Finally played them, observations from today's round

[NRJyzr]

After much internal wavering over the last couple months, decided I'd finally trot out the lumber today. Took a couple options to the range before my round.

 

MacGregor M09T Jumbo and Ram TW800 3w

Ping Zing Blonde driver & 3w, green dot

 

Hit many shots with each. Was hitting the Pings slightly better, and not having played them on the course yet, decided they would be IT.

 

Also trotted out two sleeves of HT-100s. One sleeve were Japan made "genuine" balatas, the other the urethane cover HT from the late 90s.

 

A few observations...

 

First, the MacGregor appears to be a bit low lofted. I didn't have any trouble elevating it. I was also concerned hitting the largish Zing 3 wood off the deck, had no trouble with it, either. Very pleasantly surprised.

 

Used the balatas for today's round. Wasn't sure if I'd knock any out of round, add a smilie, or who knows what, but they came through fairly well, with two exceptions. One, I had the distinct misfortune of having a tee shot on my 11th hole hit the edge of the cart path, and kick sideways. Put a small cut in the cover. Another ball showed the same after my 17th hole, where I played a par 5 quite poorly, hitting four trees in my first three shots. It's a gift I have.

 

Aside from that, they were lovely as could be. Was a couple yards shorter with my irons, which could also have been due to temperatures, which were 20° cooler than what I've been playing in, as of the start of the round.

 

Driver distance was quite interesting, and there are a couple things about it I found especially so.... we started on #10 tee today, on the back nine on my course, I frequently use alternate tee clubs on several holes to take water out of play. The early part of the round saw me hitting 3 wood on quite a few holes. I was quite pleased with the distance I was getting with the Zing/balata combo. The 3 wood is akin to a 4 wood from the world of my modern clubs, I was hitting the ball a reasonable distance for such a club.

 

Once I put driver into play, I was again pleased with the distance. Two observations along these lines:

 

First, after the cart path scuff, I played that ball on the next hole, a par 3. The subsequent hole is a par 5, and I chose to swap out the damaged ball. On a lark, I put my usual Callaway Hex Chrome+ in play. Hit a cut up the left side, finished right side of fairway. Two days previous, I played this same hole with my Adams Fast 12 LS driver, 45" long. I hit good tee shots with both clubs, very small draw with the Adams, cut with the Ping, and my shots wound up within 5 yards of each other. (fwiw, I put balata back in play my next hole)

 

I can already hear the "it's the ball" thoughts, so we come to observation #2 :)

 

On my final hole, I hit another good tee shot with balata. 431 yd par 4. The distance of my tee shot was about what I'd normally expect on that hole, leaving me with roughly the same shot I've had dozens of times over the years. So much for balata being short. LOL

 

The distance from that final hole was fairly consistent with what I'd seen over the entire round. Good driver swing = good results.

 

Overall.... the Zings kept me in play quite well, I was straighter off the tee than I have been most of this season. And, as seen by the par 5 I mentioned above, given a quality pass at the ball, I may not losing much of anything in distance. Past experience suggests I might lose the occasional 320+ yd bomb I see with 45" Ti drivers, but one never knows. ;)

 

I do believe I may keep the Zings in the bag for a bit longer.

 

I believe I may have rambled enough for now. :)

[stevemcgee99]

Awesome! I looked at some Ping laminates and the lie angle seemed very flat. As far as I know that should cause a straighter shot?

[NRJyzr]

At the lofts you see in driver, especially, lie angle is a very minor player in shot shape.

[NRJyzr]

I almost forgot to add something I'd noticed about the HT-100s....

In my previous day's round, I came to the 18th hole and, attempting to take advantage of a quartering tail wind (15-20 mph), dunked one in the water hazard on the right side of the hole. For my third shot, following the drop, I put an HT-100 in play. Hit a PW to the green.

The wind was from the left and helping, from the tee, but with my iron shot, was close to directly across. I hit my ball off the right edge of the left green side bunker, expecting the wind to drift the ball back to the left pin, and found myself in the left rough, in the 5 yds between the bunker and the green. It didn't so much as twitch in that side wind.

I miss Maxfli golf balls.

[farmer]

I always thought Ping wood woods underrated because they were kind of strange looking. But they did perform very well.

[Oldplayer]

[quote name='farmer' timestamp='1438484533' post='12062382']
I always thought Ping wood woods underrated because they were kind of strange looking. But they did perform very well.
[/quote]
Not unlike their irons

Regarding woods and balls used. I have found the low compression modern balls work very well. I use Wilson Elite 50 and they work very well with woods, do not damage the faces (inserts) and a very durable as well.

[oldschoolrocker]

NR, great recap. I had the Ping Zing Blondes in the bag back in the day. I rank the fairway woods in my all time top two favorites.