Question:

The new Precept bag is nice, too.  The stand can retract and you can cover it and zip it up.  Very convenient for when you’re riding.  Cost is about $130 US.

A friend recommended the Jones bag.  Anyone have any thoughts on that? Scott Douglas

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A friend recommended the Jones bag.  Anyone have any thoughts on that?

Yes, I also recommend the Jones bag, especially if you are rough on bags – the most durable bag and stand around. — — — David "Thor" Collard — http://ttsoft.com/thor

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If they have the Izzo Delight in AU, go look at it.  it is a great bag.  It has full length dividers that the Hoofer does not have.  It obviously has the Izzo straps and padding on the bag for lower back.

I work at a golf club and play at least twice a week, sometimes carrying my bag for 36 holes… I’m really happy I got my Izzo Delight 2 years ago… its served me well, really durable and has an adjustable stand which I set up to deploy once the edge hits the ground. It helps get the stand out on hilly lies.. the courses I play feature lots of inclines. Lots of my buddies are using the Hoofer to great effect too. So I’d say its a toss up between the Izzo and Hoofer.

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How is the Izzo stand adjustable? I looked at the "Delight" model today and although it looks wonderful, I couldn’t see where the stand was adjustable. — Lee B.

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – If they have the Izzo Delight in AU, go look at it.  it is a great bag. It has full length dividers that the Hoofer does not have.  It obviously has the Izzo straps and padding on the bag for lower back. I work at a golf club and play at least twice a week, sometimes carrying my bag for 36 holes… I’m really happy I got my Izzo Delight 2 years ago… its served me well, really durable and has an adjustable stand which I set up to deploy once the edge hits the ground. It helps get the stand out on hilly lies.. the courses I play feature lots of inclines. Lots of my buddies are using the Hoofer to great effect too. So I’d say its a toss up between the Izzo and Hoofer.

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Shoes are great, although a bit embarrasing sometimes because of the tracks I leave behind me on soft greens. Also, I have to be very careful how I walk with them, because with a ribbed design they can pull up a decent bit of fairway if I drag my foot backwards. Of course I’ve only had cheap shoes before the Reeboks, but they are definitely the best I’ve used. We’ll see what they’re like in 50 rounds though!

yeah that’s always the indicator. at the high end most, as long as they fit feel great. what generally separates them in the long run is how they wear. Thanks for the advice regarding stand bags. I know you have a Hoofer and are really happy with it, but I’m struggling to justify AU$150 (Wilson) let alone AU$250 (Taylor Made, Nike) or AU$300 (Ping). It’s a case of the straw that broke the wallet’s spine. I can’t make myself spend that extra $50, even though relatively it’s not much.

i don’t know if it will help you rationalize it. but the ping i personally feel will last longer than either of the choices you listed above. even if it lasts one more season the extra $50 is probably worth it imho. How/where do they fall apart? Stand mechanism, Izzo straps, zippers, dividers….? Just searching for points to look at when

comparing bags. no i’ve seen a few which the loop holding the d-ring perished. the d-ring tears out and you can’t connenct the strap to anything. a minor problem with a major outcome!!! the other gripe is the thin nylon they use tears relatively easily. and i’ve seen a couple which have had small nicks become big tears in a short amount of time. the one i had the stitching of the main zipper came undone and i ended up with a big hole up the side of the bag. i planned on taking it to a boot maker to get fixed but then the d-ring pulled out during a pennant match and i tossed it in the bin at the end of the game. What about the advantages/disadvantages of carrying generally? Ever get sick of it, or get the old bag out and drag it around?

