Back in August, we featured a new release from Cleveland Golf called the Launcher XL. As part of that line, the Launcher XL Halo Hy-Wood seemed to get a bit lost in the shuffle…Part hybrid, part fairway wood, where does it fit in the bag?

When we put it to the test in the THP Tech Studio however, it quickly became one of the favorites and something that could help a lot of golfers. Bridging the gap from woods to irons has never been easy. Be it through higher lofted fairway woods, hybrids, utility irons, etc.
This new breed is upon us, something that could offer the distance of those higher lofted fairway woods, in a package that might just be easier to hit. Rather than continue to extoll the benefits, we hopped into the hitting bay to tell you all about it.
We kick off the video below, with an overhead view discussing some of the technology that makes the Hy-Wood unique. From there, we take some swings in the hitting bay of the Tech Studio and show the data and of course finish it up with the table view breaking down what you just saw.
After watching the video above, is this a club that would fit into your bag? If so, where would it slot and what would it replace?
For more information on the Hy-Wood or any of the entire line of Cleveland Launcher XL, check out their website at www.clevelandgolf.com.




[QUOTE=”Scooby45, post: 11530115, member: 62865″]
I’m still on the fence whether to make this my tinker club this summer…. It is great as is but could a new shaft make it better ?
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Here is the Shot Scope data on my FrankenHyWood that I built, it this helps.
[QUOTE=”JDax, post: 11558899, member: 22002″]
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Here is the Shot Scope data on my FrankenHyWood that I built, it this helps.
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Yeah… I think I need to tinker. if nothing else it’s fun.
I actually hit mine pretty well today?
[QUOTE=”Carolina Golfer, post: 11558390, member: 44136″]
True, but a big price difference though?
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For sure. Especially with the Hy-wood currently selling for $160….
I’ve got one on the way been using a five wood but always been a hybrid guy but needed more distance this sounds like in the middle of what I’ve looking for
[QUOTE=”allsportscoach, post: 11559302, member: 1255″]
I’ve got one on the way been using a five wood but always been a hybrid guy but needed more distance this sounds like in the middle of what I’ve looking for
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I found it to play maybe a hair slighter than a 5 wood. But it’s calling card was being able to hit high long shots from anywhere. When we were hot and heavy, the most beneficial thing was being able to attack green from 220 yards out. My 4H is a reliable 200 yards. Anything over that was hit and hope….with a low percentage of success. The Hy-wood gave me shot.
We’ll see how the 5-wood does in replacing it. I am playing today and tomorrow. Both courses will give it an opportunity off the tee and deck.
I’m a bit pot committed to the 5-wood. I’d gotten frustrated with the Hy-wood for. a couple of months. It was the one club in my bag I wasn’t hitting well. Even at my lesson. (My instructor had never seen one and asked a few questions about it.)
Then it suddenly came back to life in my round last weekend. Like knowing you’re about to break up with a girl, and you have a night together which reminds you why you fell for her in the first place.
[QUOTE=”JimmyOhio, post: 11558871, member: 52694″]
Still love my Hy-Wood. We shall never get divorced.
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Same. I had some range time this morning and that club was just automatic. I ended my bucket with a HyWood shot that was dead straight and had just the perfect soft landing. I had 4 balls left and just walked away on that high note.
I tried to find a club to unseat the hy-wood today. Went through several OEM hybrids and fairway woods. I wasn’t able to beat it.
[QUOTE=”mantan, post: 11556897, member: 51648″]
I may be pouring one out for the Hy-wood. My PING G430 5-wood came in this week. It was everything I wanted in the initial shakedown session. I hit 80% of the shots off the deck and it was as good as the vintage days with the Hywood. I don’t know if it’ll be as good out of the rough.
It’s more of a testament to the how good the G430 line is than an indictment of the Hy-wood.
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Yikes. The main round with the new 5 wood was a disaster. I used it for 4 tee shots and got 3 pulls and a top for my trouble. I used it twice from the deck. One disaster and one good outcome (hit it pin high just off the green from 220.)
The Hy-wood was smirking at me from the backup bag when I got home. We’ll see how it does on a different course tomorrow.
The Hy-wood may be back. The 5-wood has been really good at the range, but my percentage of quality shots on the course is laughably low. Today I put them both in the bag. (Only carry 13 clubs, so had a spot to add it.)
I had 225 yards left on a benign par 5. No trouble in front of the green, pretty wide landing area. Total go zone. Pull the 5 wood out and hit a low hard short pull. Had to scramble from heavy rough to save par.
I used it on the tee on a very short (230 yard) par 4. It’s a risk reward hole with bailout room on the right. Weak flare slice that ended up in a bunker 200 yards out on right.
