Coming Up!: How to Tell a Fake Callaway Golf Club from the Authentic

A large number of my visitors are looking for tips on how to determine if their clubs are genuine or fakes. I’ll be researching and compiling all of the tips for you in an upcoming blog update. Don’t miss it. Visit often or subscribe!

What’s In the Bag?: My Balls

Do golf balls make a difference in play? I have read in both magazines and books that the ball you use doesn’t matter for beginners or high handicappers. I say they are WRONG! Consistent ball flight, spin, distance and roll are crucial to both developing a reliable swing and lowering your handicap. I’ll use my personal experience to prove the point.

When I recently began to pickup the game of golf again, I started with cheap balls ($12-19). I used the TopFlite XLs (RockFlites as they are often referred to) . Being away from the game a while and not having a swing I could rely on, I quite honestly didn’t notice how ridiculously hard these balls really are. Moreover, I didn’t actually believe that there was any real difference in the overwhelming choices in balls in your typical sporting goods store, nor did I believe that you could select a ball that might help improve your game in some way. I only picked the TopFlites because I could reliable buy them in yellow (a good color to play on the frost covered fairways during the winter months in Virginia). Despite my reason for purchasing them, I am convinced that because I was able rely on the distance and roll that using the same ball make provides, I was able to improve my game more quickly than had I jumped around using whatever ball that I could find. I would actually argue that individuals who consistency use the same ball make can adjust to a new unknown ball much more quickly that the bargin bin crowd. After a few holes, the experienced player can adjust to the ball that he is playing. The key here is CONSISTENCY. Golf is a game where consistency is one of the keys to success.

Having said that, the TopFlite XLs are horrible balls. I recently found one on the course while I was playing a practice round and decided to pit it against the new TopFlite D2 Feel. Wow! What a difference in almost every way. Audibly, the XL was loud and made a distinct clank when hit with my Callaway Fusion Irons. Even my wedges seemed to labor to get the ball to the spot I was trying to hit. If a ball can feel “heavier” than another ball, this one is it. The vibration up the shaft actually made me wince off the tee.

On the other hand, the TopFlite D2 Feel with it’s “dimple-in-dimple” (hence D2) technology and significantly softer cover was a very playable ball. I lost an average of 10-15 yards off the tee when compared to my “go to” ball the Callaway HX Hot. But the Hot is not a ball made for feel (though it works just fine around the greens and is still my ball of choice) and the larger amount of compression on s softer cover is going to sap some of the energy generated from the ball strike.

If there were a ball that I wish I could afford playing with all the time, it would be the Callaway HX Tour 56. This is a softer version of their HX Tour ball and is very nice around the greens. However, at an average cost of $40 per dozen, I’ll just have to dream about a making it my “go to” ball.

“Meaningful” Golf Remains; Illness Sidelines the Golf Ace

This is one of the most exciting times in golf.  Yes, the majors are done.  The Prez Cup is over.  All that’s left that most of the public will watch is the Ryder Cup.  But for a true golf fan, you can still see so “meaningful golf“.   A large number of golfers on the Nationwide Tour are vying for 25  PGA Tour cards.  The top 25 at the end of the fall season get ’em = the rest go to Q school <– another pressure cooker.  Also, the top 125 on the money list already on the PGA Tour get their cards renewed for next season.  There are a number of notables fighting in these lasts tournaments to win enough money to get those cards renewed.  Jesper Parnevik and Justin Leonard are among those battling it out at the Valero Texas Open.

On a personal note:  The change of seasons have done a number on my sinuses.  I’ve been out of commission for 3 days.  No golf in 3 days!   The weather here has been great but I’ve been dealing with sinus pressure that made me feel like my eyeballs were going to pop out of my head!  It got so bad that I missed work as well.  I couldn’t even sleep.  The fever broke about 8:30 tonight.  I’ll try to get in a couple of holes tomorrow AM.  I am working on a post regarding golf balls.  I’ll post again before Monday.

US Team Wins the 2007 President’s Cup! Results

Congrats to Jack and the US Team on a sound spanking of the International Team.

