2023 WITB - After an 8 year hiatus

[Ben B]

Hey everyone! After taking 8 years off, I am back to playing. Picked up the stix again in June and working hard to get my game back to scratch so I can start playing in tourneys next year. That being said, it was time to revamp the bag and this is the current setup. Going to be adding a Mixuno T22 48* to the bag to complete the setup, but everything is working well at the moment. 

 

Driver

Srixon ZX7 MKII 10.5 set at standard with a House of Forged Prototype 75X shaft playing at 44". White PURE DTX grip.

 

Fairway Metal

Cobra LTDx LS 5 wood set -1 (16.5*) with a Fujikura ATMOS Blue Tour Spec 7S tipped 1" playing 41.5". Neon Blue PURE DTX grip.

 

Utility/Driving Iron

Srixon ZX MKII 18* 2 iron with a UST Mamiya Recoil Dart 90 F5 shaft playing 40". White PURE DTX grip.

 

Irons

Bridgestone J15DF 4-PW with Nippon Modus Pro 3 Tour120S shafts playing standard length. Neon Blue PURE DTX grips.

 

Wedges

Mizuno T22 52.09 S grind with Dynamic Gold Tour Issue s400 shaft playing standard length. White PURE DTX grip.

 

Mizuno T22 56.10 D grind with Dynamic Gold Tour Issue s400 shaft playing standard length. White PURE DTX grip.

 

Putter

Custome Legacy Golf "McClane" blade putter playing 34" with Blue Iomic standard pistol grip.

 

Ball

Bridgestone Tour B XS

[MattM97]

I love how there's a custom putter in the mix after just getting back into the game. You know deep down you're addicted to this lol. 

[Ben B]

9 minutes ago, MattM97 said:

I love how there's a custom putter in the mix after just getting back into the game. You know deep down you're addicted to this lol. 

I've been addicted to this game since I was 5 years old. And the custom putter was the 1st new club in the bag. Not because I needed one, I love my Nickent Tour Prototype MP-01 but I always wanted a custom putter. When I cam across the McClane, I knew I had to have it....and it's a phenomenal putter too. 

[MattM97]

4 minutes ago, Ben B said:

I've been addicted to this game since I was 5 years old. And the custom putter was the 1st new club in the bag. Not because I needed one, I love my Nickent Tour Prototype MP-01 but I always wanted a custom putter. When I cam across the McClane, I knew I had to have it....and it's a phenomenal putter too. 

 

No hate I love it and the rest of the bag is sweet too.

 

I believe everyone should have a custom putter and heard his feel great, I'll get one eventually. 

[Ben B]

6 minutes ago, MattM97 said:

 

No hate I love it and the rest of the bag is sweet too.

 

I believe everyone should have a custom putter and heard his feel great, I'll get one eventually. 

Absolutely! I've always thought it to be interesting that people will be floored when they hear about someone spending $500 on a putter. Yet, they spend that every year on a driver in hopes to pick up a few yards. 

 

I actually love my new putter so much I am seriously considering getting another as a backup 😆 

[Aprovenz]

Those Cobra LS fairways are the real deal. Not sure why I ever moved mine. Awesome bag! 

[Phabs]

Love the putter.. I have one from him as well.  He’s about 10 minutes from me 

[Ben B]

On 10/24/2023 at 4:45 PM, Aprovenz said:

Those Cobra LS fairways are the real deal. Not sure why I ever moved mine. Awesome bag! 

Thanks! And yes, the Cobra LS fairway woods are legit. Definitely in my top 4 favorite fairway woods of all time, all of which I still have....in no particular order: Titleist PT 15* bore-thru with DG X100, TaylorMade Tour Issue 16.5* 4 wood w/ Diamana Whiteboard 83X, Adams F11 Speedline 15* w/ Fujikura Rombax P95X and now the Cobra LTDx LS 5 wood. 

 

On 10/24/2023 at 9:16 PM, Phabs said:

Love the putter.. I have one from him as well.  He’s about 10 minutes from me 

That's awesome.  I would love to visit his shop. Definitely one of the finest putters I've ever used. 

[Ben B]

Though I love the look and feel of the Bridgestone J15DF irons, I am having a hard time adjusting to the odd yardages and somewhat inconsistent gapping. So I am going back to my tried and true KZG ZO irons. Currently have DG TI X100s in them but that may change. Seriously looking at the UST Mamiya Dart V 120s. 

 

I have also gone back to my tried and true Bridgestone J40 9.5 driver with a Diamana 'ahina 70X. 

 

 

[MGN01]

Great set of clubs.  Loved the putter.  Enjoy.

[Shanks2424]

Did you not like the Srixon driver.

[Ben B]

On 1/10/2024 at 9:57 PM, MGN01 said:

Great set of clubs.  Loved the putter.  Enjoy.

Thanks! The putter is phenomenal. 

 

On 1/11/2024 at 1:05 PM, Shanks2424 said:

Did you not like the Srixon driver.

