Is there something you like about the Callaways that you don't get with the other balls? For me feel is a big thing so I tend to gravitate to the softer feeling golf balls. There are so many options now in every color and combination it is almost hard to go wrong with any of the major branded balls. There are also a lot of smaller guys in the market like Vice and Cut in which you can get brand new boxes of balls for $20-25 and they are high quality.

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Flew too close to the sun on wings of pastrami

Yeah I am not sure about the feel of Callaways but long ago I found some Warbirds I hit them well and they just stuck. Oddly enough I have also hit Noodles okay. At any rate I don't feel tied to anything I can't change. I even considered grabbing a couple three ammo boxes from Rock Bottom of different ones to play.

One thing I found that is very strange as I aged is I have a hard time finding the balls. Even just off fairways. Even more odd was finding orange and yellow was just as difficult if not more. I might have to try some quality polarized contrast sunglasses.

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Elections have consequences.

T-Bone is right, we live in the golden age of balls. There are so many option out there when it comes to cover, compression (hardness/softness), piece (layers) and color.

Covers are either surlyn or urethane - urethane will generate more spin, surlyn less spin.

The Callaway Warbird is a 2-piece surlyn-covered, medium compression ball. Pretty much a budget ball that every company offers. If you want more greenside spin with your wedges, switch to a urethane ball. Based on how you describe your game, I would stick with one ball and then assess things down the road. If you want something softer, Look for a lower compression Callaway like the Supersoft.

I also find it harder to locate balls in flight and in the rough now, Mike. I am currently playing the Callaway Chrome Soft TruVis that looks like a soccer ball. Marginally easier to see in flight, but they are actually harder to spot in the rough than an all-white ball. I use the TruVis because optically they appear to be a larger target and I can really focus on one of the "panels" on the ball. I find the optic yellow that Srixon uses to be better than just about anything, especially in the evening. Most of the colored balls are really hard to find in fall with the leaves.

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Sex isn't dirty, sex isn't a crime. It's a loving act between two or more consenting adults.

-Hank Kingsley

I'm guessing the Nike Mojo is similar.

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Thanks

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Elections have consequences.

An early May round at Erin Hills is starting to take shape. Might be one spot open if anyone is interested. They have some discounted rates for May 6-12.
Planning on carrying my own bag as well to keep costs down. They have built a new putting course there as well which I would love to check out if it is
included in the round. I'll leave a link to the putting course virtual animation. Looks like a blast.

https://harriskalinka.wistia.com/medias/pyk9zm6o3n

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Flew too close to the sun on wings of pastrami

That putting course looks unreal.

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Sex isn't dirty, sex isn't a crime. It's a loving act between two or more consenting adults.

-Hank Kingsley

Keep me updated, I would most definitely have interest.

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2018
#ExtendLafleur
10 More Wins

Will do Hawg. I missed the fact that the putting green won't be done until this fall. Still cool.

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Flew too close to the sun on wings of pastrami

This winter has beaten me up pretty good. Really getting the itch to do something golf wise. Thinking of hitting a bucket at Cog Hill late morning on Saturday. With temps in the 40s and the heaters going, I'll be just fine wearing a thermal shirt.

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I called the local course with the simulator and track man this morning and they are supposed to call me back to get in there for an hour between tomorrow and Sunday afternoon. I am really starting to get the itch and have a bad feeling that this season is going to get a pretty late start. I looked last year and my first round was the first weekend of March last year and got 4 rounds in during March and 4 in April so while it is a little early to freak out I would just like it to stop snowing for the year.

Edit -- got an hour booked for 3pm Friday

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Flew too close to the sun on wings of pastrami

Yeah. The first 6-8 days of March look pretty cold, but after that there seems to be a general trend for more Pacific air coming in to our area which hopefully means more 40s and perhaps low 50s rather than the 20s that the Canadian air brings in.

If most of the course can be not mush/mud and light winds, temps in the low 40s is enough for me to get out for at least 9 holes.

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Hit the simulator last Friday and pretty glad that I did. Actually hit the ball pretty well with all of my clubs except for the driver. I was hitting it pretty consistently but just wasn't going as far as I was expecting. Pretty much convinced that buying an X-Stiff shaft was not the correct move. I ended up returning it and getting the same club with just a regular stiff shaft. Hoping that will work a little better. The numbers seemed to bear this out at the PGA Superstore. Anyway I am headed back to the simulator on Saturday morning but this time I am using the Trackman one. It is slightly more expensive and I am guessing maybe a bit more accurate. The one I have been using determines speed and path by radar and the Trackman uses lasers. Should be interesting. I was hitting the new driving iron really well and right off the ground so I think that is going to be a beast this season.

