Taylormade r540 xd irons, a new putter, new woods?

[mtxbassshaker]

What do you guys think about the r540 xd irons from taylormade? Has anyone hit them before, like them, dislike them? distance?.. I also need a putter.. I really like the Odyssey 2-ball.. what do you guys think about them and what do you have for a putter? Also.. (sorry if so many questions) who makes the best woods now? I need great distance and forgiveness... suggestions are great!!

[pball5156]

My dad and I share our collection of putters, thus far we have:
Odyssey Two Ball
Bettinardi Blade with 24K Gold Plate
Scotty Cameron Studio Stainless
Two Ball knockoff
3 Ping Ansers
Nike BC101
Nike OZ BC
Ping Craz-E Belly Putter

I like the two ball a lot, I'm trying to convince my dad to cut the belly putter to something a little less akward.
Woods, I haven't hit many, I finally got my V-Steel working for me, all it took was a little moving up in my stance, I like it alot.

[Eracer]

Originally Posted by mtxbassshaker

What do you guys think about the r540 xd irons from taylormade? Has anyone hit them before, like them, dislike them? distance?.. I also need a putter.. I really like the Odyssey 2-ball.. what do you guys think about them and what do you have for a putter? Also.. (sorry if so many questions) who makes the best woods now? I need great distance and forgiveness... suggestions are great!!

I never liked the two-ball. I have a natural arc swing (no doubt because I need to maneuver the putter around my large abdominal protuberance (ie, fat gut). Seeing those two big white things forces me to steer the putter more in a straight line. Good for some, but not for me, as I find it visually distracting. I've also played the TM Rossa Monza and the Bettinardi Baby Ben, and had the same problem. But if you like to use a straight-back, straight-through stoke, then the 2-ball may be the ticket.

I now use a Scotty Cameron Phantom Mallet. Even though it's a face-balanced mallet design, it seems to fit my putting style. And the understated black/silver design is visually pleasing to me. It has a crisp feel, unlike the 2-ball (and other insert putters). It is beautifully balanced. I've tried a lot of putters - and I do mean a LOT of putters - and none of them are as good as the Camerons I've tried. The Ping Anser series is nice. The MacGregor M2 is nice (if a bit heavy). I've heard really good things about the "Yes" series. I never liked the "See-Mores" although there are people who swear by them.

My uncle plays with a battered brass Ping putter with craters and dents all over it, and he putts like a pro. His irons are 20 years old, and his woods (except for a Callaway Heavenwood that he can hit from anywhere) are straight off the Wal-Mart rack. He's 70 years old, hits his drives about 180 yards, and plays to an 11 handicap. So, as to your question about which woods are best.

Tiger Woods are best.

[SiberianDVM]

There's a good reason why the 2 ball is so popular on the tours: it's easier to line up.

I have a cheap 2 ball clone that I have been using for 6 months. With it, my putting is the best part of my game.

A couple of weeks ago I bought a Yes! Tracy on a whim. The alignment aid on it is so small that it takes me much longer to set up for a putt. Once I get set up, accuracy is about the same as the 2 ball clone.

[Eracer]

Originally Posted by SiberianDVM

There's a good reason why the 2 ball is so popular on the tours: it's easier to line up.

I have a cheap 2 ball clone that I have been using for 6 months. With it, my putting is the best part of my game.

A couple of weeks ago I bought a Yes! Tracy on a whim. The alignment aid on it is so small that it takes me much longer to set up for a putt. Once I get set up, accuracy is about the same as the 2 ball clone.

Yeah, but I don't think it's especially tough to align square to a point a foot in front of the ball. I pick that point out, then line my feet up to the line between the ball and the point. As long as my grip is good, I know that the putter will travel on the intended line. The problem is the intended line. It sometimes (often? usually?) isn't the correct line. My misses are (I believe) due to poor reads, rather than poor alignment. I think this because I'm usually dead center inside of six feet. If I had an alignment problem, it would show up there. And, the "Check-Go" line usually rolls very neatly on the longer putts. This tells me that I'm not pulling or pushing the putter.

For me, the visual distraction of those two big white globes in front of my eyes...wait - that was at the strip club last night...

[SiberianDVM]

the visual distraction of those two big white globes in front of my eyes...wait - that was at the strip club last night...

Damn. Now I've got to go home for a while.