Month: December 2017

Categories
GOLF Uncategorized

Giga Golf Irons – A Beginner’s Opinion

First Impressions of Giga Golf Clubs

Like pretty much every other Golf enthusiast on a budget I’ve looked into the possibility of playing clone, or custom small manufacturers clubs.  After extensive research of a number of brands I decided to give Giga Golf Irons a chance.  Some key factors that went into my decision were their direct from manufacturer approach, custom club assembly, and ease of contact.  I was actually able to speak with the President of the company Robert Wilson before making a purchase.  They also offer an online Efit system for getting your clubs fit for your body size.  Although it isn’t a foolproof method, it should work for most.  I already knew my proper sizing, and the Efit method confirmed it so it would have worked for me.  As a lefty my choices were limited, but fortunately they did have a game Improvement Iron that seemed suitable.  Their manufacturing facility is located in Florida.  Even though I was having the clubs custom built, and I placed the order on the 19th of December.  The clubs arrived at my door in Toronto, Ontario nine days later.  Needless to say I was very impressed with the speed my order was fulfilled.

Love at First Sight

Upon opening the box that contained my new Irons I was pleasantly surprised.  To be fair I wasn’t expecting to be impressed with the looks of the TRX Power Slot Irons.  A set including five Iron through Pitching Wedge without any shaft or grip upgrades comes out to only $225 Canadian including delivery.  Compare that to the Taylormade, and Srixon Irons sets I was looking at that were $500+.  Expecting them to be aesthetically pleasing, and function well seemed like too much to hope for.  Even the pictures on the Giga Golf website appeared a bit cheesy looking.  Seeing them up close for the first time.  The subtle style touches, thin topline, and mixture of reflective and matt surfaces look great.  If these Irons perform half as well as advertised I’ll be more than satisfied.  The suggested shafts by True Temper look great, and even their basic grip by Sensatec in midsize feels good.  Giga Golf does offer a number of grip upgrades by Golf Pride, Lamkin, and Winn but my preferred grip wasn’t one of them so I decided to go with their basic grip at no additional charge.  If it doesn’t perform well I can just regrip the clubs later.  Giga Golf allows you to order clubs individually so I only ordered the 6 Iron, 7 Iron, 8 Iron, 9 Iron, and Pitching Wedge.  As a High handicapper I believe that the best combination of clubs in the bag include Hybrid Clubs.  My current set includes a 3 Hybrid, 4 Hybrid, and 5 Hybrid so I didn’t require the 5 Iron.  Removing the one club saved me around $25.

An Ongoing Review of Giga Golf Irons

You would expect that with all of the information available on the internet you could find a review of Giga Golf Irons that included Carry and total Distance numbers, Spin rpms, and Launch angles.  Well you can’t.  Sure there are unboxing videos, and product information reviews but those don’t really tell you how good their clubs may actually be.  Not only will I be testing these Irons on the course, but I’ll also get you all of the numbers in a Simulator.  What you have probably been craving for most is direct comparisons of Giga Golf Clubs against the top manufacturers.  Well I’ll have that too!  So be sure to Subscribe to my Blog, and YouTube Channel to finally learn how much of a difference the Top manufacturers equipment gains you.

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Categories
FANTASY Uncategorized

We are the Champions – Sports Fanatics play Fantasy SF-37

Consistency wins

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In both of my featured Fantasy Football leagues the highest average scoring team in the League won the Championship.  All is right in the Fantasy universe.  If you have played Fantasy Football for a few years you will know that that isn’t always the case.  It’s Fantasy Football, so absolutely anything can happen.  What makes the right thing happening so special this Season is that my Grid Warriors team was the highest scoring team in the Gridiron Pros Fantasy Football League.  Which means I have retaken the Championship in my longest running Keeper league.  😁 I managed a fourth place finish in the other feature league.  I lost the semi-final to the eventual Champion Texas Proud.  Trust me when I tell you that it didn’t come as a surprise.  I predicted them to win it all Mid Season.

Top 6 Final standings

Gridiron Pros

True Fanatics

Coming out on top as the eventual Champion this Season was especially special.  There were an unprecedented amount of Star Player injuries, underperforming, and overperforming teams, and amazing rookie seasons.  Who would have predicted that the Jacksonville Jaguars would make the playoffs, and the Dallas Cowboys or Denver Broncos wouldn’t.  Some of the top performing Quarterbacks at the end of the Season were backups at the beginning.  Finishing first this year means you stayed one step ahead of it all.

