier Super Stroke option. Then there is the 38" TM Spider Slant Blade. Whereas the others are essentially counter-balanced by a grip change and are purely trial and error on my behalf, the TM was designed as a counter-balanced putter. I like it, but it feels quite different from the other four options. Like a broom rather than a club... Having wrote this, I want to add that regardless of which putter I play, I lag to the same distance and miss to the same "damn, one more roll" spot. And, the more traditional putters play better from the fringe for me. IMHO - much more about Read Bead Speed than tech. On the other hand, messing with tech is part of the fun too.

Wow. I can't really tell, but assume you mean down and slightly right? Not sure what I'd hit there - 81mm mortar perhaps.

I've seen many a TV show about Nepal and the world's most dangerous roads. I wonder how that affected the trip to this course.

Agreed. We have a hole on my home course with a tree smack dab in the middle of a slight dogleg left. Water on the right takes driver out of play for those who fade it, but a fairway wood or hybrid makes the tree more of a factor. It's a good test. Unless one decides to lay up and leave himself 200+ to go, he has to hit a good shot to the left side of the tree.

One of the perks of a Navy career is the opportunity to travel and play around the globe. The first four that come to mind, all tied for "best." Moorea Green Peal - Golf Course of Polynesia - Papeete, Tahiti Keppel Club - Singapore Any of the three courses in Dubai, UAE Sasebo, Japan - can't recall or find the name but it was built on a mountain by the Army Corp of Engineers after WWII. We survived a monsoon at the turn during our second round.

Is the wirting incorrect? I want too understand you're point.

More support for GIR and "nears" - Played nine last Saturday, shot a 44. Missed five GIR, had two GIR plus two near. Of those four, three pars and a bogie. This saved my round and kept the score right at my index. Had only a single one-putt for an up & down on one of those near GIR's. Biggest impact on my score card was the fairway mistake or water hazard that led to double bogies; i.e. the approach shot separation value.

In addition to the other high-end balls listed above: I think Srixon still has a Z-Star XV to pair with their Z-Star; much like ProV1 and the X version, TM TP and their X, etc. Volvik makes a top tier version, the Vista iV and iS perhaps. The Callaway SR tops their line now IIRC. I would be more interested in seeing how the Chrome Soft matches up with all of these. Happy testing!

Some random thoughts that work for me. I use the same shaft in both D and 3W - Fuji Fuel 60. D is 44" and 3W is 43". The additional length and larger head (460cc compared to 160cc), along with ball placement, affects the longer carry with the D. These are TM R11s heads. Ball placement for me - D is just inside left heel, teed up high. 3W is slightly forward of middle, either on ground or teed all the way down. I bought the TM mini and didn't like it off the tee. It's a 260cc head, but the stock shaft felt weird to me. Stiff flex as usual but 10g lighter. I thought it was nice in the fairway though.

Semi OT The course at Discovery Bay, Hong Kong has (or had) a Par-7 18th. Over 700m, or more than 765 yards. It was fun to play - once.

I really expected a different conversation in this thread. As far as markers go, small coin; usually something cool like a dime with my birth year or from another currency/country. How about an ashtray with a lit smoke in it? That would be intimidating.

I concur. As far as the Blixt scenario above, I submit his 230yd carry hybrid would be chosen for that 240 remaining yards - rollout. If I had nine wedges to decide from, I would "grey-out" and fall down in the fairway.

Nice historical notes folks, never knew that about pre-1939. I just don't get why having that many more options would be a plus; like to keep things as simple as possible. Rarely carry the full 14, usually 10 for most courses. One day, I'll go 10* D, 20* H, 30 and 40* irons, 50 and 60* wedges, and a putter. Nothing but full shots or stingers. I'll wear a kilt and have a theme-music band following me around.

They have their games tailored to a 14-club bag. I voted as such. I doubt there is that much clamoring for the missing 226yd stick that would fit in between the 220 and 230yd options. Does anyone carry a 3W, 4W, and 5W?

Don't skimp on editing fees.

Consider a fitting - that high ball flight could result from shafts that don't fit your swing. I suggest the older TM R11s. You can find those on eBay and Taylormadepreowned.com for much less than new clubs cost, and it remains a very effective model.

Haven't owned a 3I since three sets ago. That all changes tomorrow when my "new" Eye 2's show up (hope that one dude doesn't see this...) Of course, this 3I will be 21.5* loft.

Survey says, "get a fitting", but on the practical side: I suggest keeping all of your clubs the same flex, keeping in mind that disparity exists among different companies. I play stiff steel irons - would never consider regular flex in woods, especially if graphite shafts apply.