Blade Hunters Mechanics tool Bag *******update after extensive overhaul******

[bladehunter]

BH,

Noooo! You took apart that combo? Definitely understand reasoning based on length, so just kidding you my friend, hope you get good news from USGA!

 

 

LOL yeah I could not help myself I walked into the shop and found those shafts for less than $15 each with new grips so the itch just hit me to put that together so I could hit them ... I just learned more and more that I simply cannot play and iron that is too short for me and I couldn't stand the thought of extending them that much. As a sidenote shoot me a PM if you can use those AS/400 shafts and I will send them up otherwise they will just sit in my closet and go to waste.

[BIG STU]

Update********* So long story short I have just sent off my Vegas to the USGA testing lab to have the grooves certified for "condition of competition " use....Im trying to lock down all equipment testing etc so that my tournament season can begin .... THis cant happen of course with a set of one off irons and no paper work.. All it would take is one person complaining about them and I could end up with a DQ , which would be bad all around. So I decided to send them in and fingers crossed that they are the models we believe they will pass and ill have USGA papers to state that. Im told by their lab I will have the answer by the end of next week..

 

So in the meantime I have just built a back up set that I came across recently... They are a tour issue set of titleist 680 believed to have been Matt Jones set before he swapped to the 710 series. When I got them they were exactly to his specs including s400 shafts, tour velvet grips, and 38 inch 5 iron..... I play a 38.75 5 iron so no way to keep that setup... I stumbled into a set of Nippon Modus 130X shafts at my local fitter cheap , so it only made sense to try those shafts out while my vegas were gone testing.. That plus the 680 are conforming and would be my iron IF the vegas prove to have the illegal grooves.

 

This set has the tour ID stamps on the hossel like all van built titleist wedges and irons do.. sometimes with numbers but also often initials for better known players..These have the MJ initials on the hossel. Also neat and a telling sign for actual TV tour use is that they are not stamped "680" ....My thoughts are that this was to camouflage players using the older sets on TV... This set also has slightly less that retail offset in the short irons... which is very nice to my eye. I have only hit the combo a few times yesterday in 35 degree weather , but I have to say I love the feel and flight. If I decide that these shafts are better suited and the vegas come back conforming I MAY swap the modus into the vega heads... But that's a lot of IFS , so we il see.

 

Next is the old trusty Newport Cameron 350G oilcan ...... This has been my go to since 1998..... In fact its the only putter I owned until 2014... When I get down to business she is likely the girl ill carry into battle... dents rust and all..

Dents rust and all that adds character- Do not know if you know it but I posted over in the Confessions section of the 19th Hole. I work for a metal recycling company and last week I found 2 Scottys in seperate lots in the scrap piles. One Newport Mil spec that cleaned and polished up nice and a rusty Santa Fe. Guess which one I like best?

[bladehunter]

Update********* So long story short I have just sent off my Vegas to the USGA testing lab to have the grooves certified for "condition of competition " use....Im trying to lock down all equipment testing etc so that my tournament season can begin .... THis cant happen of course with a set of one off irons and no paper work.. All it would take is one person complaining about them and I could end up with a DQ , which would be bad all around. So I decided to send them in and fingers crossed that they are the models we believe they will pass and ill have USGA papers to state that. Im told by their lab I will have the answer by the end of next week..

 

So in the meantime I have just built a back up set that I came across recently... They are a tour issue set of titleist 680 believed to have been Matt Jones set before he swapped to the 710 series. When I got them they were exactly to his specs including s400 shafts, tour velvet grips, and 38 inch 5 iron..... I play a 38.75 5 iron so no way to keep that setup... I stumbled into a set of Nippon Modus 130X shafts at my local fitter cheap , so it only made sense to try those shafts out while my vegas were gone testing.. That plus the 680 are conforming and would be my iron IF the vegas prove to have the illegal grooves.

