MCC

Good point on the AP2's already conforming. I really haven't noticed that much of a difference. It seems like it might be a non issue after all other than the mental aspect of knowing the grooves are different.

Treebound, thanks for the response. January 2011 -- Manufacturers can no longer manufacture products with the pre-2010 grooves and can no longer ship products with the pre-2010 grooves. Retailers can continue to sell clubs shipped to them before this date as conforming clubs indefinitely. This is a fact. When you are comparing fairway shots with new vs. old grooves there is NOT supposed to be any difference because there is no grass between the clubface and the ball. However, shots from the rough are going to be affected. So, if we are both 8 handicappers and I am using the pre-2010 grooves and you are using the new grooves, I believe I would have a clear adavantage making better contact with my ball in the rough than you would. Better contact makes for a better shot.

Zeg, you make some good points. I agree with you that I am not playing at a level where my spin is going to be limited by the grooves in the fairway. However, grooves are also used to whisk away grass in the rough to enable you to make better contact with the ball. The wider and deeper the grooves, the more it will whisk away grass (much like a tire tread expells water from underneath a tire). It's my understanding, the new grooves are 70% as deep/wide as the pre-2010 grooves. I'm curious how much difference that makes in the rough? Does anyone have any experience with the new grooves vs. the old grooves?

I do play a lot (70+ rounds per year) plus a lot of practicing. Nobody specifically recommended replacing my wedges every year but from what I have read and based on the wear & tear I have noticed on my wedges, they need to be replaced once a year. My 52 & 56 could probably be replaced every two years but my 60 gets a lot of use. It's my understanding that Vijay Sing plays with a new wedge every round.

Since January 2024 is the first possible date that the MAJORITY of golfers will need to have the new grooves to post scores for handicap purposes WHY can manufactures no longer manufacture products with pre-2010 grooves staring in January 2011? Why can't they manfacture the pre-2010 grooves until January 2024? If the majority of playes can use them why not manufacture them? Doesn't make sense to me. The obvious answer would be money but is that the only reason? I carry 3 Vokey wedges in my bag at $119 a piece. If I want to replace my wedges once a year (which is recommended) and use the pre-2010 grooves until January 2024, I'll have to pony up almost $5,000 by the end of the year to buy a 14 year supply. This rule bothers the sh*t out of me because if you don't pony up to buy a 14 year supply of wedges somebody else will and now you are in a situation where you are playing against someone with an unfair advantage.

I have the Garmin Approach. I like it a lot. It comes preloaded with 20,000 courses and you can update it every quarter. Has a great color screen and is easy to use. On my home course it is very accurate. I'll step right on the 100, 150 and/or 200 marker (or any other marker) and it's right on within a yard. It takes two AA bateries which last a few rounds. Very durable. Plus, when you change the batteries in the middle of a round you would think you would have to start over again but it brings you right back to same hole you were on.

i-guy is right. You need to demo a bunch of clubs. Not too many though as it might become really confusing. Mizuno has a new tool called the Shaft Optimizer. I have heard really good things about it. You would have to go to a shop who carries Mizuno. I carry my 7 iron 170. I have a 6-iron swing speed in the mid to high 80's which puts me right between a Project X 5.5-6.0. I have been told that you take your iron swing speed (say 85mph then you subtract 30 which equals 55 and then you would put a decimal in the middle 5.5) So, if you iron swing speed is 85mph you would be in a Project x 5.5. If it was 90mph you would be in a Project X 6.0. I hit the KBS shafts and did not like them at all. They felt way to whippy to me. I play the AP2 irons with the Project X 6.0 Rifle shafts. They make the Project X shaft in two versions, rifle or flighted. Rifle is lower trajectory and flighted is higher trajectory. I love my AP2's and the shafts as well. I hope this helps. I did not read far enough down the chain to see that you had made your choice before I responded. However, I think you made a great choice! It looks like you really did your research. It should pay off big time!

If you think your wedges are getting close to needing to be replaced, this year would be ideal to replace them. December 31, 2010 is the last day manufacturers can sell wedges with the old grooves. Just a thought. Check out this link for more info: http://www.yearofthewedge.com/

We had incredible weather this past weeknd in the Washington DC metro area. I played both Saturday & Sunday. Saturday I shot 89 and Sunday I shot 85. Thos were my 3rd and 4th time out this year. I'm starting to get my feel back and each round is getting lower and lower. Hope to break 80 this year. I took a lesson a month through the winter and worked on my game at least twice a week in a indoor facility called Club Golf in Gaithersburg, Md. Brendon Post is my instructor and he has been awesome.

Tiger has some issues and injuries to deal with before he becomes the greatest. His ACL and his torn achilles may give him major issues down the road.

I'm an IT Consultant. I can view the forum between downloads.