Today's is a big day in Anthony Kim's PGA career and perhaps an important day in golf history. AK and Tiger are both tied at -10 before the final round of AT&T National.
AK is the defending champion and represents the best next-gen player. He has no fear and eager to win. TW hosts the tournament and seeks to rebuild his best after surgery. Can TW maintains his dorminance? Will this match be the first sign of generation change?
2009年7月5日星期日
AK vs Tiger
Today's is a big day in Anthony Kim's PGA career and perhaps an important day in golf history. AK and Tiger are both tied at -10 before the final round of AT&T National.
AK is the defending champion and represents the best next-gen player. He has no fear and eager to win. TW hosts the tournament and seeks to rebuild his best after surgery. Can TW maintains his dorminance? Will this match be the first sign of generation change?
2008年7月5日星期六
2008年1月27日星期日
2007年9月22日星期六
國寶球杆
上星期與國寶同學到 Golfsmith 選購球杆。這裡品種齊全，而且免費試打。他試了十多枝不同牌子、不同桿身材料和硬度的球杆後, 發現較喜歡桿身較硬 (如 stiff graphite) 的球杆。
最後, 他揀了 Nickent 的 3DX Iron/Hybrid set — 5 至 PW 是 UNIFLEX 鐵杆, 3 和 4 号是碳纖 hybrid。我和小玲子也有試打, 這套杆的感覺實在很好和 forgiving, 加上正在折扣, 實在是很好的選擇。
以下是這套杆的資料 (copyright Nickent):
最後, 他揀了 Nickent 的 3DX Iron/Hybrid set — 5 至 PW 是 UNIFLEX 鐵杆, 3 和 4 号是碳纖 hybrid。我和小玲子也有試打, 這套杆的感覺實在很好和 forgiving, 加上正在折扣, 實在是很好的選擇。
國寶同學打球已有一兩年, 7号杆也打得不錯, 如能純熟運用這套杆, 可以征服很多球場。
以下是這套杆的資料 (copyright Nickent):
Nickent 3DX Iron
An Extreme Power Iron for Everyone! Over the last 20 years, John Hoeflich has designed many of the game’s best-selling irons. Millions of golfers, including many of the world’s best players, have benefited from his iron design philosophy of mixing art with technology and looks with performance. With the 3DX Iron, Hoeflich challenged himself to create the highest level of game improvement irons combined with the classic look that have come to represent Hoeflich irons over the years.
The first thing a golfer will notice after hitting the 3DX Iron is how far you hit them! Cast from 431 stainless steel, the 3DX has a remarkably thin and strong face, creating a very high C.O.R. to promote faster ball speed. Twenty grams of weight were saved from the face and redistributed in two perfectly balanced tungsten-polymer fused inserts (XW Inserts) on the back of the clubhead.
Moving 20 grams of weight to the back of the blade and widening the sole makes the 3DX easy to launch and easy to play from a wide variety of lies.
More on the 3DX Iron:
Weight is spread to the extreme heel and toe by the XW Inserts, making the head even more forgiving and making the club more stable at impact. Balls will stay in the air longer and land softly as a result of unique Nickent U-Grooves that have been matched to the center of gravity of the irons to provide the ideal spin rate under all conditions.
The XW Inserts also gives the 3DX Iron unmatched forgiveness and feel that will make an immediate imprint on all levels of golfers. The tungsten-polymer inserts absorb vibration from impact, reducing a majority of the shock and harsh feel associated with irons that use hard tungsten plugs or screws used to lower the center of gravity or achieve perimeter weighting.
"These XW inserts do so much for the 3DX iron," said Hoeflich. “It has a large cavity back with a very responsive face, so the distance, feel and forgiveness are deeply rooted in the basic design elements of the club. What makes the 3DX iron so different and so long compared to other irons is the way the XW inserts work. They spread the weight to the heel and toe, absorb shock and provide that extra ‘oomph’ so many golfers are searching for. After looking at the Iron Byron tests, I would say my first design with Nickent Golf is a smashing success. This is an iron for players of all levels looking to experience a considerable amount of forgiveness and the ability to create more power.”