hmm…. no don’t get sick of it unless it rains unexpectedly. i usually take  my staff bag / buggy combination out when it looks like it’s going to be wet but sometimes you can’t tell or make a bad gamble and you come home wet. i think the biggest problem actually is that while you are able to keep your clubs relatively dry unless the rain becomes torrential, once the carry straps get wet then your back gets wet and seeing these are among the most important muscles in a golf swing thats not a good thing. but on the whole i’d say i’m carrying about 95% of the time. the benefits of carrying?? well first is ease of loading and unlaoding at the golf course. i’m actually so lazy i put my softspikes on at home and drive with them so that all i have to do is pull the clubs out of the boot when i get to the course!! other advantages it’s generally faster as you can walk more of a straight line especially around greens. sometimes with a buggy you get caught and have to walk right around a fenced off section of green etc. i also find a few little things i like. for example you have both hands free. you can score while you walk or in winter have both hands in pockets etc. just a couple of points about the ping. it does have some negative features which you may want to consider. the double straps are very comfortable but unfortunately are like big sponges. once wet they stay that way. i don’t know why ping hasn’t started using air filled foam like a lot of the other companies. the lack of an internal support means that the bag is very light even though the nylon used to make it is about the heaviest of any stand bag. the downside to this is that clubs can tangle, it doesn’t bother me much but some guys can’t stand it. the aluminium legs while sturdy enough for general use can’t take any abuse as i found out in a mishap between them and a hurled sw. i hope you are happy with whatever you choose. fwiw i got my bag at the trade price of $260 i’m seeing the guy today who arranged that and i’ll ask if he can get me another for the same price if you want. might make it easier to swallow. brett

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   Sun Mountain Sports makes Ping Bags. You can buy the bag without the ping name for a lot less than te one with the Ping name on it. I have aSun Mountain Sport carry bag and it;s just like the Ping bag. Mine is about 6 years old. You can also purchase just about any kind of bag as an off brand and they’re just as good and they have all the same features.

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If they have the Izzo Delight in AU, go look at it.  it is a great bag.  It has full length dividers that the Hoofer does not have.  It obviously has the Izzo straps and padding on the bag for lower back.

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I agree – carry bags are vastly improved with a lightweight stand.  Keeps your clubs off the mud/grass trimmings/etc., and keeps you from bending over all the time to pick up your bag. I use a Cobra double-strap bag,  Just got it, so I can’t attest to it’s durability, but I really like it so far.  Plenty of pocket space, roomy club area, and the coolest thing is it’s a triple strap.  Has a double strap to sling over both shoulders and in addition to that a simgle strap for carrying short distances.  Plus it’s very lightweight.  It’s selling for $125-$150 US. The new Precept bag is nice, too.  The stand can retract and you can cover it and zip it up.  Very convenient for when you’re riding.  Cost is about $130 US. Chris

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – BTW .. I think the stand is totally unecessary Really??? I really wasn’t expecting anyone to give that impression. The first time I saw a standbag (and after testing to make sure it didn’t weight a ton), I though it was a fantastic invention. Without a stand I wouldn’t think of a carry bag, same goes for the double strap. — Richard "The way I see things is that we are scratching our heads when our bums are itchy." – Mike Amm, rsru, 8/5/98 replace "leadtogold" with "alchemist" for email

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I have had a Sun Mountain bag,for the past three years or so and has held up very well,I love it.It is light,well designed for carrying, much better than other bags I’ve had and seen.I carry all the time and my playing partner has gone through two bags during the same time.I would highly recommend one to you,they just redesigned them and I may be getting a new one.Good luck,Tom – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – BTW .. I think the stand is totally unecessary Really??? I really wasn’t expecting anyone to give that impression. The first time I saw a standbag (and after testing to make sure it didn’t weight a ton), I though it was a fantastic invention. Without a stand I wouldn’t think of a carry bag, same goes for the double strap. — Richard "The way I see things is that we are scratching our heads when our bums are itchy." – Mike Amm, rsru, 8/5/98 replace "leadtogold" with "alchemist" for email

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The ping bag is the best.  Save up some more or win a couple of comps to buy it at you proshop Really, it is the best you can get.  I think unfortunately that you can only get them in single strap now in Australia unless you pay to get the extra strap.  Try Golf World and Nevada Bob or look in the trading post or ask your pro f he can get you a discount(always the best idea ) – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Well, I managed to get some new shoes from the wife (Reebok Tracs – excellent, comfortable and dry spikeless shoes), and some rain gear from the olds for my birthday. Now my bag has started to fall apart and I’m considering purchasing a dual-strap carry bag with built-in stand. While the Ping Hoofer has had rave reviews here it’s also AU$100 more than the others, which puts it well out of my price range. The bags I’m considering are the Taylor Made Durango (preference) and the Nike. Can anyone give me their opinion of these bags? Or carrying, or stand bags or double-straps (loops and Izzo) generally? I’d hate to spend more than AU$200 and then within a few rounds want to go back to dragging the buggy. Thanks in advance. — Richard "The way I see things is that we are scratching our heads when our bums are itchy." – Mike Amm, rsru, 8/5/98 replace "leadtogold" with "alchemist" for email

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What about the advantages/disadvantages of carrying generally? Ever get sick of it, or get the old bag out and drag it around?

