MattM97's WITB: 2024 Ball Testing, Bag Prep and Training.

[MattM97]

Here are some Arizona golf pics. I didn't get beat up like I thought, greens and rough I lost some strokes getting used to the grass and greens but whatever I had fun and know what to expect now. 

 

TPC Scottsdale Champions Course 

 

 

This was pretty fun, just the group I played with didn't vibe but would possibly go back. 

 

We-Ko-Pa Saguaro: 

 

 

I absolutely loved this course, I'm 100% playing this again and going to try and do thr 36 hole package where you play both courses. Better price on that too.

 

Funny enough played this round with a family from Canada, go figure. 

 

Troon North Pinnacle 

 

 

This course was not cheap but I enjoyed it a lot. Also got lucky with the guys I got paired with they were awesome. Greens were super tough and fast, one guy was probably scratch or better and he was struggling but will know next time. 

 

[MattM97]

3 minutes ago, Phabs said:

Big change in loft that's surprising.   Must of developed some forward press since you're last fitting - 

 

So what you're saying is the ping fitting cost you about 2k due to having to replace putters with milled loft... haha 

 

I always had shaft lean but my ball placement has changed a lot. Since I'm lead eye dominant I would put the ball ahead in my stance and basically where it was would hit it on the up stroke so needed lower loft at the time. Over time I've brought the ball back to center to help with starting line and aim and well loft needed to change, but the roll at 4° was super consistent and will make a world of difference. 

 

Maybe more depending what I sell my current ones for lol. But bonus I get to design some putters again and add or remove options I might want or have regretted a bit. 

[MattM97]

I'm not even a few weeks into the off season and I'm planning bag changes already, not many but changes are planned and here are some:

 

- The PLD is as good as ordered just waiting on pay day to pull the trigger. 

 

I've posted a few things for sale, not much is moving so I think we'll need to go the dreaded trade in route just to get it over with. But the plan for that is to just use the trade in value and possibly bonus for credit and use that towards a new driver setup since I planned for one this winter anyways.

 

I know wait for all the new stuff cause new is shinny and cool but the current stock of drivers seem like absolute juggernauts and prices are dropping so lets get something new in the bag where I can have a ton of confidence and just hit balls all winter. As for what I'm looking at for me whatever the fitters hand me, but the usual suspects are: Callaway, Cobra, Ping & Titleist. For me TaylorMade doesn't always work that well the Stealth 2 3W did finish runner up so maybe the Stealth 2 driver surprises me? Maybe more than the OG Stealth which might have been "last" in my testing. 

 

- The last item is the bag itself, I believe I talked about it before is the bag itself. The ol' Ping Pioneer is still going strong but I want something with legs for practice but still made to go on push/riding carts. The Vessel Player IV Pro DXR came out recently I think that's the front runner for me, I have seen the Sun Mountain Mid-Stripe it may be a touch small but it's a stunner of a bag but not cheap, the other is just go with a Sun Mountain C-130S just get their best cart bag but with legs. 

 

That's all I have planned for my bag, the irons I plan to check the loft and lie specs before I beat on mats all winter and maybe dial in gapping better. I will say those new Ping S159 wedges look awesome but the SM9s are good for now that can be an end of year focus depending how much golf I play in 2024. 

 

 

[MattM97]

I think off season one thing just for fun will be maybe 5-10 all out swings with the driver to see what we can do. 

 

Funny enough ball flies better when I swing hard. Ignore spin it's an estimate apparently. AoA does suck though.

 

 

I think the first goal will be 125 club and 185 ball. Once flexibility, mobility and strength get going should see a nice spike in numbers. 

[MattM97]

Winter time fun, I will say my 2024 bag might be setup before 2024 even hits, which is rare because my bag is usually set half way through the year.