 

This set has the tour ID stamps on the hossel like all van built titleist wedges and irons do.. sometimes with numbers but also often initials for better known players..These have the MJ initials on the hossel. Also neat and a telling sign for actual TV tour use is that they are not stamped "680" ....My thoughts are that this was to camouflage players using the older sets on TV... This set also has slightly less that retail offset in the short irons... which is very nice to my eye. I have only hit the combo a few times yesterday in 35 degree weather , but I have to say I love the feel and flight. If I decide that these shafts are better suited and the vegas come back conforming I MAY swap the modus into the vega heads... But that's a lot of IFS , so we il see.

 

Next is the old trusty Newport Cameron 350G oilcan ...... This has been my go to since 1998..... In fact its the only putter I owned until 2014... When I get down to business she is likely the girl ill carry into battle... dents rust and all..

Dents rust and all that adds character- Do not know if you know it but I posted over in the Confessions section of the 19th Hole. I work for a metal recycling company and last week I found 2 Scottys in seperate lots in the scrap piles. One Newport Mil spec that cleaned and polished up nice and a rusty Santa Fe. Guess which one I like best?

 

 

 

wow...that's a neat find... people will throw anything away it seems.... Yea on my old girl... I played it as a kid without a headcover... not having any clue that it was a 350G head that only 500 were made..lol but honestly ill never have it restored.... its seen so many putts its unreal.... you can see by the wear spot on the face where the rust is clean...that's from golf balls hitting the face... ive NEVER cleaned it at all... just a touch of oil once and a while...

[MadGolfer76]

Wait...

 

Waaaaaaaite a minute. :stop:

 

Wait a minute.

 

 

I thought there was going to be some PX satin in this thread?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[bladehunter]

Wait...

 

Waaaaaaaite a minute. :stop:

 

Wait a minute.

 

 

I thought there was going to be some PX satin in this thread?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

good eye mad......those are in my titleist custom grind mb...... I may send them in to be certified groove wise too... or those shafts may go into the vega heads if they are deemed conforming,,,, good news is they all play similar.... I can tell you now the kbs are out in the vegas,,, so its the modus or px satin going in those ...all hinges on if the vegas are conforming..they are my head of choice.... hows that for OCD/HO tendencies???

 

 

 

besides..im not sure these guys can handle pics of a raw Vega MB with a PX satin shaft .... it could be sensory overload!

[Jonesy]

That putter is incredible, in a few years I may try for that finish on mine! those tour 680's are also really awesome (I think I have a thing for a curved muscle on a blade) and I feel like they will team up well with the putter...

[jimmyjames]

Really nice setups. The whole "conforming" vs "non-conforming" issue really gets old. There are so many beautiful older sets of irons/wedges that I would love to play and tinker with but don't simple because they are non-conforming. I don't play a ton of events but I want my equipment conforming so no issues would ever come up. Go Cocks BTW I graduated in 2006 from U of SC.

[Santiago Golf]

Doesn't the USGA confiscate thd clubs if they are not conforming?

[JohnPaul]

That purple ice shaft is quite the classic

[nitram]

Hey Blade,

 

Looking good there young man!

 

It's been my experience that almost every gal worth your bag has a few scars...

[bladehunter]

Doesn't the USGA confiscate thd clubs if they are not conforming?

 

 

I don't think so. If they do you'll hear about the usga test lab burning down next week.

 

 

Edit. Figured I better add the disclaimer that comment was meant as a joke. In no way am I threatening life or property. In all seriousness the guy who is the tester has been as easy to talk with as anyone's best friend. Super nice and told me he would call me directly with the results etc. I think of you sent in a fake new model that didn't conform they may. But not if its pre 2010. My irons issue is that I don't have paperwork to prove the model. Only the person I bought them from and his story. Which I know is true. But his purchase date is fuzzy. He says it was ( 2010-12 ish). So the grooves could go either way.

 

I will post the whole irons story once I find out if they are good or not. B

[cardoustie]

No 3W ?? . . right from driver to 5w?

 

I get it though . .did that myself for years until I met the X2hot 3 deep

[Santiago Golf]

Doesn't the USGA confiscate thd clubs if they are not conforming?

 

 

I don't think so. If they do you'll hear about the usga test lab burning down next week.