Here are the results:
• Scott Verplank, U.S., def. Rory Sabbatini, International, 2 and 1
• Ernie Els, International, def. Lucas Glover, U.S., 2-up
• Phil Mickelson, U.S., def. Vijay Singh, International, 5 and 4
• Mike Weir, International, def. Tiger Woods, U.S., 1-up
• Angel Cabrera, International, def. Woody Austin, U.S., 2 and 1
• Adam Scott, International, def. Zach Johnson, U.S., 2 and 1
• David Toms, U.S., def. Trevor Immelman, International, 2-up
• Stewart Cink, U.S., def. Nick O’Hern, International, 6 and 4
• Geoff Ogilvy, International, def. Steve Stricker, U.S., 1-up
• K.J. Choi, International, def. Hunter Mahan, U.S., 3 and 2
• Charles Howell III, U.S., def. Stuart Appleby, International, 2 and 1
• Retief Goosen, International, def. Jim Furyk, U.S., 2 and 1

Note that in my previous post I predicted a 6/6 split. It ended up a 5/7 split. I missed the mark, however, on the winners of the individual matches. Thank goodness I’m not a betting man!

Ace

President’s Cup Singles Matches Tee Times and Predictions (Sunday)

The US only needs 3 wins so the cup is all but over. But good golf is sure to be seen.

The key matchups include Woods vs Weir and Mickelson vs Singh. If we split the singles the US will have won by 3. Here are my predictions (winners in bold):

Post your picks in the comments!

Ace

Wet Woody Austin: Swiming at the President’s Cup?

Woody Austin take a dive at the President’s Cup in Canada. What a nut!

What a hilarious scene. Taking a swing a ball near a water hazard, Woody Austin looses his balance, spins and dives headfirst into the water hazard. He’s more clown than golfer. I half expected him to come out of the water with a fish in his mouth. Maybe we should call him Bear Austin?

Not a horrible round but. . .

Scored a +12 on the front and a +7 on the back.  I was too irradic from the tee.  Wedge play and putting save me several strokes.  I got my new Callaway Fusion Approach Iron and can’t wait to see it in action.

Congrats to Tiger Woods on Winning the FedExCup and the Tour Championship!

Tiger Woods just ran away with the FedExCup and the Tour Championship. He was unstoppable and has it locked up after 16 holes. He’s at -24 with 2 holes remaining and his closest competitor 2007 Masters champ Zack Johnson is 8 strokes back. There’s little more to say – Tiger just put on a clinic today!

On another note: Loud mouth Woody Austin (Tiger’s playing partner yesterday and the subject of a much debated whiff putt) was little more than a footnote on the final day as he is currently +4 on the day. You’re right Woody, Tiger is hard to catch.

Woody Austin’s Whiff Putt – No Stroke? COME ON!

Now I really can’t stand this guy! If you saw the missed stoke by the Woodpecker on hole 15 of the 3rd round of the FedExCup, you know what I mean. You can see the video in the VoPod Video link in the next column (Stroke or Not) but suffice it to say that my playing chums would have read me the riot act if I tried that in a casual game, let alone a PGA tour event.

From the looks of it Mark Calcavecchia will be paired with Tiger in the final round on Sunday. Calc seems to be a good guy. I hope Tiger wins but wouldn’t be too upset if Calc took the tournament. Tiger appears to have both hands firmly gripped on the FedExCup. It would take a serious meltdown for him to loose it now.

Ace

Woody Austin is an @$$!

According to the Official PGA Tour site Woody is quoted as saying of Tiger Woods “He’s just hard to catch. He’s not hard to beat if you’re playing as well and you’re right there,” said Austin. “But if you let him get in front of you, like I said, he’s hard to catch.”

One question folks: When has Woody Austin beaten Tiger Woods at anything other than methane gas production!? I can’t get over this guy. He out scores Woods at the PGA Championship one or two rounds, still looses to Tiger and gets a woody about how the crowds are cheering him on. Golf is a game of consistency. Most tournaments are not won on a single round of scoring. Beat him today and tomorrow and I’ll give you props Woody! Until then, keep your pie hole shut and play golf.

Oh! And a note to Rory Sabbatini: Calling for forfeiture for missing one of the Tour Championship venues is the only way you and 90% of the field would have a chance at beating Tiger out of his 1st FedExCup. For some odd reason, Rory doesn’t get under my skin nearly as much as “the Woody”. I guess I feel sorry that his parents saw fit to saddle their son with the first name Rory.

They both should take a page from Steve Stricker’s book. Class and a great golf game will get the crowds cheering for you. Be the better player over the 4 days of a tournament and you might just win something.

Ace