October 04, 2007

50% OFF All Certified Pre-Owned Clubs

Certified Pre-Owned Sale

As you reading this blog someone is taking advantage of our PinemeadowGolf.com Certified Pre-Owned Sale. Click any of the links in this email and start browsing through our complete selection of used clubs. If you act fast, you will find the perfect club to compliment your bag, at an unheard of price!

Pinemeadow's Certified Pre-Owned Clubs are already listed at discounted prices, but now through the end of October you'll save an additional 50%. Choose from a wide selection of pre-owned drivers, woods, irons, wedges, putters and more.

Inspection Process & Warranty

Every Certified Pre-Owned Club has been cleaned, tested, inspected for quality and graded on condition. Plus, each pre-owned club comes with the same one-year warranty as our new clubs.

Really, Act Now!

Pre-Owned Clubs are limited to stock on hand. When they're gone, they're gone! Be sure to check back with us throughout the month, as we will be adding used clubs all month long. Offer ends October 31st.

Posted by tom at 03:58 PM

September 25, 2007

Technology is great! What about my score?!

Is it just me or has the distance changed on all the clubs?! The loft is the same and the numbering system has remained constant. But I see players hitting the 3 iron hybrids 240 yards and I am in shock at the overall distance that people get. I used to hit a 7 iron 145-150 yards straight on (well most of the time). Now it seems when I get a hold of a newer 8 or 9 iron, I'm sailing it way past the old marks. Great right? Well, for the most part.

I guess you could say that all the new technologies combined have given a golfer like me the total advantage with my distances. Ball technology, shaft technology, and of course, the club head designs themselves provide the extra advantage that just wasn't out there 10 years ago. Better technology doesn't guarantee a better game, but I can say that it has added length to my game. Length that should lower scores but there is this little thing called putting that I can't seem to get it right no matter how well my 7 iron did to get me there!! I guess the long game is getting longer but my short game hasn't gotten shorter! The technology is there, my game is just a little behind.

Posted by tom at 08:33 AM

September 01, 2007

The New Shape in Golf

The feedback on the Bloc driver has been increasingly favorable. We fielded a host of calls out the gate, mostly from people concerned, or alarmed by the sound the Bloc driver makes out on the course. These calls have subsided as people have become more accustomed to the advantages of square drivers.

As is the case with any emerging technology, many golfers still remain on the fence. To you readers, here is a pearl of wisdom from the Pinemeadow archives, harkening back to our modest beginnings as a Portland-based provider of custom golf clubs.

In the mid1970’s the metal driver was introduced as an alternative to the traditional wood (made from wood). At the time, many were resistant to this proposed change of material, largely because of the unfamiliar sound the new metal drivers made when they struck the ball. It seemed the consensus among golfers was that metal drivers not only made a funny sound, but also lacked the cozy and familiar feel of their wooden predecessor. Golf companies were quick to realize that in order to pass these new club constructions off on the golf club-buying public, they had to take measures to curb the difference in sound and feel. So what did they do—they filled the hollow interior of the metal drivers with foam to dampen the resonance and reduce the “ping” factor. In addition to helping with the sound, the foam also allowed the manufacturers to control the head weight with greater precision.

Later, when people became more accepting of all metal drivers, realizing the benefits in doing so, club-makers began pitching “foamless” drivers. It wasn’t long before “foamless” was the new industry standard and drivers began boasting “FOAMLESS” in broad, capital text, like this:

Looking back, this strikes us as funny, mostly because foamless is a strange word that we no longer associate with golf, but also because ALL clubs are now foamless—it goes without saying. In the same sense, “square” is a foreign shape that we do not associate with golf, and the sound the BLOC makes when you hit it has closer ties, tonally, to the batting cages.

So what makes a new technology worth keeping despite these often distracting dissimilaries? In the case of the TS 455cc BLOC driver it’s the promise of straighter, longer drives than with most clubs on the market. The additional hitting surface allowed for by the square shape makes for a bigger sweet spot and increased MOI, resulting in straighter drives—and subsequently, more practical distance. This is the sort of confidence that golfers like myself look for at tee-off—and we’re willing to trade sound and appearance for better performance on the course.

Posted by tom at 10:37 AM

June 21, 2007

What is "Offset" on a Golf Club?

Every set of irons on PinemeadowGolf.com has a technical specifications chart on its detail page. In that chart, you will find the measurement of offset for every iron in that set- each of which will be different. The higher lofted clubs will have a lower number offset. For example, a three-iron in a given set may have an offset of 8 mm, while a nine-iron in the same set may have an offset of 5.5 mm.

What does this mean to you?

In golf, an iron's “offset” is the distance from where the hosel enters the clubhead, to the farthest point of the on the front of the clubface, measured in millimeters. A club with a greater offset will contact the ball later during your swing than a club with a smaller offset.