I was done with it for the day. The next time that yardage came up was on dogleg you have to hit something 220 yards out. The trusy Hy-wood got pulled out and I hit a long high shot on a rope to position A.
I’ve always been better with hybrids because you swing them like an long iron. The 5-wood has just been a complete and total disappointment. I have a league event next week. The Hy-wood will be back in the bag. I may have made an expensive mistake.
[QUOTE=”mantan, post: 11575884, member: 51648″]
The Hy-wood may be back. The 5-wood has been really good at the range, but my percentage of quality shots on the course is laughably low. Today I put them both in the bag. (Only carry 13 clubs, so had a spot to add it.)
I had 225 yards left on a benign par 5. No trouble in front of the green, pretty wide landing area. Total go zone. Pull the 5 wood out and hit a low hard short pull. Had to scramble from heavy rough to save par.
I used it on the tee on a very short (230 yard) par 4. It’s a risk reward hole with bailout room on the right. Weak flare slice that ended up in a bunker 200 yards out on right.
I was done with it for the day. The next time that yardage came up was on dogleg you have to hit something 220 yards out. The trusy Hy-wood got pulled out and I hit a long high shot on a rope to position A.
I’ve always been better with hybrids because you swing them like an long iron. The 5-wood has just been a complete and total disappointment. I have a league event next week. The Hy-wood will be back in the bag. I may have made an expensive mistake.
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I’ve started setting up and hitting my 4W similar to the way I hit my HyWood and have actually gotten decent results. May be worth a try. I carry a 4W-Hywood at the top of my bag. When the driver goes into time out I can hit the 4W 220-225 off the tee
I always see the Cleveland Hy-wood and the Callaway UW being compared and contrasted. Are they in the same category or are they completely separate entities? Thoughts? My opinion is the hy-wood is a hybrid with a faster face on it where the UW is a mini-fairway wood, akin to a mini-driver.
[QUOTE=”J.B. Cobb III, post: 11591117, member: 50607″]
I always see the Cleveland Hy-wood and the Callaway UW being compared and contrasted. Are they in the same category or are they completely separate entities? Thoughts? My opinion is the hy-wood is a hybrid with a faster face on it where the UW is a mini-fairway wood, akin to a mini-driver.
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I find the Hy-wood vastly easier to hit as someone who likes to explore the face. Personally I never had much luck with the UW but that may have been partly the HZRDUS shaft that comes stock. Plus my feeble mind goes towards if the UW was built to a degree with Phil Mickelson in mind is it really a club for me?
[QUOTE=”J.B. Cobb III, post: 11591117, member: 50607″]
I always see the Cleveland Hy-wood and the Callaway UW being compared and contrasted. Are they in the same category or are they completely separate entities? Thoughts? My opinion is the hy-wood is a hybrid with a faster face on it where the UW is a mini-fairway wood, akin to a mini-driver.
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While the concepts are similar, the Hy-wood was designed to be crazy easy to hit while the UW is a more workable/less forgiving club. I think a lot of us who gravitated to the Hy-wood did so because we wanted something really easy to hit in that slot
Has anyone else struggled with the upright lie angle on this one? I was at the range with my daughter for an impromptu small bucket of balls after putt putt and just couldn’t seem to get it to set up comfortably for some reason tonight and now it’s in my head.
[QUOTE=”Scooby45, post: 11591528, member: 62865″]
Has anyone else struggled with the upright lie angle on this one? I was at the range with my daughter for an impromptu small bucket of balls after putt putt and just couldn’t seem to get it to set up comfortably for some reason tonight and now it’s in my head.
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I think the accuracy build one which is a tad shorter has a flatter lie. You could cut it 1/2 inch it will then have a flatter lie.
I swapped out my Hywood for a 19* Ping 430 hybrid. The Hywood was kinda ballooning on me to much because of my steep swing angle.
[QUOTE=”mantan, post: 11591425, member: 51648″]
While the concepts are similar, the Hy-wood was designed to be crazy easy to hit while the UW is a more workable/less forgiving club. I think a lot of us who gravitated to the Hy-wood did so because we wanted something really easy to hit in that slot
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I’m not disagreeing at all, because you’re right on the design of the two, but I find the UW to be so much easier to hit. For some reason, I just don’t get along with my hywood.
[QUOTE=”Hacker67, post: 11591572, member: 71565″]
I think the accuracy build one which is a tad shorter has a flatter lie. You could cut it 1/2 inch it will then have a flatter lie.
I swapped out my Hywood for a 19* Ping 430 hybrid. The Hywood was kinda ballooning on me to much because of my steep swing angle.
