Gearing Up For Golf Season

Hi everyone! We're busy getting the golf club reviews up and running for 2008 but SirPutts took some time to answer some reader email. Let's see what he's up to… You all have been very helpful to me in the past and I just have a couple of brief questions. I am looking to maybe …

Hi everyone! We're busy getting the golf club reviews up and running for 2008 but SirPutts took some time to answer some reader email. Let's see what he's up to…

You all have been very helpful to me in the past and I just have a couple of brief questions.

I am looking to maybe change my Titleist 585h 17* NV stiff with the new Exotics XCG hybrid NVS stiff 18* and possibly a 21* as well. I play the CB2 3 wood V2 stiff and love it.

Over the witer I became a Stan Utley convert and am questioning how good a fit the Rife 2 Bar blade  face balanced putter is for my new arc stroke. I putted with a used Cameron studio design 2.5 last week and just plain made everything.  Had a much better feel for distance.

So just looking for some advice as to if you think that these would be worthwhile investments or am I just looking to hard for places to spend my hard saved dough.

My weakness last year was putting and the tweener gamer long irons to 3 wood. Driver was good.

Sounds like you struggled a bit with the hybrid you had last year, or at least that area of your game, so we need to figure out why. Are you having trouble with distances? Or maybe just not hitting the Titleist well? As with all of their clubs, the 585h isn't a very forgiving hybrid, especially with such little loft. I think a hybrid like the Exotics, or many of the others on the market that have a lower center of gravity could potentially benefit your game.
 
As for the putters, if you had such success with the Studio 2.5 I don't see any reason to go with any other putter, especially going from a heel shafted putter to a face-balanced style.
 
A general rule that we use for selecting putters, besides the arc or no-arc putting path is what direction you generally miss putts. For example, if you tend to pull your putts or miss to the left side of the hole (for a righty) then you should go with a putter that has more toe hang. If you tend to push putts or miss to the right of the hole you should go with a face balanced model (this will help close the face).
 
It sounds like you have identified the areas of your game that need work and that is the best way to approach new club buying. As far as what models will work for you, that might take some trial and error.

Thanks for your email. Drop us a line with your golf club questions and queries and we'll do our best to get you some answers!