avg_joseph's WITB - The OCD Engineer/Former Club Pro Guy

[avg_joseph]

So next year I turn 42, but in my early-20's I chased a cute brunette, future Doctor to Memphis and started working in the Golf Business as an Assistant Golf Pro.  Fast forward 3 years after passing a P.A.T. and starting PGA Level I, I was no longer in that relationship and after I didn't get hired on to work for a major Golf OEM (Has been my dream job since I was 12) I exited the golf business and jumped into Industrial Products/Sales/Engineering and I've been in that line of work since (they say once you're in you never escape it!).

 

Started my own business, met a girl, got married, got my Amateur Status back, had a kid, then for some unknown reason I got back in the golf business part time chasing that dream, passed another P.A.T., taught and did club fittings for about a year, my own business suffered a bit/plateaued out and then I had to "get a real job" according to my wife and mother in-law.

 

So until this year, I've been kind of in limbo for the last decade, but in March of this year I got my Amateur Status back for the 2nd and LAST Time.  Played in a city event, tried to qualify for the State Open and Am - Quite UNSUCCESSFULLY - and played in the State Mid-Am (also not well enough - MC), but since a year ago I've been upgrading everything in my bag and I can honestly say, top to bottom I've never been more confident in every club in the bag!

 

The Rundown:

 

Bag - Stitch Golf SL2 - White w/ Blue and Grey Camo

Headcovers - Stitch (Been in love with this brand since I bought the 3 wood headcover in late 2011 or early 2012 at Ray's Golf Shop in Danville, VA which is a prototype/sample).

 

UPDATE - 2/25/23 - Some new Headcovers in rotation

 

Some new SWAG 02/25/23 - IYKYK

 

 

Driver - Titleist TSi3 - 10 Degree - C1 SureFit - T1 Weight - 44.75" - D3 SW - Graphite Design XC-6 Stiff - Tipped an additional 1/2".

 

 

3 Wood - TSR3 15 Degree - C1 Surefit - T1 Weight - Tensei 1K Black 75S - Std Length - Just under D4 SW

 

5 Wood - TSR3 18 Degree - C1 Surefit - T1 Weight - Tensei 1K Black 85S - Std Length - D5.1 SW - May need a slight tweak here on SW

 

 

Driving Iron - Mizuno Pro Fli-Hi 3 - 20 Degrees (1 Degree Weak) - 3 Degrees Flat - Std. Length - Project X - U - D3 SW

 

Irons - Mizuno MP-18 Blended - D3 SW - All Std. Length - All 4 Degrees FLAT (and I still hit a draw!!!)

4 & 5 MMC Fli-Hi

4 - 24 Degrees

5 - 28 Degrees

6 - SC - 32 Degrees

7, 8, & 9 - 18's

7 - 36 Degrees

8 - 40 Degrees

9 - 45 Degrees

 

Shafts - Oban CT-125 Stiff - Yeah I know $$$, but I was really intrigued by the fact that these have no weld seam and after 2 fittings these had the most consistent dispersion both in distance control and Left to Right.  I have not been disappointed at all since bagging them.

 

Wedges

 

Callaway Mack Daddy Forged - All Std Length - all at 60 Degree Lie Angle

50 Chrome - D3 (Have a Slate Backup)

54 Slate @ 55 Degrees - D4 (Have a Slate Backup)

60 Slate (Used when softer conditions) - D4 (Need a Backup)

55 & 60 have pre-worn/killed leading edge

All Dynamic Gold S-200 Stock Shafts

 

Mizuno MP-T11

60-05 - Spinner S Shaft - Std Length - 60 Degree Lie for Firmer Conditions - D4 SW

Pre-Worn/Killed Leading Edge and I have a backup never hit.

 

Putter - Ping Cadence Ketsch - Bought used for $55 at Edwin Watts in Knoxville, TN - I didn't miss a putt for 15 minutes - It was meant to be!!!!

34" - SuperStroke Wrist Lock Grip (GAME CHANGER) - 50 G Counterweight with some Scott Verplank action on the grip!

THIS WILL NEVER LEAVE MY BAG (Took me 30 Years and about 40 Putters, about 25-ish I still have)

 

I wasn't kidding about all those putters y'all:

 

 

 

Grips - Victory Cord - IYKYK!!! - 2 - 4 Wraps bottom hand and 1 - 2 wraps top hand depending on Shaft butt diameter - I still have about 20 of these bad boys to hopefully get me to the grave!!!

 

I have sets of 2-PW of MP-33's and 3-PW of MP-14's that I plan on doing a fun project with in the next year - I'll post those when complete...