Dawn of a new age

I hinted in my last Fantasy post that Fantasy Football has been dramatically changed.   For at least the last five Seasons the primary focus of Fantasy drafts have been about Running Backs.  Year after year it seemed like the number of quality Running Backs continuously diminished.  More teams adopted the Running Back by committee approach.  Utilizing two or three Running Backs each and every game.  Reducing the value of each back to fantasy irrelevance.  The NFL has slowly transitioned into a passing league.  Further limiting the value of Running Backs.  Their increased chance of injury coupled with the concussion protocol system means that most of the top Running Backs will miss at least a few games.  If you didn’t draft a quality RB early you were really hoping to get lucky with a backup, or fantasy relevant third down back.  Well next year things are going to be a lot different.  The recent crop of star rookie Running Backs, backups that excelled when given an opportunity, and teams that have switched to a Run heavy offence will dramatically change next Season’s draft.  Coming in to this Season there was only about 10 potential high value Running Backs.  In a 12 team League which I consider to be the most competitive that left very few to go around.  By the time you draft next summer things will be much different.  I can count on at least 20 high quality Running Backs being available in next Season’s draft, and that’s not including Rookies.  If Ezekiel Elliott, Leonard Fournette, and Kareem Hunt haven’t convinced you how important a Rookie Running Back can be to your team then you probably shouldn’t be playing Fantasy Football next Season.  There’s at least another 10 after the first 20 that will be fantasy relevant, and could help you win a Championship.  Gone are the days of the First Round Running Back pick, or you’re in trouble drafts.  With that many quality Running Backs available you can afford to wait until the third Round before you draft your first RB.  It is my belief that the NFL currently has more star power now at every skill position than it’s had in over a decade.  The only skill position that’s at all lacking is Tight End, and it’s the least important in Fantasy.  My Grid Warriors team won this Season with a combination of Charles Clay, Hunter Henry, Eric Ebron, and Austin Hooper.  That’s how unimportant it is.  Due to the wealth of talent there’s only one draft strategy that’s viable in my opinion next Season.

Take the best Player available!

Position picking will be far less important next year than in years previous.  Where I used to be concerned about drafting a Top 10 Running Back in either Round 1 or 2, it won’t matter now.  If you drafted a stud Wide Receiver in Round 3, and when your fourth Round pick comes around there’s another great WR.  Don’t even think twice about it, draft him.  I used to stack my bench with Running Backs in case my first or second rounder went down with an injury.  Trust me when I tell you that I won’t be doing it next year.  There are so many quality backups that I’ll pick one up off the waiver wire when I need one.  Managers would stress over when to draft a Top tier QB.  Well let me be the first to tell you that next Season should have you stress free.  There were so many great QB performances this year that picking one early doesn’t make sense at all.  Next Season should actually be better.  I guarantee that a number of Backup Quarterbacks that were given a chance to strut their stuff will be full time starters on another squad nest Season.  It was already leaning that way the last couple of Seasons.  So much so that I was able to draft Matthew Stafford in the 10th Round this Season as my primary Starter, and used both Tyrod Taylor as a backup early in the Season, and Blake Bortles later in the Season.  Blake Bortles was in my lineup for the Semi-final and Championship games by the way.  Blake Bortles!  As next Season draws closer I’ll go into far more depth about each position, and why drafting the best available is your only option for success.

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Categories
GAMING

The Dos & Don’ts of Family Gaming – The Gamer in me GL-21

YOU’VE BEEN WARNED

Many of us will be spending a lot of time with our families over the holidays. The more time you spend with them the greater the chance that you will end up playing a few games.  Family Gaming can be absolutely great. Beware of making the classic mistakes that can turn a fun night into a warzone.

PROPER GAME SELECTION

Picking the right game to play with your family is key to having a successful day. There are an endless amount of choices so choosing the right game might not be as easy as you think. You can’t just open a pack of cards, and be done with it. Or can you? Card Games are a classic favourite with many families. A single deck of cards can provide hours of entertainment. So many different games can be played requiring minimal set up, and a rereading of the rules generally isn’t necessary. Everyone remembers how to play, and quite a few of the games require a fair amount of luck to win. The luck factor is very important. It means that one family member is unlikely to win every game. Well there you have it then. Cards are the perfect family game. Well hold on for a second. Not every card game is appropriate for a family get together.

Card Game Dos & Don’ts

As popular as Poker has become over the last decade. Suggesting that the family play Poker together over the holidays is a seriously bad idea. Everyone has a different amount of expendable income. Some people can afford to play Poker and lose. There are those that winning is really the only option. By suggesting a game of Poker you are essentially saying that you have money to burn, or you are arrogantly confident in winning. You also effectively exclude anyone who is feeling the holiday pinch in the wallet. Christmas is an expensive time for many. Don’t be a tool, and ask your family to gamble. If your family is familiar with four handed Euchre I would suggest that as maybe the perfect substitute. Four handed Euchre is played as two teams of two so you win or lose together. That also allows you to occasionally switch up the teams so stronger players can be paired up with weaker players creating balance. There is a bit of bluffing in Euchre. If you play to ten points like most people then you can put something trivial as a prize on the outcome. Winner gets a larger slice of pie, or the losers have to give a candy cane to the winners for each point they lost by. Whatever you decide Euchre provides the right combination of competition and friendly fun.

Board Game Dos & Don’ts

If your family prefers to play Board games. Choosing the right Board game is absolutely critical. Unlike Card games which are easy to pack up, or simply switch to another game if the current game your playing isn’t enjoyable. Board Games can require a lot of set up, a fair amount of time to play, and in some cases additional time to relearn the rules. I’m sure that most of you have started at least one game of Monopoly that never got finished. The same can probably be said about Risk. A quick note about Risk, don’t ever play Risk with an odd number of people. Doing so practically guarantees that an alliance will be created at some point in order to crush the individual that got off to a good start. This usually results in a lot of swearing, and in extreme cases a trip to the medicine cabinet. Keep a fair amount of Advil, and possibly some Band-Aids if you intend to play Risk. I’ve finished a few games of Monopoly in my lifetime, and I consider that to be one hell of an achievement. It takes an incredible amount of dedication, and patience from all involved to actually finish a game of Monopoly. Instead of Board games that require a lot of patience, strategy, and who knows how long to play. Choose games that are much shorter, and contain a random element like Snakes and Ladders, or Sorry. If you are from a family full of dedicated gamers then I would suggest bringing a cooperative Board game to play. That way you can all win or lose as a team. It also allows the most serious gamers to take on a greater role, and the occasional gamers to feel involved. Basically everybody wins. If you are unfamiliar with cooperative games I would suggest that you read my https://cobelife.com/competitive-or-cooperative-the-gamer-in-me-gl-20/

