Comments on: THE WOW FACTOR - Equipment Quiz

By: John Taylor

John Taylor — Fri, 22 Aug 2008 00:30:51 +0000

Thank you Mr. Adams for sharing your insights. However, based on my experience in fitting and building custom clubs, I would modify the answers or reach different conclusions on some questions that have been posed. For question 2, Mr. Adams is correct only if the golfer can hit the ball with a long driver in the center of the clubface with the same control and swing speed as with a shorter driver on every shot, a feat that most amateurs rarely accomplish. The key to performance is to find a driver (or fairway wood) with a length and weight that allows a golfer to hit the ball at or close to the center of the clubface most of the time — the club that works best is almost always an inch or more shorter than stock OEM clubs. For question 7, Mr Adams has overlooked an important part of the component industry. Although cheap knockoff clones are on the market, there are several custom components readily available that are produced at equal or higher quality than corresponding OEM club heads; and many of the best original designs come from the top component companies. But it’s not just the quality at issue, it’s the manufacturing tolerances that OEMs accept. For example, it is not uncommon for OEM drivers to be 1 - 2 degrees different in loft than is stated on the clubhead, and shaft flexes can vary over a wide range: these two problems can have a major negative impact on performance, and can be avoided easily by good custom clubmaking. For question 8, there is no secret — most average and better golfers see improved club performance by replacing stock OEM shafts with better quality aftermarket shafts that need not be expensive — that’s true for woods and definitely for irons. This basic observation forms the basis for many successful clubfitting businesses that help golfers overcome the limitations placed on a well-designed OEM head that has been matched with an unsuitable shaft.

By: Scott Seward

Scott Seward — Sun, 03 Aug 2008 21:11:34 +0000

Ed - Thanks for the tip. We will keep an eye on Mr. Wishon’s work for future consideration in NCGA Golf..

Jerry - Excellent idea! In our last issue we compared sports drinks. Look for an article in the Fall magazine comparing nutrition bars.

Thanks

By: Ed Reeder

Ed Reeder — Sun, 03 Aug 2008 18:02:45 +0000

Scott,
If you would really like to promote an equipment discussion I suggest that you contact Tom Wishon, who has been favorably mentioned several times in these comments, to write an article for the NCGA magazine.
Mr. Wishon is well known for having unbiased articulate presentations on equipment. He was a keynote speaker at the most recent World Scientific Congress of Golf (Here is his presentation - http://www.golfscience.us/media/flv/wishon.html)

By: Jerry Fuller

Jerry Fuller — Tue, 29 Jul 2008 20:05:59 +0000

How about writing about the relative softness of golf balls? How soft or hard are the various Titleist balls? Callaway? Pinnacle? Ultra?Dunlop? Top Flite?

By: Scott Seward

Scott Seward — Tue, 29 Jul 2008 15:29:27 +0000

Ken - Thanks for writing in.

I wouldn’t characterize Mr. Adams’ writing as an agenda. I would say the quiz reflects his experience. Our point in excerpting the book and posting the entire quiz was to stimulate discussion.

Scott Seward

By: Ken Alterwitz

Ken Alterwitz — Tue, 29 Jul 2008 05:50:11 +0000

If number 12 is true and the fit is correct, then number 7 should be true as well, as long as the clubfitter has done their job in matching the specifications to the golfer’s swing. I have consistently put customers into high quality component lines, like Tom Wishon’s designs as alluded to in a prior post, with nothing but success stories and satisfied customers. My greatest pleasure comes when a client comes to me after using their custom fit/custom made clubs and tell me they have shot their personal best. This after years of playing OEM equipment.

I appreciate the fact that the NCGA excerpted Mr. Adams book, but it is obvious that Mr. Adams has his own agenda. As such, please understand these are only one man’s opionions, as is this post.

By: Scott Seward

Scott Seward — Mon, 28 Jul 2008 15:01:43 +0000

William - Mr. Adams doesn’t work for us, we were just posting an excerpt from his book. Thanks for your comments - we will try to get an answer for you on your first post.

Scott Seward

By: William Schnitzer

William Schnitzer — Sun, 27 Jul 2008 19:40:58 +0000

Mr. Adams,

I disagree with your answer to mutiple choice question #13 as “B”, here’s why.

I once read in a magazine the following percentages for the number of shots hit on any given hole. This is if the goal is to make par on each hole.

On a par 5 the drive is hit once and represents 20% of the shots hit on a par 5. There are 2 second shots = 40%
and then 2 putts = 40%

On Par 4’s the drive is hit once = 25% of the shots
One second shot = 25%
and there are 2 putts = 50%

On a par 3
The “T” shot is hit once = 33.3%
and 2 puts = 66.6%

Gee, I too would prefer to hit great second shots from 160 to 200 yds. but this does not improve ones game faster or is mort important. In reality the math doesn’t lie (especially if your a 16 handicapper) Being a better putter will greatly improve your game by at least 40% to 66.6% of the time.

But I admit, as an 11 handicapper the second shot is becoming very important in scoring well. as long as I can two putt each hole.

By: William Schnitzer

William Schnitzer — Sun, 27 Jul 2008 19:11:42 +0000

Hi Mr. Adams.

I have a concern about Question #3. If answering true to question #2 that longer shafts hit the ball further, than a 3 wood with 5 wood specs would hit the ball further because the shaft is 1 to 1.5 inches longer.

I am assuming the following.

Same grip on the 3 wood as the 5 wood
Same club head loft and lie for both the 3 wood and 5 wood.

But what changes is the shaft length because otherwise it’s just a 5 wood with a 3 wood stamp on the club head.

Please comment.

W. Schnitzer

By: Bob Gleason

Bob Gleason — Sat, 26 Jul 2008 21:40:50 +0000

Where can I get one of those J drivers? Sounds like the perfect companion to my Muirfield 1-iron.