- Aug 20, 2005
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I spent some time in the garage on the work bench last week putting together some of my recent Ho's. Had some issues (that is in another thread already) and got to try out some new tools in the process. I finally got a quick trip out to the range to test my wares on Tuesday and have the following to report.
Ben Hogan Apex Plus irons:
After getting through my assembly woes, I was finally able to get these puppies gripped. Prior to grip installation, I got to try out the Tour Lock Pro grip modifier to create a place to install the TLP back weights in my irons. While the finished product comes out a bit rougher than the Winn grips designed for the TLP weights, the tool did the job and the finished appearance after the weight is installed is clean enough for my eye. So, with 30g of weight installed in the grips, I headed out to the range.
Starting out with the E wedge (PW), I started my range session. It took a few swings to get comfortable with the new club, but once I warmed up to it, I was getting center contact on just about every swing. While there was a slight improvement in feel compared to my cast club heads, I would not call the Hogans "Buttery smooth" like I found the MP-60's. Now, that could totally be the hardness of the range balls compared to the D2 Feels I was hitting with the MP-60's, but I won't know for sure until I get these out on the course with my Stratas. The jury is still out until I get that opportunity.
As I progressed up through the 7 iron, I was enjoying the feedback that forged clubs provide. You know instantly whether or not you hit it pure. Hit in near the sweet spot and your in, miss it by a bit and your out. Ball flight was just about as high as with my previous set of irons, so not a lot of help in bringing my ball flight down. Maybe a hair lower, but nothing dramatically lower. What I did love about the clubs was the consistency I was achieving when I hit on the spot. Almost the exact same landing area with every shot unless I missed the sweet spot a bit. that consistent ball flight and distance is going to keep these in the bag for a bit.
More on the irons once I get a few rounds in with them.
Geek DCT 9*:
This whole club (except grip) has traveled through Regina at different times. I mated the DCT head up with a TE branded NV 65 stiff shaft, both have which seen the business end of Rock's shaft puller. As with the Rifle's in the Apex's, the NV was Spined and aligned prior to installation into the DCT head. Additionally, I added 30g of back weight with the TLP system weights and grip modifier before putting the club in my bag for its trip to the driving range.
After working through the Hogans, I brought out the new Big Dog to see what she could do. As advertised by those who came before me, the DCT is a low launching head. Easily 10 to 20 feet lower than my TEE 9* with the exact same shaft in it. While that may be a problem for some, this is exactly the ball flight I have been looking for. It is very similar to my TEE 3 wood, a boring trajectory with some roll out at the end. Awesome, just plain awesome . When I pulled my TEE 9* out for comparison, it felt as though I was ballooning the ball even though I was not doing so. I was getting a slightly longer carry distance with the TEE, but a longer total distance with the DCT. The DCT will make a few trips around the course to see how well it performs on the front line before I make the final decision to replace the TEE.
The DCT head is beautiful. Inside the head definitely looks black, but once you take it out in the sunlight you can definitely see the deep blue color that Lyle was talking about. The club sets up well from the address position inspiring confidence, and the only times I hit the ball off line was when I had either an extreme toe or heel mis-hit. Most of my contact spots were close to the center of the club face so I was quite impressed with the results. It will be interesting to see how well it holds up on the course.
Scotty Cameron Red X2:
A Global Golf find, this putter arrived as a 35" 330g club. The shaft was pulled and replaced with a new one bringing the total length down to my normal 33" length putter shaft. The head was opened up and 22g of weight was added before resealing it bringing the head weight up to 352g. The shaft was installed along with a Lamkin Dual Density red/black grip with a 100g TLP weight installed in the grip end. The Red X2 left the workbench as a 33"/352g back weighted beast.
After the range session with the Apex Plus and DCT, I walked over to the putting green to test out my new putter. Even with all the added weight, it still felt a little light to me (now remember, I have been running around with a Heavy Putter and a highly modified Yes! Carolyne lately so most putters are feeling light to me.) My first 5 to 10 strokes, I could not sink a putt over 4 feet out. What a disaster, I thought. This thing is not going to get it done. Then after about 15 putts, I could not miss a thing. I was sinking 12-15 footers like they were tap ins. At one point, I sank 7 putts in the 10-20 foot range in a row to 3 different holes from a different length and side of the hole on each putt. I do not know what happened, but all of a sudden I was not missing a thing. The long putts that did not drop ended up within a foot of the hole. I had to consciously practice shorter putts as my long putts were ending up too close to the hole to get any practice on my 3 to 6 footers.
