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Charl Schwartzel’s Putter: Nike Method 004 Prototype

by James on April 11, 2011 in Golf Equipment, Nike Golf, Players, Putters with No comments

Charl Schwartzel had nothing short of a superb final round at the 2011 Masters. That chip-in on the first hole for birdie… the hole out for eagle on the third… and then four straight birdies stroked into the center of the hole to finish his round… the round was absolutely first class, and Charl is more than deserving of the green jacket.

With all those birdies rolling into the cup during the end of his round, I was trying to decipher the type of putter he was using. After closer inspection, his putter appears to be a Nike Method 004 model… However, some more research and digging revealed to me that the putter is a prototype from the folks at the Nike ‘Oven’.

Nike Method 004 Putter

If you take a closer look at the face of Schwartzel’s Method 004, you’ll notice it doesn’t feature Nike’s ‘Polymetal Groove Technology’ (the black lines you normally see across the face of the Method line). My guess is Charl is much more comfortable with a flat face made up of one material… if I remember correctly, Charl ‘s last putter (one he used for a long time) was a Bobby Grace Fat Lady. You’ll notice the mallet design on the Fat Lady features no extra ‘grooves’ on the face. It’s a flat surface comprised of a single material.

Bobby Grace Fat Lady Putter

For what it’s worth, some of you may be wondering which putter Tiger Woods used during the 2011 Masters. No big surprises here, as he carried the same Nike Method 003 putter he’s been using for some time now. Unlike Charl, Tiger’s 003 does feature the Polymetal Groove Technology to help get the ball rolling… however, while watching some pre-round coverage on the Golf Channel, Notah Begay III noted that Tiger had this material shaved down to reduce the effect of this material.

It’s always cool to hear about the pros, and the tinkering they do with their equipment. I think we could all be well served to tinker with our equipment to get the right feel for comfort… but then again, I suppose it helps to practice as much as they do as well!

What’s in the Bag: 2011 Masters Champion Charl Schwartzel

by James on April 10, 2011 in Golf Equipment, Nike Golf, Players with No comments

2011 Masters Champion Charl SchwartzelWhat a riveting 2011 Masters! McIlroy failing to find his form over the back nine, Scott and Day playing fantastic golf down the stretch… and finally Charl Schwartzel coming up huge, finishing with 4 birdies to win the 2011 Masters in style. Congrats to Charl and South Africa for a fantastic performance. Job well done.

So what was in Charl’s bag for his first major win? Part of the Nike Golf team, Charl had nothing but the swoosh in the bag:

  • Driver: Nike VR Tour 8.5-degree with Rombax 7V05 shaft
  • Fairway Woods: Nike SQ Sumo 3-wood/13-degree, Nike SQ Sumo 5-wood/19-degree with Mitsubishi Diamana Blue Board 83 shafts
  • Irons: Nike VR Pro Blade (3-PW) with True Temper Dynamic Gold Tour Issue shafts
  • Wedges: Nike VR Pro 54-degree and Nike VR Pro 60-degree with True Temper Dynamic Gold Tour Issue shafts
  • Putter: Nike Method 004 Prototype
  • Ball: Nike ONE Tour D

On top of that, Charl also had on a pair of Nike Lunar Control shoes, and of course Nike pants, shirt and visor.

Again, well done to Charl… we’re looking forward to many more solid performances, and perhaps a few more major wins from the young South African!

Mizuno Launches Swing To Win Challenge

by Annie Latham on April 6, 2011 in Contests, Golf Equipment, Irons, Manufacturers, Mizuno with No comments

On Monday, Mizuno USA, announced the launch of their JPX-800 Swing To Win Challenge, a national contest allowing consumers to put their current irons to the test and experience the significant distance gains that can be realized through their new JPX-800 line of game-improvement irons. To validate its claims, Mizuno Golf recently had 100 consumers take the challenge with 99 of them hitting the JPX-800 6-iron further than their current 6-iron, with the collective group averaging a 12.48 yard increase in distance. Mizuno is now offering golfers across the country the ability to see for themselves at local golf retailers and Mizuno demo events, and the chance to win one of 800 prizes, including a Dream Round of golf with Mizuno PGA Tour stars Luke Donald and Charles Howell III.

