Unpopular Equipment Opinions

[SylvesterLundgren]

On 6/22/2021 at 10:10 PM, uglande said:

No golfer has ever been blinded by glare from their chrome wedges.

Blinded blinded as in can’t see anymore?? 
lol cause I have when I used my 588 forged chrome wedge and them grooves along with the toe portion would make me have to not stand too long looking over the ball. Even had that on these rtx4s before they really caught on with the patina/rust lol 

[iNeedMoreGolf]

On 6/21/2021 at 7:42 AM, tsecor said:

The only "fitting" that makes sense for a hacker is possibly the ball.....testing has shown a high handicapper can drop as many as 4 strokes per round with a premium ball

When you say premium ball do you mean a titleist prov1 or it can be a titliest trusoft? A callaway supersoft or a callaway chromesoft? Thanks.

[SylvesterLundgren]

On 6/12/2021 at 8:53 AM, Lasorcier said:

You get better at golf by playing golf.  Playing once a week and hitting the range for 5 days  is far less effective than playing 5 days and going to the range once.  Go play. 

there will be a period where you’ll need to warm up and allow yourself mechanical training to keep things solid. At least if you’re playing competitive golf. I tried to get off with my coach saying that (I play golf not the range) but I can say I did lock things  in quicker for the course. 

[HappyGilmoresBoots]

2 hours ago, SylvesterLundgren said:

I keep seeing it said around here 

“modern clubs” 

sorry this phrasing when in use with referring to last year’s or previous gens to me seem so confusing. Like when does the term modern start? 
2000? 2005? 2015 ? lol like am I just missing the usage completely with context or are people just trying to sound informed 🤷🏻‍♂️🥴😂

As an abstract, I've always thought of "modern clubs" as being after the proliferation of the Ping Eye 2 (for irons) and the Callaway Big Bertha (for woods and irons):

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Big_Bertha_(golf_club)

https://web.archive.org/web/20120425063519/http://www.linksmagazine.com/best_of_golf/ping-eye2-vs.-callaway-big-bertha-golf-club-iron-driver

[karstens_ghost]

Here's another.

 

Miuras are good clubs. Miuras have very tight tolerances.

 

However, the whole "japanese forging" marketing is a fantastic marketing grab that a lot of guys fall for.

 

I was one of them. I had one set. Yes, they are easier to put together because the heads are always dead-on, but they aren't superior equipment in terms of performance and the premium pricetag on the samurai BS is just that.

[Tupperwolf]

In 5 years everyone with a full bag of PXG will be saying "What was I THINKING!?"

[drumdude96]

1 hour ago, Tupperwolf said:

In 5 years everyone with a full bag of PXG will be saying "What was I THINKING!?"

One of the guys at my club just bought a full bag of PXG from driver to putter for a SUPER low price. They have amazing deals right now. He's still trying to get used to them, but they do look very good. As far as how they perform, we'll see. I'm thinking about getting a driver and a hybrid while the sale is still going. If they can still make a profit while pricing their products so competitively, I think you're going to see a LOT more bags with PXG in them. The only guys who will be saying "What was I thinking?" are the guys who spent a boatload of cash for the same setup.

[naws-golfer]

12 hours ago, SylvesterLundgren said:

Lol “every forging feels the same” ?? Is that you ?? 
mans idk my brothers sm4 wedge feels good out the center.  (I am the twin who had forged wedges as my set so some would say those are pointless in wedges 🤷🏻‍♂️) 

was it the bag snobs that rubbed you the wrong way??? Lmao you know em personally or just over hear people ranting out loud???

I’m really not sure what any of this means.

 

You are welcome to post your opinions, but please do so with some punctuation and clarity.

[Lasorcier]

4 hours ago, Tupperwolf said:

In 5 years everyone with a full bag of PXG will be saying "What was I THINKING!?"