After sinking another three 12-15 footers in a row I had to pick the ball up and go home for fear that I would leave all the good putts on the practice green. I am hoping to save some for the course tomorrow.:laugh: Needless to say, the Red X2 is going in the bag for a trial run.
ualtim
Ben Hogan Apex Plus irons:
After getting through my assembly woes, I was finally able to get these puppies gripped. Prior to grip installation, I got to try out the Tour Lock Pro grip modifier to create a place to install the TLP back weights in my irons. While the finished product comes out a bit rougher than the Winn grips designed for the TLP weights, the tool did the job and the finished appearance after the weight is installed is clean enough for my eye. So, with 30g of weight installed in the grips, I headed out to the range.
Starting out with the E wedge (PW), I started my range session. It took a few swings to get comfortable with the new club, but once I warmed up to it, I was getting center contact on just about every swing. While there was a slight improvement in feel compared to my cast club heads, I would not call the Hogans "Buttery smooth" like I found the MP-60's. Now, that could totally be the hardness of the range balls compared to the D2 Feels I was hitting with the MP-60's, but I won't know for sure until I get these out on the course with my Stratas. The jury is still out until I get that opportunity.
As I progressed up through the 7 iron, I was enjoying the feedback that forged clubs provide. You know instantly whether or not you hit it pure. Hit in near the sweet spot and your in, miss it by a bit and your out. Ball flight was just about as high as with my previous set of irons, so not a lot of help in bringing my ball flight down. Maybe a hair lower, but nothing dramatically lower. What I did love about the clubs was the consistency I was achieving when I hit on the spot. Almost the exact same landing area with every shot unless I missed the sweet spot a bit. that consistent ball flight and distance is going to keep these in the bag for a bit.
More on the irons once I get a few rounds in with them.
Geek DCT 9*:
This whole club (except grip) has traveled through Regina at different times. I mated the DCT head up with a TE branded NV 65 stiff shaft, both have which seen the business end of Rock's shaft puller. As with the Rifle's in the Apex's, the NV was Spined and aligned prior to installation into the DCT head. Additionally, I added 30g of back weight with the TLP system weights and grip modifier before putting the club in my bag for its trip to the driving range.
After working through the Hogans, I brought out the new Big Dog to see what she could do. As advertised by those who came before me, the DCT is a low launching head. Easily 10 to 20 feet lower than my TEE 9* with the exact same shaft in it. While that may be a problem for some, this is exactly the ball flight I have been looking for. It is very similar to my TEE 3 wood, a boring trajectory with some roll out at the end. Awesome, just plain awesome . When I pulled my TEE 9* out for comparison, it felt as though I was ballooning the ball even though I was not doing so. I was getting a slightly longer carry distance with the TEE, but a longer total distance with the DCT. The DCT will make a few trips around the course to see how well it performs on the front line before I make the final decision to replace the TEE.
The DCT head is beautiful. Inside the head definitely looks black, but once you take it out in the sunlight you can definitely see the deep blue color that Lyle was talking about. The club sets up well from the address position inspiring confidence, and the only times I hit the ball off line was when I had either an extreme toe or heel mis-hit. Most of my contact spots were close to the center of the club face so I was quite impressed with the results. It will be interesting to see how well it holds up on the course.
Scotty Cameron Red X2:
A Global Golf find, this putter arrived as a 35" 330g club. The shaft was pulled and replaced with a new one bringing the total length down to my normal 33" length putter shaft. The head was opened up and 22g of weight was added before resealing it bringing the head weight up to 352g. The shaft was installed along with a Lamkin Dual Density red/black grip with a 100g TLP weight installed in the grip end. The Red X2 left the workbench as a 33"/352g back weighted beast.
After the range session with the Apex Plus and DCT, I walked over to the putting green to test out my new putter. Even with all the added weight, it still felt a little light to me (now remember, I have been running around with a Heavy Putter and a highly modified Yes! Carolyne lately so most putters are feeling light to me.) My first 5 to 10 strokes, I could not sink a putt over 4 feet out. What a disaster, I thought. This thing is not going to get it done. Then after about 15 putts, I could not miss a thing. I was sinking 12-15 footers like they were tap ins. At one point, I sank 7 putts in the 10-20 foot range in a row to 3 different holes from a different length and side of the hole on each putt. I do not know what happened, but all of a sudden I was not missing a thing. The long putts that did not drop ended up within a foot of the hole. I had to consciously practice shorter putts as my long putts were ending up too close to the hole to get any practice on my 3 to 6 footers.
After sinking another three 12-15 footers in a row I had to pick the ball up and go home for fear that I would leave all the good putts on the practice green. I am hoping to save some for the course tomorrow.:laugh: Needless to say, the Red X2 is going in the bag for a trial run.
ualtim
If your going to ruin a Scotties value, might as well go first class.
