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Nicholas

I have been a keen golfer for over three decades. Over that time, I have tried almost everything on the market in terms of equipment. I am particularly interested in single length irons and minimalist golf and would consider myself an expert on both.

When Golf Goes Wrong-Five Epic Pro Golf Meltdowns

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We all know golfers are cool under pressure, never show their emotions and are a million miles away from the club-throwing, 5 putting tantrums and mental flaws of the average hacker. I mean, you would never see a pga pro  losing it, would you? Or a complete miss hit from those superlative ballstrikers? Actually, yes, you would.

If you have ever felt that those guys on the tv are simply machines calculating their way around the course, hopefully this article will set your mind at rest. Sure, it might not make you any better, but it goes to show that anyone can have a bad day at the office (or on the course!)

Before we get carried away, remember that these guys are truly, amazingly good. It is easy to see a pro 5 putt and think “Even I wouldn’t do that“, conveniently forgetting just how slick those greens are and how different it is getting the job done with millions on the line and thousands of people watching (plus millions more on tv.)

Actually, I am amazed that there are so few complete disasters on tour. I am a reasonable golfer and quite often hit one out of bounds as soon as a couple of people are watching me tee off in competition. I can also happily three putt for two feet when anything at all is on the line.

Read More »When Golf Goes Wrong-Five Epic Pro Golf Meltdowns

New Golf Rules Proposal-Common Sense or Changing the Game?

The USGA and the R and A have just released a proposal for various rule changes that they would like to implement from 2019. While some are seeing these ideas as a triumph for common sense, they have also been criticized for changing the way the game is going to be played by some or not changing it enough from others!

If you are a bit confused as to what the fuss is really all about, don’t worry. Here are the main proposals as well as my take on what is really going on. If you have any reaction to the new rules or ideas for other rule changes, I would love to hear from you so please feel free to drop a comment in the box below.

Of course, you might just be wondering why it is necessary to change the rules at all. After all, golf has always been about ‘playing it as you find it’ right? Of course, it really isn’t that simple and in all honesty, there can’t be many people who actually understand the rules completely. Making things simpler has actually become a necessity and this idea is the basis of the proposed reforms.

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What is the Best Golf Laser Rangefinder-updated for 2018?

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As I have said before (and more than once!) a rangefinder might just be the easiest way to shave a couple of shots off a round and is certainly a pretty good way of reducing frustration and having more fun on the course. It is also a time saver which is (or should be) a consideration for all golfers. Tech is improving all the time and things have already moved on since the last time we tested. So what are the best options for a new rangefinder in 2018? Is it worth shelling out for a new model? Here are the top contenders in 2018.

First things first, why bother with a range finder at all? We have talked about this quite a bit on fairwayfirstgolf.com, for example here and here. Personally, the more I play, the more I appreciate what it can do for any golfer. Of course, it can’t guarantee a pure strike, but it takes a huge element of uncertainty out of the game. You know for absolute certain just how far you need to hit it. This is very liberating and lets you concentrate on putting your best swing on the ball.

So all you need to do is go out and pick up a rangefinder and you are good to go on the golf course, right? Not so fast.

[thrive_text_block color=”blue” headline=””]Not all rangefinders are equal-everyone’s needs are different [/thrive_text_block]

Read More »What is the Best Golf Laser Rangefinder-updated for 2018?

7 Simple Ways to Score Better on the Golf Course

We are all looking to score better on the golf course. Whether you are trying to break 100 or actually looking to score under par, cutting shots is probably at the top of your list of priorities. Of course, everyone has advice, from the club pro down to that guy you bumped into last week who has never actually played!
The thing is, all this well-meaning advice can lead to more confusion than anything else. In fact, it might even make you score worse! don’t panic, we are here to help:) Here are seven things that you can do right now to help you to a new lower score.

seven quick tricks to lower scores

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Pinhawk Single Length Irons-The Complete Review: 5 years later!

single length distances

EDIT: This review has been up here for something approaching three years now and hopefully has helped a lot of golfers decide if single length irons are a good fit for them. It seems like a good time to give you my latest thoughts on Pinhawk single length (yes, and dual length;) ) irons and have a look at what has changed over the last couple of years.

EDIT 2: So we are in 2021 and single length irons are still with us, as are the pinhawks. They (single length) certainly haven’t taken over the golf market as some predicted, but they remain an interesting option for a lot of golfers. Over the last few years, I have played with 2 sets of pinhawk irons, a set of cobra forged single length and the Wishon Sterling irons.

Before somebody asks why I don’t still have my first set of pinhawks in the bag, it is simply because that isn’t why I play golf. I like trying equipment, trying new (and vintage) clubs and testing different things.

If my aim was simply to find a set that makes the game easier, the pinhawks would still be well up there on my shortlist. And if price was a major factor in my choice (and I didn’t need to have mizuno/ping/taylormade etc on my clubs) the pinhawk single length irons would fit the bill very well. This is as true for the single digit handicapper I am today as the teen I was a few years ago and the 20/30 etc a few years before that.

There is one other big difference today in the single length market however, and that is the number of reasonably-priced alternatives to get you started. Without saying all one-length irons are the same, this might be my bottom line advice as we head towards 2022:

Choose one of the more reasonably-priced single length sets in about the right flex and just try them for a dozen rounds. It really is the best way of deciding if one length irons are going to be the right fit for you

If you aren’t sure which set, don’t worry too much. Resale on same-length clubs tends to be good and you shouldn’t lose too much if you do decide that they aren’t for you.