Why would you want to contact the ball later?

The point of impact, in relation to the timing of your swing, has much impact on where the ball will head from there. Some drivers, for example, are designed with an offset clubhead to reduce the likelihood of slicing the ball; the reason for slice being that the clubhead is not square at contact. If you have a tendency to slice, hitting the ball later in your swing means you will be given more time to square up as you follow through with your swing, and the ball will travel straighter as a result. Whether you are swinging an iron, a driver, or a fairway wood, your game will benefit from clubs that account for the natural tendencies of your golf swing.

Players with pure swings that are able to hit the ball square will benefit from using clubs with a lower offset. Pros and lower handicap golfers with years of experience tend to play irons with zero or low offsets. Blades (an iron type for advanced players) have zero offset throughout the set. They allow a highly skilled golfer the capability of creating very particular shots, like the ability to draw and fade. If you haven’t hit a club with zero offset, just know that it is a difficult task.

Here at Pinemeadow Golf, we cater to all skill levels, providing you a variety of iron options. We provide high-quality clubs with smart design, tailored to suit the needs of most every golfer. You will find most of our irons have a high offset.

If you are a player looking for clubs with a reduced or smaller offset, here is the set for you.

(Remember we recommend these clubs for experienced golfers who have been playing with a handicap under 12):

Oxygen Type R Irons: These irons are blade design. They are unforgiving, but respond well to nuance. Suited best for experience players looking for a smaller sweet spot but more control.

Visit PinemeadowGolf.com

Posted by tom at 04:09 PM

September 28, 2005

What's the difference between Hybrid Irons and Woods?

Hybrid irons and woods primarily differ in the standard shaft lengths. The standard length of a hybrid wood is the same as the corresponding fairway wood, however the loft of a hybrid is higher than its equivelant wood. For example, the loft of a typical fairway 3 wood is 15 degrees whereas the loft of a similar hybrid wood is 18 degrees.

The irons are a slightly different story. The standard hybrid iron is longer than a traditional iron, but shorter than a hybird wood. Now you may be asking why the irons are shorter. Well, the shorter length of the hybrid irons gives you more control. You end up with the control of an iron with the ease of hitting of a wood.

Hybrid clubs are meant to replace 3 and 4 irons as higher lofted clubs are also easier to hit. Learn more about The Hybrid Club Movement.

Confusing? Here are the lengths to show you the difference and basically summarizes everything we touch on above. All lengths are standard and equipped with a graphite shaft.

Club	Standard Length
3 iron	39.25 inches
Hybrid 3 Iron	40.25 inches
Hybrid 3 Wood	43 inches
3 wood	43 inches

Posted by admin at 10:30 AM

June 08, 2005

Don't Get Shafted! Learn more about golf shafts.

The technical aspects of golf can sometimes be difficult to understand. Many of us have spent a lot of time researching the club heads themselves, neglecting the shafts. Understanding the technical specifications of a shaft is nearly, if not equally important in choosing a club that will play in your favor. We have designed our standard Pinemeadow shafts to suit and play just right for the general golfing population, but in some cases a shaft with a different torque, weight or flex point is ideal. We make these shafts available in the form of 'shaft upgrades' on our site.

Here are a few pointers and definitions to help you understand different shaft specifications:

1. Weight
2. Torque
3. Flex point

The raw weight of each shaft is measured in grams. Graphite shafts vary from 62-85 grams, which may not seem like much. The difference is indistinguishable to some golfers when holding two clubs with differently weighted shafts. However, this difference is enough to largely affect your swing.

The purpose of a lighter shaft is to allow you to increase your swing speed, resulting in longer drives. Though, with a lighter shaft and a quicker swing speed, any golfer runs the risk of losing control of his or her swing, thereby affecting accuracy. It is important to remember this dynamic when trying to find a shaft that suits your game.

A golf shaft's torque rating is a measurement in degrees of its propensity to twist during your swing. The higher the torque rating on a graphite shaft, the more twist or torsion the shaft will exhibit during a swing. The term torque is only referenced on graphite shafts which are meant to bend and twist. The torque rating is meant to give you an idea of how much torsion you can expect from a given shaft.

The majority of players don’t need to worry about torque because we can’t (or shouldn’t) swing hard enough for it to really have an impact on our shots. If you have an aggressive yet controlled swing, it would make sense to look into clubs with a lower torque rating because the shaft will be less prone to twist, resulting in greater consistency.

If you are like most of the golfing population, a shaft with higher torque rating is great. It gives you a softer feel and absorbs much of the vibration of the impact.

Flex point, kick point, or bend point is the fulcrum at which the greatest amount of bend is perceived when the shaft is pulled down from the back swing.

