The Fabulous Claudio
The best thing about running one of the world’s best golf blogs isn’t the gear, the travel, the hot groupies in yoga pants… It’s meeting cool people in the golf industry and often times playing golf with them! Case in point is a very fun canadian chap I’ve played golf with several times now, Claudio DeMarchi from TravelingGolfer.net. Claudio is one of the funnest people I’ve met on the HOG World Tour.
Above is a fun video I put together of Claudio doing some golf trick shots on the Pete Dye course at French Lick. The course is one of the most difficult courses in the world, but Claudio can easily stripe drives down the fairway on tees nearly as tall as he is! What’s that all aboot, aye?
FORE!
Golf Psych 101: Competition
At the time my handicap was the absolute best I was playing with a group of eight guys, none of whom was higher than a 5-handicap. In the group there was a zero and a bunch of 1’s and 2’s. It was a tough group. If you didn’t bring your A-game, you had to make sure you brought your A-TM game. I really loved the competition level and intensity of those years, and I think playing in that group helped me improve and play at a high level, for an amateur. I was playing 4-5 times per week as well, which I’m sure helped. My handicap got as low as a 0.9.
Unfortunately that group dissolved. I still play with some of those guys, a time or two a year.
Fast forward 10-15 years to now. Because of where I am in life (translation: day job, wife, 3-year old, limited time), I can’t play 4-5 times per week. I’m only able to play two times, and perhaps a 3rd time if I’m lucky. Yes it sounds crazy that I say “only,” because many amateurs play once a week, once a month, or maybe a few times a year. I realize despite a 50% drop in rounds, I play more than probably 90% of amateur golfers. Playing less does not help my game. Winter around here in northern Utah hurts the game as well. Nothing hurts your feel and crispness as much as a six month frost delay.
But now that summer is here I’m past the spring rust phase. I’m also playing quite a bit right now. It’s not cold either. Many of the reasons or excuses I could use for not playing well are not useable. Up until about 1.5 weeks ago, I’ve struggled to break 80 with many rounds around 85. Why? If I knew that, I would fix it.
The last week and a half though, I’ve finally seemed to turn a corner. Rather than mid 80’s, I’ve got a 74, 76, and two nine hole rounds that come in at -2 and even. What happened? Did I suddenly become a better golfer? Did I change swings? Did I put a new driver into play? What?
So what is contributing to the better scores? I don’t feel like I’m hitting the ball much better, but I’m scoring better. I don’t feel like my abilities have suddenly changed. What has changed is my “playing environment.” I’ve changed from the casual buddy group to the more intense competitive match play and tournament rounds. Also played 18 with a different group a couple of days ago, all who hit the ball as far or farther than me and could clean my clock on any given day if I don’t bring the A-game. It seems that perhaps for a while I’ve been in a playing rut due to the group I’ve been in. All good chaps for sure, but I’ve gotten too comfortable in the group. I’m not focused. There are higher handicap players in the group as well. Perhaps there’s a bit of “playing to the level of the other players” going on. Perhaps being around a higher handicapper for round after round has caused me to lose focus in my own game. Try not to interpret that as an arrogant comment. Think of another individual sport like tennis. A high level tennis player may not improve or keep his skills in top shape playing an opponent who is not at the same level. Yes one could argue that another player’s game should not affect one’s own golf game and there could be some truth to that. But I’m generally the kind of player who plays better if I’m around better players.
So where does that put me if the above analysis is true? Part of what makes golf enjoyable is the camaraderie of playing with friends. Perhaps the approach should be to keep the serious golf on the schedule, and play the casual and less intense rounds with the buddies now and then too.
Or maybe all that is a bunch of nonsense and I’m just playing better now. It could just be the phase of the moon or because I put my left sock on first instead of the right one this past week. Wait, I think maybe the better play is because of better underwear scripting…
First Look: Puma Superlite Golf Stand Bag
Written by: Tony Korologos | Friday, June 24th, 2016
Categories: Golf Accessories • Golf Equipment • Golf Gear
Tags: Cobra Golf • Golf Bag • Puma
Categories: Golf Accessories • Golf Equipment • Golf Gear
Tags: Cobra Golf • Golf Bag • Puma
The upcoming Hooked on Golf Blog World Tour trip to Scotland is 22 days, 4 hours, 12 minutes and 34 seconds away. But who is counting? During this particular tour I intend to carry my bag and what would you know, a great candidate for that job has arrived for review from Puma Golf. This is the Superlite Stand Bag:
I’ve been thinking about using a “Sunday Bag” for the Scotland trip because of how light and small they are. A couple of problems with Sunday bags are that they don’t have stands, and they typically can’t hold much. In Scotland I am going to need some room for sweaters and rain gear. That’s what may make this Puma Superlite the ticket. It’s only 3.8 pounds but has room for 14 clubs plus a ton of rain gear and other needs, like flasks full of scotch or extra golf balls if the gorse is particularly hungry.
I will begin my testing as soon as my next round, in two days. Stay tuned for my full review after I’ve had enough real rounds of golf to fill up my cranium with opinions about this bag. And stay tuned for the upcoming Scotland pictures to see if this bag made the cut for the trip to the birthplace of golf.
Proper Threads – Devereux Andrew Polo Review
Written by: Tony Korologos | Wednesday, June 22nd, 2016
Categories: Golf Apparel • Golf Gear • Golf Lifestyle
Tags: Apparel • Devereux • Golf Apparel
Categories: Golf Apparel • Golf Gear • Golf Lifestyle
Tags: Apparel • Devereux • Golf Apparel
“Proper Threads”
I love that statement. It seems many golf apparel makers are going for shock value, and becoming less and less classy and sophisticated. Those flashy products may be hot for short period, but become passe quickly. Conversely, a product like Devereux with it’s simple and elegant styles, stands the test of time.
