MattM97's WITB: New Irons and 2025 Setup Finally.

[MattM97]

16 minutes ago, kmcb said:

 

Did you prefer the TPE Material or the original quad tour PU?

 

Probably the PU for me, I seem to like my grips a bit lighter and the shapes can be a bit bigger with PU without being 120g+ like TPE or other rubber. 

 

But it's all personal choice on what people like with putter grips. I know many people rave about the Ping PP58 but that's just too small for my hands I cannot grab it comfortably. 

[MattM97]

Did a bit of 3W testing, snagged a Ai Smoke TD 3W off the BST for a solid price. Wanted to test it against my trusty Paradym X and the results kinda surprised me a bit. 

 

For reference the "4W" is the Paradym X and the "3W" Ai Smoke TD. Both are 3W, using the same shaft and in the same setting. Took 15 swings with the X and 18 with the TD, took 10 best. 

 

 

As you can see the TD I actually have a tighter dispersion. I do have a right pull miss with the Paradym X, obviously I remove those 2 and the circle is tighter but it's a miss that happens on the course. 

 

The TD yeah some shots I thinned a bit but not awful. Need to do more testing but might take the TD out next round. 

[bflinn74]

On 4/15/2021 at 3:22 PM, MattM97 said:

This was the gamer most of last year and will be the fall back putter this year if I'm indecisive. 

 

34.5" TP Mills Trad II. Stainless, welded flow neck, 365g, extremely light face milling. Just a well built putter that fits my eye and love the feel and weight. 

 

Love seeing another Lefty with good equipment on here and also TP Mills Putters. I have 3.

 

[bflinn74]

Just now, bflinn74 said:

Love seeing another Lefty with good equipment on here and also TP Mills Putters. I have 3.

 

Awesome putter!!!!. He makes really good stuff.

[MattM97]

On 9/23/2024 at 4:55 PM, bflinn74 said:

Love seeing another Lefty with good equipment on here and also TP Mills Putters. I have 3.

 

 

I only have the 1 Mills putter but I haven't used it in a while, still roll it well but don't aim it as well as my current putter but I do love it still and wouldn't mind another one eventually. 

[MattM97]

Kinda had an ah-ha moment recently after another rought round recently. It made so much sense and so far easy for me to implement but need to beat it into me. 

 

But if I start see numbers like this trying to get a feel for the feel it can be a good sign later on. 

 

The biggest thing I'm happy with is my path average is 3.0° and my AoA is +2 just need a more consistent face to path and face angle.

[MattM97]

Well this season was a massive struggle, quite frustrating overall honestly. Handicap went up, scoring average was awful, never sniffed my best or consistent golf. That's just motivation for winter training which I basically started today and just need to beat in a new feel after a recent lesson. 

 

Here's a 7i  and me actually hitting a draw. 

 

 

Need to make this feel second nature now, obviously won't be this drastic on course but it's the feel and results we want. 

 

As for bag I'll do my end of year round up and what I'd want to change. 

[Prvise]

3 hours ago, MattM97 said:

Well this season was a massive struggle, quite frustrating overall honestly. Handicap went up, scoring average was awful, never sniffed my best or consistent golf. That's just motivation for winter training which I basically started today and just need to beat in a new feel after a recent lesson. 

 

Here's a 7i  and me actually hitting a draw. 

 

 

Need to make this feel second nature now, obviously won't be this drastic on course but it's the feel and results we want. 

 

As for bag I'll do my end of year round up and what I'd want to change. 

If only they were all like that, eh. Looking forward to an off-season bag update. Heading into my season here in New Zealand (soon) and have been gaming the same Nitro 15Hi you had in the big stick. Still very unsure... 

[MattM97]

2 hours ago, Prvise said:

If only they were all like that, eh. Looking forward to an off-season bag update. Heading into my season here in New Zealand (soon) and have been gaming the same Nitro 15Hi you had in the big stick. Still very unsure... 

 

Considering not long ago and at times I can get as bad as 12° out to in I will take this and run with it, literally perfect shot and I'll be chasing the results again. But if I can get this pattern to where it's second nature maybe I'll break 80 one day lol. 

 

As for the TPT it took me a bit to get used to it but I do love it now. Once I realized just swing it and not try and kill it the shaft made a difference for me. Now I'm fairly confident over the ball but not so much setup wise which isn't the shaft.