The 3DX Iron features two exceptional shafts that have been matched to the powerful head to produce even more power and distance. The new SR2 graphite shaft by UST and the ST-90 lightweight steel shafts encourage faster swing speeds ith no loss of control.
3DX Iron Specs
| MODEL | L/H | LOFT | LIE | BOUNCE |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| #3 | Yes | 20° | 60.5° | 0 |
| #4 | Yes | 22° | 61° | 1 |
| #5 | Yes | 24° | 61.5° | 1 |
| #6 | Yes | 27° | 62° | 2 |
| #7 | Yes | 30° | 62.5° | 2 |
| #8 | Yes | 34° | 63° | 3 |
| #9 | Yes | 39° | 63.5° | 4 |
| PW | Yes | 44° | 64° | 5 |
| GW | Yes | 50° | 64° | 5 |
| SW | Yes | 55° | 64° | 10 |
3DX Iron Shaft Specs
| MODEL | GRAPHITE | STEEL | GRIP | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SWING WEIGHT | LENGTH | UST SPEEDRATED 2 | SWING WEIGHT | LENGTH | TRUE TEMPER ST-90 | ||
| #3 | D2 | 39" | X-105, S-95, R-85, R-75, L-65 | D2 | 39" | UNIFLEX | WINN Grip |
| #4 | D2 | 38.5" | X-105, S-95, R-85, R-75, L-65 | D2 | 38.5" | UNIFLEX | WINN Grip |
| #5 | D2 | 38" | X-105, S-95, R-85, R-75, L-65 | D2 | 38" | UNIFLEX | WINN Grip |
| #6 | D2 | 37.5" | X-105, S-95, R-85, R-75, L-65 | D2 | 37.5" | UNIFLEX | WINN Grip |
| #7 | D2 | 37" | X-105, S-95, R-85, R-75, L-65 | D2 | 37" | UNIFLEX | WINN Grip |
| #8 | D2 | 36.5" | X-105, S-95, R-85, R-75, L-65 | D2 | 36.5" | UNIFLEX | WINN Grip |
| #9 | D2 | 36" | X-105, S-95, R-85, R-75, L-65 | D2 | 36" | UNIFLEX | WINN Grip |
| PW | D2 | 35.75" | X-105, S-95, R-85, R-75, L-65 | D2 | 35.75" | UNIFLEX | WINN Grip |
| GW | D2 | 35.75" | X-105, S-95, R-85, R-75, L-65 | D2 | 35.75" | UNIFLEX | WINN Grip |
| SW | D2 | 35.5" | X-105, S-95, R-85, R-75, L-65 | D2 | 35.5" | UNIFLEX | WINN Grip |
3DFX Ironwood DC
How do you make the # 1 hybrid model on the Nationwide Tour and # 3 on the PGA Tour even better? Introducting the 3DX DC Ironwood.
The first week the DC Ironwood was introduced to the PGA Tour, at the last full field event of the 2005 season, it helped catapult the family of 3DX hybrids to # 1 on the PGA Tour. Even the 2004 British Open champion who helped make hybrids famous with his hybrid play switched over to the new 3DX DC after just two days of testing.
To create an even hotter and more forgiving hybrid, Nickent thinned the face of the 3DX DC, creating a much higher C.O.R. than the original 3DX Ironwood. A special plasma welding process was used to help redistribute the weight to the extreme perimeters of the clubhead. Forty grams of weight were moved down and back in the head using two tungsten-polymer fused inserts (XW Inserts). That’s almost 60% more adjustable weight in the clubhead than in the leading adjustable weight hybrid!
