Conference 7.286::golf

    Ok, I'll update my own note.  (Sure has become a quiet notes file...)
    
    Stopped by Green Meadow (Hudson, N.H.) and took a look at the several
    Ping Zing woods they have there on sale.  ($115 each - list $135) 
    Talked with two of the pros (one was from Overlook C.C.) who both
    suggested that I stay away from the clubs.  Their reasoning was that
    they were not made well (laminate vs. persimmon) and that several
    other, more hi-tech, clubs would perform better and were far more
    durable.  Big Bertha was the strong suggestion...
    
    One of them mentioned that Ping is to offer a metal version for
    next season.

    Re:                     <<< Note 1752.1 by KOALA::DEFELICE >>>

    I wouldn't call a laminated wood to be "not well made".  If what they
    meant is that is not as "effective" as  a one piece wood, then it's a
    different story.
    
    And I do agree  that  today other clubs are perceived as more modern.
    But  Ping  is saying that  their  woods  were  "oversized"  from  the
    beginning so they are easier to hit.  As a matter of fact that is the
    reason I never liked them, BIG heads.  But  I  saw many good players,
    including some local pros play them.
    
    In any case, it's what you feel comfortable with.   I  looked  at the
    clubs  in  the  market  and  chose  a  Midsize  Taylor-Made.   It  is
    definitely more forgiving  that my older Taylor-Made Burner-plus.  So
    my decision was based  on  a  larger  head  but  not as big as the B.
    Bertha  or  other oversized drivers.    And  definitely  metal  wood.
    Persimmon  may be more "traditional" and  "elegant",  but  I  go  for
    effectiveness and durability.
    
    BTW, I did read somewhere that PING  has  said  they  will  introduce
    metal woods soon. Supposedly some pros are already testing it.
    
    /OLD
    
    

    also I don't think you can get that "sweet" feeling with Persimmon or
    other wood woods unless your using a 3 piece ball that is wound, either
    balata or Lithium-Surlyn cover...
    
    the new high-tech balls are so hard they may, over time, cause damage
    to wood woods...
    
    JMO

>Just wanted to get a note in before the Internals Control Committee takes 
>away our 'non-business' notes file (re some mail circulating on the subject).

    also I don't think you can get that "sweet" feeling with Persimmon or
    other wood woods unless your using a 3 piece ball that is wound, either
    balata or Lithium-Surlyn cover...
>Yeah.  2 piece balls and cast/oversize clubs were made for each other.  As
>are 3 piece balata balls and Persimmon/forged clubs.  There's no worse sound
>or feel as when you miss-hit a 2 pc ball off a forged iron - you have to hit
>them perfect.  Since going with Balata this year, my irons feel so much more
>solid.

    the new high-tech balls are so hard they may, over time, cause damage
    to wood woods...
>Yes.  Especially to Persimmon.  Actually laminated woods are much more 
>durable than Persimmon and less likely to crack.  One reason I went to metals
>was they were easier to take care of.  I don't even have head covers.  Makes 
>the bag lighter too!

>Bob
    JMO

    Why so much fuss about clubs,
    
    
    As Trevino said "Its the indian not the arrows"
    
    
    True eh!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

    My father used to give me that same story.  "You know 'so-and-so' shot
    4 under using rusty clubs."  Yeah, well maybe the really good players
    could use almost anything, but we mortals need all the forgiveness we
    can get.
    
    Funny thing about those indians on tour, seems like most of them are
    going to hi-tech shafts and clubs nowadays.  Most of them go through
    more clubs than you could dream of in your lifetime.  I read an article
    about Arnie in Golf Disgest.  He's saved all of the 2,000 plus drivers
    he's used in his pro career.  There was even a photo of him standing in
    front of a whole wall filled with 'em.

    The best players in the world use persimmon heads and blade clubs,
    
    not cavity back this and cavity back that, flexpoint this and
    flexpoint that.
    
    Most have tried the metal clubs but the real cream use persimmon
    why ?
    
    Metal is OK for us slashers and thrashers with handicaps, but tour
    Pros use Wood with Steel Shafts and Tour Blades.
    
