Titleist 690.mb 3-PW.

[Colossus]

Took delivery this morning of a set of Titleist 690.mb's from a fellow MSG forum member, and decided after an initial testing round this morning I'd do a review.

First off, I love blades. I must be one of these strange people who actually WANT to play blades. My ball striking is fine, and I reckon I could hit any club at all when my swing is on song.

I learned to play golf when I was 14 with an old Slazenger 7 iron blade. A club which I still have in my posession. It all came to head when I used to use a hockey stick to play golf in a field near our house, and one morning I used said hockey stick to break a neighbours garage window. The decision was made then and there, that if I wanted to play golf, that I should use the proper equipment, so a 7 iron was bought and off I went. I made the choice later that year that I wanted to play golf, so we visited a local pro who cobbled together a half set of clubs and a bag for £100, and this half set was made up of a 3 wood, 3iron, 5 iron, 7 iron, 9 iron, sand wedge and putter, but all the irons were blades, so I learned to play with those from the very start.

When I decided to take the game up again 3 years ago, I bought a Slazenger starter set, and quickly moved through TM RAC HT's and on to RAC TPs, because they played similar to my old blades. And having flirted with several sets of cavity backs I nearly bought a set of Nike blades, which I'm glad I didn't as these fulfill my criteria for what I want.

On opening the package this morning, the first thing that struck me is that these irons visually, are absolutely stunning. One of the nicest irons I've ever laid my eyes on. The heads are only slightly smaller than that of the TP's, but the offset looks about the same. They are fitted with S300 shafts, and are standard lie, so probably a couple of degrees too upright for me. They are also a well weighted club, which helped me slow my swing down a bit and rely more on tempo than brute force and ignorance.

So off I went to the course this morning, and rather than start on the first, I went to the back 9, simply because I knew there would be no-one out there. I hit 3 balls at the par 3 6th, The Pond. These first 3 shots were like butter, and the irons gave a nice ball flight, and the balls stopped on a penny when they hit the green. Simply the nicest feel off the club face, again very similar to the TPs. On the tee box for the par 4 7th, I decided to hit the 3 iron, and not use a tee. Contact was crisp, and I never even felt the ball come off the clubface, looked up and saw the ball fly off, down the fairway. Walked down, lifted the 5 iron, and much the same. Chipped on, walked off with par. Over the course of the 9 holes I never duffed one, never shanked one, never caught one thin, but caught one or two a bit heavy which is expected on our currently very soft fairways. Walked off lever par for the 9, and grinning from ear to ear.

I would LOVE to put these straight in the bag, but I want to get the lie angles adjusted first. Divots were a bit heel heavy, and ball flight a little too much right to left for my liking. I'll take them out tomorrow again, and play in the winter pairs on Saturday with them, but then they'll be put away till the better weather comes in.

I now think the time is right for a WITB. :yes: These will be staying with me for a while. :biggrin:

[PowerPenguin]

Nice review Col. You could always put these in play in a combo set like Shuv suggested, and then move to the full set in the summer?

Whatever you do, you need to get a bag WITB up soon!

Dave

[Colossus]

Nice review Col. You could always put these in play in a combo set like Shuv suggested, and then move to the full set in the summer?

Whatever you do, you need to get a bag WITB up soon!

Dave

I might just do that Dave.

As for the WITB. Which bag do I choose? :biggrin:

I must actually take ALL the bags for a laugh. :wink: Might do that tomorrow.

[PowerPenguin]

I might just do that Dave.

As for the WITB. Which bag do I choose? :biggrin:

I must actually take ALL the bags for a laugh. :wink: Might do that tomorrow.

Combo sets are the way forward for winter. :yes:


Just do a 'What's in the Spare Room'! :wink:

Dave

[emc]

I hate you, how are you off 17 and able to putt better than me, drive longer than me and adapt to new clubs quicker than me? :mad: It makes me sick like. Oh BTW good review :D

[Colossus]

I hate you, how are you off 17 and able to putt better than me, drive longer than me and adapt to new clubs quicker than me? :mad: It makes me sick like. Oh BTW good review :D

:laugh: Thanks Eoin, I think. :wink:

btw, I'll not be off 17 this time next year. :wink:

[sevenfourate]

A WITB col ? Or a WITB,golf club locker,cupboard,spare room,boot of the car........(you get the idea)

You may want to warn Photobucket what your about to do,just incase the net threatens to crash :p

[YOOFALLMAN]

Took delivery this morning of a set of Titleist 690.mb's from a fellow MSG forum member, and decided after an initial testing round this morning I'd do a review.

First off, I love blades. I must be one of these strange people who actually WANT to play blades. My ball striking is fine, and I reckon I could hit any club at all when my swing is on song.

I learned to play golf when I was 14 with an old Slazenger 7 iron blade. A club which I still have in my posession. It all came to head when I used to use a hockey stick to play golf in a field near our house, and one morning I used said hockey stick to break a neighbours garage window. The decision was made then and there, that if I wanted to play golf, that I should use the proper equipment, so a 7 iron was bought and off I went. I made the choice later that year that I wanted to play golf, so we visited a local pro who cobbled together a half set of clubs and a bag for £100, and this half set was made up of a 3 wood, 3iron, 5 iron, 7 iron, 9 iron, sand wedge and putter, but all the irons were blades, so I learned to play with those from the very start.

