8thehardway

Well, I'm getting tempted. The Newport 2 (non-insert) is my ideal blade but my stroke does better with mallets. Way to go with Hot Stix; if/when they come to my state I'm going to treat myself to a visit. I understand they are the absolute best when it comes to outfitting golfers with perfectly tailored equipment, even down to suggesting the most appropriate balls. By the way, which model did you choose and why?

That's great to hear. I'm a fan of 'distictively designed' putters but the Detour is fairly drastic and aluminun faces play a bit soft for my tastes. Does the 'curving tail' design present any problems on sidehill putts breaking left to right? How's the distance control and how would you rate the speed off the face compared to your Newport 2?

Ain't that the truth! I shot 87 today and it could have been 97 if not for taking only 25 putts with that ProDivision Forged L (thanks, Chris). Couldn't hit an iron, wood or hybrid but the score only showed how many, not how.

I agree that price can be a huge factor, especially since there's no opportunity to demo the Epons or compare them to domestic sets to see if the softness and quality is worth the extra bucks. The X-tours felt fine to me even though I play forged and they'd probably feel about the same as any iron in the MP line. For more feel combined with forgiveness KZG's 'double forged' irons may be worth a try. Then again, I found the MP-32s too demanding so my suggestions may be overly biased toward forgiveness.

I'm sort of in the same place and liked the Callaway x-tours and KZG's PC-IIIs, both of which have almost no penalties for mis**ts. I'm debating whether to switch because they do not feel responsive - just programmed for high and straight - but I may end up forgoing feel for score. Per recent posts, my first choice would be the Epon Technicity irons that someoe thought seemed similar to the X-tours but I'd ask Chris for his thoughts.

Here Scotty, Scotty. Here you go. Good putter. Jump in my bag, that's it. Outstandingly beautiful. Thanks for the pictures.

No problem with Ping G5 (460cc). I turn driver head sideways so elastic band in headcover is gradually stretched open by toe of driver. Ultraman finds it uncomfortable if I try to push the driver's sole in first and he sneers at me.

Too over-engineered for my tastes, looks like they married the "X" from Callaway X-Tours and the eye from Ping i3s then plopped 'em both under the rac undercut muscle. With my luck they'll be forgiving and have a high trajectory.

No way is Ultraman aggressive - I have him on my bag to keep from taking my game too seriously and he brings smiles to all who see him. In the Chris pic, you may be reacting to the 'sneer' the comes from a small, momentary fabric fold above the right side of his lip. It could also be Ultraman's non-verbal opinion of Chris' driving ability but either way yours will be sneer-free.

The tail lights under the rear spoiler make it look like a Taylor Made R7. I can't see 1000 horsepower bolted to a 1200 pound frame. I'm no engineer but anyone who tries that better consider a real big spoiler - without significant downdraft you'd have liftoff in about 5 seconds. I prefer something slower, easy on the eyes, with room for lots of clubs s shown in the attachment below.PHOTO_schoolbus.doc

Right here!. Click on the Pro Shop tab, select Accessories from left hand column and select Anime headcovers from pictures that appear. But be prepared for attention from other golfers - I've been carrying Ultra Man around the courses, orienting him to the traps and hazzards he will help me avoid and everyone is impressed. Makes other headcovers look positively dull and uninspired. It will also add a touch of whimsy which should nicely set off those seriously classic DCI 962 irons, the nicest blend of forgiveness and precision the 1990s ever produced.

MOST of them are Japan Only but Gegegeno sounds suspiciously like Gino and the eye looks a lot like a pizza with a big black olive in the middle. I think 'Gino' may be Italian Only. I can't prove it but a have my suspicions. Once I have proof I'm writing The Tourspec Code - hopefully Chris won't send that killer albino monk after me. :tsg_smilie_wah:

I planned to keep the Ultra Man cover on my driver as I strike the ball. That way he'll grab it and fly towards the hole. Chris wanted extra to install a tiny jet engine but I'll just rely on Ultra Man's natural powers.