More on the 3DX DC Ironwood:
Nickent has used this new weight scheme to create a club that is perfectly weighted to the extreme heel and toe for the straightest and most forgiving setup. This unique feature gives Nickent the ability to make the DC Ironwood the same shape as the Tour favorite 3DX Ironwood, while increasing the MOI by 25%.
The XW Inserts are a fusion of polymer and tungsten. By using polymer around the outside of the insert, Nickent has the ability to vary the mass of the insert without being bulky and taking away from proper clubhead design. XW Inserts are also used to move the center of gravity of the head to insure proper weight distribution and eliminate the “pull hooks” produced by many of the leading hybrid designs.
The 3DX DC Ironwood has 14 hybrid lofts, one club every 1.5 degrees from 14° to 26°. This hybrid system allows the golfer to attain the optimum distance control and trajectory. With this new system, there will be no distance gaps in your bag and no confusion on what club your hybrid actually replaces.
The 3DX family of hybrids feature three high performance shafts from the world’s premier shaft manufacturers. The 75-gram Aldila NV hybrid shaft is used, making Nickent the only manufacturer tooffer this stable yet easier to load genuine NV shaft. Also available in graphite is the higher-launching UST SR2 graphite shaft. For players who prefer the weight and feel of steel, the Nippon 950 shaft is available in an S/R shaft option.
3DX Ironwood DC Specs
| MODEL | L/H | LOFT | LIE | BOUNCE |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 IWD | Yes | 14° | 59° | N/A |
| #2+ IWD | No | 15.5° | 59° | N/A |
| #2 IWD | Yes | 17° | 59° | N/A |
| #3+ IWD | No | 18.5° | 59°.5 | N/A |
| #3 IWD | Yes | 20° | 59.5° | N/A |
| #4+ IWD | No | 21.5° | 60° | N/A |
| #4 IWD | Yes | 23° | 60° | N/A |
| #5+ IWD | No | 24.5° | 60.5° | N/A |
| #5 IWD | Yes | 26° | 60.5° | N/A |
3DX Ironwood DC Shaft Specs
| MODEL | GRAPHITE | STEEL | TIP SIZES | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SWING WEIGHT | LENGTH | UST SR2 (mph) | UST PROFORCE V2 HYBRID | ALDILA NV | SWING WEIGHT | LENGTH | NIPPON 950 | ||
| #1 IWD | D2 | MENS: 41.25" |
X-105, S-95, R-85, R Light-75, L-65 |
S, R | X, S, R | D2 | 40.75" | UNIFLEX | .370" |
