Lately I’ve been experimenting with making furniture and learning to distress wood. What started by making wine bottle tiki torches has turned into a passion for upcycling and DIYing all kinds of household items. Here’s how the DIY furniture part all began: The Problems with Some Wood Furniture When I learned that most furniture contains...
Continue Reading...How to Distress Wood With Tea, Vinegar, and Steel Wool
If you want an honest indicator of where your game is at any given point in time, take a few swings with a utility iron: it’s golf’s ultimate canary in a coal mine. If you’re swinging well, the utility iron can be an awesome weapon – precise, long and deadly. They’re more controllable than a hybrid and excessively fun to hit.
If you’re swinging well.
If you’re not swinging well, hitting a utility iron is like juggling chainsaws. Someone – most likely you, is going to get hurt badly.
Utility irons go by many names – there’s the HI, the Fli Hi, the Iron-Wood, the Crossover and the L.I.F.T. (Long Iron For Tour – TaylorMade can’t help itself). Hell, Bagger Vance gave Rannulph Junuh a Jigger for the big match against Walter and Bobby.
Today’s utility irons are a hell of a lot more versatile and forgiving than your old man’s driving iron or Junnah’s Jigger. Oh, you still need some game to bag one, but hollow body construction, wider soles, and lower CGs make modern utility irons more forgiving, higher launching and a hell of a lot easier for us regular people to hit than long irons.
As a category, utility irons are kind of like blades. Most of us find blades dead-sexy, but most of us also believe we don't have the game for them. Utility irons have a certain eye-appeal and are more user-friendly than a decade ago, but most of us still gravitate towards hybrids because they're easier to hit still.
Demand (or lack thereof) limits the market, and so there’s no particular reason for any manufacturer to come out with a new one every year. Take, for example, Callaway's new X-Forged UT. It's the first upgrade to the company's X utility iron in nearly 3½ years.
You may remember Callaway’s X Utility Prototype. It came out in 2012 and featured a shallow face, a tuning port for swing weight and a deep center of gravity, and while it wasn’t the first modern utility iron, you can make a case it helped re-popularize the concept despite its somewhat funky look.
The slightly more traditional looking Apex Utility replaced the Prototype in September of 2014. Despite the Apex name, appearance-wise it didn’t fit as an extension of the Apex CG 16/Pro 16 iron line. We'd classify it as more of a non-hybrid long iron replacement for the Apex MB.
There's no incongruity this time around. The new X-Forged UT, in looks and name, is a perfect complement to Callaway’s new X-Forged Irons.
Take notice of a couple of changes to the X-Forged UT that might actually matter. First, the removable weight found in both the X Utility Prototype and the Apex Utility is gone; replaced by the industry's go-to tungsten insert. Callaway says the change not only keeps the center of gravity low but makes it possible to position that CG in the center of the club face. As tungsten usually does, it also helps raise MOI (forgiveness) while still retaining the lower, more penetrating, ball flight golfers expect from their long irons.
The second change is the addition of one of Callaway’s core technologies; 360 Face Cup. It's the same tech you’d find in Callaway’s Fairway Woods, Steelhead irons, and several other popular Callaway products. As a refresher - 360 Face Cup is Callaway’s method for maximizing deflection across a wider portion of the club face. It's your requisite minimize distance loss on off-center hits story, and its inclusion in a long iron replacement club will likely bring real benefit.
Want to win a…
Enter MyGolfSpy’s Giveaway!
An expanded set of loft offerings suggests Callaway will seek to position the X-Forged UT as more versatile than its previous utility irons. Where the Apex Utility was only available in 2 through 4 irons (18°, 21° and 24° degree lofts), the X-Forged UT, with its 27° 5-iron and a 30° 6-iron may creep into the middle of some bags in much the same way that Mizuno's MP18 MMC Fli-HIs and Titleist's T-MBs have.
The lofts on each of the X-Forged UTs is 1° weaker than the corresponding club in the new X-Forged iron set. That's almost certainly an adjustment for the inherent design differences between the X-Forged Utility and the standard X-Forged set. That bit of added loft should make for closer-to-seamless gapping.
