Kraft Nabisco.. and why the LPGA is good to watch for most of us..

In a word: Tempo. Love to see the hard and super fast greens at Mission Hills. Played the course once in 110 degree heat. Fattened my wallet with a few Benjamins that afternoon. Had to resuscitate one of our foursome with Coors as I recall. THE cure for heatstroke!

I have played some Championship golf on fast and firm courses and know what all the girls are dealing with this week.. hard to hold the greens even with short irons. When I played the Bridgestone RX I could never get enough spin on the ball to stop it with anything longer than a 9i. After a nice afternoon on Black Horse I swapped balls.. back to the ProV1. It putts better and is close enough in distance off the tee (a big thing for me) but I can stop a 6i on a green that would not be possible with a lower spin ball.. so what's the point? Championship conditions requires some adjustments.. most of our shots out there require an ability to control the ball from inside 130 yards.. Driving is critical as well.. you cannot play good golf if you can't drive the ball decently. But on a fast and hard course I can hit the ball lower off the tee and run drives out past 260 and my scores become a function of an ability to launch and spin the ball with my 100 mph driver swing speed inside 160..The Prov1 is a very versatile ball. It works for me and it works for the average tour player swinging at 112. I can hit that butter cut with it into greens and now with my new high launching irons I can take all the heat the summer will bring. But I need that Tempo .. that's the point. There is very little difference between my game and the typical LPGA tour player. My distances are very close to the ladies. I hit one more club than the longer hitters and am right their with the rank and file...   


It really helps me to watch the ladies. Have proven that with performance. Would love to hear what you do to improve your game away from the course and range. Sandra Gal really got my attention last week. Her tempo is superb. A female Ernie Ells.

I have been annoyed at the lack of HD coverage on the Golf Channel of women's golf. They say it's in HD but we know better. So this week I am happy to be improving by watching the ladies at the Dinah Shore. Really enjoying the tournament and I think there is a message for the LPGA here.. Better courses, set up tough. It's good for the game! The first Major of the year is here. I'm ready.. We punched the greens at the club yesterday...

The view from behind the first green at Salinas Golf and Country Club.

The Golf Ball 2K10 from a Pro's perspective...

Got the following email last week and thought it had a good perspective on competition, the new groove rules and it's impact on balls:

These sentiments by you are sounding like the Penta ball is TM's answer to a softer, balata clone that will deal with or be their option for those that will be forced to use non-aggressive groove wedges. Most of what you are describing in your blog about the Penta ball appears to be very similar to balata ball performance characteristics.

Just from one day of short game testing with the Bridgestone e7, it is obvious that this ball's drawback is the lack of spin around the green. Almost impossible to impart enough spin for delicate touch shots. Most people who are up in arms about the USGA conditions of competition groove rule, to me, are clueless to just what impact this rule will have on wedge play. Without enough spin, many shots from 100 yards and in are going to be impossible to hit well. Especially shots close to the hole where the ball is nestled down in longish grass. Those shots were extremely difficult with balata balls, let alone, with whatever the OEMs come up with today and in the future. No way could I hit shots with the e7 that I can hit with a Titleist Pro V1.

I'm looking forward to the Penta TP, I'm sure it will perform beautifully with those shots around the green, especially with my MD groove Cally tour wedges. But, dealing with my reality of less clubhead speed, I will have to lean towards insuring enough distance, especially off the tee, than having ultimate spin for delicate lobs and pitch shots. Fortunately I'm very adept at short game shots around the green. The RX sounds like a ball that may address both issues well for me, so I'm very anxious now to play with that ball.

I can see having to switch balls when playing with non-aggressive grooves, but, I don't think that will be a huge issue as long as I'm playing with other senior players. Against the kids, I need plenty of roll off the tee and a hot putter. This year will be an interesting one for me. I'm either going to be able to take all this technology and excel as a competitor or be sadly and rudely disappointed.