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What should I look for

Thu, Jan 2 2014 7:18 PM (15 replies)

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mathia14

1,271 Posts

Fri, Dec 20 2013 5:35 AM

What do you look for when looking at clubs in the pro shop? I'm confussed.

MainzMan

9,591 Posts

Fri, Dec 20 2013 11:57 AM

OK, there are several attributes a club can have and they vary from club to club.

All clubs have precision. This indicates how close to the aiming point the ball will finish assuming you hit the ding and either have no wind or allow exactly enough for it.

All clubs also have forgiveness. This indicates how much off target the ball will finish when you miss the ding. The more forgiveness the club has, the less off line the ball will go when you miss the ding.

All clubs apart from putters have shot shaping. Ignore this, it hasn't been developed yet. Presumably the intention was to allow us to play fade or draw on shots.

In place of shot shaping putters have balance. This supposedly indicates how well a putt will hold it's line. Pretty similar to precision as far as I can tell.

All clubs apart from putters also have spin. Self explanatory really. More spin will let you hit the ball right to the hole and stop it dead or, mostly with wedges, back it up a bit. Or a lot.

You also have different lofts. High loft will get blown around more by the wind, low loft will keep the ball low and will cut through the wind better. For irons high loft is better as you'll be able to stop the ball quicker on the green.

The meter indicator is like a speedometer. The further round the meter the indicator is the faster the meter speed for those clubs/that club is. Pointing at 9 o'clock is slowest, at 3 o'clock would be fastest. Not that any club has such a fast meter.

I think I covered everything, no doubt someone will chime in if I didn't.

Wheels65

744 Posts

Fri, Dec 20 2013 2:18 PM

Very good summary.

The question is how do you play and how much do you have to spend? If you can afford better equipment, it can help you - but only if you have the skill to use it correctly.

Are you having trouble with the meter speed (thus the slow meter max ball)? The only way to sharpen your reflexes to "ding" the ball is practice. Play non-ranked, practice rounds with the free WGT ball. Hit it, take a 'mulligan' & hit it again - keep doing this until you can get a little closer to the 'ding'. Then consider looking at a little better ball - a lot of us use the Callaway 33 - it isn't too dear but it offers a reasonable meter speed and pretty good (predictable) performance. The Max slow balls are simply too expensive to use unless you really cannot master a faster meter.

You're using a L86 TM driver - it has a fairly fast meter (12 o'clock) & isn't all that forgiving - Recommend that you consider the L83 Cally X - more forgiving & slower meter or hold out for the L89 SLDR (really good driver).

Would recommend that you consider the L85 Nike VR forged Iron set- the specs on these clubs indicate that they are as good as more costly ones - If I wasn't saving for higher level clubs, I'd buy these myself.

You do not need a hybrid club.

Some would argue about whether or not to include a fairway wood in your bag - I would rather have 4 wedges but no fairway wood. I might be sacrificing the opportunity for eagles at a few of the longer holes but am willing to settle for the birdies that I get with the wedges.

Wedges - some like Callaway, this forum indicates that the TM wedges may be a bit more 'controllable' - you've got Max -each to his own!

Clubs & accuracy. WGT offers us some figures as to what to expect from our clubs in terms of distance. I have found their figures interesting but inaccurate. If you want to improve your game, you must learn how your clubs behave (preferably when you "ding" them). Go to BPB back 9. Pick a ball & hit it back and forth to get an average distance that each club will produce. Do this for No-spin, full back-spin, & full top-spin (all at 100% power). Also do this for the "PUNCH" on your irons. In addition, for your wedges -get averages for chip, pitch & flop, shots.

This is probably more than you were asking and I'm not the best player in WGT (BY A LONG SHOT!!). Others will probably want to correct my mistakes & that's not a problem. Find a few good people in your CC and ask them for help - that will probably be the best advice that anyone can give you!!

ApexPC

3,164 Posts

Fri, Dec 20 2013 2:34 PM

mathia14:

What do you look for when looking at clubs in the pro shop? I'm confussed.

Pro Shop

Avg. Distance: Displays the average distance the ball will travel when hit at full strength on a flat surface and with no wind

Trajectory: Indicates the general height of the ball flight

Precision: Defines generally how close to the aiming point the ball will land based on where you hit on the swing meter

Forgiveness: Displays how much Distance and Precision the ball will lose if not hit perfectly

Shot Shaping: Displays the level of "workability" of the club to move the ball left or right during flight

Spin: Defines the level of spin the club will transfer to the ball. A ball with more spin will stop faster on the green

Meter Speed: Indicates the speed at which the swing meter moves, with 5 being the fastest

JDShoemaker

209 Posts

Fri, Dec 20 2013 2:53 PM

I agree with the 4 wedge concept whole hartedly!!! BUT, I ditched my sand wedge and hybrird for another wedge and I still carry a 3W which I would Not play without out. 25 yds between clubs from a fairway lie is just to much for my taste.

mathia14

1,271 Posts

Fri, Dec 20 2013 3:13 PM

But how do I choose??? Which is more important???

MainzMan

9,591 Posts

Fri, Dec 20 2013 9:54 PM

mathia14:

But how do I choose??? Which is more important???

Basically go for the highest level clubs available to you with the most dots. Precision is the most important one in my opinion. For irons a high trajectory is also a priority. Good spin is important and try to keep the meter speed roughly the same throughout your clubs.

Based on your level I'd suggest:

Driver. Wait 2 levels and get the SLDR.

3 wood. Not really anything wrong with the one you have as far as I know. Consider getting the R11 one, they're not expensive if you realise it was a mistake. Or rent it. We're probably due a new 3 wood some time soon so maybe hold onto what you have and see if something comes along in the new year. With all those new drivers surely a matching wood isn't far away?

Hybrid. Throw it away.

Irons. Easy, Nike at level 85.

Wedges. Depends how much you want to spend. My recommendation would be the 3 ATV wedges between levels 86 and 89 but they are pretty pricey. You can save a bit by getting the Clevelands, I used to carry the 60, 80 and 100 yard ones, they cover pretty much every distance you need.

Putter. Yours is just fine.

To be honest though, that gear from your tees is making the game ridiculously easy. I think I had Raptures when I played off the pro tees, if you fill your bag with the list I've given you you don't have much excuse for failing to break 60/30 every round.

You should be doing that with what you already have really. If your scores aren't good you might be better reading some of the game play threads here, that will improve your game more than a bag full of new clubs.