Cobra S2 Driver Photo Gallery

The Cobra S2 Driver

As you may have noticed, I recently posted my first impressions of the Cobra S2 Driver. So far so good with the S2, and for the moment I’m quite content to keep this bad boy in the bag.

You’ll want to stay tuned here at GolfCrunch for a more thorough review of the S2, but until then I’ve posted a few photos for your review below. I think you’ll find the Cobra S2 is not only a powerful and forgiving driver with great feel… but the darn thing looks mighty nice as well. Enjoy.

The Cobra S2 Driver

The Cobra S2 Driver at address

Face of the Cobra S2 Driver

Sole of the Cobra S2 Driver

Stylish Cobra S2 Headcover

The Cobra S2 Driver and Headcover

The Axis1 Eagle Putter: Engineered to Turn Heads (and Sink Putts!)

The Axis1 Eagle Putter

The Axis1 Eagle Putter

Dubbed ‘Best in Show’ by Sports Illustrated (Golf Edition), ‘Best new golf product’ by Golf.com, ‘Most innovative club’ by the PGA Show and ‘Most innovative putter’ by MyGolfSpy, the Axis1 Eagle Putter is an innovation in putter design that will make your head turn… and perhaps sink a few putts too.

Created by Luis Pedraza, the Axis1 Eagle putter is noted to be the first 100% perfectly balanced putter. The uniquely designed hosel and clubhead give the club perfect balance, which, in theory, should result in more on-line putts because your putter won’t naturally open up. The face will want to stay square to the target line throughout your entire stroke. Interesting.

Axis1 Eagle Putter

The club itself is made from 17-4PH stainless steel, and features a copper insert for a soft feel off the clubface. Stainless steel counterweight screws are also inserted in the putter before it comes off the assembly line. The counterweights used precisely balance the putter, which, in the end offers up a 0 putter torque rating. Twisting and turning when you strike the ball? Not with the Axis1 Eagle Putter!

I have to say, I’m VERY intrigued about the Axis1 Eagle Putter. I’m not quite sure how I stumbled across it, but I’m glad I did. To the folks at Axis1, expect an email from me in short order. I’d love to get my hands on this one to give it some thorough testing on the greens. When it comes to putting and the technology imparted to help improve our games… I’m open to anything!

Stay tuned for more…

Jim Furyk Wields a used Yes! Sophia Putter to Win at Tour Championship

The Yes! Sophia Putter

The Yes! Sophia Putter

So what was that mystery putter, anyway? I could see the traditional yellow, white and black grip on the putter, so I could tell it was a Yes! putter. But just what model was it that Jim Furyk had in the bag this weekend at the Tour Championship? After some quick sleuthing, I came away with the knowledge that it was a Yes! Sophia putter, and a model that Furyk had picked up in used condition at Joe & Leigh’s Discount Golf Pro Shop in Massachusetts. An interesting story, for sure.

When asked about the new flatstick, Furyk commented:

“It was used. It was a used putter. It’s got a nick on the back flange, it’s got a little ding in the top line. I never loft and lied it which is rare for me because I’ve always got my putters on a loft-lie machine at home, and the way the grip is on it, it might be slightly off center but that’s kind of how I like it anyway. I guess we were meant to be, who knows.”

I have a number of used clubs in the bag as well… I’m glad to see professionals taking to the used scene as well. Used doesn’t always mean abused, there’s still plenty of life in many clubs out there if you give them a chance! Furyk went on to explain further:

“They had some that were bigger, more like a mallet head that were heel shafted, kind of like Faldo used to putt with in his heyday, but they had lines on them, and I wanted something without a line. I just wanted it as simple as it could be, heel shafted. It was the only one in the shop of about 300 putters. At the time I didn’t think it was all the that pretty to be honest with you, but it’s getting a lot better looking every day.”

Very cool indeed. I love the classic look of the Yes! Sophia, reminds me very much of the Wilson 8802. Timeless.

Yes! Putters have a few other similar models up for grabs as well… that is, if blades are your thing. In addition to the Sophia, there’s the Mollie and Morgan. Both are inspired by classic designs… and both feature Yes! C-Groove technology.

For more information or to take a look at Yes! complete lineup, head on over to Yes! Putters.

The Yes! Sophia Putter

The Yes! Sophia Putter Top View

The Yes! Sophia Putter

[Via: PutterZone]

The Cobra S2 Driver: First Impressions

Out on the course with the Cobra S2 Driver

I had been wanting to get my hands on the Cobra S2 Driver for some time now. A few months back, the good folks at Cobra Golf were nice enough to send me the Cobra ZL Driver for review… and after putting that one through its paces, I loved it. Naturally, with the S2 as their other big driver option, I wanted to do the same. Without hesitation Cobra obliged my request, so… the other day I took the S2 to the range, and then out on the course for some testing. What I found was all good.

The club in my hands was a 10.5 with stiff Cobra Fit-On Max 65 gram shaft. On the range, my first few drives were straight and true. Much like the ZL, the feel at impact was solid as a rock, and I was able to work the ball either direction with ease. It’s important to note that the Cobra S2 Driver has Adjustable Flight Technology (AFT) built-in as well, so if you’d rather not make changes to your setup, simply adjust the clubhead to the open, neutral or closed position to help you work the ball (or straighten out that slice!).

Out on the course, my drive off the first tee made me smile. Straight down the pipe, right down the middle of the fairway leaving me a gap wedge into the green. Needless to say, I was loving the Cobra S2 already. Never mind the fact that I missed the green and 3-hacked it from there for a bogey… the purpose of my round was to get some initial impressions of the S2 🙂

The Cobra S2 Driver in the bag!

