MISTWOOD FITTER MATT CARTER takes me through the numbers on testing my Callaway Fairway Woods against the new Rogue ST’s. Find out who won down below.
THE GOG BLOG by RORY SPEARS, Director of Content and Creation for Golfers on Golf. Follow Rory on Twitter @GogBlogGuy or connect on LinkedIn and Facebook.
Rory Spears in the Mistwood Golf Club fitting bay, testing his Callaway Rogue St Driver.
WHEN THE CHAMPS GET BEAT.
This week I finally got them tested. My fairway woods and driver that is.
For the last 5 years, I have had a pair of fitted Callaway Steelhead fairway woods in my golf bag.
Because these 3 & 5 woods were killers. They not only upped my game from the fairway when I got them. Newer versions of Callaway fairway woods, could not outdrive them. A few other top brands could not beat them either. So they stayed in my bag.
BUT AFTER I added new Callaway Rogue’s to the bag this spring, I still stayed with my old reliable Steelheads. The Callaway Steelhead woods never seemed to get much publicity back in the day. What I found is they were a better club than many golfers gave them credit for. They were often clutch when I needed them to be just that.
BUT IT WAS TO TEST THEM AGAIN. So it was back out to one of the Top 100 fitting locations in the country Mistwood Golf Club in Romeoville. Fitting specialist Matt Carter ran the tests for me.
WHERE THE NEW ROGUE’S finally beat the long time champs in distance, lower spin, more accuracy. Carry and Ball Speed too. So what does this prove. It proves that even your most reliable and favorite clubs can be replaced, because they are being out-performed.
THE NEW LOOK 10.5 LOFT. Is It for you ? Well maybe or maybe not. Because this year alone I have seen more people with 10.5 loft drivers, or drivers set up to play at 10.5. I’m not sure what the fascination with 10.5 loft is. But I do know, the ball flight looks great off the tee. But the location of your ball in the fairway when you get to it, won’t be as far as you expect it to be. I don’t care what golf ball your playing, you probably won’t get the run out you expect.
AFTER TESTING MY NEW ROGUE-ST with Carter, we found it was time to lower the loft and get back to 9.5. So if you purchased a new driver, but aren’t gaining the distance you expected. Go back and get that driver re-tested, it might not be your swing. It might not be the shaft. But just the loft your playing. BUT !!! Part 2, make sure you get the right shaft, the “stock shaft” might not be right for your swing or game.
BMW CHAMPIONSHIP WEEK in Wilmington Delaware at Wilmington Country Club. It’s a really good golf course. So it’s easy to see why the WGA took the BMW there. What will the pro’s do to it. Hard to say if the rough is as deep and thick as it was on media day. WCC has a great clubhouse and history. I will be there for Round 1, so watch for updates. But I’m disappointed our Chicago area players didn’t qualify. So hopefully they will make it to Olympia Fields in 2023.
DO YOU WONDER why Pine Valley Golf Club in New Jersey is always rated the #1 course in America. So do I. This week I plan to find out why that is the case. So more next week after I visit this special place in golf history.
SCOTTIE SCHEFFLER-did he or didn’t he walk in Cam Smith’s line on purpose. I would hope not. But if he did, I hope the ANGC gives him a whack on the knuckles. The reigning Masters Champion should carry himself in a professional way on and off the golf course.
THE GOG BLOG RETURNS ALL WEEK. RS