Video Game Dos & Don’ts

For many gamers it’s all about technology now. It doesn’t matter if you are a PlayStation, Xbox, or Nintendo fan. There are great games on all the different platforms that can be enjoyed by many. A favourite of mine that’s perfect for family occasions is the PlayStation Playlink game That’s You! Up to six people can play at once, and instead of using traditional game controllers each player uses an application on their cellphone. The game itself is very simple. The Players are presented with an example and each Player votes for which Player the example is most like. If you vote with the majority you earn points. For a more detailed review of That’s You check out my  https://cobelife.com/the-gamer-in-me-gl-8-thats-you/  Now on the flipside there are many games you should avoid. Honestly there’s too many to list, but the majority fall in to two categories; First Person Shooters, or Competitive Fighting Games. Seriously avoid the Call of Duty, Mortal Kombat, and Halos of the video gaming worlds. Unless you want your family get together to be filled with trash talk, and a potential fight. Certain Sports games like Madden or FIFA fall under the Don’ts column as well. Do yourself a favour and take turns playing classic side scrollers, or racing simulators. Those games can be as much fun to watch as they are to play.

VIRTUAL REALITY IS HERE!

I’ll tell you where it isn’t though. At your family get together. If you were hoping to see your sister trip over her gift basket then play VR. If you would prefer to pretend that you aren’t with your family at all then play VR. If you were were hoping to see someone get disoriented and vomit well then set up the Virtual Reality. I’m sure you see what I’m getting at. Virtual Reality with the family is a huge Don’t! Maybe in a few years as the technology improves things will change, but for right now just no.

Hopefully my warnings, and suggestions will help make your family occasion that much better. All the best!

Categories
GOLF

Subscribe to Cobe Life on YouTube – Beginner’s guide to Golf

My first set

The first of many instructional video series

https://youtu.be/N7LetIYMIJ8

https://youtu.be/_iO3ROUZPkg

https://youtu.be/-kcAq622yho

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Let us know what you think in the comments.

Whether you are about to purchase your first set, or your fifth set of clubs.  Spending a little extra time to make sure you get the correct set for your ability will make your next trip out to the course far more satisfying.

For total Beginners our ranking of Forgiveness – Cost – Distance – Spin is perfect for you when considering which clubs to buy.

For high handicappers I’d rank the four categories Forgiveness – Distance – Cost – Spin.

For mid handicappers I’d rank the four categories Spin – Distance – Cost – Forgiveness.

For low handicappers I’d rank the four categories Distance – Spin – Cost – Forgiveness.

High handicapper – 20+ handicap

Mid handicapper – 10 to 20 handicap

Low handicapper – 9 or lower

Everything counts

Just because one of the categories has to be last, doesn’t make it unimportant.  If you are having a difficult time as a High handicapper deciding between two Drivers that you hit equally well.  Just choose the one that’s least expensive.  If they are the same price?  Pay attention to the Spin statistics.  If one is more consistent then go with that.  The same rules apply for all the clubs you eventually purchase.  No matter what your handicap if you purchase what’s statistically best your game will improve.

Beginner’s guide to Golf

Categories
FANTASY Uncategorized

Championship Week – Sports Fanatics play Fantasy SF-36

Then there were two

In both of my featured leagues, one of the teams in the finals was obviously going to make it there.  In the True Fanatics league Texas Proud continued their Season of dominance by knocking me out in the semi-final.  Their final test to cap off a truly great Season with a Championship comes against Raider in the North.  In the Gridiron Pros League my team the Grid Warriors easily made their way into the Championship game.  My opponent beat the Top seed Blitzkrieg in order to earn their spot against me.  For the third time this Season I will face my division rival Swaggy B, but this time it’s for the Championship.  I defeated him easily the first two times but this time won’t be as easy.  I’ll be without the best Fantasy Wide Receiver in the league Antonio Brown because of his injury.  To make matters worse another one of my Top Wide Receivers Davante Adams is in concussion protocol.  Beating Swaggy B won’t be as simple as rolling with the best players in Fantasy.  Matchups will be a key path to victory.

