The essential/official golf thread!

Midnite Mick

ledhed wrote:

There is nothing better than selecting your own shafts and grips to put throughout your clubs to get a more consistent feel. Some of my first clubs were the little kid Golfsmiths that my dad made (I was a wee tyke). I redid the grips on my Irons awhile back - talk about wearing out your thumbs, mine went numb after awhile from rolling back and peeling off the grips. It's also a plus being able to perfectly size the shaft of the club.

The nice thing about doing your own grips is that you can apply the grip tape in a manner that makes it easier to remove the next time. Even up here I change my grips every year as well have a host of customers that I do the same to. Down there where you can golf year round should probably do it twice a year if you golf a lot. The feel of a fresh grip is very nice when golfing.

Just a tip. When applying grip tape....use the narrower grip tape and apply it length wise on the shaft rather than wrapping it around. That stuff is so strong you have no worry about slippage. That way when you remove it you just apply a heat gun for 10 seconds and it just peels right off clean. In clubmaking there is about a 10 inch hollow metal tube that you fit on the heat gun and it allows you to heat the entire tape area for easy removal.

Mike

edit: oops I thought you meant the tape. The grip you simply slit the length of it with a hook blade using a utility knife. These are the blades that roofers use as well. Just peel it right off.

Shizelbs

What balls do you guys play? I've been playing Bridgestone e6s and some Stratas. I like the Bridgestones, but they are kind of pricey.

swerve

callaway hx hot - pricey but they have a good soft feel to them

Midnite Mick

I tend to prefer a softer high spin ball still myself. The trend lately has been towards low spin balls but I guess I don't generate enough club head speed so I still prefer the high spin ones for bite and control.

Mike

shack

Midnite Mick wrote:

The nice thing about doing your own grips is that you can apply the grip tape in a manner that makes it easier to remove the next time. Even up here I change my grips every year as well have a host of customers that I do the same to. Down there where you can golf year round should probably do it twice a year if you golf a lot. The feel of a fresh grip is very nice when golfing.

Just a tip. When applying grip tape....use the narrower grip tape and apply it length wise on the shaft rather than wrapping it around. That stuff is so strong you have no worry about slippage. That way when you remove it you just apply a heat gun for 10 seconds and it just peels right off clean. In clubmaking there is about a 10 inch hollow metal tube that you fit on the heat gun and it allows you to heat the entire tape area for easy removal.

Mike

edit: oops I thought you meant the tape. The grip you simply slit the length of it with a hook blade using a utility knife. These are the blades that roofers use as well. Just peel it right off.

I quit using grip tape and solvent a couple of years ago. I use a compresser and use the air pressure to get them off and on. No mess, easy and they never slip.

shack

Shizelbs wrote:

What balls do you guys play? I've been playing Bridgestone e6s and some Stratas. I like the Bridgestones, but they are kind of pricey.

Titleist NXT Tour during the summer, Pinnacle Exception during the winter (lower compression).

daboyz

Just about to turn 40 soon so that would put me at 31 years of frustration!

Driver: TaylorMade 540XD
3 wood: Titleist 975f
5 wood: Onyx
3-Wedge: Titleist 690 CB
Sand and lob: Cleveland TSC
Putter:MacGregor V-Foil
Balls: LARGE
Seriously: Titleist NXT Tour and Callaway HX Hot
God, forgot my TaylorMade rescue club
This is another source of upgradeitis for me. Wish I could play more,climate and job are major obstacles. I have a double strap bag but mostly walk with cart.

daboyz

Shizelbs, I played Stratas for awhile but much prefer Callaway HX Hot, better feel and distance. Try them, you won't go back to Stratas. Hell, 22 bucks a dozen is a bargain.

TennesseeOutlaw

I dont play all that much anymore.. I played in HS and some after, but I just dont have the want to pay the ridiculous green fees.. I have Taylor Made woods and old school Ping Zing 2's irons.. (Clubs are 4 sale to)

ledhed

shack wrote:

I quit using grip tape and solvent a couple of years ago. I use a compresser and use the air pressure to get them off and on. No mess, easy and they never slip.

Do you just apply air to the vent at the top?

I do apply it lengthwise, my dad never told me about a heat gun...
I believe it was just the age of the grips. I slit them vertically but they were still pretty rough to get off.

shack

ledhed wrote:

Do you just apply air to the vent at the top?

http://www.clubmaker-online.com/arnie.gripblow.html

markmarc

I play with whatever decent ball I find while looking for my current shot. Except when I play in the occasional tournament and get a sleeve or two. I still have a preference for Titleist, as over the years they seem to have the most consistent feel.

As with you Tennessee, I played on the HS golf team, but I never could quite harness my talent and temper. Only after HS did I give up drop-kicking clubs (never in HS tournaments) and start enjoying the game. I went so far as to play in a cowboy hat and barefeet to reconnect to enjoying the game. Actually managed to get my handicap down to a four. But marriage, and a serious lack of funds ended my glory days of playing.