 

Hope that was thorough enough and ya'll enjoyed the intricacies of all of it!

 

 

Edited February 25 by avg_joseph
New Headcovers

[jt2gt]

Nice bag...don't see those very traditional old school lofts on the irons.  More on the putter....wristlock has been a game changer for me as well.  Tried armlock and it was ok, but went to wristlock this past season and putts were droppin.  How are you gripping yours?  It seems at 34 you probably have it just barely above the wrist...are you left hand low?  I play mine at 36 so it comes up pretty high on my left wrist/forearm.  Started with a more traditional grip, but just went to left hand low and like it even better...better roll/less forward press (Im using a Ody 2-ball Eleven).

 

 

[avg_joseph]

2 hours ago, jt2gt said:

Nice bag...don't see those very traditional old school lofts on the irons.  More on the putter....wristlock has been a game changer for me as well.  Tried armlock and it was ok, but went to wristlock this past season and putts were droppin.  How are you gripping yours?  It seems at 34 you probably have it just barely above the wrist...are you left hand low?  I play mine at 36 so it comes up pretty high on my left wrist/forearm.  Started with a more traditional grip, but just went to left hand low and like it even better...better roll/less forward press (Im using a Ody 2-ball Eleven).

 

 

I’ve played 33.5” putters forever with a very traditional grip.  The extra 1/2” puts the grip right above the bottom of my left hand.

[avg_joseph]

2 hours ago, jt2gt said:

Nice bag...don't see those very traditional old school lofts on the irons.  More on the putter....wristlock has been a game changer for me as well.  Tried armlock and it was ok, but went to wristlock this past season and putts were droppin.  How are you gripping yours?  It seems at 34 you probably have it just barely above the wrist...are you left hand low?  I play mine at 36 so it comes up pretty high on my left wrist/forearm.  Started with a more traditional grip, but just went to left hand low and like it even better...better roll/less forward press (Im using a Ody 2-ball Eleven).

 

 

 

Also, on the iron lofts, I really don't care about the number on the bottom.  I care more about consistent gapping and knowing how far I hit each one.

 

Additionally, I can get a little steep from time to time and I despise offset, weakening lofts helps a lot in both of those columns!  Also, the bounce is more consistent from 9 iron with it 3 degrees weak.  Stock Loft and Bounce is 42 and 5, at 45 the bounce becomes 8, which to me is a better transition into the 10 Degree bounce in the 50.

[Kyle_U]

You still around the Danville area? Heard good things about Rays but I’ve never made it in there. 

[avg_joseph]

2 hours ago, Kyle_U said:

You still around the Danville area? Heard good things about Rays but I’ve never made it in there. 

 

I live in Richmond... I get to Danville occasionally and always make a point to stop in and see Ray when in town.  He's one of about 3 or 4 people in my entire life I trust to do any work on my clubs other than a factory or myself...  Probably one of a handful of folks still alive that can do whipping on Persimmon/wooden golf clubs!!!

Edited November 12, 2022 by avg_joseph
typo

[MGN01]

Great set up.  Love the entire set and the collection of putters.

[BallerNate]

Nice setup man…awesome! Clearly very well thought out and dialed in.

 

So if you’ve found the putter that will never leave your bag, what are you going to do with all the other ones, Lol?

[avg_joseph]

3 hours ago, BallerNate said:

Nice setup man…awesome! Clearly very well thought out and dialed in.

 

So if you’ve found the putter that will never leave your bag, what are you going to do with all the other ones, Lol?

Mostly sentimental/just cool stuff...  I also have a bad habit of stopping into Play It Again Sports and Buying Anser Style Putters that have good Area Codes/Are Cool (Like the BeCu Anser 2)

 

The 2 on the far left are the putters I passed my PAT's with.  85029 Anser and a Rife Del Mar Style.

 

I have an 85029 Anser with the Original "Pro Only" with the Ping Logo on the Butt End.

 

The SS Anser 2 was the First Legit Putter I bought with my own money and I bought it shortly after O'Meara won the Masters with the same putter.  The 8802 Style on the far right is a putter that the Head Pro that sponsored my wife and I to get married at Hermitage CC in Richmond gave me.  It's an Old Kirk Currie he could have cared less about/wasn't going to sell.  I got to bend it on the KC fixture they had in the back.

 

A couple Tad Moore's, 2 Cleveland Designed By and an 8802 and a bunch of random Bullseye's.

 

 

The 2 putters below have some history and baggage unlike my current gamer.

