Joey's Golf Bag

A quarter-century ago in college, I spent the better part of two semesters studying Maxwell’s equations in electromagnetics classes. Little did I know that I could use those equations to design golf balls.

The IP Golf Guy – The Golf Patent Lawyer (Golf Inventions, Patents, Litigation, Trademarks): How Is Your Knowledge of Electromagnetic Field Theory, Soddy Circles, and Circle Packing Theory? Fortunately Acushnet’s Golf Ball Engineers Know a Little About These Subjects.

A number of physical phenomena are described by Laplace's equation including steady-state heat conduction, incompressible fluid flow, elastostatics, as well as gravitational and electromagnetic fields. The theory of solutions of this equation is called Potential Theory.

One example of Potential Theory is electromagnetic field theory, which can be used to distribute objects on a spherical surface. Electromagnetic field theory has been studied extensively over the years for a variety of applications. It has been used, for example, in satellite mirror design. Electromagnetic field theory, including the obvious applications to semiconductor research and computer technology, has many applications in the physical sciences, not limited to celestial mechanics, organic chemistry, geophysics, and structural acoustics.

In many applications, the objects are treated as point charges so that principles of electromagnetic field theory can be applied to determine optimal positioning or to predict the equilibrium position of the objects.

I played nine at North Texas Golf in Dallas on a very hot morning. There was a variable breeze from the west. The golf course was in typical summer condition, very firm, with bumpy, slow greens.

My score:

* Hit green in regulation.

My round:

• First hole. Hit a 9-iron fat, leaving me 40 feet short of the pin. Chipped long with the AW, lipped out the 15 foot putt and tapped in for bogey.
• Second hole. Pured a 7-iron 35 feet over the pin (should have hit an 8-iron). Left my first putt six feet short but popped in the next for par.
• Third hole. Hit an AW so fat, the ball went maybe 30 feet. Hit a sand wedge pin-high but just off the green. Chipped within 2 feet and tapped in for bogey.
• Fourth hole. Hit an AW fat and right into a puddle. Took relief from the puddle, chipped from a downhill lie with the lob wedge to about 6 feet and hit the putt for bogey.
• Fifth hole. Hit an AW 40 feet pin-high right of the hole. Struck a very poor putt 15 feet short. Pured the putt, but it hit a bump and bounced over the hole. Tapped in for bogey.
• Sixth hole. Hit another fat AW short of the green. Chipped with the AW to 2 feet and tapped in for par.
• Seventh hole. Hit another fat AW perfectly in line with my target, but just on the green 30 feet short of the hole, leaving me with a difficult putt up to the hole on a ridge that goes across the green. Hit a putt perfectly on line but 2 feet short. Tapped that in for par.
• Eighth hole. Hit a 9-iron pin-high but left of the green in a grass bunker. Chipped about 7 feet short of the hole, but pured the breaking putt into the hole.
• Ninth hole. Hit an 8-iron left of the greenside bunker, chipped with the sand wedge 6 feet past the hole, and hit the breaking putt for par.

Today, I had no golf swing at all (one really fine tee shot, even that one with the wrong club), yet I tied my best score on this course with a combination of good chipping and good putting (14 putts including one unlucky 3-putt). In short, I put the ball in the hole even though my golf swing abandoned me. I was really proud of how I played today.

Update: Forgot to mention that I played three balls today (a Bridgestone e6+ on the first three holes, a Titleist ProV1 on the second three, and last year’s Nike One Platinum on the last three holes). There was no discernible difference in the three balls, which were chosen because they were listed as soft, high spin balls in Golf Digest’s last ball test.

I’ve been having some difficulty hitting my 4-wood reliably, as I can generally hit my 7-wood just as far, and straighter, unless I really swing well. As a result, I’ve built a new 5-wood (18° loft vs 4-wood 16.5° loft) using the new Tom Wishon Golf Technology 919THI fairway clubhead. I’ve decided in the short term to put the 525FD “Thriver” in my bag to hit off the tee only on holes where the driver is too long, and to take out the 4-wood and 7-wood, and replace those clubs with the new 5-wood.

That’s my plan and I’m sticking with it, at least through the weekend. 🙂

Specs: I built the 5-wood (hand selected 18° loft with square clubface) to a length of 41.5 inches long using a TWGT 7-B2P fairway shaft, tipped 1.5 inches, with a TWGT V-series oversize grip. I built it to a swingweight of D-1, like the rest of my fairway metals.

Some photos:

This morning, Jarvis and I played 18 on the Creek course at Indian Creek Golf Club. We went off at 9AM on a cloudy but very warm morning. The course was in excellent condition, firm and fast. The greens were very smooth and pretty fast.

