I just want to share my experience with an advance demo at the BSO 2011 on Friday!
On the range itself, while other pros are warming up. Shucks, so excited tll I forgot to take many photos!
Tell your golf buddies you shared a range with Justin Rose (in red, duh!), Ernie (in 'uncle' grey), and Jimeniz (in white)
It seems like the whole Titleist SEA team has been activated to take care of you for this demo. From the guys (and girls) at the VIllage, to manning the booth right outside the range (Cheng!) so that you have the documentation to go into the range itself. The nice people at Titleist also gave a few small goodies to welcome you to their tent at the range.
Sadly, no hitting off the turf like the pros due to so many people coming to demo. However, was hitting Pro V1 practice balls!
Met Shawn and Suresh from K.L. at the demo area itself. No brought golf shoes, no issue. They let you try the latest FJ XPS-1, due to launch in S'pore very soon. No socks? They give u a FJ pair. They got you all covered. I know it is a IRONS demo, but I was slightly distracted over the XPS-1. Wow, the inside of the shoe is very much similar to FJ Sports, which I very much like the heel fitting (the cloth type, vs FJ Icons leather, which often makes me feel loose at the heels unless I take 0.5 size smaller). XPS-1 also felt abit higher off the ground but very stable. Fantastic. But only limited colorways at the moment, unfortunately!
Ok, Suresh friendly, chatted about the irons, my current game while we waited for the bays to clear. Warm up a few shots and started trackman. This is not about my swing (or lack of) so in summary, i was pulling it that day with a bad swing path, as Suresh correctly noted. But anyway, went on still to try AP1 and AP2s.
AP1 was very much forgiving, the dispersion was rather ok. Flight was a pull, a straight pull. Not a hook or a slice. Smash factor looked okay, was going about 155m carry on AP1 6i. Tried AP2 but going all over the place now, shorter too.
Not too much time to go through all the clubs or do an indepth trackman analysis. Can book for an advanced demo fitting (free with no obligations to buy, I was told) at Sentosa next week too. But, no, I don't want to go all the way back to Sentosa! So I'll see about that.
Most importantly, how was the 712 irons?
AP1 - Really playable. Not a max forgiveness kind of club like what other brands market some club as, but still, any average player with a decent swing will be able to enjoy this well. Look wise, at address, does not look very thick. Still pretty neat. Other than that, I like the slight dash of red. SEXY. Feels pretty solid with a nice sound when struck. I game forged irons so, expectedly, AP1 are more forgiving on me but the feel while not buttery soft, is pretty good for a cast iron, compared to other casts I played last time with. Overall, I LIKE IT.
AP2 - The colors looks classy to me compared to AP1, because no dash of red, it's all plain grey, black.. turn the club around and address it and viola, slightly thinner topline than AP1. But not so much thinner. Certainly if I can hit the AP1s I can hit the AP2s right. Unfortunately, not much time to try AP2 much on Friday. So I can't review much on the AP2s. Will love to strike on solid and see how it feels. Don't really remember making enough flush ones that day I think. I like the design overall.
Demo took about 15-20mins hitting balls and chatting over Trackman. Chatted with Cheng after that also while hanging around the Titleist tent checking out other products like SM4 wedges. Unfortunately, had to return the XPS-1 shoes.
So that was my experience, a rain soaked Saturday, oh no, Tom was telling me Sat was booked dead tight. Hope you guys still had the chance to try hitting!!
** A little off topic here **
Play was resuming on Day 2. This guy headed from the range after warm up 2 and to the putting green. After that, he walked back pass me and my friend to where his play was halted. I was struggling to find marker and cap from my bag for an autograph, but his caddie threw us one of his golf ball.
Fantastic day, Ernie's golf ball, Titleist 712 demo, little rain, happy!