Tag: Set Make-up

Dechambeau’s First Masters

On By Menno ZachariasIn Playing the Game2 Comments
Legend
With three rounds of even par 72, and one round of 77  Dechambeau completed his first Masters tied for 21st. place.  His score of +5 was good enough to earn him low amateur honours .
Pictured below are the irons he ended up playing at the Masters.
DeCambeau Masters irons 1 (1)

Many amateurs would not be caught dead playing with a set of irons that look like the irons Bryson Dechambeau used at the Masters this week.

Granted, they are not the prettiest irons I’ve ever seen but more and more I’m coming to the realization that appearance is far less important than performance.

For many of us who are interested in the single length iron and single plane swing concepts, the Master finally provided us with an opportunity to have a good look at Bryson’s clubs and more importantly, his swing.

I still marvel at how accurately, and how far he is able to hit the ball with such and upright swing.  I’ve included links to a number of videos from the Masters that display his swing action from different angles.  Make particular note of his right arm to shaft position even with his longer clubs.  They provide and excellent example of the single plane swing setup.

 

Here are some links to video’s of Dechambeau at the Masters

http://www.masters.com/en_US/watch/2016-04-08/zlkp_a_a4yvtfvx2ul6uknp25eag8ohf.html?promo=vod_players

http://www.masters.com/en_US/watch/2016-04-10/rzryq9caarnpc9ckhawciiy_xcbcwupc.html?promo=vod_players

http://www.masters.com/en_US/watch/2016/r4_47959_18.html?promo=vod_players

http://www.masters.com/en_US/watch/2016/r3_47959_10.html?promo=vod_players

http://www.masters.com/en_US/watch/2016/r3_47959_8.html?promo=vod_players

http://www.masters.com/en_US/watch/2016/r2_47959_15.html?promo=vod_players

My new set of Pinhawk single length irons

On By Menno ZachariasIn Clubs17 Comments

While researching and writing the recent posts about single length irons, I was also busy on the other side of the equation assembling and experimenting with a set of single length irons.

As the saying goes ‘the proof is in the pudding’ so I have attempted to put the theory into practice.

This is what my new set looks like.

OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA

OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA

As indicated earlier, I decided to go with Pinhawk heads, which are specifically designed for single length iron sets.  The set consists of ten clubs, from flop wedge to 4-hybrid.  The heads are cast stainless steel, cavity back,  made with 431 steel which is a little softer and more bendable than the 17-4 steel used by most major OEM manufacturers.  The heads throughout the set from flop wedge to 4-hybrid each weigh 272 grams (+/- 1) and have a lie angle of 62.5 degrees.

I experimented with various lengths ranging from 35 to 37.5 inches.  I eventually ended up with 37 1/16.  If you are wondering about the 1/16 of an inch,  it has no significance.  What happened was that as I experimented with different club lengths, hitting them at the Golf Dome, there was  one particular iron that I was hitting most consistently.  When I measured it precisely it was 37 1/16 inches in length so I just built the entire set to match that club.

At a length of 37 1/16 inches and using a 70 gram graphite shaft and a 50 gram grip the swing weight comes in at D1.

OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA

OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA

The table below indicates the off-the-rack specifications of the Pinhawk heads I am using.  I suspect that some minor loft adjustments may be required to ensure proper ‘gap’ distances between clubs.

 

Pinhawk Iron Set
Club 4 5 6 7 8 9 PW GW SW LW
Loft 20° 25° 30° 35° 39° 43° 47° 51° 55° 59°
Lie 62.5° 62.5° 62.5° 62.5° 62.5° 62.5° 62.5° 62.5° 62.5° 62.5°
Weight (grams) 272 272 272 272 272 272 272 272 272 272
Offset (mm) 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3

Source:  Value Golf

 

I have already done some lie adjustments on a few of the irons to promote a more upright swing plane.  A few of the irons have been bent as much as 2.5 degrees without any breakage.

The final lofts and lies will not be arrived at until the clubs are tested in ‘on course’ conditions.

Below are links to the series of posts previously written on the topic of Single Length Clubs.

Who are Homer Kelley and Bryson DeChambeau

Standard length and loft for irons

Single length golf clubs

Advantages and disadvantages of single length irons

The effect of club length on swing speed and distance

The effect of loft on carry distance

Unless something miraculous or untoward happens in the next few months at the Dome I won’t write another post about these clubs until the grass is green and the birds are singing again.

Fore!

 

Who are Homer Kelley and Bryson Dechambeau

On By Menno ZachariasIn The SwingLeave a comment

When it comes of finances and politics I am conservative by nature, however when it comes to golf I’m willing to try almost anything.

Some years ago I picked up a copy of Homer Kelley’s book The Golfing Machine.

OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA

When I read it for the first time I realized it would have been helpful if I had a PhD in physics.  I had a difficult time grasping some of the material in the book so I put it one the shelf for a while.

Last spring my interest in the book was renewed.  I watched Bryson DeChambeau win the NCAA Individual  Championship, and then follow it up with a win at the US Amateur, a feat accomplished only by Jack Nicklaus, Phil Mickelson, Tiger Woods and Ryan Moore.  I realized I needed to consult Homer Kelley’s book again.

I realized that DeChambeau’s swing incorporated many of the key principles espoused by Kelley.

Kelley’s book is to say the least, very technical.  It discusses in great detail the mechanical aspects of the golf swing from a scientific perspective, using physics and geometry as the basis for building a perfect machine like golf swing.

When I watch DeChambeau swing a golf club I see aspects of Homer Kelley’s theories  as well as  some of the principles of  Natural Golf as practiced by Moe Norman come together in perfect unity.

Click here for a short video of DeChambeau’s swing.  There is also a  video where DeChambeau talks about his clubs and demonstrates his swing and a swing training device he uses.

His clubs look like this

Bryson-Single-Length-Irons

Like Moe, DeChambeau uses a single plane swing.  However, he has taken it several steps further than Moe did by executing that swing using a set to specially designed irons that are all the same length.

To say that I am looking forward to see DeChambeau play professional golf is an understatement.

He may well be poised to take ball striking to a whole new level.

Update January 15, 2016    Dechambeau hires an agent and is looking at equipment sponsors