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**DennisM** · 12-22-2006, 09:53 AM

I'm going to call Scott this morning and since we close early today, try to see whether he can give me a playing lesson this afternoon. I'm also supposed to play tomorrow morning, so I should get in either 27 or 36 holes within 24 hours. Maybe that will help. Even on the range, I can't hit these things, but I immediately pick up Scotts irons and hit them fairly well.

It's like buyer's remorse. I feel like I've bought the wrong set of clubs again.

**DennisM** · 12-26-2006, 03:18 PM

Well, it would have helped if we didn't get rained on. I swear it's like spring time here, rain every afternoon...

We went to the range instead of playing Friday. It was windy as hell... about 40 mph, so it was a really good challenge to see whether I could make good contact with something. I wound up going to the course early Saturday morning and having a quick 1/2 hour lesson before playing that morning.

What we have found is this. While the Bertha irons have wide soles with a fairly low leading profile to them, the sole on the X-Tour irons is actually reversed. It's basically a bounce sole like a sand wedge. We also weighed the clubs and Scott's irons are D-1 while mine are D-3. I don't actually feel it so much, but I suppose it might make a difference if I was tired at the end of a round. Both sets are 1/2" long, but the X-Tour is not offset and has a smaller blade. Mine are 1 degree upright and Scoutt's are standard. Personally, I can't tell a difference in the way things look or feel at setup or how the ball reacts. I can't imagine 1 degree would make a difference in whether I make good contact.

In short, I may look for some battered set of X-Tour irons and see whether they make a difference. I'm going to hold onto the Berthas in the meantime. I still have the Taylormade rac LT irons too. I still really like the feel of them, though they tend to dig and my elbows don't like that. I suppose they should go on ebay...

I hope everyone had the best holidays ever and mostly, that you all stayed safe through what can be a crazy time on the roads. I expect everyone back for the New Year!!!

**DennisM** · 01-17-2007, 10:46 PM

Almost the end of the story... (Archeology has searched longer and harder for the Holy Grail!)

Scott had an idea about letting me try some variety now that I was hitting the ball more consistently. I gave him back his spare set of X-Tour irons that I had borrowed, (a picture of them in my bag is in another thread), determined to make a decision this week, and I met him on the range this evening.

At a point during my lesson late this afternoon, on the first fairly calm day in a long time, he brought out this variety of Callaway 5, 6 and 7 irons from his rental inventory, junk barrel and one that looked like he swiped it from a member's bag. (It had a name on a shaft band, so I hope he remembers to clean it before he puts it back - but Thank you Mr. Morales)

We had some 2002 and 2004 Bertha irons, and X-16 and X-16 Pro, an X-18 and X-18 Pro and one of the new X-20 irons, but not the Pro version of it. Of course, we still had an X-Tour, just in case. He also had a Nike NDS, one of the best looking clubs I've seen. He said since the back of it looked so much like a Callaway, I might as well try it. It was OK, but quickly discounted in preference to the Callaways.

Honestly, I didn't feel much difference between all of them, but somehow got the impression that the X-18 felt best, not counting the X-Tour when I actually hit it flush on the face. Since this whole lengthy exercise began with me admitting my age and physical needs, I didn't fool myself into anything but knowing the game improvement irons are still a big benefit to me compared to what results I could expect from the X-Tours. I'd love to get my game back to the point that I could use the X-Tours effectively because when I hit them well, I can still make the ball dance. It's almost a sensual pleasure to hit those clubs.

The X-16 Pro is still a monster club in the history of Callaway, one of their finest efforts in my opinion, but this particular one felt heavy. I never thought to check and see if it was extra long. The 2002 and 2004 Bertha irons were fine, but I just don't feel interested in technology that is that old. Besides, they aren't so much cheaper than what new clubs cost!

I may have just been a bit more warmed up when I hit a dozen shots with the X-18, but I seemed to develop a feel for it fast enough. Oddly, I liked the X-18 better than the X-18 Pro. The more gentle offset on the X-18 still made for a fairly high trajectory, but the distance was satisfactory. I certainly didn't lose anything and might have been a bit longer with them than some others, but again, maybe because I was warm and loose by the time we got to them.

Unlike my efforts with most offset irons, I could still fade the ball somewhat. That's not something I take lightly since most of my life, I played a controlled fade. (I'm a great believer in the words of Lee Trevino... "You can talk to a fade, but a hook won't listen!")

With the X-18, I could smooth a 7 iron 155 yards, about what I'd like from it. Killing it didn't really seem to do much more than hit it higher. The 5 iron I hit about 175-180... hard to tell looking down the range into the sun, but again, a satisfactory distance with smooth effort. Punch shots with the 5 iron didn't flare up, but stayed nicely low and bored into what little breeze there was.

So, when I go back tomorrow to repeat the process, with hopes for no wind so I can really measure my thoughts, I'll hit the same clubs again and see if I can verify my feelings. If all turns out well with no paralysis by analysis or indecision on my part, I may go shopping tomorrow night. At least I managed to sell the TaylorMade rac LT2's for a good price.

I figure I've spent about $500 on lessons and will have spent about 1/3 more on whatever I get after the loss of a bit on trading the Bertha irons in, but if I can hold my game together, it will soon be forgotten.

So, did anyone get to play more golf during the couple days the forum was down?

srothfuss · 01-22-2007, 08:43 AM

I did actaully make it out while the site was down. It was cold and windy - but I have finally played my '04's on 18 holes.

No more golf for me though - a nice coating of snow has closed the course until it has melted away.

**DennisM** · 01-22-2007, 09:47 AM

There's a set of loaner X18's waiting for me at the course, but it's MONDAY!!!!! The Gods don't like me this week!

**DennisM** · 01-26-2007, 02:02 PM

It's a week later and now we have rain and a cold front moving in. Of course, a cold front to me is temps in the 60's, so my sincere apologies to all of you who are snowed in.

I did get to hit some balls with the loaner set and I think the X-18 is probably the best combination of help from the club and work-ability that I can find. I may just go with them and be done with this whole exercise. In the meantime, my elbows seem to have healed pretty well, not anything some ibuprofen and aspirin can't handle.

Just because they are new, I also looked at the new X-20's, but I really don't see enough difference to make it worth the extra money over the X-18's.

I guess the next step is to replace the picture in the other thread of what's in my bag.

BTW - great sale going on at TGW right now. I grabbed some shirts and socks at about 1/2 off and they have Alien putters for under $20... I need another putter like I need another hole in my head, but for that price, who can pass it up?

**DennisM** · 02-01-2007, 01:04 AM

OK, as far as this thread is concerned, I seem to have been talking to myself apparently for the past month.

The X-18's are in the bag and the search is over. I'm much happier than I was with the Bertha irons, although I really liked the X-Tour irons and wish I was good enough to hit them. My elbows aren't bothering me much at all. Scott is happy with the way I'm swinging at the ball. Now that the search is over, considering what I tried, bought, sold, rented, or borrowed, not counting the lessons, the irons cost me about 1/4th more than if I had figured out what I'd have been happy with from the get go. God bless ebay, Craigs List and the friends who trusted me with their sets. What the hell. I'm happy now.

BigMike · 02-01-2007, 10:18 AM

Glad to hear you found the set that works for you. Hope you can afford golf now after your search.

**DennisM** · 02-01-2007, 01:13 PM

Money is not a problem. My bigger problem is time.

This weekend is going to be more fun than usual I think. One regular golf buddy can only play on Saturday and the other one can only play on Sunday. So, that's my excuse to play twice this weekend.