Live Update Thread: Shaft Up #1 with UST Mamiya and Mizuno Golf

@Gman79 and @Golfers Anonymous,

What was your favorite hole you played this week?

Tough question! Sooo many good holes out there... There were ones I played extremely well and others that score didn't do the beauty justice, but awesome...

Have to check this thread back again, but a couple that stick out...IMG_20210422_123647__01.jpgIMG_20210421_170847.jpg
 
Is it shaft up 2 yet? I’m so disappointed this is over, it was amazing! @DannyLe @Vosh68 and @JB really brought the heat and really set the precedent for the rest of these.

Shoutout to @Gman79 and @Golfers Anonymous also for letting us vicariously live through you. You guys did awesome out there and represented :thp: well!
 
Tough question! Sooo many good holes out there... There were ones I played extremely well and others that score didn't do the beauty justice, but awesome...

Have to check this thread back again, but a couple that stick out...View attachment 9004987View attachment 9004990

The pictures make it look like the fairways are sooo narrow. More open than it appears?
 
The pictures make it look like the fairways are sooo narrow. More open than it appears?
Definitely not as narrow as they seem on the pictures in most cases. The beauty of the courses and the conditions were just incredible. The speed at which the Cascata greens were rolling was the quickest I’ve ever played in my life. Even the uphill putts seemed like a level putt. At the club house when leaving to go to the range they had posted a 11.5 stimp reading for the conditions for the day.
 
81BE8CAD-0773-48C2-BA4E-5FB9707BD50B.jpeg
Memories for a lifetime
 
Definitely not as narrow as they seem on the pictures in most cases. The beauty of the courses and the conditions were just incredible. The speed at which the Cascata greens were rolling was the quickest I’ve ever played in my life. Even the uphill putts seemed like a level putt. At the club house when leaving to go to the range they had posted a 11.5 stimp reading for the conditions for the day.

Woah. Did you enjoy the fast, pure consistency of the greens? Or did it make it super difficult?
 
Woah. Did you enjoy the fast, pure consistency of the greens? Or did it make it super difficult?
The forecaddie was a saving grace because the greens were so subtle in many spots. Where I would read right to left it would actually be the opposite and as far as downhill vs uphill the same they are tricky. The forecaddie was great he’d tell you which way for the break, and what distance to hit to. But the entirety of the round was great and highly enjoyable and recommended.
 
The pictures make it look like the fairways are sooo narrow. More open than it appears?
Yes, but definitely not open like ohio golf. Still need to be accurate. There was never a chance for trees to stop anything and playing from other fairway was usually did not exist... Rough was not long like ohio but was penalty on spin... Truly a different type of golf.
 
The forecaddie was a saving grace because the greens were so subtle in many spots. Where I would read right to left it would actually be the opposite and as far as downhill vs uphill the same they are tricky. The forecaddie was great he’d tell you which way for the break, and what distance to hit to. But the entirety of the round was great and highly enjoyable and recommended.

Being a former caddie, I know how much value they can add. Very neat!
 