 

I just setup my loft and lie check next week and we'll also look at my driver setup. I know a lot of new stuff is coming from what we've seen from Cobra, Callaway and TaylorMade but everything is cheap now and still great. If it can save me a few bucks I'll do it and now is the time cause shops will want to move the old gear. 

 

As for which driver who knows, I touched on this above but I'll go in open to anything and everything, heart isn't set on anything. I'm just very curious to hit the Paradym, TSR and G430 but if the LTDxLS still wins with a new shaft even better.

 

Still waiting on the PLD, no rush for that but possibly planning a short January trip so if I do want the PLD for that. Will update after the fitting. 

[glm]

On 11/13/2023 at 11:55 AM, MattM97 said:

Here are some Arizona golf pics. I didn't get beat up like I thought, greens and rough I lost some strokes getting used to the grass and greens but whatever I had fun and know what to expect now. 

 

TPC Scottsdale Champions Course 

 

 

This was pretty fun, just the group I played with didn't vibe but would possibly go back. 

 

We-Ko-Pa Saguaro: 

 

 

I absolutely loved this course, I'm 100% playing this again and going to try and do thr 36 hole package where you play both courses. Better price on that too.

 

Funny enough played this round with a family from Canada, go figure. 

 

Troon North Pinnacle 

 

 

This course was not cheap but I enjoyed it a lot. Also got lucky with the guys I got paired with they were awesome. Greens were super tough and fast, one guy was probably scratch or better and he was struggling but will know next time. 

 

STOP!

Your making me home sick!!! 

Great pictures!!!!

[MattM97]

8 hours ago, glm said:

STOP!

Your making me home sick!!! 

Great pictures!!!!

 

I hate being one of those "OMG take me back" people but I definitely want to go back, maybe when it's a bit cheaper. 

 

Thanks I was just snapping when I had a second out there. 

[glm]

41 minutes ago, MattM97 said:

 

I hate being one of those "OMG take me back" people but I definitely want to go back, maybe when it's a bit cheaper. 

 

Thanks I was just snapping when I had a second out there. 

Go back in July it will be a lot cheaper I promise  LOL!!!

[MattM97]

57 minutes ago, glm said:

Go back in July it will be a lot cheaper I promise  LOL!!!

 

Just rattlers and 120F weather to deal with then. But I'd book a ton of twilight rounds and I'm sure everyone else does too. 

[MattM97]

An interesting revelation in my driver fitting before even getting to my driver fitting. Watching one of the latest CC videos with Ian and Mike on 3 woods they mention that Cobra won't be in the testing because they sent the Aerojet heads back to Cobra for the new ones. Which means no Aerojet to test or to go into the bag most likely unless we see something in the LTDxLS that would be better in the Aerojet, this is something I did with my hybrid, the fitter told me if I wanted more umph and I find a G425 or G430 cheap grab one which I did, but hybrids and drivers are not the same. 

 

So that leaves me with the following model options: 

- Callaway Paradym 

- Titleist TSR

- Ping G430

- TaylorMade Stealth 2

 

Outliers but unlikely: 

- Srixon MKII 

- Mizuno ST

- PXG 

 

Obviously still lots of options but the sleeper was taken out leaving the Big 4 as the front runners and the outliers to possibly work harder. Will see what we end up with and if I can put on a decent swing during testing. 

[MtlJeff]

Callaway is releasing the AI Smoke in a month or so , are you gonna give that one a run too?

 

I really like the TSR's so far. Nice stable and smooth head. Not longer than my ZX5 but i seem to hit it a tad straighter

[MattM97]

13 minutes ago, MtlJeff said:

Callaway is releasing the AI Smoke in a month or so , are you gonna give that one a run too?

 

I really like the TSR's so far. Nice stable and smooth head. Not longer than my ZX5 but i seem to hit it a tad straighter

 

If I have an absolute disaster of a fitting then I guess yeah when I do it again lol. Right now the plan is to test the 2023 models since they are awesome drivers and a little cheaper before the new ones come in and you know drivers in Canada are not cheap whatsoever. 