Today was the first day I’ve walked 18 (just bought a Bag Boy Express 120 push cart) and it pretty much zonked me out. The weather was cloudy until the back nine, and the temperature went up dramatically when the sun came out. Fortunately, the wind came up as well. I’ll continue to walk, but during the summer, only when I go off in the early morning.

My practice time has been very limited this month, as I’ve been busy at work and also had my back spasms flare up again. My back was fine today and I expect to get to practice more regularly.

My score:

Themes:

• Tee shots. I had a pretty bad day off the tee, hitting only six fairways and two par-3 holes in regulation. I had problems with hooking the ball with the driver today. I had two penalties off the tees, including hooking (yet again) into the water with my 7-wood on the 18th. That hole continues to vex me.
• Approach shots. Stinky. Just stinky. I hit two greens in regulation on approach shots, and two greens off the tee. I did have a couple of approach shots that were just off the green, though.
• Wedges. Not pretty. Either I hit them fat and short, or thin and long. 😮
• Chipping. Not good either. I got up and down exactly twice all day. Mostly left them short.
• Sand shots. I hit into two fairway bunkers and two greenside bunkers. I wasn’t pleased with my sand play today, but at least I didn’t leave any in the bunker. The shots just weren’t very good.
• Putting. I had 36 putts today and two three putts. I missed all my birdie putts and managed to three-putt a hole that I hit in regulation. I had only two one-putt holes. Despite that, my putting seems to be improving, if only slightly.

A fun day of golf, even though walking 18 completely wore me out.

I’ve built yet another Wishon Golf Technology club, this time a 585HI hybrid 4-iron. I used a Wishon Golf GI-335 Hybrid Iron shaft, Tour weight, R-flex, with a Wishon Golf V-Series oversize grip. I had Wishon Golf bend the club to a 62° lie and 24° loft. I built the club to 39.25 inches in length with a swingweight of D2.

I’m taking the club to the range tomorrow.

Photos:

TWGT 585HI 4-iron face

TWGT 585HI 4-iron back

Yesterday, I completed construction of my new Wishon Golf 919THI driver. I built the driver to 43.5 inches in length using a Wishon Golf 7-B2P driver shaft, R-flex, and a Wishon Golf V-Series oversize grip. I swingweighted the club to a swingweight of C-8, as I intend to test for best swingweight from C-8 to D-2 or higher, by adding lead tape to the club. I’ll measure how well each swingweight works by noting which swingweight yields the most strikes closest to the center of the clubface.

Some photos. First, the 919THI driver.

525GRT vs. 919THI, face.

525GRT vs. 919THI, from above.

I’m happy to report that my back is feeling much better, and I believe I’ll be ready to play on Thursday. In the meantime, I built a new driver (photo tomorrow). I built a Wishon Golf 919THI driver using a hand-selected 11° clubhead, square clubface (normally 0.5° closed) with a Wishon Golf 7-B2P driver shaft, R-flex and a Wishon Golf V-Series oversize grip. I swingweighted the club to C-8 this time. I plan to test the driver at each swingweight between C-8 and D-2 and see what swingweight yields the best ball-striking, using lead tape to add swingweight.

Since I had the gripping equipment set up, I also regripped my Wishon Golf 949MC 7-wood, my Wishon Golf 915F/H 4-hybrid and my Wishon Golf 525GRT driver. I used the same grips I had previously on each club, which were the Wishon Golf V-series putter grip for the putter, and Golf Pride DD2 midsize grips for the other clubs. While I love the feel of the DD2 grips, they aren’t very durable. I got about a year’s use on the 525GRT driver, but only about 9 months on the 7-wood and 4-hybrid, but I really should have regripped these clubs about 3 months ago as wear was evident then. I need to replace the grip on my 949MC 4-wood also, but didn’t have another grip to put on it. Because of the cost, I’ll probably revert all my fairway woods and drivers to the Wishon Golf V-series grip. That grip has nearly the same feel as the DD2, but only costs about 1/3 as much (and is more durable to boot). I do have to put 3 layers of tape under the V-series grip to get the same diameter as the DD2 grip, a minor inconvenience.

This afternoon, I practiced at the Hank Haney Golf Ranch in Lewisville, on a sunny, warm spring day. There was a light, variable breeze that shifted in both strength and direction.

