RWold

Ok you’re right I’m wrong. After beating myself up trying to do well with my 20 year old ERC Fusion 10° driver, I bought a used Paradym driver 10.5° currently set to 11.5° (2023 technology) and what a difference. Not to drag out an old cliche’, but what a game changer. After a rough day at the range (with Top Tracer) I picked up my new driver from the PO, drowned my sorrows a bit over lunch, and brought the new club home. I hit a couple balls on my home range and was more than pleased. Redeemed actually. Farther, straighter, and less effort. I’ll have to get used to the new lie angle, but I think it will make it easier, not harder. And the best part - I only paid $110 for this unit (ok, the best part is how it launches the ball). It was a little rough in appearance, not that it matters, but I was a bit concerned. Turned out to not be so bad and with some Flitz and a little elbow grease, I have it looking quite spiffy. Club face is nice too but the file was too big so that pic didn’t post. And BTW X-ray, we sold the horses, so the old one isn’t even good for that!

By today’s standards that’s certainly true, but they weren’t having any trouble hitting golf balls in 2005 so I’ve equipped myself with what was among the very best equipment around that time for a very reasonable investment. If I get to the point where I feel like I’ve outgrown that stuff, I’ll reward myself with something more current. But for now I don’t need adjustable loft and lie and modern head shape, just a good quality, proven club with a clean club face. For now I’m going to concentrate on the basics. I know you can get more yardage with newer woods, but I don’t care about distance nearly as much as consistency, and you can’t buy that for any price.

I’ll just stick to the basics for now - got enough to work on… this is my home practice range. The little clearing in about the center of the photo is roughly 200 yards.

I picked up my woods at the PO today and fooled around a bit at home. I don’t know how long my shots were but I do know I’ve never hit that far and for some reason my slice was absent. Just straight, nice trajectory, and long. That and the sound of that big driver - all very satisfying. They are Callaway ERC Fusion 1, 3, and 5. Around 2004 as best as I can tell. Regular flex. Lesson tomorrow with a well recommended instructor and back to the range on Saturday. Very encouraging so far.

There are so many videos comparing and contrasting everything that I am both overwhelmed and more than a bit skeptical. Your comments above are much more valuable than hours of you-tube videos. Generally speaking, I’d much prefer to read something that someone took the time and trouble to write (such as your comments) than a bunch of videos, or worse, meaningless reviews that seem like they are all cut and paste selections of the same script. I’m more of a RTFM type than a watcher of “instructional” videos. By way of explanation, I don’t watch TV either. So thanks - I’ll take that under advisement. I have an H3 that I bought for $10 that I’ve been carrying around but not sure why. Seems like a cool club, but I just don’t really know what to do with it.

It just occurred to me that the last time I was serious about golf, my woods were made of….wood! Also interestingly (to me anyway) as I shopped for “woods”, mostly on eBay, I found that all the clubs in really nice cosmetic/aesthetic shape (good finish, nice club face, good grip) were woman’s clubs. Seems they either take really good care of them or don’t use them much. And lastly, for now anyway, I went to a range today that has Top Tracer monitors at all the stations - another “new” development that may have been around for quite a while, but this was a first for me. I found it useful although I’m sure I only scratched the surface of its capabilities.

As long as we are on the subject and I’m outfitting my new bag, can someone explain hybrids to me. It seems they fall somewhere on the scale between must have and gimmick, but there’s obviously a market for them. To me it seems like just more stuff to carry that doesn’t do anything irons can’t do, but I have no experience with them other than a H3 I picked up cheap here and it makes the ball go, but again, no better than an iron. Hybrids didn’t exist last time I was serious about golf so I’ve had no exposure to the rationale, uses, benefits, etc. Cheers, thanks, and happy golfing…!

It’s a start and it’s enough to keep me motivated while I work on consistency, my short game, putting, and correcting my slice. Thanks. Sound advice - I like it. I went ahead and bought a couple spiffy newer Callaway woods on eBay to try out so I won’t have a mixed bag, but I’ve been thinking the same thing and I won’t be letting go of my old Taylormades any time soon.

Bounce and a roll but it gets on in one on a 200 yard hole so I’m counting it. I’ve been trying that hole with a 3 iron and feeling insufficient so I more or less gave up and started taking the 3 wood with me. Last two times were within 8’ of the pin so it got me thinking maybe I can play this game. Doesn’t take much to pop that bubble though.

Good info - thanks. Didn’t know that about club length. My irons are 1.5 over and I assumed my woods should be too.

Ok thanks. I’ll be home in a few days after a several months traveling and once I get settled in I’ll be hitting the local courses and I’ll check with the area golf shops. A lot has changed in the last 30 years and I have some catching up to do.

So to start with I’m 67 years old and just returned to the game a month or so ago after a 30+ year break. . To give you an idea of how long I’ve been away from golf, there were no hybrids last time I got serious about it. I’m enjoying it and seeing gains/improvement every time out. That said, I’m playing with antique woods (Old Taylormade Burners) and since I’m playing with Callaway irons (2004 BBs) I’d like to stick with the brand and upgrade to Callaway woods - at least a driver and a 3 for now. For a glimpse of my ability, I hit the 3 wood 200 yards and more or less straight, and I think I newer tech clubs might help. Also I’m 6’5” and these clubs are a bit short for me, by 1 1/2” or so. So looking at the gillions of perfectly fine looking Callaway drivers on eBay I’m completely overwhelmed and under-informed. I’m also doing this on a self-imposed budget since I’m not good enough to warrant new, exotic, pricey stuff and I’m pretty sure anything made in the last 20 years will do nicely. So given all that, anyone have any specific suggestions on a good/prefered model Callaway driver that can be had for around $50? If I earn better gear by improving my performance I’ll go after it then, get fitted for clubs again, all that. But for now my goal is bogey golf so I’m limiting my golf allowance accordingly. Thanks, cheers, and happy golfing. As examples, I’m looking at RAZR, BBII, X460, Fusion FT series, Diablo, etc. and I can’t tell if they are all good and I should just shop price or if one or more are preferable over others. TIA…

I’m no expert on bags and I looked at this post because I’m considering a Ping Hoofer, but from the pic, I would say you just start at the top, un-thread the strap through the keeper buckle, and once it’s out of that, pull that tab on the buckle next to the shoulder pad out towards you and down, and the slack will pull through. Do that until it’s long enough and then re-thread the loose end back through the top buckle (keeper) to secure the strap and maintain the adjustment. Write back if you have any problems or questions. I’m bag shopping so I’ll probably see this again. Cheers!