 

 

Edit. Figured I better add the disclaimer that comment was meant as a joke. In no way am I threatening life or property. In all seriousness the guy who is the tester has been as easy to talk with as anyone's best friend. Super nice and told me he would call me directly with the results etc. I think of you sent in a fake new model that didn't conform they may. But not if its pre 2010. My irons issue is that I don't have paperwork to prove the model. Only the person I bought them from and his story. Which I know is true. But his purchase date is fuzzy. He says it was ( 2010-12 ish). So the grooves could go either way.

 

I will post the whole irons story once I find out if they are good or not. B

 

Those Vegas look so pure. Blank, raw heads. I could only dream. I hate being a lefty, because there isn't really anything all that unique looking like that. The only thing that would come close is a set of Adams MB2s, but the sets on ebay don't really last long for those

[bladehunter]

No 3W ?? . . right from driver to 5w?

 

I get it though . .did that myself for years until I met the X2hot 3 deep

 

Well. This setup is perfect at my home course. It's tight and tree lined. You pretty much. An hit driver sometimes and lots of time need a less than driver tee shot. I found the 18 degree 915f and in playing it at 43.5 inches. So it effectively is a 4 wood distance wise. Now. That being said my 3 wood is a xhot 14.5 with a matrix radix shaft at 44 inches. It drops bombs wayyy down range ! Really pushes my driver honestly. I play it instead of the 5 wood on longer courses. And at times of driver makes me mad ill play the 3 deep as driver and carry it and the 5 wood and ditch driver.

[bladehunter]

Doesn't the USGA confiscate thd clubs if they are not conforming?

 

 

I don't think so. If they do you'll hear about the usga test lab burning down next week.

 

 

Edit. Figured I better add the disclaimer that comment was meant as a joke. In no way am I threatening life or property. In all seriousness the guy who is the tester has been as easy to talk with as anyone's best friend. Super nice and told me he would call me directly with the results etc. I think of you sent in a fake new model that didn't conform they may. But not if its pre 2010. My irons issue is that I don't have paperwork to prove the model. Only the person I bought them from and his story. Which I know is true. But his purchase date is fuzzy. He says it was ( 2010-12 ish). So the grooves could go either way.

 

I will post the whole irons story once I find out if they are good or not. B

 

Those Vegas look so pure. Blank, raw heads. I could only dream. I hate being a lefty, because there isn't really anything all that unique looking like that. The only thing that would come close is a set of Adams MB2s, but the sets on ebay don't really last long for those

 

 

 

Thanks ! I'll go ahead and finish you off by saying I paid only $350 for them. Locally. They sat for several months on consignment in my local shop.nobody would buy them because they were blank. I feel stupid for not buying them the 1st time I saw them. I finally couldn't resist. There's a story to them as well. I'll post it here when I get time to do the timeline. Lol.

[Arafel]

Doesn't the USGA confiscate thd clubs if they are not conforming?

 

They wouldn't dare.....

[Mitchell]

bh,

Hope you have better luck with Vega irons than I did on a set of Titleist Custom Grinds, 5 and 8 irons only came back as non-conforming out of that set :( Since have sentimental attachment considering their origin, will still see course time on occasion :)

 

Mitch

[BIG STU]

Really nice setups. The whole "conforming" vs "non-conforming" issue really gets old. There are so many beautiful older sets of irons/wedges that I would love to play and tinker with but don't simple because they are non-conforming. I don't play a ton of events but I want my equipment conforming so no issues would ever come up. Go Cocks BTW I graduated in 2006 from U of SC.

Agree 110% with you. I had my old Macs spot checked by someone in the know. He said they looked conforming except the 9 iron and wedge and they are so old and the grooves beat out that they would not conform. I had thought about getting my Am status back and playing some in the Carolina's Golf Association events but then thought screw it. I AM going to play what I want to and the USGA or the CGA is NOT going to tell me what I can or can not play. The local bunch I play with around here does not care what anyone plays and besides it is more fun anyhow with my group. If someone does not like what I play they can pound sand as far as I am concerned and the same goes for anyone who thinks I am cheating. My stuff was built before they knew anything about this groove crap.

