Crey23

I couldn't Disagree more here!!!!! The new balls do make a difference... if this was not true everyone would be playing $12 Noodles or $8 Wilson Hypers something or the other.... I was told many times by my plying buddies that ball selection did nothing for my game....granted at the time I had just started to play golf. I started playing Slazenger raw distance (I Think), ad I really sucked...slices, short distances....etc. I played all 3 dozen then " I switched" .... litteraly I went with Srizon Tri-Speed What an incredible ball....My slices, While still present, were noticably less out of control. I could get to ball better up in the air, and putted much better with them. Short game was not great, but much improved over the Slazengers. I then tried (a gift) a box of Pro V1, while they are supper nice 100 yards-in, at my stage of the game, notvery good of the driver. I have also tried AD333 and nice for distance, but short game is not there for me. Finally I tried the Gamers and this is really a perfect fit for me. I can can hit long and straight drom the driver through my wedges. Short game these balls are great a a hop or two, and then settles down. putting is great...great feel and feedback. It really is a matter of personal preference, maybe getting fitted wil help you decide, but the bottom line is that there is enough technology going into balls these days that they do make a difference. The Gamer may not suit your game and your ability as it has done for me, but may it will...maybe you will rock the slazengers..... The point is to hit a few and see what fits. Check out sites like lostgolfballs.com for excellent prices on used balls. Their AAA and AAAA ratings are great and at very reasonable prices. I hope this helps a bit, and good luck!!!!!

I carry 4 Wedges: Pitch (Stock AP1) 45* Gap (Stpck AP1) 50* Sand Titleist SM 56-10 Lob Titleist SM 60-04

Sherlock and Sean are right, but.....get the driver. It's something that you want to do then do it!!!! I personally can hit my drive better than the 3w. AS a matter of fact, I like the fact that I am pretty decent with my drive bcs I also suck with my 4i. The best thing to do is to get fitted. This is the only way to know that a driver is good for you. You can spend $399 and still end up with a POS FOR YOU!!!!!! AS for your question, take a look at the TM 07 Burner. A very good driver, very forgiving and long. You can pick one up for $89 in a few places Global Golf or at RBG you can find it for $129. This is a great driver.

listen the most important part of glove longevity is the care you give it after play. If you wrinkle it and throw it in your bag, it will become stiff and tear, regardless is it's leather, pleather, or plastic. Use what fits best for you, and my recommendation, is that it allows you to "hold" the club without slipping, without having to grip the club too tight.

For me it's simple...lots of sun block ... Here is South Florida with summer temps in the high 90's/low 100's plus a humidity index of 80+% reapply is a must. What I have done successfully is apply prior to hitting the links to ensure the lotion has been absorbed, and then I typically re-apply when I see redness starting to appear (I use the spray type, but will look at non spray in the future). I also carry a liquid hand sanitizer (waterless soap) and apply this after I use the lotion. The alcohol content in these virtually strips the oils off the sun screen lotion, then pad down with towel...and good to go!!!!

Well said....

Model wise, I like it!!! I like the hole for alignment.....but I think Nike had it right with green putters with big white lines. In terms of distractions, these were as minimal as it gets. A white putter in mid sun in South Florida in the summer......I think i will be more a distraction than anything. I do have to say it loos good. And for the OP...I'll take your itsy off your hands....

It is the purest sound on the course....I play golf to get away from everything...me, the course, andmy crappy swing, oh yeah and my beverage of choice.....

Gentlemen (and I use the term loosely) let's get serious for a minute.... Are the labor situation in these 3rd world countries bad, most likely, the answer is an outstanding YES (in accordance to American labor standards). The fact of the matter is that these "evil, exploiting , money hungry" companies are doing something for those people, that their own governments cannot do. Why you ask, because 98% (benefit of doubt) politician are corrupt, and all the money coming into the country these politician line up their pockets. The only means of life that most of these laborers have is for foreign companies to establish manufacturing in their regions. Do they have a choice...yes work crappy hours, for nasty people, or go hungry. But have you stopped for a second and asked whether this is bad??? so so, what are you doing about it? are donating your time, talent, and money to do something for these people working deplorable conditions? NO!!!!! You may be right is stating that the conditions need to improve, but be careful with what you state. Look at the labor conditions ins this Great Country of ours....labor is expensive, that instead of helping the working folk, it really has hurt them, by forcing companies send the manual labor oversees. Bottom line, is that is this free world economy we are here to make money, and some will live better than others. To call out someone for being "naive", and not realize that without this entrepreneurial drive to make money by the "rich" companies, many of us, and millions of people around the world will die of hunger because they would have no work. I am so tired of these ideologues, seeking a Utopian world, were all are equal and happy. Non sense, there will be happiness and turmoil at the same time, rich people, and poor people....it is what makes us who we are. But sit in your high horse and judge companies like Nike, or Wal-mart, Target; and so on....they are doing something for many that no one else is doing. Do they need to improve their practices? Perhaps!!! I would challenge anyone to watch a tv show called Undercover Boss on CBS, in which CEO’s based thein US, had no idea of the practices that US based restaurants were doing. In particular look at the actions of the manager at one of the Hooters, and how the manager made the girls play ridiculous games in order for them to go home….here is the link to CBS take a look http://www.cbs.com/primetime/undercover_boss/ Bottom line…if disagree with the practices of these and any other company, boycott them. Do not buy their products, and challenge your friends to do the same. If you want to make a statement, do it with your pocket book. I wonder if you have ever played or used any Nike products….you probably have some in your bag right now!!! ahhhh...got it off my chest!

