This spring’s equipment juggling act has guys rethinking to some degree that bouquet of head covers crowding the top compartment of their bag.  The swoon for hybrids has people discarding every long iron because, rightfully so, these hybrids are easier to elevate than the butter knives, they work better out of the gnarly lies in the rough grass, and they land softer on the business end of the shot.  Who wouldn’t go all in for this concept.

Long irons try to reclaim your affection  (mizuno.com)

But as the snows recede you may note some better players toying with a new version of their old friends, utility long irons.  Titleist and TaylorMade call them driving irons, Callaway’s are utility irons, and to Mizuno they are hybrid irons.  They basically took the long irons-2 thru 4 in most cases-fattened the sole and widened the cavity back to improve the center of gravity and make them easier to launch and more forgiving.   These will not replace all of your hybrids but for certain players they will backfill niches created by full migration to hybrids.

Players may have found three conditions for which hybrids have left them without an implement.  The monster player, you know him, 27 years old, without a dimmer switch, 290+ off the tee, he finds driving it into the tight nook of the dogleg about 240 a tough task with a 3 hybrid.   The regular stiffs have that 210 yardish shot into a gale force wind where lowering the trajectory on the hybrid is not an option.  Lastly for all of us a wayward drive ends up in the pine straw with a limited access window about 10 feet off the ground 20 yards ahead of us and still a long way to go to reach the green.

The new Mizuno MP-H4 Hybrid Irons have a 2,3, and 4 iron (18, 21, and 24 degrees of loft respectively) which can provide a solution for these problems.  For people who actually have to pay for their equipment, Mizuno makes the finest players irons out there.  These H4s are Grain Flow Forged like all of their Mizuno cousins and have been craftily engineered by their white jackets to deliver the forgiveness required and maintain the normal top edge look of a long iron.

In my field testing I have found these to my liking, very easy to elevate,  generous forgiveness, dependable contact except out of the heavy rough, and very pliable trajectory control.  Mizuno offers them in a wide variety of shafts so you need to do some research to find the right combination to fit your swing aptitude.

My son, who fits into the first category above, hits his Zuno H4 2 iron about 240 to 250 off the tee with much greater towardness control than his old hybrid.  I used my H4 2 to replace my 19 degree hybrid and the low trajectory and roll out to accessible greens works very well into the wind.  From incarcerated circumstances they prove very crafty off of skinny lies with limited windows of escape and a 130 yard carry to clear the rough.

I see both the H4 2 and 3 iron finding their way into my starting lineup at times this year.   Seeing that in their current state of mind the USGA is likely to frown on my petition to expand the acceptable club limit to 16, it looks like there will be some serious social networking of long irons and hybrids in the boot of the Mini Cooper this spring.

Watching the flat bellies on TV, you are seeing a number of the pros migrating back to these clubs for reasons one and two.  Club players with a bit of imagination are finding some favor in them as well.  Much like adding a gap wedge to the north end of the set, going to a hybrid long iron is a circumstantial switch to address voids created by our total abandonment of low lofted irons.  If you are tempted by this I highly recommend the Mizuno MP-H4 as a place to start your inquiries.

March, 2013

(For another person’s opinion on the Mizuno H4 Hybrids check out this Golfwrx review)

As the shroud of winter approaches in the northeast there are a few hardy and foolish souls who seek to extend the golf season by tolerating the wind and the cold and continuing to walk the golf course when the temperature only rises into the 40’s.

Gortex fiber filled outerwear, layers of clothing, woolie golf gloves, and knit hats are all part of the winter clothing repertoire.  But one more item-Cart Mitts-are increasingly becoming part of the winter dance.

Originally they were just bright colored oversized polar fleece mittens that made you look like the Pillsbury Doughboy.  But these things have gotten more functional in their construction and more stylish in their appearance and so take on a practicality to help you forbear the elements and still play the game well into December.