 

The Rossa is a Japanese Only release I found used in a Golf Shop in Memphis while I was an Assistant.  I once shot 67 (In 2007) with 10 birdies, 2 Double bogeys, a bogey and 5 pars.

The fun part of the story is I didn't make a par on the front.  7 birdies and 2 double bogeys.  I had 11 putts on the Front.  Made like a 30 footer for one of those doubles and 3 putted on the other double.

 

The 2 Ball was actually originally a Mid Length Belly that I dabbled with for like 2 weeks and then cut down to 34" (2003).  I putted REALLY well with this thing, and then...  I was even through 14 holes in a 2003 WV State open qualifier.  On 15, I hit the fairway, I hit the green, then proceeded to use this putter 10 times to make a 12.  The pin had accidentally been cut about 10 paces in front of where it should have been.  We actually found the dot where the pin sheet indicated it should have been.  I TECHNICALLY only had 7 putts on the hole ( I used it 3 times from the front fringe).  2 times I actually hit the putt passed the hole from the front fringe and it came all the way off the front.  I finished double, par, par to shoot 82 and miss qualifying.

 

That experience shook me.  I really believe I may have gone on to have a solid Amateur career or a good Club Pro Career or who knows???  I gave that putter to my Grandpa the next time I saw him and he used it until he was no longer able to play anymore about 5 years ago.  He loved it!!!  He said it was the best putter he had ever used.

 

I keep that putter because of the connection to my Grandpa and as a reminder of how important it is to stay in the present and immediately let bad things go.  I also tell my gamer Ping if she ever decides to misbehave I'll put a putter back in I once had a 10 putt with.  (Its a veiled threat, but she does behave! HAHA!!!)

 

 

 

 

 

I'll likely donate these 4 in the winter/spring to the First Tee of Richmond, so thanks the needle!!!

 

 

Also, it looks like I really need to vacuum/Swiffer in and around my office!!!!

Edited November 12, 2022 by avg_joseph

[BallerNate]

5 hours ago, avg_joseph said:

Mostly sentimental/just cool stuff...  I also have a bad habit of stopping into Play It Again Sports and Buying Anser Style Putters that have good Area Codes/Are Cool (Like the BeCu Anser 2)

 

The 2 on the far left are the putters I passed my PAT's with.  85029 Anser and a Rife Del Mar Style.

 

I have an 85029 Anser with the Original "Pro Only" with the Ping Logo on the Butt End.

 

The SS Anser 2 was the First Legit Putter I bought with my own money and I bought it shortly after O'Meara won the Masters with the same putter.  The 8802 Style on the far right is a putter that the Head Pro that sponsored my wife and I to get married at Hermitage CC in Richmond gave me.  It's an Old Kirk Currie he could have cared less about/wasn't going to sell.  I got to bend it on the KC fixture they had in the back.

 

A couple Tad Moore's, 2 Cleveland Designed By and an 8802 and a bunch of random Bullseye's.

 

 

The 2 putters below have some history and baggage unlike my current gamer.

 

The Rossa is a Japanese Only release I found used in a Golf Shop in Memphis while I was an Assistant.  I once shot 67 (In 2007) with 10 birdies, 2 Double bogeys, a bogey and 5 pars.

The fun part of the story is I didn't make a par on the front.  7 birdies and 2 double bogeys.  I had 11 putts on the Front.  Made like a 30 footer for one of those doubles and 3 putted on the other double.

 

The 2 Ball was actually originally a Mid Length Belly that I dabbled with for like 2 weeks and then cut down to 34" (2003).  I putted REALLY well with this thing, and then...  I was even through 14 holes in a 2003 WV State open qualifier.  On 15, I hit the fairway, I hit the green, then proceeded to use this putter 10 times to make a 12.  The pin had accidentally been cut about 10 paces in front of where it should have been.  We actually found the dot where the pin sheet indicated it should have been.  I TECHNICALLY only had 7 putts on the hole ( I used it 3 times from the front fringe).  2 times I actually hit the putt passed the hole from the front fringe and it came all the way off the front.  I finished double, par, par to shoot 82 and miss qualifying.

 

That experience shook me.  I really believe I may have gone on to have a solid Amateur career or a good Club Pro Career or who knows???  I gave that putter to my Grandpa the next time I saw him and he used it until he was no longer able to play anymore about 5 years ago.  He loved it!!!  He said it was the best putter he had ever used.

