All posts in Golf Equipment

Callaway Announces 273-Promo Tied to Els’ Win…

by Annie Latham on July 26, 2012 in Golf Equipment, Callaway, Drivers, Golf Balls with No comments

Just got wind of a pretty cool promo that Callaway Golf is doing in honor of Ernie Els’ major championship victory at Royal Lytham & St. Annes. Based on Els’ British Open score of 273 (67-70-68-68), Callaway will — for 273 hours beginning at 12:00am PST Wednesday, July 25 – sell its RAZR Fit driver for $273 and its HEX Black Tour golf ball for $27.30 online at shop.callawaygolf.com.

The promotion will also be available at participating retailers. The Big Easy used both the RAZR Fit driver and the HEX Black Tour golf ball to propel himself to the second Open Championship victory of his Hall of Fame career.

The Callaway RAZR Fit driver has now won 10 professional tournaments worldwide, with five victories coming in the last seven weeks.

About his RAZR Fit, Ernie said on Sunday, “I hit a lot of drivers on the back nine and I was just trying to make birdies. I was right in the moment…I was really just playing the shot in the moment.”

The HEX Black Tour golf ball has been used in four of the last seven wins on the European Tour, where the ball’s aerodynamic properties help to mitigate typically windy conditions.

The offer is valid at Shop.CallawayGolf.com and at participating retailers. Pricing is determined by individual retailers and may vary. The promotion lasts from July 25, 2012 at 12:00AM PST through August 5, 2012 at 9:00AM PST.

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Source: Callaway Golf Company

Wilson Staff Black PVD Ci11 Irons

by James on May 12, 2012 in Irons, Wilson Staff with No comments

Geared towards the average player looking to improve his or her game, Wilson has introduced the Black PVD Ci11 Irons.

While we haven’t had our hands on them just yet, we HAVE played the Di11 irons, and can attest to the easy-to-hit nature of these irons. The Ci11’s are no doubt a step in a positive, more ‘game improving’ direction.

A lot of factors went into designing these game improvement irons. The black finish is all about optics. The higher contrast between the club and ball will help with alignment. The finish also helps the club appear smaller, focusing your attention on making a solid hit. The PVD finish also reduces glare from the sun. The clubhead is what Wilson calls ‘optimally’ sized… I take that to mean they’re not too big, and not too small… just the right size for someone looking to make moves into a low-teen or single digit handicap. Perhaps the most important factor (at least when it comes to setup at address) is the thin top line on these irons. Having played many muscle backs for years, I certainly prefer this look, especially if you like to shape your shots. The C11’s set the stage for any golfer looking to take their game to a new level.

Wilson Staff was kind enough to share some press shots with us, please check them out below. After that, feel free to read over the official release. If you have a set of C11’s or are a Wilson Staff junkie, we’d love to get your thoughts.

Wilson Staff Black PVD Ci11 Irons – Photo Gallery

WILSON LAUNCHES NEW BLACK PVD Ci11 IRONS

Striking black irons offer looks, control & distance for ‘crossover’ golfer

Wilson Golf, the most successful irons manufacturer in the history of the game with 61 Major wins, has launched a fourth generation of its award-winning game-improvement Ci (Control) line with the new Wilson Staff Ci11 irons aimed at ‘crossover’ golfers looking to make the transition to the better-player category.

The new, striking black PVD Ci11 irons deliver maximum playability for the aspirational golfer, as well as the power and forgiveness for those players looking for additional technology. The club’s optimal head size and shape continues the award-winning iron tradition, while maintaining a thin topline and moderately progressive offset that suits the eye of the serious player.

The model is the first iron from Wilson with sleek black PVD colouring across the entire set, helping to minimise the visual appearance of the head size and reduce any glare at address – both factors the better player looks for in an iron.

Re-engineered exoskeleton weighting in the Ci11 provides optimal MOI and stability by pulling weight away from the clubface and towards the heel and toe. The striking irons deliver a crisp feel and satisfying sound on impact through a one-piece, soft-response insert concealed in soft 431 stainless steel that helps dampen vibration even on off-centre shots.

Using the latest in club face technology, the Ci11 irons also feature a thinner, harder face that generates stronger ball flight and greater ball speed and distance.

“These irons fit perfectly into our C-style player category and we’re confident that they will deliver maximum playability for the crossover player who also wants additional technology for extra power and forgiveness,” said Bob Thurman, Wilson’s Vice President of R&D.