[Prvise]

21 minutes ago, MattM97 said:

 

Considering not long ago and at times I can get as bad as 12° out to in I will take this and run with it, literally perfect shot and I'll be chasing the results again. But if I can get this pattern to where it's second nature maybe I'll break 80 one day lol. 

 

As for the TPT it took me a bit to get used to it but I do love it now. Once I realized just swing it and not try and kill it the shaft made a difference for me. Now I'm fairly confident over the ball but not so much setup wise which isn't the shaft.

I was exactly the same. My first ever fitting, they told me to address this otherwise we couldn’t do my lie adjustments. Takes time but you’ll always get there.

 

I am a ‘kill it’ player over the tee too. Maybe why I can’t get used to it. My fitter described me as ‘too much mass (6ft4, 122kg) for weak shafts”. It is really really nice on a lot of shots though. Hoping to make it work.

[MattM97]

11 hours ago, Prvise said:

I was exactly the same. My first ever fitting, they told me to address this otherwise we couldn’t do my lie adjustments. Takes time but you’ll always get there.

 

I am a ‘kill it’ player over the tee too. Maybe why I can’t get used to it. My fitter described me as ‘too much mass (6ft4, 122kg) for weak shafts”. It is really really nice on a lot of shots though. Hoping to make it work.

 

I don't think I'm doing anything with my clubs right now although I'm semi tempted to try some Ping iron in place of my PXG's, I really like my CB's but I don't like the 0311P's at the top of my bag. 

 

I hold back a bit on the course and I suffer there so I need to kinda go after it but properly but I'm about your size just a touch shorter and a few kg heavier and I can pretty much over power any shaft, in my fitting we tested the Accra Tour Z RPG Tour which is like the stiffest shaft on the market and while this one I could absolutely bomb when I lined it up it wasn't as consistent as the TPT for me. So I'll take consistency with a few bombs over nukes both in play and out. I am semi tempted to build a Ai Smoke TD with Tour Z RPG

 

Funny enough I actually have video from my last practice I had a toey push shot that carried 275 and rolled to 300 but still in play, let me see if I have video on that swing....

 

I do 

 

 

 

Edited October 31, 2024 by MattM97

[sergizmo]

Matt I saw your outdoor course vids on Instagram. In those your feet completely spin out before you make contact and your entire lower body has shifted clockwise just before impact. Really tough to make consistent contact this way.

 

When you practice in the sim there is a lot more traction on the artificial stuff and your lower body spins out much less. Just a bit on your front foot. I think that is the cause of your frustration on course. 

 

I'm not an expert by any means but there is a clear difference. 

[MattM97]

16 hours ago, sergizmo said:

Matt I saw your outdoor course vids on Instagram. In those your feet completely spin out before you make contact and your entire lower body has shifted clockwise just before impact. Really tough to make consistent contact this way.

 

When you practice in the sim there is a lot more traction on the artificial stuff and your lower body spins out much less. Just a bit on your front foot. I think that is the cause of your frustration on course. 

 

I'm not an expert by any means but there is a clear difference. 

 

Yeah I saw that too, it happens to me when : i) my hips and low back are tight and I cannot warm up properly. ii) My swing is off and I'm out of position. iii) I'm in the wrong shoes.

 

I was on a work trip and was on my feet for like 10-12hrs for 3 days straight, not really making it an excuse, I've know about this issue for a while and do hate it. When I'm swinging well it doesn't show up like the video I'm posting later today from my recent practice. 

 

But this off season I'll be working with a sports PT to get my hip issue cleared up and hopefully this issue goes away with my technical changes too. 

 

I do appreciate the info, just trying to get to half decent in this game. 

[MattM97]

Hey look an actual club in my bag....

 

 

We got a Lab DF3 CB setup here, something a little different, not tired or sick of the Ping PLD just something different to try. I am going to Pinehurst area after Christmas and will plan on taking this with me.

 

That might be it for clubs for me for a bit, obviously that Pinehurst trip is coming up, still have to book my flight and rental car for that. Also booking a buddy's bachelor party so yeah all my cash is basically gone for the first quarter or half of 2025.

 

I was looking at maybe toying with some new irons or a wood to dump my 4i or something. Was even looking at a shaft for my old Cobra driver to do some speed training with just incase I snap my driver but yeah have to be smart with my money.

 

Oh and cracked 180mph ball speed with my driver this past week so swing is coming around. 

[MattM97]

Current state of the swing, working through an annoying lat injury that's basically messing up my lead side so stuff is still wonky. 

 

But man this was pretty. 

