GolfHos

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.

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.

(http://www.bridgestonegolf.com/images/product/archive/wcdwedgecopper.jpg)

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.