The Wilson Staff Ci11 irons are available with True Temper TX Flighted steel shafters, Aldila VS Proto II graphite shafts, or with Wilson’s exclusive patent-pending Half & Half shafts (4-PW) at a RRP of £429 (~$689 USD)

For further information about Wilson Staff clubs, visit: www.wilsonstaff.com.

Quick Look at the Ping G20 Driver

by James on May 4, 2012 in Golf Equipment, Drivers, PING with No comments

Ping has long had a soft spot in my heart. From my early days of working in the bakeshop back in the 1990’s, I knew that Ping clubs were the real deal. I’d often grab one of the latest drivers to hit the market, head out to the range and give them a good drubbing. Ping’s always setup nicely for me, seemed easy to hit… and… for some reason I was always able to pound my drives over the river adjacent to the course (not all drivers met this strict challenge). With those fond thoughts in mind, today we’re taking a quick look at the Ping G20 Driver, winner of the 2012 Hot List Gold accreditation from Golf Digest.

The G20 is made of a low-density titanium. The weight saved in putting together the clubhead is repositioned within to give you a lower centre of gravity (CG). In the end, this give you a MUCH more stable club face through impact, making for longer and straighter drives (that is, unless you’re someone like Bubba Watson that likes to hit 50 yard cuts and draws off the tee!).

The clubhead itself comes in at the maximum 460cc’s. At address, the G20 inspires confidence and power, much like most offerings from Ping these days. The shape of the clubbed was also designed with aerodynamics in mind. Ping says the design will reduce drag, and therefore increase your clubhead speed at impact.

As far as specs go, the G20 is available in lofts of 8.5*, 9.5*, 10.5* and 12*. All stock drivers come at a standard length of 45.75″, a head weight of 204 grams and a D3 swing weight.

If you’re interested in picking up the G20 (or anything from Ping for that matter), I highly suggest you point yourself towards Ping’s Web-Fit custom fitting tool. It will ask you a series of questions, and build clubs for you that fit your game to a… tee.

For more information on the G20, visit Ping.com.

Cleveland Classic Series Drivers Combine Retro Styling with Today’s Tech

by James on May 2, 2012 in Golf Equipment, Cleveland, Drivers with No comments

If you could construct a driver with the look of persimmon, with the technology of today, what would you end up with? The answer is plain to see… you’d end up with the Cleveland ‘Classic’ series of drivers!

The Cleveland Classic series are indeed beautiful. Inspired by the look of yesteryear (I’m thinking of the old persimmon woods I have in my garage right now!), with the rocket-science tech of today.

The Classics are available in 3 different models. Available now in 270 grams, 290 grams and 310 grams (also called the ‘tour’), the series is as beautiful as it is long. (As a small aside, one of the things I really love about this driver isn’t the driver at all… it’s the awesome retro headcover that comes with!.. Although, I do love the polished finish on the crown as well.)

The classics feature a pear-shaped profile with a very large and deep clubface. I dig the deep clubface, I must admit. For some reason, it always inspires confidence for me on the tee. Just feels right.

If you’re interested in picking one of these up at your local golf shop, I suggest you give each model a try. The different weights are quite noticeable, especially when you hold one in each hand. Slower swing speed? Go for the 270. Swing with tour-like mph’s? Go for the ‘tour’ 310 model.

Bottom line, if you dig the retro design combined with the classic pear shape and ultra-deep clubface, the Cleveland Classic driver could be a great fit for your bag. Although I haven’t put a Cleveland wood in my bag for a little while now, I DID play them for a very long time… and I can attest to the fact that they make a very strong product… Strong and long!

For more information, stop by ClevelandGolf.com.

Cobra AMP Driver: Sweet Like an Orange?

by James on April 28, 2012 in Golf Equipment, Cobra, Drivers with No comments

Cobra AMP Driver

Cobra appears to be taking a real liking to the color orange these days, no doubt in part to the young and vibrant Rickie Fowler. Can’t blame them for taking that direction, even if it may not ‘jive’ with the tastes of some. Fortunately for me, orange is my favorite color… and it is featured prominently on Cobra’s new AMP Driver. Let’s take a look.

Cobra dubs the AMP as ‘100% Pure, Fresh. Juicy. Sweet Technology’. No doubt playing off the ‘orange’ theme, as you can see in one of their recent commercials here:

Getting back to the driver itself, it features Cobra’s Adjustable Flight Technology. The technology has been built-in to most of their drivers for the past 2 or 3 years, and offers the player with an open, neutral and closed setting. It’s quite easy to adjust, and, as an added bonus, you can buy new shafts fitted with the AFT coupler if you like to switch shafts in and out for different conditions, temperatures or courses.

