QMany's Swing/Sticks (KS Mid-Am Team Champion p. 125)

[QMany]

Going into this season, about all I needed was a new LW. I was testing a few different manufacturers and grinds when Forth Worth Pro reached out to me and offered to put me in touch with Mike Taylor at Artisan. I knew about MT from his work on Tiger's clubs and The Oven trips; one of the trip-goers I respect spoke highly of him. So I dove in head-first!

 

Fast-forward 3 long weeks, and my Artisan masterpiece was delivered today.

 

 

I knew MT could make me anything to my heart's desire aesthetically, but I was most concerned about the grind. My short game, specifically out of the sand and pitches 15-30 yards was not good last year. I also struggled with the gap between my 54 and 60 (75-90 yards). First, MT explained that he doesn't like 6* between wedges. 5* is doable, but 6* can be too much at that top end, especially if you're ever hitting the 60* hard. We decided to go with 58* to accompany my 50-54 setup.

 

MT was extremely generous with his time. All-in-all, we spent about 3 hours on the phone talking about my game, how I play a variety of shots, what I struggle with, playing conditions, Tiger(!), etc. He asked me to send him videos of my chipping, pitching, and bunker techniques and photographs of my corresponding divots. He also wanted to see what I liked and didn't like in my previous wedges, including photographs. For example, my Callaway MD3 C Grind was a little too rounded on the leading edge and sat too high off the ground:

 

 

 

My older Taylormade TP was a better profile and leading edge height:

 

 

 

MT explained that with my shallow AOA and simple action, I wasn't getting the "money grooves" on the ball easily when playing a higher leading edge. It was all very insightful.

 

In the end, he thought a "TW type neutral sole" with a "shallow bevel on the leading edge" would be perfect.

 

 

He was in constant communication, texting me progress pics during grinding and after he was satisfied.

 

 

In the end, I think it turned out perfect.

 

The profile at address is perfect to my eye. And I loved the MT Grind and initialed serial touch!

 

 

[cvhookem63]

That is one beautiful wedge!

[Hawkeye77]

Whoa! Good work there. And looks like many Q's on the back of that wedge. ;-)

[bu11dog]

Going into this season, about all I needed was a new LW. I was testing a few different manufacturers and grinds when Forth Worth Pro reached out to me and offered to put me in touch with Mike Taylor at Artisan. I knew about MT from his work on Tiger's clubs and The Oven trips; one of the trip-goers I respect spoke highly of him. So I dove in head-first!

 

Fast-forward 3 long weeks, and my Artisan masterpiece was delivered today.

 

I used to like you. :)

[Jagpilotohio]

That’s a beauty. I could never play that particular grind but i really like the straight leading edge and flat toe.

 

The shape is great and obviously the finish work is first rate. When they start making them for normal joes maybe I’ll talk to them about one.

[Cool Hand Luke]

beautiful work on the grind, that's same profile I like in my LW... however, maybe (hopefully) it's just the angle/lighting but that hosel looks very prominent almost bulgy.

 

great thread btw! managed to creep thru most of it over the last few months...

 

cheers

[MK7Golf21]

nice wedge, only bad thing about it is its going to wear out with alot of practice and probably wasn't cheap

[dikaia22]

That wedge is just filthy.....

[GC70]

Wedge of the YEAR! :rockon:

[QMany]

I made the #5WITCH and ordered 4 dozen TP5X through their loyalty program.

[dikaia22]

I made the #5WITCH and ordered 4 dozen TP5X through their loyalty program.

 

Any update on the driver shootout though?

[QMany]

Any update on the driver shootout though?

 

After head-to-head testing on Trackman and on the course, the Epic has been in the trunk the last two weeks.

 

The M3 just seems much more forgiving. With the Epic, I felt like the range on launch, spin, and dispersion was much greater between good ones and misses. For example, a little toey could drop spin 500 or more and come off low and finish really left. So far, the M3 seems to be more consistent on misses. That toey shot seems to spin only 250 or so less, still come off high and finish a little left. And it just looks better behind the ball. It is probably the contrasting colors and straighter topline, but it frames the ball easier.

 

Once this winter weather pattern breaks, I will finish my testing. But as of right now, the M3 is the clear winner.

