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Cleveland Golf Champs are All Right…

by Annie Latham on June 1, 2011 in News, Golf Equipment, Cleveland, Drivers, Srixon with No comments

Over the weekend, Cleveland® Golf/Srixon’s rookie staffer Keegan Bradley won the 2011 HP Byron Nelson Championship.  Bradley, a PGA TOUR rookie and nephew of LPGA legend Pat Bradley, got his first professional win nine just days before his 25th birthday.  The week before, David Toms took first in the Crown Plaza Invitational — winning on the PGA TOUR for the first time since 2006.  To Todd Harman, president of Cleveland Golf/Srixon® -U.S.A, these victories are excellent endorsements of the company’s lightweight products.

“When two distinctly different types of players leverage our Right-Weight Fitting Technology to earn back-to-back victories, we know we’re onto something special,” he said.

The timing is perfect too as Cleveland Golf/Srixon has just announced significant investments toward bolstering their club fitting initiatives for 2011. Chuck Thiry, brand manager for Cleveland Golf, said “Our 2011 products push the limits for weight reduction and distance. We have invested heavily in our fitting resources to prove to our customers that Cleveland Golf can improve their game and lower their scores. We guarantee it.”

Number one on their “New for 2011” list is the Right Weight Guarantee.  This year’s Ultralite drivers come in three different weights so every player can find his right weight driver – regardless of swing type or performance preference. The Right Weight Guarantee offers consumers a 60-day guarantee on all driver sales enabling golfers to exchange their driver free of charge for another weight, flex or loft.

Other initiatives include:

  • A massive capital investment in the most sophisticated and portable launch monitors in the market.
  • The most comprehensive custom shaft offering ever, featuring the latest custom graphite and steel shafts from golf’s most trusted shaft brands.
  • Expanding their fleet of fitting vans traveling nationally. Each van is driven by an expert fitting professional with tools to guarantee the best fit for golfers of all levels. The Cleveland Golf/Srixon fitting fleet is powered by Trackman and GC2 launch monitors, ACTIONFIT Lie Boards and SCUBA club bending technology.
  • Introduction of the SCUBA (Self-Contained Universal Bending Apparatus) to go along with its tour inspired GAP fitting philosophy. With the SCUBA, irons and wedges can be adjusted to the loft and lie angles at the range while fitting a player. As a result, the player can walk away from a fitting session with a completely customized set of clubs (perfect lie angles and distance gaps) delivered the same day.

You can find the complete list of initiatives here.

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Group Led by Fila Korea Buys Acushnet (Titleist and FootJoy brands) for $1.2 Billion

by Annie Latham on May 20, 2011 in News, Titleist with No comments

Today Fortune Brands, Inc. (NYSE:FO) announced a definitive agreement for the sale of its Acushnet Company golf business, featuring the iconic Titleist and FootJoy brands, to a group led by Fila Korea Ltd., the owner of the Fila brand globally, and Mirae Asset Private Equity, the largest private equity firm in Korea. The purchase price is $1.225 billion in cash. Fortune Brands estimates it will realize net proceeds of approximately $1.1 billion after taxes and expenses.

Fortune Brands Golf Businesses

The press release states that Acushnet is the leading and most profitable golf equipment company in the world. Titleist is the #1 ball in golf and a leader in high-performance golf clubs. FootJoy is the #1 shoe and glove in golf and a leader in performance outerwear. Net sales exceeded $1.2 billion in 2010, with nearly half of revenues generated in markets outside the United States. Operating income before charges was $80 million in 2010, and operating income on a GAAP basis was $89 million.

The sale is expected to close this summer.

Plans to either sell or spin off the company had been in the works since late last year when Fortune Brands, which also owns a home and security business and a distilled spirits unit, approved a plan to divide the company into three distinct businesses. Wally Uihlein, chairman and chief executive officer of Acushnet Co., in a phone interview this morning with SouthCoast Today said there were many interested parties, but Fila Korea stood out from the beginning as good business men plus “they’re golfers.”