 

I never hit the Paradym drivers but have the 3W and really like it so want to see how it would do for me. The TSR line I'm really curious about considering how fast and stable they are, could find a monster for me in the 2 or 3. The current Srixon I heard was very solid but their stock looks lacking now for LH heads but if they have one and it works I'd play one. 

 

For me I'm sure many heads would work for me, I need a shaft I like the feel of cause I'm lost on that, I lose the head and just wildly swing. If I can find a shaft where I can feel the head in my swing I can get into the spots I want and put a good swing on the ball, or so I think lol. 

 

[MtlJeff]

42 minutes ago, MattM97 said:

 

If I have an absolute disaster of a fitting then I guess yeah when I do it again lol. Right now the plan is to test the 2023 models since they are awesome drivers and a little cheaper before the new ones come in and you know drivers in Canada are not cheap whatsoever. 

 

I never hit the Paradym drivers but have the 3W and really like it so want to see how it would do for me. The TSR line I'm really curious about considering how fast and stable they are, could find a monster for me in the 2 or 3. The current Srixon I heard was very solid but their stock looks lacking now for LH heads but if they have one and it works I'd play one. 

 

For me I'm sure many heads would work for me, I need a shaft I like the feel of cause I'm lost on that, I lose the head and just wildly swing. If I can find a shaft where I can feel the head in my swing I can get into the spots I want and put a good swing on the ball, or so I think lol. 

 

 

When i did my great big driver extravaganza this year, the Srixon ZX5 was the best driver for me....But a big reason for that is that i am a hilariously low spin player, and the ZX5 spun a bit more than most of the heads i tried, with a mid launch shaft (PX red or Kaili is what i used all week). I was at 2500 with ZX5 and 2200-2300 with most of the others. 

 

If you aren't trying to reduce spin the Srixon was great. 

 

I couldn't even hit get the G430 LST airborne LOL....

[MattM97]

17 minutes ago, MtlJeff said:

 

When i did my great big driver extravaganza this year, the Srixon ZX5 was the best driver for me....But a big reason for that is that i am a hilariously low spin player, and the ZX5 spun a bit more than most of the heads i tried, with a mid launch shaft (PX red or Kaili is what i used all week). I was at 2500 with ZX5 and 2200-2300 with most of the others. 

 

If you aren't trying to reduce spin the Srixon was great. 

 

I couldn't even hit get the G430 LST airborne LOL....

 

I'm weird when I deliver a proper swing my spin can be pretty low, I remember that was an issue when I was testing the Rogue ST Max LS, I loved that driver on both looks and sound but the spin was just too low. But on the other hand when my swing is off my spin gets crazy high and there's no driver that can help that cause if I swing well I won't be able to get it up in the air. 

 

But I think with all the options out there finding the right shaft and a head I like the look of I'll be happy with, even the Stealth 2 line which I'm so-so on I'll play if I can find a shaft I can just repeat a swing with. 

[Phabs]

2 hours ago, MtlJeff said:

 

When i did my great big driver extravaganza this year, the Srixon ZX5 was the best driver for me....But a big reason for that is that i am a hilariously low spin player, and the ZX5 spun a bit more than most of the heads i tried, with a mid launch shaft (PX red or Kaili is what i used all week). I was at 2500 with ZX5 and 2200-2300 with most of the others. 

 

If you aren't trying to reduce spin the Srixon was great. 

 

I couldn't even hit get the G430 LST airborne LOL....

I feel like people loose themselves in chasing ideal launch monitor numbers and completely negate the fact that spin is control.  Spin fights wind , spin creates consistent shot shape , spin creates everything.  You get to your ideal spin numbers according to a launch monitor and 9/10 times you come back from the course wondering why the hell you just ruined your tee game.   I went through it with the Aerojet LS head for the better part of last year.... complete waste of time.   My standard Aerojet head spins 700 more than the LS and I've hit more nukes with the standard head in two months of use than I did with the LS in damn near an entire season. 