 

 

 

[Obsessed]

Nice...

 

What's up with the sticks on the ground, visual??

 

 

 

[MattM97]

4 hours ago, Obsessed said:

Nice...

 

What's up with the sticks on the ground, visual??

 

 

 

 

Yeah a bit of a visual aid or reminder. Used to be a habitual slicer, heavy over the top and out to in path. Had a bit of an "ah-ha" moment with my coach and this just helps remember right now.

 

Soon I'll probably just keep the front stick but make a V shape as that will be my path, further left will me more of a draw and then further right in the V will but a cut. 

 

But the focus is hammering in the technique so it's not lost soon. 

[Phabs]

On 11/29/2024 at 3:23 PM, MattM97 said:

Hey look an actual club in my bag....

 

 

 

We got a Lab DF3 CB setup here, something a little different, not tired or sick of the Ping PLD just something different to try. I am going to Pinehurst area after Christmas and will plan on taking this with me.

 

That might be it for clubs for me for a bit, obviously that Pinehurst trip is coming up, still have to book my flight and rental car for that. Also booking a buddy's bachelor party so yeah all my cash is basically gone for the first quarter or half of 2025.

 

I was looking at maybe toying with some new irons or a wood to dump my 4i or something. Was even looking at a shaft for my old Cobra driver to do some speed training with just incase I snap my driver but yeah have to be smart with my money.

 

Oh and cracked 180mph ball speed with my driver this past week so swing is coming around. 

Enjoy the Pinehurst trip - I'm planning on making it next year when funds allow.    I was out in PA visiting my girlfriend last month and was able to meet up with Kurtis for a beer and some food.   

[MattM97]

44 minutes ago, Phabs said:

Enjoy the Pinehurst trip - I'm planning on making it next year when funds allow.    I was out in PA visiting my girlfriend last month and was able to meet up with Kurtis for a beer and some food.   

 

Dude definitely come out next year, it's not too bad price wise for a trip but I get the budget part. I'm kinda being dumb with this and the bachelor party but said yes to Kurtis a while back. 

 

I'm actually supposed to be out at Rodeo Dunes in September I think. That's going to be fun getting in before some media. 

[MattM97]

Back from Pinehurst area, swing is actually feeling quite solid but needs more work and tweaking but no monster slices so that's good. The one thing I am noticing with the improved swing and current irons is my gapping. I think I'm missing a gap in the 190 yard range and 90-100 yard range. The latter is probably more me needing to develop a clock system with my wedges cause flew a few greens this trip. 

 

Will do a gapping soon, mark down my distances and see if I can get a loft check done and maybe bend the irons a bit. If too much of a gap I dunno maybe new irons, something more consistent like straight CB setup or something. I'm just going to continue to pound away in the simulator. 

 

Now enjoy a few course pics from my trip: 

 

Tobacco Road entrance and hole 10 tee box.

 

Mid South Club Hole 9

 

 

Mid Pines hole 15 if I remember correctly.

 

[pdaero]

Matt, just read this thread from the beginning - enjoyed reading your story and what's been going on for the past few years for you! The putter is absolutely gorgeous (PLD) - I have a special one I love too, also with a Stability Tour shaft. Never thought a putter shaft could be a game changer, but this one really has.

 

Has the TP5x solidly taken the role of your gamer ball? I enjoyed reading that section. I've always wanted to do the same thing, try a bunch side by side - but it's never been easy to do. I think I'm mostly ProV1 (looking forward to trying the new one), Z Star XV, and TP5x (love this one).

 

Keep it going on the journey to health - I'm doing something similar this year where I get back to a really good healthy weight for me also. It'll help with golf, but way more for everything else (and fitting into my nice clothes that currently don't fit).

[kb7]

On 1/1/2025 at 7:47 PM, MattM97 said:

Mid Pines hole 15 if I remember correctly.

 

 

That is definitely MP 15. Love/hate that hole. If you look closely, you'll see me over on the right in the cart contemplating my life choices.

[MattM97]

4 minutes ago, kb7 said:

 

That is definitely MP 15. Love/hate that hole. If you look closely, you'll see me over on the right in the cart contemplating my life choices.

 

Yeah I remember that now, my drive I think might have actually finished past your cart but I don't think that was my longest drive this trip. 

[MattM97]

On 1/5/2025 at 10:25 AM, pdaero said:

Matt, just read this thread from the beginning - enjoyed reading your story and what's been going on for the past few years for you! The putter is absolutely gorgeous (PLD) - I have a special one I love too, also with a Stability Tour shaft. Never thought a putter shaft could be a game changer, but this one really has.