Fila Korea and its partners intend to run Acushnet Co. as a standalone entity and have made it clear that they are relying on the current management to continue operations, said Joe Nauman, Acushnet Co.’s executive vice president for corporate and legal affairs.

“This is not going to be a merger into Fila Korea,” said Nauman. “We’re going to have a new owner that is very much like the ownership under Fortune Brands. We’re stand-alone; we operate the business.”

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Source: SouthCoastDaily.com

Review: Nike Golf Victory Red Pro Blade Irons

by James on May 15, 2011 in Golf Equipment, Irons, Nike Golf with 1 Comment

You know when you put a new club in your hands, strike that first shot, and go ‘woah, baby that’s a sweet club’… That’s exactly what happened to me when I struck the Nike Golf Victory Red Pro Blade irons for the first time. In fact, after my first shot, I flipped the club around, took a closer look at the clubhead, and thought ‘I’m really going to like these’… and I did!

Not only do the VR Pro Blades look great, but they’re insanely consistent, and provide incredible feedback for those that love to shape their shots. For my thoughts on this great set of irons for the lower handicap golfer… please, keep reading!

Low Trajectory

One of the things I dig the most about the VR Pro Blades is the trajectory you get off the face. This became obvious to me when I grabbed a VR Pro Combo 7 iron, and hit alternating shots between it an a VR Pro 8-iron I had handy. The Pro Combo 7 iron went MUCH higher than the VR Pro Blade 8 iron. Imagine that… the 8-iron actually flighted noticeably lower than the 7 iron from a comparable cavity-back set.

The trajectory is low and piercing… but not too low. I loved it because it was consistent… which leads me into my next point!

Consistent Distance Control

One thing that became quite apparent to me after striking my first bucket of balls was this… these irons were deadly consistent. Using the trusty 8-iron as my example (again), I decided to throw down 10 balls and measure the distances. Here’s the spread:

  • Shot 1: 155 yards
  • Shot 2: 156 yards
  • Shot 3: 155 yards
  • Shot 4: 154 yards
  • Shot 5: 156 yards
  • Shot 6: 155 yards
  • Shot 7: 155 yards
  • Shot 8: 156 yards
  • Shot 9: 155 yards
  • Shot 10: 155 yards

Not too shabby… drop the high and low result, and you end up with a spread of… well… about a yard! Awesome.

I know some of you might be saying, ‘that’s ridiculous, you’re not a pro!’… and granted, I’m not. But I’m a decent golfer with a consistent swing, and I shoot in the 70’s with regularity. The conditions on the day of this test were dead calm, and I was striping the shots right down the pipe one after another. The results speak for themselves… for accurate distance control, I HAVE to give the Nike Golf VR Pro Blades a 10 out of 10.

Solid Feel and Feedback

After striking a few shots (including a few bad ones), I came to realize how forgiving (yes, forgiving!) these blades actually are. I’m used to playing blades on a day-to-day basis (in fact, I have a set of Titleist 690.MB’s in my bag right now), so I know a thing or to on what to expect when it comes to forgiveness. In comparison to my Titleists, the VR Pro Blades seem to provide a slightly larger sweet spot on the face. This is nice, because I found I didn’t have to concentrate as hard to ensure I hit it exactly where I wanted in the middle of the face, on each shot… my swing began to flow with nice tempo, and…. well… I really enjoyed striking the ball with this set!

On top of that, the feel and feedback you get with each shot is awesome. At impact, there’s no other way to describe the feeling you get, other than ‘solid’. There’s no vibration, no twisting, no anything… just a solid, pure feel with every strike.

Thin Top Line

I LOVE the thin top line on these clubs. I know this might seem like a minor point for many of you out there… but for those that prefer a great set of blades in the bag, the top line is a huge factor.

At setup, the clubs inspire confidence. They line up square, and just knowing you’re going to get solid feel and feedback with your strike is huge.