Ok, so perhaps the best place to start is the TL:DR version: These are still great irons at a great price and everything I say in the article about them holds true. I have used them a lot in the last few years and they do exactly what they say on the tin-make for a simple, consistent set up and swing. In fact, I recently gave one of my sets to a 22 handicapper who told my how easy he found them to be and that he was having a lot of fun with them. For complete transparency, he did say that he was struggling in the bunkers with the sandwedge, but firstly, he is a 22 handicapper and secondly I personally don’t like the set sandwedge in the bunkers either (something about the weight/sole design I think) but do love it as an ’11 (or 12?) iron.

So what’s new? Perhaps the biggest change has been the introduction of single length hybrids. This is a real game changer simply because a lot of golfers aren’t going to get a single length 4 or 5 iron (maybe even a 6) high enough to do what it needs to do. The possibility of blending hybrids and irons all with the same specs is really good and will work well for so many golfers.

There are also single length woods now in the pinhawk range. I haven’t tried these yet and really they aren’t on my radar currently. Do I think they will be useful? Almost certainly, but I don’t think they will be a revolution in the same way that irons/hybrids can be.

There is one more thing that has got me a bit excited, although I don’t know if it will great or perhaps not so much and this is the announcement by Value golf that they will be bringing out a dual length set (called vertex.) I don’t know a lot about this for the moment, but I am following it with interest. EDIT: you can find out more about the vertex irons here

So that’s it. I was going to redo a full review, but really, nothing has changed in terms of the way I feel about these clubs or the results I get. In short, still a quality set of single length irons at a really good price from a company I love.

As I have mentioned several times on this site, I like single length irons, both in theory and in practice. The new Cobra set and the Sterling single length are getting plenty of attention, which is great but the most affordable option (and the one I have used myself) seems to be a little more under the radar. I was fortunate enough to get my hands on a test set of the new version of the Pinhawk single length irons from Value Golf and decided to take them for a thorough workout in the simulator. The results were very interesting and should give a lot of food for thought to anyone considering single length irons.

 

Read More »Pinhawk Single Length Irons-The Complete Review: 5 years later!

How to Choose Your Wedges

When choosing new clubs, a lot of the focus tends to be drivers with irons next and the short sticks like putter and wedges getting less of the attention. Honestly, I am as guilty of this as the next guy, simply because, well, bombing a driver is cool! Actually, it must be old-age setting in because I really don’t seem to bomb anything much anymore and maybe because of this my focus is turning towards the short game and a few thoughts on how to choose your wedges.

Learning the short Game

One of the big advantages of looking at the short game tools is that you can really spend some time learning how to gt the best out of them. There are only so many balls I can beat at the range before boredom and sore joints kick in. However, I am finding more and more that going round the short course with wedges and shorter irons is a lot of fun and keeps things both interesting and easier on the body.

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Should You Really Listen to Your Fitter?

golf club fitting

I should probably start this article by saying that I am not a golf fitter, nor have I played one on TV. I have been through various fittings (although never a full bag, top to bottom one done by a clubfitter who is completely independent of any brand.) However, I have just been watching a ‘fitting’ video done by a pro that made me absolutely cringe.

I won’t say who or where, but some of the things the ‘fitter’ was saying just made me shake my head. Now, this shouldn’t bother me, after all, it doesn’t change anything for me. However, the guy going through the fitting process clearly didn’t know anything at all (and as the customer, why should he? He pays for the fitter’s expertise after all.) but he is going to end up with a set of irons that are not going to be anyway near ideal for him.

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Tiger Woods the Golfer Becomes Tiger Woods the Businessman

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tiger woods tgr creation

After Tiger’s latest withdrawal, it seemed clear to many golf fans that we might never see him on the course in anger again. Honestly, given his health struggles over the last couple of years, this hasn’t come as a major shock to the golfing world, but it is certainly a regret to think that the days of other players watching Tiger with awe are finally over.

The big question on many people’s lips was “What next?” Well that question seems to have been answered too with his confirmation of a transition into the business world. His recent press conference to announce the creation of TGR, his new company, with himself at the helm as Chairman, confirms many of the rumours that have been flying around for quite a while.

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The Five Best Christmas Gifts for Golfers

Christmas gifts for golfers

As a golfer, I really don’t like the winter. It is cold, mishitting a ball (not that I ever do that) sends vibrations all the way to my teeth. Winter greens and rules are in play. A quick nine holes before or after work means playing in the dark. Yes, Winter is a terrible time for me….apart from one thing-Christmas. I am well into adult territory, but I do like giving (and receiving) gifts in the holiday season. Of course some are far better than others, so I thought I would share my five best Christmas gifts for golfers.

Perfect Christmas Gifts for Golfers

You might be thinking that it is easy to find that perfect present for the golfer in your life. I am here to tell you that it isn’t! I have lost count of the absolutely terrible thing I have received from friends and family, that ‘he will just adore!’

Look,  just because something has a tenuous link to golf or a picture of someone swinging a club, it doesn’t mean I want it! Sure, I will smile and say thanks as you give me those socks or whatever, but I will be cursing your name on the inside!

So what should you buy? Try these five ideas for starters:

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The Best Golf Channel on Youtube?

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fried eggs golf

I am a golfer. I also spend most of my time in front of a computer. This is a perfect recipe for not getting stuff done and spending time on youtube watching golf. Please tell me I am not the only one! There are some really good golf channels out there and I might go through some of my favourites in another post, but I wanted to share a few from a channel that I didn’t really start following until recently, Fried Eggs Golf.

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