Golf Chats is a website to encourage discussions on various subjects relating to the game of golf. I am Mel Sole, Director of Instruction of the Mel Sole Golf School and SAPGA Master Professional. I invite you to enter into a discussion on this or any article on the golfchats.com website. The input is for the entire subscriber base to learn something new each time! Please post your comments below. Keep it clean and tasteful. We are here to learn from one another!
Nothing is more exciting for a golfer than to walk to the first tee with a new set of clubs! It’s like starting all over again – the slate is wiped clean. The old clubs with their bad mojo are a thing of the past! Hope springs eternal! Well, here is your chance to get a look at all the new irons in 2019 before you buy. Brought to you by PGA.com. No drooling, please!
The best new irons for the 2019 golf season include new technologies, better materials, and advanced performance to help you feel more confident, dial in your needs, and lower your scores! In the Market for some new Irons? To save money, use the equipment Value Guide on PGA.com to get money back for your old irons to help purchase new ones!
Mizuno Hot Metal Irons are literally the “hottest” irons on the market right now. With their multi-metal technology, the ball literally screams off the clubface.
Mizuno Hot Metal irons are the longest irons I have ever played. Dennis Space. Pawleys Island, SC. A happy Mizuno Hot Metal user.
Golf Chats is a website to encourage discussions on various subjects relating to the game of golf. I am Mel Sole, Director of Instruction of the Mel Sole Golf School and SAPGA Master Professional. I invite you to enter into a discussion on this or any article on the golfchats.com website. The input is for the entire subscriber base to learn something new each time! Please post your comments below. Keep it clean and tasteful. We are here to learn from one another!
I have personally put the Callaway Supersoft golf ball in my bag, and I am currently testing to see whether this ball will make a difference to my game. I certainly like the feel, but I am unsure if this ball is right for me with a 100 mph clubhead speed. When I visit the PGA Merchandise Show later this month, and will personally talk to Callaway to get their thoughts on the subject of the “Soft Revolution.” Watch this site for my report back in early February! Thanks to Andrew Tursky of GolfWRX for this interesting article!
The Calloway Chromesoft is just one of many softballs on the market today.
Everything you need to know about Callaway’s new SuperSoft golf balls
In 2014, Callaway launched its SuperSoft golf balls. The two-piece design had an insanely low compression, yet our testing showed it was not just another soft-feeling ball. “It could be one of the best non-premium balls for golfers with slower clubhead speeds,” our reviewer Kane Cochran said.
When Callaway did market research on what golfers thought about the feel and the greenside spin of its SuperSoft golf balls, the results showed that 74 percent of golfers thought the feel was “just right.” Only 58 percent of golfers answered the same way about greenside control, however.
That’s why the new SuperSoft golf balls are made with a new “Tri-Ionomer” cover, which Callaway says gives the balls both a softer feel and more spin around the greens.
How much more spin are we talking about? On a 40-yard shot, Callaway testing showed the 2017 version of the SuperSoft launched with 5035 rpm of spin, while the 2015 version launched with 4950 rpm of spin. It’s change that Callaway’s Senior Director of Golf Ball R&D Dave Bartels says golfers should notice.
Is the Shaft in your Driver the Right One for You?
Golf Chats is a website to encourage discussions on various subjects relating to the game of golf. I am Mel Sole, Director of Instruction of the Mel Sole Golf School and SAPGA Master Professional. I invite you to enter into a discussion on this or any article on the golfchats.com website. The input is for the entire subscriber base to learn something new each time! Please post your comments below. Keep it clean and tasteful. We are here to learn from one another!
The Right Shaft to maximize your Distance.
Trying to get the right shaft flex to maximize your driving distance and accuracy is a complicated business. However, we have launch Monitors like Trackman, FlightScope and GC2 to make our job a whole lot easier. Factors to consider. Clubhead speed, shaft flex, shaft type, shaft weight, shaft length, launch angle, ball speed and total carry distance. So to say I swing at 100 mph will not help. Unless I take all these other factors into consideration. Randy of Fried Eggs Golf tries to help, but you need to see a club-fitter in the final analysis and be prepared to spend a couple of hours testing to come up with something close to what you need. As this is a tiring process, you may want to split it up into two days instead of trying to fit in all in one day! Good hunting!
