GCAer Equipment

[JC Jones]

all of these people with scratch clubs posting all around the same time.... methinks Ari is behind this.

[Brock Peyer]

Driver - Bang ST539 5.5 degrees / UST Mamiya  9100XXX LD-4, 47 inches in length, mid-size full cord grip
2-metal - Bang ST539  (12 degrees) UST Mamiya AXIV Tour Red XX, mid-size full cord grip, 45 inches in length
4-metal - Bang ST539 (17 degrees) same shaft as the above & grip

3-iron Ping ISI
4-iron PING ISI
5 thru 8-irons PING Karsten I
9-iron PING ISI
PW - PING ISI
SW (54) - PING ISI
SW (58) - PING ISI
Putter Asner II

All shafts on irons are dynamic gold X-100, all grips are full mord mid-size

I also have a set of MP57 irons from Mizuno -- 3-iron thru 9-iron but keep the PING wedges. Shafts are extra 1/2 inch longer and 1 degree flatter than standard. The same spec also apply to my PING irons.

Until last year -- also had PING 1-iron ISI model, x-100 dynamic golf shaft

Matt, I gotta ask, what is your average carry distance for your 5.5 degree driver,...do I want to ask?

[Will MacEwen]

all of these people with scratch clubs posting all around the same time.... methinks Ari is behind this.

If Ari wants to put some lh blades in my bag for more publicity, I will gladly cooperate.

[Rob Rigg]

Sean,

In regards to the headcovers - I'm sorry to hear that - Todd runs a one man show with a few stitchers so occassionally patience and a follow up email is required.

Please PM me if you are still interested and I can help you out.

JC,

I think people are just figuring out how good the Scratch product really is and how big a difference the "right" grind, plus super soft forged steel, can make. "It's like buddah!" 

[Ronald Montesano]

Buddah?  The Indian guy?

[Rob Rigg]

No,

Butter, the stuff that many people but on bread, it tends to get soft if left our for a while.

In a sentence - "Like a knife through butter" (or with English accent maybe "buttah" or a Brooklyn accent "buddah")

I thought Buddha was the Indian guy? He's soft too, I like it!

[Mark Chaplin]

Sean Arble - max respect your under 70 and admitting to carrying a 7 wood!

[Sean_A]

Sean Arble - max respect your under 70 and admitting to carrying a 7 wood!

Chappers

I started carrying a 7 wood two decades ago.  Truth be told, nearly all golfers should carry one.  I think the concept of hybrids taking off is testament to the value of a 7 wood. 

Ciao

[Scott Warren]

I think people are just figuring out how good the Scratch product really is and how big a difference the "right" grind, plus super soft forged steel, can make. "It's like buddah!" 

This probably is a can of worms that shouldn't be opened, but unless the steel is so soft that it's even softer than the golf ball, why does it matter? Whilever irons and wedges are metal and golf balls are rubber it's the ball that will compress, not the club, surely?

[C. Squier]

I think people are just figuring out how good the Scratch product really is and how big a difference the "right" grind, plus super soft forged steel, can make. "It's like buddah!" 

This probably is a can of worms that shouldn't be opened, but unless the steel is so soft that it's even softer than the golf ball, why does it matter? Whilever irons and wedges are metal and golf balls are rubber it's the ball that will compress, not the club, surely?

"Feel" of a golf club is nearly 100% acoustics.  The duller the sound, the "softer" a club will feel.  For example, two putters made of identical materials will "feel" different if the toplines are different thicknesses....much like a tuning fork. 

[Shane Wright]

Driver - Titleist 905R 9.5 degrees -
3 wood - Titleist - can't remember specs
Hybrid 2 - Callaway
Irons 3-PW - Hogan Apex Plus forged - #4 shaft
Gap 52 - Titleist Vokey
SW - 56 - Titleist Vokey Spin Milled
Putter - Ping B-52
Balls - ProV1x


On certain courses I use the 2 iron from the Hogan set in place of the Hybrid. 

[Dan Moore]

It's great to see Scratch Golf's products appearing in our bags. I'll try and post a picture of my new Mackenzie Golf carry bag in the style of a Royal Cinque Ports club jacket....it's brilliant!!

Please do post a photo.  That is one I have to see. 

[Mike Hendren]

So I'm the only guy here still playing aluminum shafts?

Bogey

If you're any good, you can play with a broomstick. - Fred Formanski.

[Rob Rigg]

It's great to see Scratch Golf's products appearing in our bags. I'll try and post a picture of my new Mackenzie Golf carry bag in the style of a Royal Cinque Ports club jacket....it's brilliant!!

Mark - I saw your bag in the shop - it is AWESOME!

[Scott Warren]

I think people are just figuring out how good the Scratch product really is and how big a difference the "right" grind, plus super soft forged steel, can make. "It's like buddah!" 

This probably is a can of worms that shouldn't be opened, but unless the steel is so soft that it's even softer than the golf ball, why does it matter? Whilever irons and wedges are metal and golf balls are rubber it's the ball that will compress, not the club, surely?

"Feel" of a golf club is nearly 100% acoustics.  The duller the sound, the "softer" a club will feel.  For example, two putters made of identical materials will "feel" different if the toplines are different thicknesses....much like a tuning fork. 

Indeed, which would tend to support my argument that head shape, rather than material creates what he use to perceive "softness"?

