Tell us about your game today...

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Congrats Super!

Core Golf. Not cheap though @ £275, but if you consider a putter is used a lot per round (i.e. 30 times) than driver then it's not that bad. I also got my previous Scotty for free, so it seems less of an expense.

If it saved a shot every 2 rounds it pays for itself in handicap reduction.

Ta. No, not cheap but it's only in the region of a Scotty, and you do use them a lot (significantly more in my case if you're only hitting 12 putts for 10 holes - ironically making your one relatively more expensive per shot!)

I'll be keeping stats over next few weeks so will see if it's making an improvement.

26 putts and 5 birdies with the EVNRoll last night. Things looking very positive. If I could hit more greens, I can't begin to imagine how good the scores could be.

4 birdies and an eagle for me today (with a £70 Rife). Struggling to work out what that will mean in terms of handicap. I knew if I birdied the last it would mean another exceptional cut, and despite a poorish approach I holed a 25 footer to do just that. 39 points missed out by one on the win, and assuming css is 35 as usual I should get cut 0.8 to 5.8. That's also my second score of -4 to css in 4 rounds (as was the first one) so the exceptional 2 shot cut should apply. However, as I read it the lowest you can go on an exceptional is 5.5, is that right?

Never heard of the "exceptional 2 shot cut".

Good shooting though.

Doesn't apply to cat 1 so correct not applicable below 5.5. Cut is not automatically 2 shots, and is based on level of exceptional scores, and frequency in relation to total rounds in the period. Cut can be less than 1.0 on the basis that coupled with the regular reduction, at least 1 shot would be coming off anyway. Clause 23C of CONGU regs - couldn't sleep!!!

Thanks chaps. Got very excited that I might get to 4 but 5.5 is lowest I've been at this club by a long way so well pleased.

Super, as a Cat 1 player you wouldn't be aware of the exceptional scoring cuts I guess but if you score 4 or more better than css you trigger the marker. If you repeat that feat within the next x number of rounds the cut can be anything from 0.5 to 3 shots. As it happens I'd only ever have got a 1 shot cut this time as I was exactly 4 under css, whereas last month I was 8 under so got cut 2.

Great shooting though Smithers. You're clearly on a roll right now. Keep it going and get yourself down to cat 1.

Thanks, that's definitely the goal. May be the end of the month before I play another qualifier though, and that's the club champs a day after driving back from a week in France so probably not the best prep!

Update on the Evnroll. Average 27.33 putts per round from the last 4. This includes 2 rounds in gale force winds with the ball being affected by wind.

If you're looking for a putter that really gets a good roll on the ball with very little dispersion on off centre hits, I can't recommend it enough. It doesn't seem to be hype, it really works.

18 birdies in my last 5 rounds too.

Since your first set of notes on it and the previous bits of noseying round the internet I chatted to the guy at Core Golf about them and long story short, I'm awaiting mine. ER1, 385g head.

Chalk up another frivolous purchase of some shiny golf stuff, although be it hype or not it's a tech that I understand the theory behind. I don't buy that it brings a mis-hit back on line (the equivalent of "gear effect" on a driver although that is not the correct term) but the variable thickness of groove compensating for slight mis-hits on the face in terms of distance I do believe.

Hopefully here this week. 38 putts coming up on Saturday! Although I changed putter yesterday for one from the garage and improved over recent rounds, at least getting a bit of confidence back.

I'll be interested to see how it goes Roller.

One thing I'd caution though is not to expect it to be great straight off the bat. Took me a couple of rounds and practicing without the gale force winds that have been around lately to see the difference.

Could still be new putter syndrome, and it could wear off, but the early results are really encouraging, but so were they with my Scotty. This feels different though.

I think it's a good thing to have several putters. When one goes cold, get another out.

One more thing, remove the ball marker from the head cover, you'll lose it if you don't.

Couple of practise green sessions should be fine (although I bet I just get it Friday and go straight out on Saturday!). Noted on the marker, might end up gluing it in as I won't use it and an almost childish OCD will have me unable to have a space on the headcover if something's "supposed" to be there!

LadyPutt wrote:Thought I'd better come in here to clarify a few things.

1. Yes, there are two clubs which use Leven Links - the Thistle and LGS. The Links is run by a committee made up of members from both clubs, there is no subsidy from Leven Council as far as I know. Unfortunately, although members at LGS would like to merge, for some reason those at the Thistle are resistant which is why we are stuck with the current situation which is not ideal.
.

