Conference 7.286::golf

    Considering that these type of magazines are very careful not to make
    comparisons and recommendations, so they do not offend current and
    potential advertisers, it thought it was, somewhat, entertaining. 
    Although, it did waste a lot of print that could have been better
    utilized.
    
    Wouldn't you love to see an objective and scientific comparision
    instead of the subjective observations used for that article?  Someone
    call the Consumer's Union, quick!  

      Thought it was just me, I started reading and came to the conclusion
    that they weren't saying anything. It did strike me that the prices of
    clubs were right up there in the stratosphere, glad I really don't need
    some new sticks. It would be a bummer to pay an arm and a leg for new
    clubs and still slice into the woods.
    
    Paul

Ditto.  Got nothing out of it.

Bob

    
      I don't read the articles, just look at the pictures....  8^}
    
      It ain't the equipment, it's how you use the equipment that counts 
      anyway.
    
    -rick

    re: -1
    
    (Rick's staring up an old controversy...  Good, we need 'Spring' in
    this subject. ;^) )
    
    I just heard that Callaway's stock plummeted today when golfers
    realized that their Big Bertha's weren't helping their game as they
    had once thought.
    
    Karsten Mfg. announced today that they are halting all production of
    the Zings, Zing2's, and Eye-2's, and going back the their original
    model.  Ping admitted that the clubs really never improved but were
    changed commestically to increase sales.
    
    Aldilla, et al., are scrapping all efforts on producing graphite shafts
    and going to back to wooden shaft.
    
    Titleist is talking about putting feathers back on a hard rubber ball. 
    
    Sorry, Rick, I couldn't help it.  I happen to be one of those mortals
    who needs all the help they can get with this game.  Equipment will
    never replace sound foundamentals, but they will help when I'm less
    than perfect.

    Practice, practice, practice and more practice. Stick in a few lessons
    here and there and practice.
    
    Rich

    
|    (Rick's staring up an old controversy...  Good, we need 'Spring' in
|   this subject. ;^) )

      Awww, I wouldn't call it a controversy.  My opinion is that you can
      gain a lot more by practice and paying attention to swing fundamentals
      then by worrying about the new club technologies.  It's cheaper too!
      However, I don't begrudge any golfer the enjoyment and fun that goes
      with playing with the new toys.  Hey, I even tried a metal driver for
      a year before realizing I hit the same duckhooks as I do with my 
      persimmon driver.   The wood looks and feels better to me, so I'm back
      using it.

|    Aldilla, et al., are scrapping all efforts on producing graphite shafts
|   and going to back to wooden shaft.

      Hey, no fair!  You went back two generations of shafts.  8^)
    
|    Titleist is talking about putting feathers back on a hard rubber ball. 

      Market this the right way, and I bet thousands of the clueless would
      plunk down their hard earned cash for them.
    
|    Sorry, Rick, I couldn't help it.  I happen to be one of those mortals
|    who needs all the help they can get with this game.  Equipment will
|    never replace sound foundamentals, but they will help when I'm less
|    than perfect.

      With the exception of the top 50 players in all the pro tours, we all
      need help with our games.  I just don't have the money and time to 
      try out the latest club technologies and designs.  More power to the
      players that do!  To keep up with them, I'll work that much harder on
      my swing, chipping and putting.


      And yes, I'll agree that the club making technologies are improving and
      to a certain extent will improve your game.  But a lot of what is out
      there being marketed and sold, is pure fluff and will not help your 
      game in the long run.  It's hard work figuring out what doesn't and I'm
      surely not going to base any club buying decisions on what a few selected
      players say in a magazine article (notice the tie-in to the main topic).

-rick
    
      PS (Rich, have you got a copywrite on that 'Practice Practice
          Practice'  phrase yet ?  )

    re: .8
    
    > copyright on that...
    
    I can't lay claim to it....It's from one of the first articles
    I ever read by jack nicklaus and it had some powerful arguments
    for practice....!!!
    

    Rick,
    
    When I first started playing (22 years ago!) my uncle was a 7
    handicapper and he told me that that is what makes a person a better 
    player. So I can't lay claim to it. He used to spend hours in the yard
    chipping. Besides Trevino says "The more I practice the luckier I get."
    It makes sense to me.
    I also agree with you about all the "fluff". The banks get most of my
    checks along with the grocery stores. There just isn't any left over to
    buy much of anything.
    
    Rich
    
    p.s. Interested in 36 at Triggs in North Providence on Patriots Day?

    Speaking of patents, we all blew this one.  I read in the same Golf
    mag. being discussed where one individual scoffed-up the rights to
    market products based upon the movie "Caddie Shack".  You know, Bushwood
    CC, and Chevy's famous, "Be the Ball" line.  The sweatshirts come with
    the 'gopher who would not die' picture on it.  Now, why didn't I think
    of doing all this???
    
    And, speaking of Spring... where is it!?  I'm tired of this Winter.  I
    want to take out my new toys, er, I mean golf clubs, and play in the
    warm sunshine.
    
    Remember, "Be the Ball".  Hey, it worked for Danny Noonan.
    

    I actually found the article on the newest clubs to be very
    informative. The thing to do is to compare the remarks to who said
    them (ie. the 67 year old guy with the 15 handicap, or the 35 year 
    old guy with the 6 handicap). True, equipment won't replace practice,
    but to say that one club isn't different from the next, or that one
    club won't play any different from another for golfers of different
    abilities is as silly as someone thinking that buying a particular 
    club is going to eliminate their slice. If you're a golf nut and
    money's not an obstacle, chances are you're not playing with clubs you
    bought at K-Mart.
    
    There were some clubs in there that got nothing but positive reviews,
    such as the new Top Flite Tour irons (which I've hit and loved).
    
    /Mike