InTheRough
Course Botanist
Had another range session and a round today. Weather was pretty crappy, as it only got to about 46* for a high at the time I played. I hate playing in layers as I am a shorts and polo guy and I feel like I am in a straight jacket when wearing one....a jacket that is. Got in some decent range work. The course I play at has an all turf range. So while I do not have to worry about mats, I do have to occasionally hit off some soggy grass. Conditions were fair, and had to be careful of the "chunk" shot once in a while.
Started with a few gap wedge shots. I still feel like I am sort of sliding under them just a tad. The distance seems to be getting pretty consistent. Right around 100-105 yards. I could usually count on 105 being my low end of the Apex's and around 110 being the norm. I have no problem getting these shot plenty of air. Moved on to the pitching wedge, again no problem with height on these. Distance was been around 110 to 115. I have pushed 120 or more only a couple of times. Nine iron has been one of the closest to an Apex club as I have found so far. Been using it for shots 125 to 135, and getting the max out of it has been getting easier and easier. The eight was typically my 145-150 club, and with the OL's, I am only a couple yards off. Been seeing myself getting a lot closer to the 140-145 mark. Seven iron, as expected is pretty spot on with the Apex's. When I was swinging my best with them, I could get out to 165 yards with them but typically was very comfortable around 160. With the Cobras, I am seeing a lot of 150-155 and have had a few shots max out at 160 or just a bit more. The 5 and six irons give me a little more difficulty, as I had pretty much removed them from my bag. I love hybrids and will take my Callaway Big Bertha OS 5 hybrid (24*) and will usually play it from distances from 195 to 165 if needed. I have gotten pretty adapt to choking down to get my desired distance. With the 5 OL, I just don't feel comfortable with it, I have tried it and it just peters out at around 170 or so with a pretty flat trajectory for me. The six iron is pretty close to the five iron in distance. I have been seeing right around 165 all the way to almost 175. Again, the ball flight is more boring and not as high, but is serviceable. The one thing I will say is whatever I have given up on distance, I have gained on dispersion. All of my irons shot have been pretty darn straight expect for a couple that I have tugged. As I keep getting used to the distances, I can see myself really getting these dialed in as my GIR's have been phenomenal compared to the Apex. While I have yet to have a shot to say inside three feet with the OL's, I think it's coming as I continue to get used to them.
Went out and played 18 today. Again, it was pretty cold for this California boy, but as long as it's not freezing with a wind, I will make my way out to the course every-time. I took a motorized cart, instead of hoofing it with the push cart. I think it was a mistake. I had a hard time keeping my hands warm today. It effected my driving and to some extent, my hybrids. However, the irons were as straight as they have been all along. I went into this round not worrying about distance and it really helped in the iron play. I played most shots at a difference of ten yards due to the cold and it seemed to really help. So If I wanted to hit a 125 yard shot, instead of trying to muscle up a pitching wedge, I just took a normal nine iron and it worked fine. I did have one nine iron that I got out past 135, as I had 128 to a blue flag and over shot the green by over 10 yards.
Most iron shots today left me in front 1/3 of the green. Got a couple to pin high and only one long. I can deal with that. My putting is such that I am pretty much going to finish in two putts max. So when I can get on in two, it helps a lot. As I have been preaching about the OL's since I started playing with them, the GIR have been a difference maker for me. Yeah the height of my shots aren't as cool looking or quite as far, but they have been highly effective. It kind of reminds me of an old SNL skit(yeah I am dating myself)when Billy Crystal was a cast member. He would play a guy named Fernando, who was a knock of of Richardo Montalban(remember Mr Roarke from Fantasy Island....no...really....I can't be the only old fart around...how about Khan from Star Trek. Yes, the Bill Shatner Star Trek. Whew!)and his favorite thing to say was, "it's better to look good than to feel good". Yeah I can look good playing whatever irons, but to be able to feel good about my game and enjoy the results is what I really want. It's hard to argue with the results right now. Are they spot on, no...and maybe they never will be. However, they are giving me a glimmer of hope which is actually more than what I had coming into this.
For warmth: I'd suggest wearing a base layer top and a hybrid jacket (thin down vest with stretch sleeves). They're warm and stretch and they won't feel bulky. I see Crossfield and crew wearing them on videos in cold weather.
I've played the OL last year. My first year with them. I have the F9s 5 - SW. My distances are similar to yours. I dropped the 5i because I couldn't hit it that well. I went to the F9 5H std and 4H std. I play the set with 6i - SW and added a 58*.
@formula8 Do the standard length hybrids defeat the purpose? No, because most of the time I'm hit a 7 - PW approach unless I really screw up. On short Par 4s I could be hitting a GW and sometimes a SW. Being 5'11" tall I had to have an entirely separate swing for wedges because the clubs were so short I'd come over the top and pull - or simply just play to pull the shot: aim right of target and know the ball will end up about 10 yds left of where I was aiming. Extending the wedges altered the swing weight into the E level. That's why I went OL. I only have to change things with the 58*.