 

I would think that anyone having a full bag of anything would be saying, "what was I thinking?"  Ignoring the toolbag appearance of a full bagger type (potential unpopular opinion 1), I don't see how one company can make something that is right for every club in the bag for any particular player, unless said player is getting paid to do it (potential unpopular opinion 2).  Odds seem pretty remote.  I am far too much of a ho to be able to do a full bag of any brand.  I have 5 brands at the moment in the bag; and, on top of that, the bag and glove is none of those brands.  I have Titleist, TM, PXG, Ping and Cleveland as the five.

 

As for the PXG specific part of that comment, there are other threads for that and you can have some virtue-signalling fun in those.  Their irons are definitely legit and five years from now I bet I will be playing them, in spite of my ho-ism.  The distances are very predictable with great gapping and nice feel (0311T G3).  I tend to ho drivers/putters and irons go for years without being changed, as these will.

[flip flappy]

13 hours ago, SylvesterLundgren said:

Blinded blinded as in can’t see anymore?? 
lol cause I have when I used my 588 forged chrome wedge and them grooves along with the toe portion would make me have to not stand too long looking over the ball. Even had that on these rtx4s before they really caught on with the patina/rust lol 

I play Cleveland wedges and had 52 and 56 in black satin and a 60 in chrome. I ended up buying a 60 in black satin because of the glare of the sun off the chrome 60. 

[drumdude96]

6 hours ago, drumdude96 said:

One of the guys at my club just bought a full bag of PXG from driver to putter for a SUPER low price. They have amazing deals right now. He's still trying to get used to them, but they do look very good. As far as how they perform, we'll see. I'm thinking about getting a driver and a hybrid while the sale is still going. If they can still make a profit while pricing their products so competitively, I think you're going to see a LOT more bags with PXG in them. The only guys who will be saying "What was I thinking?" are the guys who spent a boatload of cash for the same setup.

Well, I was thinking about pulling the trigger on an 0811 Proto driver, until I saw they wanted 30 freaking dollars to ship the damn thing.  To hell with that.  I just sold a ton of clubs, and you can ship an entire set of irons for less than $20 through FedEx.  So now I guess the PXG business model is sell the clubs cheap and overcharge on the shipping.  "PXG, nobody ships clubs like we do. Nobody."

[BallerNate]

Just because I wear Puma golf shoes or gear doesn’t mean I like Bryson. 😜

[MUNIGRIT]

You aren't going to putt anybetter with the latest Scotty Cameron $500+ dollars than a 10 year old ping or odessey of similar design. You can either putt or you can't. 

Edited June 27, 2021 by MUNIGRIT

[karstens_ghost]

12 hours ago, Tupperwolf said:

In 5 years everyone with a full bag of PXG will be saying "What was I THINKING!?"

 

As long as Parsons is a part of that company, I have less than zero interest in anything they do. 

[SylvesterLundgren]

22 hours ago, naws-golfer said:

I’m really not sure what any of this means.

 

You are welcome to post your opinions, but please do so with some punctuation and clarity.

Are you the guy, who says all forgings feel the same?? 
my brothers sm4 60 feels good out of the center. So idk how “all vokeys” feel bad (not speaking for sm5/6/7. I’ll also add that I’m the one who has played forged wedges more often than he did and it feels good so does that clear up the post?

then I’ll also add was it the snobby people you’ve been around when you made your statement or the strangers you hear ranting out loud about your talking points??

Are we clear or do you need to get it walked down some more??? Lol 

[SylvesterLundgren]

22 hours ago, flip flappy said:

I play Cleveland wedges and had 52 and 56 in black satin and a 60 in chrome. I ended up buying a 60 in black satin because of the glare of the sun off the chrome 60. 

I had BP 54 and chrome 60 lol i feel you 

[Soloman1]

It's an amazing thing that companies figured out that people will pay them money to wear a hat or shirt that advertises their brand. And golf bags!

 

 

Edited June 28, 2021 by Soloman1

[MattM97]

1 hour ago, Soloman1 said:

It's an amazing thing that companies figured out that people will pay them money to wear a hat or shirt that advertises their brand. And golf bags!

