I have decided to take my WITB pictures at one of my most favorite places. The location is the back of my Mom's house in which there is a water garden/pond. What makes it so special to me is because I helped in its development from just a normal and ordinary yard. Although I no longer live with her, I occasionally go over there to help with its upkeep. I know its nothing fantastic, but from what it looked like before until now, its nothing short of spectacular. I hope you enjoy.
Now we know that the short game is the most important part of ones game, so I will begin with that.
Newest to my bag, G-Field Premium Zone #0 in blue. Standard sized blue Iomic grip cut to 33". It has the White Gauge Design zipper headcover. Recently I have had my fair share of putting woes, hopefully this will cure them all. My last round included no 3 putts and a few longer putts around 15ft. Things are definitely looking up.
Next are my precious wedges. Definitely one of my favorite parts of the game! I currently used a two wedge set-up, a 57* and a 52*.
First is probrably my favorite club in my bag. Built by Carl Masui of Par72 Golf, is my Chikara Prototype 57*, with a black tinted s400. This club is flashy with its orange paintfill and orange No.1 grip and often gets stares when I frequent the range. The club is 35" and has a swingweight of d5. The beautiful black oxide has been very durable for me and just looks deadly! This wedge has more versatility than I would ever use or could take advantage of. I use it for anything 90 yards and in, any type of sand shot from 70 yards, and anything around the greens needing some loft or a flop shot.
My other wedge is also a keeper. Also attained through Carl through the Kyoei factory. My 52* is a Gauge Design Prototype "Type A" head. Just a simple/clean looking wedge with a black oxide face with a satin finished head. This club is also 35" and has a swingweight of d3.5. The Gauge is shafted with a s300 and has a Winn Xi7 red/black grip. I use this wedge primarily for shots around 90-115 yards. These wedges fit my eye so nicely that I keep a 56* on the side as a back-up.
I have tried about 4 irons sets in the last year or so and I ended up with the Tourstage X-Blade CB2's from 2006. I chose them because they set up very nicely and feel as good as anything else when struck pure (of course most of us know how good Endo forgings are). I also have to admit that I have a affintity for the brand itself. I traded in my R7 TP's to obtain this set and I have no regrets. They are standard japan length and lies, with swingweight at a lighter d1-d2 and still have the stock Tourstage cord grips. They are shafted with Nippon NsPros in stiff. I carry only a 4-pw as the 3 iron gets used only at the driving range. I make up for not having a 3 iron by choking down on my hybrid and using a 80% swing.
My yardages:
4 iron: 190-200
5 iron: 180-190
6 iron: 170-180
7 iron: 160-170
8 iron: 150-160
9 iron: 135-145
PW: 120-135
Hybrid: Tourstage X-UT u1 17*. Stock NSPRO Utility Winn Xi7 red/black grip, stock length/lie/loft. This is my go to club on most par 5 second shots. I can make this club go anywhere from 180-245 yards. I usaully miss left with my driver so I can punch this club up to 180 yards (with roll) or so about 1-2 feet off the ground with a massive hook. It comes in handy more than you would think. I guess you could call it a rescue club.
3 wood: Tourstage 2007 X-Drive 15*. Axiv V-8076 and Winn Xi7 red/black grip. CPM's at 275. 43" with a swingweight at d4.5. This is such a beautiful club, but dosent get used as much. I usually go to this club when my driving goes bad, as with most people I can hit my 3 wood alot more accurately with less distance. My great shots go about 260 with this club off the tee. Probrably average about 245-250. Off the fairway is not nearly as good. I seldom use this club nowdays and I would say it is the most likely to leave the bag. I rarely use this as my second shots on long par 5's because I'd rather know where my ball is going with the hybrid rather than hitting and hoping with the 3 wood.
Driver: The only non import club in my bag. Cleveland HiBore XL Tour 9.5*. Axiv V-7072 at 44.75 inches. CPM's at 266, Swingweight is d3.5. Winn Xi7 black grip. This has been by far the most consistent/longest driver I have owned. My good drives get out about 280-290 with the ones that reach around 300 once in awhle. I would say average is about 265-270 because im not the best driver. I picked up a Tourstage X-drive headcover for it to match the rest of my bag. That awful yellow paintfill was also removed!
The bag that I settled on is the Tourstage CBTX72 stand bag in black/red. I have to admit that I bought it to match my clubs! It really is a nice bag though!! I did have to change the straps to ones from Golf Pak, beacuse the stock Tourstage straps are just awful.
As for whats inside of my bag, I dont carry much. Balls, Ballmarkers, towels, gloves, sharpies/ballmarker, tees...... I use either a Flex 21 or a Footjoy weathersof glove, both in black. As for balls I recently been using Taylormade TP Red's and I usually use the tourstage ball marker to mark my balls. I use a adidas towel to wipe/dry my clubs and a few little green towels that I take from Pearl Country Club to wipe the dirt off. Usually when I got to a course for the first time I grab a few ball markers and a bag tag, I almost have them all. My favorite bag tag is the one from Waikoloa on the Big Island of Hawaii. Reason for that is that its the first place I broke 90 back when I started. I believe we went there 4 or 5 months after I started playing golf, I shot a 87 on a par 70.
I am a Big Adidas fan! I use Adidas Powerbands in White and am waiting for my black ones to arrive. I use a few Adidas/Taylormade hats and visors but my favorite is my Tourstage visor. I also from time to time will use my MLB New Era hats to match what Im wearing. Im a big basefall fan and if you cant tell who is my team you need to look at the pic closer. Its just been a bad year for them. I like to buy golf shirts and own quite a few now, Adidas being the predominant one with a few Nike/Ping/Titleist.. Yes, I like orange.