I really don't see anything wrong, from an economic perspective, utilizing labor in countries where you can pay 2 or 3 bucks an hour. The reality is that companies need to stay competitive, and with labor costs in US, that is becoming tougher and tougher to do. There was a Time in the US that labor was equally as cheap. I would rather know that I am buying US Made products from US based facilities. But the sad reality is that we work in a Union driven market. Most of our manufacturing industries across the us are union controlled...and with unions that segment duties so specific than no one can clean up except the janitor. can drive you to have largo workforces that make no longer sense in our global economy. Not to mention the fact that the janitor is probably making $20 bucks an hour to sweep the floor.... In the US, we cannot compete with labor costs around the world. If you want to see US companies stay afloat, you will have to see labor outsourced to 3rd world countries...otherwise, you will be buying Asian brand name products for the rest of your life.

Well I have both!!!!! I have a 3w and a 3h. I find myself going to the hybrid far more than the 3w. I am far more consistent with my hybrid than my 3w. With that said, I am a little stubborn when it comes to giving up on things.....I will not take my 3w out of the bag out of pride and respect for the game. since I have know of golf (for the past 24 years) I have always had a specific set in mind...D, 3w, 5w, 3-9, pw, sw, putter....Since then, clubs have changed and I now play D, 3w, 3h, 4-9, pw, gw, sw, lw, puter. I picked up a few more wedges, but it was a tough decision to let go of the 5w, in search for a hybrid. I have a romanticized view of fairway woods....it's part of golf history...hybrids will be, so for me I have a balanced bag. The only reason I actually made the change was the Cobra DWS/TWS series....these have a deep face, that allows you to make solid contact any where. I have teed off with it, played from the deck, the rough, and deep rough without much issues (other than my swing). I highly recommend the Cobra DWS hybrids if that is the route you choose...

I second this.....Long Irons are tough to hit, more so for high handicappers (myself included). When I need distance, and I am not anyway near the fiarway, I choke up on my 3i.

Hey, I just saw this thing advertised on the colg channel, asn was wondering if anyone has actually hit it. It seems interesting, but not sure if I would give up a club in my bag for this....I get enough grief from my mallets..... http://www.oneputtwedge.com/index.html Any thoughts???......

Exactly!!!! This is by bar the best..... All my drivers have been TM....07 Burner (counterfeit), and an r7cbgMax. Al regulars with 10.5* lofts. I wanted to re-shaft my r7cbgmax with an Ozik or Aldila shafts, but for the price, I ended up with the r7 Limited Reg - 9.5*. I really like this driver, the first time at the course I hit my highest fairway % ever (57%). Lately I have been working on my swing mechanics and I am begining to hit a draw, with weights setup to natural position. I've hit my second longest drive 267 (longest was 279 with counterfeit burner), but my average with the cbgMax was 230, and with the Limited is 244, although my last round with new swing was about 250. This driver certainly has alot of potential and room for me to grow into....I will have this driver in my bag for a long time, and even when I changes it, this one will stay with me. Great Driver...oh, and I got it at GG for $150 of a sale they had a few months ago.

+2 here..... This is good advice...as you can see from my sig, I also have a mix and match bag.....when I started playing this was an issue for me...I wanted everything to match, but as I learned a little, I realized that golf clubs are about what you can hit comfortably and cnsistently, rather than brands or looks. With that said, just ensure that you get the proper loft to bridge the gap in your set. 23* may make sence. Your 5i is 25* and your 5w is 19*, that would leave you with either a 21* 3h or a 14* 4h in the diablo family. Also they seem to have shallow faces, which may work for you, but I couldn't hit them well. That's why I went with the Cobra Bafflers. My 3h gives me the confidence I need to get out of rough situations in the 160-180 situations, and 180 - 200 on the fairway, either way, the deep face of these allows me to tackle either situation comfortably and cofidently. I like enough to consider removing my 4i Titleist AP1, and replace it with a Cobra Baffler 4h. I hope this helps.

Couldn't agree more!!!!!

Let me ask you a question....is your driver shaft stiff or extra stiff? If so this could be part of your problem.....you may be fine starting out, but as you tire, you cannot sustain the swing speed required to swing your club effectively. I recently bought a new driver, and I was on the cusp between reg and stiff, and while the pro who was fitting me said a stiff will work, I would see some variability in my swing with the stiff if I could not maintain that speed through the round. I settled for Reg shaft, that still gives me enough flex to play 18 or more holes.... Just a thought......