I'd kill to be able to play once a week, as I really miss the rhythm of a regular game and what it does for my tempo on and off the course.

Systems

markmarc wrote:

Actually managed to get my handicap down to a four.

a four thats pretty damn good.I' m about a 12-15

markmarc

Well, it ain't even close to that now. Not enough playtime to have a groove in my swing. Plus due to hand tremors, putting has become an amusing spectacle.

Systems

markmarc wrote:

putting has become an amusing spectacle.

I can MISS the 2 footers as good as anyone ,except for maybe Phil Michelson when he gets rattled by Tiger.:D

Midnite Mick

shack wrote:

I quit using grip tape and solvent a couple of years ago. I use a compresser and use the air pressure to get them off and on. No mess, easy and they never slip.

I remember seeing that advertised in my email before but never really gave it much credibility and didn't really take it seriously. Maybe I will have to look into it further.

Thanks,
Mike

ledhed

shack wrote:

http://www.clubmaker-online.com/arnie.gripblow.html

So, no special equipment to buy? Awesome. Now I have a better reason to upgrade to Winn (I wish I played enough to justify those...)

Midnite Mick

I never liked working with Winn grips either. I have torn a few in the past during installation. Now I always heat them a bit with heat gun prior to sliding them on.

Mike

ledhed

My dad put one on his Ping Craz-e putter and I don't think he had any problems. I love the things - no need for a glove.

Midnite Mick

The problem with Winn grip is fine tuning the sizing. If you add a couple of layers of buildup tape the underlisting isn't all that flexible and is difficult to put on the shaft. That's why I heat it to soften it a little....makes it a little easier.

Mike

shack

I don't care much for Winn grips although I do have one on my putter. I use Golf Pride Tour Velvet grips (regrip about once a year). They are pretty basic and inexpensive but they work well for my game. I never use any sort of "wrap" style grip. I tried them years ago and then again a couple of years ago and just don't like them.

ahorvitz

Midnite Mick wrote:

The problem with Winn grip is fine tuning the sizing. If you add a couple of layers of buildup tape the underlisting isn't all that flexible and is difficult to put on the shaft. That's why I heat it to soften it a little....makes it a little easier.

Mike

Exactly... I like an extra wrap, so I'm loyal to Lamkin

I wish I could play more, but the season is short here and even then, it's tough to get out. Once a 3 handicap, I only play 10-12 times a year these days and play to a 10 now.

Driver- Titleist 983K w/Speeder XS shaft
3W- Callaway Steelhead 3+ w/steel shaft
2I-PW- Tommy Armour 845
GW, SW- Titleist Vokey
Putter- Ping Anser

Balls- anything that feels soft... love the Pro-V1, but rarely buy them

Midnite Mick

shack wrote:

I don't care much for Winn grips although I do have one on my putter. I use Golf Pride Tour Velvet grips (regrip about once a year). They are pretty basic and inexpensive but they work well for my game. I never use any sort of "wrap" style grip. I tried them years ago and then again a couple of years ago and just don't like them.

The tour velvet is the most popular grip I do.

Mike

AndyGwis

I prefer the Lamkin standard cord grip (the black and white one). The scotty I picked up off ebay has a blue, really thick Winn grip. Still getting used to the girth. . .

I can't wait to be better. I went from a 100+ to mid 90's last year with a couple 9-hole efforts around 42.

Can't wait to be in the 80's this summer and hopefully even lower next. I finally understand my swing; kind of.

TroyD

I actually like the Winn grip on my driver, my only gripe is that they wear quickly. For everything else, I prefer the standard Golf Pride Victory grips.

I prefer Titleist Professional 90's, they have been OOP for a few years but a shop in Myrtle Beach had a boatload of logo overruns so I stocked up awhile ago. Since then I like the Maxfli Noodle, decent and cheap (and since I'm not playing as much can't justify the cost of more expensive balls)

BDT

TennesseeOutlaw

I usually play with the driving range balls. As I pass by it on hole #2 I stock up on those priceless beauties.. LOL

AndyGwis

HAHA!

I'm a "whatever's left in my bag" type of ball player. Usually, I'll hit the marketing closet at work after we host a golf tourney and stock up on some company logo-ed Nike balls. Not very good, but free!

We did golf gloves last year for guests of our tourney, so I took a years worth of those, too.

edbert

I love to play golf! I got some new wedges, a driver and some shoes for Christmas. I have yet to try any of it out yet, but I will soon enough. I can't wait for the weather to get nicer so I have more opportunities to play.

del44

Like most of you, I really love the game. Been playing for about 25 years, and left handed. Every year I play in a Tuesday night mens league. gives me a chance to get away once-a-week. When I'm playing 18 holes I usually shoot in the 80's. Any hotter than that and I don't like playing.:D

Midnite Mick

BOOOOOOOOOO:D

Mike