Edited December 18, 2023 by Phabs

[MattM97]

46 minutes ago, Phabs said:

I feel like people loose themselves in chasing ideal launch monitor numbers and completely negate the fact that spin is control.  Spin fights wind , spin creates consistent shot shape , spin creates everything.  You get to your ideal spin numbers according to a launch monitor and 9/10 times you come back from the course wondering why the hell you just ruined your tee game.   I went through it with the Aerojet LS head for the better part of last year.... complete waste of time.   My standard Aerojet head spins 700 more than the LS and I've hit more nukes with the standard head in two months of use than I did with the LS in damn near an entire season. 

 

For me I'm not worried about my launch angle, height, decent angle, etc. I don't even turn those on when I'm on the SIM. I just want to send the ball as far as I can down the fairway and the ball not balloon or fall out of the sky. But I get the chasing ideal numbers but that's impossible for most of us cause 95% can't put a repeatable swing on the ball anyways. 

[MtlJeff]

1 hour ago, Phabs said:

I feel like people loose themselves in chasing ideal launch monitor numbers and completely negate the fact that spin is control.  Spin fights wind , spin creates consistent shot shape , spin creates everything.  You get to your ideal spin numbers according to a launch monitor and 9/10 times you come back from the course wondering why the hell you just ruined your tee game.   I went through it with the Aerojet LS head for the better part of last year.... complete waste of time.   My standard Aerojet head spins 700 more than the LS and I've hit more nukes with the standard head in two months of use than I did with the LS in damn near an entire season. 

 

Yes this is also a very good comment, and i always try to remember that when i test clubs

[MattM97]

Summary of my driver fitting: 

 

I swing it too much like an iron and over the top. I need to find a driver swing and an iron swing. 

 

Hope that wasn't too much to read. Irons surpringly not too bad, there are some gaps between the 0311P, 0317CB and my wedges but I'll do a post on that. 

[MattM97]

PLD putter is almost complete, got some quick and dirty update pics. Will be getting the weights added very soon, then the finish and then built up and shipped to me. Will see if this putter puts a hault to the putter hoeing in me or at least slows it down. 

 

[BallerNate]

21 hours ago, MattM97 said:

PLD putter is almost complete, got some quick and dirty update pics. Will be getting the weights added very soon, then the finish and then built up and shipped to me. Will see if this putter puts a hault to the putter hoeing in me or at least slows it down. 

 

Looks like a beauty man!! Can’t wait to see the finished product!! 😍😎

[MattM97]

1 hour ago, BallerNate said:

Looks like a beauty man!! Can’t wait to see the finished product!! 😍😎

 

Should be a litter nicer when finished but I'm excited for it, not just another putter in the collection this one might be the one. Until the next "one" comes along lol. 

[eddiebigeddie]

On 12/19/2023 at 5:05 PM, MattM97 said:

Summary of my driver fitting: 

 

I swing it too much like an iron and over the top. I need to find a driver swing and an iron swing. 

 

Hope that wasn't too much to read. Irons surpringly not too bad, there are some gaps between the 0311P, 0317CB and my wedges but I'll do a post on that. 

Did you end up picking a driver?  I went with the Mizuno STG-440 based on looks alone after seeing it at a Golf Galaxy. Then when it actually arrived it just checked all the boxes as far as Sound/Feel/Looks. I haven’t and won’t get on the course until sometime in 2024 but my practice sessions in my backyard net having me more confident in a driver then I’ve ever been. I’m hoping it’s “the one” too. 

[MattM97]

2 minutes ago, eddiebigeddie said:

Did you end up picking a driver?  I went with the Mizuno STG-440 based on looks alone after seeing it at a Golf Galaxy. Then when it actually arrived it just checked all the boxes as far as Sound/Feel/Looks. I haven’t and won’t get on the course until sometime in 2024 but my practice sessions in my backyard net having me more confident in a driver then I’ve ever been. I’m hoping it’s “the one” too. 