[bladehunter]

bh,

Hope you have better luck with Vega irons than I did on a set of Titleist Custom Grinds, 5 and 8 irons only came back as non-conforming out of that set :( Since have sentimental attachment considering their origin, will still see course time on occasion :)

 

Mitch

 

 

Well poop. I didnt even realize they went club by club. I assumed wear on one or more was ok if the set conformed by original design. My luck I'll have one that doesn't. Which breaks the set. Stupid rule

[bladehunter]

well guys and gals... I received the dreadful news yesterday ... My vega irons arrived back to my house ...inside was a neat and very official looking letter from the USGA , complete with holographic seal and hand written inspection notes.... it seems that they failed... and not because of groove size or shape....the outer edges of the grooves are too sharp...about an hour later that was followed with a phone call to me from the USGA tester making sure I received the irons and that I understood the test results... I asked a few questions which he happily answered... I must say ,, their customer service is as top notch as it could possibly be... He had to have an alert set on the package tracking to know when it arrived so he could call and confirm...

 

anyway...to the questions I asked him...

 

 

1. I asked " what if I buy a new set of vega VM-01 .....will they automatically be legal for usga use since they aren't listed on the site list? They are sold as "conforming "" he says NO.... you will have to send them in to be certified if they do not appear on the current list... I was shocked... but it does make sense in a way... He says that if the manufacturer had sent a sample to them they would be on the list... so if they aren't on the list they haven't been tested by the usga... he also said they have found some irons that are sold to conform , to be out of spec... he said in those instances the manufacturers have warrantied those heads and replaced them with some that test good...

 

2. I then asked " how about this set of titleist 680 I have... they aren't stamped 680...but I know that's what they are" he says...same...you will have to send them in ....because they aren't stamped 680 ..the usga will not consider them to be "680".... he also said he had tested multiple 681 sets and could not get an entire set that conformed...says their grooves are on the edge with width and depth being the problem... they are V ...but its their size... he says their tests don't show them to spin as much as modern grooves...but they still don't meet the guideline for measurement the usga adopted... then he says that " not all 680 test well either" and in a hushed voice says..." that one got on the list because so many pros play it ....we tested 25 sets one week with mixed results... then all the sudden .on the list "... follows that up with " but they don't spin the ball much " to which I agree... titleist blades don't spin enough ...much less too much ..

 

so I don't now what to do .... I don't know if I want to waste time shipping iron sets back and forth... Im going to try to play in at least 3 state tournaments that ive confirmed with have the Conditions of competition rule in place.... and if I played well there it would qualify me for more... I just don't want to put a lot of time in practicing with a set of irons I cant use... so its back to the drawing board for something "on the list " I guess

[No_Catchy_Nickname]

Sorry to hear the news, bladehunter.

The thing that stands out to me is that, given the detail of the test, how much of a difference does it actually make anyway. I know this is not much comfort to you, but they're basically saying "These grooves don't give you an advantage, but you can't use them anyway." If I understand correctly, the rule was changed to stop players--mainly pros--from being able to hit drop-and-stop shots from rough that was supposed to be punishing them.

It comes across to me as them using a sledgehammer to peel a peach.

[Mitchell]

Was rooting for you to have a positive outcome, my friend, definitely empathetic regarding the frustration. May not be considered as unique, yet 962b is conforming and inexpensive , just saying :)

[bladehunter]

Was rooting for you to have a positive outcome, my friend, definitely empathetic regarding the frustration. May not be considered as unique, yet 962b is conforming and inexpensive , just saying :)

 

 

 

 

yep... im not opposed at all... Im going to think on it... I have a standing offer to get my Razr MB set back ... which I only got rid of because of the shafts.... I can get them back by trading probably ... and could put the Modus 130X in it... I only lean that way because I am loving the callaway wedges so much... ahhhhhh! its maddening!