Not that options for lefties, #2 and #3 only, are limited.
Okay, so utility irons aren’t sexy, and even Callaway isn't making a particularly big deal out of the X-Forged UT. Sufficed to say the press material is a good bit lighter than what we've seen recently. Sometimes straightforward and simple is better, and in this case, that's likely a nod to the reality that, while important to tour staff (the word is Sergio is bagging one), and potentially useful to the better players among us, utility irons aren't huge retail needle-movers.
The three-year product cycle makes sense.
That said, utility irons do offer a non-hybrid, long iron alternative. If you tend to hook hybrids off the planet, if you can’t reconcile swinging something that looks like a mini-fairway wood the way you’d swing an iron, or if you simply want fewer head covers in your bag, a utility iron can be a useful alternative.
If you’re swinging well.
If you’re not, watch out for those chainsaws.
Callaway’s X-Forged UT will sell for $249.99, and will be available at retail January 19th.
Where do I start with today’s guest? Her list of contributions to the health world is just staggering. JJ Virgin is a celebrity nutritionist and food intolerance specialist, fitness expert, host of her own podcast, author of four New York Times bestsellers, co-host of TLC’s Freaky Eaters, and a regular guest on shows like Dr....
Continue Reading...125: Understanding Food Intolerance & Fighting for Your Family with JJ Virgin
We are independent, unbiased and always put you the #ConsumerFirst. Our job is your game. Our mission is to inform and protect you the golf consumer.
That being said, the road to finding the best performing golf equipment every year for consumers is a difficult one. We use a science based testing system and a proprietary data algorithm to help solve this complex problem for golfers all over the world. This year we will collect over 50,000 swings and 1,000,000 data points. These tests will be seen and help over 7 Million golfers in 2018 make more informed buying decisions. We test equipment head-to-head so you will know how the clubs perform best for you before you buy.
The majority of the golf equipment manufacturers support our unbiased testing along with other testing done by other golf media outlets. However, there is the occasion where a company declines to participate. The companies that declined to participate in this year's test have done a great job marketing their products and often have the most to lose by participating in independent testing. So, while we understand they may decline based on their individual business interests, our only interest is you, the consumer.
That means we have to test these products even when manufacturers decline to participate voluntarily.
Today, we ask for your help. And for that help, everything you give to us will be given right back to you (more on that below). Below is a list of all the companies that are supporting unbiased testing for 2018. The companies who chose not to support our testing are also listed.
Below is the list of products we hope to buy and test for you:
For everything you give to us, we will give back to you plus a little more.
All those that donate today and support unbiased testing will get the following:
2017 was a pretty good year for fans of Bettinardi putters. Not only did the company give us solid updates to the Studio Stock and Queen B lines, but Bettinardi also pushed the boundaries of putter aesthetics and design with some limited edition releases.
The limited offerings began with the 2017 Tiki BB1, followed in March by a run of 200 copper-faced Queen B6 putters. The Armageddon BB1 incorporated no small dose of military-themed styling, and also introduced us to the new uPatch headcover, which followed was also released separately soon after.
Bettinardi completed their 2017 recipe by mixing in a bit of MGS forum member testing, adding a dollop of John Barba’s chat with Bob and Sam Bettinardi, and topping it off with the top-weighting-makes-better-rolling Antidote putter line. Let’s not forget that they sweetened their staff list in December by adding Francesco Molinari to the Bettinardi family.
Finally, let’s not overlook The Hive where the Bettinardi lover can find new limited-run putters on an almost weekly basis. If you have the means, and time it right, you can find something truly one of a kind in The Hive.
2017 was a solid year for Bettinardi and its fans, and 2018 looks to continue in the same fashion.
In addition to the new core models that we unveiled last month, Bettinardi plans to release limited edition putters throughout 2018. The first is the 2018 BB1 Tiki.
