Myrtle Beach 2010 (Possible New Lodging)

There maybe a new idea in lodging this year, staying in North Myrtle, and playing golf in North Myrtle. I am basing my numbers this year off our group only, and 28 people. This would be 4 condos, on the ocean in the Tillman Golf Resort. I have been checking the lodging prices, and they are actually higher this season than last year, weird!
We can still do the condo on the course thing, but this gets more of us into a room (6-8 per room ) and works out to be a little less than the golf condos.

Here are some photos of the complex:
http://www.tilghmanbeachresort.com/gallery/D/

http://www.tilghmanbeachresort.com/

Also, there has been an idea proposed by the Vice President of the VB Golf Crew, that we consider changing the dates and days of the trip to Saturday the 26th through Tuesday the 29th (still taking 2 days off of work) Love to hear folks opinion on this also, we would need a majority of people to be ok with this before I would change anything out of the normal.

New From Hireko Golf

Rock Bottom Golf's Black Friday All Weekend Sale

Starting now, Rock Bottom Golf has their Black Friday All Weekend Sale going on, 15% off their already Rock Bottom Prices. Golf gifts galore!!!

Here are but a few of the great deals going down at:

http://www.rockbottomgolf.com/black-friday.html

Golf Digest's Lesson of the Day

By Jim McLean
With Pete McDaniel
Photos by Stephen Szurlej October 2009

Widen Your V-Gap For Power
Hitting with a flat left wrist is the great ball-striker's secret


One of the fundamentals I've taught over the years is that all better players make a wider back swing than downswing. In other words, if you were facing the golfer, the arc of the club coming down would be inside the arc going back. I've recently done some research on this topic with one of my lead instructors, Michael Hunt, and we've identified the power source produced by this move from backswing to downswing.

We call it the V-Gap, which measures the angle of the shaft at halfway down compared to where it was at halfway back -- in both cases measured when the left arm is parallel to the ground. Picture those two shaft angles forming a "V" (above). Our V-Gap study of tour players proves the correlation between the gap and power. I'll show you how to increase your V-Gap and maximize your distance.

CHECK YOUR 'V' (PHOTO ABOVE): Wrist hinge is a big factor in the V-Gap, which compares the shaft at halfway down to halfway back.
HINGE SLOWLY
1

HINGE SLOWLY

The takeaway is critical because it establishes tempo, width and the proper sequence of movements in the swing. Historically, the game's longest hitters, like Jack Nicklaus, Greg Norman and Tiger Woods, have delayed the wrist hinge in the takeaway. This promotes freedom of motion in the backswing and creates a wide move off the ball and a longer swing arc.

Shorter hitters tend to set their wrists early in the takeaway and make a much narrower backswing, where the right elbow bends too soon and the club gets vertical very quickly.

NO: Hinging the wrists from the start decreases width in the backswing. The V-Gap and power will be limited.

DRILL
SPLIT GRIP FOR A WIDE START: This drill will give you the correct feeling of a long right arm in the takeaway. Set your right hand on the grip farther down than normal -- like you're gripping a hockey stick. Then swing the club into the takeaway, feeling the width you create. You should get the sensation of reaching to your right. Your right arm should be extended but not completely straight; you want it to feel long but supple, not rigid. Width in the takeaway translates into a powerful position at the top, setting up a huge V-Gap coming down.


PIVOT TO THE RIGHT
2

PIVOT TO THE RIGHT

A wide takeaway puts you in position at the top to make a powerful move coming down. But you need other swing fundamentals to promote the V-Gap. It's particularly important to create a good coil through proper transfer of weight into your right side. Turn your shoulders against the resistance of your hips as you swing to the top and your weight moves to your right heel.

A big rotation stores energy and also plays a role in narrowing the downswing. From a full coil, when the body shifts forward, the right elbow lowers and the V-Gap is established.

NO: A restricted shoulder turn and weak coil cause the arms to collapse at the top, which drains power.

DRILL
CHECK YOUR PIVOT POINTS: Make sure your lower body is dynamic, not frozen. Stick a shaft in the ground directly between your feet, pointing straight out. Swing back, and make sure your left knee shifts back and points at the shaft's grip. Feel weight in the left instep. Swing down, and your right knee should kick in and point at the grip. You're pivoting correctly.