[bladehunter]

Or I could pull the PX satin 7.0 and put them in the razr MB. Thus combining the most forgiving head I have ever owned and the shaft that has produced the feel of the two favorite iron sets I've ever owned. Mps 68 and my Titleist custom Grinds have both shared that shaft at one time or another and I think my love for those two irons is because of that shaft. I guess this calls for a head-to-head Shaft competition today LOL since the Modis is in one Titleist MB and the PX satin in another I should get a very fair comparison. Oh the struggles of an iron ho!!?

[ratpackinit14]

Irons and putter are so fresh, thoughts on the reign?

 

[BIG STU]

well guys and gals... I received the dreadful news yesterday ... My vega irons arrived back to my house ...inside was a neat and very official looking letter from the USGA , complete with holographic seal and hand written inspection notes.... it seems that they failed... and not because of groove size or shape....the outer edges of the grooves are too sharp...about an hour later that was followed with a phone call to me from the USGA tester making sure I received the irons and that I understood the test results... I asked a few questions which he happily answered... I must say ,, their customer service is as top notch as it could possibly be... He had to have an alert set on the package tracking to know when it arrived so he could call and confirm...

 

anyway...to the questions I asked him...

 

 

1. I asked " what if I buy a new set of vega VM-01 .....will they automatically be legal for usga use since they aren't listed on the site list? They are sold as "conforming "" he says NO.... you will have to send them in to be certified if they do not appear on the current list... I was shocked... but it does make sense in a way... He says that if the manufacturer had sent a sample to them they would be on the list... so if they aren't on the list they haven't been tested by the usga... he also said they have found some irons that are sold to conform , to be out of spec... he said in those instances the manufacturers have warrantied those heads and replaced them with some that test good...

 

2. I then asked " how about this set of titleist 680 I have... they aren't stamped 680...but I know that's what they are" he says...same...you will have to send them in ....because they aren't stamped 680 ..the usga will not consider them to be "680".... he also said he had tested multiple 681 sets and could not get an entire set that conformed...says their grooves are on the edge with width and depth being the problem... they are V ...but its their size... he says their tests don't show them to spin as much as modern grooves...but they still don't meet the guideline for measurement the usga adopted... then he says that " not all 680 test well either" and in a hushed voice says..." that one got on the list because so many pros play it ....we tested 25 sets one week with mixed results... then all the sudden .on the list "... follows that up with " but they don't spin the ball much " to which I agree... titleist blades don't spin enough ...much less too much ..

 

so I don't now what to do .... I don't know if I want to waste time shipping iron sets back and forth... Im going to try to play in at least 3 state tournaments that ive confirmed with have the Conditions of competition rule in place.... and if I played well there it would qualify me for more... I just don't want to put a lot of time in practicing with a set of irons I cant use... so its back to the drawing board for something "on the list " I guess

Blade are you playing some CGA events? Some of the guys here play that. I was going to get my Am status back and play in the senior division until I found out my Macgregor irons were not on a approved list. Ran into the same thing with my Infiniti Forged TS-10s since they were experimental and had never been submitted for testing. I finally said to hell with it. i am having too much fun doing as I am doing knocking it around with my buddies running experiments and playing small money matches. I added it all together and do not want to practice enough to play at that level

[bladehunter]

Irons and putter are so fresh, thoughts on the reign?

 

 

The reign is easily the best driver shaft I've owned. And I've owned most anything from 73-83x whiteboard to 7.2 ts speeder. Very stable and very smooth at the same time. Always been a matrix fan. But this is there best no doubt. I'm a player with a very late release who hates a shaft that is draw biased. I hit a draw but want to be able to hit a cut too. And some shafts just want to roll left with my swing if that makes sense.

[bladehunter]

well guys and gals... I received the dreadful news yesterday ... My vega irons arrived back to my house ...inside was a neat and very official looking letter from the USGA , complete with holographic seal and hand written inspection notes.... it seems that they failed... and not because of groove size or shape....the outer edges of the grooves are too sharp...about an hour later that was followed with a phone call to me from the USGA tester making sure I received the irons and that I understood the test results... I asked a few questions which he happily answered... I must say ,, their customer service is as top notch as it could possibly be... He had to have an alert set on the package tracking to know when it arrived so he could call and confirm...