 

Has the TP5x solidly taken the role of your gamer ball? I enjoyed reading that section. I've always wanted to do the same thing, try a bunch side by side - but it's never been easy to do. I think I'm mostly ProV1 (looking forward to trying the new one), Z Star XV, and TP5x (love this one).

 

Keep it going on the journey to health - I'm doing something similar this year where I get back to a really good healthy weight for me also. It'll help with golf, but way more for everything else (and fitting into my nice clothes that currently don't fit).

 

Sorry didn't see your response until now but I appreciate it even if it was a bit a ramblings at times, the bag journey has been an interesting one for sure. 

 

The PLD has been a mainstay for me since I got it and did a bit of tinkering with the grips. In the PLD thread I joked saying "I wonder if me getting a PLD would stop my putter hoarding" and many laughed but it has been just that. It just feels nice having a putter your comfortable and confident with on the greens, just need to worry about line and speed. But with that said there are a few other putters I wouldn't mind adding to my collection and just keep a small circle of quality gamers. 

 

For balls I always seem to tinker with these and I definitely think I will be testing more as well this winter and early into my season. The currently TP5X seems to do everything well for me right now but with my recent swing changes and dynamics I'll have to see if that ball will still work best for me. On my NC trip I just went on I had the new PXG golf balls with me and was more impressed with the Extreme Tour, did shoot my seasons best with it at Tobacco Road and it just performed on my first impression, they're also $10 cheaper a dozen in Canada so that adds up. Other balls I will be testing would be the Left Dash, ProV1, Callaway Chrome Tour, CTX Triple Diamond (if released to the masses), the Srixon offerings and usually see some options from Bridgestone and Wilson sneak in there. I might look to see if a fitter near me does a ball fitting or just buy a bunch and test like I usually did, I also might switch irons so could wait until after I do irons depending what I'd move into. 

 

I'm not done with my health journey, down about 80lbs total so far and it's made a huge difference in golf but I'm still much larger than most golfers. If I keep going will make the game easier but I'll still have a huge advantage with my distance over others. I hope your journey goes well, I have a few clothes I bought small to fit into them so want to see myself in them for this coming season. 

[BallerNate]

On 1/1/2025 at 8:47 PM, MattM97 said:

Back from Pinehurst area, swing is actually feeling quite solid but needs more work and tweaking but no monster slices so that's good. The one thing I am noticing with the improved swing and current irons is my gapping. I think I'm missing a gap in the 190 yard range and 90-100 yard range. The latter is probably more me needing to develop a clock system with my wedges cause flew a few greens this trip. 

 

Will do a gapping soon, mark down my distances and see if I can get a loft check done and maybe bend the irons a bit. If too much of a gap I dunno maybe new irons, something more consistent like straight CB setup or something. I'm just going to continue to pound away in the simulator. 

 

Now enjoy a few course pics from my trip: 

 

Tobacco Road entrance and hole 10 tee box.

 

Mid South Club Hole 9

 

 

Mid Pines hole 15 if I remember correctly.

 

Nice pics Matt! How many courses did you play down in NC?

 

Which was your favourite one?

[MattM97]

1 hour ago, BallerNate said:

Nice pics Matt! How many courses did you play down in NC?

 

Which was your favourite one?

 

Thanks took a good amount but didn't want to flood the thread with them. 

 

I just played those 3 above which were day 1 Mid-South Club , day 2 Tobacco Road and day 3 Mid-Pines. My favorites in order would be Tobacco Road, Mid-South then Mid-Pines, but with Mid-Pines they had a hole closed, a par 5 split into a par 3 and 4 and there was various work going on so I didn't get the full experience but can see the potential of it. If I go back I believe Mid-Pines is a staple option and they have some renovations planned so could climb next time. 

 

Also if I go back depending on the schedule this year I'd look into playing an extra round or two, I'd definitely want to play like Southern Pines, Pine-Needles, Tot Hill Farm and maybe if I can one of the Pinehurst courses where you don't need to stay on property. But there are a few more courses in the area as well like Talamore which is kinda cool. 

[pdaero]

On 1/7/2025 at 10:34 AM, MattM97 said:

 

Sorry didn't see your response until now but I appreciate it even if it was a bit a ramblings at times, the bag journey has been an interesting one for sure. 

