Refinance rates move lower for Thursday

If you're thinking about refinancing, it may be a great time to lock in a rate.

from Bankrate.com » Mortgages http://ift.tt/2p9gPJm

Mortgage rates retreat for Thursday

If you're thinking about refinancing, it may be a great time to lock in a rate.

from Bankrate.com » Mortgages http://ift.tt/2p9vCUB

Mortgage rates retreat for Thursday

If you're thinking about refinancing, it may be a great time to lock in a rate.

from Bankrate.com » Mortgages http://ift.tt/2p9vCUB

First Look: Thin Ply Technology (TPT) Golf Shafts

TPT (Thin-Ply Technology) is not new to the world of high-end composite materials. The technology, now present in for the first time in a line of golf shafts, was originally used in sailing masts for the America's Cup. Its invention took TPT from an unknown to an 80% market share leader in just four years (2003-2007).

From there, the technology expanded to F-1 series race cars, skis, snowboards, and satellites. Recently the company entered the golf equipment realm.

The goal for this initial line of shafts was to produce the world's most consistent and uniform shaft, using a patented manufacturing technique called  "Thin-Ply Winding Method."

The vast majority of shafts are produced by wrapping sheets of material (flags) around a steel mandrel. If you've ever added "wraps" underneath a grip, this is a rudimentary analogy, but you get the picture. When sheets overlap a "spine" is created and while spines and how to orient them during shaft installation is the topic of much debate, TPT's proprietary winding technique eliminates spines from the conversation.

TPT shafts leverage longitudinal and off-axis plies to produce a shaft which has nearly uniform flex and torque regardless of shaft orientation.  An image of  D.N.A.'s double-helix is an appropriate visual to get the basic concept.

According to TPT, when compared to high-end shafts from other manufacturers, specifically Fujikura's Motore Speeder, its shafts varied less (as measured by CPM) regardless of shaft orientation. The yellow line represents the variation in CPM of the TPT shaft, and the blue line represents the variation in CPM of the Fujikura Motore Speeder shaft. The benefit is a shaft which offers nearly identical performance regardless of orientation. This is what TPT refers to as perfect concentricity.

TPT TECHNICAL INFO

Founder of TPT, François Mordasini makes the following claims:

• TPT utilizes both Intermediate Modulus (IM) and High Modulus (HM) materials in shaft construction
• IM fibers are used for longitudinally oriented plies (running from the top to the bottom of the shaft). These plies are comprised of the highest composite flexural modulus and the highest composite strength.
• Similarly, we choose the best HM fibers for the off-axis plies. Off-axis plies more or less form the double-helix wrap of the shaft. In this case, best means resistance to twisting.
• Once we have chosen the two fiber grades that best suit the requirements of the shaft, we optimize the resin content of the two materials.
• IM fibers we have experience with include Toray T800, T1000 and T1100, Hexcel IM7, IM8, IM9 and IM10 and Mitsubishi MR70.
• HM fibers that we use include Toray M46J, M55J and Mitsubishi HR40, HS40.

CURRENT LINE

This initial line features driver shafts targeted at players in four distinct swing speed groups, ranging from 60 MPH – 120 MPH. This "Blue" series is mid-torque throughout the line, but each swing speed has both a mid and low kick point version.

ON DECK

During 2017 TPT will expand offerings to include lower torque (lower spin) driver shafts, lighter weight driver shafts and a series of fairway-specific shafts. Iron shafts are on the horizon, but not expected to reach the market until sometime in 2018.

More Info

TPT Shafts are available through premium custom clubfitters like True Spec Golf and Club Champion. MSRP is $700.

For more information visit the TPT Golf Website. You can also follow TPT Golf on Instagram and Facebook.

 

from MyGolfSpy http://ift.tt/2p9jSRP

10 Stunning Flower Crafts to Make Mom

Click here to read 10 Stunning Flower Crafts to Make Mom on Hands On As We Grow

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Every mom loves to get flowers on Mother’s Day, right? Homemade flower crafts made by the kids is even better in my book!

This is something we started doing a couple years ago for the Grandmas. At first, it was just homemade cards, but now we’re getting a little craftier as the kids get older.

We’re stuck on flowers in this house. Flowers just seem fitting for Mother’s Day, don’t they?

If you’re over all the flowers for Mother’s Day, check out our non-flower crafts for mom too!

Here are a few flower crafts to get your wheels turning. It always does for me, and now that I’ve looked these all up again, I’m kicking myself for not doing some of these other flower ideas that are so incredibly cute!

There are many more spring crafts ideas for kids too if you want to try something other than flowers.

10 flower crafts for kids to make mom for Mother’s Day:

1. Try making some coffee filter flowers by dipping them in watercolors!
2. Simple tissue paper flowers are super easy to make, decorate them with markers and crayons if you’d like!
3. Use a variety of painting techniques and make some flower wall art for Mom!
4. Make some snowflake-like flowers for Mom, simple and cute idea found at Kitchen Counter Chronicles.
5. Paper cups can make a cute flower, too! These could be great for a front of a Mother’s Day card! Toddler Approved has the how-to.
6. Layered paper art turned into beautiful flowers to put on cards for Mom.
7. Accordion style cuteness! A whole lineup of crafty flowers that look so simple and so adorable. Mom would love these from Make and Takes.
8. A bunting of daffodils using egg cartons for their centers! NurtureStore is so creative as usual!
9. Go on a nature hunt and make a bracelet from real flowers for Mom! Frog, Goose and Bear made a beautiful corsage!
10. Sticky contact paper is a fun for the kids to use to create with. Cut the collage into flowers!

Don’t forget to make a vase to stick the flowers in for Mom, too! We made a yarn wrapped vase this year.

What’s so incredibly awesome about getting flower crafts the kids made is that they last forever! Literally years and years instead of just a few days. I love that Grandma still has the flowers we first made her!

Or you could just pick your mom some flowers from your own yard! Let your kid pick what they like around the house. Hey, dandelions are a favorite of most kids, let them pick at their own will!

from Hands On As We Grow http://ift.tt/1G9g5Jo

Mortgage rates dip for Wednesday

If you're thinking about refinancing, it may be a great time to lock in a rate.

from Bankrate.com » Mortgages http://ift.tt/2qs1bh8

Mortgage rates dip for Wednesday

If you're thinking about refinancing, it may be a great time to lock in a rate.

from Bankrate.com » Mortgages http://ift.tt/2qs1bh8