retozimmermann

Hey Guys Actually I've been wanting to reply to this post again for quite some time now particularly in light of its revival. Just recently I've had to go back to my old putter for some games. This yet again confirmed how happy I am with the Black Carbon. My old Mizuno Tour putter just doesn't compare. Alignment with the black carbon is much easier due to its shape and shaft angle and the grip has, at least for me, a very nice thickness and texture. Only in very wet weather it starts to get somewhat "squishy". I'm also very happy with the weight of the putter. I've compared it to many lighter models and none of them feel so good to me like the BC. For comparison of a completely different kind of putter I've also played with my wifes Heavy Putter mallet putter. That one is certainly a very nice tool as well but personally I find that some of the feel is lost due to the extreme weight. Though I have to say that I haven't played with the Heavy Putter often and it might just be a matter of getting used to. One thing I also like about the BC is its sweet-spot. When you've hit it, it is incredibly soft. When you haven't, it is no desaster but you'll know that you haven't done it quite right. For me that is a very nice thing and actually keeps reminding me to pay close attention to the exact point of impact on my putter - something I can only to easily forget. How are all your experiences after some time with the BCs? Does anybody have another BC model? Cheers from Switzerland Reto

I'm not throwing them out. They are in my MX-25 set at home, while I have a used MP-33 set which I want to take with me while I'm away from home during the week. I have an old putter that can go with it but a wedge is still missing. Because I don't want to spend too much (don't know how often I'm actually going to be able to play), I don't want to buy more than one wedge. Additionally, this is a nice opportunity for me to get to know another wedge manufacturer. I'm strongly leaning towards a vokey oil can, possibly also a black cleveland.

Thank you for all your replies. Meanwhile, after reading your comments and doing some research, I'm leaning towards a 54.08 wedge. At one point I started to look at the lofts of my two Club-Sets and noticed, that on the set I would like to get a wedge for, the PW is actually 48 degrees (as opposed to 46 on the MX-25s, for which I have a 52° and 56° wedge). Therefore I thought 54 would make sense. About the bounce I'm still unsure. Maybe it should be something more than 8 - 10 I reckon wouldn't be too bad since the club will have to serve as a sand wedge as well. So, any thoughts on the remaining issue of bounce? What is the one-size-fits-all-purposes bounce?

Dear Forum Imagine that you have a set of clubs 3-P but no wedge and you would only want to buy one wedge. Which wedge would you choose and why? Which bounce would you choose? Because the above is exactly my current situation, I would highly appreciate your answers to help me with my predicament. Thank you Reto

Thank you for your feelings on this. In case the rule really should say "not play from", can the club just say (i.e. in a tournament situation where it might matter), "we meant not play from"? I mean, can they just verbally add what they thought or is that not actually possible?

Dear community My local golf course has a lot of environmentally sensitive areas which are defined as water hazards by a local rule. The rule states that it is forbidden to enter these areas and that players should proceed according to the water hazard rules. During my last tournament I found my ball 10 centimeters inside the marked boundaries of one of these areas. The question arose whether I would be allowed to play my ball as long as I don't step into the "hazard". When I enquired about my situation in the clubhouse, I was told that of course playing from these areas was not permitted, regardless whether a player stands in them or not. The answer was delivered in such a matter-of-fact way as though even asking that question was utterly ridiculous. Apart from the logical sense that the intent of the rule makes, I was not satisfied with the phrasing of the written rule and went to have a look at the R&A; rules and decisions. Therein I found that an environmentally sensitive area can indeed be defined as water-hazard and that it is possible to define whether it should be prohibited to "enter and/or play from" the hazard. Based on this statement, I strongly believe that the written local rule should be amended to include "and/or play from". From you I would be curious to know two things A) do you agree that the local rule should be clarified? B) even if the local rule only states "not enter", can the local club just say "and not play from" without this having to be written in the local rule? Could this be inferred implicitely from the fact, that the rule is about environmentally sensitive areas and as such should be protected as much as possible? I would be highly interested in your opinion on this case and my questions. Thanks in advance Reto

Just one suggestion: Mizuno Bettinardi Black Carbon BC1. Have it, love it. Brilliantly soft. I've opened a thread about it here: http://www.thesandtrap.com/forum/showthread.php?t=18851

Wanted to play so baldy this weekend but then the course was closed due to snow We found an indoor-place and gave that a try but it just didn't come close to the real thing. Yes you can hit some balls and play a bit but it just didn't quite do it for us. It's just too strange to be looking at a heap of pixels (anyone ever played on an HighDef-system?) and the short game is very hard to judge. Also, when you play badly on the course its one thing, when you play badly virtually it is much more frustrating.