So I went to GG, and found the Odyssey Teron used for $60...the thing was brand new!!!!! I spent nearly two hours trying it out. I compared it to my current putter, Rife Mr. Beasley, TM Itsy Bitsy Spider (a personal favorite), Rife 2 bar, and Ody 2-Ball. Let me start by saying that the 2-ball Ody was what I always wanted when I started to play golf. But once I understood putting, I could not get behind the 2-ball...it was way tooooooo soft! Since then I have had my eyes on the TM Itsy Bitsy, and really had a hard time finding something better, but at $150 (agv) I never really took the plunge. Then I found the Rife 2 bar putters.....these things roll like nobody's business....IMHO, the best roller out there, but at $180 again way out there for me right now. I traded a bag for a Rife Mr. Beasley, and really liked it. I thought it was a little flat of the face, but that was easily corrected by adjusting my stroke. The consistency in distance I got it was a real confidence builder, but I still had issues with alignment (still working on that). Yesterday I found the Teron by chance and pulled the trigger....yes is was a bit star trekkie but it is really a nice putter...It has the balance of the spider, but a little heavier (which i like). The thing that surprised me was the face of this putter..it seemed that once the face touched the ball, the ball just rolled out. I really could not find an improvement over my Rife, expect different distances, but consistencies were right for both. Any thoughts on Teron...anyone tried the Teron and Mr. Beasley or Aussie mallets?

Man these things are crazy expensive....$299!!!!! I went to GG last night (instead of the Irish pub across the street) and tried out a 2-ball long putter...I actually like the feel, but seem very heavy. The one I tried was a standard belly putter (44" I think) and it fit well for me, but I'm 5' 11" on a good day ;) Hope that helps

TM Burner is a great club to have....It is too easy to play...Maybe not the best for shaping shots, but certainly the best on distance and forgiveness... 07 used burner $70 or 08 used burner $109 I also like the r7 Limited....you can get a few for under $130 used r7 limited $130 I've only played TM drivers, and I really like to sound and feel of them. And fortunately for us, since they come out with a new driver quicker than an underwear change, you can find relatively new ones a great prices.

Dude really you should go to your pro shop and try one.....these are really hard to guesstimate, as some people play of their chest, others of their belly button...is what you fell more comfortable with. I've played with a range of putter from 33 to 36, until I finally settled on 34". but depending on the weight of the putter i can easily go to 33 or 35....like I said test a few and get a feel for it.

I couldn't agree more!!! I have a comment to the OP, and then my opinion on balls... OP, you are a 30 HC...ProV's why wast money like that. At this stage of your game, you should be focusing on swing mechanics and cheap balls. IMHO OK onto balls, I have played about 6 or seven different balls ( I went through the ball will help my game thought process with a 26 HC) I've played Prov1's, Srixon Tri-Speed, Nike Mojos, Titleist DT Carry and DT Roll, Gamers (original), a few TM Burners, Wilson, Slazenger, Precept, ...and on shoots that I can't remember..... Pro V's are exeptional on the green, hands down stopping poser is fantastic, but at $4 a ball, the cost/benefit is not there for me. DT Carry/roll - OK balls, but I'd rather spend my $20 on something else. TriSpeed - Current ball. I really like this ball. I checks up decent, but it has great distance with little drive spin, and decent spin of short irons. At $25 is a great buy for a 3 peice ball. I want to test the tour version $30, I think this will be in my bag. With that said, I tried Gamers last week, and really liked them....around the greens the roll very nicely, and check up great!!! I was impressed!!! They checked up where only I had been able to do so with the ProV1's before. I only play these over $25 balls on safe courses with moderate to low water hazards. If I'm teeing off into a high risk hole, I use the cheap balls as there is a good chance of loosing them. It took me several dozen of Tri-Speeds to realize that just bcs I am using a better ball, does not mean I will play better (ie reducing slices, shanks, top-offs, etc....) I recently bought Srixon AD333 but have not tried them yet. I agree with another post...Srixon is on to something here, the tour (if it's what they claim) should be the best mid priced ball in the pmarket right now. I will keep the TriSpeed as my main ball, but the Gamer is making a good run....I just may have to keep both in the bag.

Well ... provided that most places sell them for $850 - $900 yeah...are you sure they are real? Check the S/N with manufacturer....

I played Gamers this weekend, and they are crazy sticky to the greens, but the get beaten up pretty badly though. I also played my regular Tri-speeds, and quite frankly these two were right there. The Tri-speeds are much more durable, but the gamers do stick to the green much stronger, without much side spin off the driver. I would like to play the tri-speed tour and compare...I think that would be a closer comparison, but the quality of the v2 gamer is anything like the current gamer, these balls may actually becomes useless far before I loose them! Bottom line for the price, the gamers are a great ball.

Hey you did great for a starter set....the Burner driver is very forgiving. At this point don't worry too much about lofts, and angles, and tha t stuff. Just have fun playing, once you understand what your are or are not doing, will figure out what is the best set of clubs for you. What's important now is that you enjoy the game, with your own set of clubs.