Parkinni's bag

[parkinni]

new this year

Had a major bag change this year, so thought I'd post a WITB pic.

For the last 4-5 years, I'd been playing a regular graphite Orlimar HipSteel 10º driver, 16º and 20º fairways, and JZ-R steel-shafted Ping ISI irons (green dot, +¾"). More recently, I picked up a 60º Feel wedge, and Ping G2 B60 putter, and carried everything in a Ping Hoofer 2 USA flag bag.

At the beginning of 2005, I went through a patch of hitting everything fat with my irons, and this, plus the fact that I was never truly happy with the ISI long irons, pushed me to make a change. Having been custom-fitted for the Pings, I looked around for other irons with the same specs., and eventually found a set of brand new Callaway X-14's (2º upright and +½") that included a pair of Callaway Forged Vintage wedges in 54º and 58º lofts. Made an easy transition to these irons, played some good golf through the Spring....and got the urge to upgrade the rest of my bag.

First, I sold the Forged wedges (heads too small for comfort), and replaced them with the same lofts in the Forged+ model (better!). Then, I sold my offset Ping B60 and got a centre-shafted Voodoo Daddy. This has been a huge help with my alignment.

Next, I tested every new driver out there to try and find some more length and (especially) forgiveness over my aging HipSteel. Demo'd the Callaway BB454 and Fusion FT-3, Cleveland Launcher and Comp 460, Cobra SZ 460, Ping G2 and G5, Nike Ignite 460, TaylorMade R580XD and r5. After much testing, I bought a TM r5 N and have been extremely happy with its performance. Modified the head a week ago to take the adjustable weights (a la r5 TP) and would like to think that I'm a tad longer too (6g heel/4g toe, if you're interested).

Then, I replaced my battered fairways. Tested the Bridgestone J33, Cobra F-Speed, Nike T60 and SQ, TM V-Steel, 2006 Launcher, and Ping G5. Ended up with Mizuno #3 and #5 F-50 woods. Second longest, but consistently the straightest for me.

Finally, I dropped the X-14 #3 and #4 irons in favour of the TM Rescue Duals. Oh, and my wife bought me a new Ogio Grom bag for Christmas!

Hope this didn't bore you too much! Let me know if you have any comments.

[JHR]

Nice clubs parkinni, how do you like the new F-50's?

[parkinni]

I really like the F-50's. I tested a bunch of the latest fairway woods almost a month ago, and could easily have settled for the new Launchers or Nike T60's. At the time, I wanted to take home the Nike's, but when I took them out to the range it was like I needed a shaft flex between the regular and stiff. Also, the deep face made them very good for hitting off a tee, but not so hot from out of the fairway and/or tight lies for me.

 

I got the Mizuno woods as I consistently hit them straighter then anything else, and almost as far as the longest ones that I tried, ie. Cobra F/Speed. The heads are an attractive shape and play off the turf just fine. The feel is totally different to my old HipSteels: seems soft, like they have a very big sweetspot, versus the punch of my old woods. Like hitting a ball with a tennis racket, as opposed to a baseball bat. Does that make any sense at all? (I'm not sure myself, now that I've typed it!)

 

Suffice to say, these are the first Mizuno clubs that I've tried, and I was impressed enough to buy them.

 

Then again, before now, every TaylorMade driver that I've ever hit has been absolutely awful, yet I ended up buying an r5 after hitting almost everything out there. I even put a couple of their Rescue clubs in the bag after trying them out against the Halo, Heavenwood, and G5 hybrids. Go figure!

 

Golf truly is a strange game!

[freddiec]

those x14s look cool. I had a set briefly a few years back. Did you do anything to them? Looks like nice finish. Did you sandblast those?, or maybe it's just the way the picture came out. ?

[easyyy]

That bag looks great and sounds to me from you post it should help you score better. Pulling the long irons seems to be a popular decision.

[parkinni]

those x14s look cool. I had a set briefly a few years back. Did you do anything to them? Looks like nice finish. Did you sandblast those?, or maybe it's just the way the picture came out. ?

 

Thanks freddiec. The X-14's are stock finish....must be the light in the room, or something. The only thing that I've changed is the colour of the sole numbers. The numbers cut in the soles of the X-14's were originally stock black paint fill, and recessed. I decided to paint fill in blue (to match the Steelhead medallion) and make the paint flush with the sole of each iron. Looks better, and is one less area to clean the dirt out of, after you finish your round. Hate the undercut cavity in the back of these irons for that very reason! Glad you like 'em.

 

BTW, how are your MP-60's? I've never tried a Mizzy iron, but I play in a Summer League with a guy who swears by his MX-23's. He has a very solid iron game, and tells me these irons are the best blend of feel and forgiveness ever. Just curious.

[animalistic]

NICE BAG PARKINNI

[freddiec]

Cool, nice work on your callaways. In regards to my mp60s, I like them a lot. I've always loved forged irons. I've only played maybe 3 or 4 rounds with these so far ( I bought them in early Oct.) and love the look and feel. They are very solid and have they typical Mizuno soft feel when you hit it right. They are also very forgiving for a forged iron. btw- I also have a set of mp32s, which are also sweet. A tad softer imo, but the Mp60s are my gamers now.

