Tat14

I didn't think of this angle - valid point. There is some control here though if you get to pick your team. Choose the sandbagger instead! Just kidding...

The poll results say it all - sandbagging is worse. If a good player is only posting mediocre rounds for the sake of getting more "pops" (strokes on a hole) in a tournament, then he or she is cheating the field. Looking back at the OP (from 2013, wow), I don't see the harm of his friend's vanity capping. I define it differently - cheating. If I was playing that person for anything more than $ .01, I'd simply call him on it. If a player wants to deny himself those "pops" by keeping his index artificially low, it only helps his opponent.

I don't like spending too much time on the practice tee. I tend to play better with more frequency of actual rounds than buckets. I think muscle memory and mental acuity play an equal role. They are not mutually exclusive either. For example, my pre-shot routine includes a grip check and my single swing thought is a should turn under the chin. I am pretty consistent at this because I've done it long enough for it to be considered muscle memory, but it also stems from a mental approach. So my answer is, both.

If you're 5'10", that 2 degree flat lie matches a static fit. At least it did for me with PING irons back in the day. If I were in your shoes, I'd think about the story you explained above every time I addressed a ball with one of those irons. It's another one of my OCD traits. I'd have to refund, trade, or find a way to get happy about those clubs. Good luck, and gifting is always nice.

Good comments here. IMO, your index should be valid and honest. A no-poop index will only help you in matches if you happen to play in a league, etc. A vanity handicap will never help you against a better player in match-play games. We have two types of offenders at my local club. One, the guy that never posts and enjoys that "assumed 20" for Thursday twilight match play. Not a fan... fortunately we police those guys quickly. The other one is the young kid who tells us he's "a five or so" and then gets smoked because he only gets 3 or 4 strokes per match. Thanks for the $$$ man.

I'd keep that much bounce in my SW and save the LW at less bounce. For example, my TM wedges are SW 55.11 and LW 60.08 - this allows for more options regarding tight or fluffy lies and the need for a flop shot from a bunker or rough. One club with more bounce, one with less... does that make any sense? Lately, I've shelved those and just carry a Vokey SM4 54.08 - square for a tight lie, open for the flop. Great club BTW.

IIRC, a couple of Champions Tour guys play yellow. Perhaps I was "under the weather" when I watched that though... A quick Google search found an article re: Tim Clark considering a yellow ball back in 2010. I like yellow. I play a DT Solo and will try the Callaway Chrome Soft soon. The color influences my ball choice as much as any other factor nowadays.

It depends. Two seasons ago I was in between careers, and worked part time at my course as a pro-shop attendant. Read this to mean that I played quite often - dropping my index from 20 to 13. During that period, I could hit several different shots with a 50* PING iWedge. I had that "feel" we all talk about. This past season I was full-time gainfully employed again; didn't play too often and the index creeped back up a little. I did not have that feel anymore, had new clubs in play, etc. That 1/2 50* option wasn't available. Reacting to that, I used the bump and run more often. I figured the smaller the swing the better, and it worked out. I recognize this as a Band-Aid though. Pursuit of key four with little swings will likely yield that feel once again. IMHO - players need a go-to chip (bump & run) as well as a pitch (50yd) that can carry trouble, etc.

It varies. I am a fan of neat items with some sentiment to them - like many of you have already mentioned with divot tools and ball markers. Then there is always that one club in the bag that seems to play better than the rest. A driver that fits. A wedge you can swing "on automatic." Currently, I have my scorecard from a recent round at Torrey Pines South. Played for the first time since the late 90's, and with a life-long friend. An excellent afternoon; my avatar is the signature #3 par three from that day. The smartphone camera doesn't do justice to the amount of descent to that green. Not quite equipment, but close enough. Good idea for a thread.

I'm curious, have you ever considered more modern gear? I think it's cool that you play old clubs, and I can imagine how educated your hands are after using the same wedge for so long. There is something to be said for the distance gains in modern tech though.

Anyone still swinging this? I've only ever seen one around my locale - mine, and now it sits in the garage bag along with other one-off, non-played clubs. I can hit my driver pretty well, so taking the loss of distance compared to my deeper-faced R11S made little sense. It was not any longer or more accurate than the R11S 3W either. I prefer the smaller 160cc of the R11S, even on the tee. I don't regret the purchase, except I should have avoided the super light stock Speeder 57. Hopefully one of my older pals at the club has some interest and some $$$. Some of them still play clubs circa 2000 - the 260cc ought to fit right in.

It makes sense to me. My local track is short (6000). I can go round after round only playing Driver or 3W off the tee, and nothing longer than a 7I for the approach. Of course, I can hook that short iron, but that's a bit OT here. IMHO, short-irons and below are easier to play because higher loft means more backspin over sidespin. That, and they seem to fit more comfortably than longer clubs at address. Let those other clubs earn a place in your bag. I suggest working on that tee game too. Cheers!