SB Nation User Blog: turnover

Equipment advice please.

turnover — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 00:42:30 -0000

Hola, Wagglers.

As I believe I've mentioned in the pages before, I am a rank novice where this game is concerned. But I've recently begun to take things a little more seriously. As such, I've started mildly upgrading my clubs from the super-econo sticks the have occupied my bag for the past several seasons. (Picked up an old demo 975J that looked to have been hit maybe 20 times off eBay for $40 including shipping - Score!)

As part of this process, I've learned a few things that are critical when seeking out equipment that I had somehow never learned before - like the difference between forged and cast irons. And thus my dilemma.

I am not in a position to spend much. And I still need cavity-backed irons. But I would very much like the softness of a forged iron.

I've been scouting around for a second-hand set (I've nothing against used clubs) and I've hit a few I liked - Adams, older Mizuno, etc.

But today I stumbled across this listing on overstock.com. Now, I know Maxfli clubs have long been considered second-class at best. But then I found these reviews and began to consider them. I can tell that they are not an identical set of sticks, but still-and-all - they're forged and hyper-econo. The thing is that I have no idea as to the date of manufacture, and with Maxfli having gone through several ownership changes over the past several years, it's hard to know what I'm getting.

So, my question for y'all is as follows: anyone here no anything about the above clubs? And if they are unsatisfactory, anyone have any recommendations?

Thanks in advance.

Nothing in the Universe Makes Sense Anymore.

turnover — Sun, 16 Aug 2009 23:52:03 -0000

Some things in this world seem certain. Death. Taxes. The sun rising in the east, and later setting in the west.

But now?

It's entirely possible that the world is coming to an end. Indeed, the end-timers may be correct. As I sit and gaze out my kitchen window, I half expect gravity to suddenly cease operations. Conversely, were gravity to intensify and cause the moon to fall from the sky, I would not be shocked. Nothing makes sense anymore.

I'm trying to decide how to spend my week. Right around the time Tiger and Yang were walking up the 16th fairway, I told my dad I might start robbing banks. Perhaps I'll start drinking a lot and sleeping around even more. Drugs? Not really before, but hell - why not, now?

Friends, the apocalypse may indeed be nigh.

So, anyway...do what you gotta do. Repent. Pray. Hug your kids.

Hell...smoke 'em if you got 'em.

Where the hell is my 9-iron?

turnover — Mon, 22 Jun 2009 22:19:35 -0000

Quite some time ago - maybe a year or more - i managed somehow to lose my 9-iron. After searching through the lost club bins at the courses i had recently played, I gave up and set about to find a replacement.

I've tried finding it via a couple of online "club-finding" sites, to no avail.

Has anyone here had any luck with any of these sites? Is there a site anyone can recommend?

Thanks in advance.

Help. (Grip change headaches.)

turnover — Mon, 11 May 2009 16:37:59 -0000

Alright, Wagglers: Here's your chance to help a brother out in his time of need.

I am in the middle of altering my grip. When I began playing several years ago, I was first taught an interlocking grip. Please bear in mind that it was no professional who taught me this - it was my dad, who (bless his heart) is not the most technically skilled golfer around.

Anyway, the grip worked alright for awhile, and I attibuted my all-to-frequent shanks to the fact that I'd just not very good. Recently, though, I've had a little more time to think about my swing, and I realized that my grip on the club was very loose at the top of my backswing. This was of course requiring me to essentially re-grip the club as I began my downswing. Timing, I figured out, was everything.

That will not do.

So I picked up Hogan's book and discovered that I had the club improperly positioned in my left hand, with the shaft running pretty much straight across my palm as opposed to diagonally. I'm working on making this correction, and it has indeed provided for a more secure union of hands and club on the backswing.[I haven't gone full-Vardon; I've kept the interlock (it just feels better), but I'm not altogether opposed to going to a full overlap.]

However.

Since making these changes, I've developed a slice of epic proportions. Seriously - this ball is so far out to the right that it would require a meeting of the John Birch Society to locate it.

Any idea as to what might be causing this new-found slice? I assume it has to be grip related, as that's the only change I've instituted.

Your help would be greatly appreciated.