[dikaia22]

Any update on the driver shootout though?

 

After head-to-head testing on Trackman and on the course, the Epic has been in the trunk the last two weeks.

 

The M3 just seems much more forgiving. With the Epic, I felt like the range on launch, spin, and dispersion was much greater between good ones and misses. For example, a little toey could drop spin 500 or more and come off low and finish really left. So far, the M3 seems to be more consistent on misses. That toey shot seems to spin only 250 or so less, still come off high and finish a little left. And it just looks better behind the ball. It is probably the contrasting colors and straighter topline, but it frames the ball easier.

 

Once this winter weather pattern breaks, I will finish my testing. But as of right now, the M3 is the clear winner.

 

I devoted a good chunk of the golf equipment budget this year to short game so I'm watching BST for a used M3 head, this makes me even more impatient to find one.

[QMany]

I will say, it is definitely more draw-bias then my Epic. I am guessing that has to do with the difference in lie angles more than anything, I am going to fiddle with the sleeve settings soon.

[bd59]

Very nice wedge Q!! How’s the M3 battle coming? I’m getting ready to pull the trigger on one myself. Good luck this season bro!!

[QMany]

Very nice wedge Q!! How's the M3 battle coming? I'm getting ready to pull the trigger on one myself. Good luck this season bro!!

 

Epic hasn't left the trunk recently. My tournament season starts on Monday, and the M3 is firmly in the bag.

 

Kansas Mid-Amateur Team Championship (Manhattan Country Club)

• Shamble
  
• Alternate Shot
  
• Fourball
  

[QMany]

34th Annual Kansas Mid-Amateur Team Champion!

 

 

 

 

[CallawayLefty]

Q!!!!!

[CSagan]

Congrats man!

[ebrasmus21]

Congrats Q

[Dave D]

Congrats buddy, looking forward to hearing about it all! (hope you're going to give us a detailed write up about it!)

[QMany]

34th Annual Kansas Mid-Amateur Team Championship

Manhattan County Club

April 30 - May 1

 

Leaderboard

 

Manhattan CC is a little-known gem. Hell, I didn't even know about it before my practice round Sunday evening. Just looking at the card (6300 yards), I was deceived. The greens were probably running 11-12, but they were the firmest I've ever seen. Well struck wedges would literally bound 10' into the air and roll out +15 yards. There are a ton of short par fours, but once you'd get down to your 20-80 yard wedge shot, you had little chance of getting it close if it was in the front or middle of the green. It required creative golf. And that was before it started blowing...

 

There are a few other GolfWRX members who competed that can chime in, but Monday was the craziest conditions I've ever experienced. It was blowing a constant 25 in the morning Shamble, 35 in the afternoon Alternate Shot, and gusting even more. Sitting exposed on top of a hill, it felt like twice that. It certainly required well-struck shots, mishits were exposed. And you could throw out your yardage book, it was all feel. 7i from 120 downhill, PW from 195, balls oscillating and rolling off the greens, etc. It was insane!

 

Shamble: This was only my second time around Manhattan CC, my partner's first, and we just weren't prepared. We both hit it well, but too many drivers left ourselves too many of those handcuffed 30-80 yard wedges. We just couldn't get it close in those conditions. And then nothing from outside 8' fell. Our 69 was the worst we could have shot, but we didn't shoot ourselves out of it.

 

 

Alternate Shot: I'm somewhat at a loss for words. I've had many competitors, friends, and family ask how we did what we did, and I don't have a good answer. We played it much smarter, driver only when absolutely appropriate, otherwise irons into the fairway to allow more control with our approaches. We were +1 at the turn; I knew we were already making up ground on the field and told my partner to keep his head up, keep grinding. I hit a downhill 18' slider on 10 to get us back to E. On 12, I hit a high short-sided pitch/flop from 50 to tap-in. On the par three 13th, I hit PW from 190 to about 30' and my partner drained it! On 15, when most of the field is trying to drive the green downwind from 350 (straight-line), I played a high draw 5i into the fairway that chased out 321 yards. It left my partner a 70-yard wedge shot (due to the dogleg) that he stuffed! 4 birdies within 6 holes. We turned back into the wind on 15-16-17-18, hit quality shots to smart places, scrambled when needed, and finished with 4 pars. When the dust settled, it was 67. I knew that was a good score in those conditions, but I didn't know how great it was at the time. The next best score ended up being 73, field average 80.6, and our playing partners shot 92. As you can see from the scores, Alternate Shot is where the tournament was ultimately won and lost. We slept on a 4-shot lead.