The Championship rosters

Texas Proud

QB – Drew Brees

QB – Philip Rivers

RB – Melvin Gordon

RB – Kareem Hunt

RB – Duke Johnson

WR – Keenan Allen

WR – DeAndre Hopkins

WR – Marqise Lee

WR – Rishard Matthews

WR – Robert Woods

WR – Mohamed Sanu

TE – Travis Kelce

TE – Eric Ebron

Raider in the North

QB – Case Keenum

QB – Andy Dalton

QB – Jameis Winston

RB – LeSean McCoy

RB – Jerick McKinnon

RB – Giovani Bernard

RB – Alfred Morris

WR – Tyreek Hill

WR – Michael Thomas

WR – Cooper Kupp

WR – Devin Funchess

TE – Rob Gronkowski

TE – Tyler Kroft

Grid Warriors

QB – Matthew Stafford

QB – Blake Bortles

RB – Leonard Fournette

RB – Jerick McKinnon

RB – Alvin Kamara

RB – Chris Ivory

WR – Antonio Brown

WR – Davante Adams

WR – Jarvis Landry

WR – Martavis Bryant

TE – Eric Ebron

Swaggy B

QB – Jameis Winston

QB – Jimmy Garoppolo

QB – Dak Prescott

RB – Kenyan Drake

RB – Kareem Hunt

RB – Isaiah Crowell

RB – Peyton Barber

RB – Alex Collins

WR – A.J. Green

WR – Adam Thielen

WR – Tyreek Hill

TE – Evan Engram

Although there are a few similar names amongst the four Championship rosters.  The four rosters have very different strengths and weaknesses.  Of course every team’s roster has gone through major changes over the course of the Season.  What every one of these roster does have in common is a Top 5 RB and a Top 5 WR.  It just goes to show you how important it is to have a balanced roster.

Looking ahead

As the 2017 fantasy Season comes to an end, I’m more excited than I’ve ever been about what’s to come next year. You are probably wondering why.  Things have happened across the league this year that has made draft strategies of the last five years obsolete.  I’ll go into detail in my next post.  For those of you in the Championship game in your leagues, Good Luck!

 

 

Categories
GAMING Uncategorized

Competitive or Cooperative? – The Gamer in me GL-20

How things have changed

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All of us grew up playing games.  Some of us played Sports.  Many of us played Board games.  A few of us were early adopters of Video games.  Practically everyone played Card games.  I could go on and on but one thing is for sure.  I played them all.  I didn’t just play them though.  I played to win!  You see the one thing that was similar about all of the games I played was that they included an opponent.  Another person, a few other individuals, or another team that I had to beat.  This was one of the main things about games that made them appealing to me.  You had a quantifiable way to determine if you were better than someone else.  I was naturally competitive so I tended to win more often than I lost.  Which made playing games one of my favourite things to do.  But what if you were somebody that lost most of the time?  Well fortunately for them Video games increased in popularity, and quality as a direct result.  Home Video game consoles turned gaming into a solitary affair.  Eventually though people began to miss the connection with others they used to have playing games.  But how could they get past the inherent competitiveness of it?  Along came the current generation of cooperative games.  Games that allow a group of people to play together to achieve a common goal.  You either win as a team, or all of you lose collectively.  It creates a sense of equality that wasn’t present in the games we played as kids.

Congratulations for coming out

It’s commonplace for children’s sports leagues to give every player a trophy at the end of the season.  The reason for this is to prevent anyone from feeling less accomplished than anyone else.  Some leagues no longer keep score during games.  That way there is no winner or loser.  Everyone is considered an equal success for having played.  Do agree with this new way of thinking?  No I don’t, not at all.  That’s a whole nother article though, and I won’t go into it now.  I’ll just summarize it by saying it’s wrong to make someone feel inept, but it’s equally wrong to marginalize someone else’s talent.  I’ll leave it at that.  Cooperative games make this new way of thinking unnecessary.  The best games require multiple disciplines, and innovative thinking to succeed.  In this way they can appeal to many different people.  Probably one of the best examples of this is Escape Rooms.  I’ve played Escape Rooms that required athleticism, manual dexterity, trivia knowledge, and of course puzzle solving.  Just imagine the group of people that would be required to work together as a team to be victorious in that particular Room.  Schools should be working towards incorporating extra curricular activities similar to Escape Rooms if they are concerned about all participants feeling valuable.

Kitchen table battleground

Cooperative Board games, and Card games have turned what used to be the family Kitchen table battleground into a friendly cooperative affair.   My family played cards when I was a kid, and I could probably give lessons on how to play competitive Crazy 8s, Hearts, or Euchre.  A particularly brutal night of cards could lead to me receiving a couple of days of the silent treatment.  It also meant that the next family game night wasn’t going to happen anytime soon.  What if we were playing a cooperative game instead?  If I won it meant we all won.  No more jealousy or resentment, just celebration.  Games like Escape, Curse of the Temple or if you are feeling really adventurous and have a few hours Gloomhaven are great games to play that require real teamwork to win.  The best part is losing only makes the group more determined to win next time, and winning becomes addictive because of the group celebration.  You won’t have to wait long no matter what the result was before you get together to play again.  I’ve become a real fan of cooperative games because I can approach playing them in a far more relaxed manner.  My competitive instincts are still there, but the anxiety that usually goes along with it is gone.  I still want to win, but I don’t need to.  If you have played anything at a competitive level you’ll know what I mean.  The other major bonus that comes with playing cooperative games is finding others to join you is much much easier.  Trust me, there was a time that finding someone to play me head to head at Magic the Gathering required a tournament entry.  Cooperative games are here to stay, and I am really glad that they are.  If you haven’t played one yet.  I suggest that you give one a try.

Categories
GOLF Uncategorized

All about Forgiveness – Beginner’s guide to Golf

What is Forgiveness?