 

 

 

I mean that's literally every clothing company ever. 

[Bad9]

2 hours ago, Soloman1 said:

It's an amazing thing that companies figured out that people will pay them money to wear a hat or shirt that advertises their brand. And golf bags!

 

 

 

Are you referring to all golf companies? Is having Sun Mountain, Vessel or Mackenzie name and logos on their products any different than Ping or Titleist?

[lefthack]

2 hours ago, Soloman1 said:

It's an amazing thing that companies figured out that people will pay them money to wear a hat or shirt that advertises their brand. And golf bags!

 

 

 

Have you not seen Brodozers with Monster Energy stickers on them? They paid for those stickers they ruined the paint job with. Genius marketing.

[tsecor]

On 6/26/2021 at 8:24 PM, iNeedMoreGolf said:

When you say premium ball do you mean a titleist prov1 or it can be a titliest trusoft? A callaway supersoft or a callaway chromesoft? Thanks.

basically a urethane 3pc ball or better. 

 

Chromesoft / trusofft/prov1 / tp5....all of em

[naws-golfer]

3 hours ago, SylvesterLundgren said:

Are you the guy, who says all forgings feel the same?? 
my brothers sm4 60 feels good out of the center. So idk how “all vokeys” feel bad (not speaking for sm5/6/7. I’ll also add that I’m the one who has played forged wedges more often than he did and it feels good so does that clear up the post?

then I’ll also add was it the snobby people you’ve been around when you made your statement or the strangers you hear ranting out loud about your talking points??

Are we clear or do you need to get it walked down some more??? Lol 

That’s much clearer. 
 

from my professional work in the metal industry, and my experience with Vokeys, ranging from the original

spin milled oil can, to the SM4/6/ and so on…8620 steel is one of the more inexpensive metals, and the casting process will by design produce a harder  sounding, thereby feeling, wedge. They are wedges, they need to stand up to more than irons. The grooves staying sharp is paramount in their durability. If I made clubs with 15 different grinds, tons of lofts, and were the most popular wedges out there, I would do exactly what Titleist is doing.

 

it is my opinion that of all the other wedges(mizuno, TM, call away, ping, NCW currently) they have the least desirable impact feel To me. The grinds on the mizuno, TM and My custom NCW wedges are a better fit for me and lead to cleaner turf interaction and a better feel, with no effect on durability.

 

I don’t know if all forgings feel the same, mizuno clubs have a feel, which I don’t care for. Ap2s we’re forged and I didn’t like them. My 620CBs feel great but that’s an entirely different head construction. I’ve never hit JDM clubs. 
 

clearly it rubbed you the wrong way, so it seems spot on that it’s an unpopular opinion.

[NoTalentLefty]

My 27 degree 7 iron will be in the bag for the foreseeable  future. 

Edited June 28, 2021 by NoTalentLefty

[SylvesterLundgren]

13 minutes ago, naws-golfer said:

That’s much clearer. 
 

from my professional work in the metal industry, and my experience with Vokeys, ranging from the original

spin milled oil can, to the SM4/6/ and so on…8620 steel is one of the more inexpensive metals, and the casting process will by design produce a harder  sounding, thereby feeling, wedge. They are wedges, they need to stand up to more than irons. The grooves staying sharp is paramount in their durability. If I made clubs with 15 different grinds, tons of lofts, and were the most popular wedges out there, I would do exactly what Titleist is doing.

 

it is my opinion that of all the other wedges(mizuno, TM, call away, ping, NCW currently) they have the least desirable impact feel To me. The grinds on the mizuno, TM and My custom NCW wedges are a better fit for me and lead to cleaner turf interaction and a better feel, with no effect on durability.

 

I don’t know if all forgings feel the same, mizuno clubs have a feel, which I don’t care for. Ap2s we’re forged and I didn’t like them. My 620CBs feel great but that’s an entirely different head construction. I’ve never hit JDM clubs. 
 

clearly it rubbed you the wrong way, so it seems spot on that it’s an unpopular opinion.