Sergio Montgomerie

turnover — Mon, 13 Apr 2009 18:54:56 -0000

By now, I'm sure everyone is aware of Sergio Garcia's comments regarding Augusta National yesterday on the Golf Channel, uttered after having limped to a T-38 finish in the Masters:

“I don’t like it to tell you the truth,” he said. “I don’t think it’s fair. It’s too tricky. Even when it’s dry you still get mud balls in the middle of the fairway. It’s too much of a guessing game.

“They can do whatever they want. It’s not my problem. I just come here and play and then go home. That’s about it.”

According to TGC's Shag Bag, Garcia has since issued an apology via his management company. (Read: damage control.) But let's face it: Serg will undoubtedly get two ears' full at Bethpage in June.

Garcia's bellyaching is becoming tiresome, to say the least. And it's beginning to remind me of Colin Montgomerie's legendary grousing that led to his frosty relationship with American fans. Montgomerie and the public managed to get over it and nowadays he seems to be generally respected by folks on this side of the pond, and perhaps even liked.

I suppose it remains to be seen whether the same will happen with Sergio. Surely his relationship with American fans has yet to sink to Montomgerie-like levels, but it's quickly headed in that direction. One wonders what happened to the imminently likable El Nino of a decade ago. I don't know - what's the Spanish phrase for "overgrown brat"?

It also remains to be seen whether Garcia will follow Montgomerie's path to golf's most unfortunate distinction, that of an incredibly talented player who fails to bring home one of his sport's most cherished prizes.

Happy Birthday Robert Tyre Jones - March 17, 1902.

turnover — Tue, 17 Mar 2009 18:40:26 -0000

Happy Birthday Robert Tyre Jones - March 17, 1902.

Seeking ball recommendations.

turnover — Fri, 13 Mar 2009 14:30:01 -0000

Good morning, y'all.

I am a weekend duffer. I've never seen fit to actually compute my handicap, but I generally shoot in the mid-90s. Because of my generally lousy play, I've spent a not-inconsiderable amount of time searching for errant tee shots in the woods and weeds; as such, I've had an opportunity to try out quite a few "found' balls over the years.

Anyway, I'm looking for a new ball. I was a fan of Maxfli's original Noodle, but the new Noodle is somewhat displeasing to me.

I tend to dislike so-called "distance" balls - feels like hitting a rock.

Costco (of all places) currently has a two-dozen pack of the Titleist Tour Prestige on sale for about $30. Has anyone had any experience with this ball? I was under the impression (from having read some old product reviews) that this ball had been discontinued. Anyone know if it's the same Prestige hey were making a few years ago?

Anyway, my ball criteria is generally determined by a) affordability; b) durability; and c) feel.

Any suggestions?

Thanks.

(The elder) Mark Ingram currently on the lam.

turnover — Thu, 11 Dec 2008 01:23:28 -0000

Well, this is no good:

An arrest warrant has been issued for former New York Giants star Mark Ingram after he failed to report to federal prison to begin serving nearly eight years for bank fraud and money laundering.

It's also, unfortunately, not at all unexpected, as Mr. Ingram has tried all sorts of things to avoid prison time, firing a litany of court-appointed attorneys at one point even filing a motion claiming that he was immune from prosecution due to his being a foreign head-of-state - despite his having been born in Rockford, Illinois.

I really don't much care what happens with respect to the elder Mr. Ingram, but I am concerned about the effect all this could be having on his son, our own Mark Ingram. I would imagine that this is all very difficult for him, especially as he deals with finals and preparations for a BCS bowl game.

Several articles earlier this fall indicated that the elder Ingram was "trying to keep his son from making the same mistakes...".

Let's keep the young Mark in our thoughts and prayers, and hope that the elder Mark gets his act together and does the right thing, ASAP.

Keep on the Sunny Side

turnover — Sun, 07 Dec 2008 01:33:07 -0000

Keep on the Sunny Side

Saban angry over Tuberville's departure

turnover — Thu, 04 Dec 2008 05:52:33 -0000

Saban angry over Tuberville's departure

"Alabama coach Nick Saban responded angrily to today's news that Tommy Tuberville is out at Auburn after 10 years.

"'I guess we're 5-7 away from the same thing,' said Saban, lamenting this season's bloodletting of SEC coaches that led to three vacancies."

Decent comments section below this post at al.com...