Hi Thank you for the additional pointers. I'll happily contact you when I know more. Why don't you drop me your details in a PM. I'd like to play with a local Regards Reto

Hi All Meanwhile I've been working some more on our route and made a selection of golf courses which I would like to play on our journey. I've decided to skip Vegas golf-wise and stick to the coast area and one course in Palm Springs. We've still not decided which way we're going to drive (clockwise or counter-clockwise) but it might well be that we're coming from Palm Springs along the coast towards San Francisco after visiting the national parks inland. The courses I've selected are: Mesquite Country Club, Palm Springs Industry Hills Golf Club (Eisenhower Course), Industry Hills Glen Annie Golf Club, Santa Barbara Morro Bay Golf Course, Morro Bay Pacific Grove Golf Links, Pacific Grove The Course at Wente Vinyards, Livermore Harding Park, San Francisco I have put all the courses you've suggested in a Google Earth File which you can download here: http://www.retozimmermann.com/zed_pi...olfCourses.kmz (Of course you need Google Earth installed to view the file-content) All courses we're planning to play are selected while all others are in a backup folder. The place-marks have addresses, links to the course websites and sometimes rates. I hope that some of you might find this collection useful. Thanks to all of you who have provided this content! Best regards Reto

The weather forecast for Sunday is -3 to -4° C and I cannot imagine not going for a quick game. Maybe not 18 holes but certainly one or two hours outside playing. It'll be my first time doing that but I am confident that with the right clothes it won't be too bad

If I had a sim near by I'd certainly go - alas, there is none. I'm pondering the thought of setting one up somewhere, though. It'll probably remain an idea due to lack of space and the not exactly tiny price tag

The soft feeling is, in the way this putter provides it, exactly what I was looking for. I'm not a big fan of multi-material clubs, not even putters, and the stainless steel putters of other brands just felt very hard (as does my old cast mizuno). The way this is soft when you hit it perfectly and hard when you don't is, in my eyes, the ideal.

That was my problem exactly. I don't understand why Mizuno putters are so rare in shops. With you living in the UK, I know that EU online ordering law applies to you. That means you could theoretically just go and order the one, two or three models you'd like to test and then send those back which you don't like. It's probably not the nicest thing to do for the shop-owner but if it's your only choice, what else should you do?

It does, doesn't it? Although I generally prefer the white and blue Mizuno headcovers. But this certainly looks like it perform for me. Sheer unstoppable confidence

I agree with almost all of what's been said above. Just one thing I'd like to add after I was reminded of this the painful way on the course. I absolutely hate when I have to wait and the people in front, after finishing the whole, veeery slowly walk away from the green to the next tee. I can see the taking their time to play. That's perfectly ok, although it might be annoying to me. But taking their time when it should be my time to play? Completely inacceptable in my book. How hard is it to walk fast?

Hi Everybody It is done, the butter has been used. Today after work I went to the Golf course and made my first real strokes with the BC1. Already on the practice green it felt absolutely awesome. I think this is the putter I've been subconsciously longing for. I always thought I didn't need a new putter, particularly because I quite liked the look of my old Mizuno. But this, well, I'm almost speachless. It's another world. I played about 12 holes today (before it got too dark). My game was absolutely awful, partly, certainly, because I was wearing so many clothes and a scarf so that free movement was constricted. But the putting, oh the putting, what a blessed feeling to know that at least that part of the game works! I've three-putted only once and had a few one putts, one from about 4m (sadly they didn't outweigh all the rubbish that was going on before them). Of course the putter doesn't put on its own, but the way it works for me is just absolutely terrific. To step on to 1m, 1,5, even 2m putts knowing that they can well go in, is a nice change. Usually these were always frightening distances because I just didn't have any certainty that they would go in. That feeling is gone now. Not that I don't make mistakes anymore, misread the green or have the occasional distance-error, but overall the distance feeling is great and the confidence enormous What I also like very much is the feedback the putter gives. Again, something I didn't have with my old Mizuno. When you hit this in the "sweet-spot" it feels incredibly soft, like a well-struck iron. I must say, I couldn't be happier with my "blind" choice of this putter. It could well be that we're going to be a good team for years and years to come. As far as the collecting is concerned... Let's wait and see. I don't think I'll have any urge to replace this as my life-saver soon. Now just collecting because they're so nicely made, that might be another story Maybe I'll bring one or two back from my US-trips next year. Let me end by providing you with some pictures I quickly took before going on the round today.

