RandomRaiderTTU

Where I practice, they have a bunch of different yard markers between 40-100 yards. Having practiced out there a bunch, my body associates how hard to swing with a number, so I have to know when I'm on the course. I used a rangefinder until i'm inside 40 yards give or take. To me, I MUST know if it is 60 yards or 71...just the way I'm built i guess.

Hey 2bgood, I was in the same boat not too long ago. I carried a 3w and 5w and 3-PW, 50*, 54*. I switched it up by adding a G15 4w and getting rid of the 3w and 5w. Also added a 58*. Probably one of the better decisions that I've made. I'm a big fan of the G15 fairway wood so far. It looks great at setup and has been wonderful off the deck and off the tee for me. If anything, give it a look and a couple swings.

I think I added up the total winnings for the year and it was like 2200. That is a combination of pro shop credit and cash. Total costs of all tournaments plus day money costs and all that was around 1250. Could have had about another $800 in cash if me and my partner wouldn't have been too chicken to get in the day money in our two-man lowball tourney. We had first day low score, second day low score, and first overall.

Well, I contemplated posting this because I felt it was all out bragging, but what the hay...I'm proud of what I accomplished this year. Starting the season this year, I began as a 13.4 handicap. I joined a country club last year and playing on a better course and spending last year revamping my swing has really paid dividends this year. I took a lesson at the beginning of the season and the instructor said I had a nice swing and my problems were related to tempo. I've worked on tempo all year and the results have been awesome. I'm now a 7.2 handicap and have played in four tournaments this year (two two-person tourney's and two individual tourney's). My record so far this year is 2nd, 1st, 2nd, and 1st. The most recent was tieing for 1st in my flight in the club championship. My goal this year was to win enough in tournament winnings to buy new irons. Well, after the first two tournaments, I was able to buy new custom-fitted Ping i15s, a new fairway wood, and a new wedge. With the third tournament's winnings, I was able to buy a new TV for my bedroom. The most recent tournament yielded $365 in pro shop and $600 in cash. No idea what to do with it yet as I've replaced about everything I want to in my bag. Anyways, I know this is bragging, but I really set out to become a single digit handicap this year and not only do I feel like I achieved that, I feel like I blew right past it. It's funny though, this past weekend I played a new course and shot an 83, which I was happy about...until I entered the score in my handicap calculator and found out it raised my handicap from a 7.0 to a 7.2. I'm going to have to adjust my expectations Hoping all of you guys out there keep pushing and get to experience a golf season like mine, cause it has been a blast this year. Again...sorry for bragging...but you guys understand how hard it is to progress in this game....when you do it...you feel like shouting from a rooftop. I'm interested in hearing if anyone else is having a season like this. Post your story, would love to read about it.

They recently had the Bridgestone Ball Fitting at my country club. I have to say that I was extremely impressed by what they had to say and their advice to me. As per the OP, I was asked which ball I play. I typically play the Taylormade TP Red. He pulls out a new TP Red and I begin to hit a few shots. After I hit mine, he had me try the B330 and then the B330S. When we got back to the monitor, the guy said this to me and I quote... "I try to tell people that this stuff isn't rigged all the time. We don't win every damn battle out there. Truth is, we can't beat your TP Red. We can achieve the same spin numbers and launch angle with the B330S, but you'll be 12 yards shorter." Side spin and all that were relatively the same. I never got above about 300 RPMs for sidespin...and mostly was hitting a baby fade, but I was significantly impressed by their honesty. He proceeds to tell me that I might enjoy the softer B330S around the greens but reiterates that stat for stat, the TP is as good or better than anything they can offer for my swing.

I'm am about to replace my 3w and 5w with a 4w and add a 58* wedge. Truth is, I hit my 3w or 5w about once a round and a 4w would suffice in all of those situations. On tight par 4's, I usually hit my 3 iron, which with roll out goes to about 235-240. I've just gotten to the point where I don't need the extra wood. Now a 58* wedge, is something I can really use. I am faced with a bunch of sub-100 yard shots into greens. Just makes more sense as I would use an extra wedge lots of times in a round vs. the 3w/5w.