I used to carry and decided I would buy a bigger bag for the storage space and get a pull cart. Within a few months I wanted to start carring again but the new bag I bought was way too heavy to carry. Now I am waiting and hoping for the big bag to fall apart so I can justify buying a new stand bag. I had always bought cheap bags before this one and decided to buy a quality bag and spend some extra money so the bag would last longer. As I patiently wait, it may never fall apart. C.J. Elmore ( great golfer wannabe ) Tool & Die maker / Toolroom Supervisor WEB Tool & Mfg. (a division of PENTAIR)

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every taylor bag that i have seen falls to pieces in the first 2 seasons. maybe i just hang around with the wrong guys. How/where do they fall apart? Stand mechanism, Izzo straps, zippers, dividers….? Just searching for points to look at when comparing bags.

I decided to start carrying (as opposed to pulling) a couple of months ago – got a Titleist lightweight carry bag (only a single strap though, not dual).  I like it – I have 14 clubs, couple of sweaters, couple of large boxes of balls, drink bottle, snacks, shag bag etc all in there, and it still doesn’t feel heavy.  No back strain at all, and the strap is very comfortable. Didn’t buy one with an integral stand, as I was worried that if the stand broke the whole bag would be a write-off, so I got a lightweight strap-on stand that works just as well and can be replaced easily. The bag cost 54 GBP, and the stand was 10.99 – don’t know how that works out in Australian dollars, but I’d guess it would be in the kind of range you’re looking for, if prices are comparable between UK and Oz. Cheers, — Steve Walker Clear a table, kill a snake.

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bag and cart. I’ve had an Izzo double strap on my bag for about 6 years and it’s still in great shape, the bag is a different story.  So I just bought a new bag with a stand…it is a Daytech or maybe Daytrek? I didn’t pay much attention to the name.  It came with an Izzo strap and is light and the SunMountain and a Nike bag……It looked to be as good a quality for significantly less…….189 $Canadian…….  I think it great YMMV Lorry — Stay Calm    Be Brave   Wait for the sign snip snip snip

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Thanks for your advice Lorry. When I’m looking around the store at the carry bags I’m put off the round, solid-looking ones because they look as though they’d be bulky and uncomfortable. It must mean I’ve got expensive tastes, because the only one’s I’ve liked have been the top-line models. Oh well. — Richard "The way I see things is that we are scratching our heads when our bums are itchy." – Mike Amm, rsru, 8/5/98 replace "leadtogold" with "alchemist" for email

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Richard …the Daytrek? is an oval, flattish bag, much like the TM or the Nike and it’s as light or lighter than any of the "deluxe" bags.  I’ve carried enough to know that a "Trademark" doesn’t make up for poor pocket design or extra weight…..BTW .. I think the stand is totally unecessary but around here you can’t buy a top quality bag without a built in stand… (I had a stand on my old bag for a few years but discarded it ’cause it was pain in the ass..when your bag is on the ground it can’t fall over)…Lorry — Stay Calm    Be Brave   Wait for the sign snipsnipsnip

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BTW .. I think the stand is totally unecessary

Really??? I really wasn’t expecting anyone to give that impression. The first time I saw a standbag (and after testing to make sure it didn’t weight a ton), I though it was a fantastic invention. Without a stand I wouldn’t think of a carry bag, same goes for the double strap. — Richard "The way I see things is that we are scratching our heads when our bums are itchy." – Mike Amm, rsru, 8/5/98 replace "leadtogold" with "alchemist" for email