SHIFT TO THE LEFT
3

SHIFT TO THE LEFT

The lower body shifting left is the force that starts the downswing. That force is immediately relayed to the upper body, which starts to turn back to the ball. A good feeling to strive for is your core shifting laterally or your hips starting to unwind.

The hands and arms should be passive -- put in motion by the weight shift and body rotation. Along with the club, the hands and arms lag behind, which narrows the arc. The difference in the angle of the shaft at halfway down compared to halfway back forms the "V" in the V-Gap.

NO: A poor shift to the left leads to an early uncoiling and release. See how the left arm hides the right elbow.

DRILL
THE KNEE HITS THE SHAFT: A shaft stuck in the ground two inches in front of your front foot is a great prop for measuring the amount of lateral shift in your downswing. When the club approaches impact, your left knee should have moved laterally so it bumps into the shaft. It's not a swaying motion but a powerful forward leg drive combined with lower-body rotation.


HOLD THE HINGE
4

HOLD THE HINGE

Just as you should delay your wrist hinge to create width in the takeaway, you should hold that hinge well into the delivery position to properly release stored energy. Your right elbow should drop into a position in front of your right hip. At this point in the downswing, the shaft should be parallel to the target line from the downtarget view.

By holding your wrist hinge, you keep the club in position to deliver a powerful blow to the ball as the clubhead is released through impact. That's the power payoff of the V-Gap.

NO: A lack of leg action and an early release of the club wastes any power stored -- and negates the V-Gap.

DRILL
MISS THE BAG ON DOWNSWING: Proper sequencing of body movement is essential to maximizing your V-Gap. Use this bag drill to make sure you start the downswing with the lateral shift of the lower body. Place your golf bag behind you so your clubhead just misses it at full stretch in the backswing. Then swing back and down, stopping when the club reaches the same position in the downswing. The clubhead should be eight to 10 inches inside the bag.

If you start down by casting the clubhead, you'll lose your V-Gap and crash into the bag.

Blackmoor Review (by Chris King)

Blackmoor Golf Club, Myrtle Beach



There is the eighth hole, which offers two distinctive paths to the green, the cemetery that runs alongside No. 13, and abundant wildlife that roams the property a thriving rice plantation used to call home. That’s just for starters.

In a Myrtle Beach golf market that features more than 100 courses, quality design work and a good piece of land have helped Blackmoor Golf Club standout.

The South Strand layout doesn’t enjoy the soaring national profile of some of its local brethren, but golfers that play Gary Player’s only Myrtle Beach golf course look forward to their next round at Blackmoor.


Since its opening in 1990, Blackmoor has delivered excellent value and a challenging, yet exceedingly fair, test of golf. Player’s design philosophy is one that caters to the average golfer, and it is a core value that is apparent at Blackmoor.

The golf legend gives players of all skill levels a chance to succeed and provides a stern test for elite golfers from the back tees (6,614 yards).

Blackmoor’s playability isn’t defined by its length. The course has numerous doglegs but all but one play from left to right, the most common ball flight in the game. The majority of Blackmoor’s greens are open in the front, bringing one of Player’s favorite shots, the bump and run, into play.

Continuing along Player’s design philosophy of giving golfers a chance to score, Blackmoor’s greens, while quick, don’t have severe undulation.

“There are some subtle breaks, but there aren’t any elephants buried in the greens,” head pro Matt Daly said. “If you are rolling the ball, you will have the chance to make a few birdies or pars.”

Earning the opportunity for birdie attempts at Blackmoor requires intelligent play, particularly off the tee. The first six holes at Blackmoor are relatively narrow so finding the fairway is vital. If you are in the short grass, the approach shots are manageable.

“Your go to club off the tee from an accuracy standpoint, whether it’s a driver, 3-wood or hybrid (is vital),” Daly said. “If you keep the ball in play off the tee you can score low.”

Players also need to effectively manage Blackmoor’s doglegs, which typically means not getting greedy.

“I always tell people you want to play to the elbows of the doglegs and not try to cut corners,” Daly said.