This past weekend. Had a 2 man lowball tournament and we were sitting in 1st place going into the last day, leading by 4 shots. Get on the 3rd hole and my partner is in his pocket. I've got a tricky 5 foot downhiller for par. Hit it WAAAYYY too hard. Leaves me 5 feet coming back up the hill. Pushed it. Double bogey...in lowball. Luckily we still won our flight by two shots, but I felt horrible after that hole. Before that, we were playing in a tournament and we were struggling on a par 5. He got behind a tree after his tee shot and I topped a 3 iron. He's in jail with his 3rd shot and I hit a 130yd gappy to 3.5 feet. We needed a big birdie because some teams were gaining on us and we had been falling apart on the back nine. He says "good birdie" before I go up to putt....pushed it right...didn't even hit the hole. Sickening.

I think this post is on the money. I'm sitting at an 11.4 right now and on any given day I can shoot between 78 and 93. Of my top 20 scores right now, 10 are 90+, 9 in the 80s and a 79.

Very interesting to hear. I'm looking to buy some i15s pretty soon and upgrade over my Big Bertha 2006s. When I was looking at new irons 2-3 years back, I narrowed it down to the BBs and the Cobra S9's. Loved them both, but went with the Big Berthas. I've hit the i15 demo 7-iron a hundred times and I can agree that they are easier to work the ball. Like you, I had an easier time hitting a fade with the i15s and draws were about the same.

It was close for the woods and long irons, but got off towards the 7-8-9, and wedges. For the 9-iron, it was 15 yards off...about same for SW and GW.

My best round ever was last year. I shot a 76 (par 72) with a 34 on the back nine. On the round I had 4 birdies and an eagle. Everything I hit went directly at the stick. All birdie putts were from inside 10 feet and my eagle was from about 6 feet.

While I wouldn't say that simply changing the ball will help you drop X number of shots, I will contend that there are balls that match your style and it is advantageous to seek those out. I can play a ProV1x and ProV1 just fine. My issue is that with a full 9-iron, PW, GW, and SW, I spin it WAAAYYYY too much for my liking. I like them to take one hop and sit down. With my Taylormade TP Reds, I can walk up there and see my pitch mark and my ball within a foot of each other. With the ProVs, I'll spin it back anywhere from 5 to 12 feet. On half and 3/4 wedges, my TP Red will take one hop and roll about 2-3 feet. Other balls that I've tried such as Callaway Warbird, Titleist NXT, Srixon Tri-speed, Z-start, and others roll out more than I prefer. I like to hit to a distance and expect my ball to sit at that distance or pretty close to it. For that reason, the TP Red fits my game. I've also found that the TP Red is pretty straight off of my driver. Hooks or slices seem to be lessened a bit (not the quantity, but the severity). Either way, play what you have confidence in. If you feel a ball is best, go for it. If you feel you can play with anything that is round and dimpled, that's fine too.

I'd like to be good enough to compete in the Championship flights when I get in tournaments. Not just play in that flight, but compete and have a chance to win it on occasion. I imagine that if I'm good enough to do that, then I'll have shot quite a few rounds in the 60's. Just once, I'd like to get in a tournament and not have to worry if someone sandbagged their handicap or get screwed over because you have a great round on the first day (and get bumped a flight). As far as travelling golf is concerned. I'd like to take golf trips to Scottsdale, Myrtle Beach, St. Andrews, Pebble, and Florida.

I'm usually nervous for the first and sometimes second shot, but after that, it goes away and it's back to golf as usual for me. Actually, I find the nerves are worse when I'm on a course I haven't played before or have only played a practice round on. As for during the round, I make myself envision every shot, ball flight, bounce and all before I step up to the shot. I focus more in tournament golf.

RSS has it right. It's a best ball competition, except you are the only one involved and you get two swings per spot. Tee off twice, take best. Hit irons, take best. Two putts, etc, etc. RSS, interesting that you say that. I was worried about that myself. Hopefully I can hit a good tee shot and just worry about irons and chipping/putting from there.