From Bunkered Golf

http://www.bunkered.co.uk/golf-news/scots-club-nearly-doubles-membership-in-four-years

Flights to Glasgow booked, very little chance to play before mid August, what can go round rocking up to play Troon and Dundonald with my traditional erratic game and no practice?!

SmithersJones wrote:4 birdies and an eagle for me today (with a £70 Rife). Struggling to work out what that will mean in terms of handicap. I knew if I birdied the last it would mean another exceptional cut, and despite a poorish approach I holed a 25 footer to do just that. 39 points missed out by one on the win, and assuming css is 35 as usual I should get cut 0.8 to 5.8. That's also my second score of -4 to css in 4 rounds (as was the first one) so the exceptional 2 shot cut should apply. However, as I read it the lowest you can go on an exceptional is 5.5, is that right?

Great stuff smithers. Inspirational!

raycastleunited wrote:

SmithersJones wrote:4 birdies and an eagle for me today (with a £70 Rife). Struggling to work out what that will mean in terms of handicap. I knew if I birdied the last it would mean another exceptional cut, and despite a poorish approach I holed a 25 footer to do just that. 39 points missed out by one on the win, and assuming css is 35 as usual I should get cut 0.8 to 5.8. That's also my second score of -4 to css in 4 rounds (as was the first one) so the exceptional 2 shot cut should apply. However, as I read it the lowest you can go on an exceptional is 5.5, is that right?

Great stuff smithers. Inspirational!

Thanks. Currently trying to find out why the exceptional hasn't been applied, even though I did get the 0.8 cut 3 rounds after my last one. I'm determined to get into cat 1 so that 0.3 would help no end!

So it seems that this year the rules have changed so exceptional cuts are no longer compounded. Where before the second round of -4 or better would have generated a cut and started a new sequence, now it just ends the first sequence. A third score starts the process again but you need a fourth to get another cut. Not going to help me much as a fourth score like that will already get me to cat 1. Now trying to work out if I can squeeze in a midweek medal next week!

I bought a couple of dozen of the Vice balls this week. Early impressions are pretty good, seem to be less affected by side spin, nice to chip and putt with.
No better or no worse than a Pro V

super_realist wrote:I bought a couple of dozen of the Vice balls this week. Early impressions are pretty good, seem to be less affected by side spin, nice to chip and putt with.
No better or no worse than a Pro V

Interesting balls. Not come across them before. Price seems very competitive if performance is as claimed. Still, not sure it's better than buying last seasons's Tour balls from all but Titleist.

Incidentally, what model Evnroll putter did you go for?

Balls cost 75 for three dozen, seem pretty cheap to me and feel great off the irons and around the green. Better "font" than Kirkland too.

I went for the ER2 putter Navy, Not had more than 28 putts in the last 7 rounds now.

Which option did you go for SR. thinking about making the switch from Prov1x - looks like ViceProPlus is the one?

Vice Pro Barra.

They do a "tester" pack for £16 (plus postage) that has two balls from each of their 5 ball range.

Trouble is, 2 of their models are pretty much 2 piece balls which you'd never use on the course, fine for the practice bag though.

Played a couple of rounds with it now and I really like it. Probably marks a bit easier than a Pro V1, but still think it represents very decent value whilst there is nothing in the performance.

Anyone tried the TP5(x)?

super_realist wrote:Balls cost 75 for three dozen, seem pretty cheap to me and feel great off the irons and around the green. Better "font" than Kirkland too.

I went for the ER2 putter Navy, Not had more than 28 putts in the last 7 rounds now.

super_realist wrote:...They do a "tester" pack for £16 (plus postage) that has two balls from each of their 5 ball range.

Trouble is, 2 of their models are pretty much 2 piece balls which you'd never use on the course, fine for the practice bag though.

Played a couple of rounds with it now and I really like it. Probably marks a bit easier than a Pro V1, but still think it represents very decent value whilst there is nothing in the performance.

Yeah, if you're happy to go for 3 dozen, or more, the price seems very good. Like idea of the tester pack - might give that a go.

I'd take 28 putts per round any day! What were you typically doing before the new putter?

Much difference between the pro and pro plus?

Navy, I was probably about 29-30 putts a round, bear in mind I have a pretty shocking GIR ratio for a low handicapper and this means I'm chipping a lot of balls close for a single putt.

