#TaylorMadeTuesday at The Kingdom, Feb 26-28, 2017 (pics added pg1,16,19 & 20)

[pitchinwedge]

Leroy...

 

All imma say.

 

Thought I'd add some pics from the collection tho -

 

 

 

 

[pitchinwedge]

Just noticed the suede-like flocking material on the headcover is shedding like crazy. Seems the adhesive is only good for a limited duration and then begins to decay. What a shame, it's hardly been used.

[Puppetmaster]

Oh I miss that driver. So much fun, but I was all over the course with it. I remember it felt and sounded pretty good too, maybe on the louder side though.

[pitchinwedge]

Yeah, the SD is an absolute beast and IME must be dialed in for a specific ball flight. A "neutral" setting never worked for me. Could be why it wasn't popular on tour?

 

Edit: IIRC, not any louder, but a slightly harsher, more brittle sound than the SuperTri.

[Doc420]

@ bculaw Ok, I just went off the spec listed on their website,witch is 3.5

[BCULAW]

@ bculaw Ok, I just went off the spec listed on their website,witch is 3.5

 

You could be right. Whatever the loft was, I needed a lot less of it! Too bad my launch conditions off my driver are not as strong as off my putter! Ha ha!

[jokerusn]

Yeah, the SD is an absolute beast and IME must be dialed in for a specific ball flight. A "neutral" setting never worked for me. Could be why it wasn't popular on tour?

 

Edit: IIRC, not any louder, but a slightly harsher, more brittle sound than the SuperTri.

 

YES, that's the feel! I could not think of the right word to describe it. I would get crazy performance from it but it probably needed some cotton balls or hot melt to mellow the feel some. I was testing it out against my Classic 290 and it didn't even come close to the 290 in terms of feel and consistency.

[Schnee]

@ bculaw Ok, I just went off the spec listed on their website,witch is 3.5

 

I was fit for a similar loft spec as Brian. I add loft through impact so to get optimal launch and roll I need very little loft on a putter

[sjugolf64]

Read through this thread a few times and I have to say you guys have a done a great job on your reviews and answering questions. I'm still blown away that you guys are being gracious and given away some of they swag they gave you! Class act right there!

[Schnee]

Order has been placed! Can't wait to get the new sticks, and can't wait to post pics and details when they arrive!

 

Don't leave us hanging... What did you come out ordering?

 

I'm going to let the suspense linger for a while . . . .

 

I'll say this, though. My fitting experiences the last couple of days have shown me just how excited I was about the Kingdom experience. It was truly the "dream golf trip" for me, and it has become very apparent how utterly amped up I was during the fitting there. To put it in perspective, yesterday I was consistently 92-93 with a six iron during my iron fitting. I went again today, and was consistently 89-90 (which shows how "golf fatigue" affects this old man's body after taking roughly 200 swings yesterday). At the Kingdom, I was 94-96 mph with a 6 iron!! That is PURE ADRENALINE pumping for me! I've never played competitive golf, and never experienced "tournament nerves," as it were. All I can say in hindsight is that I cannot imagine trying to control the ball under the stress of a major championship knowing now what a little bit of nervous excitement can do to swing speed! I now understand a bit better why I wasn't putting as good a swing on the ball at the Kingdom as I normally do - I was amped out of my freaking mind!!

 

As much as I wanted to go through the full bag fitting at the Kingdom, it might be better that I didn't since I'm not sure I could have given the fitters an accurate showing of what swing I normally present on the course. I had my "Kingdom fitted" driver in the bag at Aviara, and hit it very well during that round. I played again this weekend, and did not hit it nearly as well in my usual "home course/casual round" surroundings. If I am being honest, I am anxious to see if it actually fits the "normal" me, or if I got the benefit of an adrenaline rush during my driver fitting, too!