Working the Ball

Like to fade and draw your iron shots into those tight pin locations? I’d highly recommend you give the Nike VR Pro Blades a try. Working the ball is easy. I’m not going to sit here and tell you how to hit a fade, or how to hit a draw… if you’ve gotten this far in the review you already know how to do that… 😛

But trust me, once you decide on the shot you want to hit, and line up to execute the shot… These irons are money in the bank. I prefer to hit fades myself, but I found hitting a slight draw time after time, after time… after time… was not a problem.

Stylish and Sexy

If there was an award for ‘sexiest’ irons, the Nike VR Pro blades would be a finalist, without a doubt. They’re a modern take on a classic design, and look stylish in the bag. The numbering on the sole is clean, and the Nike logo on the muscle on the back of the clubhead is just downright nasty (in a good way).

I know in the end, how your clubs actually look has nothing to do with hitting the ball, or shooting low numbers. But if you get a kick out of the look of your clubs, surely that has to be worth a shot or two out on the course, right? Something along the lines of, ‘look good, feel (and play) your best’? (sorry PING)

Pros

  • Ultra consistent trajectory and distance control
  • Solid feel and feedback on each shot
  • Become a real shotmaker. Work the ball left to right and right to left with ease
  • They look great (at address, and in the bag)

Cons

The price. For some, the $895.95 (retail 3-PW steel shaft) price on this set may be a bit too much. That said, all other iron sets in the same category are going to cost you roughly the same amount.

Conclusions

If you’re a low-handicapper looking for a top of the line set to integrate into your game, the Nike VR Pro Blade irons are worth some serious consideration. Trust me when I say you’re going to absolutely love the feel and consistency you get with these bad boys.

If you’re a mid-handicap looking to improve your ball striking, and lower your scores, these may be worth a look as well. Granted, you may have a hard time if you’ve never hit a set of blades before… However, I firmly believe with a little bit of practice these irons could be a huge asset for your game.

High-handicappers, steer clear. That said, if you are looking for some Nike iron love, I’d recommend the Nike Pro Combo irons. The longer irons in this set feature a large cavity back… and as you work your way down to the short irons (scoring clubs), you’ll find a more traditional blade style… the cavity gets smaller and smaller (and eventually disappears) as you work your way through the set.

For more information on the VR Pro Blade Irons (and all other irons offered by Nike), hit up Nike Golf.

Cobra S3 Driver Photo Gallery

by James on May 14, 2011 in Golf Equipment, Cobra, Drivers with No comments

The Cobra S3 Driver is one darn good looking driver. That’s why, when Cobra told me they were sending one over for my review… I was, in a word, excited. The S3 packs-in something Cobra are calling their ‘E9 Face Technology’, which creates a 30% larger sweet-spot. Of course, Cobra’s Adjustable Flight Technology (AFT) is on-board as well, allowing the player to adjust the clubface from an open, to a neutral or closed position.

I won’t get into the details of the technology and design at this moment (although I do have to admit I love the deeper face on this one in comparison to the Cobra S2 Driver)… For now, I decided to take a few snapshots. Enjoy.

Cobra S3 Driver Photo Gallery

Bridgestone Golf Teams Up With Michelob ULTRA for Father’s Day Promo

by Annie Latham on May 12, 2011 in Bridgestone, Golf Balls with No comments

This week, Bridgestone Golf announced it is partnering with Michelob ULTRA for the “Golfer’s Ultimate 6-Pack” promotion which is timed for Father’s Day. , The Golfer’s Ultimate 6-Pack is a limited-edition package which features five Michelob ULTRA Slimline cans and a three-ball sleeve of Bridgestone’s award-winning e6 golf balls (where legal).

The Golfer’s Ultimate 6-Pack will be released on May 23 and is the first retail package to combine Michelob ULTRA with Bridgestone e6 golf balls at the point of purchase. The promotion includes nearly 500,000 sleeves of e6 balls, making this one of the largest golf ball samplings in recent history.