| #2+ IWD #2 IWD |
D2 | MENS: 40.75" LADIES: 39.75" |
X-105, S-95, R-85, R Light-75, L-65 |
S, R | X, S, R | D2 | 40.25" | UNIFLEX | .370" |
| #3+ IWD #3 IWD |
D2 | MENS: 40 " LADIES: 39" |
X-105, S-95, R-85, R Light-75, L-65 |
S, R | X, S, R | D2 | 39.5" | UNIFLEX | .370" |
| #4+ IWD #4 IWD |
D2 | MENS: 39.25" LADIES: 38.25" |
X-105, S-95, R-85, R Light-75, L-65 |
S, R | X, S, R | D2 | 38.75" | UNIFLEX | .370" |
| #5+ IWD #5 IWD |
D2 | MENS: 38.5" LADIES: 37.5" |
X-105, S-95, R-85, R Light-75, L-65 |
S, R | X, S, R | D2 | 38" | UNIFLEX | .370" |
今天收到遊戲，但這兩星期太忙無時間玩．．．
2007年7月26日星期四
The Wait is Over
今天是 みんなのGOLF 5 launch 的大日子。
這遊戲有幾受歡迎? 下面是這遊戲的歷史 (Source):
| Date | Event |
| 1999.07 | 「みんなのＧＯＬＦ ２」発売 |
| 2000.03 |
「みんなのＧＯＬＦ ２」100万本突破 「Hot Shots GOLF 2」（US版）アメリカにて発売 |
| 2000.04 | 「Everybody's GOLF 2」（欧州版）欧州にて発売 |
| 2001.07 | 「みんなのＧＯＬＦ ３」発売 |
| 2002.03 |
「Hot Shots GOLF 3」（US版） アメリカにて発売 「みんなのＧＯＬＦ ３」100万本突破 |
| 2003.11 | 「みんなのＧＯＬＦ ４」 発売 |
| 2004.01 | 「みんなのＧＯＬＦ ４」100万本突破 |
| 2004.08 | 「Hot Shots GOLF Fore!」（US版） アメリカにて発売 |
| 2004.11 | 「Hot Shots GOLF 3」（US版）100万本突破 |
只計日本，第 2 和第 3 集推出後九個月各賣出1 million copies。
第 4 集更利害 — 只消三個月已賣出此數 (有聖誕效應)。
等了三年半，第 5 集終於面世。Sony 當然對這遊戲有很高期望，甚至推出 PS3 「特別」 bundle (印個唔同嘅盒): 
這遊戲是PS3 exclusive，相信可幫助 PS3 銷量。筆者當然早已在 YesAsia 訂了遊戲，下星期應該送到!
7月27至30日是香港電玩展 2007 (明報活動資料)，唔知會唔會有demo?
這是筆者第一次嘗試活動圖像(animated GIF)，各位覺得如何?
2007年6月3日星期日
TORREY PINES朝聖
繼續亡兵紀念日南加洲之旅。
星期日上午給小玲子擊敗後(見上文)。中午我們先到了Malibu午膳, 然後開車到La Jolla。
Malibu位於洛杉磯西面,鄰近太平洋,景色怡人,是洛杉磯高尚地區。夏天周末是弄潮兒和很多名人享受陽光海灘的地方。靚車靚人靚景,目不暇給。這裏不但可見盡名車,更隨時可遇到名星。這天我們便見到Paul Mitchell。
午餐後我們便開車到La Jolla。La Jolla在聖地牙哥(San Diego)以北約20公里,離LA車程約1.5-2小時,是聖地牙哥地區出名的resort town。這裏除了是UC San Diego的外,也是著名的Torrey Pines球場所在。
Torrey Pines雖然是municipal球場,但每年PGA都會在這裏舉行比賽。除了每年一月的Buick® Invitational外,2008年的U.S. Open也會在這裏舉行。老虎今年一月便在這裏嬴了今季的第一場比賽。這球場傍有兩間酒店 — The Lodge和Hilton。我們住的是Hilton。
概然是來朝聖,我們當然有落場。小玲子book了星期一早上7:45的tee-time。這天只有我和朋友J落場,小玲子則與朋友J的內子P小姐到聖地牙哥downtown逛。小玲子和P小姐是中學好友。
我們打的是北場(見圖),球場設計沿岸興建, 大部份地方也看到太平洋,景色優美。我和朋友J一大清早便到了練習場。warm-up了約一小時便要開波。和我們一起的是兩個local residents(Scott和Earl, Earl是Scott的father-in-law)。可能是最近改變了練習的方法,和受了這個場的靈氣(good karma)影響,這天我打得特別專心和謹慎。頭三個洞分數只是BOGEY。這天所有桿也很consistent,特別好的是hybrid和putter,而driver和short game也沒問題。這天分數為(55-52-107),算是應有的表現。
2007年5月31日星期四
這天小玲子打嬴晒我哋
時間: 2005年5月27日, 星期日.