 

anyway...to the questions I asked him...

 

 

1. I asked " what if I buy a new set of vega VM-01 .....will they automatically be legal for usga use since they aren't listed on the site list? They are sold as "conforming "" he says NO.... you will have to send them in to be certified if they do not appear on the current list... I was shocked... but it does make sense in a way... He says that if the manufacturer had sent a sample to them they would be on the list... so if they aren't on the list they haven't been tested by the usga... he also said they have found some irons that are sold to conform , to be out of spec... he said in those instances the manufacturers have warrantied those heads and replaced them with some that test good...

 

2. I then asked " how about this set of titleist 680 I have... they aren't stamped 680...but I know that's what they are" he says...same...you will have to send them in ....because they aren't stamped 680 ..the usga will not consider them to be "680".... he also said he had tested multiple 681 sets and could not get an entire set that conformed...says their grooves are on the edge with width and depth being the problem... they are V ...but its their size... he says their tests don't show them to spin as much as modern grooves...but they still don't meet the guideline for measurement the usga adopted... then he says that " not all 680 test well either" and in a hushed voice says..." that one got on the list because so many pros play it ....we tested 25 sets one week with mixed results... then all the sudden .on the list "... follows that up with " but they don't spin the ball much " to which I agree... titleist blades don't spin enough ...much less too much ..

 

so I don't now what to do .... I don't know if I want to waste time shipping iron sets back and forth... Im going to try to play in at least 3 state tournaments that ive confirmed with have the Conditions of competition rule in place.... and if I played well there it would qualify me for more... I just don't want to put a lot of time in practicing with a set of irons I cant use... so its back to the drawing board for something "on the list " I guess

Blade are you playing some CGA events? Some of the guys here play that. I was going to get my Am status back and play in the senior division until I found out my Macgregor irons were not on a approved list. Ran into the same thing with my Infiniti Forged TS-10s since they were experimental and had never been submitted for testing. I finally said to hell with it. i am having too much fun doing as I am doing knocking it around with my buddies running experiments and playing small money matches. I added it all together and do not want to practice enough to play at that level

 

 

Yep. I plan to. Some of their lower level events in not sure if condition of competition is enforced. But the bigger tournaments they are for sure. You know how these rule committes get. They want to be like the guys on TV too. lol. So any new rule they can think of to justify there presence they will use

[MadGolfer76]

Holy USGA drama.

 

Sorry to hear this Blade. :(

[bladehunter]

Well Guys and Gals... here is the bag of sticks I sported today ...minus the odyssey blade...( used my 350G Newport today ) ...1st time on course for the tour issue 680 and for the modus 130X... Pictured here on my home range ...read---FIELD (see tractor in background ..lol) I do practice every day that it hasn't snowed so not exactly rusty ..But usually a month away from the course plus new combo equals iffy scoring.... Went out this afternoon and shot an uneventful 73 in a pretty good wind.... hit 13 greens in reg and only one birdie...only putts dropping where up and downs for par...and that's because most were stone dead..lol ...as a side note I went left hand low on a whim the last 6 holes and saved par 3 of the 6 getting up and down and made my lone birdie...so maybe there is something to look at there...4 1 putts on last 6 holes is a decent improvement for something ive never tried before...

 

anyway this iron /shaft combo is amazing... I can only dream how nice the modus would have been in the Vegas.... But these 680 and just so smooth... worn in just right if you know what I mean.... and if you look in the bag closely you will see a 716TMB 2 iron.... that thing sat in my clubs pro shop for the last month..unsold... I bought it for $90...brand new... and it really matches the 680 perfectly.. Ive owned the 712U twice and couldn't love it.... The TMB 2 iron isn't nearly as wide an bulky and isn't a hook machine ..lol ... I am in love with it to be honest... this setup could grow on me .... its really easy to hit , and the mudus 130X is the straightest iron shaft ive ever played... nice tight flight every single time.... all in all today was a very encouraging day... now if these damn irons would just pass muster with the wizard of OZ ( usga) all would be calm in my mind...