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I didn’t realize there were different versions? Is there a way to tell which you have?
[QUOTE=”smellysell, post: 11591608, member: 41947″]
I’m not disagreeing at all, because you’re right on the design of the two, but I find the UW to be so much easier to hit. For some reason, I just don’t get along with my hywood.
I didn’t realize there were different versions? Is there a way to tell which you have?
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The standard model is 41.5″ in length and 60.5 lie angle and has no 8-gram counterweight in the butt of the shaft. You would have to custom order the accuracy build so you probably have the standard. If you feel adventurous you could cut it 1/2″ and will get a flatter lie.
[QUOTE=”Hacker67, post: 11594237, member: 71565″]
The standard model is 41.5″ in length and 60.5 lie angle and has no 8-gram counterweight in the butt of the shaft. You would have to custom order the accuracy build so you probably have the standard. If you feel adventurous you could cut it 1/2″ and will get a flatter lie.
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Can you help me understand how the shorter shaft flattens the lie? I thought the angle was ground to shaft when sitting flush so from a geometric perspective the length of shaft wouldn’t matter.
I’ve heard that before and don’t disagree, just want to learn the why behind it.
[QUOTE=”Hacker67, post: 11594237, member: 71565″]
The standard model is 41.5″ in length and 60.5 lie angle and has no 8-gram counterweight in the butt of the shaft. You would have to custom order the accuracy build so you probably have the standard. If you feel adventurous you could cut it 1/2″ and will get a flatter lie.
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Standard Hy-Wood
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Hy-wood accuracy build
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[QUOTE=”Scooby45, post: 11594247, member: 62865″]
Can you help me understand how the shorter shaft flattens the lie? I thought the angle was ground to shaft when sitting flush so from a geometric perspective the length of shaft wouldn’t matter.
I’ve heard that before and don’t disagree, just want to learn the why behind it.
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Think about a 60* wedge with a 46-inch shaft, would the lie go up or down? Now think of a 60* wedge with a 10-inch shaft would the lie go up or down?
Accuracy build was just some fancy buzzwords Cleveland used in their Halo lineup. It’s marketing stuff, of course, a shorter shaft will give you more accuracy.
You can order it 1/2″ shorter and no counterbalance and by their own marketing lingo it’s an accuracy build. lol
Can’t you just grip down 1/2 inch? Sometimes if I’m not swinging as good I grip down and shorten up the backswing and BOOM more accurate shots from the fairway/rough
[QUOTE=”Wantacigar, post: 11594631, member: 72175″]
Can’t you just grip down 1/2 inch? Sometimes if I’m not swinging as good I grip down and shorten up the backswing and BOOM more accurate shots from the fairway/rough
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Yep. That’s what I do. Grip down 1/2 inch and I get 200 yard lasers all day!
[QUOTE=”mantan, post: 11575884, member: 51648″]
The Hy-wood may be back. The 5-wood has been really good at the range, but my percentage of quality shots on the course is laughably low. Today I put them both in the bag. (Only carry 13 clubs, so had a spot to add it.)
I had 225 yards left on a benign par 5. No trouble in front of the green, pretty wide landing area. Total go zone. Pull the 5 wood out and hit a low hard short pull. Had to scramble from heavy rough to save par.
I used it on the tee on a very short (230 yard) par 4. It’s a risk reward hole with bailout room on the right. Weak flare slice that ended up in a bunker 200 yards out on right.
I was done with it for the day. The next time that yardage came up was on dogleg you have to hit something 220 yards out. The trusy Hy-wood got pulled out and I hit a long high shot on a rope to position A.
I’ve always been better with hybrids because you swing them like an long iron. The 5-wood has just been a complete and total disappointment. I have a league event next week. The Hy-wood will be back in the bag. I may have made an expensive mistake.
[/QUOTE]
And the experiment is over. The G430 FW is sold. The first range session was fire. And I never could find it again. It became an exercise in frustration. I’d hit everything else well at the range and was buckwild with the 5-wood. To the point I had zero faith in it.
I did not hit in a single good shot with it during a round. Not one. Meanwhile I found my old magic with the Hy-wood.
[QUOTE=”mantan, post: 11604191, member: 51648″]
And the experiment is over. The G430 FW is sold. The first range session was fire. And I never could find it again. It became an exercise in frustration. I’d hit everything else well at the range and was buckwild with the 5-wood. To the point I had zero faith in it.
I did not hit in a single good shot with it during a round. Not one. Meanwhile I found my old magic with the Hy-wood.
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[media=giphy]YQpAgiAtZzpOtEHyvs[/media]
Boy, does this club have a pleasing sound when you stripe one.