The simple and stylish Andrew polo, part of the “72 Collection,” is certainly not one where the user needs to know where the replacement batteries go. The $75 Andrew is sharp, classy, elegant, and easy to put together in all sorts of apparel scripts.
“A closet filled with big bright in-your-face colors and dizzying patterns that SCREAM will not transform you from dud to stud. Oftentimes, the reverse is true.” ~Devereux
Colors/Sizes
The Andrew comes in four colors: steel (pictured above), aqua, coral, navy. Each color easily pairs up with numerous short/pant combinations. I recommend pairing the Andrew up with the Devereux Martin Shorts (review coming soon).
Sizes for the Andrew polo: small, medium, large, extra large, double extra large.
Specs
- Oxford Performance Knit
- Swing Free Tailoring
- Spread Collar
- Grosgrain Detail
- Heather Effect
- 60% Pima Cotton // 40% Polyester
On The Course
I’ve had the Andrew in play for many rounds this golf season, in some very different conditions. Earlier in the spring I put the Andrew through the colder temps here in northern Utah. Then a trip to Indiana had me testing out the polo in high humidity and 97 degrees. And just this week I wore the polo for a round in which the air was extremely dry and the temperature at the end of the round was 104. In those varying conditions the polo performed well and stayed comfortable.
During the golf swing some poorly designed polos can bunch up, pull, tug, and come untucked. The Andrew’s cut keeps me comfortable. Even with my violently spastic golf swings the polo stays in place.
The Andrew is great to wear while writing golf blog posts at HOG world headquarters, or when out on the town. It can work great in business casual situations.
Conclusion
The Andrew polo by Devereux is a solid performer on and off the course. It exceeds my strict requirements for golf polos: performance, comfort, style, and easy care. Set your apparel script up with some proper threads.
Related Content
Devereux Welch Polo Review – 2014
Review: Tour Edge Exotics CB Pro U Hybrid Limited Edition
Written by: Tony Korologos | Tuesday, June 21st, 2016
Categories: Golf Clubs • Golf Equipment • Golf For Women • Golf Gear • Product of the Year • Reviews
Tags: hybrid • Tour Edge
Categories: Golf Clubs • Golf Equipment • Golf For Women • Golf Gear • Product of the Year • Reviews
Tags: hybrid • Tour Edge
At the end of the 2016 golf season here in northern Utah I received the Tour Edge Exotics CB Pro U Hybrid Limited Edition for a review. I was excited to match it up with the 2014 HOG Product of the Year, the Exotics XCG7 Beta Fairway 3-metalwood, my current and awesome gamer 3-metal. I posted a quick first look article for the CB PRO U right away. Unfortunately I suffered a severe back injury shortly after receiving this beauty. Then as I was recovering and feeling better, winter snows hit here. A six month “frost delay” kept me off the course. Looking at this club in my office for six months was almost as painful as the back spasms.
Tour Edge Exotics CB Pro U Hybrid Limited Edition – click for more photos
Let’s take a look at the specs and features of the CB PRO U Hybrid. The unit in this review is a 19 degree.
Specifications/Features
The most noticeable feature of this hybrid is the strange looking sole (bottom) of the club head pictured below. This shiny section of “metallic waves” is called a Slip Stream Sole (SSS). Unlike other golf clubs which have non functional features which look cool but do nothing, the SSS reduces friction and interaction with the ground, regardless of what that ground is. The SSS helps the golfer keep club head speed at its maximum for more consistency and distance.
Tour Edge CB Pro U Hybrid Limited Edition – click for more photos
The forged face of the club is welded to the steel body of the head. Forged metals provide the best feel and performance, along with maximum distance.
The heel and toe are “cut out” to provide forgiveness and playability.
Finally the shaft of the club is the very popular Second Generation KURO KAGE Silver series.
Kuro Kage Shaft
Tour Edge CB PRO U Hybrid Video
On The Course
Prior to receiving this hybrid for review I was very happy with my previous gamer hybrid, a 19 degree Cobra Baffler. For any hybrid to dethrone that hybrid would be a tall task. When I first starting testing the CB PRO U, I A/B’d back and forth between the two. Both were fantastic. Knowing both clubs were solid, I put the Exotics in the gamer bag for about a two month testing period. If it didn’t work out, no big deal.
See the waves?
Over the course of now dozens of rounds I’ve completely fallen for the CB PRO U. The slightly smaller head and sole design shines in all sorts of situations. I can hit amazing shots with this hybrid even from rough which looks like it calls for an iron bail-out shot. From lies in the rough to tight lies on hard ground, I have 100% confidence when I address the ball with the CP PRO U. I have numerous heroic shots I could recount, most resulting in eagle putts on par-5’s.
CB PRO U Hybrid Topline – No strange patterns or graphics. No distractions.
On short par-4’s or long par-3’s the CB PRO U is fantastic off the tee. I can’t wait to take this baby to Scotland in a few weeks. I know it will shine on some of those shorter holes where driver isn’t the club.
Conclusion
Tour Edge could be in the running to be the first golf club manufacturer to win the coveted Hooked on Golf Blog Product of the Year twice. The CP PRO U is fantastic.
« Previous 1 … 126 127 128 129 130 … 1,165 Next »
