MartyFlanagan:
anyone have the starter clubs mapped, i went in blind and had a bad round +13 i think, i had an 8 on the first, didnt know what to do with the putter, just the 2 birdies, i have no idea where the clubs land etc with these clubs and ball?
also is there any point using backspin with these clubs, does it do anything to the carry distance or anything?
Hey Marty I play the starters a heck of a lot. First rule I use from the fairway is the irons will carry the distance of the next shorter club. ie... the 160 yard iron will carry 150 yards(the next shorter iron). Once they hit the greens with full back spin they'll roll out to the rated distance in equal conditions, little wind and flat greens. Off the tee box like hitting to par 3's the irons will carry about 5 yards short of rated distance and the backspin almost works a little bit. The 3H carries about 175-180 depending on wind and elevation then rolls out to rated distance.
One thing to keep in mind for this round one is green speed on every shot will roll out even further. The way I play these Tourneys is to try to only par each hole. I rarely go for the stick and I always over play the lies and side winds. RSG is an old course so playing short of the greens is always better than off the backs.
As far as the starter wedges I love them around the greens. I've practiced a heck of a lot with these clubs and they really work as long as you have the right frame of mind. Every shot will roll out a lot so we have to forget our good clubs and play a new(old) way. For Champ Speed greens I convert yards to feet and use my putting formulas for chip shots.
If you had shots carry way short it might have been from an uphill lie. They clubs really lose carry distance on up hills much worse than our good sticks. Adding 2 or 3 clubs becomes normal uphill. Also, down hill lies will carry at least a club short( remember that's nearly 2 clubs or 20 yards) then bound forward a heck of a lot. Bunkers eat up downhill lie shots here so playing to the sides of greens away from the pins can save strokes.
Like anything, it takes a lot of practice time to get used to these sticks. GL to everyone yet to play and thanks so much to the members who've taken one in the teeth already. Round two isn't going to be any easier. The extra yardage from the 3rd tees will be a major factor. Course management and simply saving pars is all we can hope for.