Has anyone replaced the stock shaft with something fancy? Would this club work with a 70g shaft? This and the 4H variant are by far my lightest shafts in my bag. I just play them but wonder if I should make them more inline with my other clubs
[QUOTE=”vonbonds, post: 11632838, member: 61237″]
Has anyone replaced the stock shaft with something fancy? Would this club work with a 70g shaft? This and the 4H variant are by far my lightest shafts in my bag. I just play them but wonder if I should make them more inline with my other clubs
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I would love to try them with some UST Mamiya DART shafts, but I like the counterbalance feel.
[QUOTE=”J.B. Cobb III, post: 11632848, member: 50607″]
I would love to try them with some UST Mamiya DART shafts, but I like the counterbalance feel.
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I hit both well but wonder if I could hit them better or completely mess them up lol
has anyone here who is borderline xstiff had issues with the flex? I just bought the stiff flex after a good simulator session but am curious if anyone opted for a more heavy version and what they would recommend? Sorry if this somewhere else but appreciate any feedback!
My hy-wood journey may be coming to a close. Great early honeymoon period with some early shots but it’s be hit or miss since when on course. It was great in the bay maybe three weeks back when I was testing it against hybrids but that is just not translating to on course performance. I went back into shotscope and 7 of 15 shots are what I would classify as good, and by good I simply mean getting 195 or more yards, which is the distance I play my 4 hybrid. I’m not sure if it’s the upright angle, the counterbalance or the lighter weight. I think I will give it a run at league this week and see if it can earn a spot.
You can see the variance from the average to playing average stats. (Note the playing average is skewed by a downwind bomb I hit off the tee but it’s still a pretty big discrepancy.
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I hit a couple nasty ones with the Hywood at Bryan Park. One I was 200+ out in the rough on the side of a hill. It hits the green and rolls off the back. I nuked it off the tee into the fairway. Just a great versatile club.
[QUOTE=”Scooby45, post: 11635781, member: 62865″]
My hy-wood journey may be coming to a close. Great early honeymoon period with some early shots but it’s be hit or miss since when on course. It was great in the bay maybe three weeks back when I was testing it against hybrids but that is just not translating to on course performance. I went back into shotscope and 7 of 15 shots are what I would classify as good, and by good I simply mean getting 195 or more yards, which is the distance I play my 4 hybrid. I’m not sure if it’s the upright angle, the counterbalance or the lighter weight. I think I will give it a run at league this week and see if it can earn a spot.
You can see the variance from the average to playing average stats. (Note the playing average is skewed by a downwind bomb I hit off the tee but it’s still a pretty big discrepancy.
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Yeah, it was such a great club when I got it but after playing a 430 3w for a bit and getting great stats I dropped the Hy-wood for the 19* 430 hybrid.
Any hints a new one is coming? Coming up on 2 years shortly
Anyone that want to try one, mine is now officially on the block. Not sure what about it I don’t get along with, but I don’t. Would like to trade it, for basically anything.
[QUOTE=”smellysell, post: 11684373, member: 41947″]
Anyone that want to try one, mine is now officially on the block. Not sure what about it I don’t get along with, but I don’t. Would like to trade it, for basically anything.
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Bought a Rogue 5w to replace this that isn’t here yet, so of course smoked it the 3 times I hit it today.
[QUOTE=”Scooby45, post: 11558937, member: 62865″]
Yeah… I think I need to tinker. if nothing else it’s fun.
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I pulled the trigger on one yesterday, mainly due to the great price. It will be my “tinker” club for the remainder of the season, along with a Ping G400 that I’m turning into a “Thriver” for tight driving holes. I’m thinking of this combination as a package deal to replace my Cally 3HL and 7W.
[QUOTE=”smellysell, post: 11688725, member: 41947″]
Bought a Rogue 5w to replace this that isn’t here yet, so of course smoked it the 3 times I hit it today.
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Same here. I was ready to break up with the Hy-wood all summer. I bought a G430 fairway wood, but didn’t have the same magic as I originally had with the Hy-wood. The Hy-wood is still more temperamental than when we were first dating…but then there are those flashes that make you think you can make up and stick together.
Last Sunday I duffed a G430 hybrid I’d just bought (I keep trying to ‘upgrade’ my Clevelands for some reason) off the tee. I had 220 to the pin. Pulled the hy-wood out of the bag where she’d been sulking for not getting to play the last few rounds. And promptly smoked one right next to the pin.
[QUOTE=”Bob M, post: 11712525, member: 60765″]
I pulled the trigger on one yesterday, mainly due to the great price. It will be my “tinker” club for the remainder of the season, along with a Ping G400 that I’m turning into a “Thriver” for tight driving holes. I’m thinking of this combination as a package deal to replace my Cally 3HL and 7W.