 

I keep that putter because of the connection to my Grandpa and as a reminder of how important it is to stay in the present and immediately let bad things go.  I also tell my gamer Ping if she ever decides to misbehave I'll put a putter back in I once had a 10 putt with.  (Its a veiled threat, but she does behave! HAHA!!!)

 

 

 

 

 

I'll likely donate these 4 in the winter/spring to the First Tee of Richmond, so thanks the needle!!!

 

 

Also, it looks like I really need to vacuum/Swiffer in and around my office!!!!

Very cool background stories…that’s awesome!

 

Well, I’m one of those guys that usually sells what I don’t plan on using. I know that’s not the usual WRX way, but I just don’t like keeping extra stuff around collecting dust. But the flip side is that I don’t have that type of history or emotional connection with any of my clubs.

 

I’ve got 3 putters right now, and will probably sell at least 1 of them over the Winter, but it’s all about doing what works for you.

[SteelieD]

Really nice bag and great stories. Thanks for sharing! 

[Glassmen61]

Where did you get that ping mallet cover? 

[avg_joseph]

On 11/21/2022 at 7:12 AM, Glassmen61 said:

Where did you get that ping mallet cover? 

It was part of their Coastal Collection and I got it at a local golf shop…

[MattM97]

The bag is nice but I'm enjoying the stories more.

[avg_joseph]

On 11/21/2022 at 7:12 AM, Glassmen61 said:

Where did you get that ping mallet cover? 

 

I saw some of these marked down to $25 at the Golf Galaxy in Birmingham, AL last weekend...

 

Available still on their website:

 

https://www.golfgalaxy.com/p/ping-coastal-mallet-putter-headcover-21pngu2021cstlmllacc/21pngu2021cstlmllacc?enteredSearchTerm=ping coastal mallet

[avg_joseph]

New Headcovers in the rotation I got last month in on a little trip to TN...

 

[Z1ggy16]

How you liking the TSR3 woods? Did you get fit or just randomly bag them and they worked? I'm going in for a fit next week and they won't have any 5w's. I've always been a fairway guy but they will have hybrids, so I'm not sure if it will be worth blind buying the 5w, assuming the 3w gets in the bag.

[btyh]

Thanks for the story. I live in Chesterfield. Are you a member at hermitage? 

[avg_joseph]

21 hours ago, btyh said:

Thanks for the story. I live in Chesterfield. Are you a member at hermitage? 

 

I am not.  I got to know Rocky who was the long time Pro there from doing demo days there for the Mizuno Rep at the time.

 

The current Pro doesn't live far from me in Hanover and both of our kids swim for the same swim club in the summer...

[avg_joseph]

On 2/25/2023 at 4:04 PM, Z1ggy16 said:

How you liking the TSR3 woods? Did you get fit or just randomly bag them and they worked? I'm going in for a fit next week and they won't have any 5w's. I've always been a fairway guy but they will have hybrids, so I'm not sure if it will be worth blind buying the 5w, assuming the 3w gets in the bag.

 

I used TS2 FW's the last few years and was looking to lower ball flight overall and spin just a bit.  I wouldn't say I got fit, but I did try the demo 3W with the 1K Black 75S and numbers checked out on Trackman so I bought one they had in stock and had them order the 5W w/ the 85S.  Been really happy with the first couple of range sessions this year!!!  

 

The 3W reminds me a lot of the Adams BTY's I bagged for well over a decade.  Its a CANNON as is the 5W.  I was always a hybrid player (still have a 16 Degree Original Idea I still Bag in the right conditions) and dabbled with a 7W last couple of years and I believe this is the 1st 5W I've bagged since an original Callaway BB Warbird in HS that I hated as it was a HOOK MACHINE for me!

 

That Fly Hi may be my new favorite club.  Its great and launches nicely off the deck and will be very versatile on short par 4's as a fairway finder.

[Mitchell]

On 11/11/2022 at 9:06 PM, avg_joseph said:

 

I live in Richmond... I get to Danville occasionally and always make a point to stop in and see Ray when in town.  He's one of about 3 or 4 people in my entire life I trust to do any work on my clubs other than a factory or myself...  Probably one of a handful of folks still alive that can do whipping on Persimmon/wooden golf clubs!!!

Ray is such a nice guy, bought a new, unused set of Founders Club tour cb forged with UST tour weight shafts from him that came from Bobby Mitchell’s estate.

[avg_joseph]

25 minutes ago, nochrome said:

Ray is such a nice guy, bought a new, unused set of Founders Club tour cb forged with UST tour weight shafts from him that came from Bobby Mitchell’s estate.

I've got one of Bobby Mitchell's Tony Penna Drivers....