The course begins to open up on the seventh hole and No. 8 is one of the most unique Myrtle Beach golf holes. By the scorecard, No. 8 is a 371-yard dogleg right, but Player cut an approximately 30-yard swath through the woods, knocking 100 yards off the length of the hole for those with gusto. Players that can’t keep their tee shot within the clearing face trouble, but the penalty for not reaching the green is negligible, as long you hit it straight.

If you aren’t the adventurous type, the eighth is a good dogleg.

The back nine allows players to gamble a little more and the character of the land shows through. Blackmoor is built on what used to be a thriving rice plantation and the property has native cypress and oak trees that predates its time as crop-producer.

The trees aren’t the only landmarks that recall a bygone era. Along the left side of the par 5, 13th hole is a cemetery, where John Green, one of Longwood Plantation’s original owners, is buried. The cemetery is a registered historic landmark, and it provides a unique dimension to an already memorable round. (Yes, you get a free drop if you hit into the cemetery)

Blackmoor offers an enjoyable round of golf and the kind take-home-memories demanded of a good destination golf course.

Par 3s
Blackmoor’s par 3s are an interesting collection of holes, challenging golfers with length, water and natural waste areas. On the front nine, No. 2 is the course’s longest par 3, playing 182 yards, but the length is somewhat mitigated by the ability to run the ball up on the green.

A large pond fronts the fourth green and a bunker runs along the left side, presenting challenges aplenty on the 162-yard hole. The green is one of the deepest on the course, so there is no excuse for coming up short.

At 166 yards, the 15th isn’t particularly long but three bunkers on the right and a relatively small green make it Blackmoor’s toughest par 3. The 17th is slightly longer at 174 yards but there are no hazards, making it one of the course’s easiest holes.


14 green.jpgPar 4s
Blackmoor’s heart is in its par 4s, a collection of holes that offer great variety and character. The layout’s first dogleg right is the 376-yard fifth hole. No matter how tempting, don’t try to cut the corner on the fifth. Play to the elbow of the dogleg and try to get home in regulation.

Showcasing the variety that helps make the course so popular, the sixth is long (412 yards) and straight, but features a plateaued fairway. If you can hit the elevated left side, a couple additional yards of roll and a shorter approach await.

The eighth hole, with its classic risk-reward choice, is the course’s signature hole.

On the back nine, No. 10 is the only dogleg left and one of the layout’s toughest. The 411-yard hole has a kidney bean shaped green and if you can hit it and make par, you’ve done well.

The 11th is just 332 yards, the shortest two-shotter at Blackmoor, and it offers the opportunity to get a stroke back. The 14th and 16th holes are among the course’s prettiest. On a layout that rewards patience and accuracy, the dogleg right 14th is built for the gambler. Players that can hit the ball 240 yards or more can confidently attempt to cut the corner in search of a birdie.

The 16th features the course’s largest fairway, but water runs along the left side, tempting players to try and cut the corner on a dogleg right. Don’t make that mistake. Aim for the fat part of the fairway and play smart.

Par 5s
The front nine par 5s at Blackmoor are good golf holes. The 514-yard third offers the chance to go for the green in two but a waste area dissecting the fairway 300 yards from the tee means the second shot will be a long one.

The 544-yard seventh hole is long and straight with a bunker that runs along the last 80 yards of a fairway that gets increasingly narrow.

Among Blackmoor’s most memorable holes are its back nine par 5s. The 13th, with the cemetery along the left side, is a hole few forget.

At 509 yards, the par 5 18th is an outstanding way to finish a round. A good drive leaves players with the choice of going for the green in two, but water comes into play on the right side and the fairway tightens in the final 100 yards. It’s an outstanding match-play hole.

The Verdict: Good conditions, good value and a good layout lead to a great time. The course has ample diversity, and it requires players to hit nearly every club in the bag. Blackmoor is exceedingly playable for any level of player, which adds to its appeal. A round at Blackmoor will leave your group smiling.

Jingle Balls?