I started out hitting the new PCF Micro sand wedge to warm up, followed by the reshafted 770CFE pitching wedge, then working my way through the bag hitting every other club. I hit all the clubs well, including the 4-iron, but not the 4-wood or driver. I then hit several balls with each new iron, running down through the bag. It was immediately apparent that I hit the newly reshafted 770CFE irons better than I do the 550c irons, but I was surprised at how well I hit the 4-iron. Practicing and playing the 550c irons has made me a much better ball striker with the 770CFE irons. It looks like I hit all the iron pretty well with the 770CFE irons, whereas I can’t really hit the 4-iron well at all in the 550c set. So, I’d say my plan to practice with the 550c irons and play with the 770CFE irons is definitely the way to go, and that will be my plan moving forward.

I spent quite a bit of time working on the longer clubs today, especially the hybrid and 7-wood, which I’m hitting pretty well. I continue to struggle with the 4-wood and driver. The driver particularly mis-behaved today, hitting either low hooks or high slices. Yeech! 🙁

On the other hand, I continue to gain confidence with my new wedges, especially the PCF Micro WS lob wedge. I hit some really nice cut lobs with it off of fluffy lies, very consistent distance (other than one nasty one hit very thin). I also hit very nice cut lobs with the new PCF Micro sand wedge as well, so both clubs are now in the bag.

The putting green at Hank Haney continues to come out of dormancy, but I didn’t putt today, as it is still a bit bumpy and inconsistent. In a week or two it should be in good shape and a month from now should be back to the outstanding putting surface it was last year.

This afternoon, I put the PCF Micro WS lob wedge to the test at Golden Bear Golf Center. The day was heavily clouded and cool, with scarcely a trace of a breeze. I went to the short game area, where I ran the sand drill with the sand wedge, simulating chipping and then pitching. Next, I hit a few balls out the bunker to get warmed up. My first couple of shots out the bunker were well done, but left two in the bunker when I took too much sand. Still, I was pretty happy.

Next, I got out my new PCF Micro WS lob wedge. For the first test, I hit some short, up-hill chips off a tight lie (the bermuda grass is still largely dormant, but showing some green sprouts here and there). My first chip was a beauty: perfect trajectory and distance, the ball ended up 6 inches from the hole. I hit a few more chips at that hole and even got another ball closer. Next, I hit long chips at another hole on a tight, sidehill lie. Again, good control of trajectory and distance; I really had only one badly struck ball (hit thin). I moved on to hitting short and medium length pitches from an up-hill lie, and these shots were just magical. With seemingly little effort, the shots were very high with little roll after hitting the ground. I was very pleased.

Next, I got some balls and went to the range. I warmed up by hitting a few sand wedges, and then alternated clubs through the bag, hitting about 5 balls with each. The sand wedge shots were very good (except one fattie). I had a good warmup except for the longer clubs. I then hit a few full shots with the new lob wedge, and found that this club is more consistent in distance than my previous CX Micro lob wedge and definitely more forgiving on mishits. The new lob wedge has earned a place in my bag. I didn’t notice much difference in the PCF Micro sand wedge vs. my old CX Micro sand wedge, so the jury is still out on that club. Might need a playoff to decide…

Next, I got out the longer clubs and spent the rest of my available practice time alternating the hybrid, 7- and 4-woods and the driver. I struck the hybrid and 7-wood very well, but neither the 4-wood or the driver would cooperate today.

I’m really pleased with my new PCF Micro Wide Sole lob wedge. It’s kicked the CX Micro lob wedge out of my bag due to more forgiveness on chipping and pitching, and better distance control on full and partial swings. I’m really pleased with it. The new sand wedge hasn’t yet kicked the CX Micro from my bag, more testing will be required to determine the winner.

I’ve built three new wedges from Tom Wishon Golf Technology. A few days ago, I reshafted my 770CFE irons with True Temper Black Gold shafts (soft-stepped one club). I needed an approach (gap) wedge to fit between the 770CFE pitching wedge and my new wedges, so I built a 770CFE approach wedge to complete the set. I’ve not yet reshafted my 3-iron.

In addition to reshafting my 770CFE irons, I built two new wedges, a PCF Micro 56° sand wedge and a PCF Micro WS (Wide Sole) 60° lob wedge. I’ve not had any issues with my current CX Micro sand wedge, but I’ve been inconsistent of late with my lob wedge. The PCF Micro WS is more forgiving than my CX Micro lob wedge, so I wanted to give the new PCF Micro WS a try.

All three clubs were built with TWGT V-Series Oversize grips; the 770CFE was built to a swingweight of D-6 and the two PCF wedges to a swingweight of D-8.

Here are the specs:

Here are some photos, left to right:, PCF Micro WS 60°, PCF Micro 56°, 770CFE AW.

PCF Micro WS 60°, PCF Micro 56°, 770CFE AW, back.

770CFE Approach Wedge, back.

PCF Micro WS, face.