 

Nope, we were like 1/2-3/4 of the way through the fitting and I just said "I'm not walking out of here with anything new today" fitter just went "yup" cause I lost my driver swing. I said and he agreed dump the money into lessons, turn it down on the speed, hit positions and move better. No point swinging fast when the dynamics are just so bad to begin with, swing right then add speed. 

 

But here is what I tested: 

 

- TSR4 w/ LAGP DJ 65-5(X)

This one the grouping was quite tight and the LAGP shaft felt great but man that TSR4 head is tiny. I could see the DJ shaft being in the finalist option again, will have to see about the TSR4 head but could possibly see the TSR3 as one but need to hit better to know. 

 

- Stealth 2 w/ Ventus TR Red 6X 

This setup was ok, I just don't like the TM driver shapes much lately when I test again it will be the Qi10 line so just have to see. The Ventus TR Red felt solid, not amazing but solid. Kinda how Ventus shafts are for me. 

 

- G430 LST w/ Accra TZ5 70 M5(X) 

First the G430 line the heads sound so much better than previous years. The Accra shaft was quite nice too, not unfamiliar to them just depends on how they test. This could be a potential setup at least the head and/or shaft in another combo.

 

That's really it we hit mine a bunch with the 2 shafts I had, the Mitsubishi C6 Onyx which the fitter said was now too soft for me vs when I was fit for it and the Mitsubishi Tensei CK Pro Orange being counter balanced while shorter made the setup light being a CB shaft. The C6 Onyx shaft in gave me a swing weight of D5 with the setup I had and the Tensei was D3.5 he said while the Tensei is better on stiffness the weight will throw me off so suggested stick with the C6 Onyx, slow down and get lessons. Which I agreed with plus he wouldn't sell me a driver to sell me a driver (see Club Champion isn't that evil) and just put that into lessons. 

 

So after the holidays, gonna message my coach, get back on the lessons, touch on a few things with irons and then more focus on driver this winter cause we can't have that much of a weakness in my game when it can be the biggest advantage in my game. As much as I thought it was a good idea to get a driver now, it could have been if I found something but the timing itself was hard since there was no Cobra and Callaway to test as the heads were sent back to the OEMs for the new ones. 

 

In a few months we'll go back when the driver is clicking like the irons, get a sweet setup and see if it can help my game. 

[MattM97]

Ok I joked that after my awful fitting session that my next session will be awesome and guess what.....it was awesome but from a learning stand point. As mentioned trying to get that driver feel going and a better path is going to be huge for me and will change my game.

 

Went to the simulator yesterday cause nothing else to do, body wasn't feeling irons so figured drills with driver to loosen up. Just focused on drills I got from a past lessons, many just honestly bunting balls out 100 yards but to get a feel for the club path, after a while started seeing a negative path which meant in to out, so started doing a drill or two then a swing, started seeing better contact, better flight, better spin, better distance. The feel was honestly a bit weird and odd but it was working but in my old spot my coach would say "when it's uncomfortable it's comfortable" which basically meant when it's uncomfortable but working it was right our body was just used to doing it wrong and it being comfortable, you have to push that feeling until it becomes natural, sounds weird but he was an Olympian.

 

But seeing small fade and draws was nice, even got the club path down to 1.4 just coasting at 113-118 MPH CHS, no need to kill it just hit those easy and comfortable shots all day long and distance will come in time. So will hopefully keep this feeling and just groove it even if I need to do a few drills before I swing or even on the tee box. Then when I'm comfortable go back and do a driver fit.

[MattM97]

8 minutes ago, KiawahOceanCourse said:

Sweet tri sole 

 

On an Anser head too which is even better. Not always a fan of camber soles. 