It’s experiment time… I use a Ping G driver and three Alta 55 shafts in Stiff, Regular, and Senior to see how flex affects ball-flight.
Golf Chats is a website to encourage discussions on various subjects relating to the game of golf. I am Mel Sole, Director of Instruction of the Mel Sole Golf School and SAPGA Master Professional. I invite you to enter into a discussion on this or any article on the golfchats.com website. The input is for the entire subscriber base to learn something new each time! Please post your comments below. Keep it clean and tasteful. We are here to learn from one another!
Getting a Correct Clubfitting these days is like having a suit fitted.
There is nothing worse than a poorly fitting suit, and likewise, a poorly fitted set of golf clubs (usually clubs bought off the rack) will make your game feel very uncomfortable. Clubfitting has become popular in the past 10 years as the process becomes more and more user-friendly and much more accurate. A good clubfitter will use several computerized tools to help him determine the specs required to match the clubs best suited to your unique swing. Thanks to Mike Stachura of Golf Digest for providing this very educational list!
Being fitted by a professional club-fitter can make a huge difference to your game!
The 9 Important Steps to a Correct Clubfitting.
If you haven’t noticed, custom clubfitting has become more ubiquitous than craft breweries. As more equipment companies offer drivers with dozens of settings and bouquets of custom shafts, the golf consumer is at once tempted and swept away by a cornucopia of confusing choices. As Jason Fryia, owner of six Golf Exchange stores in Ohio and Kentucky, explains, “I don’t think golf equipment is a self-shoppable product.”
Fortunately, every golf shop, from the 50,000-square-foot megastores to the corner shops one-fiftieth the size, is increasingly equipped with expert fitters divining the right heads, lofts and lengths with a wisdom that encompasses club technology, instruction ideas and even good, old-fashioned people skills. In our fourth listing of America’s 100 Best Clubfitters, we highlight the top facilities in the country that expertly bridge this marriage of art and science, and we offer some of their wisdom to prepare you to embrace the benefits of clubfitting.
1. How to prepare for a club-fitting.
Randall Doucette, a master clubfitter for the Marriott Golf Academy in Orlando, says to approach a clubfitting with an open mind. If you have a swing coach, Doucette says to get a tune-up before going for a fitting. “Come to the fitting with notes on what you’re working on and where you want to get to,” he says. You also should come to the fitting with your current clubs. This gives you and your fitter a baseline for comparing other clubs. Also, Doucette says every good fitting requires patience. “There’s no need for anxiety and nervous tension. We’re here to make you better.”—Keely Levins
2. Why getting fit once is not enough.
One myth about clubfitting is that it’s like buying a tailored suit: Get fit once, and use those specs for life. But that thinking is off base, according to Dan Sueltz of D’Lance Golf Performance Center in Englewood, Colo. Sueltz says avid golfers should be fit every two years. “A lot of things can change in that time,” Sueltz says. “You might experience changes in strength, flexibility, reflexes or have an injury. Your swing might become steeper or shallower, etc.” People also need to realize different manufacturers might have a different specification for length or lie angle. So the fitting you get for one brand might not apply to another one. —E. Michael Johnson
3. Finding the right driver isn’t only about swing speed.
Swing speed can be a starting point. But the best fitters want to see how you’re hitting the ball. If impacts are across the face, for example, you can bet a large, highly stable driver is best for you. Even if you swing it faster than Bubba Watson in a bad mood. The right driver is also about how to distibute the weight within the head. Knowing how drivers differ or how that weight can be tweaked can improve how far you hit the ball and how well you square the clubface.
Says Woody Lashen of Pete’s Golf in Mineola, N.Y.: “Finding a driver with the correct center of gravity for the player, whether it’s forward, back or toward the heel, can change the person’s game. For example, a relatively straight hitter who is spinning the ball too much. Even if he doesn’t swing very fast, he can gain tremendous distance with a driver that will spin the ball less.” —Mike Stachura
Golf Chats is a website to encourage discussions on various subjects relating to the game of golf. I am Mel Sole, Director of Instruction of the Mel Sole Golf School and SAPGA Master Professional. I invite you to enter into a discussion on this or any article on the golfchats.com website. The input is for the entire subscriber base to learn something new each time! Please post your comments below. Keep it clean and tasteful. We are here to learn from one another!