The e6 features three-piece Surlyn cover construction which provides the ability to reduce sidespin for increased accuracy and longer distance. According to the company’s press announcement, the new e6 remains the lowest compression multi-layer ball on the market – perfect for moderate swing speed players looking to limit slices and hooks – and features Bridgestone’s new Dual Dimple Technology for improved distance performance.

For more information on the Golfer’s Ultimate 6-Pack and Bridgestone’s entire line up of balls, visit www.bridgestonegolf.com.

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Nike Golf’s Glover Putts his way to 3rd Tour Championship

by Annie Latham on May 9, 2011 in Golf Equipment, Manufacturers, Nike Golf, Putters with No comments

Today, Nike Golf announced its athlete, Lucas Glover won the Wells Fargo Championship with a “stunning putting performance.” It was the third PGA Tour title of Glover’s career.

Glover, who also used a METHOD putter to win his first major two years ago, was No. 1 in putts per green with 1.58 at Quail Hollow, riding the hot flat stick to a victory on the first playoff hole after finishing 15-under par in regulation.

He started the final round three shots back, but took the lead with a 30-foot eagle putt on the 10th. Glover gutted out a seven-foot par putt on the 72nd hole and then knocked in a four-footer on the first playoff hole for his third career PGA Tour victory.

“I putted great all week, and I made some clutch putts on 16, 17 and 18,” said Glover.

The Nike Method features the distinctively visible Nike polymetal groove technology, which reduces skid and provides a truer roll, keeping the ball on line. The Method, which became available in February 2010, already has accumulated 26 wins on the professional tours worldwide, including three major championships. Most recently in April, Nike athlete Charl Schwartzel won The Masters with the Nike Method 004 prototype putter.

Glover, who also is a strong iron player, used Nike’s new VR Pro Combo irons, the same irons that fellow Nike athletes Jhonattan Vegas and Schwartzel won with at the Bob Hope Classic and Masters Tournament, respectively. He wore apparel from the Nike Golf Tour Collection and the popular Nike Lunar Control footwear.

Nike has already updated its website to reflect Glover’s win.

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Video Exclusive: Nike Golf’s 20XI Golf Ball

by Annie Latham on May 4, 2011 in Golf Equipment, Golf Balls, Nike Golf with No comments

At the 36th annual Haggin Oaks Golf Expo in Sacramento, California, I had a chance to run around with my video camera and talk to vendors about what’s hot for 2011.

Here is the first of several interviews that I will be posting. I met Nike Golf’s Arthur Molinari. He is a product development engineer who kindly took some time to educate me on the 20XI golf ball.

Also, please note that boxes of the 20XI are selling for $45.95 at major volume retailers (a far cry from the MSRP noted in my earlier post).

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Adams Golf Set to Relaunch Yes! Putters With 8 New Models

by Hilary Harrison on May 4, 2011 in Golf Equipment, Adams, Putters, Yes! with No comments

Earlier this year Adams Golf acquired Yes! Golf in a bankruptcy auction. They purchased it for $1.5 million with the hope to integrate the company seamlessly into their operations in Texas. Yes! Golf was best known for their patented putter technology designs, which included the C-Groove putters. Trying to break into the putter market for several years, Adams Golf saw this acquisition as the perfect opportunity to fix their lacking presence in the Adams Golf Set to Re-Launch Yes! Puttersputter market. With the inclusion of Yes! Golf putters Adams was able to make a significant leap into the putter market with a respected brand name and a vital technology platform. Founded in 1996 by famed European putting doctor Harold Swash. The brand become internationally known when Retief Goosen won his first US Open with their Tracy model putter. The brand name carries with it a knowledge and understanding of putter technology and design.

This Monday Adams Golf announced that Yes! Golf will be relaunched and include eight new models for the brand.