When I decided to take the game up again 3 years ago, I bought a Slazenger starter set, and quickly moved through TM RAC HT's and on to RAC TPs, because they played similar to my old blades. And having flirted with several sets of cavity backs I nearly bought a set of Nike blades, which I'm glad I didn't as these fulfill my criteria for what I want.

On opening the package this morning, the first thing that struck me is that these irons visually, are absolutely stunning. One of the nicest irons I've ever laid my eyes on. The heads are only slightly smaller than that of the TP's, but the offset looks about the same. They are fitted with S300 shafts, and are standard lie, so probably a couple of degrees too upright for me. They are also a well weighted club, which helped me slow my swing down a bit and rely more on tempo than brute force and ignorance.

So off I went to the course this morning, and rather than start on the first, I went to the back 9, simply because I knew there would be no-one out there. I hit 3 balls at the par 3 6th, The Pond. These first 3 shots were like butter, and the irons gave a nice ball flight, and the balls stopped on a penny when they hit the green. Simply the nicest feel off the club face, again very similar to the TPs. On the tee box for the par 4 7th, I decided to hit the 3 iron, and not use a tee. Contact was crisp, and I never even felt the ball come off the clubface, looked up and saw the ball fly off, down the fairway. Walked down, lifted the 5 iron, and much the same. Chipped on, walked off with par. Over the course of the 9 holes I never duffed one, never shanked one, never caught one thin, but caught one or two a bit heavy which is expected on our currently very soft fairways. Walked off lever par for the 9, and grinning from ear to ear.

I would LOVE to put these straight in the bag, but I want to get the lie angles adjusted first. Divots were a bit heel heavy, and ball flight a little too much right to left for my liking. I'll take them out tomorrow again, and play in the winter pairs on Saturday with them, but then they'll be put away till the better weather comes in.

I now think the time is right for a WITB. :yes: These will be staying with me for a while. :biggrin:

erm lets see....you are relatively new to this game, playing with X flex shafts, muscleback blades, hitting three irons off the deck at par fours and scoring level par for nine holes....and all this with a 17 handicap ? Where on earth did you get that ? Lidl ? Aldi ?? :eek::eek: All I can say is the guys at your club must be absolutely dreading drawing you in match play ties !!
Good to hear though that someone is willing to play with golf clubs made.....as they should be !! Shovels are for shifting sh.it !
Graham

[Colossus]

erm lets see....you are relatively new to this game, playing with X flex shafts, muscleback blades, hitting three irons off the deck at par fours and scoring level par for nine holes....and all this with a 17 handicap ? Where on earth did you get that ? Lidl ? Aldi ?? :eek::eek: All I can say is the guys at your club must be absolutely dreading drawing you in match play ties !!
Good to hear though that someone is willing to play with golf clubs made.....as they should be !! Shovels are for shifting sh.it !
Graham

Sounds very far fetched I know Graham, but believe me, I put A LOT of work into my game. I've only been playing seriously for three years, but my mental game has only started to come good recently. :)

As for the kit I use, if you want to view the thread about my new swing videos, you'll see the amount of clubhead speed and power I CAN generate in my swing. Maybe then things might be a bit clearer is to why I use an X-flex shaft in my driver, and stiff in my irons. ;)

Also, no-one in my club will play me for money and off full handicaps. I played a 6 handicapper a couple of weeks back, and we played a friendly game off scratch, over 6 holes, and I won 5 of the 6 holes, and tied him on the 6th, playing the 6 holes in level par, and SHOULD have gone round them in 1 under. I reckon I'm currently playing to around a 10 handicap, and for next year my aim has to be category 2. :rolleyes:

As much as I love my 755s, NOTHING comes close to the looks of a blade. I absolutely love them, and after today, and a second round of 9 holes with them, they're there to stay. When I flush them, they just go so far its unreal. There is no better feel than these clubs. :D

[Colossus]

A WITB col ? Or a WITB,golf club locker,cupboard,spare room,boot of the car........(you get the idea)

You may want to warn Photobucket what your about to do,just incase the net threatens to crash :p
:laugh: You get bloody cheekier by the day.

Part one of the WITB taken. The clubs in the club locker. :)

Am taking the rest this afternoon, so will update later this evening.

[PowerPenguin]

Part one of the WITB taken. The clubs in the club locker. :)

Am taking the rest this afternoon, so will update later this evening.

Can't wait to see this, dial up users, don't even attempt to look! :laugh:

Dave

[sevenfourate]

Can't wait to see this, dial up users, don't even attempt to look! :laugh:

Dave

PMPL :D

[Stu-Pid]

Also, no-one in my club will play me for money and off full handicaps. I played a 6 handicapper a couple of weeks back, and we played a friendly game off scratch, over 6 holes, and I won 5 of the 6 holes, and tied him on the 6th, playing the 6 holes in level par, and SHOULD have gone round them in 1 under. I reckon I'm currently playing to around a 10 handicap, and for next year my aim has to be category 2. :rolleyes:

Are you submitting any of the cards from your social rounds? You should definitely be asking for a cut under the general play rule as it's completely unfair on your fellow members.