As in Golf Balls, Clubs, Irons, Gear, Bags, GPS es and More for Christmas. A great place to find these gifts, or have your significant other find them, is ROCK BOTTOM GOLF.

http://www.rockbottomgolf.com/

Rock Bottom specializes in brand new older clubs, at 405 to 60% off of retail. New driver out by Taylor Made, you can be sure RBG has the last model on sales at 50% off.
There is no better place to find a great deal on new golf equipment, clothing and more.

Rock Bottom regularly runs specials, and you can expect some Black Friday Specials to blow you mind, and save your wallet!

Please contact me personally for a discount code to use also, as we are all friends of The Cave Man!

How to Start Golfing, with Help from Jamie Smith

HOW TO START PLAYING GOLF, ON A BUDGET!

PLEASE INTRODUCE YOURSELF AND TELL US WHAT YOU DO:

Jamie D. Smith, PGA
I run a Golf School at Lynnhaven Golf Park, Virginia Beach, as well as Ocean View Golf Course in Norfolk VA.

HOW MANY YEARS OF EXPERIENCE TEACHING GOLF DO YOU HAVE?

I have only been in the business for around seven years. I also taught Martial Arts for 10, and was an instructor in the US Air Force, which I am now retired.

CAN YOU GIVE US YOUR PHILOSOPHY WHEN TEACHING A NEW PLAYER?

I believe that we all want to learn. It is not impossible to learn a sport for ourselves, but to be good or even great we must get help. The golf swing is no exception. My study of the golf swing and my experience in teaching Martial Arts has helped me understand the lever system and core rotation needed to deliver a precise blow to an object. This knowledge has helped me become an effective teacher of the game. It is my personal obligation to pass the knowledge given to me to golfers of all levels. I too must learn and continually seek more education in order to provide the best and most complete lesson plan. I have been teaching throughout my career and feel I am, and will be a great asset to the sport of golf.

WHAT DO YOU RECOMMEND A NEW PLAYER DO WHEN JUST STARTING OUT?

I would not recommend they go buy clubs until they see a Professional and take a couple lessons to make sure the commitment is going to be there. Once the decision is yes, then talk to the Pro about the best options.

WHAT DOES A NEW PLAYER LOOK FOR IN HIS FIRST IRONS/DRIVER PURCHASE?

This is a tough question. The age, gender, wealth, budget, parents and other things may way heavily on that decision. If we are talking new equipment, then I suggest a custom fitting with the Teaching Pro that is working with them. If we are talking used, then let the Pro make suggestions.

WHAT’S THE BEST VALUE, LESSON WISE, A NEW GOLFER CAN TAKE ADVANTAGE OF?

Look for someone at a public facility that is PGA qualified. Most offer a series of lessons that will cost less than pay per lesson.

ANY THOUGHTS, COMMENTS, OR WISDOM TO SHARE WITH A NEW GOLFER?

The best advice that I can give is be patient. The golf you see on TV is done by very skilled and trained athletes. For example, if they were in the Medical Profession, they would be of the highest skilled surgeons in the world.

How Do You Start to Play Golf?

How do you get a friend, or a co-worker, who has never played golf, to start playing? A great question some of us have all faced. There are a great number of athletic people out there who have never played a round, and want to play, but are intimidated to start, or are worried about the cost.

I intend to write a series of short articles and them combine them later in the new year with the help of the folks over at Rock Bottom Golf. Together, we are going to go from the very beginning to becoming a regular golf player, and do it in a manner that is fun, informative, and in every one's budget.

I am going to look back at two cases of friends whom had never played, but are now, and how we got them interested and started into the game.

First up, our long time friend Gus Evangelista. Never played a round until last years Myrtle Beach Trip in June. For Gus, the call to try a new sport, go on a fun trip with a huge group of his friends, and have a good time, was enough for him to just go out and do it! He had a great time, and was hitting the ball great for someone who had only hit range balls before. He got some loaner clubs from a friend, and we have now hooked him on the game of golf.

My work buddy Mike Byers played basketball at ODU and over seas professionally, he is very athletic, but never ever swung a club before. We talk about golf in the office a lot, so he finally decided to go to the range with me, and hit my clubs this summer. We went about 6 or 7 times before he bought a used set of clubs, and he played his first ever rounds on a family vacation at Nags Head. No pressure, just for fun, and he had a blast. The guy has a strange untrained swing, but when he hits it, it's way over 300 yards with the driver!

