I know this is a Golf conditioning forum, But I believe someone here will know the answer to my question...
I am looking at drivers but I am not sure what the number insignia is all about. I think it is degrees of loft, is that right, and which would be better for a beginner type golfer???
If the number you are looking at is between 8 and 12 then yes, it is degrees loft. It is hard to say what degree to get without seeing your swing or the trajectory of your shots. If you are interested in buying a driver, I would go to the nearest country club, and have the teaching pro analyze your swing. If you buy the club there, they often do it for free (at least it is the case with my club)
generally if you don't get the ball airborn extremely well I would shy away from anything lower than 10 degrees and would tend toward 11.
Originally posted by erowan: If the number you are looking at is between 8 and 12 then yes, it is degrees loft. It is hard to say what degree to get without seeing your swing or the trajectory of your shots. If you are interested in buying a driver, I would go to the nearest country club, and have the teaching pro analyze your swing. If you buy the club there, they often do it for free (at least it is the case with my club)
generally if you don't get the ball airborn extremely well I would shy away from anything lower than 10 degrees and would tend toward 11.
I have opted for 9.5 degrees as too many of my drives resemble lob wedges.....
Just bought a Taylor Made 540XD in Hilton Head this weekend. Of course, that's because I broke the shaft on my Ping ISI while taking a large divot (yes, a divot on a drive, you read that correctly) on the 5th tee at Harbortown.
Nice! I just got out for 9 on Sunday...and I hit an 8.5 degree driver. I still get the thing airborn..No matter what I try I seem to have the clubface open slightly at impact so I have a real fade on the ball. About 3 years ago I shattered the shaft on a 5 wood taking a huge cut and taking an even bigger divot, so I can feel your pain on that one..
Do you play ping irons as well? I used to play the ping eye 2 but got some Titleist 990s about 2 years ago..
I'm hoping in business school my handicap can get to about 10...when my dad was at michigan b school his hit 2..but he always was, and still is, a much better golfer than I.
Originally posted by erowan: Nice! I just got out for 9 on Sunday...and I hit an 8.5 degree driver. I still get the thing airborn..No matter what I try I seem to have the clubface open slightly at impact so I have a real fade on the ball. About 3 years ago I shattered the shaft on a 5 wood taking a huge cut and taking an even bigger divot, so I can feel your pain on that one..
Do you play ping irons as well? I used to play the ping eye 2 but got some Titleist 990s about 2 years ago..
I'm hoping in business school my handicap can get to about 10...when my dad was at michigan b school his hit 2..but he always was, and still is, a much better golfer than I.
I'm using Tommy Armour 845 irons right now. I bought the set used and the shafts are regular flex graphite shafts. I need to change over to steel shafts because I swing pretty hard.
I'm going to try out a few different sets of irons.
I'd like to get my handicap down to 10, but I should probably get below 20 first
I can't seem to put my game together.
Meanwhile, my brother is a 1-2 handicap and a 2 time club champion.
I remember you saying your bro is a stud golfer. Don't you hate walking into a golf store and every set of clubs FEELS so good, much better than the ones you currently play..
Originally posted by erowan: I remember you saying your bro is a stud golfer. Don't you hate walking into a golf store and every set of clubs FEELS so good, much better than the ones you currently play..
I wish I could buy a new set every year!
The problem is that the clubs' effectiveness diminishes by 30% after you pay for them
I agree completely...I think the shafts must bend or something.
Is there anything worse than a 120 pound kid that hits his 8 iron 160 to an elevated green? I ran into that on Sunday. Backup at a par three...kid hits it stiff to about 6 feet.
I hit 6 or 7 iron from 160. And I put it to 6 feet once or twice a year......Mind you, I managed that feat on #13 last Thursday during my round at the Robert Cupp course at Palmetto Hall, Hilton Head Island. Sunk the putt as well
Yeah, thats about how far I hit my 7...155-160 depending on the swing
I love hearing tiger hitting his 9 iron 170. That is great for the ego!
The real question is, have you ever been able to stop a ball on a pitch shot..I putting spin on it all the time and if just once the golf gods would let me do it, I would be happy
Originally posted by erowan:
The real question is, have you ever been able to stop a ball on a pitch shot..I putting spin on it all the time and if just once the golf gods would let me do it, I would be happy
The only pitch shot that I can stop with any consistency is a full swing 60 degree wedge. The trajectory of that shot seems to eep it from moving forward.
No posts in this forum for some time. I guess this would be a good time to mention that I broke the 300 yard barrier for the first time in my life now that I have a truly sweet driver. Had a go at 3 of 4 par 5s. Unfortunately, I'm pulling all of my long irons. But it was kind of nice be over the green with driver/3 iron on a 500 yard hole
Good grief! 300 yards?? I'll need a lob wedge to catch up to your drive!
I went and hit a bucket yesterday at the club. I normally hit a high fade...but I was working on staying back on the balls but opening my hips a little earlier to let my arms come through..and I was pulling the bejesus out of the ball..but with more distance. Hitting the 6 iron 170-175..I don't trust the swing yet though...so I will have to decide when I'm on the course...trust the fade, and aim at the left side..or worry about the pull..
That's a good distance for a 6 iron. I need a light breeze behind me to get that distance, though if I could keep my right elbow in on the downswing, I'd see beeter distances with my low and mid irons.
The driver really makes a difference. I had a Ping previously (which I liked), but I had an old man shaft. Now I have a stiff shaft which fits my swing. The 540XD is more forgiving than the Ping. I can get 260 off of the heel or toe of the club and it'll go 290-310 if I catch it solid. I've only reached a par 5 in 2 once, and the 2nd shot was with a 5 wood. Now, I'll have a go from time to time with an iron!
I also bought Cleveland wedges (900 series) in Hilton Head. I have 48, 54, and 60 degree lofts. They're sweet--- they feel so true when you come through the ball (my wedge shots are a good part of my game).
Funny..I had a 60 degree wedge and I never hit it. I just didn't like it, so I took it out of the bag..and now just play with a pitching wedge and a gap wedge (both Titleist). The gap wedge has a heel on it so I can use it out of the sand, or open the face to mimick a lob wedge..
Now I carry a rescue wood..which has ostensibly replaced my 3 iron in terms of use..
oh yeah...you can hit it out of the deep rough..but also right off the fairway..and I make decent contact with it far more consistently than my 3 iron..
Just picked up Callaway 3 and 5 woods and a set of Ping G2 irons. I also got Taylor Made 22 degree and 25 degree rescue clubs. If I can hit the rescues, I may drop the 3 and 4 irons. The clubs look nice, but we'll see how I play tomorrow......
Just in Northern Michigan for a farewell boys golf weekend..
played in a scramble with some good golfers (low 80's)..
it sure is nice to be hitting an 8 iron or less to the green on every par four.
Reminds me of that golf tournament the other day - battle of the bridges..where Mickelson asked Daly 'don't you ever get sick of only hitting a wedge on a par four?
I played yesterday and made pars and the #1 and #2 handicap holes, including a par off driver/8 iron on a 440 yard uphill par 4 (a bit of a tailwind). Unfortunately, I doubled and tripled too many of the easy holes
I like the rescue clubs. I've taken the 3 and 4 iron out of the bag for the time being. The 22 and 25 degree rescues fit my distance profile well nd seem to be a bit easier to hit.
My bag is a real mix and match right now:
Taylor Made 540 XD driver
Callaway Big Bertha 3 and 5 woods
Taylor Made 22 and 25 degree (#4 and $5) rescues
Ping G2 5 to 9 irons
Cleveland 900 series 48, 54, and 60 wedges
Ping Zing putter.
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