TMAdidas
Well-known member
So I was up at the club during my luck break and after practicing I went in to say hi to the club pro, and noticed his clubs in the back. I saw how his clubs were a pretty solid mix of newer models as well as some pretty old clubs (he's sponsored by Taylormade, so I'm talking RBZ 3-wood, ATV wedges, an old Rossa Daytona Putter and a rusty Vokey in the mix with some PSI irons and an M1 driver). When I asked him about it, he said that a lot of players with all new equipment are posers. So on the drive back to classes, it got me thinking. Scenario: A guy walks up to you on the first tee, and asks if u wanna play for a buck or two a hole. You haven't seen him hit or put before. You only see his clubs, his bag, and the clothes he's wearing. What makes you think either "I can totally beat this guy", or "this guy is a player for sure". What does the scratch golfer have in his bag/ wearing that a lesser player does not? I thought it would be fun to share our (mis?)conceptions about what a great golfer looks like on the course. I'll go first. In my opinion, I'm scared of a guy who has:
Driver: Titleist, or an expensive shaft
Fairway: Something old like a Taylormade V Steel, or any 13*-14* 3 wood.
Hybrid: Small and compact. Perhaps a 5 wood or a 3 iron in its place.
Irons: Musclebacks or something like a bit bigger like Mizuno Mp-64. But they can't be shiny. Things gotta look worn and beat up, but with a consistent ball mark in the center of the face.
Wedges: Old, worn, rusty Clevelands or Vokey's. Alternatively, anything with custom standings, of a newer Vokey TVD.
Putter: A Scotty, but only an old one. Same thing with a Ping Anser. Also, any smaller name boutique brand (Toulon, Bellum Winmore, Piretti, even Bettinardi). Odyssey #9 style is also intimidating.
Bag: Small, lightweight bag. Ping hoofer, titleist lightweight, Sun mountain three 5 etc. if they're riding, it makes me less scared. If they have a cart bag, I'm not intimidated at all.
Clothes: Pants when it's hot out is intimidating for some reason, probably the PGA tour connotation of no shorts. For some reason, I find a visor instead of a hat intimidating as well.
Misc: No headcovers, or sock headcovers for some reason seem to scream "player" to me. Stock headcovers seem rather poser-ish for some reason. Also, aftermarket grips, especially multi-compounds or anything cord seems inimidating. Classic Footjoys such as Icons also say "I came to play".
These are just some of the things I think of when I imagine a scratch golfer vs an average player. Obviously these are generalizations, and none of them really mean anything more than conjecture. Just curious what someone else thinks of when a stranger asks them for a match and they have to gauge their skill based only on appearances.
Driver: Titleist, or an expensive shaft
Fairway: Something old like a Taylormade V Steel, or any 13*-14* 3 wood.
Hybrid: Small and compact. Perhaps a 5 wood or a 3 iron in its place.
Irons: Musclebacks or something like a bit bigger like Mizuno Mp-64. But they can't be shiny. Things gotta look worn and beat up, but with a consistent ball mark in the center of the face.
Wedges: Old, worn, rusty Clevelands or Vokey's. Alternatively, anything with custom standings, of a newer Vokey TVD.
Putter: A Scotty, but only an old one. Same thing with a Ping Anser. Also, any smaller name boutique brand (Toulon, Bellum Winmore, Piretti, even Bettinardi). Odyssey #9 style is also intimidating.
Bag: Small, lightweight bag. Ping hoofer, titleist lightweight, Sun mountain three 5 etc. if they're riding, it makes me less scared. If they have a cart bag, I'm not intimidated at all.
Clothes: Pants when it's hot out is intimidating for some reason, probably the PGA tour connotation of no shorts. For some reason, I find a visor instead of a hat intimidating as well.
Misc: No headcovers, or sock headcovers for some reason seem to scream "player" to me. Stock headcovers seem rather poser-ish for some reason. Also, aftermarket grips, especially multi-compounds or anything cord seems inimidating. Classic Footjoys such as Icons also say "I came to play".
These are just some of the things I think of when I imagine a scratch golfer vs an average player. Obviously these are generalizations, and none of them really mean anything more than conjecture. Just curious what someone else thinks of when a stranger asks them for a match and they have to gauge their skill based only on appearances.
