Progress and a challenge

Question
I played last week at my fave exec course (par 34 - 2.2Kyd) and did rather well with the "8 club challenge" (5 wood, 28-32-39 hybrids, PW-SW-LW, putter).  My final score was 38.  Essentially I was even par for 6 holes (#1, #5-9).  I kind of went "golfing" on #2-4 (6-6-5)after starting with a birdie on #1.

My current setup is Ping G2 driver, Orlimar Trimetal (third generation) 5 wood, Dunlop 9 wood (my fave fairway wood), Ping G10 28-32 hybrids, Snake Eyes Q4 39 hybrid, Snake Eyes Q3I 9-SW, Snake Eyes 600W lob wedge, no-name 64 deg (Knight maybe; it has a 35.5" shaft) wedge, Dunlop Blue Ball Putter.  

The G2 is a lot easier to hit than my Titleist 975D. I can shape shots better with the latter.  With the G2, I tend to hit a fade (then again, the teeboxes at NC Golf Course have a downhill and sometimes ball below the feet slope).  

The Trimetal actually outdoes a Callaway Steelhead 5 wood by 20 yards and I can hit it 10 yards farther than a Trimetal 3 wood. I get about 210 on a good hit.

I made a small change to the 9 wood: changed the grip to Winn Excel RF (brought the swingweight to D1).  I hit it between 190-200 now and it is my primary fairway wood.

My personal opinion is the G10 hybrids have to be the BEST on the market.  They're easy to hit off tight lies and workable.  I use the 28 as my "tight lies" fairway wood.  The 32 has improved my scoring on the 150-170 yard par 3s (I'd say I pretty much get even par on these).

The newest addition is the Q4 hybrid.  I can work it from 150 yards down to 100 (the former being a full swing and the latter being a choked full pitch).  I constructed it recently (has the same shaft length and lie angle as a 6 iron).  I hit full pitch shots with it on two par 3s (where I would normally use a 9 iron) and put it on the green both times.  

All the Snake Eyes clubs are do-it-yourself.  The first time I used the 9 and PW, I broke 90 for 18 holes at Miramar (par 72, 6500 yd).  The sand wedge has been a deadly weapon and it is my primary pitching club (and I do pretty well with bunkers, cut shots, and flop shots).  

As far as the L and X wedge, it is just a matter of figuring out limitations and WHEN to use them.

Putting is slowly getting there.  My achilles heel had been downhill putts from 6-10 feet.

Answer
Lou,  thanks for the update.  It sounds like you're still on track for continued improvement.  If you'll allow me; one comment and one tip.  The touring pros very seldom carry wedges with more than 60 degrees.  When you see it, it's usually in majors that have hard and fast greens along with severe rough.  If that is the case where you play, I see no problem with the use of the 64 degree.  If not, your time might be better spent learning how to hit different shots with the less-lofted wedges.  As for the tip; if on those downhill putts you're not getting the ball started on the correct line, you may want to factor this into the equation;  if the slope is severe enough to call for a light tap or stroke to get it moving, gravity has as much influence on the ball as the putter's path.  In other words, when starting the ball left or right of the hole, gravity will cause it to fall down the hill short of your intended line.  So when playing fast-breaking downhill putts, allow for slightly more break than what seems right.

Keep up the good work Lou and keep the updates coming.

Fairways and Greens,

John