Unpopular Equipment Opinions

[JahSteve]

On 7/11/2021 at 6:21 AM, BIG STU said:

I know a lot of Canadians who winter here or Snowbirds as we call them--- I have had them explain the lefty Hockey thing and I fully understand it. Has to do with a slapshot

Funny you say that. I started playing golf with some hockey buds from semi pro. I was horrible but was playing as a righty ( borrowed clubs at the time). Friends uncle owned a shop and I went in to buy my own clubs... At fitting he mentioned as a tip to use the weight transfer as i would a slap shot... I looked at him and said ok but im a lefty... tried a lefty 7 irons and boom just feels more natural... I walked out with a new set of lefty clubs. I still am awful though...

[beluga99]

On 7/21/2021 at 9:56 AM, karstens_ghost said:

 

Then we are truly blessed here in New Zealand. Golf does not have ads.

 

This country is a golfer's paradise, as long as you don't need to get a new driver every year.

+1

[vtpachyderm]

On 8/4/2021 at 9:49 PM, DevilDog said:

With the new rule allowing the tamping down of spike marks, bring back metal spikes

Honest question - how much more 'grip' do they give compared to some of the current plastic spikes or even spikeless variants? I honestly think it's more of a mental thing - I have both spikeless and softspike - and still haven't found a situation here in Norway where it's wet, cold, soft, muddy, where I've thought that I could do with more grip?

[karstens_ghost]

47 minutes ago, vtpachyderm said:

Honest question - how much more 'grip' do they give compared to some of the current plastic spikes or even spikeless variants? I honestly think it's more of a mental thing - I have both spikeless and softspike - and still haven't found a situation here in Norway where it's wet, cold, soft, muddy, where I've thought that I could do with more grip?

 

There is a reason cricketers still use the metal spikes. In some conditions, that's ideal. Most of the time, they aren't. Change is slow, until it isn't.

[lefthack]

3 hours ago, karstens_ghost said:

 

There is a reason cricketers still use the metal spikes. In some conditions, that's ideal. Most of the time, they aren't. Change is slow, until it isn't.

 

But in Cricket you might have to run. In golf, there is no need. I don't think there is a ton more grip standing in metal spikes vs my Nike's. But I haven't had metal spikes since I moved to Oregon in '93, so there is that.

[Jaygolf37]

Here’s a VERY unpopular equipment opinion:

The PGA Value guide is an accurate representation of the market for your clubs…

[Andygolderson]

• getting fitted is BS, play what you like / can afford. 
• all golf balls are practically the same, or can be bucketted into 3 categories. (rocks, marshmallows, everything else)
• golf shafts don't affect ball trajectory

ooooh, Controversial 🤪

[karstens_ghost]

Here's one for this forum...

 

If you use more than two lines in your sig to tell us what you play, you're doing it wrong.

[Rocky Ball-boa]

On 8/12/2021 at 10:07 AM, vtpachyderm said:

Honest question - how much more 'grip' do they give compared to some of the current plastic spikes or even spikeless variants? I honestly think it's more of a mental thing - I have both spikeless and softspike - and still haven't found a situation here in Norway where it's wet, cold, soft, muddy, where I've thought that I could do with more grip?

There's been once or twice where I've had a slip and I reckon spikes would have prevented it. But it's like once a year at most.

 

While the sound of metal spiked shoes on gravel or stone slabs is lovely and brings me right back to my junior days, I don't miss the days when a lot of clubs forced you to go back to your car and change shoes just to go buy a bag of tees, get a water bottle filled or whatever just so the spikes wouldn't rip the carpet.

[joostin]

Spikes vs spikeless (some have more aggressive nubs than others) depends on a person's swing.  I personally like spikes better not so much for my lead foot but for my back foot, big toe area, as I get more slippage on my downswing with spikeless or regular sneakers, though the ones I've tried didn't have deep nubs.  It looks pretty planted, but can slip back with the forces going on.  Had metal as a kid, but don't remember seeing much difference switching to soft spikes.

[MattM97]

1 hour ago, joostin said:

Spikes vs spikeless (some have more aggressive nubs than others) depends on a person's swing.  I personally like spikes better not so much for my lead foot but for my back foot, big toe area, as I get more slippage on my downswing with spikeless or regular sneakers, though the ones I've tried didn't have deep nubs.  It looks pretty planted, but can slip back with the forces going on.  Had metal as a kid, but don't remember seeing much difference switching to soft spikes.

 

As a big dude I can feel a world of difference from spikeless to spikes, I can't really play spikeless anymore except in a simulator or the course is baked out like a desert. 

[mogc60]

I miss spikes…I don’t miss spike marks. I know in my area since everyone went spikeless the condition of all the greens at every course got significantly better. I’d rather putt on great surfaces and live with the occasional back foot slip. 

[sm_watts]

I’ll take this conversation a slightly different direction- due to multiple knee surgeries, the thought of wearing ANY kind of traction on my feet scares the daylights out of me! I’d rather slip and fall on my face than have my knee twist. I anticipate just wearing tennis shoes the rest of my golfing life. 

[NRJyzr]

25 minutes ago, sm_watts said:

I’ll take this conversation a slightly different direction- due to multiple knee surgeries, the thought of wearing ANY kind of traction on my feet scares the daylights out of me! I’d rather slip and fall on my face than have my knee twist. I anticipate just wearing tennis shoes the rest of my golfing life. 

 

I went spikeless because of my left knee.  I'm happier this way.  🙂

 

[PixlPutterman]

On 8/12/2021 at 3:07 AM, vtpachyderm said:

Honest question - how much more 'grip' do they give compared to some of the current plastic spikes or even spikeless variants? I honestly think it's more of a mental thing - I have both spikeless and softspike - and still haven't found a situation here in Norway where it's wet, cold, soft, muddy, where I've thought that I could do with more grip?

 

As a former baseball player, the firmer or more dried out the turf is, the better the grip of metal spikes are vs plastic ones.

 

Same reason you wouldnt plant a garden with a plastic shovel. The rigidity of metal allows them to be thinner and shaper and dig in better than plastic.

 

That may be redundant for most courses, but im sure on some firm and fast courses metal spikes would have the advantage.

 

Lets not forget the only reason they were "banned" was for tearing up club house carpets, not courses......

[HappyGilmoresBoots]

If soft spikes are that bad, they've had 20+ years to improve, and the companies haven't done so...so, the performance can't be that bad compared to metal ones.

 

My point of reference is that the first summer I can remember golfing was sometime around 1997, and wondering what the sign meant on the front door "NO METAL SPIKES ALLOWED IN CLUBHOUSE".

[QuigleyDU]

My unpopular take.

 

ping stuff is pretty much all over rated except for the hoofer bag.

[LUXOR54]

13 minutes ago, QuigleyDU said:

My unpopular take.

 

ping stuff is pretty much all over rated except for the hoofer bag.

Aside from the blueprints, pretty much nothing they've come out with in the last 10 years has peaked my interest. 

[ColinKelvin]

4 hours ago, QuigleyDU said:

My unpopular take.

 

ping stuff is pretty much all over rated except for the hoofer bag.

That take is unpopular for good reason 😉

[QuigleyDU]

4 hours ago, ColinKelvin said:

That take is unpopular for good reason 😉

I know.. people are brand loyal to a fault.

[YMark]

On 8/21/2021 at 6:12 AM, QuigleyDU said:

I know.. people are brand loyal to a fault.

 

I don't think it's brand loyal. Ping puts out some pretty damn good equipment, hardly overrated. And I don't have a Ping stick in my bag.

[NoTalentLefty]

Chippers are useful . 

[Straphael]

The sand wedges with a huge bounce like a sure out are huge for bad players and should borderline be included in beginner sets

[nsxguy]

On 8/19/2021 at 5:43 AM, karstens_ghost said:

Here's one for this forum...

 

If you use more than two lines in your sig to tell us what you play, you're doing it wrong.

 

Agreed.  🙃

 

[karstens_ghost]

1 hour ago, nsxguy said:

 

Agreed.  🙃

 

 

What computer is that, a Windows 98, or your phone?

Why do you have all that space to the right?

 

It's totally your fault and I still feel dirty and need a shower...

[Superfast2.0]

For some people, it's not worth it to spend 300-400 dollars for a new driver that gives you 5 extra yards. 

[nsxguy]

8 hours ago, karstens_ghost said:

 

What computer is that, a Windows 98, or your phone?

Why do you have all that space to the right?

 

It's totally your fault and I still feel dirty and need a shower...

 

No need to feel dirty. It IS my fault.

 

My "man cave" is a recliner with 65" HDTV about 10 feet away and a desktop computer in between.

 

Given the screen is about 4 feet from my eyes I have the screen size turned up a notch or 2 (CMD+) than I would if I was normally close to my iMAC desktop screen.

[eric61]

Not an equipment opinion so much as golf attire, but: Golf is a sport, and so athletic attire should be acceptable on the golf course. 

 

Instead of golf shorts -- which admittedly are pretty comfortable these days -- I'd rather have the extreme flexibility and breathability of gym shorts while I'm playing. In fact, that's what I wear on a couple of very casual municipals nearby. (Think for example Under Armour MK-1 shorts instead of Under Armour Showdown golf shorts. The loose, super-lightweight fabric, the elastic waist, slightly wider thighs.) 

 

My ideal golf outfit would be gym shorts and one of those lightweight long-sleeve quarter-zip pullovers. Tons of breathability, quick drying and some sun protection from the shirt on those 90+ degree, humid days we're getting around here this month. I know this is a somewhat unpopular opinion because I posted something in the golf style forum asking if anybody knew of basically gym shorts with maybe a back pocket and belt loops, so that I could wear them even on nicer courses, and kind of got mocked for it. 😅

[karstens_ghost]

10 hours ago, eric61 said:

Not an equipment opinion so much as golf attire, but: Golf is a sport, and so athletic attire should be acceptable on the golf course. 

 

Instead of golf shorts -- which admittedly are pretty comfortable these days -- I'd rather have the extreme flexibility and breathability of gym shorts while I'm playing. In fact, that's what I wear on a couple of very casual municipals nearby. (Think for example Under Armour MK-1 shorts instead of Under Armour Showdown golf shorts. The loose, super-lightweight fabric, the elastic waist, slightly wider thighs.) 

 

My ideal golf outfit would be gym shorts and one of those lightweight long-sleeve quarter-zip pullovers. Tons of breathability, quick drying and some sun protection from the shirt on those 90+ degree, humid days we're getting around here this month. I know this is a somewhat unpopular opinion because I posted something in the golf style forum asking if anybody knew of basically gym shorts with maybe a back pocket and belt loops, so that I could wear them even on nicer courses, and kind of got mocked for it. 😅

 

I hate the pretentious approach of apparel. Generally, we have a few rules about it, but the biggest one is no gumboots/workboots on the course.

 

After that, no singlets is about it. I'm with you. I'm a comfort guy… wear super comfy collared thing, like UA or whatever, and basketball shorts.

 

Let's be honest - the clothing thing is to keep hacks off the course, and that gets hijacked by people who want more of the course for themselves because $$$.

 

Golf is for everyone. Just pick up after double bogey and move on, people.

[JamesWA]

The golf equipment market  exists to sell you new drivers, the odd hybrid, and four specialty wedges. The iron set is just a teaser.