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Forgiveness is a term used over and over again in Golf equipment reviews.  What it is, and why you need to be aware of how it will effect your game is the focus of this post.  There’s a common misconception that Forgiveness is just a simpler way of saying easier to hit.  Just because a club is Forgiving doesn’t guarantee that it will be easy to hit.  For instance I have used both Cavity back Wedges (Forgiving) and Bladed Wedges (Unforgiving).  The feedback I feel through the hands with a Bladed Wedge has helped me be far more accurate when chipping or pitching.  Even though the Cavity back Wedges are actually more Forgiving.  They aren’t easier to hit in those situations.  What actually makes a club Forgiving is having a larger sweet spot, and in most cases a lower center of gravity.  Forgiveness is all about getting the most from your club when you miss hit it.

We all want center face contact

You’ve heard it described many ways.  “Man you caught it flush”!  “I hit that one on the screws”!  “I can’t hit it any better than that”!  However you choose to describe it, one thing is for certain.  Very little feels better than making center face contact with a full swing.  First of all hitting it out of the sweet spot is gentler on the hands.  The end result is usually very satisfying as well.  In most cases it even sounds better.  So who wouldn’t want the sweet spot on their clubs to be as large as possible?  Believe it or not but quite a few people would prefer small to medium sized sweet spots instead of large ones.  Sounds crazy right?  Well that’s what I thought also.  Now I’m one of those people.  My next set of Irons are going to have a medium sized sweet spot. I’ll go into detail as to why I have chosen to go this route.  There are many different methods that can be utilized to increase the size of the sweet spot on a club.  Perimeter weighting, moving the center of gravity further back from the face of the club, and increasing the amount of flex the face of the club has on impact are just a few methods.  Whichever method a club manufacturer chooses to use essentially achieves the same result.  Miss hits should fly a little further, and a little straighter.  To help you better understand how this translates into real world results I’ll share some actual simulator numbers with you.  At the time I hit my super forgiving 7 Iron about 140 yards when I absolutely flushed it.  Even if I hit my 7 Iron off the toe of the club with a good swing I’d send it about 133 yards, and maybe 10 yards off line.  I tested a far less forgiving forged blade with a small cavity back and averaged 138 yards when I caught it perfect.  I attributed the 2 yards lost to a weaker loft with the forged blade.  The real difference was when I miss hit it.  Catching one off the toe only yielded me 126 yards, and 11 yards off line.  That’s more than a full club shorter for me.  Being 11 yards off line at only 126 yards out is close to being a slice.  Now you are probably wondering after seeing those numbers why I would even consider switching to less Forgiving clubs.  Hell why would anyone?

Sweet swingers

Some of us, and I’m not included in this particular group make center face contact most of the time.  If you have your swing fully dialed in?   Then Forgiveness isn’t really necessary for you to produce a great round of golf.  You’re already at that point that so many Beginners like myself aspire to reach.  You can seemingly hit the ball relatively straight at will.  For the majority of us, that’s all we are after.  Foolishly we believe that will be enough.  Chances are good that when that day comes you will want to do more.  You will want to start shaping the ball.  This brings us to our next common misconception about Forgiving clubs.  Supposedly you can’t shape shots with Forgiving clubs.  Anyone that tells you that is flat out lying.  There are many ways to shape a shot.  Club swing path, face angle at impact, and face contact position all play a role.  My clubs are about as Forgiving as clubs can be, and I can hit a butter cut, or power fade if I want.  I couldn’t hit a draw with my clubs but that’s more about my limitations than the clubs.  What you need to understand is that the more Forgiving the club, the more difficult it becomes to shape the ball.  As the sweet spot increases in size, the amount of space left on the face of the club to influence shape is reduced.  As the center of gravity is moved further back to help Beginners hit the ball straighter, the more difficult it becomes to create a curved shot.  So when you’ve reached that point where you are ready to start shaping the ball.  A super forgiving set of clubs might actually work against your improvement.  So that’s got to be it then.  I must be looking for a less Forgiving set of Irons because I’m ready to start shaping shots.  Truth is I’m not ready.  Not even close to ready actually.  So why then Cobe? WHY!

Feedback

You are finally going to find out why I’ve decided to switch to a less Forgiving set of Irons.  I made my decision on a Sunny afternoon on a Par 3 at Scarlett Woods Golf course in Toronto.  The hole was playing at 155 yards to the center of the green.  The Pin was set left center so it set up well for my natural shot shape which is a little right to left.  I hit my 6 Iron about 155 yards with a full swing so time to let her rip.  My swing felt perfect.  I made great contact, and even heard that satisfying pop off the face of the club.  I watched the ball launch towards the target until I lost sight of it in the sun.  I switched my focus to the Green eagerly awaiting the Ball’s return to earth.  Hopefully within a safe distance for a chance at birdie.  I never saw it land.  Oh shit I thought.  I caught it so perfect that I flew the Green.   With  bushes, and a muddy marsh behind the Green I was getting prepared for another bogey.  While searching behind the Green for my ball my playing partner noticed another ball about 10 yards short of the green.  At first I figured that it must have been somebody else’s lost ball.  Turns out that it was mine.  Somehow I came up 15 yards short.  Seriously!  But I made perfect contact!  Well on closer inspection what I thought was perfect contact was actually high on the face, and a bit chunky.  The issue was the Feedback.  There really was none.  I’ve learned that I shouldn’t assume  I’ve hit a great golf shot until I’ve verified the result.  Forgiving clubs tend to provide very little Feedback.  Even though improved miss hits can definitely help a Beginner get through a round of golf with an acceptable score.  If you are serious about furthering the development of your game?  Playing golf with clubs that provide a decent amount of Feedback are important to have as well.  If you are unsure of when you make poor contact.  You won’t be able to effectively adjust your swing to where you can fully trust it.  It’s going to take a bit of practice, but knowing when I make perfect contact is going to seriously improve my game.