One thing I would note though is that in my last 8 rounds with the EVNROLL I've had 25 birdies, whereas before the new putter I had 13 birdies over 8 rounds, so when I'm hitting the green, it appears I'm converting more of them with the Evnroll, at least thus far.

I think I'd need a full season to give me reliable figures, but initial findings are obviously pretty good, and of course, the putter could well go cold (as my previous putter started off hot, but went cold too.)

I would also caution that I've had a lesson since getting the putter (not a putting lesson) and I feel it has improved my ball striking, so potentially my distance to the pin is being controlled better.

Barra, I expect the Pro Plus Vice ball is more like the Pro V1x.

Cheers SR. might see if a few guys at the club fancy chipping in for a dozen each and get 5dozen. £21.50/dozen is potentially a great price

You still in Edinburgh Barra? I'm moving back soon so be good to grab a game.

Sounds good SR, when are you back? Mac still around too?

Should be 2-3 weeks max Barra.

JAS wrote:So frustrated to be still 0.1ing this far into the season. Sunday just summed it up. Medal in the morning, 2 big left tee shots on 4 and 7 required reloads, a couple of 3 putts to be out in 42 (7 over), came back in 39 (and our back 9 generally plays 3-4 shots tougher than the front) missed the buffer by 1. Went out in matchplay in the afternoon and of course parred and birdied the 2 holes I messed up in the morning. Closed out the match on 14 3 over gross with an eclectic score for the day of 70 (didn't play the last 4 holes one of which I'd doubled in the morning).
Now had 11 0.1s in a row which in theory means i'll be offered a 1 shot increase this week (which I won't take). I just wonder when it's going to turn around.

Wow!! This quote seems like a long time ago!! 7 qualifying rounds later and gone from 7.0 wondering where/how a cut would ever come to 5.5 and wondering how much lower I can go during this run of form. Started off with a modest 0.2 cut and a couple of buffers in early/mid June and has culminated in my best medal round for a couple of years yesterday a 1 over par 72. So 4 cuts and 2 buffers with the only blemish being missing the buffer by one in the afternoon round of the club Champs at the end of June.

What am I doing differently? I don't think I'm doing much if anything different, what a fickle game!!
Looks like the turning point was a week in Spain at the end of May and 3 fun rounds which included Valderrama. Started off at Valderrama, triple double but then rallied well finishing no only 2 over handicap. Can't explain why but just seems I've mentally been in a better place. Most of the rounds since have followed a pattern of silly early errors followed by good recovery and solid back 9s. Yesterday was prob 1st round in several weeks where front 9 was better than back although to be fair I'd take a 1 over back 9 on most rounds.

Roller, how's your EvnRoll putter?

Vice Pro Plus? Sounds like something from my student days

First time out on Saturday and seemed to be an improvement 29 putts including a silly 3 putt, but approach play did leave me quite a way away from pins in the main. Have been 31/32 recently but I think that was probably me putting a heavier grip on my old Scotty and ruining the swingweight (yes, I could have simply changed the grip back to a lighter superstroke - but didn't). I did take my odyssey milled #9 last week and that worked quite well but doesn't really suit my swing and is a bit long.

Went ER1 with 385g head and don't have the 30g weight in the top of the shaft, but the grip is quite heavy. Better weight distribution makes it all seem more solid, especially 3 - 5 footers. Grip is a smidge bigger than I'm used to, but does sit nicely in the hands.

Not really paying attention to whether the tech has any impact, but a couple of putts I think I hit poorly did seem to go further. Head size is a little bigger than I was expecting and a bit uglier than the scotty, but it sits nicely.

Very nice putter all in all, well crafted and thus far, I like it. I do need to put a little bit of work in on the practise green as I grow into bats rather than slot straight in (never been a "honeymoon" period with any flatstick I've used).

SmithersJones wrote:Anyone tried the TP5(x)?

Yes. They seem to fly further with less spin and less affected by wind. They are a bit harder and don't stop as well on short pitches/chips than a pro V, but nothing a bit of practise doesn't sort out.

Best ball TM have ever made for me and an improvement on the older 2014/2015 pro v1x I had been using. I prefer the TP5x to the TP5, but they are also very good.

What I haven't done yet is played any 2017 Prov or x which are supposed to be a noticeable improvement on the 2015 ones so I can't comment on TP5x vs latest titleist but in isolation the TP5X is a very, very good ball (for me).