The Titleist version are very light weight with a nylon outer shell that has a wind breaking quality to it and a full acrylic polar fleece lining for warmth.  The inner chamber is very roomy and makes it easy to get your hands in and out even if you have on winter golf gloves.  There is even a secret slot that reveals an inner pocket in the palm of the mitts that will hold a hand warmer for additional warmth.

These things are pretty pricey at just over $40 a pair but they are worth it if you are serious about winter play and keeping your hands toasty  between shots.  I would suggest you can leverage the purchase price by using them for winter grilling-put one on your non-spachula hand while you are outside flipping the burgers and dogs on the patio gas grill.

They come in one stylish color combination-black with red trim, brandish the Titleist logo proudly, and are one-size-fits-all.  If you are in this small minority of crazies that continue to play golf as long as there is no snow cover you probably ought to consider getting a pair of these puppies.

November, 2012

A number of years ago The Golf Channel ran a reality show featuring innovations in golf related products. Most of what was featured was frivolous or impractical. But one of the products, the Club Glider, was truly innovative and offered an alternative to the wrestling match people experience in airports with their golf club travel bag . The Club Glider became a bona fide product as a result and is now marketed through Sun Mountain.

What distinguishes this travel bag from all others is that it has a spring loaded, cantilever leg system with caster wheels that support your clubs and make maneuvering around the airport an effortless experience. The retractable legs are stowed away while your clubs are in transit and can be deployed with one hand as you pull your bag off the baggage carousel.

How many times have you trudged a sagging travel bag through the airport like Sisyphus only to have it flip over like an uncooperative bag of mulch when you make the slightest change in direction? How aggravating is it to get on or off the escalator because your travel bag has no spine and seems to collapse in a lump at an inopportune moment?

The Club Glider removes the need to support your bag at any time and allows you to guide your clubs with one hand as you make your way up the line at the check in or car rental counter. The support angle created by the legs means no need to bend over and lift your bag every time you want to move a few feet. The caster wheels let you effortlessly maneuver with one hand through tight spaces without changing speeds.

The bag comes in three models and is priced at around $230 to $300. At prices like these they made sure this thing has reinforced construction and is fully padded to protect your stuff with plenty of extra storage for shoes, balls, and even your returning laundry. They say you can even put up to a 50 inch belly putter safely in the bag.

The Club Glider may sound pricey but I must say it is worth every cent of it. The first time you see the rest of the guys at the baggage carousel doing the alligator mambo with their canvas travel bag you will realize this was money well spent.

(Click here to see it at the Sun Mountain Club Glider website)

October, 2011

The Walking Golfer is a website dedicated to spreading the word about the benefits of walking the golf course.  In an age where most public, resort, and private courses seem to discourage patrons from walking, it is good that there is someone out there trying to debunk their logic and self-serving economic rationalizations.

(Click here to read their Benefits of Walking)

This site also features course reviews, course walkability ratings, interviews and articles.  You can even join the society as a member for free.

As men are apt to do, I made the mistake of going to the golf course yesterday and forgetting to bring a pair of socks.  Desperate to avoid cultivating fungus in my Freddies I went into the golf shop seeking an emergency pair of sport socks for the day’s walk.  In perusing the selection available I found a pair of FootJoy TechSof Sport socks that had an inordinate amount of “engineered characteristics” on the packaging, but proved to be a pure joy to my feet.

These things sell for around $10 a pair but I have to say that for those who walk all the time and worry about foot comfort, these are worth the investment.  They come in black and white and fit shoe sizes 7 to 12.

The promo copy brags the following:

-Breathable mesh inserts strategically positioned to boost ventilation
-Lycra/spandex for excellent fit, stretch, and recovery
-Dri-Lex to lift moisture and vapor off the skin keeping your socks dry
-Targeted cushioning in toe and heel areas for comfort
-Reinforced heel for added support and cushioning
-Enclosed Comfort Seam toe for advanced comfort and fit

And to my amazement all of this is true.  The mesh along the top seems to wick the heat and moisture away from your foot.  I am usually a big cotton advocate when it comes to socks and these have no cotton content but are as cool as any all cotton sport sock I have ever worn.  The lycra/spandex means the sock fits snuggly and does not ride up or down your shoe.  The cushioning in the toe and heel add noticeable comfort and definitely reduce foot fatigue during the course of the day.