The AMP also features the E9 face technology with ‘dual roll’. This has been another one of Cobra’s successful features over the past few years, and it promises a 30% larger sweet spot. I can attest to this myself, as Cobra has been more than kind to share some of their recent driver offerings with me (ZL, S2, S3), and they’ve all been fantastic.. In fact, I’ve noticed a steady progression of improvement, especially from the S2 to the S3.

As expected, the Cobra AMP features a titanium 6-4 club head. It also packs a semi-forged, milled titanium face. This is all well and good, but what you may notice most is the white paint job on the crown, and the black club face. This MAY be in reaction to TaylorMade in their driver designs, or it may simply be that research has proven that with a white crown and black face, the visual appearance at address makes it easier for alignment… adding confidence at address on the tee. Haven’t seen any research numbers on the color combo, but it sure does seem to be a trend these days.

The Cobra AMP comes in lofts of 8.5, 9.5, 10.5 and 11.5. There are also many, MANY shaft and grip combos available, if you have specific needs for your game.

For more information on this sweet swinging driver, be sure to stop by the Cobra AMP page for all the details.

Side Note: Rickie Fowler has the Cobra AMP in his bag. He plays a 8.5 degree loft, in the open position (AFT), and prefers the Mitsubishi White Board 73X shaft.

Cobra ‘Trusty Rusty’ Wedges: Rust is a Must… Or You Bust.

by James on April 28, 2012 in Golf Equipment, Cobra, Wedges with No comments

I have to admit, I love my wedges. I’ve been playing the Cleveland Golf 588 RTG wedges for MANY years now. They’ve rusted up all nice, and are simply solid. However, when I happened upon Cobra Golf’s new ‘Trusty Rusty’ wedges… I found myself saying ‘hold on a tick… what’s this all about!?’. Let’s take a look at ’em.

The Cobra Golf Trusty Rusty wedge comes in specialty rusted finishes, that some players prefer (like me!) for a soft feel. They’ve available in satin with a pre-rusted face, a black PVD face, or a plain old ‘rust’ face. If you’re wondering how they do it, the clubheads are simply un-plated carbon steel. Over time, the face rusts up, leaving a true ‘rusty’ finish that many great players enjoy.

Short game guru Phil Rodgers is responsible for the look and design of these bad boys, and from what I’ve seen so far, they’re beautiful.

Another nice feature of the Trusty Rusty is the tri-bounce sole with rear scallop. What does it mean for you? In a nutshell, it means the wedge is versatile. Open up the face to play that high flopper, or choke down and close the face to play a lower punch shot. No matter what the shot demands, the sole and bounce accommodate to help make for a successful result, close to the pin.

Also worth noting is the laser precision technology that Cobra boasts on the trusty rusty. On the face of the club itself, Cobra uses lasers to produce a surface with four distinct surface roughnesses. The result is a face geared towards producing the maximum allowable spin (we can always use more spin… right?).

The Cobra Golf ‘Trusty Rusty’ is available in degree lofts of 49, 51, 53, 55, 57, 59… and yes, 61 (flopper!). They’re also shipped stock with the Dynamic Golf S200 shaft (painted black).

For more information, pop on over to Cobra Golf.

Titleist Introduces Next Generation AP1 And AP2 Irons

by Annie Latham on September 16, 2011 in Golf Equipment, Irons, Titleist with No comments

Titleist just introduced the next generation of its groundbreaking Advanced Performance irons: The 712 Series of their Titleist AP1 and AP2 irons.   Both models are multi-material, dual cavity irons that provide modern ball flight and forgiveness with the traditional looks, feel and sound that serious golfers have come to expect from Titleist irons.

NEW ADVANCES IN THE 712 AP IRONS: The improvements incorporated into the new AP irons came about as the result of continued research that indicated that serious golfers were looking for improvements in three main areas.

  • First, most players wanted even greater refinements to the clubhead’s profile. Both the new AP1 and AP2 models feature sleeker contours that result in a better address position.
  • Players also expressed a desire for more forgiveness, to get more out of their miss-hits, or said another way, better distance control.  Both the new AP1 and AP2 have been improved with internal weighting that utilizes higher density tungsten in order to distribute mass more efficiently which increases the moment-of-inertia (MOI) without changing the CG location or the blade length. The higher MOI provides more consistent ballspeed across the clubface and better distance control. Better distance control leads to more scoring opportunities and is the key to good iron play.
  • The third wish-list item that research uncovered was that players wanted more forgiveness without any loss of workability or shot control. Traditionally it has been thought that forgiveness and workability were mutually exclusive. The new AP irons prove that they are not.