Flex point plays the biggest roll in ball flight. The higher the flex point on a shaft, the lower the ball trajectory on most shots, and inversely, the lower the flex point, the higher the trajectory. This is a good general rule for flex point, but it is important to keep in mind that every golfer's swing is unique, and flex point may affect your shot trajectory differently.

The best way to see how shaft weight, torque rating, and flex point statistics will apply to your game, is to try out different shafts with the above in mind. Click here to check out all available shafts on PinemeadowGolf.com, and good luck!

Visit PinemeadowGolf.com

Posted by tom at 08:08 AM

June 02, 2005

Golf Drivers: Titanium vs. Stainless Steel

Titanium is lighter than stainless steel given a specific volume. What does this mean? The biggest we can make a stainless steel driver is about 260 cubic centimeters (cc) in volume. To go bigger than that, we have to use titanium. Currently we can take a titanium driver up to a whopping 500 cc's in size.

Most players are using a titanium driver because it allows for a bigger sweet spot and hitting surface, resulting in a much more forgiving club face. With titanium, oversized heads still remain lightweight. Larger titanium drivers weigh the same, and in some cases are even lighter, than stainless steel drivers of a smaller size.

Will a larger driver will allow you to hit the ball further? The simple answer is no! A larger hitting surface will be more forgiving, however it will not generally translate to longer drives. It is also common to over-swing with titanium drivers because they are so light. It is important to maintain fluidity in your swing. Just because the head is bigger doesn’t mean you can take an enormous hack at the ball and expect it to go straight; it is better to let the club do the work!

Stainless steel drivers are still available, but they are becoming less and less popular. Some prefer a smaller club head when looking down on the ball at address. We have seen golfers who initially thought that titanium club heads were too big eventually make the transition to a larger 330cc to 400cc head. In this game, it takes time to get used to the new products that result from advances in technology and design.

The next time you are deciding whether to go titanium or stainless steel, think about the above mentioned advantages, and what is going to feel most comfortable in your hands and for your game.

Posted by tom at 01:54 PM

May 12, 2005

Oversize vs. Regular Wedges

It can be argued that wedges are the second most important clubs in your bag. They are used so often in a round they can really make a difference in the improvement of your game. Some players will carry up to five wedges, but it is more common for players to only have one to three depending on what suits their game. An assortment of wedges can be used for every type of shot and lie.

With so many things to consider when purchasing the right wedge, it is important to choose the wedge that is going to work for your particular game. When wedges were originally made, they were designed with regular sized club heads, but golf technologies and the game has changed so much that oversize wedges are being made available to go along with the standard regular sized wedges. Carrying an assortment of wedge types and lofts is a new concept that is gaining momentum.

With this is mind, it is important to decide what type wedge head size suits your game. Having an oversize versus a regular wedge head is not necessarily better, and vice versa. Here are some things to take into consideration when you are making your decision.

The advantages of an oversize wedge:

• Added Face Height
• Larger Sweet Spot
• Increased Forgiveness

If you have problems getting under the ball on shots out of the rough or in the deep sand, the additional face height will improve ball launch without having to dig deep. The extra face height helps to ensure contact.

Most oversize wedges also have a larger sole than usual. The design concept of the wide sole is to lower the center of gravity (LCG) making it easier to get the ball in the air. The LCG helps reduce topping the ball.

Of course, with a larger club face comes a larger sweet spot. The bigger the sweet spot, the more forgiving the wedge will be on miss hits. That can be an advantage on any type of shot. A larger sweet spot will give you assurance that you are going to make good contact on every shot. Basically, a larger sweet spot results in increased forgiveness.

The disadvantages of an oversize wedge and why some people prefer to have a traditional/regular wedge:

• Harder to shape certain shots
• Wedge doesn’t get caught while approaching impact

Traditional size wedges give you more control. You do lose a little forgiveness and size of the sweet spot but you have the capability of shaping your shot. To hit a regular sized wedge, you should be at the point in your game where you are confident in sacrificing some forgiveness to gain control. Another disadvantage of an oversize wedge is that it can get caught up in the grass and sand a little easier and result in less distance. Since the club head is bigger, the bottom of the head has more of a chance to grab the grass or sand during your swing.

Posted by tom at 11:06 AM

May 06, 2005

The Hybrid Club Movement

If you follow golf on television or subscribe to golf magazines, then you have likely witnessed the mounting discussion surrounding hybrid (sometimes referred to as utility) clubs. Hybrids are becoming the hottest and most popular club to carry in your bag. Unlike some clubs that are specifically designed for certain players or skill levels, hybrids are suited for both recreational players and touring pros.

