Ok, I'm back guys.
I'm going to bug you with a million questions, so here goes the first one.

I have good equipment in my bag, and I'm happy with it, all except, the knock off putter I have (next in line is the driver but thats for another time).

I tested a few out, and I really like the Ghost Spider from Taylormade. The belly putter is 43 inches long, and being 6'5" it means I can stand up and use it like a normal putter.
So i love the putter, thats easy.

Dilemna.

Dicks has 2 of them, $200 bucks. Pick one up today if I want.

Everywhere else, backordered till Feb 5 or later. My club owes me some $$$ and I can get it Free, but I have to wait.

Teamplay is here, week 1 of 6 just passed... and I need a putter. I will have to putt with OLD CRAPPY for 3 more weeks at least of matchplay if I wait for the free one.

Should I just bust out and fork out $200 bucks because of 3 weeks of matchplay?
I'm leaning that way, although I was trying to not spend too much $$$ on golf equipment this year (and the wife knows it)

After team play, i have 1 competitive tournament a month, and maybe 2 weeks teamplay plus playoffs.

Should I get it now to help with the competitive
rounds now, or wait for the freebie and keep the wife on side, or suck it up and learn to putt.

What would you do?

If it were me, and I really want this club, I'm waiting for the free one.

I feel ya. It was a huge difference mentally when I went from the piece of crap generic no-name putter to my Taylormade one, although I still suck ass at putting, but that's mostly from complete practice neglect.

However, from my experience, it's not worth it if it's gonna be a point of contention between you and wifey. Last year, my wife and I decided to setup small allowance funds for each of us that we can dip into for whatever we want (basically hobby money) to avoid the issues that come with spending joint money on personal purchases. It's working out well for us so far.

BTW - sounds odd that you are using a belly putter like a normal one, but if you got a good feel from trying it out, then go for it. I bought my 33" TM Daytona at Dick's after trying out a bunch myself.

Free is worth the wait

Well if you've got credit coming to you then can't you just spend that on some other club? that you were going to get anyways. If you're trying to shoot low scores then a trusty putter is pretty important. On the other hand 200 bucks is a little steep. Or you could split the diff and try to find something like a nice Ping that'll run you more like around a hundy.

Good things come to those who wait

I would wait and look around for a used replacement putter to get me through the next few weeks or months.

I am trying really hard to wait, I just dont want to let my team down in the next couple of weeks if I under perform.

I think I am playing some decent golf, but in match play, the pressure is on with putting, and i need to make more of them, or at least put them closer.

I've tried to borrow a putter, a more stable type, I just need something more consistant off the mis-hits.

Its amazing how different those new spiders are, you can hit them anywhere on the face, and the distance is almost identical.

I'll try practicing with my putter more tomorrow and friday and see how Saturday goes.

If it were me I'd wait and get the putter I like thru the discount. But if I also would use the credit soon on another club might give in to temptation and get it now.

I started with a junk putter. Later, bought a fancy name brand after kicking tires a while and found something that seemed to resonate as good. I figured if putts are an important part of the score, why not get something that eleminates the doubt, and might kick up the practice focus more.

One of my buds has a putter we all know to call "Bernice". His aunt B gave him this putter when he was young - he has a nostalgic connection to it which is sweet. It looks like a putt-putt mini golf putter, but he gets over it like J.N. and rolls them in proudly sometimes. The point is love what you are doing, and if a mental connection for confidence means finding the right stick, esp on putting, go there.

I would either wait, or check a reputable online (or local, if you have one) used reseller (3balls.com is my favorite).

The ONLY clubs I wouldn't buy used are wedges.

Putting really is a confidence thing, and right now, i know if i read it perfectly, it doesn't matter, because i am hitting them so badly. I basically, 1 look it and go, because its not going where I aim, might as well just hit and hope my screw up corrects my misread.

When you know thats how you are putting, you know you're in trouble

I looked online, but most of the older ones are 34-35 inches long, so with extensions, new grips etc, not much different than full price.

I decided I am going to try and tough it out and wait.
Unless I SUCK SEVERELY today in my practice round, then I might just have to fork it over and walk with my baby today

This course the greens are tough, but being a links course, OB is what scares me more.

I am tempted to get an R11 with replacable shafts, so i'm sure the credit will be used... damn I hate making decisions.

(Devil on my shoulder - I have won enough in skins lately to cover it)

gpickin wrote:

I looked online, but most of the older ones are 34-35 inches long, so with extensions, new grips etc, not much different than full price.

Setup a "Product Alert" at 3balls.com

They will email you if/when what you are looking for shows up in their warehouse. Plus, you might get it FREE. I've got a couple alerts setup more hoping to get the club free than actually buying right now, since I'm pretty much set with my bag make-up at the moment.

out of curiosity, gpickin, you said you had some issues with your current driver. what are the specs and what's wrong with it?

If you can afford it buy it now. Use your credit to make up for the cost and your back at even par.

I have a Taylormade Superfast 1.0
I have a Stiff shaft
When I was fitted I swing 105-110 mph
Now I swing 120-125 mph... and my trajectory is TOO high.
Even with my brothers 8 degree X Stiff its still higher than everyone else I play with.
So i'm going to try an r11 8 degree with xstiff and maybe xxstiff and go from there.

I have adjusted my swing, stance etc, but i think i will get better consistency and distance.

I get way too much spin now, and you can see the effects of it.