    Norman
    Couples
    Faldo
    Janzen
    
    Many of the lesser lites on the tour use the kinky shafts but only
    the lesser players,  Why ??????

    Is this your 'stirring up the pot' type note?  Don't you do this each
    year around the PGA Tournament?
    
    >Metal is OK for us slashers and thrashers with handicaps, but tour
    >Pros use Wood with Steel Shafts and Tour Blades.
    
    >Norman
    >Couples
    >Faldo
    >Janzen
    
    Don't know about Janzen, but Norman uses Cobra metal, Couples uses Boom
    Boom metal, and I believe Faldo uses Mizuno metal.  Cobra irons are
    most definitely oversize perimeter weighted clubs.  Haven't checked on
    Faldo's iron model, but I have seen several Mizuno's and they are
    cavity back irons.
    
    Actually, real mean use wooden shafts.

    
    Where did you go, Joe?  I was just starting to enjoy this note...
    
    Ah, don't 'ya just love/hate this game?  It's a vicious cycle... Read,
    read, read; lesson, lesson, lesson; practice, practice, practice; play,
    play, play; buy, buy, buy; hack, hack, hack; read, read...
    

    Faldo Wood with stele shaft
    Couples as above
    Norman as above
    Janzen as above.
    
    
    The only metal headed wooden club! the might carry is a 3 wood,
    i was at the Open at Sandwich i always check out what the players
    are using.
    
    Couples advertises metal  woods but he dont play em, at the Open
    he was not even using Parrallex Clubs (Maybe they were a hire set)
    
    The previous note was not intended to stir anything up it was
    an observation, the best players still use persimon as they can control
    it easier and work the ball.
    
    Slashers like me need metal big headed clubs to keep the ball on the 
    island, and i trust many other lashers feel the same.
    
    Zinger used a Big Bertha at the Open.
    
    
    Facts not fiction.

    Don't know about that, Joe.  I got Norman on tape in the PGA swinging
    his metal Cobra, and Faldo playing with a fairway metal.  (I'll have to
    watch the tape again for more.)  By the way, my fiance thinks I'm nuts
    to tape tournaments and then watch them again.  Of course, she's
    right...
    
    >Couples advertises metal  woods but he dont play em, at the Open
    
    I am deeply crushed.  I just bought a Boom Boom (steel shaft, of
    course) driver a couple of weeks ago.
    

    Sorry about that but Boom Boom dont use metal.
    
    Faldo uses a metal 3 wood but not a driver.
    
    They have all experimented but the best use wood.
    
    WHat is the Boom Boom like any good, i have used Taylor Made
    for a while the Tour Burner, nice club shame about the Indian.
    
    
    
    FOR RIGHT

    One more quick one, Joe (since we're in a Ping note).  Do they
    broadcast any of the Zing commercials over there?  Karsten does his own
    here, and although the guy is a sly fox he's about as exciting as
    watching paint dry.

    Oops, another quick one, since you asked about the Boom Boom.  I liked
    both the Taylor Mid-Size and the Boom Boom.  The Boom Boom (try saying
    that 5-times fast) just felt a bit better, and is a dream to hit. 
    Besides, the name itself intimidates my weekend playing partner, "What
    are you hitting?"  "Gonna go with the Boom Boom."  "You hitting the
    Boom Boom or the Boom Boom Jr. (my 3 metal)?"  "Going with the Big Boom
    Boom."  "The BIG Boom Boom?"  "Yep, going to bash it big-time with the
    big Boom Boom."   Hey, I'm sure the club name alone caused him to kill
    some worms with those expensive Yonex woods of his...

    No Karsten Ping has never been on the TV over here,
    
    
    Those midsize clubs are a good club, but can you believe the finish
    battleship grey that chips if a blade of grass goes near it!!!
    
    The Callaway Big Bertha is advertised here a lot and the heaven wood
    a 7 wood (Sorry to say a slashers club).
    
    I know a manager of a big golf store and he tells me the Callaway is
    outselling the Mid Size 2 to 1, the midsize will never sell due
    to the awfull finish.
    After one month it would look like a hire club.
    
    How much is the Boom Boom.
    