My write up on this extraordinary experience will start from beginning till end with the incredible opportunity to get into one of these events. I know sign ups for #2 starts Monday and if you even have a pulse you have to put your name in for a chance to experience this sort of a opportunity especially at the courses that these events take place on. First off a huge thanks to JB and Danny for doing this all these years and allowing for fittings into equipment for winners in different categories of equipment, and Vosh for joining them this year to add to the experience.
My Wednesday started at 2:15 in the morning due to the inability to sleep with the excitement of heading to Vegas for a few days of fun and golf. Headed to the airport and Ohio provided the most Ohio weather possible in snowing overnight to cover all the green surfaces with heavy wet snow that made me even more excited to get to the airport and get the heck out of the state for a few days of travel. Arrived at CVG just before 5 that morning and got through TSA smoothly minus the pat down from the agent for the screening :cautious:, talk about a wake up. Boarding started around 5:45 to head to Chicago where I would meet up with @Gman79 to head to Vegas from there. When I got there I began to get a little worried because boarding was about to start and I hadn't heard anything from Gman as to whether he had made it yet and it was also my first time flying with my clubs and all I could think of was the guys loading and unloading the plane where having there own version of the olympics with bag tosses in and out of the planes. But Gman made it in time to board and we were on our way to Vegas with our own aisle as we sat across from each other and neither of us had anyone in the seats beside us so it made for a comfortable trip out West. The views on the way out where incredible once we were closing into Nevada looking at all the Canyons and rivers cutting through the rocks. Once we arrived to Las Vegas we headed to the baggage claim then out to pick-up where we met up with JB, Danny, and Vosh to head to Dragon Ridge for our first day out in Vegas and received all our incredible swag in our greeting packages.
Once we went through the gates at Dragon Ridge the first thing that sticks out is all the architecture of the houses in the area in and around the mountains. At the clubhouse we loaded up into carts and headed in for lunch before the range and fitting. Lunch was great as it allowed us to talk to Danny, JB, and Vosh on all the stuff involved with the shafts and club heads and what to expect with the trip out to Vegas. Lunch included a chicken BLT that was a decent portion of food and tasted great. Once that was finished we headed to the range for warmups and the fittings with Danny. The entire fitting process was incredible from a equipment junkie side of things as watching the changes in the numbers as each aspect was changed during the process. I started with my gamer and gathered those numbers for Danny to compare to, then went into the fitting with the new ST-X head and the first shaft was the Helium Black which instantly brought down my spin and side spin to more of a desirable spot all while increasing the ball speed. Next up was a different option in the Helium line up and we had a really good combination in the head and shaft but Danny still wanted to get the spin down just a little more. From there head installed a LIN-Q Black into the head and it brought the spin down to a even better spot but the launch was slightly lower than what he wanted to see so Danny decided to turn up to the loft to the 11.625 degrees in loft and we had a great match as my spin, launch, side spin, and ball speed had all been improved greatly vs my original set up. To my surprise I would have never considered a low/low option in the shaft to help with my game, I would have pictured myself fitting into the Helium or the like due to the weight and what types of shafts I usually play but was surprised by the final set up and extremely pleased with the results and the numbers I was able to accomplish in something like this. Being able to geek out on the numbers was awesome as it allowed me to gain more understanding into what a fitter is looking for and to accomplish during the fitting. The entire day was breezy in that we had 25-30 mph winds and gusts the entire day, but to be able to watch both Danny and Vosh absolutely demolish the ball after each swing was awesome to watch and be around the banter back and forth was a fun experience that would last the entire trip. My play on the first day left a little to be desired as I couldn't quite do my new equipment justice but it was still a blast throughout the round. The views that surrounded the course were incredible as being able to see the Vegas strip from so many locations and the contrast between the course and the waste areas was incredible and nothing quite like what we have back home. After the round we headed to Caesars to check in and take the luggage to the room.
This was my first time to Vegas so all I can say is WOW as this is different from growing up in a more rural setting and the only thing I can say is that inside the casinos is a wide swath of characters from nearly all sorts you could imagine. If you are a people watcher this is the place to be because I would imagine a place like the strip would be the equivalent of a major in that category. Dinner the first night was Carmines and it was special because it was just filled with great banter and stories the entire time. We posted earlier what we had in the forum and all I can say is wow as it was delicious and took me out of my typical comfort zone in food and drink. I would order that in a heartbeat again without a second thought. The night turned to the Casino after dinner at I watched a little before trying my luck a bit. Must not have much because that went by like a blur :LOL: but the environment was great getting to learn the games and how to play. but the night wasn't to long as by that point I think I'd been up for 23hrs and it felt like it, so I called it a night.
The next day came quickly and it was a bucket list day for sure. Breakfast was at a place called The Coffee Cup in Boulder City and was full of more great conversation and had maybe the moment of the trip at breakfast. I ordered the and omelette with toast and fruit. The food was great and meant to me that we were nearing our round at Cascata which all I can say is that it is by far the nicest course I have ever played on and every aspect was top notch from entering the front doors to going out to the practice facilities. My game was in a much better place here than the previous day large part in that JB's photos allowed me to see a few things to fix quickly and Danny taking the time to help with swing thoughts. This course was an absolute masterpiece in course conditions and views through the thread there are many photos but even those do not quite do the course justice as it was immaculate. Teams this day had switched and I had drove the ball much better that the previous day which made the day all that more enjoyable. The weather was even better than the previous day as the wind had died down considerably. the day was full of great views, banter, and jabs that made the trip all that much better. I don't want to ramble on about the course too much as there are many other pages that shows this. After the round we headed back to the Casino and dinner would be at 6 so it allowed for some time to walk the strip for a couple of hours and all I can say is this sure isn't Ohio any more as you couldn't walk five steps without smelling a strong stench of extra curricular activities everywhere. The architecture of the other casinos was great to see the different themes and styles of each of those. Dinner was at Ramsey's Pub in Caesars Casino which didn't disappoint as it was full of more great stories about golf stuff in general and travels around the world. Later in the night we went back to the room to prep for departures in the early morning.
Everything about this trip in Vegas was great, I wouldn't for a second have wanted to of gone with anyone else, and make it different. The entire time was full of non stop laughs, jabs, great stories, or golf. Having the opportunity to be around Gman and the guys in the industry was absolutely mind blowing and had the feel of a guys golf trip to Vegas more than anything else. If anyone else has to think twice when these opportunities come up you should probably have yourself committed as there is something wrong with you. Danny is an incredible player and fitter and can't thank him enough for putting together so much of this together and always willing to help out on the swing, Vosh is stick and a treasure trove of knowledge and his positivity is infectious, JB creating a place for all this to come together is incredible, and always with great color commentary, and then Gman great getting to meet in person and being able to have a trip of a lifetime together. So without dragging on to much more again Thank You @DannyLe , @JB , @Vosh68 , @Gman79 and the :thp: community for following along on this trip and reading this if you made it this far before looking at a different thread.
 