 

The other thing I will say is that I am really excited about my putter order. I went to the Kingdom NEEDING a Spider Tour black (the DJ model). It just looks like I should be able to make putts with it. And, I was supremely disappointed when it wasn't the model that worked best for me (I ended up in a TP Berwick). The last couple of days, I have been trying to talk myself into the Spider, though. It was the one club I really had pre-ordained for myself before the trip, and I was seriously considering getting one despite the results of the fitting. Well, today, I put those thoughts away. I spent a good hour tinkering with the Spider and the Berwick on the greens and the Berwick was the clear winner. The funny think is that the results were IDENTICAL to what was happening at the Kingdom. There, I was missing left with the Spider consistently. Today, I was trying to counteract the miss by aiming right, AND I WAS STILL MISSING LEFT!!!! I tried every length and option I could find in the Spider, tried every manner of stroke adjustment I could think of, and the miss was always consistent. I grabbed the Berwick after many frustrating misses with the Spider and immediately started holing putts. Contact was cleaner, roll was better, results were better.

 

So, for a sneak preview, I will divulge that I ordered a 35" TP Berwick (2* flat, 2* strong) with a Black Winn AVS Mid Size Pistol (the stock grip on Spider Tour Black). I have a couple of cosmetic/paintfill modifications I am excited to make, and I think this thing will be pretty awesome in the bag!!!

 

More to come. I promise!

 

Brian you make a great point about swinging at the Kingdom on camera vs your normal course swing.

 

For me, I was swinging slower and steeper than I normally do course because I was steering it so bad! I was 92-94 at the Kingdom with 6 iron when at my fitting at Club Champion I was 97 with 6 iron which is more in line with what I've seen in the past.

 

Driver it was even more apparent.

[pitchinwedge]

Yeah, the SD is an absolute beast and IME must be dialed in for a specific ball flight. A "neutral" setting never worked for me. Could be why it wasn't popular on tour?

 

Edit: IIRC, not any louder, but a slightly harsher, more brittle sound than the SuperTri.

 

YES, that's the feel! I could not think of the right word to describe it. I would get crazy performance from it but it probably needed some cotton balls or hot melt to mellow the feel some. I was testing it out against my Classic 290 and it didn't even come close to the 290 in terms of feel and consistency.

 

Yup, does wonders for the swingweight too!

[DNice26]

My order is placed!!! So pumped...

[dmeeksDC]

I got scared off last year's M1, thought it would be too unforgiving, even though I love the look. This thread about has me convinced that I can get a more forgiving 2017 M1 driver and there will be an adjustment that will work for me. Hit the Epic 9-degree on Thursday and it is powerful. I did not care for the impacf feel and thought sound was a dud. Really a dull sounding hit. Not going with that one. I like the Epic fairways, with have no jailbreak rods, better than the driver. (Have often liked Callaway fairways as easy to elevate off the deck.) Am testing the M1 driver tomorrow with the KK shaft and the Fujikura. Will start with 9 degree head and go from there. I battle high spin from -1 degree AofA. So I love reading all the various ways players set up this club.

[BCULAW]

I got scared off last year's M1, thought it would be too unforgiving, even though I love the look. This thread about has me convinced that I can get a more forgiving 2017 M1 driver and there will be an adjustment that will work for me. Hit the Epic 9-degree on Thursday and it is powerful. I did not care for the impacf feel and thought sound was a dud. Really a dull sounding hit. Not going with that one. I like the Epic fairways, with have no jailbreak rods, better than the driver. (Have often liked Callaway fairways as easy to elevate off the deck.) Am testing the M1 driver tomorrow with the KK shaft and the Fujikura. Will start with 9 degree head and go from there. I battle high spin from -1 degree AofA. So I love reading all the various ways players set up this club.

 

So t be afraid of the forgiveness of the M1. I've been very surprised with how much I've gotten away with at times. And, for a negative AoA player it is an awesome option with the weight forward.

 

My favorite part of the driver is the sound. It has such a nice, muted "thwack" that is just so great to hear.

[dmeeksDC]

Hey BCULaw,

 

I am surmising our games are comparible. I like a guy who describes his tee game in terms of what he can get away with! Your comments are fun. We need to meet sometime between Richmond and DC and play a round. I am sure there are a number of courses I have not been on. Made it as far south as Potomac Shores and Laurel Hill.

[Schnee]

I got scared off last year's M1, thought it would be too unforgiving, even though I love the look. This thread about has me convinced that I can get a more forgiving 2017 M1 driver and there will be an adjustment that will work for me. Hit the Epic 9-degree on Thursday and it is powerful. I did not care for the impacf feel and thought sound was a dud. Really a dull sounding hit. Not going with that one. I like the Epic fairways, with have no jailbreak rods, better than the driver. (Have often liked Callaway fairways as easy to elevate off the deck.) Am testing the M1 driver tomorrow with the KK shaft and the Fujikura. Will start with 9 degree head and go from there. I battle high spin from -1 degree AofA. So I love reading all the various ways players set up this club.