It's a nice driver, don't get me wrong. But for me, there is nothing new in the market that comes close to the feel, sound and looks of the Bridgestone J40 drivers. I have both the 430 and 445 (445 pictured above) and they are as long as anything out there. The 445 a little bit more forgiving and a little higher launching which is why it's in my bag, though I am looking for a new shaft for the 430. 

 

**Spoiler Alert** 

I have been looking at trying the UST Mamiya 110 Prototypes and the Dart V 120 shafts and found a set of mint Mizuno MP18s with the 110 prototypes for basically the price of the shafts so they may just end up in the bag.... 😃 I played Mizunos from 2000 until 2010 so I am excited to see how they feel. 

[Shanks2424]

42 minutes ago, Ben B said:

Thanks! The putter is phenomenal. 

 

It's a nice driver, don't get me wrong. But for me, there is nothing new in the market that comes close to the feel, sound and looks of the Bridgestone J40 drivers. I have both the 430 and 445 (445 pictured above) and they are as long as anything out there. The 445 a little bit more forgiving and a little higher launching which is why it's in my bag, though I am looking for a new shaft for the 430. 

 

**Spoiler Alert** 

I have been looking at trying the UST Mamiya 110 Prototypes and the Dart V 120 shafts and found a set of mint Mizuno MP18s with the 110 prototypes for basically the price of the shafts so they may just end up in the bag.... 😃 I played Mizunos from 2000 until 2010 so I am excited to see how they feel. 

I love my Mizuno Mp53 irons and I am toying around with the idea of Mizuno woods but I am going to start the season with my current WITB go check out my bag and my sons.

[Ben B]

Mizuno MP-18s are in the bag.

 

MP-18 MB 5-P w/ Recoil 110 Prototype F5 

MP-18 MMC Fli-Hi 4 Iron w/ Recoil 110 Prototype F5.

 

So far, the numbers in the launch monitor are very good. The feel....well, they feel like Mizunos...butter. And with the Recoil 110 Protos there are no harsh vibrations on mishits. Can't wait for this cold winter weather to break so I can get out on the course and put them through the paces. They are very easy to work both ways which has me super excited.  

[jarediogolf]

Nice setup!
I’ve been wanting to try an LTDx LS or Aerojet LS 5 wood. 
I recently got a few Ping G425 woods to try to replace my Cobra F7 woods but the Cobras are still in the bag. 

[Ben B]

17 hours ago, jarediogolf said:

Nice setup!
I’ve been wanting to try an LTDx LS or Aerojet LS 5 wood. 
I recently got a few Ping G425 woods to try to replace my Cobra F7 woods but the Cobras are still in the bag. 

I've never been a fairway wood guy, but the Cobra LTDx LS 5 wood has changed that in a big. It's a 🚀  off of the tee and is super easy to hit off of the fairway. Being a bit lower spinning than most, into the wind it still has a very strong penetrating flight. Last round I played I hit it off 6 tees, that's the most I have ever hit a fairway wood off of the tee.

[jarediogolf]

Glad you’re enjoying it. I might need to find a head to try. 
Right now I’m going 3 wood straight to 7 wood and I feel like a low spin 5 wood could replace my 3 wood. 

[Ben B]

On 1/29/2024 at 6:57 PM, jarediogolf said:

Glad you’re enjoying it. I might need to find a head to try. 
Right now I’m going 3 wood straight to 7 wood and I feel like a low spin 5 wood could replace my 3 wood. 

Definitely, especially with the adjustability the Cobra has. 

[Ben B]

Bag is set for 2024

 

Driver

Mizuno ST-G 220 set at 10* playing 45" (fade bias) with a Mitsubishi Kai'li Blue 60X. This driver has been proven to one solid driver. Unless I find a stupid deal on a ST-G 440, this will be in the bag for the unforeseeable future.

 

Mini Driver

Taylor Made Original One set at 13.5* playing 43.75 with a Mitsubishi Kai'li Red 60x. Absolutely love this thing. It really isn't that much shorter than my standard driver, but it is more draw bias. So if the hole calls for a draw, this thing comes out.

 

Fairway/Utility Wood

Callaway Apex UW 19* with a UST Mamiya ATTAS T2 9X. I can see why there is so much hype with this club. So easy to hit. Straight 🚀. Definitely my preferred fairway club as I can hit it fairly high with a fade with ease or turn it over a bit and roast it. 

 

Utility Iron

Srixon ZX MKII 18* with a UST Mamiya Recoil 90 F5. Awesome club off the tee, especially on shorter holes in to the wind. 

 

Irons

Mizuno MP-18 MMC Fli-Hi 4 iron, M-18 MB 5-PW with UST Mamiya Recoil Prototype 110 F5 shafts. PURE. Switching to graphite shafts in irons has been the best move ever. So easy to swing. 

 

Wedges

Mizuno T22 Copper 52* and 56* with UST Mamiya Recoil Prototype 125 F4 shafts. My person favorite wedges I have ever played.

 

Putter

Legacy McClane. This thing rolls the rock really well.