Definitely worth a try.

Can you guys really tell the difference between different incarnations of the same ball? I've still got a box of 2012 Pro V1's at home, when I crack these out will they feel like Mollitors compared to the latest version?

Have you been saving them for a special occasion Ray?

Haha, yes only use them for WGCs and Majors.

About 4 years ago I converted pro shop winnings into 3 boxes of Pro V1's. With 3 kids I don't play much golf these days, and I don't use premium balls in winter.

Roller_Coaster wrote:

SmithersJones wrote:Anyone tried the TP5(x)?

Yes. They seem to fly further with less spin and less affected by wind. They are a bit harder and don't stop as well on short pitches/chips than a pro V, but nothing a bit of practise doesn't sort out.

Best ball TM have ever made for me and an improvement on the older 2014/2015 pro v1x I had been using. I prefer the TP5x to the TP5, but they are also very good.

What I haven't done yet is played any 2017 Prov or x which are supposed to be a noticeable improvement on the 2015 ones so I can't comment on TP5x vs latest titleist but in isolation the TP5X is a very, very good ball (for me).

Definitely worth a try.

Thanks Roller. I had a test sample of the current prov1x late last year and immediately noticed the improvement over the previous incarnation, so my guess is they're similar. I tend to take advantage of the annual offer Titleist do in springtime and get 4 dozen (personalised) for the price of 3 so shouldn't need to buy any balls for a while yet but I'll definitely try the TP5x as and when I do.

What personalisation do you use?

Should have said my last ones had 'roll along this line' Didn't work!

puligny wrote:What personalisation do you use?

I have my daughter's date of birth on them. I wouldn't normally have it but it's part of the offer.

I can tell the difference in flight between a pro V and a Pro V x up to this year's which I haven't hit, but the difference between (say) a 2012 and 2013 Pro V I'm not sure. In terms of the performance of a 17 Pro V versus a 15 all I have to go on is some of the stuff I've seen as I've not hit the 17 yet.

The TP5x versus a 15 Pro V seems to me to be quite a marked difference -TM I'd say around half an iron longer with a slight increase in roll out on the green.

Although - maybe I just think I can tell the difference and if you tested me with unmarked balls (oo-er!) you might come away with the conclusion that I'm full of poopie!

Roller_Coaster wrote:I can tell the difference in flight between a pro V and a Pro V x up to this year's which I haven't hit, but the difference between (say) a 2012 and 2013 Pro V I'm not sure. In terms of the performance of a 17 Pro V versus a 15 all I have to go on is some of the stuff I've seen as I've not hit the 17 yet.

The TP5x versus a 15 Pro V seems to me to be quite a marked difference -TM I'd say around half an iron longer with a slight increase in roll out on the green.

Although - maybe I just think I can tell the difference and if you tested me with unmarked balls (oo-er!) you might come away with the conclusion that I'm full of poopie!

Probably specific to your swing/impact characteristics, rather than a general feature. There just isn't that much difference in modern 'Tour' balls if they're to conform to USGA/R&A rules.

Stupid game golf. Been struggling for an age with the driver and decided last week to try an old trick of kinking my right elbow back towards my body and slightly towards the left arm at address. Drops my right (rear) shoulder a touch and gives a slightly more inside takeaway.
Amazing transformation, especially with the driver. Shot level in the midweek medal and one over today with a bad back (some 1st tee warm up that was ) and a dumb bogey up the last. Should drop me another 0.3 today . Frustratingly difficult game, but pretty enjoyable when it's going well!

Good show Navy ;-) Interesting wee tweak you've made that promotes more of an inside takeaway...that's one of the things I'm trying to get away from!!

It was our biggie at the weekend, Captains Day and a full 162 man field, prizes on every hole, great day as always. I played pretty similar to last week for the most part but 2 disastrous 2nd shots on 12 and 13 resulted in a triple & a double. Rallied to a 6 over 77 and buffer but she h what could have been.

The winner?? An 11 year old playing off 14 shot 80 net 66 and could even afford a triple on the last!!

Navy - interesting one. I saw a John Jacobs video on local tv just after he died. He had chap taking normal set up, then closing his shoulder line slightly. "You'll never slice it again!' Not sure if that was your problem, but I can confirm it's a good tip, or at least works for me.