From now until June 30, 2011, consumers can visit participating golf retailers or one of Mizuno’s demo events at local golf courses across the country, and take the challenge, comparing the performance of their current 6-iron against a JPX-800 6-iron. The distance gain results and a variety of “swing DNA” metrics are then provided to each consumer, along with a special entry code, for entry at the Mizuno Swing to Win Challenge microsite (www.mizunochallenge.com). Upon entering their Swing to Win Challenge data, each consumer will be automatically entered for a chance to win one of 800 prizes, including the grand prize – an ultimate golf prize package, including an all-expense-paid trip to Atlanta for a Dream Round of golf with a guest and Mizuno PGA stars Luke Donald and Charles Howell III. Other prizes include Mizuno golf equipment and accessories.

Mizuno’s JPX-800 irons were designed to be its most forgiving and explosively long irons to date, and the first model to bring Mizuno’s global JPX technology platform to the United States. The significant distance benefits of the JPX-800 irons are achieved by combining MAX COR Technology, Hot Metal™ Face construction, and an exotic pocket cavity to hit the maximum allowable limits for energy transfer. Simply put, the JPX-800 irons utilize the world’s most advanced game improvement technologies to help the mid to high-handicap players score better than ever before.

Note: Stacy Lewis, who captured her first LPGA tour victory at the first major of the year, defeating the number-one ranked player in the world, Yani Tseng, at the Kraft Nabisco Championship, was using Mizuno clubs. She averaged over 280 yards using the Mizuno JPX-800 Driver. Also in her bag were the JPX-800 Pro irons, the Mizuno Fairway Wood, Hybrid, and MP T-11 wedges.

Nike VR Pro Wedge Arrives with X3X High-Frequency Grooves

by James on March 25, 2011 in Golf Equipment, Nike Golf, Wedges with No comments

The VR Pro Wedge from Nike Golf is the latest in Nike’s line of scoring clubs to hit the scene. The VR Pro features precision forging and top-of-the-line craftsmanship… which, in the end will provide optimal spin rates and ‘feel’ for the accomplished golfer.

Key features:

  • New X3X high-frequency grooves for consistent ball flight
  • 21.5% more volume under the impact area of the ball
  • Material used is tried and true S20C forged iron
  • Precision-forging ensures shot-making consistency
  • Available in satin chrome and brush oxide raw

The forging process used to produce the VR Pro wedges is precise to say the least. Nike Golf reports that the process is the most exact wedge face the company has ever created. In the end, I suppose what we can take away from this is from sketch drawings through to computer models, the finished product ‘as built’ in the real world is spot on… exactly how the designers intended.

The Nike VR Pro wedges feature more grooves than your typical wedge. The resulting effect is not only more spin (and control), but a cleaner and more consistent ball flight will result on those short game shots. While more grooves are found on the wedge itself, don’t go thinking there’s something unconforming here. The new wedge conforms to the new USGA and R&A wedge stipulations… No worries here, it’s all good!

Coming to a golf shop near you April 1st, the Nike VR Pro Wedge will be available in Satin Chrome or Brushed Oxide RAW. Loft/Bounce options will include: 50/10, 52/10, 54/12, 56/10, 56/14, 58/8, 58/10, 60/6, 60/10 (Available in RH) 52/10, 56/14, 60/10 (Available in LH).

Photo Gallery:

For more information, hit up the press release below.

Nike Golf Creates VR Pro Wedge Featuring the X3X High-Frequency Grooves

-Nike’s new VR Pro Wedge features precision forging to ensure consistency and Tour proven craftsmanship for the top players in the world-

TORONTO (March 25, 2011)–Nike Golf continues to lead in innovation with the addition of the new Nike VR Pro wedge to Nike’s successful VR Pro line.