This was definitely an “egg on your face” moment for Wilson Staff designers when they were notified by the USGA that their new Wilson Triton Driver, the winner of the “Driver vs. Driver” Competition on the Golf Channel, was non-conforming! There was definitely a rush to market after the show, and Wilson did not do their due diligence. However, Wilson has assured all customers who purchased the non-conforming drivers that a) they will be replaced with a conforming driver and b) they will be given a box of Wilson Staff Duo golf balls for their trouble. Lesson learned – make sure you have your letter from the USGA before you put your product in the retail stores! Thanks to David Dusek of Golfweek Mag for this very relevant article! Very Good Job, Guys!
The club that won the Golf Channel’s “Driver vs. Driver” contest was deemed non-conforming by the USGA, but Wilson is fixing the Staff Triton and promises to make it legal for golfers to use.
All the Rage – Single Length Golf Clubs – Are they for you?
Golf Chats is a website to encourage discussions on various subjects relating to the game of golf. I am Mel Sole, Director of Instruction of the Mel Sole Golf School and SAPGA Master Professional. I invite you to enter into a discussion on this or any article on the golfchats.com website. The input is for the entire subscriber base to learn something new each time! Please post your comments below. Keep it clean and tasteful. We are here to learn from one another!
British PGA member Mark Crossfield has been reviewing clubs for quite a while now on youtube. I have always enjoyed his reviews because he exhibits such a sense of wonder that you believe each club review must be his first! That makes me want to watch just to see what happens. In this video, Mark tests out the single-length King Cobra clubs, and plus, he provides his review on-course, something different that I found intriguing. Thank you so much for sharing, Mark.
Cobra One Length Forged Irons reviewed and tested by Mark Crossfield PGA professional. Mark hits and tests the new Cobra King One Length irons and talks about how they might help your golf game. With a gap testing and on course real review this is the ultimate test for the new idea from Cobra golf and used by PGA tour Player Bryson DeChambeau.
There is a golf ball out there for you – Find out which one!
Golf Chats is a website to encourage discussions on various subjects relating to the game of golf. I am Mel Sole, Director of Instruction of the Mel Sole Golf School and SAPGA Master Professional. I invite you to enter into a discussion on this or any article on the golfchats.com website. The input is for the entire subscriber base to learn something new each time! Please post your comments below. Keep it clean and tasteful. We are here to learn from one another!
With all the golf ball choices out there in the marketplace right now, how do you know which golf ball is right for you?
Today GOLF has taken all the guesswork out of the equation for you. After testing hundreds of golf balls with almost every brand on the market, they have come up with the longest ball in three different price ranges and three different swing speeds. If this data doesn’t help you choose a ball for your swing, I don’t know what will!
Thanks for watching – There is a golf ball out there for you – Find out which one! This should make your choice easy. I know which one I’ll be playing in the future.
Putter with floating face technology gives you 3 different feel choices!
Golf Chats is a website to encourage discussions on various subjects relating to the game of golf. I am Mel Sole, Director of Instruction of the Mel Sole Golf School and SAPGA Master Professional. I invite you to enter into a discussion on this or any article on the golfchats.com website. The input is for the entire subscriber base to learn something new each time! Please post your comments below. Keep it clean and tasteful. We are here to learn from one another!
Great news! The Mel Sole Golf School is now an official store for Sentio Golf!
We have putters in stock and ready to take your orders! The new Sentio putters have floating face technology, which means the putter face is separated from the main body of the putter by a thermoplastic elastomer core. This allows the golfer to choose the feel they want, soft, medium, or firm. We can do any length you want and can adjust the lie angle to suit your stroke. If you want a free fitting, just contact the golf school at 1-800-624-4653. We would be happy to set up a putting lesson as well if you wish. Visit the Mel Sole Golf School website for lesson fees.
Sentio Golf.
Sentio Golf, which made its debut at the 2016 PGA Merchandise Show, announced today that its Sierra 101 line of putters are available for purchase on the company’s website, as well as in select retail shops.
