27 February 2023|Golfing with gratitude
So, after all my fittings and trying out different clubs, my bag is finalised for 2023 (and hopefully well beyond). During my recent lesson package, it was suggested I should have everything reviewed, which is what I've done. Having recently retired I figured one big review and potential changes should hopefully leave me settled for a few years and justify the likely cost of the exercise. Now it's complete, I'm making a commitment (recorded on video on the 18th tee of the Old Course on Saturday) to no more club changes this year (unless something breaks). In reality, given club technology now, this review should do me for several years. My old clubs will be on eBay shortly and removed from temptation. To be honest, other than putters, I've never been tempted to put old clubs back into play and have always sold them quickly after changing.
So here it is in all of its glory.
Driver: Callaway Paradym Triple Diamond, heavy weight in the back, Tensei Blue 55 stiff 3 Wood: Callaway Epic Flash sub zero, Aldila 2kxv green 75 stiff 3 Hybrid: Callaway XR16 OS, Tour AD-DI 85 stiff hybrid shaft (my most consistent club) 4i: Taylormade P790 with KBS TGI 80 hybrid shaft 5-PW: Taylormade P770 with KBD Tour lite shaft 50/54/60: Titleist Vokey SM9 smoke wedges with Modus 115 anniversary shafts Putter: Kari Lajosi custom F7MJ Ball: Titleist AVX or Pro V1x
Most of the clubs have been fitted by SGGT at some point or another and everything was fully reviewed by them in December. The 3 wood is a few years old and the hybrid is even older, but nothing we tried was better. The irons were fitted in December and replaced my PXG Gen 4 T/ST combo set (now on eBay). The wedges were fitted in early 2022 and replaced a set of Callaway jaws. When it came to the driver, the full bag fitting at SGGT demonstrated that my old driver was a decent fit, but not optimal. I wanted to try the Ping G430 (which SGGT don't do) but also did a Callaway fitting at the performance centre here in St Andrews while I was waiting. On-course testing of both at Ladybank and a head-to-head studio test that also included the TSr3 and my TSi3, saw the Callaway win out.
The putter was designed in collaboration with Bruce Rearick and Kari Lajosi back in 2017 and, to be honest, I've struggled to commit to it until now. I recently replaced the grip and it has transformed the club. Ross MacLeod's comments that it was a perfect fit back in 2018 keep ringing in my ears. Commitment and practice are now key (and selling the Toulon!).
So, a settled bag for 2023 and a public commitment not to make any more changes unless something breaks. Everything has been reviewed and checked, leaving no excuses. It's all down to me from here!
UPDATE:
Well, that public commitment may have been a bit premature. The Paradym had to get changed under warranty and I used that as an opportunity (excuse) to try other drivers that were not on the market at the time of my initial fitting. I've ended up switching to the club that came second in my earlier testing, the Ping G430LST, it's just more forgiving.
My putter is still the same but I've played a couple of rounds with my old Toulon too. I wish I was able to find a balance between the two - the "artistry" of the blade but with the stability of the mallet. My friend is sending me his Odyssey Tri Hot 5K Three to try, which is the one recommended at my recent Odyssey fitting. They claim that this is the balance that their tech is supposed to produce.
Hybrid - picked up a new Mavrik Pro hybrid to compare against my old and slightly ragged XR16 OS. It's got the same type of shaft as I was fitted for with my 4i so let's see if there is any difference. It was from Callaway pre-owned and had a 14 day return policy - which I've used to send it back. It was definitely anti-left compared to my other one but it was also 10+ yards shorter so would have messed with my gapping.
3w - having continued to struggle off the fairway I picked up a Ping G425LST from Auchterlonies in their old stock clearance. It’s night and day easier to use.
Hybrid again - picked up a G430 hybrid as the driver and 3w are so easy to use, but I really didn’t get on with it at all so it has already been sold again.
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