[George Freeman]

Driver:  Flavor of the month.  Right now it is a Cobra L4V-X
Fairway wood:  Taylormade r5 5 wood
Hybrid:  Bobby Jones 25 degree
4i-PW:  Titleist 962B cavity/blades circa 1995ish?  Really like these but I'm realizing I'm not quite good enough for them.  Will hopefully be upgrading to new set of either 1) Mizuno combo (MP 52, 62, 67) or 2) a set of Scratch irons within a couple years.
Wedges:  Cleveland Tour Action 900/DSG - 50, 56 and 60 degree (no zip grooves)
Putter:  Odyssey Two Ball
Ball: Callaway Tour or Taylormade TP Red (good value)

I need all the help I can get...

[JMEvensky]

What happened to Bombsquad golf? That was a great equipment site that suddenly disappeared.

I think they're back,but in a much diminished way.A lot of their practices had gotten publicly discussed elsewhere on the internet and it looks like all the "knowledgeable" posters had long since left.

Maybe PT Barnum wasn't completely right.

[Steve Salmen]

Driver Titleist 905s
3w    Titleist 904
2i      Ping Eye 2
3-pw Titleist 660  (does anyone else have a set of these? haven't yet seen one)
52    Titleist Vokey
56    Titleist Vokey
P      Ping O Blade

I also have a set of Macgregor Muirfield irons and persimmon woods that I use frequently.  With Pro V 1s, there is not much difference in distance.  However, there is a greater difference when I use the new equipment with balatas.  I believe the modern ball is much more significant regarding distance than modern clubs.  One must swing older equipment a little more carefully due to the smaller sweet spot.  The biggest difference between my clubs and others is that I don't carry a 60 degree wedge.  I find there is seldom a shot that I just can't open the blade of the 56 and flop it up.  This theory holds less water on extremely hard surfaces.

[Rob Rigg]

Scott,

There I think there is a reason that Tiger and many other top pros have had their clubs made by Miura for many years - I am confident that one of them is the "soft" steel that they use which I think is also 1018.

Maybe it is just mental, I'm not sure but everyone I have ever met who has hit a Miura or Scratch irons says they have never felt the ball come off the clubface the same way. Many also comment that the increase in feel has helped them lower their handicaps fairly significantly and tighten up their dispersion. Again, golf is a mental game. These comments were in regards to both the blades and cavity back forged irons.

IMO - there is a difference between Cast, Forged and Soft Forged - I felt like there was a difference between the Nike Split Cavs and the Mizuno T-Zoids I had - and the Scratch and Miura are even softer than the Mizzies - at least according to my brain.

If given the same shaft and grip, wouldn't the "softness" of the metal be the determining factor in "feel"?

Do you think a more compact blade or CB clubhead is what provides that softness instead?

Maybe Ari can comment - he's the pro on all of this stuff.

[Michael Dugger]

This thread cracks me up, talk about irony.  There is more technology referenced here than at a Macworld convention.

I wanna hear what's in Slag's bag?

I played golf with Dan Hixson and he only totes around about 8-9 clubs...an "every other iron" kinda thing.

Everyone should whittle their bag down from time to time, carry the minimum and "make shots."  It's great practice...

[Cliff Hamm]

Curious to see how people on this site -- and likely elsewhere -- always stay with the key names and rarely try the brands that are much smaller but still put out an effective product.

Largely true, but as someone who has tinkered with making my own clubs, I was pleasantly surprised to see some with Snake Eyes wedges.

[Wade Whitehead]

This thread cracks me up, talk about irony.  There is more technology referenced here than at a Macworld convention.

I'm fascinated by this as well.  There's really only been one equipment post that matches (through the bag) what I thought many on the board would say.

I have noticed that we GCAers tend to play traditional irons and wedges.  Drivers, though, are an entirely different story.  It's certainly interesting to consider that with the ongoing distance discussion.

In other news, I keep my handicap at a course that was built in 1967.  I've proposed an event played from the 1967 tees using only equipment available in 1967.  Interest is wider spread than I expected; rounding up authentic golf balls has been the major hurdle.

WW

[Garland Bayley]

You forgot something important....

Thanks, Sean. FIXED!

LOL...

I don't get it. I looked after he supposedly fixed it and he didn't even mention his tees!

[Mark Chaplin]

Sean - I jest, a 7 wood is really an old 5 wood, lofts have changed so much with clubs getting stronger.

[Garland Bayley]

This thread cracks me up, talk about irony.  There is more technology referenced here than at a Macworld convention.

I'm fascinated by this as well.  There's really only been one equipment post that matches (through the bag) what I thought many on the board would say.

I have noticed that we GCAers tend to play traditional irons and wedges.  Drivers, though, are an entirely different story.  It's certainly interesting to consider that with the ongoing distance discussion.

In other news, I keep my handicap at a course that was built in 1967.  I've proposed an event played from the 1967 tees using only equipment available in 1967.  Interest is wider spread than I expected; rounding up authentic golf balls has been the major hurdle.

WW

The culprit is the ball, so I don't understand the need to list all the clubs. I generally play whatever balls I have found.
I wish the USGA or someone would publish spin characteristics, so you could pick an appropriate ball based on that. From what I have read, I am thinking of trying the Bridgestone E5 as it is supposed to spin more off the driver than most balls.