 

 

I've been in contention at a championship before but never slept on a lead. But I had a sense of confidence. Don't get me wrong, I was nervous and didn't sleep well! :lol: But I truly felt we were playing solid golf and would win if we played disciplined.

 

Fourball: Man, being in the final group is a cool feeling that I want to experience again. The last ones on the putting green, the last ones into 18 as people watch and await scores, etc. We got off to a good start. After heady pars on the first, I hit 3W into the greenside bunker on the down-wind 280 yard second. It was wet tractor-raked cement, but a crafty wedge (shoutout Artisan!) left me 10' for birdie. I hearted it, and another on 4, and we were off to the races. I've heard people talk about adrenaline in contention but never experienced it like this. Shots became all instinct. Uphill, straight into the wind from 140? I had no business hitting a 9-to-3 9i, usually a 135 shot, but I flushed it to 1 foot on 14 for birdie. It was just a surreal experience. We both played really well, 70 and 71 on our own balls with 3-5 birdies each. It added up to 66. And a six-shot victory!

 

 

The field was stout: former D1 and D2 standouts, former Kansas Mid-Am Team Champions, former Mid-Am Players of the Year, former Kansas Amateur champion, recent USGA Am and Mid-Am Qualifiers, etc. I'm humbled to call myself a KGA Champion for the first time and now be invited to the Champions Dinner!

 

 

Thank you to all of you who have followed along this incredible journey. I truly appreciate all your support!

[bcflyguy1]

:cry: So proud...(sniff) :lol:

[QMany]

In true GolfWRX fashion, my winning WITB:

 

Taylormade M3 (9.5°) Tensei CK Pro White 70TX

Callaway GBB Epic SZ (15°) Tensei CK Pro Blue 80TX

Callaway XR Pro (20°) Diamana White 90X

Callaway Apex Pro (4i-PW) DG X100 TI

Callaway MD3 (50° & 54°) DG S400 TI

Artisan MT Grind (58°) DG S400

Odyssey O Works R-Line

Taylormade TP5X

 

It was my first tournament with the M3, Artisan MT Grind, and TP5X in the bag!

[Kuuuch]

Congrats! Lol to your comment about sleeping on a lead. I experienced that for the first time in a tournament last year and did not expect it to be as nerve wracking as it was. I ended up shooting 77 the next day and came in 2nd. Not a total choke but nerves definitely played a role in my performance. It is not easy to go out and play the same knowing you have a couple stroke lead. Kudos for grinding it out and getting the W

[ebrasmus21]

In true GolfWRX fashion, my winning WITB:

 

Taylormade M3 (9.5°) Tensei CK Pro White 70TX

Callaway GBB Epic SZ (15°) Tensei CK Pro Blue 80TX

Callaway XR Pro (20°) Diamana White 90X

Callaway Apex Pro (4i-PW) DG X100 TI

Callaway MD3 (50° & 54°) DG S400 TI

Artisan MT Grind (60°) DG S400

Odyssey O Works R-Line

Taylormade TP5X

 

It was my first tournament with the M3, Artisan MT Grind, and TP5X in the bag!

 

A bag any hoe would be proud of; nicely done!

[Rory4Pres]

Damn Q, after you described the playing conditions, I did not expect to read those scores! Solid man. Hope you celebrated properly, whether that be with Champagne or PBR! Congrats!

[CSagan]

That was a fun read! Sounds like a blast.

[br61]

Congratulations. That 67 in alternate shot format is really impressive. In my opinion, it is the most difficult format to score.

 

Now you officially have joined the ranks of state champions.

[oldhamer25]

Congrats Q. Never played Manhattan CC, but as you described it is how many others have described it as well. The last few days have been very windy and up on that hill must have been interesting.