I am going to continue to follow both of these gentlemen as they progress through golf at their own paces. I see two very different attitudes and approaches to golf in my buddies, so it will be interesting to document it and add it into my write ups.

Who's Ready for Some Golf?

I know I am, especially after watching the 3rd day in a row of rain and wind. Can fun with golf be had in such bad weather? I always harken back to my memory of Ross's annual Thanksgiving Golf Outing a few years ago. Side ways rain, mid 40s, heavy wind..would that be enough to cancel the outing? Hell NO , They continued to play and post the best rounds of their lives(not really, they were miserable!)

So, in the spirit of rain and golf, and nothing be able to keep you from the course, I present the following pictures of golf, to liven up your day!!

100% Guaranteed To Keep You Out of the Woods

Maybe the newest, and most needed golf innovation ever. This club should be in everyone of our bags. It will shave strokes, and pounds, off all of our games!

http://www.uroclub.com/

How many times has this happened? You’re playing 18 holes with your best buddies, drinking sport-“ades”, water, beer, etc. You’re coming up to the 3rd hole with no rest room in sight. There are no trees or bushes around and you just have to go, what are you going to do?
The UroClub™ is the discrete, sanitary way for your urgent relief. Created by a Board Certified Urologist, it looks like an ordinary golf club, but contains a reservoir built into the grip to relieve yourself. The UroClub™ is leak proof, easy to clean and no more embarrassing moments.

Purchase the UroClub™ now for only $24.95 while supplies last!

You can also order your UroClub™ now by calling 1-866-999-4URO
(1-866-999-4876). For more information email us at info@uroclub.com

See our UroClub TV Commercial, click here »
The UroClub™ has been seen and heard across the world!

The privacy shield hooks to the sides of the pants or belt and adds stability. This allows freedom of the hands to manipulate the club and zipper. The entire club is made of a non-porous material. Therefore, caring and cleaning is effortless!



The UroClub™ is intended to eliminate anxiety and any feeling of uneasiness on the course. It can be emptied at the nearest restroom or later on, when the golfer returns home.

Capacity: Over half a liter, twice the volume commonly urinated.

Length: Like a standard 7 Iron

No Hype Review of the Ping G15 Driver

Thanks again, to http://www.mygolfspy.com/ For another great, unbiased review of a new golf club. Please visit their site, as they are the web's leader on new technology and great sneak peaks into the golf industry.


Ping G15 Review ping-g15-driver-3 G15 Driver Reviews ping-i15-driver-6
PING G15 Driver Review – Without The Hype

Every year it seems like one company after another hypes up the release of their new driver yet to the point almost no one even listens anymore. Because every year so many of them fall short of their promises and claims. That is what we are here for…we want to be the only truly 100% unbiased review site on the web. Of course every company is going to try and hype their product…we get it…that is what sells clubs. But we are out to have the most informed golf blog on the planet. So…if it is good we will tell you it is good and if it is bad we will tell you just how bad it really is. That is because the next time you go to spend your hard earned money on a golf club e don’t want you spending a dollar if it doesn’t improve on what you already have.

And that brings us to our Ping G15 review today…and is another reason why I talked about hype. You rarely hear it coming from this company. But year in and year out after all is said and done and all the hype from the all the other companies has died down…if you start asking guys what feels the best and what driver they have liked the most…a Ping driver is almost always in the conversation. Now in regards to looks they are not my cup of tea…the graphics always seem to be way out in left field compared to the rest of the industry…but hey it has worked for them.
Looks – She’s not a beauty Queen…BUT…

Well like I said the Ping drivers graphics and layout has always seemed gaudy and very elementary to me but graphics aren’t responsible for hitting fairways so no big deal. Even though we were not big fans of the graphics, the Ping G15 did have some improvements over some of the their past driver designs. For one thing they got rid of the half-moon crescent thingamagig on the crown which was good to see.