    No kidding we have got a bloke in our club who is the image of Boom
    Boom(He might even leave his wife).
    
    He looks like him but he sure as hell dont play like him, he regularly
    lets the club down in interclub games, and he will read this note
    he works for Digital (At least he turns up in the mornings).
    
    He is noted for his short game and slow play(He will react to this
    its all true)
    
    We also have a chap who looks like Lanny Wadkins, they tell me i look
    like Craig Stadler the only difference is i am fatter and i throw
    clubs further.
    
    Fat Staddy

    
    
    And why do they call you slasher ? Listen call me anything but I aint
    slow ! it was you reading a book at Wotton Bassett it was it was.
    Joe, who made those lines famous ? your mate mole ?
    
    I might look like fred and not play like it but I would not fancy his
    swing thats not text book ! even if he wins a bob or two. What would
    you do with him ? sell him a dozen instructional vidoes and books.
    
    Talk about look alikes you don't even have to look at you to match you
    up with Trevino. YAP YAP YAP.
    
    Tell everyone about your two putters in the bag ? Iffy putter what
    happend to your putter at goodwood and many since ?
    
    
    
    

    re: .15
    
    Callaway advertizes Big Bertha all the time.  Saw a news clip where
    they (Callaway) are going after the clone look-a-likes now.  Can't
    enter a golf shop (pro shops are not the case) without seeing a Big
    Brother or a Big Bernie copy of Bertha.  Same news clip said that they
    cannot keep up with the demand for the new Heaven wood.
    
    Best prices I found for the Boom Boom was $120 for steel and $200 for
    graphite.

    is number 16 in code ;')
    
    could someone translate?
    
    signed,
    
    confused

    Just call it a return shot!
    
    Rich

    I hate to burst folk's bubble, but there was a whole segment on 20/20
    (or Nightline or one of those shows) the other night about the new
    move to high-tech golf clubs.  They showed video and featured the
    fact that the PGA had been won with a Big Bertha (this was a day or
    two after the tournament).  They also played up the fact that Norman
    played a high-tech driver as did something like 8 of the top 10
    finishers...  They showed the CEO of Calloway going around the trade
    show set up at the PGA filing complaints about Bertha look-alikes,
    and how they (Calloway) are suing many of the manufacturers.

                                Andy Ostrom

    .16
    
    Can you explain your note, us golfers understand birdies bogeys,
    shanks, thins, cold tops, slice , hook, mulligan,freemans but
    i dont think many people can understand Swahilie.
    
    
    2 putts is fine its 3 putts that is wrong.
    
    A Goodwood is that an old persimon or just your favourite wooden club.
    
    Many pros use metal yes, but the best still use a Persimon driver,
    Norman ,Faldo, Couples,Janzen,Zoeller.
    
    Lyle ,Maggert,and lesser players use the metal but the top players
    still use wood.
    Watch the TV and you will see this fact.
    
    Goodwood 2 putters still puzzled?

    �Many pros use metal yes, but the best still use a Persimon driver,
    �Norman ,Faldo, Couples,Janzen,Zoeller.
    
    I don't know about that - Norman uses a metal wood now and I know Fred
    Couples started using one this year...
    
    Mike

    Jansen uses a Founder Club "fresh metal" driver. As does Lanny.

    Norman used a persimon driver at the Open, granted he uses a metal
    3 wood but a persimon driver ,also Boom Boom used a wooden driver
    i saw him.
    
    Having said all that about who uses what , they have all experimented
    Norman was using a big white club(It looked like plastic to Me) a
    few years ago.
    
    Most of the pros have a mixed bag of irons ie. Ping 1 iron
    Blade thru to 9 and different Wedges.
    

�    Norman used a persimon driver at the Open, granted he uses a metal
�    3 wood but a persimon driver ,also Boom Boom used a wooden driver
�    i saw him.

At the PGA championship, I think they were using metal woods.  I'd have
to double check though.

For the average golfer, metal woods are practical because they just don't
wear out as fast.

I remember a few years ago Jack Nicklaus commented that metal woods were
a passing fad.  Jack uses metal clubs now...