[MattM97]

Was planning to get a temp shaft in my driver just to get some better feel going on vs my current shaft until I get things more sound and into a better setup. 

 

Shaft arrived last night and....waiting on the replacement to arrive: 

 

 

Aside from that I've been wanting a new bag. My Piny Pioneer has served me extremely well but I want some legs for practice. 

 

Been between the Ghost bags and the Vessel Player 4 Pro. Saw a Ghost bag on eBay last night, threw in an offer, got a counter offer and accepted so yeah new bag on the way. 

 

I still want to pickup a Vessel later this year do a bit of head to head with them. But once the Ghost arrives I'll set it up and use it during the winter, maybe toss it on my cart and see how it sets up. 

[MattM97]

This is a good day for my bag.

 

First the long anticipated PLD Update, mine is actually done and going to be headed my way, pics from Ping: 

 

 

Next going to go pick up my new bag and hopefully an intact driver shaft that's not like the one above. 

[MattM97]

Picked up my new bag and shaft, both arrived safely which I'm happy about. 

 

Moved everything over from my cart bag to the new Ghost bag, just have to get used to the setup and space now but it's a nice bag. I'll grab some pics when I'm in the simulator next. 

 

Shaft is with my club builder it's gonna get tipped I forgot 1/4-1/2" and cut to spec. Hopefully swing weight isn't too light on this. Realized that with my current shaft at D5 after adding 8g of lead tape. 

 

Other bag plans maybe grab a nice headcover for my putter. Something kinda not too flashy. Thinking something like a quilted leather in like brown/natural and black or blue. 

[MattM97]

Tinker time I guess, if you don't know I have massive hands and even using MCC+4 Mid with build up feel small some days. 

 

Took a look into some JumboMax grips, did their quizz and got a medium size, slapped it on an extra iron and took like 12 swings, I like the idea just got some pain in my lead wrist so may try a size down and see. 

 

But here's a difference in the 2 grips. 

 

 

Also here's the Ghost bag setup: 

 

 

I'm liking this bag so that's definitely a good thing. 

 

[MattM97]

Was at the golf show in town today, interesting atmosphere and in a rare case the OEM's were not very busy at all so decided to go hit a few balls with drivers I was after. This was all just into a net, with those crappy range tees on a super thick mat in running shoes. So I wasn't going hard at all just wanted look, feel and sound a bit. Here's what I hit and some thoughts:

 

PXG Black Ops Tour - This was the first I hit, wasn't warm (lol) so not great swings. Look at address was solid, their booth was kinda dark and sound was quite audible but not in a bad way, a nice crack. Will try again but not sure how my initial feelings was but will check that up to no warm up.

 

Cobra Darkspeed LS - Very familiar look shape wise since I play a Cobra now but like the more matte look of this, sound to me felt improved and with reviews could be a great option.

 

Mizuno ST-G - One many people say to try, booth only had 1 lefty with a stiff shaft so just took some 75% swings with it, sound and feel were actually awesome. The rep said the shaft 100% wasn't for me but impact sounded solid to him. I think this could be the sleeper pick not just for me but a lot of guys looking at an LS option.

 

TaylorMade Qi10 LS - Historically I've hated TM drivers at address and this one...I don't mind actually. The sound and feel were my least favorite I think but if this was the best performer I could live with it.

 

Callaway didn't have a booth.

 

Srixon they don't have a lefty LS option.

 

Ping I actually hit the Blueprint S irons cause I've hit the 430 LST and the new 10K I'd need to see numbers. Honestly the Blueprint S irons felt awesome, I was talking to them about my fitting with my i230 issues and they said they could probably iron that kink out. So I may honestly revisit my irons at the end of 2024 depending on how my PXG's perform and just go fit at Ping and maybe combo the i230 and Blueprint S irons.

 

Titleist - I just hit the T150 irons cause I hit the TSR4 not long ago, nice irons I can see why they're popular.