teamgs

Just my personal experience...I also tried the AP1's (Crap...or was it the AP2's..). I found that, while they felt like buttah when well struck, they weren't as forgiving to me as the R7's. A very different feel for me...almost "soft" on contact. You have to try them yourself... Gary

I am by no means pushing for the R7's, but I would be a little leary about purchasing clubs that I hadn't hit before. I.e. the cobras you are watching on ebay. I would really try and hit them first before pulling the trigger. My 2 cents. Gary

BTW, I also liked the Burners. As I was testing many irons over a couple of weeks at the range, they were my favorites, until I did my final comparisons with the R7's. I actually hit the R7 long irons a little better than the Burners. Not sure why...just a personal thing, I guess. With the price difference between the two sets, it was an easy decision for me to go with the R7's. Regards, Gary

Congrats! I also tried both those clubs, but wen't with the R7's as they just seemd to be a little more consistant for me. It is really a personal choice, for sure... Gary

Why not go for another set of R7's? THey are around $400 now. Gary

TGW has the Sun Mountain MPB closeout model for $100 right now. (shows 119, but 101 after adding to your cart. I just got it and it is very nice. http://www.tgw.com/customer/category...EGORY_ID=13454 Gary

I have the driver and hybrid-three wood. I liked them a lot, but am in the process of switching to a Nak HTEC 460, simply because the 9.5 speedline I have launches a little too high and with a little too much spin. I suppose that I could have gone with an 8.5, or a different shaft (I have an Ozik), but I really liked the Nak after I was fitted. I am keeping the three wood, as it hits nicely off the tee, and is very easy to hit off the deck and out of the junk. The speedline for me was a consistant performer. Gary

You could be right...I am getting around 250-260 carry, but very little roll. The fitter said that according to his measurements, my particular head was closer to 11 deg instead of the advertized 9.5. That may also have an effect. His take was that, while I would indeed get more distance with a shaft change, that I would get the maximum benefit with both a head that is closer to 9.5 loft, and spins less. Sure...he could just be trying to sell clubs, but he has a good rep around here. Regards, Gary

BTW, here are a couple more pics

My Nakashima HTEC 460 arrived yesterday, of course, right before a big storm, so I won't get to try it for a while. This club tested almost 20 yards longer for me, when matched with the Fujikura Motore F1 shaft, than my Speedline classic / Ozik. Both are a 9.5 loft. The speedline, while very consistant, and good carry, launched a little too high, and with too much backspin. The fitter also said that to his measurement, my speedline was measuring closer to an 11 loft than a 9.5. Doh! Ilike the more "classic" look of the club, and the ability to adjust the lie and face angle with a simple twist of the hosel. It also has an adjustable weight in the rear sole. Of course, the litmus test will be at the range against my Speedline. I'll post my thoughts at that time. Here are some pics. Gary

I found that I hit the speedline more consistently straight than the burner. I also have found that I hit it a little too high with too much spin. Good carry, but little roll. I have the 9.5 speedline classic with an Adams/matrix ozik s shaft. I was tested on a launch monitor, and found that with a different 9.5 driver/shaft combo, I should get almost 20 yards more than with my speedline. The clubfitter also told me that my 9.5 was really more like an 11, though I am not sure if that is entirely accurate. I do know that the major mfg's allow much more variance in their lofts. He also guestimated that with a shaft change, I could get some more distance from the speedline, but to maximize the gains, I should really go with a slightly lower loft. Bottom line, I really like the speedline, but am switching, as it doesn't fit my swing. I might have done better with an 8.5 classic, or possibly the new speedline in a 9.5. Gary

Nice bag!...It was on my very short list, as I was also looking for a stand bag with 14 full length dividers. I also looked at the SM MPB. I settled on the 17 Green Vertex, mainly due to the price. It has a few less pockets, but only weighs 1 pound more, and is $100 or so less than the Four5. I figured that even if it doesn't last as long, I won't be out too much $$. I will take some pics when it arrives next week and start a seperate thread. Regards, Gary

I am not sure you can get lessons from SA. I would also suggest a sand wedge and some inexpensive balls. You might also look into colder weather clothing, as Fall/Winter is around the corner, but that may be uneccesary in your area! :D Regards, Gary

Sorry, I must have been having a brain fart...I totally missed that you were looking for a 380 cc driver. Doh! Gary

The Titlesist 909D3 is a 440CC driver. http://www.titleist.com/golfclubs/drivers/909D3.asp Gary

I play the Adams Speedline "hybrid-fairway" 3 wood. Pretty darn easy to hit off the turf, though I generally only need to use it off the tee, if I need to ensure that my drive doesn't go too long. Gary

I know that I use my relatively low bounce lob wedge out of the wet sand, over my moderately high bounce sand wedge. It digs in a little better, and is less prone to skipping and blading the ball long. At least it is for me. Gary

Here is the MacTec NVG2 3 wood used: http://cgi.ebay.com/MacGregor-MacTec...d=p3286.c0.m14 http://cgi.ebay.com/MacGregor-MacTec...d=p3286.c0.m14 Gary

A 100 yard SW is about average for a longer hitter. Mine used to go right at 100-105 yards. The harder I swung, the higher I hit it, but not really any farther. It seems to be going in the 95 range right now, as I have been trying to dial back my swing a little to start hitting my irons a little more consistantly straight, not just far. :D Gary

I played an NXT Tour a month or so back, and liked it fairly well. It seemed a little more "dense" or "dead" than the TM urner TP's I was using, but it went far and had pretty good spin. If you have 'em, play 'em! They will probably be offered to the Gods of the Water in short order anyway! :D Regards, Gary

I would also suggest a lower spinning, more durable, and cheaper ball right now. The more spin on the ball, the more your slice will get you into trouble. Tons of decent 2 piece balls around. If you like TM balls, then I would suggest the TM Burner. If you just have to step up a notch, I really love the TM Burner TP LDP. Good spin, durable, and can be found for around $25 or so a dozen. Gary

A lot of bounce will help the wedge glide through the sand. However, a lot of bounce also can tend to make the club skip across the sand if it is thin and heavy. It can also make the club harder to hit off of thin lies when not in the sand. I would say to get a SW with some GI features, around 54-56 deg loft, and an average amount of bounce. Have you looked for the SW to match your set? I found one on EBAY for $30, used. http://cgi.ebay.com/mactec-nvg2-macg...ec+Nvg2+phrase Good Luck! Gary

Ahh...I see now... I use this site: http://www.mobilegolfstats.com/ I was lucky in that I liked the Adams Speedline the best of all the drivers I hit, and, at the time, it also came with a free hybrid-fairway 3 wood, that I also liked a lot. Gary

A few questions: 1. What is it about your current set that you would like to improve? 2. Have you tried entering your round data into one of the online sites that track the stats? I started putting in score, putts, and drives in the fairway, and found that it was my greens in regulation and scrambling (getting up and down if green missed in regulation) that was my biggest problem, not my driver length, etc. 3. You really don't have a sand wedge? If you don't have a sand wedge, I would suggest getting at least something in the 54-56 deg range. It will not only help your sand play, but your short game as well. Gary

I have been playing the TM TP LDP for a few months now, and really like them. In fact, I have recently been demoing the premiums (ProV1x, B330, Nike one black, and Tour IX) and haven't really found any huge reason to switch. I hit my irons very high, and with not much spin, so they hit and stop in a couple of feet, regardless of the premium or Burner TP. Gary