You wouldn't be getting 17 if you were playing in The Open... ;)

[Nikey Mikey]

Can't wait to see this, dial up users, don't even attempt to look! :laugh:

Dave

Does anyone even use Dial Up these days?:confused:

Good to hear they're working well for you Col.:D

[Colossus]

Are you submitting any of the cards from your social rounds? You should definitely be asking for a cut under the general play rule as it's completely unfair on your fellow members.

You wouldn't be getting 17 if you were playing in The Open... ;)

If they would be accepted, I'd be entering them, but our club ONLY counts cards submitted at a competition. I keep telling M&H how well I'm playing, and all I keep getting is, "well lets see how you get on come March, I'm sure you'll not be off 17 for long." :(

Not my fault. I opnely WANT to get my handicap lower. :D

[sevenfourate]

Thats CRAP at best Col.

(Not you personally).

Both you and more importantly your club (re: Handicap committee)have a duty to you and the other members to ensure that you are playing off the correct handicap,and should do that at least yearly,if not in monthly meetings.

And quite clearly,cards offered in voluntarily should (re: MUST) be considered.

In England its part of a clubs remit (Im on our clubs H/C commitee).

Rule 19 ................read it......then get them to read it.Or better still the Congu handbook.From what youve said they sound inept and clue-less.

[Stu-Pid]

If they would be accepted, I'd be entering them, but our club ONLY counts cards submitted at a competition. I keep telling M&H how well I'm playing, and all I keep getting is, "well lets see how you get on come March, I'm sure you'll not be off 17 for long." :(

Not my fault. I opnely WANT to get my handicap lower. :D

Talk to Foxholer about it, as I'm pretty sure that committees cannot refuse to accept general play cards. It's a rule of golf and cannot just be ignored, so threaten to report them to your national Golf Association.

You'll catch no end of grief in March if you win the first medal with a score 10 shots better than your handicap.

[Colossus]

Thats CRAP at best Col.

(Not you personally).

Both you and more importantly your club (re: Handicap committee)have a duty to you and the other members to ensure that you are playing off the correct handicap,and should do that at least yearly,if not in monthly meetings.

And quite clearly,cards offered in voluntarily should (re: MUST) be considered.

In England its part of a clubs remit (On on our clubs H/C commitee).

Rule 19 ................read it......then get them to read it.Or better still the Congu handbook.From what youve said they sound inept and clue-less.
Sounds about right Syer unfortunately, but surely any rounds played on my own couldn't be counted anyway?
Talk to Foxholer about it, as I'm pretty sure that committees cannot refuse to accept general play cards. It's a rule of golf and cannot just be ignored, so threaten to report them to your national Golf Association.

You'll catch no end of grief in March if you win the first medal with a score 10 shots better than your handicap.
Stu, believe me, I'll catch no grief. I think everyone's EXPECTING me to win the first comp come March. Everyone knows how much I practice, and how much work I put into my game, so no-one can say anything about my results at the moment.

[YOOFALLMAN]

Sounds very far fetched I know Graham, but believe me, I put A LOT of work into my game. I've only been playing seriously for three years, but my mental game has only started to come good recently. :)

As for the kit I use, if you want to view the thread about my new swing videos, you'll see the amount of clubhead speed and power I CAN generate in my swing. Maybe then things might be a bit clearer is to why I use an X-flex shaft in my driver, and stiff in my irons. ;)
Also, no-one in my club will play me for money and off full handicaps. I played a 6 handicapper a couple of weeks back, and we played a friendly game off scratch, over 6 holes, and I won 5 of the 6 holes, and tied him on the 6th, playing the 6 holes in level par, and SHOULD have gone round them in 1 under. I reckon I'm currently playing to around a 10 handicap, and for next year my aim has to be category 2. :rolleyes:

As much as I love my 755s, NOTHING comes close to the looks of a blade. I absolutely love them, and after today, and a second round of 9 holes with them, they're there to stay. When I flush them, they just go so far its unreal. There is no better feel than these clubs. :D

...Hey, if it works....dont knock it.....but seriously, if those are the scores and performances you are capable of, then when competition time comes around with the golf season underway proper.....then I think you will find that you very quickly become a victim of the dreaded Rule 19.....but surely at the end of the day, thats what we are all here trying to do isn't it ? Improve and gain consistency, rewarded with lower scores and a reflection of your ability to do that will be a lower handicap....:rolleyes:
And FWIW....I agree totally with the Blade argument....in over thirty years of playing the game, I haven't and for the moment at least wont use anything else.....not a blade snob or anything like that ....but probably bordering on or erring towards being more of a traditionalist....;)

[bunkerhill]

Hi Col

I think you should should slow down a wee bit you my need all 17 shots when you roll up for this years Carlsberg Classic. Anyhow im getting some Titleist shares if you keep buying their kit...:twitcy:

[Colossus]

I blame YOU Paul. You are a bad bad influence on me. :tongue: