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Re: Can I get a little advice friends please?

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Sun, Oct 20 2013 10:12 AM (7 replies)
  • gdog8
    1,356 Posts
    Thu, Oct 17 2013 7:45 AM

    Signed up over 4+ years ago never really played.  Just started playing consistently 3 months ago.  Just a couple of questions.  Hope this is the right place to ask for help and guidance as this is my first ever post in the forum.  Appreciate any help or advice you wise old sages of the game can confer to me thank you in advance.  Question number 1. I'm going to upgrade to the level 90 TM Irons when I get there are they playable with free balls?  So far I have been only using the free balls.  I'm not  a very good player and Bethpage holes #5,7, and 9 are giving me real fits I cant  seem to birdie them on a consistent enough basis to post a low # on the front 9, any tips or suggestions would also be of great help  here and asking if it is possible as well using the  free balls?  Thanks again for any help or suggestions-Gdog8

  • PaulTon
    10,731 Posts
    Thu, Oct 17 2013 7:57 AM

    This is just my experience, but the R-11 irons meter is way too fast (warp factor 3) to use starter balls with.

    I use them with the basic lvl33 250 credit callaways. They have 2 1/2 dots of feel   ( the more feel dots, the slower the meter) anything less than that is unplayable for me.

    The irons themselves are excellent and matched with balls that suit you, they are deadly.

  • YankeeJim
    25,827 Posts
    Thu, Oct 17 2013 9:22 AM

    gdog8:
    I'm going to upgrade to the level 90 TM Irons when I get there

    Why? The irons you have are just fine, made Legend with the G10 version of them myself as did a ton of others. You're not buying a score with new stuff, just different tools that you're going to have to learn anyway and not even the R11s can stop that free ball.

    However, you don't have to break the bank to get a decent ball-the G1-SD or the Tour-SD are really cheap but give you way more than what you have now. I liked the 65 credit Tour-SD because of the fast meter so that might be your first try. (Sent you some.) In fact, I would bet that those balls will get you birdie chances on those 3 holes you mentioned.

    On those 3 holes, play for par. You have great wedges-lay up to where you can use them instead of trying to make heroic approaches. You can still shoot a 29.

     :-)

  • coinkeeper1
    23 Posts
    Thu, Oct 17 2013 10:22 PM

    I can't even hit the meter on starter balls with G20's.

  • ZioMio
    4,680 Posts
    Fri, Oct 18 2013 12:34 AM

    gdog8:
    level 90 TM Irons when I get there are they playable with free balls?  So far I have been only using the free balls

     

    I made it to legend using the free ball. The L90 TM were easier to hit then the L79 Blades with the free ball. If that ball is all you've used, you should be ok up to legend. Then a better ball is a must for distance. As YankeeJim states the cheaper WGT balls do help with feel and distance. I'm using the GI3-S now, the feel is good with the L90 TM.

  • fatdan
    3,379 Posts
    Fri, Oct 18 2013 2:00 AM

    Like Jim said #5 and #7 be happy with a par and the occasional birdie on #7 when the pin is left....

    Now to me #9 is one of the 3 easiest holes on the front 9...the green is so flat a 20 ft putt is straight in...just try to get in the vicinity of the pin...

  • alosso
    21,094 Posts
    Fri, Oct 18 2013 3:38 AM

    Interestingly, ##7 and 9 have the same distance from blue and black tees. Only at #5, there's a 27 yds advantage for Masters and TMs.

    At #5, I have a difficult time to hold the green from the tips, admittedly with second-best equipment. Top equipment from the shorter tees may help to get the ball close.

    #7 is "the longest Par 4 in the US Open rotation", so WGT says. AFAIK, it's a Par 5 in public play. Again, I'm challenged to get close on approach, a headwind may take any chance to achieve a GIR.

    #9: Here, too, I find it difficult to hold the green. Best chances are when I can pass the bunker on the left side, close to the trees. With my R1 driver I can do it if there's no headwind.

    Challenging holes they are, as well as ##10-12 on the back nine, #15 being a treat of it's own.

  • zzturk
    150 Posts
    Sun, Oct 20 2013 10:12 AM

    The best irons for pure performance (if swing meter speed is no problem) IMO are the lvl 90 TM irons you covet, but they will make the starter balls' meters "fly"!

    You indicate that it would be a problem, so I recommend that you work your way into better golf balls for better scores (WGT's brainchild and revenue provider).

    What makes these irons better is their higher trajectory whereby you can expect to shoot longer with less "after roll", but the balls make all the difference in the world!

    I suggest you try medium quality balls with good "feel" ratings, such as the (2 1/2 ball) GI 3D and the GI 3S (94 cr and 99 cr respectively). If you need free credits and do not wish to fill out surveys, there are videos to watch. They eat up time but deliver points consistently whereas the rotating view panels are for "views" and take longer to deliver increments of 75 Credits (for 100 views: the best ratio).

    The reason I suggested these two balls is that they play remarkably close to the number and you can play the full reverse spin on 3-pw iron approaches without drawing the ball back off the green. (In rare heavy face wind, you might move the backspin dot closer to neutral so the ball doesn't ride up into the wind and drop too short, especially if clearing water or bunkers.)

    On Beth 5, don't aim over the bunker unless you fell POSITIVE that you will clear it! The front PIN position is a sucker one because virtually nothing on shot two that reaches the green will hold it. Practice your flop and short max loft wedges after overshooting green in 2 if going for back PIN location, but that would be for eagle!

    Beth 7 is an SOB for anyone, requiring super precision on front right PIN and exacting aim for the longer left back PIN. Learn your after roll number for this shot!

    Beth 9, like 5, holds the same rule - don't play over that corner dogleg bunker unless you are positive that you can clear it on the fly! On the left PIN approach, putts are better than chips, so make sure to reach green! On the right PIN position, it looks tougher than it plays and I often take 2-3 yds off my "number" successfully.  I have tapped that flagstick often, dropping two for eagle.

    Bethpage is a perfect testing ground for these new irons!

    One last note of warning about #9 - when trying to clear that dogleg, even if you have enough driver, an early hit (meaning hook) can land you in some nasty 80-90 rough, that risk is not worth the reward.

    Good luck!

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