mkoreiwo

My friend uses/used (depends on how he feels) and he shoots in the low 8o's. Now I thought I'd try one, and - well - actually - I think it takes MORE skill to use the thing. Try as I might, I think I could chip/bump, whatever, with my standard clubs. The chippers just seem to roll out more, I can't find the "feel". All said though, I have seen a use for it, and I may continue to use it. Golf is an evolving sport. Its difficult enough, I say whatever works.

Well said. And kudos to Jerry Kelly! Its time people woke up to golf w/o number 1. Yes, he is the greatest, but every thing changes, time doesn't stand still, and golf will survive. Sadly, it is all about the Benjamins!

I don't care who wins! At last its real golf again. just what we all need to prime us for spring!

OK - I'll confess and say it.... I use a Cleveland Niblick 42°. It is just a little more forgiving. I find when I need to hit a shot from a really crappy lie, I often use it. Had a 37° in th ebag, but could not get the distance down. The 42° works better for me. They don't ask how, but "how many".... if I can shave a few strokes, I'll take it!

I'd go with the Niblick. I don't find it limiting at all. If we took that approach, well look at all the "improvements" that we have... how many of those should we reject? Anyway, I have the 42° and I get a lot of use out of it.

AVS forums are a very good start... IMHO, whatever you choose, and there are valid arguments for both, if you are serious about your HD set and how the picture looks: get a set that has a user accessible complete Color Management System (CMS). I know the mid/high end Samsung sets do, as I have one and the CMS is tremendous for calibrating it. Your viewing habits and show preferences should guide you. And btw, plasmas will last longer than you'll want them too. That old saw of dimming is just that. The technology has come a long way - as has that for LCD. Go bigger than you want, you won't ever regret that!

I don't think its a gimmick at all. I used a Barbados for a while and loved the feel of it - and it was very nice in tracking through my stroke (face balanced). I also like the way it set up at address. I recently switched to the Abaco, and it too, is a great putter, though it's heel/toe weighted. Rife may be the most underrated putter out there. I suspect they may be frowned upon because they have an infomercial!

iacas has it right about the US courses not being "true" links courses for the most part. Since I've never played on a real links course, I voted for parkland, as - another poster noted - "its purrrdy". Love the walk in the country.

I agree with the assessment of the stoutness on those Red shafts. I tried them with the HiBode Xl and they were just too boardy for my tastes. Here's something amazing though, I have a friend who is using an 8.5º HiBore Xl with a Red stiff shaft, and his swing speed isn't over 100. And he loves it. So... to each his own. He just picked up a 9º Launcher with the stiff red, I haven't heard yet whether he likes it or not.

The last two tourneys I thought he was missing a lot of putts on the left of the hole, at least that is what it seemed like to me.... maybe I'll give him a call...

I have used the Barbados and the Abaco from Rife. For me, I like the feel of their putters. The Barbados is my favorite face balanced mallet, the Abaco, same for heel/toe weighted. You know - with putting its all about what works for you, but if you can try these, check out the above as well, you may be surprised. Rife works for me.

Golfshot GPS is the best golf app out there IMHO. Golf logix is charging a subscription fee, so ditch that. I found the yardages on GolfShot to be on par with my SG5.... definitely worth it, unless they start charging a subs. as well......

Hornets, no, but I did stir up a yellow jacket nest. They're not as bad, but still they were bad enough. I was mowing as well, and when I fist noticed, it was with the hot stinging sensation on my ankles. Luckily the stings were concentrated on the knee and below. No fun - no sir...

For a twenty dollar ball, they ain't too bad, but I believe you are correct that they are less durable. Perhaps Callaway expects them to be lost before the user notices they're shredded. I use them occasionally, and they do perform pretty well. I will have to look at their longevity. I too, only hit my SW about 85 yds, so I'm not in your league...

Great story - should be implemented in every ethics/philosophy class for first year studies. Barring any thoughts you may have had about nailing this friends sister - if that was your intent - oh forget it you were in your 20's so chuck true honor out the window - keeping an arrangement was the right thing to do. I certainly know if there were a beautiful woman waiting for me I would ditch a round. But the personal best thing does tug at the sleeve. I guess it amounts to the girl and how great she was. In all honesty, I always keep a commitment, however awful the consequences (or great - but those don't count) may be. These days with cell phones popping out with newborns, you could have called from the course, explained that you were running late, finished your round in peace, and still won the girl at the end of the night... That's what Kirk would do - he doesn't believe in a no-win scenario.

Zero friction... they now make a shorter model I have used for FW. But (sheepishly) I like he blue Brush tee for my 3w. It just is exactly the right height for me, always.

I agree with both of these, and no - you don't sound arrogant to me. Honest and accurate. I do have a chipper - I call it the cheater club. I find distance control is difficult as well. It is definitely something you need to work with - but waaayyyy more valuable to many golfers than a lob wedge! If you have difficulty around the greens, these could help. A buddy of mine swears by his - ymmv.

As alternatives... since I never felt good with inserts... The Rife Abaco, and Cleveland Classic 2 are the same, but without inserts. I have the Black Series i9, and the Rife. My nod - of course - is for the Rife. This style has been a winner for me. It swings like blade with the extra mass of a mallet. Worth looking into!

Interesting thread, as I recently picked up a 1H 16° hybrid and took out my 3 & 5 woods. I did this to add a "cheater" chipper to my bag. I absolutely loved my Fw woods and hit them so well my friends told me to take driver out of my bag. But the 16 was supposed to offer me some versatility, as I really couldn't hit my 3w off the fairway too well. So far the the 1H isn't working out as well as I had thought. I don't know what it is about the club, but I just can't seem to hit it that well. I also have a 3H that I hit very well. It's weird - with t he shorter shaft, thought it would have offered me a better, more versatile club, but so far... not happenin'. I need to get to a range and work it out. I'd like to keep the chipper in the bag, I guess I could just remove the 3W.

I picked up a Baffler DWS 16 degree and pulled the 3w out. I am still getting the feel of the club, but the beauty of it is that I can hit it under more conditions. I may lose some yards, but it adds more choices for me. It actually replaces a 3w & 5w, letting me put a Niblick -- cheater club(lol) - in the bag.

Yep - I just picked up a Rife Abaco, which is more mallet than blade, and that design is a heel-toe weighted. It fits an arc stroke much more naturally than a straight-back-straight-through. IMHO, with putters, its all about how much you "like" your putter. That will give you confidence, and confidence will certainly help your putting. Just my .02¢

I have a Black series i9, which sets up beautifully for me.... But like others, I am not a fan of inserts, no matter how technologically advanced they get. The sound/feel of a metal putter is just "better" imho. So... neither. I picked up a Rife Abaco, same setup, but for me, better feel than the Odyssey!

Wow - just did that this w/e. Bought a Cobra DWS 16 degree.... Now, I hit my 3w like a cannon.... BUT - I wanted to add a Niblick, so I had to make room in the bag. The Baffler replaces a 3/5 wood combo. I used it for the first time and on one hole, it went pretty much as far as my 3w does. That's only one round of use, but I think this may be a keeper club. At $99, it was well worth it - with a VS Proto shaft as well!

I met the designer (Yale prof.) in Bethany, CT at Fore Seasons golf.... Nice guy. I like the concept. Certainly a good idea, but I can't afford it!

yep- +1. Only thing I don't do is close down the face. I find hooding the club gives me a draw with this shot more often than not.