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That’s a good call. I may revisit this and put in a different shaft in the fall just for giggles.
I’ve been hitting the Hy-wood so much better last few rounds. I’m not a long hitter and its a 185-200 club for me but it is consistent unless I put a crappy swing on it.
I also just bought a Cleveland DST 5i 26* hybrid for $39 to experiment with replacing my 5i (mental issues hitting 5i). Best $39 I’ve ever spent. Consistently 165-175 yds. Easy out of the rough. I don’t even have to think about hitting it. It’s like autopilot. And to think this is a 13 year old club.
[QUOTE=”Bob M, post: 11712525, member: 60765″]
I pulled the trigger on one yesterday, mainly due to the great price. It will be my “tinker” club for the remainder of the season, along with a Ping G400 that I’m turning into a “Thriver” for tight driving holes. I’m thinking of this combination as a package deal to replace my Cally 3HL and 7W.
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Yesterday at the range I was able to hit my Hy-wood and definitely see what all of the fuss is about! Definitely will get some more range time with the club, then want to try it on the course.
Has anybody removed the counterweight in the standard version? I realize several have re-shafted Hy-woods with heavier shafts with good results and that the “accuracy” version comes without a counterweight, but curious about the standard version. Among other things, with the counterweight in place, my Shot Scope tag only seems to go so far and knowing that the weight is in there, I don’t want to force things. Furthermore, at 40 grams (I got the Senior flex) the shaft is quite a bit lighter than in my other long clubs (Driver has Alta CB 55 and fairways have Cypher 5.0 flex 50s) so taking out the counterweight should bring the swing weight up a bit.
I traded in my Hy-wood (foolishly) chasing a cheap 5-wood at (big local retail) Second Swing. For the nominal amount I got for it, I should have kept it in the bag.
I haven’t gotten along with the 5-wood at all. And after working with my instructor and tightening a few things up….I think I could find the old magic with the Hy-wood. Unfortunately, my old one is no longer available…SS doesn’t have any right hand stiff models.
Any word on when the new freshness is coming out? I can get a new one off Amazon for $125. But if a new one is dropping this fall…
[QUOTE=”mantan, post: 11826782, member: 51648″]
I traded in my Hy-wood (foolishly) chasing a cheap 5-wood at (big local retail) Second Swing. For the nominal amount I got for it, I should have kept it in the bag.
I haven’t gotten along with the 5-wood at all. And after working with my instructor and tightening a few things up….I think I could find the old magic with the Hy-wood. Unfortunately, my old one is no longer available…SS doesn’t have any right hand stiff models.
Any word on when the new freshness is coming out? I can get a new one off Amazon for $125. But if a new one is dropping this fall…
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At this point just wait. I’m letting my buddy play mine right now instead of selling it. That said my Ping G430 5w is so good I’ll never go back most likely so I might sell it
Do we know if a new one is coming? I’m dying to see if they continue it.
I just got my Hywood this past Spring and I love it. I was lost without it when I had to send it back for a warranty issue for 2 weeks.
I went ahead and spent the $125 for a new one on Amazon. Final event of the season is this weekend. It’s a 36 hole event. I had a great tune up with my instructor and feel good about every club in my bag except the cheap fairway I bought. I figure the second time around will be better. Cue the music…
[MEDIA=youtube]xz4YQZ01Q_A[/MEDIA]
[QUOTE=”mantan, post: 11829721, member: 51648″]
I went ahead and spent the $125 for a new one on Amazon. Final event of the season is this weekend. It’s a 36 hole event. I had a great tune up with my instructor and feel good about every club in my bag except the cheap fairway I bought. I figure the second time around will be better. Cue the music…
[MEDIA=youtube]xz4YQZ01Q_A[/MEDIA]
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Fantastic song lol
Had a few rounds with the new hywood. I didnt any range time with it. So its first kiss was on a tee shot on the 4th hole.
I was pretty conservative in pulling it out.
Got some range time with it on Friday and found the old magic. Hit a cruise missle 220 yards to hit a green yesterday.
The magic may be back. In fairness, my instructor tweaked a small set up gremlin that had me missing both ways.
Golf is so frustrating. It was about a 7 min lesson. Told him what my misses were. He had me hit a few balls. Tweaked my alignment and face angle. Problem solved. Said everything else was spot on – didn’t want me to change anything else.
I was chasing all sorts of other stuff trying to fix it.
Just read that the new Hywood is 17 degrees, 1/2” longer, and a lighter shaft. Might fit right alongside the old one.