The other difference you will notice is in the shape of the head. It has a less traditional pear shape and more of a triangular look to the head at address. This has increased the MOI over past designs and helped to improve those off center hits.
Performance – Long, Straight, Solid Feel

So was I impressed with the G15? Actually I was…looks were deceiving. Because when I first brought it out I would NOT have put money on it being the winner of the bunch. Like always it did not get as much attention from me or the testers at first but by the end it was the crowd fav. I took it out to the range with 5 other drivers… and 10 random handicap golfers to test out the club. All golfers hit all of the drivers including the Ping G15.


And the result:

* A shocking 50% of the golfers chose the G15 as their favorite…the next highest driver received just 30% of the votes.

We also launch monitor tested the drivers and the G15 performed well here as well. It performed good in distance and well above the competition in off-center hits. Which for the average golfer should be one of the most important factors. The G15 almost performed as well on hits off the toe as it did on perfectly struck drives. However, it did not perform very well on hits of the heel.

The one main hang-up for me with this driver is that it is not adjustable. For instance the driver that came in 2nd place I would contemplate putting in my bag over the Ping G15 just for the simple fact that it is adjustable. We are not always hitting a nice draw or a consistent fade over the course of a summer so it is nice to have that ability to change the driver on the fly to adjust for our minor swing changes. But I got to say that I was otherwise impressed with the Ping G15. It was definitely an over-achiever.
Conclusion – Hard To Argue With Results

No matter what this driver looks like the thing just performs. And like always Ping just seems to put one consistent driver out after another. It is hard not to like it when it hits it straight and goes long and feels great at contact. Now you might not turn heads at your local course when you whip it out of your bag…but you might have some friends you didn’t have before the round when all the guys are asking if they can hit it on the range after the round.

It just seems to be one of those drivers that takes more time to catch on because it really is a word of mouth type of success with their drivers. Golfers always want to try what someone else has got if they are hitting it well. And that is how Ping’s drivers usually move off the shelf and into golfers bags. Just like in the restaurant business…if you got good food people are gonna hear about you. And it is just a matter of time before you become the lunchtime hotspot.

PROS:

* SOUND

– like always Ping has maintained a solid sounding driver. This isn’t the typical hollow aluminum can you get from many of the drivers nowadays.

* FEEL

– This is an area this driver stands above the rest in my opinion. The face feels good almost anywhere you hit it, which is a major + for the average golfer that does not get to play enough to strike it on a dime.

* DISTANCE

– the Ping G15 driver performed well above average in the distance category. For driver that does not show off with all the bell and whistles it still shined above the majority of the competition.

CONS:



* ADJUSTABILITY

I know that Ping prides themselves on not following the crowd when it comes to BS technology. They are usually last to the table if they even come with ome of the crazy stuff companies put out. But the adjustability tech is here to stay in my opinion. It helps all golfers…from hacks to the pros.

* LOOKS

– well I don’t want to beat a dead horse with this graphics thing…but I am just curious whether or not this is done on purpose and they have done some research on golfers about what they thing about when they here the name PING…and their answer was ugly graphics…because that is the only reason I could think of them leaving them like this for production


(==> Note to golfers <==) always get professionally fit if possible…because results with a stock shaft can vary tremendously from one type golfer to another. Getting proper launch angles and spin rates for any driver you play outweighs the importance of the head 10 fold. So if you choose a G15 driver make sure to get fit with a shaft that gets you the maximum performance possible

Golf Tip of the Week

Grip down on short irons
You'll knock it stiff more often

By David Leadbetter
Photo By Stephen Szurlej November 2009

Think of your 8-iron, 9-iron and pitching wedge as pure accuracy clubs. If you want to hit the ball close consistently with these short irons, grip down about an inch. In most situations, you don't want your short irons to fly too high and balloon -- typically a result of overswinging and trying to hit them too hard. This makes it difficult to control their carry distance, particularly in windy conditions.

Gripping down not only helps you make a compact swing, it allows you to better control the trajectory -- you want your short irons to pierce the air. Be sure you can see a piece of the butt end of the grip (right), and focus on swinging through smoothly.

My Life

BROUGHT TO YOU BY:

Wanna play some golf eh?

