REVIEW ON PAGE 2 ADDED! Who likes Antiques? Tour Department SB-1's

[TM golf guy]

TONS of pictures and a couple words too. More words now LOL

I'll try not to type too much, I am sure most are just here for pictures LOL.

I started a thread on Scratch vs. Miura on October 12th 2008 to see which set I should take a dive in. Lots of good answers, but those that owned the Scratches won me over by describing the fitting and customer service of Ari and crew. On October 13th I called Ari to put in my order. He was a great help on the phone, and we talked for about 45 minutes to make sure we had all the info correct. Fast forward to November. I got an email from Ari stating that they had run out of stock on the heads, but would be getting some shortly. No big deal, they had a busy year, and a successful one too (see the Scratch bail out plan topic for more details). The more time that passed, the more items that got added to the order LOL. Started out with 8 clubs and received 11 when it was all said and done. The box showed up today 85 days and 90 emails later. (I'm sure I drove Ari up the wall with all of the emails LOL) The customer service provided by Ari and his crew was just as everyone stated it would be. And the clubs? I'll let the pictures tell you about the clubs.

Here is what I ordered:
Scratch Tour Department SB-1's 3-PW in Antique finish (hence the title). KBS Tour X shafts and D3. Standard L/L/L. Digger/driver grind with a squarer toe. An 18° Scratch hybrid with an Aerotech SteelFiber i95 D3, and 2 Scratch wedges 54° and 60° with KBS Tour X D6. All specs came out dead on. :good:

EDIT: This was the first time I had ever had new irons, so it was appropriate that I went all out LOL.

Now on to the fun part.

This showed up today at 11:17 (not that I was paying attention to the clock or sitting around WAITING or anything :rolleyes:) despite Fed Ex saying they would be here by 10:30.



I maintained composure (read: may have wet myself while signing for package) and brought the box inside. I then went to take a shower, and came back and lit some candles and put on a little music. All of this was to set the mood of course. Then I opened the box and started to pull out the goodies.





I initially was going to have more orange and blue on them for my beloved Florida Gators, but as I thought more and more about it, I didn't want these classy ladies to look like over done clowns. I figured a blue ferrule and orange grips were good enough. Sorry for the first several photos being a little poor, it was raining outside :angry22: when these showed up so they were taken inside. The pictures don't really show it totally, but the toplines are thinner than anything I have ever seen aside from my pocket knife.

Address pictures:

PW


9


8


7


6


5


4


3


Hybrid


If you hate offset, then these are for you. NONE in them, and you will see that in the next group of pictures even better. The hybrid is kinda ugly from address, but I will get over it. I think this may be the first hybrid I have ever really liked, and here is why. It is designed to replace a 2 iron, and unlike every other hybrid I have ever hit, it is the same length as a 2 iron. This makes perfect sense to me, since I am trying to replace a 2 iron, not hit it 15 yards passed a 2 iron. I have never understood that about hybrids, but that is for another topic I guess. Here are pictures of each individual iron show the head and offset.

P



9



8



7



6



5



4



3



Hybrid




So there you go. Well worth the wait thus far. I will be playing tomorrow (in 68* weather :tongue:) and will post a full review on all the clubs tomorrow. Thanks for reading and looking. I'll be updating my WITB too.

[alucard655]

gorgeous, I can't wait to see them with grass stains and dirt in them. The hybrid looks awesome too. I have recently ordered a set from Ari and the guys over at Scratch, actually two sets (one for me and one for my dad). We are both anxiously awaiting our sets, and look forward to reading your thoughts on the SBs

[Southside Striker]

tasty.

[CarloGolfer]

Go Gators! Class of 2001!

 

I went with Blue DD2 grips to compliment my Orange Ping I10s for a subtle salute to the old stomping grounds.

 

TM,

 

have you played the university course lately? I played the morning of the Citadel game and then walked to the stadium from the course. What a great day. I love that course. One of the best courses in the country, IMO, and in the opinion of John Garrity, a very well respected sports writer.

 

http://www.golf.com/golf/courses_travel/ar...47292-0,00.html

 

check #39

 

Carlo

[TM golf guy]

Thanks for the kind words guys.

 

Carlo, I played it this summer when I went to visit some family over there. It was in great shape. Great course indeed.

[One_Putt_Blunder]

Great looking sticks, I love the finish on them. Good choice on not overdoing it on the gators colors they look great as is. I would like to hear what you think of the hybrid after to hit some balls with it.

So dare I ask what is the over/under on how long these are in the bag.

[Lefty Cat]

Absolutely perfect. I knew the heads would look great, but I want to know how those 6.5 KBS Tour's are.

[Walkin36]

Simple and Sweet. Awesome sticks! I bet you have a hard time sleeping tonight thinking about playing those babies.

[MMurphy23]

i thought i read that you were going with satin finished irons? must be one of the changes you were speaking of....

[Golfingbanker]

Very nice-try to get some sleep tonight, I know it will be uncomfortable with all the clubs in the bed with you! LOL

 

I promise you will not be dissapointed with them.

[18StrokeGolf]

Absolutely phenomenal looking. The Gators colors are a nice touch as well. :good: Looking forward to the review.

[chRisJ87]

Awesome pictures! Im just waiting for this crappy weather in denmark to get better so I can try my two demo-irons (sb1 and ar1) AND then order a tour department set.

 

Your bag is great, but I find it hard to believe you will be keeping it as it is right now for 2009 :D

 

p.s holla at me if you stumble upon a GS tour 18*

 

-Chris

[ohiodawg8]

That finish looks great! New Scratch clubs, a Florida National Championship on Thursday, way to start the new year!