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Well, I managed to get some new shoes from the wife (Reebok Tracs – excellent, comfortable and dry spikeless shoes), and some rain gear from the olds for my birthday. Now my bag has started to fall apart and I’m considering purchasing a dual-strap carry bag with built-in stand. While the Ping Hoofer has had rave reviews here it’s also AU$100 more than the others, which puts it well out of my price range. The bags I’m considering are the Taylor Made Durango (preference) and the Nike. Can anyone give me their opinion of these bags? Or carrying, or stand bags or double-straps (loops and Izzo) generally? I’d hate to spend more than AU$200 and then within a few rounds want to go back to dragging the buggy. Thanks in advance. — Richard "The way I see things is that we are scratching our heads when our bums are itchy." – Mike Amm, rsru, 8/5/98 replace "leadtogold" with "alchemist" for email

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Well, I managed to get some new shoes from the wife (Reebok Tracs – excellent, comfortable and dry spikeless shoes), and some rain gear from the olds for my birthday. Now my bag has started to fall apart and I’m considering purchasing a dual-strap carry bag with built-in stand.

richard, glad you like the shoes. seems that you are scoring quite a bit of gear …. you must be getting serious as for the bag i can olnly offer this. i’ve had 3 stand bags to date. i got a taylor bag in i guess ‘95 it lasted about 6 months before falling apart. replaced it with a mizuno which was great only drawbacks is that it was heavy and only had a single strap. i then bought a second strap which cost about $30. i was comparing it to the ping at the time and thought that the $80 difference represented good value. by the time i added the second strap the difference was $50. i carried it for about a year or so before lugging around a friends hoofer in a couple of vardon events. bought mine a month or so later (paid around $260 i recall). so i know this is not what you want to hear but you get what you pay for. the ping bag is by far the best that i have seen or used. i’ve had it 2 full seasons now and walked about 200+ rounds with it. it lives in the boot of my leaking vk commodore for extended periods of time and as yet it is still in almost perfect shape. i fully expect another 3 seasons minimum with it. so 5 years for an extra $100 works out to not much at all imho. if you really don’t want to pay the extra for the ping. i have a friend who bought a powerbuilt bag which is basically a copy of the hoofer. only has a single strap though which he fixed with "the loop". cost was about $150 including the loop and it seems to be holding up pretty well. every taylor bag that i have seen falls to pieces in the first 2 seasons. maybe i just hang around with the wrong guys. the nikes look nice but seem to be expensive for a very simple bag. ymmv. if you want my advice go for the ping it will probably work out cheaper in the long run. brett

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richard, glad you like the shoes. seems that you are scoring quite a bit of gear …. you must be getting serious

Shoes are great, although a bit embarrasing sometimes because of the tracks I leave behind me on soft greens. Also, I have to be very careful how I walk with them, because with a ribbed design they can pull up a decent bit of fairway if I drag my foot backwards. Of course I’ve only had cheap shoes before the Reeboks, but they are definitely the best I’ve used. We’ll see what they’re like in 50 rounds though! Regarding all the purchases, as you know I’ve only recently (6-8 months ago) joined a club and started to play regularly. I guess my equipment was on it’s way out and it’s all fallen apart at the same time! Thanks for the advice regarding stand bags. I know you have a Hoofer and are really happy with it, but I’m struggling to justify AU$150 (Wilson) let alone AU$250 (Taylor Made, Nike) or AU$300 (Ping). It’s a case of the straw that broke the wallet’s spine. I can’t make myself spend that extra $50, even though relatively it’s not much. every taylor bag that i have seen falls to pieces in the first 2 seasons. maybe i just hang around with the wrong guys.

How/where do they fall apart? Stand mechanism, Izzo straps, zippers, dividers….? Just searching for points to look at when comparing bags. the nikes look nice but seem to be expensive for a very simple bag. ymmv.

Nike is actually the choice of a friend of mine, I don’t like the look of them that much. Stand mechanism is the same as the Taylor Made, as is the strap arrangement. Mostly, I can’t see myself walking down the fairway with a big swoosh visible from any angle. No problem with "Ping" or Tayloy Made emblem, just that damn swoosh . if you want my advice go for the ping it will probably work out cheaper in the long run.

Thanks. I’ll think carefully about it. What about the advantages/disadvantages of carrying generally? Ever get sick of it, or get the old bag out and drag it around? — Richard "The way I see things is that we are scratching our heads when our bums are itchy." – Mike Amm, rsru, 8/5/98 replace "leadtogold" with "alchemist" for email

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