Non Stop Flights from Toronto to Myrtle Beach to begin Soon
Posted on November 6th, 2009 by admin
Filed Under: Myrtle Beach Flight Info

As reported in TheSunNews.com on November 5, 2009, Myrtle Beach Area Chamber of Commerce and airport representatives are in final negotiations with Toronto, Ontario-based Porter Airlines to begin offering non-stop flights from Toronto to Myrtle Beach as early as February 28, 2010. Canadians love Myrtle Beach and suddenly it will be only two hours away.
These international flights will save time, the frustration of changing planes and money. Many times, direct flights are less expensive.
If everything goes as planned, travelers should be able to book flights between Myrtle Beach International Airport and Toronto Island Airport online by November 9. Porter Airlines was founded in 2006. It serves eight Canadian cities and has service to Chicago, New York and Boston.

VB Golf Crew By-Laws

Everyone, take a minute or two to take a look at the VB Golf Crew by-laws for the VSGA club. They are posted on our web site, and I am sure no one has nay problem with anything, but if we need to make any amendments, please let me know.


http://sites.google.com/site/vbgolfcrew/home
Sorry doesn't let me link it, so you just have to cust and paste it into the browser!

Prophet Tour Blade Iron, new for 2010

Debunking The Myth That A Blade Is Hard To Hit
http://info.hirekogolf.com/dynacraft/prophet/prophet-tour-blade-iron/


A common perception among golfers is that a blade style iron is hard to hit. After all, the efforts of the late Karsten Solheim of Ping didn’t go unnoticed. He produced an iron with a deep cavity and immediately the concept of perimeter weighting was born. This was so successful that every manufacturer followed suit and to this day the vast majority of clubs are a cavity back design which make the game a little easier to for you and me to enjoy.

Today, blade style irons have a very small market share and are generally reserved only the very best ball strikers. Also, less than 30% of the PGA players rely on blades for their livelihood. But ask a player why they play blades, they will tell you that it allows them to work the ball to create different shots. Plus, on a perfectly struck shot, there is no better feeling in the world.

dyn_proph_tour_Bladev2So why would a company like Hireko take the risk of bringing a blade to the golf market? Well that is easy. The secret is that it is not truly a blade; the Dynacraft Prophet Tour Blade just looks like a blade. After all, most blades are compact from heel-to-toe, possess a thin 4-way radius sole, thin top line and reduced offset. So if we are going by the checklist, the Prophet Tour meets all those criteria.

But what separates a blade (or sometimes called a muscle-back design) from a game improvement club? The answer is weight re-distribution. Most people immediately think of game improvement clubs as models with a deep cavity in the back. But there are also a few other features of a game improvement club that golfers may not be aware of.

Propget-Tour-iron-stabilityMost blade style irons feature a long hosel which shifts the center of gravity high and toward the heel of the club. We shortened the hosel on the Prophet Tour Blade so you would be rewarded for hitting the ball where you are supposed to; low and in the middle of the face.

We also created our Stability Slot, which removes material than can be used better elsewhere. This concept is similar to how an undercut cavity works.

When you look down on the club it is going to look like a blade, but know in the Phophet-Tour-Stability-Slovback of your mind the penalty for a mis-hit is greatly reduced over a typical blade. The Dynacraft Prophet Tour iron still allows you the ability to maneuver the ball when needed and more importantly receive the immediate feedback when you strike that perfect shot. For those that want the best of both worlds, the Dynacraft Prophet Tour might just be the start of a new category as a game improvement blade proving that not all blades are hard to hit.

If you’ve always wanted to hit a blade but were a little shy because of your playing style, give the new Dynacraft Prophet Tour Blade a shot.

Golf Tip of the Week

I tend to do this a lot, sculling my irons. Man it's frustrating, especially since I know how to hit it, and I can do it 9 times out of 10 on the range.


Stop skulling your irons


By Butch Harmon
Golf Digest Teaching Professional

Golfers who hit a lot of thin shots tend to swing the club too steeply into the ball. That's because they slide past the ball on the downswing and have to force the club down to make contact. When they slide too far, they catch only the top half of the ball, hitting it thin.

The problem actually starts on the back swing. Swing your arms back wide, and make a full shoulder turn. Try to get your back to the target. Don't be too eager to hit the ball: Turn to the top, and then turn through.