[USNHack]

Nice bag :)

[ScottWS33]

those x14s look cool. I had a set briefly a few years back. Did you do anything to them? Looks like nice finish. Did you sandblast those?, or maybe it's just the way the picture came out. ?

 

I think they are just really clean. One very careful owner I think. Nice set, all class stuff and the paint fill on the irons and wedges is sweet. :cheesy: :)

[parkinni]

I think they are just really clean. One very careful owner I think. Nice set, all class stuff and the paint fill on the irons and wedges is sweet.

 

Yeah, I do take care of my clubs. Neoprene iron covers during the round, and wash and brush up afterwards. I've always used the covers. I hate the sound of them banging together when I walk/ride, and I'd like to have the best possible chance at trade/resale. Plus, I'm a bit of a neat freak!

 

To illustrate the resale point, I paid $650 new for my Ping ISI's back in 1998 and played with them week-in, week -out, all year round (and used iron covers), until I sold them last April. Bought two small bottles of modeler's enamel paint in white and green and touched up the paint fill on them prior to listing on eBay. Set my reserve price at $225, and got $350 for them. I know that the Ping tumble finish is hard-wearing, but take a look at my auction photos (attached) and tell me if they look like they've had 7 years of regular use? Personally, I think the use of iron covers got me an extra $100 at auction, and the sale of my Pings got me 90% of the price of a new set of Callaways. What do you think?

 

BTW, thanks for noticing the paint fill on the wedges, too! The hidden FORGED+ is painted red: makes for a red,white and blue combo...relocated Brit in the US, in my case. Glad you enjoyed my WITB posting.

[stickman]

Nice Bag. Love the blue paintfill. Whered you get the iron covers.

[parkinni]

Whered you get the iron covers.

 

Thanks. I've always used Club Glove iron covers, and have their oversized neoprene model for my X-14's. They are available in 7 or 8 different colours, and in sets of 9 covers that are individually tagged for each iron 3 thru' 9, plus PW and SW. MSRP = $23. You can also get additional covers in sets of 3 tagged for your 1- and 2-irons, or GW and LW, plus a spare plain cover. You can see them here....Neoprene iron covers

[TourPro21]

very nice set-up.... i'm seriously considering dumping the long irons in favor of some more forgiving hybrids as well... did you go through an extensive demo process with those as well, or was that only for the driver/fairway woods... love the paint fill as well!!!

[parkinni]

i'm seriously considering dumping the long irons in favor of some more forgiving hybrids as well... did you go through an extensive demo process with those?

 

Not as long as I did for the driver, or fairway woods. As the hybrids were going to be replacements for my 3- and 4-irons, and being a very "visual" person, I was after something that looked good to my eye...more of a thin fairway wood, than a fat iron.

 

I play most weekends with a friend who likes to rotate different clubs through his bag all year round. He'd recently bought a TM Rescue Dual in 16*. I hit it a few times: liked the feel, but it was a Stiff flex and I hit it very low.

 

When I went to the golf store, I tried the Rescue Dual #4 (22*) in regular graphite against similar lofts in the Halo, Nickent 3DX, and Callaway Heavenwood.

 

The Heavenwood was my least favourite. Very light feel, and I didn't care for the head shape/set-up. Both the Nickent and Halo felt very good to hit. The Nickent had the sensation that I was swinging an iron, whereas the Halo felt like a fairway wood. This went against their looks, as the Halo is like an iron face with a scooped-out blob on the back, and the 3DX like a thin wood. However, they both performed well for me.

 

Overall, the Rescue Dual had the edge, as I just liked the look and the feel at impact a little better than the other two. It gives a solid 'thwack' and the ball flies away on a medium trajectory. I purchased the #4, and played with it a few days later. Used it a few times on long-ish par 3's, and playing for position on the second shot on par 5's. Chipped a couple of times using it, as well as out of the rough to advance the ball. I was so happy with it first time out, that I went back to the store a week later, and picked up the #3 (19*) too.

 

My take on hybrids is that they give you a lot more shot options than a comparable long iron. They play well off the fairway and out of the rough, plus they can substitiute for your higher-lofted fairway woods too. I'm glad that I got mine, and look forward to lots of golf with them.

[vthokie1157]

Nice bag, i like the rare combo but im sure it works well. The f-50s look awesoooome

[parkinni]

vthokie1157: I see that you like a bit of Cleveland in your bag. I'm having second thoughts about my Callaway X-14's at the moment, and wondered what you thought of the TA7's? When I sold my Ping ISI's last April, I looked at the TA7's just in passing, but didn't follow up on them as a possible replacement set. They set up at address absolutely beautifully IMO, and I'm wondering if I should revisit them now and see what I think about their playing properties......or stick with the Callaway shovels and just go get some lessons!

 

For more info, my thoughts on the X-14's and my problems are HERE