Our new, 2018 Limited Run Tiki putter offers you a little slice of Hawaii to kick of the New Year! This putter, limited to only 250 pieces worldwide, is milled from our Soft Carbon steel and finished in a matte black PVD finish, which truly enhances the unique milling characteristics and paint scheme of this classic BB1 head style. The tribal Tiki turtle featured on the sole symbolizes long life, strength, and stability, and good luck entering the New Year. The decorative and intricate milling on the face and neck incorporates shark’s teeth, spears, and ocean waves, putting you at ease on the greens thinking about the laid-back Hawaiian life style. This BB1 comes paired with a matching Made in USA leather headcover, black leather Gripmaster grip, and will be available January 11th at select Bettinardi specialty dealers and through The Hive at Bettinardi.com
As in previous years, the first limited release putter of the 2018 season is a Hawaiian-themed BB1. This Tiki features carbon steel construction and a matte black PVD finish to fight both glare and rust.
Perhaps the most interesting feature is the uniquely milled F.I.T. face. The artistry of the design stopped me and my tracks. While Bettinardi's F.I.T. milling typically softens up the feel at impact, that isn’t the story here.
When you look at the face, you can't help but appreciate the detail in the milling. Sure, the turtles on the putter are cute too, but what cements the theme, and sets this Tiki BB1 apart from other limited-run putters, is the face milling.
I can’t remember ever seeing so much detail in a milled face. I think that this, more than any other feature, really nails down the Hawaiian theme. It makes me want to build a Tiki bar at my house, just so that I can hang this putter up on the wall behind that bar. When it’s not out rolling balls, of course.
There are only 250 of these available, so if you want the 2018 BB1 Tiki, you had better hit your Bettinardi specialty dealer or The Hive on January 11th. Some will grumble about the $495 price tag, but I am certain that these will sell out in a hurry regardless.
The Tiki sets the stage for what should be an exciting year for Bettinardi Limited Editions. If Tiki milling is any indication of what's to come, I can't wait to see what's next.
Click here to read Sensory Tub With A Twist: DIY Matching Game on Hands On As We Grow
This sensory tub from Lisa with a twist is a perfect activity to create a fun do-it-yourself sensory matching game for your child.
Use your child’s current interests or keep their needs in mind and add some fun to their learning.
My kindergartner is really into numbers and number recognition lately. I focused on numbers one through seven for this specific activity.
If numbers are not appropriate for your child, you could create matching colors, shapes, letters, or even pictures.
To set up this activity, I quickly dyed some rice with food coloring.
I arranged the rice in a variety of large bowls. You could use one large bin as well.
I used plastic spoons that I had on hand and a black sharpie marker to write the numbers on in matching pairs.
After I numbered the spoons, I arranged them in the rice. I made sure they were evenly mixed and spread out.
I challenged my kindergartner to find the matching pairs of numbers on spoons.
He loved this challenge!
He has played simple memory games before but loved the different set up for this activity. The added sensory aspect of the rice gave it a special twist.
As he went through the process of finding the numbers, he called each number out loud as he pulled it from the rice.
This activity is great for focus, concentration, number recognition, and memory retention.
Once he had found all seven pairs, he decided to line them up in the correct number order on the table.
Practice numbers with this fun game!
Next,he used each spoon to put that number of scoops of rice into bowls. He used the seven spoon to scoop seven times.
I made sure to put out some small cups and scoops for him to add to his sensory play.
He started to use the number on the spoons to scoop the correct amount into the bowls. For example, he used the number seven spoon to put seven scoops into the bowl.
His big brother joined in on the fun. Together they started to combine numbers to make a bowl of soup.
It’s a great way to practice early addition skills! I love observing how my children’s play evolves through open-ended activities!
They spent 45 minutes scooping and pouring, rearranging spoons, and creating imaginary scenarios with the rice and spoons.
Even my seven-year-old loved this activity. I thought that he might be too old for it, but he proved me wrong!
This was a definite activity win in my books!
The elementary library will offer library book checkout and exchange on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday mornings from 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m., beginning January 2. Access will be through the kindergarten to second grade side doors of the library. Due to limited staffing over the holidays, it is imperative that students are accompanied and supervised by a parent. Happy reading!