Beginner’s guide to Golf

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Categories
FISHING Uncategorized

Selecting the right Reel – The Right Angle RA-18

The three things to consider

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First of all this post is about helping you choose between the three complex Reels.  If your particular interest is in Fly fishing then this post isn’t for you.  Although Fly fishing Reels may differ in quality.  They are all essentially of the same design.  In this post I will help you understand the differences between Spincast, Spinning, and Baitcast Reels.  Selecting the correct one for you will depend upon how you intend on using it, where you will be fishing most often, and how skilled you are at casting?  In some cases it may be beneficial for you to own more than one type of Reel.  I will discuss why this might be the best option for some of you.

The three types of Reels

Spincast Reel

Spincast diagram

This is by far the easiest of the three Reel types to use.  Activated by simply pressing and holding a button during the cast to allow the line to release.  Then letting go of the button to stop the line from continuing to cast out.  It can easily be operated single handed, and as such is most often the Reel packaged with children’s fishing kits.  It’s most likely the Reel you learned to fish with.  It was for me.  Although easy to use, it does have some limitations.  The line is coiled around the Spool hidden beneath the Spool cover.  This means that you need to be careful to not add too much line to the Spool, or you risk the line getting jammed during the cast.  Another issue some fisherman comment on about Spincast Reels is their inability to provide visual feedback because everything is enclosed beneath the Spool cover.  Another weakness to the design is that a considerable amount of friction is caused by the Spool cover during casting so you lose a bit of distance and accuracy.  It may sound like there’s a lot of negatives to using a Spincast Reel, but used correctly it is extremely easy, and the most durable and reliable of the three Reels.

Spinning Reel

Spinning diagram

Just looking at a Spinning Reel the differences between it, and a Spincast Reel is obvious.  Where everything was enclosed with a Spincast Reel.  It’s the total opposite with a Spinning Reel.  The Spool, line, and bail are all in view.  This has advantages, and disadvantages.  One of the obvious advantages is being able to see everything that is happening while fishing.  If your line were to get knotted during a cast or retrieve you’ll notice it quickly.  That way you can take care of the issue right away before it develops into a serious problem.  Casting with a Spinning Reel isn’t nearly as easy as casting with a Spincast Reel.  First of all it’s a two handed affair.  Where everything with a Spincast Reel is practically automatic.  A Spinning Reel requires you to open the bail, pinch the line, release the line at the correct time during the cast, and then close the bail when you are ready to either stop the line, or prepare it for retrieval.  In other words, don’t expect to be great at casting with a Spinning Reel the first time out.  A little bit of practice will definitely reward you though.  I’m able to make pinpoint casts with a Spinning Reel that I wouldn’t even attempt with a Spincast Reel.  Another advantage to the Spinning Reel design is the open Spool generally allows for a lot of line to be coiled.  Quite a few models are sold, or at least designed to allow the Spools to be quickly interchangeable with another Spool.  This means that you could quickly switch between different weights of line, or types of line dependant on conditions.  The Spinning Reel has quickly become one of the favoured types of Reels by many.

Baitcast Reel

Baitcast diagram

At first glance the Baitcasting Reel looks like a combination of the Spincast Reel, and Spinning Reel designs.  To a certain extent it sort of is.  The casting motion is similar to a Spincast Reel, but even more complicated than casting with a Spinning Reel.  That can be the first issue that some people have with a Baitcast Reel.  They aren’t easy to master, and unlike the other two Reels on this list can become really troublesome if you use them incorrectly.  Most of the difficulty associated with casting Baitcast Reels is actually in their set-up.  Unlike the other two designs that only require you set the amount of drag correctly.  Baitcast Reels require you set the correct tension adjusted to the total weight of your bait, weights, or lure.  You also need to set the brake adjustment correctly to avoid line overrun or birdnesting.  Done correctly a Baitcast Reel is the most accurate of the three Reel types.  The design is limited to heavier line though.  Light line will have a tendency to unspool incorrectly during the cast and lead to birdnesting or tangles.  With adjustability comes an increase in potential issues so constant maintenance is also important.