[chickenpotpie]

dude.....sweeet......dude......sweeeeet........DUDE........SWEET............DUDE!!!!!!!!SWEET!!!!!!!

 

I'm not jealous that you got yours first or anything....

[TM golf guy]

Great looking sticks, I love the finish on them. Good choice on not overdoing it on the gators colors they look great as is. I would like to hear what you think of the hybrid after to hit some balls with it.

So dare I ask what is the over/under on how long these are in the bag.

 

They will be there until the grooves are flat LOL. I don't intend to change these out till they are worn out, unless for some reason I couldn't hit them which won't happen.

 

Absolutely perfect. I knew the heads would look great, but I want to know how those 6.5 KBS Tour's are.

 

Me too. I'll be sure to let you know.

 

Simple and Sweet. Awesome sticks! I bet you have a hard time sleeping tonight thinking about playing those babies.

 

I had a hard time sleeping last night LOL.

 

Very nice-try to get some sleep tonight, I know it will be uncomfortable with all the clubs in the bed with you! LOL

 

I promise you will not be dissapointed with them.

 

I have a big enough bed to fit them all in I think. :man_in_love:

 

That finish looks great! New Scratch clubs, a Florida National Championship on Thursday, way to start the new year!

 

Lets hope so!

 

dude.....sweeet......dude......sweeeeet........DUDE........SWEET............DUDE!!!!!!!!SWEET!!!!!!!

 

I'm not jealous that you got yours first or anything....

 

Hey, I ordered mine a month before you, and it is warm enough here for me to play. It is only fair that I get them first. :tongue:

[Dill Pickleson]

great pics! im equally impressed by the box they came in, you must have been pretty stoked seeing that box on your doorstep!

[finalist]

Congrats on the new sticks. The square toe looks great. Every now and then you'll be at the range or getting ready to tee off and run into someone who has seen SB-1s on the internet, and when they see your bag they'll proceed to wet themselves.

[pigglet222]

I love that saying, "The Relentless Pursuit of the Tap-In."

 

Classic!

 

ps. I hope you're really digg'n your SB-1s

[TM golf guy]

great pics! im equally impressed by the box they came in, you must have been pretty stoked seeing that box on your doorstep!

 

I may have opened the door right when I heard the Fed Ex lady pull up outside. :pardon: She didn't even get to ring the door bell. :cheesy:

 

Congrats on the new sticks. The square toe looks great. Every now and then you'll be at the range or getting ready to tee off and run into someone who has seen SB-1s on the internet, and when they see your bag they'll proceed to wet themselves.

 

I would be very surprised if anyone at the range I go to knows what Scratch irons are LOL. Maybe at some of the courses, but probably not the range.

 

I love that saying, "The Relentless Pursuit of the Tap-In."

 

Classic!

 

ps. I hope you're really digg'n your SB-1s

 

I hope I can have some tap-in's with these LOL. Thanks. How do you like the hybrid?

[whatsamatta]

Those are awesome! That's how we WRX'ers are we can never let a FedEx person ring the doorbell to deliver our clubs. :crazy:

[Riuzzi]

Congrats on the new sticks William, they look great!

 

But...where are the wedges? :)

[onwrd2vctry]

Sick, absolutely sick!

[JakeBarnes]

The topline is like nothing I have ever seen. Those are amazing. Congrats!

[ram01002]

The finish looks terrific - - If Scratch ever comes out with a split cavity design with that finish, I may have to take the plunge.

[Pure745]

I agree with the others.. that top line is rreally thin!

 

Congrats on FINALLY getting them. After waiting over 3 months to get them I hope they hit as well as they look.. the bright blue ferrules are really bright!

 

Cant wait to hear your review.. what driver are you bagging tomorrow?

[Medicaptain]

WOOOOHOOOOOOO

 

Finally....nice stuff!

[JaxLax]

Bring to Miami so i can get a look at them in person.

then stick one down your leg and take it into the game.

get Tebow to bless them.

win every tournament til you die.

[TM golf guy]

Congrats on the new sticks William, they look great!

 

But...where are the wedges? :)

 

The wedges are next to the irons, but they aren't photogenic yet. ;)

 

I agree with the others.. that top line is rreally thin!

 

Congrats on FINALLY getting them. After waiting over 3 months to get them I hope they hit as well as they look.. the bright blue ferrules are really bright!

 

Cant wait to hear your review.. what driver are you bagging tomorrow?

 

Thanks Pure.

 

FT-5 8.5° VS Proto 70 X until the Adams comes in.

 

Bring to Miami so i can get a look at them in person.

then stick one down your leg and take it into the game.

get Tebow to bless them.

win every tournament til you die.

 

:cheesy:

 

Post of the year and it is only the 6th.

[Pure745]

Am I the only one envisioning hitting a knock down cut shot into a green sloped toward to you on a firm but a little damp fairway and taking the most beautiful divot in the world after looking at the pics of your 5,6,7 iron????

 

The kind where the caddy runs to get your divot while you pose and watch your ball land on the green?????

 

[TM golf guy]

Am I the only one envisioning hitting a knock down cut shot into a green sloped toward to you on a firm but a little damp fairway and taking the most beautiful divot in the world after looking at the pics of your 5,6,7 iron????

 

The kind where the caddy runs to get your divot while you pose and watch your ball land on the green?????

 

 

No. My living room carpet will attest to the fact that I have already done this. Only the carpet doesn't fly very far, it kinda just bunches up in a little mess that has to be vacuumed to look normal. :black eye:

 

Got my tee time all set tomorrow for noon. :D