Adams wasted no time since they acquired the company in January and quickly turned it around to be ready for it’s re-launch into the retail market. One of the new models in this re-launched line is called the Christiana, crafted out of 304 stainless steel and completed with the iconic C-Groove design. The face-balanced club was based on of the popular Yes! Tracy putter. The C-Groove is design was created with precise angles that make a C shape, and where it received its name. These angles will grip the ball at impact, which allow it to start rolling quicker and truer towards the hole. The Christina putter is finished with a double-bend shaft and a sandblasted finish. Expect Yes! to release at least 8 new models for next year’s PGA Merchandise Show in January… Adams Golf is wasting no time establishing a foothold in the putter market.

Nike VR Pro Driver Really Making a Splash On Tour

by Hilary Harrison on May 3, 2011 in Golf Equipment, Drivers, Nike Golf with No comments

Nike’s latest driver the VR Pro has been making quiet a splash on Tour, helping Nike golfers win tournaments across the world.

Nike VR Pro DriverBeginning last year Anthony Kim and Francesco Mollinari played this driver. Recently John Cook used it to validate his victory on the Championship Tour during the Outback Steakhouse Pro-Am. Rookie Jhonattan Vegas used the driver during his first win on the PGA Tour at the Bob Hope Classic. Averaging 309 yards off the tee during the 5 rounds of the classic he scored in the 60s to show this driver definitely lives up to it’s Nike namesake. Not forgetting the most masterful winner using the tour version of this driver was Charl Schwartzel during his monumental win at the Maters this year. When it boils down to it these golfers all had the talent and paired with the right equipment they made these wins possible.

Crafted wit the latest technology and advanced design from Nike the VR Pro Driver is the perfect fit to their VR series. Designed with a pear shape so the weight could be distributed to optimum center of gravity locations. A traditional shaped head the pear profile is a classic look from the playing position. As the latest addition to the VR line Nike stocked these clubs with Project X shafts. With new Variable Compression Channels players are able to get better ball speed and greater distance. It broadens the length of the face so that on draw or fade shots golfers can still get the distance they desire. A distinctively Nike feature is the use of their STR8-Fit angle technology on the face. This technology allows golfers to adjust the club angels to get the best workability out of the club. Adjustable to an astonishing 32 different options ranging from 2 degrees open to 2 degrees closed in .25-degree increments, players can craft and work what type of shots they want.

For more on the Nike VR Pro Driver, visit GolfClubs.com.

Adams Golf Intros Idea Pro a12 Hybrids & Forged Iron sets

by Annie Latham on April 28, 2011 in Adams, Hybrids, Irons with No comments

Adams Golf just introduced their new Idea Pro a12 hybrids and forged iron sets. Engineered to meet the standards of better players, the premium hybrids deliver tour-preferred launch conditions, enhanced playability and a sleek black finish. The superior forged iron set (4-GW) produces exceptional feel and performance on every shot with precisely located centers of gravity and ultra thin faces born from a triple milling process.

Per their announcement, Idea hybrids are ranked as the most-played on the PGA, Champions and Nationwide Tours. Thousands of Idea hybrids have been put into play on tour since their introduction in 2003. The Pro a12 is already in the bags of several players, including Adams Golf staff members Tom Watson and Ryan Moore. An Idea Pro a12 hybrid was also in the bag of the winner of the 2011 Heritage tournament.

The Idea Pro a12 hybrids begin shipping to golf shops May 5 with a suggested retail price (SRP) of $299.99.

For the Idea Pro a12 Forged Irons (4-GW), their forged 8620 carbon steel head construction provides “outstanding control, performance and feedback for the lower-handicap golfer and appeals to better players with a thin top line and improved camber on the sole.” Each head is triple milled (on the face, grooves and cavity) for more exacting performance from club to club. A precisely located low center of gravity and progressive heel to toe weighting provides added stability in the long irons and more workability in the short irons and wedges. The progressive offset through the entire set offers better players superior control and workability of their ball flight.

The irons sets are available right-handed in regular, stiff and x-stiff flexes and begin shipping to golf shops May 5 with a SRP of $1,099.99 for graphite and $899.99 for steel.

Source: Adams Golf

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