The VR Pro wedges are developed out of a precise forging process resulting in a wedge that offers accurate shot-shaping performance.  The face of the VR Pro wedge is the most exact wedge face Nike has ever created.  From materials, to design, to construction, the VR Pro wedge is developed with craftsmanship to eliminate variance and enhance control.

Each wedge face features more grooves, resulting in cleaner, more consistent ball flight and spin while still conforming to the new USGA and R&A rules.  With more grooves closer together and deeper on the clubface, the VR Pro wedge ensures more control and consistency in all conditions off the clubface.  A precision laser crosshatch pattern is applied to the land area between the grooves.  This pattern adds three times the surface texture versus conventionally finished faces, creating more spin in all conditions.

Crafted for consistency that Nike Golf Tour Athletes demand, the VR Pro wedge utilizes a new precision-forging technique that immediately delivers the club to a near-finished level.  This precision-forging technique eliminates most hand work and ensures consistency and maximum performance throughout the set.

Each iron face is milled to a perfectly flat surface.  The face is then carefully die-stamped, pressing grooves to exact specifications for extremely low variance and shot-making consistency.

The VR Pro wedge is already in the bags of Nike Athletes on the PGA Tour, including Stewart Cink, Anthony Kim, Francesco Molinari and Tiger Woods.

Availability:  April 1, 2011 
Finish Options: Satin Chrome or Brushed Oxide RAW
Loft/Bounce Options:  50/10, 52/10, 54/12, 56/10, 56/14, 58/8, 58/10, 60/6, 60/10 (Available in RH) 52/10, 56/14, 60/10 (Available in LH)
Cdn MSRP:  $129.99

Wilson Staff Di11 Irons: Review Coming Soon!

by James on March 20, 2011 in Golf Equipment, Irons, Manufacturers, Wilson Staff with No comments

The good folks at Wilson Golf have been in touch with us regarding their Di11 Irons… and good on ’em, as they’re sending us a 4, 7 and Pitching Wedge for testing purposes. The clubs should be in our possession this coming week, and we can’t wait to get our hands on them.

Wilson sets out some hefty claims on the Di11’s. They say the Di11’s have the largest sweet spot on the market. In fact, competitive testing and evaluation had the Di11 irons pegged with a 36% larger sweet spot than any other game improvement irons on the market (this includes iron offerings from TaylorMade, Ping and Callaway). In addition to the massive sweet spot, ball velocity off the club face was also measured at the top of the pack.

The Wilson Staff Di11 irons also feature a wide sole and low center-of-gravity. The weight is packed down low to help the average player get the ball up in the air. The perimeter weighting also promotes head stability and an arrow-straight ball flight.

Wilson has also integrated their wide-tip technology into the Di11 set. You’ll notice how ‘fat’ the shaft is at the hosel… that’s what we’re talking about here. This technology negates a lot of the twisting on off-center hits, promoting a straighter ball flight.

To top it all off, Wilson coats the Di11 irons with a lightweight elastomer to reduce vibration on those nasty off-center hits.

All-in-all, the Wilson Staff Di11 irons look to be leading the way in game improvement irons. How do they stack up? How will they play for the 3 handicap? The 10 handicap? The 20 handicap? We’ll find out once the clubs are in-house… we can’t wait!

Special thanks again to Wilson Golf and the folks at Sports Impact. For more information, read the official launch press release from Wilson Staff below: Continue reading →

The Mizuno MP-68 Irons: Grain Flow Forged Goodness

by James on March 19, 2011 in Golf Equipment, Irons, Manufacturers, Mizuno with No comments

Mizuno irons have long been the cream of the crop. In fact, when Tiger was rising to prominence, I believe he had a set of Mizuno blades, which, Titleist ‘copied’ for him when he played Titleist clubs (someone please correct me if I’m wrong). That said, the Mizuno MP-68 irons are some of the most beautiful blades you’ll find on the market… if not THE most beautiful. If you get a rush from classic styling, look and feel, the MP68’s are the ultimate.

