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So, where do we go from here?

• MainzMan 9,593 Posts

  Thu, Dec 22 2011 7:19 AM

  Im now only about 3 days away from a set of R11 irons which has got me wondering what delights we're likely to be offered in the future.

  As I see it a better set of irons is going to be a problem.  If the R11 really are so much better than the Burner 2 then it's hard to see how any future releases can offer much improvement without spoiling the game.  Scores are already pretty crazy with a 49 probably due some time soon.  If the next set of irons go one step beyond the R11 then it's going to get silly.  That's assuming it hasn't already become silly.

  It has been suggested, and I tend to agree, that each new iron released is really only as good as the previous best.  This old best iron has it's stats altered to make it less precise or forgiving than it was at release.  There are of course many critics of this theory but realistically the irons can't keep getting better and better, the game will be the worse for it if they do.

  What I'd like to see is a new set of irons (driver and 3 wood too) that hit the ball further than any other, have very high precision and spin but low forgiveness and a maxed out meter.  If the rewards for hitting the ball right are high it's only fair that a missed ding is punuished harshly.  Players will have a choice; use slightly inferior clubs that you can be pretty sure of hitting well or go for the Formula 1 of irons knowing that if you get it wrong it's going to be nasty.   You can still be very competitive with the slower meter gear but the new fast meter stuff might shave a shot or two off your round.  Or it might be a disaster.   There needs to be that element of risk.

  Obviously WGT has to keep offering new gear to keep the $$$ rolling in but it's getting hard to see where they can go.  Can we really expect wedges that perform better than the Clevelands to come along some time?  Hard to imagine somehow.

• YankeeJim 25,827 Posts

  Thu, Dec 22 2011 8:04 AM

  The difference between the R11s and the Burners isn't as big as you think. They're better but in subtle ways that take a while to appreciate. As long as there's faster meter room my guess is that future clubs are going to be faster metered, at least. That would certainly make them harder to use. Those dots are filling up pretty fast.

• Woodoworkery 3,498 Posts

  Thu, Dec 22 2011 8:40 AM

  In my opinion they need to make a significant difference in new products. like Jim said the R11's and the Burners are not that for off in performance but look at the price differences. Again look at the new Nike ball over the Callaway Z Legend ball you may out drive the Callaway by maybe 3 -4 yards, again look at the price difference 

  We buy these things just to keep up with the Jones. we feel well if we get the best it will improve my game, well here's a answer to that I was playing another Legend ( Girl ) but that doesn't matter and she was using the free ball and was kicking my but keeping up with my drives, that is what amazed me, So i guess it's all in the hands of the beholder.

   

  Just my 2 cents

  Gary 

• TheAceFactor 2,147 Posts

  Thu, Dec 22 2011 9:12 AM

  Well , since no one has mentioned it and this seems like the thread to maybe do so. How about the Taylor-Made  "RocketBallz"    RBZ 3 (Legends Only)  I 'm like ...all the lower tiers are attacking these par 5's...give the Legends the "RocketBallz".

   

                                                                                             Enjoy ,     RocketBallz...lol          Ace

  http://youtu.be/Yc7-qQOSvKk #TM2012

• odaddy68 118 Posts

  Thu, Dec 22 2011 9:21 AM

  I'd like to see more variation in clubs, rather than just one set of irons or one driver that is clearly the best.  Give us a couple of different lofts to choose from on the R11 driver.  Have 1 set of irons that's a little shorter, but has a higher ball flight with more spin.  make the other set longer but with a flatter trajectory.  it would make the game more realistic and give us more choices.  Plus, I'm betting a lot of people would get all available options and change depending on the course, which means more revenue for WGT. 

   

  I'm wary of getting better clubs, as I think the game is already bordering on being too easy.  The Callaway and Nike balls are too good, and the R11 was too much of an upgrade.  to get more distance AND a slow meter makes the driving far too easy, especially compared to the super-tri and it's quick meter.

  One thing I would like to see is some tournaments that restrict the equipment used to make it more of a challenge.  much like the Masters has discussed instituting rules to limit the distance the ball goes, how about a tourney where we're limited to only WGT balls?  make them tier-specific and limit us to nothing better than a certain model of ball and see what happens.  anything that adds variety and brings difficulty back into the game would be a great addition.

• TheAceFactor 2,147 Posts

  Thu, Dec 22 2011 9:28 AM

  odaddy68:

  I'd like to see more variation in clubs, rather than just one set of irons or one driver that is clearly the best. 

  Think ya' might have missed it babe....RocketBallz is a 3 Wood.  We're (Legends) laying up on 75% of our par 5's , while the lower tiers are attacking them at will.

                                                                                                                          Ace

• odaddy68 118 Posts

  Thu, Dec 22 2011 10:18 AM

  TheAceFactor:

  odaddy68:

  I'd like to see more variation in clubs, rather than just one set of irons or one driver that is clearly the best. 

  Think ya' might have missed it babe....RocketBallz is a 3 Wood.  We're (Legends) laying up on 75% of our par 5's , while the lower tiers are attacking them at will.

                                                                                                                          Ace

   

  I wasn't responding to you, so I didn't miss anything.

  the last thing we need is more ways to make the game easy.  if the lower tiers are happy playing swat and giggle from the ladies' tees they're welcome to it.  I'm looking for ways to have more of a challenge.

  what I was proposing with the variety in clubs is choice.  let us choose between clubs with real strengths and weaknesses rather than every having the same thing because it's clearly superior to everything else.

• tiffer67 1,764 Posts

  Thu, Dec 22 2011 10:26 AM

  How about they just stop where we are right now before they completely ruin the game?

  The game isn't as challenging as it used to be, less imagination required due to the forgiveness of the clubs and the spin on the balls. If it goes any further down the improvement route it'll end up like TWO and that would be a real shame.

  All this gradual and incremental improvements to clubs and balls, with the intention of milking more out of existing players, all points towards a sell out.

• Westview 31 Posts

  Thu, Dec 22 2011 10:29 AM

  MainzMan:

  Obviously WGT has to keep offering new gear to keep the $$ rolling in but it's getting hard to see where they can go. 

  Im now only about 3 days away from a set of R11 irons which has got me wondering what delights we're likely to be offered in the future.

  I'm thinking that selling golf balls is WGT's bread and butter and by far their main source of income.  They really don't need to offer new gear...but I wish they would :)

• DAZZA501 5,972 Posts

  Thu, Dec 22 2011 10:43 AM

  Wgt need to find a way to lengthen the holes. I know they've got to the back tee's as far as possible now but they need to find a way somehow. Maybe they need to think about this in future when adding more courses.

  Also i said this in another thread. The rough needs to be deeper so if you do miss the fairway then you're punished for it. Maybe make the bunkers harder to get out of too.

  It's either that or just slash the average distance of every club in the pro shop by 20yards.