Oh no, I’m not upset or nothing I was just responding back in a silly way.  Just wanted to see your perspective. 
I will add this, he’s had it since we were in HS and it still looks super clean and the grooves look good still. But as long as you got the clubs that help you shoot your shots it doesn’t matter to me. Lol 

I will say that single piece forges will have a distinct feel that other multi material clubs will follow after. But that’s for a different discussion. 
Fairways N Greens 👍🏻

[naws-golfer]

1 hour ago, SylvesterLundgren said:

Oh no, I’m not upset or nothing I was just responding back in a silly way.  Just wanted to see your perspective. 
I will add this, he’s had it since we were in HS and it still looks super clean and the grooves look good still. But as long as you got the clubs that help you shoot your shots it doesn’t matter to me. Lol 

I will say that single piece forges will have a distinct feel that other multi material clubs will follow after. But that’s for a different discussion. 
Fairways N Greens 👍🏻

Exactly, on the multi piece forgings.

 

vokeys are fine clubs, my dad is a plus hdcp player at almost 70, and has every shot With some vokeys and that’s all he will

play. They are great clubs, for most people, their selection and fitting of grinds has been leading and pushing that category for years. Doesn’t mean they are produced in the most economical

way possible for titleist. I’d would venture that if people took the time to get fitted for wedges like they did irons and drivers, they would begin to love their short game as much as the big stick.

[naws-golfer]

On 6/23/2021 at 11:10 AM, geesecougar2 said:

-Out of the big OEMs, the only real iron companies are Titleist, Ping, and Mizuno. They are the only ones releasing something I would play every cycle.

 

-Callaway clubs are hideous. They only stay in business because of Odyssey.

 

-Drivers should be limited to 300cc. Loft should be limited to 58.

 

-Poker chip ball markers are stupid. If you don't play poker, it's lame; if you do play poker, it's stupid to pay $5 for a worthless poker chip when you can get one from the casino that is actually worth what you pay.

 

-I love Jordans in real life but they have no business as a golf shoe.

 

-Joggers are stylish and comfy.

 

-People who have can't deal with minor inconveniences in their round (music, paired with strangers or bad players, etc.) are jerks and the worst thing for the game (does not include slow play).

 

-You should be required to demonstrate a minimum of ability (e.g., to advance the ball 200 yards) to be allowed on certain courses.

 

-Pete Dye is a bum

A) Srixon

B) they’ve always made classic clubs as well as wildly modern stuff. They destroy the retail space vs green grass business like titleist

c) I’m all down for that

d)quarters should be the maximum diameter and height used as a ball marker

e) ehh…not for me, but way better than some footjoy Options

f) all in on joggers, makes

most Body types seem taller and thinner

g) everyone belongs on the course, the less flexible You are will Most likely relate to your enjoyment. 

h) Courses? No. Tees? Yes.

i) Pete Dye is on the Mt Rushmore of course designers. While his course are polarizing, dismissing him as a bum, is probably the most egregiously wrong statement here.

For example, Bill Coore of Coore/Crenshaw worked for Dye and learned a ton of what he knows from Pete. His course could not be more visually different, but his emphasis on the visual experience from the tee, risk reward elements, and natural use of the land can be traced back directly to some of Pete’s design. Did Dye build courses like TPC Sawgrass and Kiawah from scratch and had complete influence over things like

routing and hazards? Of course, but I’d challenge you to look at any number of other course he was responsible 

for and see his use of land and natural element to accomplish his vision for the property. It’s a shame those are two of

his more publicized designs, his most original Work is not well represented by those courses.

last thing on Dye. I believe the truest measure of someone is how they treat others, and you will seldom find anyone who will say Pete and Alice were anything but the best.

 

nice work on having some unpopular opinions! Mission accomplished!