Available beginning November 18, the 712 AP1 irons will  have a suggested retail price of $112 per club/steel, and $135 per club/graphite. The 712 AP2 irons  will have a suggested retail price of $154 per club/steel and $175 per club/graphite.  You can learn more about Titleist irons here.

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Mizuno Launches MP-59 Irons With Ti Muscle

by Annie Latham on September 9, 2011 in Golf Equipment, Irons, Manufacturers, Mizuno with No comments

Mizuno has just launched Grain Flow Forged MP-59 irons with the next generation of their award winning forged Ti Muscle technology. The MP-59s feature a titanium insert forged into the center of the muscle, which provides cavity like forgiveness in a player’s half cavity design.

The MP-59 irons have a traditional MP sized head shape, thus enhancing workability for the accomplished player. With a Tour confirmed sole, and overall compact head shape, the MP-59 irons allow varied shot-making delivery and control for consistent ball striking from the widest variety of lies.

During the elaborate Grain Flow Forging process, the pure Titanium material is forged into the muscle of the MP-59 to deliver a 5% larger Sweet Area compared to the MP-58, the iron that debuted Ti Muscle Technology while taking home “Editor’s Choice” in Golf digest’s 2010 Hot List.

The lightweight characteristics of the pure titanium allow for the ideal amount of thickness behind the impact area to deliver consistent solid feel while simultaneously providing a dramatic increase in perimeter weighting for enhanced playability.

According to their website, the MP-59 irons are ideal for golfers with a handicap of  +2 TO 13.

The SRP for a set of MP-59 irons,  which includes #3 thru PW (46°), is $999.99.

For more information, go to: www.mizunousa.com.

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Inspired by Cigars, Never Compromise Unveils Limited Line of Putters…

by Annie Latham on September 6, 2011 in Golf Equipment, Cleveland, Manufacturers, Putters with No comments

Never Compromise recently announced the launch of the new Connoisseur™ Limited line of putters.

The Connoisseur™ series is inspired by the world’s best cigars, made from the finest ingredients, embodying premium taste. Similar to the Dinero™ and Gambler™ Limited putter lines, the Connoisseur™ line features four classic designs named and individually machined with artwork reminiscent of traditional cigars. All models are forged from 303 Stainless Steel, and the combination of the soft material and the forged grain structure provides unprecedented feel at impact. Machined to perfection, these putters have some of the tightest manufacturing tolerances in the industry to inspire confidence over every putt. Classic design and modern construction give these putters a unique look that’s appreciated by the world’s most demanding and refined customers. Each product is truly a masterpiece.

Never Compromise® offers a unique customization feature with their Connoisseur™, Dinero™ and Gambler™ Limited putter lines. The “MY CUSTOM PUTTER” Web site gives consumers unprecedented customization and personalization options, allowing them the opportunity to transform any of the Connoisseur™, Dinero™ or Gambler™ Limited putter models into a one-of-a-kind masterpiece. Custom options consist of multiple paint fills, length, lie, grip, a text inscription and more.

The limited edition putter will be marked with a unique serial number and include a certificate of authenticity. The MAP pricing on all Connoisseur models is $299.99 for stock models and $349.99 for custom models. Custom models require a processing period of up to 3 weeks for delivery.

For more details on “MY CUSTOM PUTTER” visit: www.nevercompromise.com/my-custom-putter.

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From Red Sox Nation to Pinstripes? Phil Loses Bet…

by Annie Latham on September 3, 2011 in News, Players, Putters with No comments

On Thursday, Phil Mickelson was seen at Fenway Park taking batting practice before the Yankees-Red Sox game. He also threw out the first pitch.

Photo:Darren McCollester/Getty Images

Strange as that may seem to those who don’t know Phil’s interest in baseball, on on Friday, at the Deutsche Bank Championship that is taking place in Norton, Mass., Phil was seen wearing pinstripes.

Photo: Stew Milne/AP

He explained, “Lost a wager with a friend and had to wear these today.”

Yeah, a three-run rally in the seventh inning by the Yankees did Phil in.
The Sox lost 4-2.

Perhaps the pinstripes maneuver was merely a means for deflecting attention from the real news — Phil has a belly putter!

You’ve probably noticed that longer putters are getting more attention this year. This is perhaps a case where the rookie teaches his elder a trick or two. Phil has been a mentor to 25-year old Keegan Bradley who just so happens to be the first player to win a major (PGA Championship) with a belly putter.

After grilling Bradley during The Barclays tournament, Phil decided to order himself a similar one which he received on Monday.

And so it goes in the world of golf: Expect the unexpected.

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