Mike

    >For the average golfer, metal woods are practical because
    >they just don't wear out as fast.
    
    but more importantly they are more forgiving on mis-hits...!!!

    Amateur Golfers who use Persimmon and a two peice ball will ruin
    the club, perssimmon is best for Balata.
    
    2 peice rocks are ideal for metal clubs, its about finding
    a balance in your equipment.
    
    What are the Zing Irons like

    Anyone tried one of the "corked" persimmon drivers from Wood Brothers ?
    
    __Jack

    Jack,
    
    Please describe what corked Persimon is, i have never heard of it.
    
    Over the pond you guys seem to get a better choice of bats and balls
    than we do.
    
    Have you ever seen a northwestern with a power kick shaft.
    
    
    Joe.

    Joe, over here, baseball players hollow out their bats and fill 'em
    with cork, "super balls," etc. to make the ball jump off the bat and
    travel farther. It's illegal in baseball, but they do it. Apparently it
    is being done with golf clubs now - but it isn't illegal. A friend has
    one, and he likes it a lot (he's an equipment freak...).
    
    Re: Northwestern "Power Kick" - I think you're describing what we used
    to call "The Needle," because the shaft looks like a big hypodermic
    needle. Chi Chi used one for awhile. The shaft was never real popular
    over here.
    
    You're right - we do get a wide choice over here. There's a lot of
    interest, a lot of cash and a lot of R & D. My thought is, watch the
    Japs - they have done some brilliant, high quality work.
    
    __Jack

    Jack,Chi Chi is a great entertainer with his Zorro dance when he holes
    a long putt.
    
    I had a powerkick shaft for a while it went well but i traded in as i
    tend to do.
    
    I will check out that cork when i get the chance, have you ever heard
    of any amatuer using that white thing(Kevlar i think) that Norman 
    and Daly have used, i have seen one with a red shaft and a white head
    it looks tacky, but does it work!!!!
    
    We dont get the weather to use Persimon it rains and the heads swell
    (Like when you hole a putt) so most of us use metal mickys.
    
    Joe Lash

>    Jansen uses a Founder Club "fresh metal" driver. As does Lanny.

	I think that is Founders Club "Fresh Metal Plus" driver.
	This is bigger than "Fresh Metal" driver.
	I saw his red head cover named "FMP(Fresh Metal Plus)" in U.S Open.

	In Japan, this club sold as "Fresh Metal MID" from ASICS.

/Koji Kitagaito

    Hello Koji,
    
    Is it really as tough as we are told to get a game in Japan, we are
    advised that most of you guys never get on a course, could you
    give me an insight as to what golf is like over there.
    
    regards,
    
    Joe

    Hello Joe,

>	PEKING::ANTELLJ

    Is this node, named PEKING:: in China?

>    Is it really as tough as we are told to get a game in Japan, we are
>    advised that most of you guys never get on a course, could you
>    give me an insight as to what golf is like over there.
    
    In Japan, it is very very difficult to reserve the cource, because
    Japan has few cources and has many golfers.
    Most of cources are member only. So we must try to reserve public cource.
    We must reserve the cource before two months, at worst before six months,
    and the telephone line is so busy that we cannot take a reservation so 
    soon.

/Koji Kitagaito

    
    re: -.1
    
        The U.S. Government is currently discussing decommissioning one or
    	two of its aircraft carriers now that the cold war is over; maybe
    	you should see if Japan can buy one, buy a few acres of sod, and
    	make the worlds first floating golf course!!
    
        ;)
    

    fact:	Norman uses Cobra metal driver
    		Freddy uses a Ram metal 3 wood for most of his driving,
    		(he stole it from T. Watson)
    		Fuzzy actually uses a Fuzzy K-Mart metal special!
    
    of course this was as of last week!
    
    I used a Cleveland Classic Persimmon Driver for over twenty years and
    just this year went to a Tommy Armour 845 8degree Great Scot and a
    Calloway Big Bertha 3 wood.  I can't believe I've waited this long to
    switch.  I'm 15 yards longer off the tee and at least 10 yards longer
    with the 3 wood.  A lot more forgiving!!!!!!
    
    Mike