The Acton, Massachusetts-based company’s patented floating face technology offers golfers a stainless steel putter face, which is separate from the rest of the head with a vibration-dampening thermoplastic elastomer (TPE) core, constructed through a process called insert molding.
Jim Varney, President of Sentio Golf, says the insert-molding process demands extremely tight manufacturing tolerances. Thus, Sentio’s putters are constructed at some of the highest dimensional standards in the industry. Varney also says that the TPE formulation process bonds the metal components while keeping them separate (thanks to the insert), softening the feel at impact.
The Sierra line includes three models, each with a color-coded translucent core. The cores each have a different durometer—or relative hardness—to the elastomer, affecting energy transfer, and thus feel.
101-Soft (green core): For players who usually prefer inserts or who regularly play on fast greens.
101-Medium (red core): For all-around conditions.
101-Firm (blue core): For fans of all-milled putters or those who play on slower greens.
Golf Chats is a website to encourage discussions on various subjects relating to the game of golf. I am Mel Sole, Director of Instruction of the Mel Sole Golf School and SAPGA Master Professional. I invite you to enter into a discussion on this or any article on the golfchats.com website. The input is for the entire subscriber base to learn something new each time! Please post your comments below. Keep it clean and tasteful. We are here to learn from one another!
An expert reviewer of golf clubs, Mark Crossfield, gives us his very positive review on the Mizuno JPX900 Forged. Forged irons have a softer feel, but Mizuno has used a little bit of Boron in these clubs to give the head more strength, thus allowing them to feature a thinner face. This gives more of a springboard effect which will definitely help the average golfer get more distance. Check out what your nearest Mizuno certified club fitter is and have a fitting for clubs that will be perfect just for you! Thanks to Mark Crossfield and GolfWrx for this great review!
Is Driver loft more relevant than the angle of attack?Golf Chats is a website to encourage discussions on various subjects relating to the game of golf. I am Mel Sole, Director of Instruction of the Mel Sole Golf School and SAPGA Master Professional. I invite you to enter into a discussion on this or any article on the golfchats.com website. The input is for the entire subscriber base to learn something new each time! Please post your comments below. Keep it clean and tasteful. We are here to learn from one another!When I listen to club fitters talk their lingo, I am always caught between awe and this nonsense? Spin rate. The angle of attack. Launch angle. And ball speed are all words used in this gray area of the golfing world. But, I think it’s time the average golfer started taking notice of these figures. The PGA and LPGA players are all maximizing their total distance with the use of these figures. Obtained by club fitters using launch monitors like FlightScope or Trackman. So it senses that this would make a HUGE difference to golfers who have less than perfect swing mechanics. I sometimes hear students say, “My swing is not consistent enough to have a club fitting.” On the contrary, it’s these golfers who will benefit the most from having clubs that will suit their inconsistent games! Thanks so much to David Dusek of Golfweek for this interesting article!
Zach Johnson typically hits upward into the ball with his driver, creating a high launch angle that helps maximize distance for his swing speed. (PGA Tour/Stan Badz)
Many manufacturers have in recent years touted extremely low-spin drivers as if they were some kind of just-made-legal, performance-enhancing drug that can unlock more distance and lower scores.
Better materials and manufacturing techniques make them possible, but a simple question begs to be answered: How much backspin does any player really need with a driver?
Matt Rollins, a PGA Tour rep for Parsons Xtreme Golf, laughed in a way that immediately indicated the opening of Pandora’s Box when asked that question a few weeks ago at TPC Boston.
“There’s a bunch of things that factor into that,” Rollins said. “If you have a low-launch guy, say 8-, 9- or 10-degrees, you’re going to want to stay in the 2,400 to 2,600 spin rate. But if you have someone like Zach Johnson, who launches everything around 13- or 13.5-degrees, we’re trying to hit 2,000 or 2,100 to maximize his carry distance.”
From a physics perspective, any player’s ideal driver spin rate will determine launch angle.
Compared to his peers, Zach Johnson does not swing his driver exceptionally fast. To maximize how far his tee shots fly, he needs to send the ball high into the air. Johnson’s high launch comes from the 9.3 degrees of loft on his driver and a slightly upward swing path into the ball – known as a positive attack angle. His ball will balloon if he creates too much spin in combination with his positive attack angle, robbing him of both carry distance and roll.