 

 

[SylvesterLundgren]

1 hour ago, naws-golfer said:

Exactly, on the multi piece forgings.

 

vokeys are fine clubs, my dad is a plus hdcp player at almost 70, and has every shot With some vokeys and that’s all he will

play. They are great clubs, for most people, their selection and fitting of grinds has been leading and pushing that category for years. Doesn’t mean they are produced in the most economical

way possible for titleist. I’d would venture that if people took the time to get fitted for wedges like they did irons and drivers, they would begin to love their short game as much as the big stick.

Definitely Lol I have Cleveland’s and have played them with some nikes in between those. But yeah being fit and having the skill to utilize their wedges are very important factors for peoples games. 

[HappyGilmoresBoots]

I had a gift card to the golf shop so I bought a box of Pro V1X (#69...nice)

 

I'm gonna put whoever said this to task and play them on my next round.  If I don't knock 4 strokes off my previous scores, you owe me a pizza.

[clinkinfo]

You don’t need to change wedges twice a year.  The old wedge didn’t wear out, it’s only a few hundred rpm

[HappyGilmoresBoots]

On 6/28/2021 at 5:44 PM, HappyGilmoresBoots said:

I had a gift card to the golf shop so I bought a box of Pro V1X (#69...nice)

 

I'm gonna put whoever said this to task and play them on my next round.  If I don't knock 4 strokes off my previous scores, you owe me a pizza.

Well, I did not cut 4 shots off of my score today...in fact, I shot one of the worst 9-hole rounds in my life using my new Pro V1x's.  Previous 9-hole rounds at this course include 52, 55, 53, and 48.  My best round ever at this course was a 45.  I've played this course more than nearly any other over the past 20 years, so I'm comfortable saying that I know the course; I know how I'm going to react to everything on the course, and generally have a sense of how to play the course to my known weaknesses (which there are plenty of).  But, I mean, look at those scores.  I'm definitely one of those high handicappers referenced here.  

 

I shot a 70 today with the PV1x's.  On 9 holes.  That's not just my worst round on this course, but it's one of the worst I can remember ever recording.  Yes, I did notice a substantial improvement on my drives - dispersion was tighter, and I didn't lose nearly as many balls from slicing them off the planet as I'd normally expect (only 2 were lost today), but my irons and wedges were a mess.  Normally, I lose a ton of shots to penalty strokes - the aforementioned slices typically result in a drop and a penalty stroke, which adds up quickly over the course of a few holes.  But today, I lost points where I overshot the green on several approaches.  I normally take pride in my wedge game, as mentioned here, and can typically count holing out from off the green at least once per 9 holes, but these PV1x's took off straight offa the toe of every wedge shot I took...I wound up pulling out the ol' bump-n-run with my 7 iron to recover a little.  But it was still back and forth over the green on more than a few holes that killed me.  I can live with bogies and 3-putts...today, I got killed 

 

Because the course was playing slow, I pulled out a woods ball and played parallel to the PV1x, and recorded a couple of single-bogies, a par, and a birdie with a beat-up KSig...including this course's signature downhill par 3, where I floated the ball gently on to the green, and it stopped on a dime (then I 3 putted for bogey, naturally); where the PV1 overshot the green wildly, then took an errant bounce left into the woods.

 

Maybe it's on me - switching from cheap (Dunlop DDH, Callaway Warbird, Top Flite Gamer) and mid-price (e6 Soft/Speed; Kirkland Sigs) to the golf ball that revolutionized golf balls must be like going from a Model A to a Ferrari F430.  Maybe I'm just so used to my clubs being 10-20 yards shorter than they should be, and the PV1s brought them back to their "default" range.  But the supposition posted above was that "a high handicapper can drop as many as 4 strokes per round with a premium ball," which definitely did not happen for me today.

 

Moving forward, I know I've got a few scrambles coming up later this summer and fall - maybe I'll save the PV1's for the tee shots there and take advantage of the length and dispersion.