It was so great to meet you @Golfers Anonymous

What a great trip and I hope we get to cross paths again at one of these.
 
great recap GA! Looked like an amazing trip and something you'll remember forever!
 
great recap GA! Looked like an amazing trip and something you'll remember forever!
Absolute blast, now just have to get back to a EST schedule.
 
I bet you wont be able to wipe that smile off your face for quite some time! Great recap on a great journey!
 
My write up on this extraordinary experience will start from beginning till end with the incredible opportunity to get into one of these events. I know sign ups for #2 starts Monday and if you even have a pulse you have to put your name in for a chance to experience this sort of a opportunity especially at the courses that these events take place on. First off a huge thanks to JB and Danny for doing this all these years and allowing for fittings into equipment for winners in different categories of equipment, and Vosh for joining them this year to add to the experience.
My Wednesday started at 2:15 in the morning due to the inability to sleep with the excitement of heading to Vegas for a few days of fun and golf. Headed to the airport and Ohio provided the most Ohio weather possible in snowing overnight to cover all the green surfaces with heavy wet snow that made me even more excited to get to the airport and get the heck out of the state for a few days of travel. Arrived at CVG just before 5 that morning and got through TSA smoothly minus the pat down from the agent for the screening :cautious:, talk about a wake up. Boarding started around 5:45 to head to Chicago where I would meet up with @Gman79 to head to Vegas from there. When I got there I began to get a little worried because boarding was about to start and I hadn't heard anything from Gman as to whether he had made it yet and it was also my first time flying with my clubs and all I could think of was the guys loading and unloading the plane where having there own version of the olympics with bag tosses in and out of the planes. But Gman made it in time to board and we were on our way to Vegas with our own aisle as we sat across from each other and neither of us had anyone in the seats beside us so it made for a comfortable trip out West. The views on the way out where incredible once we were closing into Nevada looking at all the Canyons and rivers cutting through the rocks. Once we arrived to Las Vegas we headed to the baggage claim then out to pick-up where we met up with JB, Danny, and Vosh to head to Dragon Ridge for our first day out in Vegas and received all our incredible swag in our greeting packages.
Once we went through the gates at Dragon Ridge the first thing that sticks out is all the architecture of the houses in the area in and around the mountains. At the clubhouse we loaded up into carts and headed in for lunch before the range and fitting. Lunch was great as it allowed us to talk to Danny, JB, and Vosh on all the stuff involved with the shafts and club heads and what to expect with the trip out to Vegas. Lunch included a chicken BLT that was a decent portion of food and tasted great. Once that was finished we headed to the range for warmups and the fittings with Danny. The entire fitting process was incredible from a equipment junkie side of things as watching the changes in the numbers as each aspect was changed during the process. I started with my gamer and gathered those numbers for Danny to compare to, then went into the fitting with the new ST-X head and the first shaft was the Helium Black which instantly brought down my spin and side spin to more of a desirable spot all while increasing the ball speed. Next up was a different option in the Helium line up and we had a really good combination in the head and shaft but Danny still wanted to get the spin down just a little more. From there head installed a LIN-Q Black into the head and it brought the spin down to a even better spot but the launch was slightly lower than what he wanted to see so Danny decided to turn up to the loft to the 11.625 degrees in loft and we had a great match as my spin, launch, side spin, and ball speed had all been improved greatly vs my original set up. To my surprise I would have never considered a low/low option in the shaft to help with my game, I would have pictured myself fitting into the Helium or the like due to the weight and what types of shafts I usually play but was surprised by the final set up and extremely pleased with the results and the numbers I was able to accomplish in something like this. Being able to geek out on the numbers was awesome as it allowed me to gain more understanding into what a fitter is looking for and to accomplish during the fitting. The entire day was breezy in that we had 25-30 mph winds and gusts the entire day, but to be able to watch both Danny and Vosh absolutely demolish the ball after each swing was awesome to watch and be around the banter back and forth was a fun experience that would last the entire trip. My play on the first day left a little to be desired as I couldn't quite do my new equipment justice but it was still a blast throughout the round. The views that surrounded the course were incredible as being able to see the Vegas strip from so many locations and the contrast between the course and the waste areas was incredible and nothing quite like what we have back home. After the round we headed to Caesars to check in and take the luggage to the room.