 

So t be afraid of the forgiveness of the M1. I've been very surprised with how much I've gotten away with at times. And, for a negative AoA player it is an awesome option with the weight forward.

 

My favorite part of the driver is the sound. It has such a nice, muted "thwack" that is just so great to hear.

 

I'd say my M1 is easily comparable forgiveness wise to my G30. My miss with driver is off the toe, which was why I played a G30 for so long. It spun a manageable rate on toe hits and stayed relatively on-line.

 

The M1 has plenty of forgiveness off the toe and doesn't have the insanely loud and harsh "ping" sound that the G30 did.

 

I like having the weight out toward the toe which counteracts my pull/hook miss.

[robrey85]

Yeah, the SD is an absolute beast and IME must be dialed in for a specific ball flight. A "neutral" setting never worked for me. Could be why it wasn't popular on tour?

 

Edit: IIRC, not any louder, but a slightly harsher, more brittle sound than the SuperTri.

 

YES, that's the feel! I could not think of the right word to describe it. I would get crazy performance from it but it probably needed some cotton balls or hot melt to mellow the feel some. I was testing it out against my Classic 290 and it didn't even come close to the 290 in terms of feel and consistency.

 

Yup, does wonders for the swingweight too!

 

I have cotton balls in my 16 M1 and put both weights in the back track and man, it feels and sounds so damn good. I'm really impresssed. I bet the 17 would be even better.

[GC70]

Yeah, the SD is an absolute beast and IME must be dialed in for a specific ball flight. A "neutral" setting never worked for me. Could be why it wasn't popular on tour?

 

Edit: IIRC, not any louder, but a slightly harsher, more brittle sound than the SuperTri.

 

YES, that's the feel! I could not think of the right word to describe it. I would get crazy performance from it but it probably needed some cotton balls or hot melt to mellow the feel some. I was testing it out against my Classic 290 and it didn't even come close to the 290 in terms of feel and consistency.

 

Yup, does wonders for the swingweight too!

 

I have cotton balls in my 16 M1 and put both weights in the back track and man, it feels and sounds so damn good. I'm really impresssed. I bet the 17 would be even better.

Better and way more forgiving!

[BCULAW]

Hey BCULaw,

 

I am surmising our games are comparible. I like a guy who describes his tee game in terms of what he can get away with! Your comments are fun. We need to meet sometime between Richmond and DC and play a round. I am sure there are a number of courses I have not been on. Made it as far south as Potomac Shores and Laurel Hill.

 

I'd love to do it! I don't stray far from our Richmond golf courses, but I would love to explore some.

[dmeeksDC]

Well, I hit the M1 today. Adjusted it a little and I loved it. Set it to slight draw, back weight 75 pct back, 9.5 degree head. To each his own, but to me the feel is superior to Epic. They both hit the ball far. The M1 sounds great, feels great and it suits my eye at setup. Two tone helps on alignment. Love the look of it. My only knocks are shaft length and whether the head is a tad too light. My contact definitely wanders at 45.5 inches. And I find weight an issue if the whole build is too light. Marked a spot on the grip at 44.75 and choked down on it. Immediately better. My dispersion was decent but could be tighter. Tried not to go after it hard, was swinging at 100 or so and I usually top out at 105. Spin was 2300-2700 (great for me), sometimes jumped above 3K on a OTT high cut move, but I can work on it more. Even got my AofA to almost flat for some swings. (- 0.2). I really just wanted to judge the M1 for playability potential and I found it an easy club to aim and hit well with a nice swing through the ball. Would love to get it outside. Definitely buying it, just down to shaft now. Did not do well with the Fukikura. Hit the Kuro Kage DC in stiff well and also the Yellow Hzrdus 6.0, even though they are different. Could tinker with the club settings to dial it in, but if I can get the shaft I want at D3/D4 swingweight, I'm in business. I've played and liked Mitsubishi and True Temper shafts forever, so no surprise those were my best performers. Bumped the loft up a notch for the Hzrdus. Tough choice.