地點: 洛杉磯近郊, 西湖村高爾夫球場 (Westlake Village Golf Course)
人物: 小玲子(球齡9個月,分數110+), 我(球齡6年,分數100+), 朋友J(球齡至少10年,分數90+)。
地點: 洛杉磯近郊, 西湖村高爾夫球場 (Westlake Village Golf Course)
人物: 小玲子(球齡9個月,分數110+), 我(球齡6年,分數100+), 朋友J(球齡至少10年,分數90+)。
我和小玲子在亡兵紀念日(Memorial Day)去了洛杉磯探訪朋友J。這天早上我們到了西湖村球場練習。練到最後朋友J提議玩"Attack the Pin"遊戲 — 目的是把球打進旗桿(pin)綠色的范圍。比賽包括三枝旗桿, 分別是45,70和120yards。
這個遊戲的好處是可練習提高approach shot的準確程度 — 正因為老虎的approach shot很準確,他putting的距離比其他人平均低30%,所以他birdie或eagle的機會也較高。
我們三人順序是朋友J,然後是我,最後是小玲子。我和朋友J每個turn可打一球, 而小玲子則可打兩球。第一枝旗桿我們打了三個round也不成功,但到第四個round小玲子的波有個"good bounce"而入了旗桿范圍(先勝一局)。
第二枝旗桿是70yards, 我們各人打了幾次也不成功, 為了增加各人機會率, 我們決定每人也可打兩球。到了第四或第五round小玲子又成功打入范圍(再勝一局)!
最後一枝旗桿是120yards,朋友J用的是7或8號桿。我用的是"choke-down"5號,而小玲子用的也是5號。這時我們都大概知道技巧所在,但打了幾次依然不成功。正當我們的波差不多用完,這時小玲子打了方向正確,但距離似乎不夠的一球。個波轆…轆…轆…最後又入了范圍(連勝三局)!
我和朋友J簡直不能相信… 小玲子果然利害… 甘拜下風… 唔信? 有相為証(左後方是旗桿1和2)。
2007年5月6日星期日
老虎又嬴波
這星期天老虎又「如常地」嬴了比賽(Wachovia Championship)。但這次有什麼特別之處?原因有三:
1) Quail Hollow Club是特別為PGA選手設計的: rough很深和硬, fairway很狹窄, strategic的hazards, green不單是分層(tiered)和很淺(shallow)的、還很快和硬。
2) 這場比賽高手如雲(現時世界排名最前十名的球手也有參加),這可能是四場滿貫賽事(Masters, U.S. Open, Open Championship, PGA Championship)以外最激烈的比賽。
3) 老虎專業生涯嬴了無數比賽(這場前有56場),但從未嬴過Wachovia。嬴了這場比賽後老虎的FedexCup Points便超越第2的Vijay Singh(他和老虎在第三天是同一group)。
老虎實在令人感覺嬴得太易了 — 其實最後一天前他也是落後的(通常如是)。在最後一天有某段時間有四人是同一分數的,其中Rory Sabbatini,Vijay Singh和Phil Mickelson分數也很近。而Steve Stricker更從後趕上(最後得第2)。老虎又一次令所有高手變成陪襯。除了技術,老虎的專注和determination實在值得學習。
2007年5月5日星期六
太陽谷高爾夫
今天小玲子在太陽谷(Sunnyvale)book了tee-time打球。因為只我們兩人,所以有兩個singles joined了我們:一個是來自日本的假牙商人(Akira)和一個來自印度的軟件工程師(Raj)。
這天是perfect的加州天氣 — 真正的「風和日麗」 — 微風、藍天、溫度也不超過80F(26C)。
我和小玲子這天的分數也不好:我們的drive、long shots和putting基本上還可以,但short game就打得很差。特別是approach shot(上green那一桿)。很多時100yards內也要2至3桿。白白浪費了開波的數桿。
這場波我和小玲子各PAR了一個洞。特別一提是小玲子PAR了的第7洞(圖)。這個洞是要「過海」的 — 136yards藍旗。小玲子一桿hybrid上green,差點hole-in-one。這球是整天的代表作。可惜她2-putt才hole-out。
我們決定下星期要好好練習short irons和wedges(哈哈)。
2007年4月28日星期六
仙露高爾夫
今天與小玲和A小姐到仙露谷(Sunol Valley)的Palm Course打球.我們book了下午的第一個tee-time,果嶺費只是$28.可能因為是今年暫時最熱的一天吧,所以球場不太多人,完全沒有backup — 整場波我們的前面和後面也沒有人.