Category Rankings

   Easy to use –

1: Spincast

2: Spinning

3: Baitcast

Maintenance –

1: Spincast

2: Spinning

3: Baitcast

Casting Accuracy –

1: Baitcast

2: Spinning

3: Spincast

Long Casting –

1: Spinning

2: Baitcast

3: Spincast

Tackle Adjustability –

1: Spinning

2: Spincast

3: Baitcast

Conclusions

The first thing you should consider is how often you intend to fish?  If you are only going out a couple times a year then a Spincast Reel is probably all you need.  Now if you intend to fish far more frequently I would suggest that you consider one of the other two.  Which one you choose will probably depend on whether you intend to fish from shore, or from a boat.  If larger predatory fish like Musky, Pike, or Bass are what you are after, and you intend to cast into tight spots then maybe a Baitcast Reel is what you should be looking for.  If you plan on going deep Sea fishing for really big fish than a Baitcast Reel is by far the best option.  In my personal opinion though, the additional accuracy that can be gained by using a Baitcast Reel doesn’t out do the versatility of a Spinning Reel in most situations.  If this was Middle Earth the Spinning Reel would be the One Reel to rule them all.  Light or heavy line is fine with a Spinning Reel.  Casting from shore, or a boat is not a problem.  It’s easy to maintain, doesn’t require a perfect set-up, and with only a little bit of practice quite easy to master.  If you are only going to buy one Reel, I suggest you buy a Spinning Reel.  Now if you are one of the few fishing enthusiasts that intend to fish every type of water.  I would suggest that you own a Baitcast Reel for large trophy sized fishing, and one of the other two for a little casual shore fishing.

 

 

Categories
FANTASY FISHING GAMING GOLF Uncategorized

Cobe Life Christmas Gifts Top 8

It’s getting close to crunch time!

Cobe Life has recently switched to a new Subscription service.  I strongly advise current Subscribers to resubmit their follow request)

By now you have probably walked the equivalent of a half marathon at the mall.  I know I’m beginning to feel like one of the Knights Templar on a Grail quest.  Each year it seems to get a little more difficult to find the right gift.  While the malls seem to get a lot more chaotic.  The reason for this is actually quite simple if take a moment to think about it.  With each thoughtful gift you purchase for someone special.  The next time you purchase a gift for that person, one of the possible items is already off the list.  What was once obvious, has now become obscure.  Should the holiday season be this stressful?  I should hope not.  So in the spirit of giving I’ve decided to put together a list of potential gifts you might have overlooked.  Gifts that will potentially surprise, show consideration, or just make things a little easier for the recipient.  So without any further ado, here’s my list.

The Top 8

1 – Memory card

Digital devices have become an integral part of almost everyone’s lives.  Cellphones, tablets, digital readers, digital cameras, and media players find their way into our pockets, and purses.  There was a time not too long ago that 16gb was more than enough space for anything.  16gb is barely enough for the operating system, some music, your favourite apps, and a few photos on your cellphone these days.  It might seem like a small thing, but a Memory card will definitely be appreciated.

2 – Orthotic insoles

I’ve lived a fair amount of my life with sore feet.  When I was younger I played soccer, ran track, was a street style skateboarder, and snowboarder.  Needless to say I did a significant amount of damage to my feet.  A few years ago I was told that I needed Orthotics.  From the very first step I took with the new insoles I wondered how I could have ever taken a step without them.  The change was so dramatic, and my demeanor so improved that my wife decided to try them.  Although she doesn’t require Orthotics, the improved comfort, and additional support make every day easier.  This is one of the surprise gifts I was talking about.  The recipient might not think much of the gift at first.  Convince them to wear them while fighting through crowds during boxing week, and I guarantee they’ll thank you.

3 – Coffee warmer

Who doesn’t know somebody that really loves their coffee?  For a lot of people, their day doesn’t begin until they’ve had their cup.  These are busy times, and many of us lead busy lives.  In between each satisfying sip of our favourite brew we might be getting ready for work, or already at work getting prepared for our day.  It doesn’t take long for the morning brew to get cold.  So what do we do?  We risk scalding our throats by drinking our first coffee of the day ridiculously fast.  But what if you didn’t have to?  With a coffee warmer on your desk at work or the kitchen table at home.  You could go about your morning routine without worrying the coffee is getting cold.

4 – Cellphone Camera Lens

Unless you are actually on holiday, the chances are slim you have a camera with you.  Well you do have a camera of sorts.  The cameras built into our cellphones have significantly improved over the years.  The picture quality is so good that carrying a traditional camera is almost unnecessary.  Unless you are really after high quality zoom, or macro photography shots.  Well with the addition of a simple clip on lens, small enough to carry in your pocket.  Your cellphone will gain some of the capabilities of a full size camera.  Instagram fans will thank you, and flood your wall with photos.

5 – Sports Cap or Toque

This probably seems obvious to a lot of you.  If you know a true sports fan.  Chances are good that you’ve seen them wearing a Cap or Toque with their team’s logo.  That’s exactly why I wouldn’t consider this an obvious gift.  Why get someone a gift that they already have?  Because they will smile wide and thank you for it. That’s why!  As most of you already know, I’m a true sports fanatic.  As a fan of the Denver Broncos I currently have two Caps, and a Toque.  My father is from the Netherlands so I support their soccer team.  I currently have four Netherlands soccer Caps.  Each one is slightly different, and I wear them all.  This is the one gift on this list that you definitely can’t go wrong with.  When in doubt, get them what they already love.

6 – Touch Screen Gloves

I actually got a pair of these as a gift a couple years ago.  They have quickly become my favourite gloves.  I couldn’t even tell you where my other gloves are.  I know that I have at least five pairs gloves, but my cellphone is so important to me I wouldn’t even consider wearing the others.  The original Touch Screen Gloves were about as simple as can be.  Now there are all sorts of styles to go with any outfit.  Everyone knows someone that could benefit from having a pair of these.