The word hybrid means of mixed origin or composition. In golf, the hybrid club is the combination of both wood and iron designs into a single club. This combo has resulted in some of the most forgiving and easiest clubs to hit to date. Features you will find in a hybrid club are:

1. Flatness of the face on the hybrid wood. Classic woods have a curved face, but the hybrid woods are flat just like an iron.

2. Weighting that is distributed throughout the club like an iron or fairway wood. Most woods have the focus of the weight distributed towards the front.

3. A wide sole like a fairway wood.

4. A club length similar to an iron rather than a wood.

The purpose of the hybrid club is to be interchangeable with and maintain the characteristics of both an iron and a wood. The resultant club is typically easier to hit with less effort than a traditional long and lower lofted iron. The term “long iron” normally describes all the clubs from a two iron through a five iron.

There are multiple reasons why many recreational golfers struggle with long iron shots. The goal of the hybrid club is to make it easier to hit these shots. The most common problems are:

1. not being able to make a complete shoulder turn on the backswing
2. swinging too hard and thus throwing off tempo
3. lower lofted clubs are just plain harder to hit

Elite players who do all the right things with long irons can save strokes during the average round, but the majority of players struggle with them, and now have an alternative in the hybrid club. The long narrow face and a wide sole of hybrid clubs render a low center of gravity that helps players with slower swing speeds launch the ball with little effort. That makes playing a hybrid club similar to the sweeping style swing of a wood, rather than an iron style swing that has to pick the ball off the turf with greater effort. Effectively, all players can benefit from hybrid clubs, but particularly grateful are those players who have lost swing speed due to age, injury or other physically conditions that have prevented them from making a full shoulder turn on the backswing. Hybrids allow for a shorter back swing while launching the same distance you are used to experiencing with a wood.

The face of a hybrid club is manufactured out of harder 17-4 stainless steel, similar to a fairway wood, which helps with ball compression and forgiveness of the club. The hardness of the metal allows a slower swing speed to produce distance that would normally be a result of a faster swing speed. Not only will shots be longer with the hybrid club, but shots will be more accurate, because the hybrid allows for a greater margin for error. All this from a club that is shorter and lighter than its performance-matching counterparts!

Many players using hybrid clubs are not only replacing long irons, but are using them as fairway woods as well. Some of the loft angles on hybrid clubs match those of a 3 and 5 wood, but since they are shorter and lighter, they are more versatile.

Hybrids are extremely forgiving and can be used easily from the fairway, rough, or tee, and they are a great stroke saver. If you suffer from the long iron blues, consider a hybrid club or two to compliment your game.

Posted by tom at 01:02 PM

April 27, 2005

Understanding "Bounce"

Bounce or 'bounce angle' is defined as the angle the sole of your wedge creates when compared to the ground. Bounce is a specification usually only referred to when describing wedges. We list the bounce for all of our wedges in the technical specifications box on our individual product pages. What does this mean for your game? Click "Continue Reading" for more.

It sounds slightly confusing, but grab a club and put in the address position and you will see the space between the ground and the leading edge of the wedge. It is small, but the bounce angle determines how much space there is.

Wedges with very little bounce or a smaller bounce angle are usually designed for approach shots from short grass and tight lies. The smaller angle allows you to get under the ball easier. It is common for sand wedges to have the highest degree of bounce, so the wedge does not dig into the sand but it glides through while displacing the sand.

Bounce can play a large part in the performance of the wedge, and is usually based on a golfer's needs and personal preference. To help you determine what wedge is best for you, decide on what degree of bounce will fit your game and course that you are regularly playing.

If you have any more questions feel free to contact us. We are always here to help.

Posted by tom at 10:42 AM

April 25, 2005

DoubleWall Demo Day - Portland, OR

Pinemeadow is hosting a demo day on Thursday, April 28th at Caplan's Golf Center. We will be featuring the DoubleWall Driver and woods with various loft and shaft configurations. There will also be a selection of other Pinemeadow clubs to hit as well. We will have five mats reserved with an unlimited amount of balls to hit, so join us on the range!

Demo Day Details

Event: Pinemeadow Demo Day, Open to you, friends, family and public
Date: Thursday, April 28th
Time: 12pm - 1:30pm
Location: Caplan's Golf Center in Beaverton, OR (see below for address)

Clubs at Demo:
DoubleWall Drivers and Fairway Wood
Impex Plus Hybrid Clubs with iRod shafts
Pinemeadow Excel High Launch and Mid Launch Irons

Address for Caplan's Golf Center
16251 SW Jenkins Rd.
Beaverton, OR 97006

Here is a link to the driving range location:
http://maps.google.com/maps?q=16251+SW+Jenkins+Rd.+Beaverton,+OR+97006&hl=en

Posted by tom at 12:33 PM