 

The PLD has been a mainstay for me since I got it and did a bit of tinkering with the grips. In the PLD thread I joked saying "I wonder if me getting a PLD would stop my putter hoarding" and many laughed but it has been just that. It just feels nice having a putter your comfortable and confident with on the greens, just need to worry about line and speed. But with that said there are a few other putters I wouldn't mind adding to my collection and just keep a small circle of quality gamers. 

 

For balls I always seem to tinker with these and I definitely think I will be testing more as well this winter and early into my season. The currently TP5X seems to do everything well for me right now but with my recent swing changes and dynamics I'll have to see if that ball will still work best for me. On my NC trip I just went on I had the new PXG golf balls with me and was more impressed with the Extreme Tour, did shoot my seasons best with it at Tobacco Road and it just performed on my first impression, they're also $10 cheaper a dozen in Canada so that adds up. Other balls I will be testing would be the Left Dash, ProV1, Callaway Chrome Tour, CTX Triple Diamond (if released to the masses), the Srixon offerings and usually see some options from Bridgestone and Wilson sneak in there. I might look to see if a fitter near me does a ball fitting or just buy a bunch and test like I usually did, I also might switch irons so could wait until after I do irons depending what I'd move into. 

 

I'm not done with my health journey, down about 80lbs total so far and it's made a huge difference in golf but I'm still much larger than most golfers. If I keep going will make the game easier but I'll still have a huge advantage with my distance over others. I hope your journey goes well, I have a few clothes I bought small to fit into them so want to see myself in them for this coming season. 

Love hearing your journey on the PLD putter - how awesome. Would love to try that if we ever played together. I absolutely love mine and though it isn't fully custom, it pretty much fits exactly what I was looking for in almost every way.

 

The new TP5x ball is so good.. I'm between that, the Z Star XV (am excited about trying the new one), and the ProV1 which has always been great for my game (really excited about trying that one too). Wow a Triple Diamond ball? What do you know about that?

 

Way to go on your health journey - I want to shed about 30 myself to get back to what would be good for me, and hopefully gain speed along the way. That would be the greatest asset to my game and improvement, where I could hopefully retain my 70% accuracy and be 300-310 instead of 280-290.

[MattM97]

11 hours ago, pdaero said:

Love hearing your journey on the PLD putter - how awesome. Would love to try that if we ever played together. I absolutely love mine and though it isn't fully custom, it pretty much fits exactly what I was looking for in almost every way.

 

The new TP5x ball is so good.. I'm between that, the Z Star XV (am excited about trying the new one), and the ProV1 which has always been great for my game (really excited about trying that one too). Wow a Triple Diamond ball? What do you know about that?

 

Way to go on your health journey - I want to shed about 30 myself to get back to what would be good for me, and hopefully gain speed along the way. That would be the greatest asset to my game and improvement, where I could hopefully retain my 70% accuracy and be 300-310 instead of 280-290.

 

Definitely I want to get some golf down in Texas at some point hopefully along with an Artisan putter fitting cause why not it would be an experience. 

 

The TP5X is a great ball, will have to see something really good beat it or find a killer deal on another ball. The new XV does sound interesting with the improved greenside spin which was always lacking on it for me and if that is better it could jump into the main spot especially with the cost. The Chrome Tour X Triple Diamond is a low spin version of the Chrome Tour X so basically the Callaway response to the Titleist Left Dash. The LD was something I used a bit and had some good success with it but I had a lot of really good rounds with the old Chrome Soft XLS and would love to get that mojo back with a ball especially with the new Callaway balls they are quite good.

 

Thanks it improved a ton of things but I still have a lot more I want to lose, would make a lot of things even easier in golf and everyday life especially longevity. But if I get even smaller would hit the ball even longer, swing would be much more efficient but I think the biggest thing will just be being able to walk courses more. I do walk occasionally and do enjoy it but some rounds are tough especially if hilly and carrying would be easier so eventually would want to get there just to enjoy the course more. 

[moony_12]

How are you finding the DF3 CB? I'm waiting on LAB to send my one out. 

[MattM97]

2 hours ago, moony_12 said:

How are you finding the DF3 CB? I'm waiting on LAB to send my one out. 

 

Used it for 2 rounds on my trip recently but I won't be golfing again until April most likely cause winter in Canada. I have been carpet rolling it in my basement a bit since then when I have some time and I'm just starting to grasp how much forward press the CB setup needs. So I'll work on it a bit more and definitely take it out during the season here and there depending on when and where I'm playing.