dan1724

Ummmm... your signature says otherwise. Just Kidding. I also have played the Wilson Zips. I got them as a birthday gift and loved them. Noone near me sells them, though, so I haven't bought them again. Instead of the Taylor Made TPs, try the regular Burners. I have played about four dozen each of the Reds and Blacks, and many more dozen Burners. I get better distance from the Burners and they feel like little marshmallow fluffs on the club face. And they are cheap and easy to find.

I owned Vokeys until about a year ago when they were stolen. Grrrrrrrr. I got a deal on some CG14s earlier this year and didn't like them at all. The Vokeys played better for me, I thought. Again, I priced around and found my 588s. They actually play much like the Vokeys did. I'm much happier with them. Vokeys are incredible clubs. You can't go wrong.

Honestly, spend a little but not a lot for used clubs. Go to a Golfsmith store if you have one by you- they always have dozens of sets of used irons. Smaller stores may only have a few sets. Go into a simulator and see which ones feel the best. If you are just getting into golf after a number of years, your swing will change often, and getting a custom set makes absolutely no sense at all. 1- Spend less on clubs to start with 2- Spend more on practice (either lessons or time on the range) 3- Develop your swing on the range until you are consistent 4- Once you are consistent, spend a little more on clubs 5- Don't be afraid to switch up your brands- each has thier high points and special quirks, so try as many as you can

I'm a bit suprised that nobody has begun to use the word "choke" in the national press! By no means was Tiger's final round Vandeveldian, but it does seem to me that he was having a hard time making his putts. It may have been hard for him due to both hands being wrapped firmly around his own neck.

I forgot to reply to the rest of your question. Driver: Honestly, this is the least of your worries as a beginner. It's the sexy club, but if you can hit one straight and long, you can hit them all straight and long, with a little practice. Fairway Woods: Can be used off the tee or off the ground. Forgiving, and long. Hybrids: These clubs have replaced the long irons (2,3,4 irons etc.) of the past in many cases. Bigger, heavier, more forgiving clubs made to make tougher lies easier to play Irons: From forged blades to the more forgiving Cavity Back type (like those Nike Ignites that you were looking at), irons are where the money shots come from. As a beginner, I would recommend cavity backs. They have a larger sweet spot. Wedges: You can usually make do with one or two extra wedges. A sand wedge is as close to a must have as there is- unless the course you play doesn't have much sand. Until your game becomes consistent, I wouldn't bother spending much money on a whole fleet of wedges, though some might argue otherwise. Putter: I have a brother who plays with a Champion Sparkplug putter that looks like a sparkplug on the end of the shaft. He bought it at a garage sale for $1. He is one of the best putters I have played with. I have a $120 Ping Craz-E putter that I love. I think you could learn to putt with a tree limb. Try em out and see what feels "right" to you.

DUDE... don't do it!! Look up those clubs on golfsmith or Rockbottomgolf... you can buy them all new for less. I just looked and the price was $660. No offense to the seller or the bidders, but that's gettin a little pricey for that set. Yes, it's in nice shape, but remember that they're used. 149 on golfsmith for the driver, 399 for the iron set, both new. Go to a Golfsmith store or a Nevada Bob's or golf Galaxy and try out some irons. See what you like before buying something off eBay. You might not like them, then what?

I'll tell you what- buying irons is a sublime experience! Take the previous advice and demo as many clubs as you can until you find one you like. I am 36 years old and switched this year to graphite shafts. I gained an incredible amount of distance- so much so that I had to spend alot of time on the range figuring out my new yardages. I switched from TaylorMade SuperSteel Irons with steel shafts to my current Cleveland Hi-Bores with graphite and didn't look back. I didn't lose any accuracy and gained TONS of yardage. If you can justify the cost, graphite is the way to go!

I'm about 4-5 hours north of you... Moved out of the Cities four years ago. I see you've played Hiawatha- have you played Theodore Wirth? I'm curious if it is still in decent shape. The last time I played it was about ten years ago. It wasn't in great shape then, but I know the Minneapolis Park Board put some money into resurrecting their courses. I grew up playing Wirth and I love it, but I'm a much better golfer today than I was then, so I wonder if it holds the same challenge. Good Luck!