[9ccat9]

Bonus question (you don't need to get this one) - what does BBLB stand for?

 

Body Builders Layout Book

Block-Based Load Balancing

Big Brother's Little Brother

Bale Berga La Bida

Big Bad Leroy Brown

 

Any of those close? :lol:

 

TM guys were calling it Big Bad Long and Black

It got "changed" to Bring Back the Long Ball

[GC70]

Well, I hit the M1 today. Adjusted it a little and I loved it. Set it to slight draw, back weight 75 pct back, 9.5 degree head. To each his own, but to me the feel is superior to Epic. They both hit the ball far. The M1 sounds great, feels great and it suits my eye at setup. Two tone helps on alignment. Love the look of it. My only knocks are shaft length and whether the head is a tad too light. My contact definitely wanders at 45.5 inches. And I find weight an issue if the whole build is too light. Marked a spot on the grip at 44.75 and choked down on it. Immediately better. My dispersion was decent but could be tighter. Tried not to go after it hard, was swinging at 100 or so and I usually top out at 105. Spin was 2300-2700 (great for me), sometimes jumped above 3K on a OTT high cut move, but I can work on it more. Even got my AofA to almost flat for some swings. (- 0.2). I really just wanted to judge the M1 for playability potential and I found it an easy club to aim and hit well with a nice swing through the ball. Would love to get it outside. Definitely buying it, just down to shaft now. Did not do well with the Fukikura. Hit the Kuro Kage DC in stiff well and also the Yellow Hzrdus 6.0, even though they are different. Could tinker with the club settings to dial it in, but if I can get the shaft I want at D3/D4 swingweight, I'm in business. I've played and liked Mitsubishi and True Temper shafts forever, so no surprise those were my best performers. Bumped the loft up a notch for the Hzrdus. Tough choice.

 

Did you try the HZRDUS Black? Works great with this head!

[dmeeksDC]

They did not have it. Some say the Black is a little stout? Whenever I hear that I think it is not for me. Maybe try that one in a 5.5? Am told it can be too low launching for some. I was worried it might be a poor match if I am at a negative A of A, but definitely up for trying it if that is not the case. See a lot of recommendations to go down a half-flex in the Black. Agree with that?

[Schnee]

Well, I hit the M1 today. Adjusted it a little and I loved it. Set it to slight draw, back weight 75 pct back, 9.5 degree head. To each his own, but to me the feel is superior to Epic. They both hit the ball far. The M1 sounds great, feels great and it suits my eye at setup. Two tone helps on alignment. Love the look of it. My only knocks are shaft length and whether the head is a tad too light. My contact definitely wanders at 45.5 inches. And I find weight an issue if the whole build is too light. Marked a spot on the grip at 44.75 and choked down on it. Immediately better. My dispersion was decent but could be tighter. Tried not to go after it hard, was swinging at 100 or so and I usually top out at 105. Spin was 2300-2700 (great for me), sometimes jumped above 3K on a OTT high cut move, but I can work on it more. Even got my AofA to almost flat for some swings. (- 0.2). I really just wanted to judge the M1 for playability potential and I found it an easy club to aim and hit well with a nice swing through the ball. Would love to get it outside. Definitely buying it, just down to shaft now. Did not do well with the Fukikura. Hit the Kuro Kage DC in stiff well and also the Yellow Hzrdus 6.0, even though they are different. Could tinker with the club settings to dial it in, but if I can get the shaft I want at D3/D4 swingweight, I'm in business. I've played and liked Mitsubishi and True Temper shafts forever, so no surprise those were my best performers. Bumped the loft up a notch for the Hzrdus. Tough choice.

 

Did you try the HZRDUS Black? Works great with this head!

They did not have it. Some say the Black is a little stout? Whenever I hear that I think it is not for me. Maybe try that one in a 5.5? Am told it can be too low launching for some. I was worried it might be a poor match if I am at a negative A of A, but definitely up for trying it if that is not the case. See a lot of recommendations to go down a half-flex in the Black. Agree with that?

 

I can attest to this! Great combo. I would say in my opinion it does play stiff to flex. To me it feels fairly tip stiff. It's a very low spin combo. I'm playing a 6.0 tipped an inch. On course SS is 112-115. It's stout but not absurd.