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Flew too close to the sun on wings of pastrami

Met up with my buddy and we got in 27 holes on the simulator. I did just ok, not sure how much to trust the machine honestly. My buddy was smoking it 300 yards straight down the fairway all day. I have played with him for 15 years and he hits a dead straight drive like that maybe a dozen times a year. I am sure I am just crusty because I wasn't hitting my driver well. Still not convinced I have the right shaft in it but I honestly won't be able to tell until I can hit it outside. Usually takes a few range sessions to get all the kinks out. More and more reason to move somewhere in which I can golf 9 or 10 months out of the year rather than 6. Nice to swing the club for a while anyhow. I doubt I will spend any more money on the simulators this year. I had a $10 coupon and it was still $40 for each of us.

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Flew too close to the sun on wings of pastrami

Yeah, the golf itch is getting stronger by the day. Hopefully this is the last really cold stretch we have to deal with. Might try to get out to hit some balls Saturday morning, and I would like to have two rounds in by the end of the month which should not be that tall of a task.

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I think that itch is frostbite.

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Hit a bucket of balls on Saturday morning. Results were so so, mostly due to rust I'm sure. Felt good to be out there swinging the sticks though. Kind of eyeballing the 23rd for my first round of the year, provided its dry.

And so it begins...

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E-mailed the pro this morning to ask about purchasing my membership for the season and ask how things were looking out there. Told me they are going to try to open by next Thursday. Looks like rain will stop here by the weekend and then an extended period of dry weather so I hope he is right. I may have to take the day off and golf in the morning and watch the NCAA in the afternoon.

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Flew too close to the sun on wings of pastrami

Did you throw any clubs?

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No. One of my goals this year is to try and cool it with that. I'll give myself 30 seconds to be happy or mad, then I need to move on to the next shot. Oddly enough my worse round of last season (120+ at Midlothain CC) involved some curse words, but not a single club throw.

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Progress!

I think 30 seconds is way too long to dwell on a bad swing or hole. Lotta bad can happen in 30 seconds.

Next thursday/Friday look pretty nice...if things have dried up.

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For sure. Hoping to get out next Saturday for my first round of the year if the little guy allows it.

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Playing with Piglet Sunday in Tucson, we are just renting clubs. I don't care, just look forward to getting out on the golf course in the warm sun.

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2018
#ExtendLafleur
10 More Wins

As opposed to golfing in the cold sun?

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Would love to try to find a range that is open this weekend but my guess is that most if not all are not up here in SE Wisconsin. I have a gift card for Top Golf burning a hole in my pocket but I don't think I will be headed down that far either. Oh well. I've had the gift card for almost 3 years now so no rush in using it up I guess.

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Flew too close to the sun on wings of pastrami

County course in town opening tomorrow so I will likely get my pass after work and then play a few holes. The big courses out west open on Friday.

just a note for those of you looking to maybe keep a handicap or track some stats.... I am on a couple of different golf blogging and social media sites and I have seen a lot of guys using this app for your phone. I may try it out this year as it may do a lot of the work I have been doing by hand.

https://www.thegrint.com/

I see it is free to sign up and use a lot of the features. There is a second level for $20 a year but not sure what more that gets you.

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Flew too close to the sun on wings of pastrami

The forecast is changing for the worse. High temps seem down about 10 degrees heading into the weekend. I'm really sick of this cold.

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If I wasn't so desperate to get out and hit the ball I would likely wait until the temps are clearly above 50. Still early enough in the season that 40s still seems like a lot better than what we are used to. I say that until I hit my first really thin iron and it reverberates up my arm. Friday looks like it will top out at 40 which is disappointing and likely too cold for me but weekend still looking decent up here with mid 40s to low 50s. Driving range at Pine Meadow is also open which I will consider as well. Mats only of course at this point.

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Flew too close to the sun on wings of pastrami

Friday morning round at Prairie Landing.

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Sex isn't dirty, sex isn't a crime. It's a loving act between two or more consenting adults.

-Hank Kingsley

Friday afternoon at Blackstone.

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