Check out Lynx junior series clubs through Golfsmith. I got them for my kids after cutting down an older set that I had. The problem with the cut-downs was that the clubheads on the irons were way too heavy, and threw off the kids' swing tempo- alhough when they made solid contact, the ball really flew!! I bought the Lynx set and they began making excellent swings shortly after! Cheap, light, and designed with kids in mind. As for a ball to choose, any womens ball would be a great choice for a kid who can hit the ball as far as you say. Remember, clubs and balls are both designed with a player's strength in mind. There's a reason that the woods near golf courses are littered with Pro V1s. Most players can't hit well enough to hit a ball like that. Women's golf balls are designed for a slower swing speed. Check out the story of why there's a Precept "Laddie" and where the name came from. Find some that aren't hot pink if he is afraid to play a "women's" ball.

Okay- I am going to buy a new Cleveland Launcher driver. I would like to custom order the driver with a custom shaft. Here's the rub- I have no idea how to compare one to the next! It might be useful if I give a litle background on my swing: The last time I had my speed checked, I couldn't top 93 mph. However, I have since played 100+ rounds, and my scoring has dropped from the 120s to the low 80s, with my drives getting longer by about 30 yards. I have a natural draw to my swing- I have had several drivers in my life and gotten a slight draw with all of them. The times I have done a custom online fitting, I get presented with dozens of options from all the major manufacturers, and don't know what to choose. I'd like a mid to mid-high trajectory shot. Can anyone explain to me why I'd want one 45 grams versus 85 grams... 2.2 or 4.2 torque... etc?

You mentioned you have a Callaway War Bird bag now- I use the same bag and love it. I think the stand mechanism is the best design out there. It's heavy duty and works well every time. I have friends that use a Nike bag (cheap legs that bend constantly) an Ogio (too few pockets) and an off brand (poor construction). All are envious of my Callaway bag. I hate to think about the day that it finally breaks!

Right now, I'm working on lag putting. I do this by going to the practice green at least three times a week (even when I'm not playing a regular round that day- sometimes there's no time) and playing a little game with myself. The practice green at my course is much larger than any of the greens on the course, to accommodate more players, and I lag my way around the green with five balls. I score this way: A lag which lands within the length of my putter is worth a point. A ball lagged short of the putter length is -2 points and a ball lagged more than a putter length from the hole is worth -1 point. My rationale is that I'd rather lag long (for practice purposes). I repeat this all the way around the outside of the practice green until my total score is at least twenty. Some days it takes very few times around the practice green, others it seems like I'll be there all day. But my lagging has really improved- important for someone like me who can't stick a green to save my life!

One thing you could experiment with (on the range, of course!!!) is opening up the clubface and your stance a bit more at address and taking your normal swing with your PW. I have found that my PW with a normal full swing can range anywhere from 75 yards to 125 yards without losing feel or accuracy. It does take some experimenting at the range, though. And you will find that reading the distances at the range is much easier than on the course. It takes time, but not carrying the Gap will allow you more options in the bag.

My driver has been giving me fits and I almost feel like it is a mental thing between me and the club. I use a Burner 9.5. I can't stay consistent with the stoopid thing. It almost feels like I hit the ball off the toe and the club twists in my hand. But, when I feel this, I quickly return the club to the address position, and everything looks fine. I'll hit my nephew's HiBor 10.5 and I get better distance and am more accurate. Then i'll hit my buddy's Nike Dymo and the same thing happens. I'll go back to the Burner and hit it perfect for three or four holes, then *wham!* the darn thing goes wacky on me. At the range, i can hit it straight fourty times in a row. But on the course it goes ballistic on me again. I "settled" for the club on a trade in (long story) and I have never felt comfortable with it.

Commercial Flooring Installer. Schools, Hospitals & Clinics, etc. Many many nights in hotels rooms all across the country. This, though, allows me to play rounds at many courses. And being in business for myself, I can choose when to work and when to golf.