4 - Barry from Palm Beach, Florida
Hello,
Welcome to another edition of Inside the Bag.
Today we feature Barry from Palm Beach, Florida (@ibaz66 ) who has been playing for 30 years and currently plays 3 to 4 times a month with an 11.3 handicap. Barry took a 6-year break after a car accident and had an artificial disk implanted in his neck which allowed him to play again.
Do you want to share your golf bag? Reply to this email and introduce yourself.
Play well,
James.
Inside The Bag ⛳
Clubs
Putter - Odyssey White Hot OG 7 Nano Stroke Lab
I had always played with Ping or Scotty Cameron in the past, but when I updated my bag this year, I tried it out in the pro shop, and the feel of the ball coming off the face is really nice, soft.
Driver - Titleist TSI3, 9 degrees
I had never used a Titleist driver before, but had to use rental clubs on a trip, and they were all Titleist, and I hit the driver really well. Trying to fine tune it now, but I love the feel of the ball off the club face.
Fairway - Titleist TSI2 3 Wood, 15 degrees
The newest club in my bag, replacing an old Ping 3 wood. So far I’ve been able to hit it long and straight.
Hybrid - Titleist TSI2 Hybrid, 21 degrees
Not super sold on this one yet, I may switch it out for a TSR 5 wood when they come out next month. I have moments where I hit it really well, but I don’t have great confidence in it.
Irons - Taylor Made M4, 5i - AW
In my initial fittings, I was focused on deciding between Ping and Titleist, but the pro pulled these out for me, and I hit them incredibly well, all the way through the set, and they were a lot less expensive than either the Ping or the Titleist irons.
Wedges - Vokey SM8, 52/10 and 56/12
It can be difficult to find clubs as a left handed golfer, and seemed especially so when I was looking to update my wedges. I wanted a set, and was looking at SM9 and Taylor Made wedges, but it was hard to find the lofts I was looking for. The SM8 are last years (2021) models, and I was lucky to find the set online.
Everything Else
Shoes - Puma Proadapt Alphacat Disc
Tried them on in the shop, and they were incredibly comfortable. The disc lacing system helps get a good fit too.
Glove - Titleist Players glove
Ball - Titleist Pro V1 custom number (57)
I had switched to AVX when they came out, but I prefer a softer feel on and around the green, and the AVX are a touch firmer.
Bag - Titleist Premium stand bag
Watch - Apple Watch Series 7, graphite stainless steel, and 18Birdies app
The 19th Hole 🍻
What’s your favourite club at the moment? What's working well?
My Vokey SM8 wedges, have not hit a bad wedge since I put them in the bag.
What are you working on?
Putting. Before my hiatus I was a pretty decent putter, but after coming back, I have no feel on the greens. I recently had a practice area built in my back yard, and I hope it helps (pic below).
What is your favourite golf memory?
The first guys trip I went on to Las Vegas and playing Southern Highlands. It was easily the most beautiful and prestigious course I had ever played at the time, and looking at the names on the locker plaques in the locker room, it was a veritable who’s who of the PGA, MLB, and other sports.
What does golf mean to you?
My dad was always a huge golf nut, and I remember as a kid picking up the latest issue of Golf Digest when he was done with it. Getting to spend time with him on the course was always great.
If you could play a round with any player, past or present, who would it be? Any reason why?
Phil Mickelson, yeah, I know, but my mom was on a flight with his grandmother before he won the US Amateur (my mom was a martial for a local LPGA tournament) and she couldn’t wait to tell me about him because he was a left like me, and at the time, there were practically no lefty players (and clubs were even harder to get).
What is your bucket list course? Why?
St Andrews, because it’s the home of golf, and I love the UK.