Besides looking incredibly cool they had to mark the two socks “left” and “right” so you would not put them on the wrong foot and destroy the designed engineering effect.  For those of you with two left feet, these are not for you.

Apparently these come in a crew sock with similar characteristics in black, navy, and beige for about the same price.  If you spend all day on your feet these are probably worth a try as a casual day sock as well.

September, 2011

The Golf Care Center experience is something serious golfers in the Washington metro area have leaned on for decades as the way to improve their games through the proper professional fitting of their golf equipment.

Wade Heintzelman has been the premier club fitter in this area for a long time and his clientele includes everyone from the buddies in your Saturday foursome who just want something that feels right to touring pros who demand the highest specifications in their equipment fittings.   Wade brings to his shop an unparalleled aptitude for the diagnostic fitting technology, thorough knowledge of the latest equipment available, and a complementary understanding of  swing mechanics as it pertains to proper club fitting.

Why a private club fitting you ask?  Because any dummy can buy the hottest new driver but if they don’t get the club with appropriate specifications that fit their game it is just an overpriced piece of high tech airplane material.

When you step in the door you will meet the front man, Jack Goldsby, who will always greet you with a big smile, a hearty handshake, and funny story to lighten your day.  Don’t be fooled by his levity because Jack is a serious craftsman when it comes to the club repair, modification, and assembly that have given this place it’s reputation for top quality work.  Believe me it is well worth the fitting fee to have an uninterrupted hour of Wade’s time-he has been at this for 28 years and he is all business.  He will inspect your current equipment for appropriate specs, put you on the swing monitor to collect invaluable data about your equipment performance, and even throw in a top notch professional golf lesson that will help your club fitting and your game as well.

These guys are not interested in just selling you new equipment, rather they are in to fine tuning what you have or augmenting it with what you need to become a more complete player. Wade is incredible at relating to his clients the concepts of proper fit as it pertains to their body type, ability level, and skill set.  It can be something as nuanced as the size of your grips or as significant as the flex of your shaft or the lie of your irons.  It might be a flaw in your swing mechanics that has you harboring a grudge against your existing clubs.  When you walk out you will have in your hand complete specifications for what he recommends for your equipment and a sense of confidence how this will improve your swing and performance on the course.

You don’t have to buy the stuff from them, but given their reputation for delivering top quality spec clubs at a very competitive price I am not sure why you wouldn’t.  Their services include club repair and modifications-I have used them for repairing broken shafts, grip replacement, and even adjusting the loft on my sand iron.  These guys know their stuff, get it right the first time, and deliver the service with a smile.  There is a reason players of all caliber continue to come to this place-Mick Jagger called it “Satisfaction”.

(Click here for the Golf Care Center website and contact information)

July 2011

It is no surprise that the hottest show in town, especially among the fifty to seventy year old demographic, are the Ecco Golf Street shoes that were made so visible last year by Freddie Couples during his scintillating start to the 2010 Champions Tour season.  They were impossible to get last season but Ecco has clearly got the factories in the Far East churning because you can get them in just about every golf shop in array of styles and colors.

As a course walker I find them super comfortable during the four mile trek up and down the hills of my club course.  They have solid interior construction so there are no tired arches like I have experienced with other “casual” golf shoes.  I have had problems with the narrowness of Ecco’s in the past but these have a very generous front cavity and have presented none of these issues.  The short waffle cleat bottoms provide more than adequate stability and traction in typical conditions and terrain-there is no slippin-n-slidin even in the fairway bunkers or the side hill lies.

The styling is funky but not frumpy and I have found that the multi-color look of most of the styles work great with a wide array of colors of long pants or shorts.  There is just something Freddie casual about the whole look and should present no esteem issues unless you are just a wing tip man through and through.

You have to try them on in person to get the right sizing since Ecco uses the european sizes from 41 to 47.  Once you know the size I have found they are substantially cheaper on the net.

June 2011