Where are the golf towels??? After ordering Ultraman I realized I could use some help from his buddies but unlike Phil I only have 1 driver. I can get by with my Marvin the Martian towel but a Japanimation theme would be extra special.

get Gegegenu - the Eye will also come in handy when looking for your opponents ball, checking your putting line and locating the cart girls.

Order placed! I know he's good for 10 more yards and guaranteed to intimidate opponents.

I agree - the Pro L is not suited to extremely slow greens; IMO the faster the green, the better it will perform. Received #5 three days ago and logged 5 hours practice & two rounds (28 and 26 putts). Never used a small (neo?) mallet before but there wasn't much adjustment needed. The feel is very smooth and solid, the sound muted. The smaller head requires a more precise stroke, but the smaller head also had me standing closer than usual so it worked out. In a word - precise. I have over 25 various styles of putters including 2 other GDs - this mallet strokes like a blade but with more forgiveness. Distance control was automatic once I adjusted to the combo of small, heavy head and soft yet aggressive roll. It just retired a WRX prototype which is a really nice modified 8802-style blade.

Incredible invention - a putter with no toe or heel. Your dad's a genius! Is the putter head shaped like a ball?

I have had the priviledge to be on par 3s in 1 and par 4s and 5s in 2 only to be disgraced by 3 putts. I considered suicide but opted to murder my putters instead. Here's my technique - I drag it along the cart path for several holes to teach it a lesson, then I bash it against some rocks until the head flies off. On the next green I replace the flag with the headless putter shaft as a warning to other putters and putt with my 5 wood. For some reason I'm having trouble finding playing partners and would consider it a pleasure to play with you. Bring along your dad's putter so I can try it out.

Van Gogh? My wife's taste in art runs to that scene of dogs playing poker or the guy that knocks out warmly lit cottages in winter. If it's under $35 it's Art, if it's under $79.95 it's Fine Art. Anything more is silly. I guess I'll start looking for a patron-of-the-arts Sugar Mommy to indulge my taste in clubs... which way to the Tate Gallery?

Finally figured out that this site functions as an art museum and Chris is the Curator. While advanced golfers discuss the brush strokes (US vs Japan finishes), pigments (paint fill), and grinds all of us drool over the continuous stream of new masterpieces Chris puts on display. I keep looking over the photo gallery at the amazing variety of incredibly formed clubs wondering how I could justify a purchase, for my mediocre abilities could never embrace the level of play these masterpieces evoke. For my tastes the GAS wedges are a must have, the NC-1s are the ultimate culmination of clubhead art and deserve to be coupled with Nippon shafts while the new L putter would look perfect along side them. But that's today. Tomorrow the X-wedge comes along and I start dreaming and another set of magnificent offerings begins to take shape. At $3000 a dream, it won't be long before my wife starts making my life a nightmare - she never did share my taste in art.

Put kid up for adoption, drop back to an 8. Wife divorces you in disgust, drop to a 4. Use money saved on diapers to play more, drop to plus 1. Start winning local tournaments, use prize money for Q school. Get sponsor exemption from horriblefathers.com Go on tour and win. Get trophy wife, trophy child AND a tournament trophy. First wife realizes the error of her ways - says you can golf all you want, just ditch those MR-23s and matching bag so she can bring her potted palm with her. Sell the MR-23s, turn Morman, live happily ever after.

Thought the Tubu was something but THIS is unreal. Save one for me!. Chris I'll email you next week when I get back - your box was full tonight.

Thanks for the additional info. I'm rethinking my bag and these clubs are compelling.

Demo Dazed? Here's a thought, Chris - Round up two 6 irons from each willing company, 1 shafted regular and the other stiff. Offer a demo package of 4 or 5 for $100 (applied to purchase) plus shipping and handling and appropriate security deposit. If it wotks out, you could expand it to woods, wedges and putters.