I've had an interesting couple of months, that will hopefully relate to this thread, at least from my
game's perspective.
I quit playing in 2001, completely got away from playing. Stayed in the game, teaching, running events, and
helping run a non-profit. I've been mostly teaching for the past 7 years, playing less than 20 rounds a year, usually aroun 12 rounds.
I went to two Champions Tour schools and made it to finals with no success. Apparently, no practice is not the recipe for success!
This year, I decided to try and make a more serious run at Champions q school. I raised a little money, went to Euro Senior qualifying and missed at finals, while playing terribly. I've unsuccessfully tried some monday qualifiers. The biggest problem I'm having is my iron play. After struggling in Atlanta last week, and convincing myself that I either sucked, or my clubs did, I did some testing with a talented local clubfitter.
The end result:
1) I used a 1990 set of Cleveland Classic irons as a benchmark. Love these clubs, but illegal (grooves)
They have the same shafts, and are 1 degree weaker than the Callaway Apex and Addams irons I was using.
The Clevelands were about 12 yards shorter than the Callaway and 10 yards shorter than the Adams
The scatter pattern on my distance control was more than 50% better with the Clevelands.
The spin rates on the Clevelands were about 400-500 RPM more than the new clubs
I tested 5 different irons. 3 from Miura, 1 from TM, and the new Titleist MB
We started with the same shafts as the Clevelands. Spin rates on the Miuras were close to the old Clevelands, but the
ball was going about 10 yards further. The Titleist spun 3-400rpm more than the Miura, also 10 yards longer than the Clevelands.
The last part, was the recommendation of the new KBS C-Taper lite shaft. I picked up another 3-400 RPM, finally getting into an
optimum number. I also launched the ball 2 degrees higher, and hit it another 5 yards further.
So, through an amazing fitting with a very talented guy, I basically picked up 14 yards carry, with more spin, and a tighter dispersion.
All with the same ball, and a 1 degree stronger loft through the set.
I am not tweaking my yardages like a lot of Tour Guys, and at 52 yo and a fat 5'5" I would imagine their optimization gains are staggering