Equifinality

[OldCuss]

Relatively new to GolfWrx and have learned many, many good things about golf and golfing and issues related. Impressive group of people, GolfWrxers, present company excluded.

I am also learning, albeit puzzled by it, the following:

1. GI/SGI and offset = Shovel. 2. Forged and no offset = Golf club.

We have pondered the tree in the forest, thus allow me to allow: If a handicap of, say, very low, is via GI/SGI equipment, is the 'very low' legitimate, are said individuals with said handicap playing golf?

Do I need to be playing beech shafts and balls?

Old Cuss

[Chip Duffer]

“1. GI/SGI and offset = Shovel. 2. Forged and no offset = Golf club.” OldCuss

 

LMAO..... that is pure artistry OC. Well done and welcome to GolfWRX.

this is indeed not a run of the mill assembly of casual golfers, so opinions may vary from the “general population”.

Many of the participants here are helpful and knowledgeable and I admire them and their passion for the game.

 

[1Mordrid1]

As long as the equipment is within the performance allowances that the USGA allows and on the conforming list, your handicap is legitimate no matter what you are playing. Playing to a specific handicap with blades does not make your handicap any more "legitimate" than someone who uses USGA conforming SGI clubs to achieve the same handicap.

 

 

[txgolfer45]

People's egos get in the way when selecting golf clubs. More often than not, people would be better off with more forgiving clubs. Their swings cause the hook not the offset. But, they blame the club. :)

[Valtiel]

Since there is far more to having a very low handicap then whether or not you ALWAYS pure your irons then yes, of course it is legitimate. Honestly someone like Henrik Stenson plays what some people would consider "shovels" around here.

[Ri_Redneck]

Inevitably, all of us golfers square the irons we play visually. For myself, when I THINK I have an offset club aligned properly, it is ALWAYS a slight bit closed resulting in the aforementioned hook. My swing is sound, but my eyes are not. Using generalities results in arguments which benefit no one.

I have never maligned a fellow golfer for the clubs they choose to use and, in turn, do not appreciate the application of the opposite.

BT

[txgolfer45]

My posting reminded you of your alignment problem due to your eyes not a problem with the offset. For you, less offset allows your eyes to align the club better. So, it's not the equipment that causes your hook, it's your setup when hitting an iron with more offset than you usually play. That's not maligning you.

For me, the club with a more game improvement cavity back doesn't allow me to play a punch draw or punch fade when needed. They tend to go straight for me even when I attempt to set up to create a draw or fade. But, I accept that limitation to get the other things that the game improvement iron gives me as the need for a low punch draw or fade is not very often.

 

[ChipNRun]

For a person to use the blade or players irons well one needs high clubhead speed and an accurate swing that gets lots of center hits.

I'm rather middle of the road for clubhead speed. If I try to hit players/blade irons, I get a lot of line drives that fly about 10 feet off the ground.

But if I hit the SGI (super game improvement) irons, which usually come with high-launch shafts, I hit the short irons so high I lose distance.

I do best with GI (game improvement) irons with a fairly light shaft.

My former golf pro had this advice for people getting fittings: Get clubs for the swing you have today, not the swing you hope to have next year.

In the past few years, I have played in scrambles with several former small-college varsity golfers. They all tell the same story. With a job, a wife and kids, they no longer have practice time to keep their swing blade-ready. So, the switch to GI clubs and improve their scoring.

In closing: Use the clubs you need, and you can pay for them when you win $$$ from the ego-drive blade users.

[1Mordrid1]

Yeah I have seen several former college players play GI irons for that reason too.

The majority of amateur golfer's swings have a lot more in common with LPGA players rather than PGA tour players. And how many LPGA players do you see playing blades?

If someone plays golf with the goal to score well then personally I think that person should have an amazing short game if they are gaming blades. Because even pros miss sometimes, but they have the short game to bail them out so it is not too big a deal. But if you do not have a great short game then blades will likely cost you at least a stroke or 2 per round.

 

[Stonewalled]

 

Old Cuss

1. GI/SGI and offset = Shovel. 2. Forged and no offset = Golf club.

Pure & simple and right to the point. You will fit right in Old Cuss.

Best thing iv'e read on here in a long time. Well done. Still giggling......

[BIG STU]

Some pretty good answers. In my years of playing golf I have found it very subjective. One of the reasons they make so many different styles of clubs and even balls now days for that matter. FTR I am a blade player but just because I play blades does not mean you or anyone else should play them. I will be the first to tell you to play the equipment that suits your game or that you enjoy playing. As far as a swing Mr Palmer summed it all up in my book "Swing your own swing"

I guess this may be my mission statement and those on here that know me have heard me say it many times but I feel in this case it bears repeating----- There is no etched in stone way to properly play this game and that IMHO goes for equipment as well as the swing. Do what you want to do and have fun doing it

[Noke]

I say play equipment that you hate. That way you will always have something else to blame than your swing.

[gvogel]

There was a tour player named Ben Curtis who won the Texas Valero Open using AP1 shovels. Was his victory legitimate?

[tannyhoban]

It's the internet. Nothing here is real.

[mahonie]

WOW! Since when does the Texas Valero Open rank higher than the Open Championship? I believe he won that with shovels too! ?

Having said that, some years ago the pro at our course (+4 handicap) started using AP1 on the recommendation (and fitting) of an ex- Titleist’s Euro Tour fitter and after totally losing his game, he’s now fitting kitchens for a living. Crying shame as he was probably one of the best teaching pros I’ve come across.