上星期天小玲剛買了枝driver,這天大派用埸. 仙露谷這個場特別之處是大部份的PAR 3的距離對初學者也比較長,如第8(217W,195R)(圖)和第15(193W,172R)洞.整體小玲的driver也很consistent.第8洞更一桿上green,令人刮目相看.
2007年4月24日星期二
春谷高爾夫
上星期六(4月21日)是寧木さん(Mr. Lingwood)訪美最後一天. 因飛機在星期日凌晨才離開, 小玲在春谷(Spring Valley)中午book左個tee-time. 讓寧木和我們可多打一場波.
我們大約十一時來到球場. 小玲和寧木先到golf shop check-in. 因為我公司的discount和其他限制, 最後我和寧木決定揹袋walk, 而小玲則用pull-cart. 我和寧木星期五在Sunnyvale才行完18個洞, 而寧木的袋是single-strap cart bag, 再加上春谷位於Milpitas山上(很hilly), 所以是一個很好的訓練.
Check-in後, 我們便到driving-range warm-up.巧合地我們三人狀態都出其地好(感謝golf神). 練習了二十分鐘我們便要開波了.
這場波是寧木來美以來(包括我和小玲)打得最暢快的. 主要因為:
小玲約半年前開始學打球, 以前曾經來過這個球場, 但是給圖中紅色箭嘴"過海"那三個洞(#9,11,18)難倒. 第9和18洞是signature holes,從崖上打到對岸要carry約120yards, 而第11洞則更多. 這半年小玲的球技突飛猛進. 3W consistent地打到約140至160yards. 她很久已想回來征服這三個洞. 結果如願以償: 第9和18她用3W打過,而第11則用我的454driver打過(她沒有driver), 真是犀利! 相對我打了數年才能打過!
- 天公造美 - 近來不知為何不是下雨便是大風. 這天雖然黃昏預測有雨, 但是我們會在黃昏前打完. 整場波天上都有厚雲, 不是太冷, 也不用太陽油.
- 個波聽話 - 想距去邊距就去邊
- 前兩場打得太差
下面是這個場的layout:
小玲約半年前開始學打球, 以前曾經來過這個球場, 但是給圖中紅色箭嘴"過海"那三個洞(#9,11,18)難倒. 第9和18洞是signature holes,從崖上打到對岸要carry約120yards, 而第11洞則更多. 這半年小玲的球技突飛猛進. 3W consistent地打到約140至160yards. 她很久已想回來征服這三個洞. 結果如願以償: 第9和18她用3W打過,而第11則用我的454driver打過(她沒有driver), 真是犀利! 相對我打了數年才能打過! 至於寧木, 他的driver又直又遠, 平均至少有250yards. 第一個洞已是兩桿上green. In general他所有的iron shots也很solid. 很多洞也像PGA樣有birdie機會. 可惜他袋中最短的只有PW和我借他的一枝64-degree wedge. 因他平時沒有練wedge, 一到50yards內便難倒他. 很多機會也給他的short game白白浪費.
至於我, 在星期五晚看了Golf Channel的一個叫"Drive, Chip & Putt"關於Junior Golf的節目有點啟發. 這天在range練習時改了個swing少許. 結果像打得遠和consistent一點, 尤其是hybrid: 每次也打得solid, 想有160yards吧. Driver也比以前在這個場時打得遠. 結果PAR了兩個洞(front-9和back-9各一), 其中是很長的#6.
當然我們不是無敵 - 我們的short game都有待改進 - 尤其常有3至4putt.
最後小玲的分數是118(59-59), 寧木是105, 我是109(57-52). 在這較難的場算不錯吧!
訂閱：
文章 (Atom)