7 – Heated Scarf

Do I own one?  No, it’s definitely not the most masculine of gifts.  Hardcore hipsters aside, a Heated Scarf would be a welcome gift for any woman that has to brave the bitter cold of winter.  Have I tried one?  Yes, for the purposes of this article I figured it was important to get a first hand feel for what it’s like.  Even though I’m in great shape, and a little cold weather doesn’t really bother a man like me.  I found the Heated Scarf to be quite comfortable, and even soothing.  At least for the extremely short period of time that I actually wore it.  Still I can definitely recommend it.

8 – Saxx underwear

A few years ago I saw Saxx underwear for the first time while watching an episode of Dragons’ Den.  Men’s underwear specifically designed with a built in pouch to keep your family jewels from chaffing while playing sports, or just a long day at work.  The idea seemed simple enough, and being an active individual I was intrigued.  A couple years later while shopping I saw them for sale at a retail store for the first time.  I just had to try them so I bought a pair.  Saxx aren’t the most inexpensive of underwear.  One pair of Saxx cost what three pairs of boxer briefs used to cost me.  After wearing that first pair for one day.  I immediately returned to the store and bought the remaining three in my size.  Today the only underwear I wear is Saxx.  That’s how much of a game changer this underwear is to me.  They’ve expanded their lines to include compression sports briefs, and long johns as well.  Before you ask I do have some of both.  I’ve sung their praises to so many people that they should have made me a brand ambassador by now.  If you know an athletic guy, don’t hesitate.  Get him a pair of Saxx.

Categories
FANTASY Uncategorized

Gridiron Pros Fantasy League Playoff picture – Sports Fanatics play Fantasy SF-35

Wow what a Season!

The final week of the Season determined which team finished first overall.  It determined which two teams would get the first round byes.  It determined who would snatch sixth place.  There was more on the line in the final week than I’ve ever experienced before.

Playoff Team Seedings

1 – Blitzkrieg: 9-4, 1591.26 points

Blitzkrieg had to beat the surging division rival, and last Season’s Champion For Whom the Bell Tolls for to retain their number 1 seed.  If they lost they would have fallen to third place, and had to play a quarter-final match.  Instead they get a well deserved break to try and figure out their roster issues.  They have only averaged 118 points per game over the last three games.  It’s been enough to compete, but is it enough to win a Championship?

2 – Grid Warriors: 8-5, 1770.09 points

All my team does is put up points week after week.  A full 160 total points more than the next closest Team for the Season.  Regular Season dominance doesn’t always mean post Season success though.  Averaging 142 points per game over the last three games is a good sign.  22 points per game better than the next closest Playoff team.  Do I feel confident?  Yes I do.  The only losses I’ve suffered all Season have been to breakout Fantasy performances.  As long as I don’t run into one of those, I will be the Champion.

3 – Pixie’s Pirates: 8-5, 1609.98 points

Pixie’s Pirates were my pick to win the championship at the beginning of the Season.  Injuries made their trip to the playoffs a little more difficult.  Losing David Johnson to injury really opened up opportunities for everyone else.  Their Roster is so stacked that I would consider them to be my most difficult opponent in the Playoffs.  They have only averaged 113 points per game over the last three games.  They would have averaged more but poor starting roster choices have limited their scores.   Starting the right group of Players each week will determine their fate.

4 – Swaggy B: 8-5, 1457.71 points

Swaggy B has pushed me for the Grid Central title all year.  In the end I was able to beat him in our Week 11 match, and that was the difference.  I’m glad that the only way we will meet again this Season is in the final.  Swaggy B is averaging 120 points per game over the last three games.  More importantly their team is fully healthy.  Although I wouldn’t consider them a favourite to win the championship.  They definitely fill the roll of Dark horse.

5 – Because you’re a Lannister: 8-5, 1357.88 points

The results of the Week 13 games hurt Because you’re a Lannister’s final seeding worse than anyone else.  They went from second overall with a first Round bye, to fifth facing a surging Playoff ready Team.  Averaging only 93 points per game over the last three games.  I would be surprised if they advanced past the quarter-finals.  Their only hope to advance is a huge game from LeSean McCoy.  Facing the lowly Colts it’s possible that McCoy could put up 40+ points.

6 – Stoniestars: 6-7, 1466.83 points

Ignore the regular season record.  Stoniestars finished the Season with more total points than Because you’re a Lannister, and Swaggy B.  They are averaging 120 points per game over the last three.  Cobe Life is the only team averaging more.  Their Quarter-finals opponent has made some poor roster choices lately.  Stoniestars looks primed to make a run for the title.  Last Season it took a late surge by For Whom the Bell Tolls for, and a little bit of luck to win the championship.  Are Stoniestars this year’s For Whom the Bell Tolls for?

Quarter-finals

Pixie’s Pirates vs Stoniestars

I just finished describing Stoniestars surging push to make the playoffs.  They are on a three game winning streak.  Well I don’t believe that another Cinderella Season is in the works.  Against any other team I might have picked Stoniestars to win.  Pixie’s Pirates is just way too strong.  I’m guessing that they will make the correct roster decisions, and post the highest scoring total this week.

Winner: Pixie’s Pirates

Swaggy B vs Because you’re a Lannister

Barring any significant injuries to key Players on Swaggy B’s roster.  I don’t think Because you’re a Lannister is packing enough star power to get the win.  This is Fantasy Football, and anything can happen.  I just don’t see the likelihood that everything goes wrong in just one week.

Winner: Swaggy B