Equipment reviews!

[MFAWG]

That's right, a 2 fer!

First up, the Tour Edge Exotics XLD LS Driver:

After having had pretty good luck luck with a Bazooka I bought a few years ago for 100 bucks at Pro Golf Discount, I decided to give this thing a shot. Since I really don't hit driver more than 5 or 6 times a round across the street (probably shouldn't hit it more than 3 or 4), I was looking in the low end for it's replacement. I found this one for 79 bucks shipped at Golfsmith and decided to give it a whirl.

The club is from 2009 when square was in, and this thing is definitely squarish, with a fairly shallow face. As always, I'm playing 10.5 degrees and R flex.

First the bad:

This thing is *goshdarn* UGLY!  It's ugly like a riced out Mercedes 190e: Take a perfectly seviceable albeit low end automobile and put a bunch of *feces* on it to try to make it look like something it isn't, for no discernible reason. I can't really get a picture that does the overbearing shaft graphics justice, and I'm not sure that I shouldn't throw the headcover on the bed as a throw pillow, because that is what that *feces* looks like.

Now the good:

It was one of the first ultralite drivers on the market, and at 46 inches with a 50 gram shaft it took me a couple of tries to get it right, but when I did I had 2 well over over 240 in a light rain on a damp fairway. It's also pretty forgiving. I put 2 questionable swings on it that ended up with very serviceable shots. I was also able to work a draw, which was a pleasant surprise, both because I suck at that and because the toaster on a string visuals don't inspire confidence in that shot even with a closed face at set up.

So if you're looking for a fill in, B bagger or gift for for your no good brother in law that wouldn't know the difference any way, this is a really good buy. In the bag, subject to change here.

[MFAWG]

2nd up, a wedge.

I've been playing a 59* degree SMT durometer that was bent to 58 and has the factory grind on it. Since I'm only carrying that and a 52* gap, the low bounce (he says 7, I say MAYBE 5) on that thing wasn't really cutting it. The other problem with it is that it weighs as much as a small block crankshaft, making it difficult to control on short (25 to 40 yard) pitch shots where the 52 rolls out to much. I;ve also never been able to hit a decent full swing shot with it.

So, I was looking for a VERY specific wedge: 58, 8 to 10 degrees bounce, and not heavy like the Durometer is.

It also needed to be under a C note, because I just can't justify spending over 100 bucks on anything but a driver or set of irons, and then only under duress.

About the only thing I could find with that bounce was a Callaway, and I just didn't like it.

Low and behold, I actually stumbed onto this thing on Golfsmith somehow or another after missing it for weeks. A quick check of Bridgestones website confirms that it has 10 degrees of bounce.



for 59.99.

It's not quite that garish in person, and supposedly the finish wears and rusts over time. It's VERY nice, works well, and I was able to hit a few decent pitch shots as well as a couple of very nice full swing 85 yarders with it.

The only downside is that if I qualify for the US Mid Amateur, I'll have to subsitute it after 2014.