[GC70]

Well, I hit the M1 today. Adjusted it a little and I loved it. Set it to slight draw, back weight 75 pct back, 9.5 degree head. To each his own, but to me the feel is superior to Epic. They both hit the ball far. The M1 sounds great, feels great and it suits my eye at setup. Two tone helps on alignment. Love the look of it. My only knocks are shaft length and whether the head is a tad too light. My contact definitely wanders at 45.5 inches. And I find weight an issue if the whole build is too light. Marked a spot on the grip at 44.75 and choked down on it. Immediately better. My dispersion was decent but could be tighter. Tried not to go after it hard, was swinging at 100 or so and I usually top out at 105. Spin was 2300-2700 (great for me), sometimes jumped above 3K on a OTT high cut move, but I can work on it more. Even got my AofA to almost flat for some swings. (- 0.2). I really just wanted to judge the M1 for playability potential and I found it an easy club to aim and hit well with a nice swing through the ball. Would love to get it outside. Definitely buying it, just down to shaft now. Did not do well with the Fukikura. Hit the Kuro Kage DC in stiff well and also the Yellow Hzrdus 6.0, even though they are different. Could tinker with the club settings to dial it in, but if I can get the shaft I want at D3/D4 swingweight, I'm in business. I've played and liked Mitsubishi and True Temper shafts forever, so no surprise those were my best performers. Bumped the loft up a notch for the Hzrdus. Tough choice.

 

Did you try the HZRDUS Black? Works great with this head!

They did not have it. Some say the Black is a little stout? Whenever I hear that I think it is not for me. Maybe try that one in a 5.5? Am told it can be too low launching for some. I was worried it might be a poor match if I am at a negative A of A, but definitely up for trying it if that is not the case. See a lot of recommendations to go down a half-flex in the Black. Agree with that?

 

I can attest to this! Great combo. I would say in my opinion it does play stiff to flex. To me it feels fairly tip stiff. It's a very low spin combo. I'm playing a 6.0 tipped an inch. On course SS is 112-115. It's stout but not absurd.

 

See, this is why we all need to get fitted. I'm a 95-103 SS guy with a violent (fast tempo) swing and I didn't think it was to stiff or stout in 6.0. Nothing pretty like most guys on here. My fitter on Thursday actually had me in Xstiff most of the fitting.

[dmeeksDC]

OK. Never hurts to try any shaft. So if I am swinging at about 102-104, would the Black 5.5 be the best choice for me to test first, because of its stiffness? People who play the Black find it is long for sure. I do like to move the ball right to left. Some players like to take away the left side. I like to aim down the right edge of the fairway and hit a mild draw to get what I can from my SS. There also are always things one hears about shafts, which may or may not be true. Black is reputedly a stout staff. So my fear of the Black is the low launch line drive. But the Yellow is also supposed to be low launch and the 6.0 I tested did not come off too low. The M1 weights also make it easy to adjust for that, within reason. Thanks guys.

[Tigermatt31]

It is my biggest dream ever to end up at the kingdom one day

[Zach Heusser]

Bonus question (you don't need to get this one) - what does BBLB stand for?

 

Body Builders Layout Book

Block-Based Load Balancing

Big Brother's Little Brother

Bale Berga La Bida

Big Bad Leroy Brown

 

Any of those close? :lol:

 

TM guys were calling it Big Bad Long and Black

It got "changed" to Bring Back the Long Ball

Back in the day I was told it was Big Bad Leroy Brown

[BCULAW]

It is my biggest dream ever to end up at the kingdom one day

 

No doubt! I've been telling my wife the same thing for years. I got a big promotion at work about 6 years ago and was going to treat myself to a trip to Reynolds Plantation. Had a kid instead. Ha Ha!! The Kingdom was WAY high on the bucket list!

 

BTW - I am giddy waiting for the new sticks. Literally looking for boxes on the front porch every time I pull into the driveway.

[GC70]

It is my biggest dream ever to end up at the kingdom one day

 

No doubt! I've been telling my wife the same thing for years. I got a big promotion at work about 6 years ago and was going to treat myself to a trip to Reynolds Plantation. Had a kid instead. Ha Ha!! The Kingdom was WAY high on the bucket list!

 

BTW - I am giddy waiting for the new sticks. Literally looking for boxes on the front porch every time I pull into the driveway.

 

What! You didn't get your goodies yet?