I seriously hope that won't happen. I could absolutely see myself having a cupboard full of putters at home though for my financials sake I hope I can withstand the colletor's pressure in me

Of course it did come with a headcover Black/White/Yellow Maybe I'll post some pictures later with my first (playing) impressions. I must say, for me this putter is one of the most appealing in times where almost every second word you hear is Scotty Cameron. I'm astonished that there aren't more reviews about this one out there. In my opinion (as far as I can tell) a worthy adversary and a heavy one at that. I found many of the Scottys too light...

Hello fellow Golf Enthusiasts Today I went to pick-up my putter-order from the post office: my very own Mizuno Bettinardi BC1 has arrived. I've been looking at putters for quite a while, tried many in shops or on the practice green but just couldn't quite make a decision. Unfortunately none of the shops around had any Bettinardi putters on stock so testing was impossible. After much deliberation and online reading I decided to do what shouldn't be done: order a putter online without laying hand on it at least once. Granted, the risk wasn't too big. I figured if I didn't like it, I could always sell it, probably even without loss, as I got quite a good deal. Well, what can I say... I cannot imagine that I will not like the putter. When took it out of the box I immediately noticed how heavy it felt - something I really wanted - and just how wonderful it looks. Oh, I think this may be the beginning of a wonderful friendship. If only I had a ball at home Can you believe it? Not a single old ball in sight; all are in my locker at the course. I can hardly wait until tomorrow when I finally make my first stroke with a ball. Since this Bettinardi hasn't been much described by users, at least to my knowledge, I will let you know about my experiences as soon as I know more myself. Cheers Reto

Same here. This is particularly pronounces with my drives. I think for those this was even a tip for a smooth swing-start in Golfer's Digest.

Hi Sabram Thank you very much for your very nice compilation of Las Vegas Clubs. Unfortunately I haven't had time yet to look at them in detail but I will do that asap and integrate them in my travel map. As said above, I intend to post the whole route here later so that other's might use it for their own research. Regards Reto

Does anyone know which of Callaway's patents is affected here? Which of their balls have the features used in the Titleists?

How nice to read your own thoughts in someone else's writing. I couldn't agree more. Not wanting to have any idiotic colours on my clubs I am quite happy with my Mizuno MX-25. Generally Mizuno is by far one of the better companies with regards to non-colourful clubs. However, already the successor model of the MX-25, the MX-200 takes a step in a worse direction. There is indeed nothing better than the pure simplicity of a nice blade. The MP-33 come to mind, or some cleveland blades. The MP-32 are nice also, although due to their muscle back slightly (really only slightly) less elegant than the MP-33s. The same goes for the MP-67s. I know I'm being very particular, but I would even go so far as to say that there is no need for the colourful (red) logo on the new Titleist or MacGregor blades, small as it is

I absolutely agree with the last two posts. I've ordered a 4 pack-box with NXT Extreme, NXT Tour, Pro V1 and V1x. Each time I lost one of the more expensive ones it hurt. Of course I may get by without losing a ball through 18 holes, but if I have a reall ybad day I may lose 5 or 6. I also don't believe that having better balls makes you a better player. At a certain point yes, absolutely and on a good shot a good ball may play in your favour. But generally, as a high-handicapper, the mistakes and errors are far too big to be significantly influenced by something as miniscule as the type of ball. For me, I found the Callaway Warbird to be a pretty good affordable ball. I think the feel is not too bad, I like the name and if one goes in the pond the pain is only a mild one