The MP-68 irons incorporate Mizuno’s 3D muscle technology. The muscle design is the result of intensive research, and is designed to deliver a center-of-gravity (COG) much lower on the face to provide a penetrating (and workable) ball flight. If you like driving the ball low, with the ability to shape your shot… the MP-68’s should be on your short list.

The Mizuno MP-68’s also feature a Tour Confirmed sole shape. The shape of the sole allows for just the right amount of turf contact for perfect contact every time.

To top it all off, Mizuno puts the irons through their ‘Grain Flow Forging Process’. This process enhances the flow and tightness of the grains of metal in the head. In the end, this maximizes the strength of the club without sacrificing any bit of feel. When the process is finished, you end up with a buttery-soft shot-shaping delight.

Learn more about Mizuno Grain Flow Forging >

Key features according to Mizuno go a little something like this:

  • 3D Muscle design delivers a penetrating ball flight and unsurpassed ball control.
  • Impact, sound, and feel are optimized through extensive use of Modal Analysis, which separates Mizuno irons from the competition.
  • Patented Grain Flow Forged® 1025E “Pure Select” mild carbon steel provides the ultimate soft, solid, and consistent feel.
  • Durable double nickel chrome plated finish.
  • Modified U-grooves, which conform to Condition of Competition 2010, produce the ideal spin rate for maximum playability in all conditions.
  • Rolled leading edge, flattened mid-sole, and rolled trailing edge deliver consistent striking ability from all types of lies.

For more information, hit up Mizuno, or take a look at the specs and photo gallery below.

Mizuno MP-68 Specs

Club # LH Loft Lie Off Set Bounce Length
(degree) (degree) (inch) (degree) (inch)
3 Yes 21° 59.5° 0.110” 2° 38.75”
4 Yes 24° 60.0° 0.110” 2° 38.25”
5 Yes 27° 60.5° 0.110” 2° 37.75”
6 Yes 31° 61.0° 0.110” 3° 37.25”
7 Yes 35° 61.5° 0.110” 3° 36.75”
8 Yes 39° 62.0° 0.102” 4° 36.25”
9 Yes 43° 62.5° 0.102” 5° 35.75”
PW Yes 47° 63.0° 0.094” 6° 35.50”

Mizuno MP-68 Photo Gallery

The Cobra S3 Driver: A Closer Look

by James on March 17, 2011 in Golf Equipment, Cobra, Drivers, Manufacturers with No comments

As part of their 2011 lineup, Cobra recently released the brand-spanking new S3 Driver. Building upon the foundation laid by the S9, and then the S2, the S3 features a new ‘E9’ face technology… a technology that creates a 30% larger sweet spot. Plus, the Adjustable Flight Technology built into the club head and shaft allows you to make adjustments to fine tune your shot shape or compensate for shot tendencies.

So what is the Cobra E9 Face Technology all about? It’s pretty darn simple, really. The face of the S3 features a taller elliptical face with a beveled perimeter. The end result is a 30% larger sweet spot, allowing you to grip it and rip it down the middle more often. Distance, accuracy and forgiveness are all built-in.

Digging deeper into the E9 Face Technology, Cobra has tested and proven that 99% of shots hit by golfers miss the center of the face in a tilted, elliptical pattern from low heel to high toe. With that in mind, they created a taller and more elliptical face to mirror that miss-hit pattern.

The S3 offers a ‘hotter’ club face in comparison to the S2 driver… take a look at the comparison of the S2 and S3 clubface below.

S2 and S3 Face Comparison

The Adjustable Flight Technology (AFT) built into the shaft and head is exactly the same as previous models (the S2 and ZL). The club comes with three settings, open, neutral and closed. While these three settings aren’t as many as some of the other technologies available today, some might argue that anything more than 3 settings is overkill. I do enjoy the simplicity of the Cobra AFT… Open, neutral or closed… pick your poison and work with it. Easy as that.

