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Planning new equipment

• Stefano0178 200 Posts

  Tue, Oct 7 2014 9:20 AM

  Hi all.

  First of all, forgive my english.

  Having reached Master Tier, I noticed that my equipment starts to be insufficient in some areas.

  I'm ok with the Driver for now (the R11 is still good enough even for long par 5), the 3 Wood (also R11) is really good for me at the moment. Both have been a good choice for my style of playing this beautiful game.

  Now I need to concentrate, I think, on short game and irons. For the wedges I'm using the SnakeEyes, bought long time ago just because they were cheap and slightly better than the starter ones (at least with standard balls). I still have my starter irons which are beginning to be a bit "short" in distance for long irons, and so little accurate for shorts.

  Since I'm quite fond with Taylormade (virtually, I never played real golf unfortunately), I was thinking of buying the R11 Iron Sets and the ATV Wedges. I rented both the R11 and the i25 irons, and found myself a bit more at ease with the R11.

  About the wedges I'm a bit confused between the ATV and the Cleveland ones.

  Since we're talking about a lot of credits (and therefore probably money) I'd like some opinions of what buy first, or if you think it's better to wait some more level. I don't think I'll ever have "free" credits from tournaments to buy them without putting real money in...

  Thanks in advance for any suggestion!

   

• alosso 21,073 Posts

  Tue, Oct 7 2014 10:23 AM

  I agree, Master is a big step to back tees with longer tracks and(!) longer roughs in front of the tees.

  All parts of the equipment have their influence on the game, but it helps to sort out the weaknesses and the options of your 48 level.

  Spider putter and Snake wedges, while not brilliant, look good enough for now - keep them!

  If you say driver and 3WD are o.k., verify this on the demanding courses. On KIA there is some water to be crossed, and on MER there are escalated stretches of rough to the FW. Are you o.k. there? Then keep them metal woods!

  No doubt about the deepest weakness, the Starters. Don't care about the Hybrid, most of us drop it for a third wedge eventually.

  But, replace those irons!!

  Best clubs in the vincinity are the G25s @lvl59 (88,000 XPs), good reachable irons are the R11 of lvl 32.

  Happy hitting!

• Stefano0178 200 Posts

  Tue, Oct 7 2014 10:42 AM

  Hi, and thanks for the answer.

  About the 10.5 Driver and the 3W, I'm still able to use them. On the courses you mentioned, in some of the longest holes, I need to use the 3W because the Driver would take me over the rough (not having enough power to fly over it). In that case I play conservatively, using the 3W and doing a 2 shot fairway (this is usually on par 5, obviously).

  I'll have a look at the G25@59 specs, just to understand if it's better to wait until 59 or go now for the R11 - which I tried and, honestly, loved, but I was still a Pro, so different story... 

  Until I don't change the irons, I think I can't put aside my Hybrid. 190 yards are needed when the 3I is only 180 and the 3W is 227. Am I wrong?

• 777999 2,111 Posts

  Tue, Oct 7 2014 2:01 PM

  At level 48 you are getting close to being eligible for some really nice club sets, but I'd counsel you to wait just a few more levels until you qualify for some of the higher level clubs/sets.  Please keep in mind that if you by a full club set, that will limit you to only a choice of only 2 additional wedges, so I'd personally recommend you purchase your Irons and wedges separately.  I know this will cost you extra credits, but it will allow you more flexibility and  allow for an much easier upgrade as you level up even further.  For my money at least nothing beets the Cleveland Wedges, and while I know some swear by the ATV's I personally find them substandard and a waste of money.  The higher level Ping Raptors are a very nice set and I personally used them until reaching Tour Master.  Also the R1 is the way to go if I may, the R11's meter is way to fast and leads to far to may missed Fairways.  Another factor to consider is the ball you play, try and find one with a good distance, descent spin and durability and most of all that will fit your budget.  Well that the best advise I can offer you, but patience is a virtue!!!

  Phil  aka., Coyote

   

• Stefano0178 200 Posts

  Tue, Oct 7 2014 11:23 PM

  double post

• Stefano0178 200 Posts

  Wed, Oct 8 2014 9:35 AM

  Hi Phil, and thanks for sharing your suggestions.

  I actually use the Hex Chrome balls (L37 yellow ones) and I find them amazing, but since I play a lot, durability is quite an issue for me, so I decided to play normaly with the free balls and use the Hex only "when it counts". I scored some decent number with the free balls, so for now I'm good.

  The R11 driver for me is not representing a problem, I usually end in the fairway, but the R1 will probably be the logical next move until I can reach the top ones.

  I've rented the Max Iron Sets (Max Meter, level 47+), and I'm very disappointed. I understand why they did the slow meter, because if it happens that you miss the ding, your shot will be at least 20 yards shorter. I tried a round on best of par 4, ended in bunker 4 out of 5 holes (one didn't have bunkers, and I ended up in the rough!).

  The R11 have a faster meter, but hey, they will not lose so much yardage on a missed ding, at least on my personal experience after having rented them.

  At this point I'll probably wait for the G25@59+, but lacking an Iron which goes over 180 yards, I'm forced to keep my Hybrid in the bag to reach some hole or going out the rough on long fairways when any other option would mean a short landing and a bogey.

  So, for what I've understood til now, my route should be something like:

  Wait a bit longer, buy one of the 50+ iron sets and go for Cleveland wedges (54-60-64) after it.

• alosso 21,073 Posts

  Wed, Oct 8 2014 11:26 AM

  Sounds like a good plan, and perhaps there is a reasonable hybrid available to free you of that crappy Starter?

  Another idea is to downgrade the balls, since the qualities of those Callies are spoiled with the Starter irons. Try the Tour-SD @64 cr/sleeve.

• Stefano0178 200 Posts

  Wed, Oct 8 2014 11:46 AM

  To be honest, the Hybrid is not so crappy given the fact that I use it in only a few holes (RSG first par3, KIA, and a couple of others, or in some specific rescue situation (like St. Andrews first Par5 if I miss the FW).

  I'll give a try to the Tour-SD. I bought the Callies because having the standard irons with almost no spin, I tought it was a good idea to buy something that could compensate the lack of spin on the irons. So far, I can make the ball stops rather quickly even with the standard irons. Let see what the Tour-SD can do with the starters, then :)

• alosso 21,073 Posts

  Wed, Oct 8 2014 12:17 PM

  The SD certainly have less spin than the Callies, but they cost much less.

• Stefano0178 200 Posts

  Thu, Oct 23 2014 4:12 AM

  So, now I am 60, and have to decide where to go.

  This is my shopping list, with first choice and (second Choice) in order of priority:

  - Taylormade R11 Iron Set L32 (Ping G25 Iron Set L59)

  - Taylormade Wedges ATV (Cleveland CG16 - i'm worried by the backspin here)

  - Taylormade R1 Driver (Ping G25 Driver L58)

  I think that I'll be forced to change wedges immediately after irons, to match the gap in distance from the PW to the Snake-eye 56° (70 yards)

  I'm really open to suggestion. The 3.5 meter for Irons is not a big issue, I'm used to the R11 Driver and 3 Wood meter speed.