The Duffer's Blog

I recently purchased new clubs and this was one of the questions I had to think hard about. I previously had all Graphite and quite frankly I wasn't very happy with them, specifically my irons. So, I bought steel for my irons and graphite for all my woods.

Some key points when comparing Steel or Graphite shafts.

1. Steel is cheaper but heavier than graphite
   
2. Quality graphite shafts will last just as long as steel.
   
3. Graphite transmits fewer vibrations up the club than steel. This may be good or bad depending on your preference.
   
4. The difference in weight between graphite shafts and steel shafts will translate, for most golfers, into an additional 2-4 mph of swing speed with graphite. And that could mean an extra 6-12 yards of distance with a graphite shaft, compared to a steel shaft (Tom Wishon).
   

Now, I am a pretty big guy, 6'1" 240lbs w/ 51" shoulders and distance isn't usually my trouble, but control is. When I swing steel shafted irons I feel much more in control of the club head. Additionally, when hitting out of the rough I feel that the additional weight helps keep the club head stable. Graphite is suppose to create more club head speed and give you greater distance, but my results have been the opposite. I have seen substantial distance gains in my iron play. Again, I think it all depends on your physical structure. If you have physical constraints, or are small in stature then graphite would probably be best. Me being a bigger guy, I think the additional weight has helped me in control which translated into straighter and longer shots.

What do you prefer? A poll preformed by About.com shows that 57% of Golfers polled use Steel (Poll Source).

I recently purchased the Odyssey White Hot 2 Ball putter after trying it out on several different occasions. So far, I have been very pleased with the softer feel and the 2 ball alignment. For me the 2 ball alignment system is much easier for me especially on putts of 15' and over. During my purchase process I took a hard look at the White Steel putter with the steel insert. One of the reasons I chose to go with the White Hot over the White Steel was that I felt the White Hot gave me a little bit more distance control. Both are very good putters and I can't imagine using any other brand of putter than Odyssey.

So, today I went to my local Golf Etc. Retail store to just browse around. They had all of the Odyssey line of putters and the one that I was really interested in trying was the Belly putter, Odyssey White Steel Mid Length. I had never tried a belly putter before, but since it was all the rage during the British Open because of Sergio's switch I thought I would test it out. It took some getting use to, the heavier weight and of course the length, but I actually liked it on the short putts. On the long putts I was having a little harder time controlling the distance.

In the end, I am glad I made the choice that I made. I see myself using this putter for many years to come. What do you carry in your bag? Have you tried the 2 ball putters?

If you were watching the PGA Championship this weekend as I was, then you may have noticed commercials advertising PlayGolfAmerica.com. This is a site founded by Golf 20/20, LPGA, PGA, PGA Tour, NGCOA, and the USGA, which focus is to provide resources for those interested in taking up the game of golf or returning to the game after an extended absence.

Now, if you are reading this post, you are probably a pretty avid golfer and some of the site may seem basic to you but if you have a girl friend, wife, friend, son, daughter, etc. who has a interest in playing the game then this would be a great starting point for them. A lot of great links to all the major Golf related organizations, Rules, Types of Games, Equipment information, etc. Till next time, Cheers!

Today GolfersWired.com released a new feature per the request of several of it's members. Now golfers will be able to save their favorite courses which enables them to quickly select their course when posting their scores. This feature dramatically decreases the time it takes to post a round.

Here are a few upcoming features in the queue for the coming months.

• Graphing - The ability to graphically view the progress of your game and how you compare with other GolfersWired.com members.
  
• In Depth Statistical view of each round you posted. This enhancement will allow golfers to look deeper into each round of their game.
  
• Non Member League Administration - Do you have a league that you would like to manage online. This enhancement will extend the GolfersWired.com members only league play to providing the capability to it's members to manage their own league that can include non GolfersWired.com members.
  

If you are a GolfersWired.com member and want to request a new feature you can email us a info@golferswired.com or post your request to our Forum. If you are not a Member yet, Click Here for a Free 30 Day Trial of GolfersWired.com

Till Next Time, Cheers!

First, I apologize for such a long hiatus from posting to the blog. There have been quite a few changes occurring at the Ownership level that has put the communication on hold. Second, we will be changing the focus of the content in this blog. The focus will be more on Golf Technology, Gadgets, Tools and the Golfers Wired services. So, over the coming months and weeks we will be analyzing many items and posting the results to this blog. Till Next Time, Keep Hitt'n em Straight!

Just a quick note... Saw the coverage last night of Tiger's tournament this weekend. A lot of celebs do these salutes to the military as nothing more than a P.R. stunt. However, watching Tiger last night you could tell how much it genuinly meant to him to be saying his form of a "thank you" to our men and women in the military. I'm sure a good deal of this respect comes from the fact his father was a Green Beret. The one thing I found most intriuging was Tiger told his Dad before he went pro that he was going to give pro golf two years and if it didn't work out, he was going to follow in Earl's footsteps. Well - we all know it worked how but I think we should all have a new respect for Tiger.

It made me smile today to see Jason Gore and John Daly do so well at the Buick Open.

As we're moving into July, make sure to take a look at our golferswired.com golf leagues. It's not too late to sign up for a fun summer of competition with your friends, family, and colleagues.

As I mentioned earlier, my daughter (read, my wife) got me "Simply Golf: Back to Basics" for Father's Day.

I can not endorse this product enthusiastically enough for any golfer who is either a beginner or has never taken lessons. I spent a couple of hours yesterday viewing the DVD, going through the manual, and even laying out the "Set-Up" guide that shows you how you should line your stance up depending on the type of club you're hitting.... I learned more in those two hours then I have playing golf the past 8 years. I can't wait to give it a whirl on the course.

Only complaint: The set-up guide is only set-up for right-handers... Leaves us lefties out in the dark...

Ok - so I've only had two now (my daughter is 15 months old) but here are a few notes from the golf realm on why I thoroughly enjoyed this Father's Day:

1. Sunday proved once again how are favorite game truly is global. We purposely designed our golferswired.com golf leagues to be global for that reason. Though most Americans naturally want to see an American win the U.S. Open -- most everyone couldn't help but smile when Cabrera came out of the clubhouse with a thumbs up - even Tiger.

2. Played the worst round of my life but then par the last two holes - two of the most difficult holes on the course mind you... Therefore -- back to my "beaten golfer's syndrome" - will be finding time to play later this week.

3. Every year I enjoy watching the U.S. Open more than I did the year before. Oakmont was just down right intimidating the the last five holes for Furyk & Tiger were some of the most drama filled golf moments I've ever seen.

4. My daughter (read -- my wife) got me a complete golf instruction kit. I've always complained how I can't afford lessons so she bought them for me. There's an interactive DVD and a 50 plus page manual. I'll keep everyone updated on what I learned.

I got a newsletter today from our friends at worldgolf.com. Worldgolf.com is one of the best sites on the web for editorial comment on golf. However, today I must voice a strong disagreement to Chris Baldwin's piece in their newsletter. He argues, in short, that the USGA has gone way too far w/ how difficult the USGA has made Oakmont. They argue the difficulty of the course has taken away from fan's interest in our most presitigous tournament. I would argue just the opposite. I LOVE watching the U.S. Open because it turns most of these guys into mere mortals and we can compare (and laugh) at how close all of us could be to playing this game on a professional level. It is supremely entertaining to watch.

I heard a prediction on ESPN today that +4 will win this tournament. I hope so.