This was my first time to Vegas so all I can say is WOW as this is different from growing up in a more rural setting and the only thing I can say is that inside the casinos is a wide swath of characters from nearly all sorts you could imagine. If you are a people watcher this is the place to be because I would imagine a place like the strip would be the equivalent of a major in that category. Dinner the first night was Carmines and it was special because it was just filled with great banter and stories the entire time. We posted earlier what we had in the forum and all I can say is wow as it was delicious and took me out of my typical comfort zone in food and drink. I would order that in a heartbeat again without a second thought. The night turned to the Casino after dinner at I watched a little before trying my luck a bit. Must not have much because that went by like a blur :LOL: but the environment was great getting to learn the games and how to play. but the night wasn't to long as by that point I think I'd been up for 23hrs and it felt like it, so I called it a night.
The next day came quickly and it was a bucket list day for sure. Breakfast was at a place called The Coffee Cup in Boulder City and was full of more great conversation and had maybe the moment of the trip at breakfast. I ordered the and omelette with toast and fruit. The food was great and meant to me that we were nearing our round at Cascata which all I can say is that it is by far the nicest course I have ever played on and every aspect was top notch from entering the front doors to going out to the practice facilities. My game was in a much better place here than the previous day large part in that JB's photos allowed me to see a few things to fix quickly and Danny taking the time to help with swing thoughts. This course was an absolute masterpiece in course conditions and views through the thread there are many photos but even those do not quite do the course justice as it was immaculate. Teams this day had switched and I had drove the ball much better that the previous day which made the day all that more enjoyable. The weather was even better than the previous day as the wind had died down considerably. the day was full of great views, banter, and jabs that made the trip all that much better. I don't want to ramble on about the course too much as there are many other pages that shows this. After the round we headed back to the Casino and dinner would be at 6 so it allowed for some time to walk the strip for a couple of hours and all I can say is this sure isn't Ohio any more as you couldn't walk five steps without smelling a strong stench of extra curricular activities everywhere. The architecture of the other casinos was great to see the different themes and styles of each of those. Dinner was at Ramsey's Pub in Caesars Casino which didn't disappoint as it was full of more great stories about golf stuff in general and travels around the world. Later in the night we went back to the room to prep for departures in the early morning.
Everything about this trip in Vegas was great, I wouldn't for a second have wanted to of gone with anyone else, and make it different. The entire time was full of non stop laughs, jabs, great stories, or golf. Having the opportunity to be around Gman and the guys in the industry was absolutely mind blowing and had the feel of a guys golf trip to Vegas more than anything else. If anyone else has to think twice when these opportunities come up you should probably have yourself committed as there is something wrong with you. Danny is an incredible player and fitter and can't thank him enough for putting together so much of this together and always willing to help out on the swing, Vosh is stick and a treasure trove of knowledge and his positivity is infectious, JB creating a place for all this to come together is incredible, and always with great color commentary, and then Gman great getting to meet in person and being able to have a trip of a lifetime together. So without dragging on to much more again Thank You @DannyLe , @JB , @Vosh68 , @Gman79 and the :thp: community for following along on this trip and reading this if you made it this far before looking at a different thread.
Well done on the recap... Awesome spending this memory with you. Great golfer and a very knowledgeable club builder... I didn't have much to contribute in our conversations as far as golf tech,but you answered a ton of my inquiries into club building and club upgrades. Awesome times.

I'll do a full recap but had to fire back at the tagged post because it was such a. Great time being cartners and sharing laughs together.

Golf soon half way... Maybe with some THPers from each side.
 
Great recap @Golfers Anonymous! Wasn’t able to follow much of the live action but was great fun nonetheless to catch up! Played Dragon Ridge a couple years ago and was amazing! Cascata looks amazing and is a must next time I’m in Vegas.
 
Always fun catching up on another incredible THP experience.

Congrats on the new equipment and once in a lifetime experience, @Gman79 @Golfers Anonymous , and thanks for bringing us along!! I’m looking forward to your feedback on those drivers and shafts.
 
Great recap @Golfers Anonymous! Wasn’t able to follow much of the live action but was great fun nonetheless to catch up! Played Dragon Ridge a couple years ago and was amazing! Cascata looks amazing and is a must next time I’m in Vegas.
Definitely it is an amazing course that should be on everyone’s lists to get to.
 
Great recap @Golfers Anonymous! Thanks for bringing us along!!

THP Events are like nothing else!
 
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