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Okay, so with Part 1, the virgin Personal-2's putting me almost down for the ho'-ing count, Part 2 steps into the picture. I picked up this wonderful set of OnOff CB247 heads earlier in the year from one of our TSG boyz down under, but I realized I had the chance of my golfing lifetime to do an experiment that I've always wondered about. I guess my partiality to the feel of copper irons is obvious by now, but since I consider these 247's the softest feel I've ever laid hands on iron-wise, I was curious -- could these be something I liked steel shafts in, which normally I don't respond to with the same love I feel for composites, the Fuji MCI's in particular...? Enter Modus-3 Tour 105's, which Chris introduced me to several weeks ago when they came available on the market. Maybe the lighter weight, which I tend to favor all through my bag, would bring me around when paired with the OnOff marshmallows. So I talked to my good friend and trusted club builder, Gary Gooden, aka here @ Goodsie, to get his opinion, and he agreed the 247's would be the babies to try this on. So I dutifully sent them off to him for his magic tuning touch, and he shot them back to me last week all spined and flo'd. Bottom line? The verdict is still out. These things also feel like light sabres. There is a little more of the vibration that puts me off of steel most times, but the Modus-3 seems to have dealt with this, at least in the lighter 105 weight, in a way that works better for me. These shafts make the 247's launch higher and, for me with my slow tempo, with very nice control and feel. The MCI shafted P2's still seem longer, but not hugely smoother as I expected. In short, I have myself a nice dilemma. And I'll be curious to see how each feels in the cold(er) winter play (albeit still in the year round climate of S.Cal...). So, kind of a dual nirvana for me at the moment... And I'm not complaining...

I missed the first offering of the Epon Zen here on TSG, but fell hard for the pictures and writeup. Then was glad to see one show in the BST, and grabbed it. Little did I know the adventure I was about to embark on... The Zen arrived, but was poorly packed and shipped, and the sight of the flat smashed box made my heart sink right at the front door. Sure enough, when I opened it, the shaft was splintered (by our lovable USPO), but I was relieved that the head seemed fine except for the slight bag nick disclosed by the seller. So, after getting over my rage/disappointment, the rational side of me took over and I immediately gave Goodsie, the miracle builder, a call. And soon my Zen baby was on the way down to Austin. Well, long story told, it arrived back in my hands last weekend just in time for my birthday and when I opened the package this time, the clouds parted and I heard the music I expected the first time 'round. Goodsie reshafted it with with a finely tuned UST Mamia Frequency Filtered and we added a new grip I got from BestGrips.com called the Major Leaguer, which is made out of the leather used for major league baseball gloves (it even smells like your favorite mitt...) embossed with my initials in the nice subtle touch I prefer. And Goodsie even retouched the tiny bag chatter nicks to perfection. And then after rolling it on my practice putting green, I took this baby to the club. And ho-o-o-ly-y-y-y-y! I never thought anything would feel as sweet as the Yamada I had refinished by Master Sasaya at Gold's over the summer, but this thing is softer than butter, sort of like a chamois coated butter stick. I rolled in two 30-foot birds, and had one of my best putting rounds in a long time. I literally can't wait to pull it when i arrive at the green. This is one rare bird, and I'm grateful to TSG and hugely to Goodsie for putting it in my bag. Love the grip, too, in case anyone's interested in trying something new and novel. Guess my putter rotation goes back to an even two... Here's some pics: