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Upgrading ball/mapping clubs

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Mon, Jun 20 2016 4:37 PM (5 replies)
  • MrFunnyWobbl
    894 Posts
    Mon, Jun 20 2016 2:10 PM

    As they always do, WGT got me with the rental weekend (I know I spend a ton on this game, but I don't spend anything on any other hobbies so eh) and I bought a new driver, irons, and 3WD. I'm thinking now is a good time to map my clubs properly, or atleast my irons, because my iron play is very poor since moving up to legend, and I'm basically guessing for every shot with wind and backspin factored in. Does anyone have a spreadsheet I can borrow? 

     

    Also, I'm thinking maybe now is also a good time to upgrade to a new ball with the new clubs. I'm thinking a 400 or 500 credit ball. Preferably one with good spin. I'm struggling with like Congressional 7 and holes with lots of roll out and uphill. I'm open to suggestions on balls, been looking at the Nike level 70 or 71. 

    I'd like to spend a good bit of money now and improve my game and try to get into the competitive scene if I can. I'm still really bad with my irons, spin and wind. 

  • bubbsboy
    6,879 Posts
    Mon, Jun 20 2016 2:29 PM

    Have you ever looked at the website the club you are in have ?

    There`s some great tips on there.

  • MrFunnyWobbl
    894 Posts
    Mon, Jun 20 2016 2:36 PM

    bubbsboy:

    Have you ever looked at the website the club you are in have ?

    There`s some great tips on there.

    A handful of times. I've gotten a lot of good info off of there. 

  • Wheels65
    744 Posts
    Mon, Jun 20 2016 4:24 PM

    I will post write a second post in this thread addressing your issue with wind offset and power. This will address your question about which ball and offer some advice about club mapping.

    It is not my intention to "talk down" to you - you've been here a while so you're not a "newbie". At the same time, the fact that you've made Legend without mapping your clubs tells me that you are one hack of a fine player (also says you have more patience than I do - 'guesstimating' what my clubs would do would drive me nuts!) If you find this too simplistic, just ignore it - I hope that it will help someone!

    First, the ball: There have to be over 100 pages of opinions about various balls in this Forum. Maybe another 50 or so on the affect of spin on accuracy. A "consensus summary" says that the greater the amount of back spin the larger deviation(s) under all wind conditions.  Generally, the balls offering the most spin (and distance) are a little more expensive.  If your clubs aren't the "absolute best", why spend big $ for balls that require the best clubs to take advantage of the balls' characteristics?

    The ball that you are using, the Callaway 53 is a good one but the durability is 2. This means that you will get around 100 shots out of it over it's lifetime (drive/wood/iron/wedge shots).
    A lot of pretty good players have been singing the praises of the Callaway 33 for years. It costs 250 credits with a durability of 2.5 and its performance is said to be about the most
    consistent in the PRO Shop. 

    I would recommend the Cally 33. But whatever you choose, STICK with it. Don't go jumping around changing balls all the time. The PGA Pros don't do this, why would you?  If you stick with 1 ball, your club mapping will be beneficial. (SAY WHAT?) OK each ball has its own set of peculiarities. Mapping your clubs with a Cally 33, then jumping to a Nike 92 RZN Platinum Vapor Ball and expecting the same performance is crazy (and it won't be the BIG BAD VEM causing your shots to wander all over the course).

    As for club mapping - again volumes written about the process. To map the clubs go to 1 course (BPB Back 9), practice game, low wind (still hoping WGT will give us a 'no wind' option), with your ball of choice. Get on the fairway, choose the club, choose the spin, DING it toward the pin. Now record how far it traveled when it hit the ground and how far it rolled to the stop. When the screen moves for the next shot: pull the aiming triangle back toward to Tee box (i.e. direction opposite to your first shot). Choose the same club & spin - DING it back up the course & record "air travel" and ground roll.  Average the numbers to cancel the effect of wind and record them on your 'Club Map". If you don't DING it, your numbers will not be quite as accurate. This is a boring & expensive exercise (I used over 2 sleeves to map my irons).


    When I mapped my clubs I recorded results with Full Top Spin, No Spin, and Full Back Spin - at "FULL" power" and at "PUNCH". I have found that the Full Top Spin numbers are worthless & will not do that when I get new irons.


    For the Wedges, I also included numbers for Pitch, Chip, and Flop. Your wedges are going to be super sensitive to spin. Full Top Spin is meaningful with your wedges.

    Lot's said - hope some of it helps!

  • Wheels65
    744 Posts
    Mon, Jun 20 2016 4:27 PM

    Once you have chosen a ball, and mapped your clubs it's time to look at judging wind offset a how much power to employ to snug he ball up to the pin.

    A few years ago a player named "Daddyskat" gave me one of the biggest gifts that I have received on this website.  She wrote a program to help calculate the distance, wind offset, % power to use with your clubs.

    To preempt argument from the "PURISTS", WGT knows all about "Kat's Calculator" and has NO heartburn with it - it is not one of the infamous 'cheat programs' that some players like to cry about because they never mapped their clubs and cannot figure out how others play better than they do. (Bet that draws a few rockets!)

    (Sorry about the cut & paste problem below - this PIA messaging system always gives me hives)

    The actual program is located here:
    https://drive.google.com/folderview?id=0B8zXgJL4jcQeaEI1NHBRc2N4c1E&usp=sharing

    You would be wise to read what it is about in the Forum before trying to use it.

     The link in the Forum for this is here:
    http://www.wgt.com/forums/t/225751.aspx?PageIndex=1

    Once you have downloaded the program, you will have to input a "Full" and a "Punch" value for each of your clubs. You will also need to provide the program with info about your ball (Spin & Distance Ratings) and Irons (Precision & Spin Ratings).

    Again, it will help if you read the Forum discussion about the program to get an idea of how it works.

    For each shot you will enter: wind direction, (average) wind speed, distance to the pin, elevation difference at the pin.

    The program will tell you which club to use, how much power you will need to strike the ball and direction and distance of your offset aim point.

    Have fun & good luck!!

  • YankeeJim
    25,827 Posts
    Mon, Jun 20 2016 4:37 PM

    MrFunnyWobbl:
    Does anyone have a spreadsheet I can borrow?

    Gamers use spreadsheets, golfers learn the carry of their iron/ball combo. You need to know what each of your irons carries without spin. The 33 Callaway mentioned above is a great value, has more than enough spin and distance for you and won't break the bank. You don't need $4-$5 balls, save your coin.

    Learn that carry number and then use spin to control what happens after the ball lands. Trying to learn clubs using spin is counterproductive and will just lead to frustration. You need to know where the ball is going to land before you can figure out anything. GL

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