The Cobra S3 is available in 8.5, 9.5, 10.5 and 11.5 lofts. All models are available in 45.5″ lengths with D5 swing weight (the 11.5 is available in a D4 as well) and multiple shaft flexes. The Fukijura Blur is the stock shaft of choice, available in the TX006 and TX005 models. The tX006 is available in regular, stiff and extra-stiff, all having a mid kick and 5.5 degrees of torque. The TX005 comes in lite flex only, with a low kick point and 5.6 degrees of torque.

Fujikura Blur Shaft on the Cobra S3

Cobra S3 Photo Gallery

For more information, head on over to Cobra Golf.

Cleveland Golf Launcher TL310 Driver

by James on March 15, 2011 in Golf Equipment, Cleveland, Drivers, Manufacturers with No comments

Listed on the GolfDigest HOT LIST for 2011, Cleveland Golf’s Launcher TL310 Driver is the real deal. The ‘TL’ stands for Tour Lite, with the driver weighing in at 310 grams. Despite the lightness of the club, it is still said to offer stability and feel demanded by the scratch golfer… with room for error for higher handicaps as well. Yes, the club is a good fit for almost any golfer, no matter if they’re looking for shot-shaping or forgiveness off the tee.

For what it’s worth, the TL310 is just part of the ‘Right Weight’ fitting system. The Launcher Ultralite series consists of 3 weights (310g, 290g and 270g). Each of these models is tuned to help players of different swing types and speeds.

The Cleveland Golf Launcher TL310 Driver features a 202 gram head, a 59-series shaft from Miyazaki C. Kua, and a 46 gram Lamkin grip. These of course are stock options, so if you’re looking to tune something specifically for your game, your best bet is to hit up an authorized Cleveland Golf retailer to get started.

Image Gallery:

Specs:

The TL310 is available in lofts of 8.5, 9.5 and 10.5. The 9.5 and 10.5 lofts are available in left-handed models as well. All models pack a 440cc club head, feature a shaft length of 45.25, feature a D4 swingweight and tip the scales at 310 grams.

For more, head on over to Cleveland Golf.

Have You Tried the PING iPhone App Yet?

by James on March 15, 2011 in News, Manufacturers, PING with No comments

If you play PING, chances are you keep an eye on the latest technology from the company. The legendary manufacturer, founded by the one-and-only Karsten Solheim revolutionized the golf club by introducing perimeter weighting… allowing average and skilled players alike to benefit from a much larger sweet spot.

I could babble on for awhile about PING, but that’s not the point of this post. The point is to tell you about the PING app for iPhone, iPod Touch and iPad!

This official application if free to download, and packs quite a few features. Inside you’ll find the ability to locate the nearest PING authorized retail centre or fitting centre with AFS or nFlight capabilities. You’ll also be able to view an up-to-date product lineup… it’s always fun to browse through clubs, right? Right! In addition you’ll also find an in-depth library of educational and historical videos… and finally, you can get club and set recommendations via the nFlight web tool.

All in all, the PING app for iPhone is a must-have for any PING fan. It’s free to download, keeps you up-to-date on the company… and heck, it’s just a lot of fun to play around with.

Check out for yourself in iTunes: PING App for iPhone


TaylorMade R11 Driver Pictures

by James on March 14, 2011 in Golf Equipment, Drivers, Manufacturers, TaylorMade with No comments

With the TaylorMade R11 Driver dubbed as the ‘it’ club for the first half of 2011, golf fanatics are scrambling like mad to get their hands on one. From head-to-toe, this driver is a unique piece of work. From the white paint job to the almost endless customizations of lie and loft… the R11 has found its way into many a tour pro’s bag, with much success.

To help feed the addiction to all things TaylorMade, and more specifically the R11, we’ve put together a small photo gallery for your viewing pleasure. You can go ahead and check ’em out below.

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