The Cobra S2 Driver taking its place in my bag. You may also notice the Cobra Baffler Pro Hybrid in there too. Solid club.

As the round went on, one thing became quite apparent to me. The 9 Point Face Technology that Cobra touts was clearly in effect. If you have never heard of this, Cobra advertises that their drivers have 9 ‘hot’ points across the clubface, giving you consistently long and accurate drives no matter where you strike the ball. As long as you make contact in the area containing these 9 points, you’ll feel the difference. And, I’ve got to say… in comparison to the ZL I really felt this in the S2. Maybe it’s because my swing was a little bit off, but I was hitting quite a few drives off the toe-side of the driver, and all of them took off like a rocket. The feeling of these drives off the face was as if I had pured it off the sweet spot. It felt great, to say the least.

Much like the Cobra ZL Driver, the S2 sets up nicely to the ball, and inspires confidence. The overall look and feel of the club is sharp as well. In fact, I prefer the styling on the S2 over the ZL. Not by much, but I have to admit, the S2 wins in overall looks.

I’m going to stop here for now, but expect a more thorough review (with pictures) in the near future. I’ll probably put the S2 through some more testing, and form some takeaway conclusions for you to keep in mind.

At first blush though, the S2 is certainly getting my seal of approval. Solid distance, great accuracy, and a consistent feel off the face.

For more information on the Cobra S2 Driver, head on over to CobraGolf.com.

Stay tuned for more.

Note: As always, a special thanks goes out to Terra and the team at Cobra Puma Golf.

Adams Golf Unveils New ‘Easy-to-Hit’ V3 Hybrids

Earlier this month, Adams Golf unveiled its new Idea Tech V3 hybrids and hybrid irons that are supposed to establish a new standard in the “super game-improvement” category.   Intended for aspiring and recreational players looking to improve their games, the Idea Tech V3 set is offered in two configurations (forged or all-hybrid) in order to meet each customer’s preferences. The Idea Tech V3 hybrids may also be purchased individually.

In both configurations, the eight-piece Idea Tech V3 set consists of 4-, 5- and 6- progressively-sized hybrids and a 7-mid-hybrid.

  • The forged set features four oversized cavity-back forged irons in 8-iron through gap wedge.
  • The all-hybrid set features four hybrid scoring clubs in 8-iron through gap wedge.

The easy-to-hit hybrids in both configurations feature strategically placed tungsten weighting in the premium stainless steel heads for enhanced forgiveness and spin.

A four-way cambered sole and recessed heel and toe areas reduce turf drag for superior playability and versatility.

The transitional hybrid mid-iron includes a viscoelastic vibration dampening system for exceptional feel.

The stock shaft for the Idea Tech V3 hybrids is the Mitsubishi Rayon Bassara graphite shaft. Offered in four different flexes and weights–stiff (65g), regular (60g), lite (55g) and super-lite (50g)–the Bassara shafts are designed to exactly fit each player’s swing speed and type. For the short irons in either the forged or all-hybrid set, consumers may choose between True Temper Performance Tech shafts in steel or Mitsubishi Rayon Bassara shafts in graphite.

The eight-piece sets begin shipping to golf shops October 1 with a suggested retail price (SRP) of $899.99 for steel and $999.99 for graphite.

Individual Idea Tech V3 hybrids are available right-handed (2-7) or left-handed (3-6) with a SRP of $249.99 and will begin shipping November 1.

There is also a Women’s’ version of the Idea Tech V3 hybrid iron set fwhich provides the same advanced features and materials found in the men’s sets, but with dedicated tooling and design specifications created specifically for a woman’s swing.  Available with the Mitsubishi Rayon Bassara graphite shafts in the super-lite (50g) flex, the eight-piece women’s set begins shipping to golf shops October 1 with a SRP of $999.99.

Watch the commercial here.

MLB’s Rays Get “LoudMouthed”

Last Sunday, in honor of old-time manager Clarence “Pants” Rowland (and supposedly Golfer John Daly), the Major League Baseball (MLB) team from Tampa Bay, the Rays, wore  LoudMouth pants for their themed road trip to New York (dubbed “The LoudMouth Pants Rowland trip”).

The concept for the road trip was organized by Rays’ manager Joe Maddon, who has been an admirer of Pants Rowland since discovering that he is the only manager in baseball history to have his team be no-hit twice during the regular season and then go on to win a World Series title with the 1917 Chicago White Sox.

“We are combining a tribute to him, along with LoudMouth pants,” said Maddon. “It is just natural to call it the LoudMouth Pants Rowland road trip, so it works perfectly.”

LoudMouth will provide their bold style to the entire traveling party: players, coaches, trainers, broadcasters and front office staff, making this the team’s flashiest trip ever.  Some of the patterns that were selected by coaches and players were Bushwood, Oakmont Houndstooth, Disco Balls Black and Big Buzz.

Larry Jackson, CEO of LoudMouth Golf said, “LoudMouth is confident that the pants will be the wind beneath the Rays’ wings on their way to a LoudMouth Pants Rowland World Series where we fully expect them to meet our hometown San Francisco Giants for the title!”

Check out this video to see the players getting Loud.

Source:  Golfwire

Polara Unveils Self-Correcting Golf Balls

A company named Polara Golf has come up with that they call “Self-Correcting Technology™” which they have incorporated in  the Polara Ultimate Straight (2-piece) and the Polara Super Straight (3-piece) golf balls.  Utilizing a unique dimple design (there are 386 dimples), Polara’s Self-Correcting Technology golf balls are supposed to reduce dreaded hooks and slices by up to 75%.

In the company’s press announcement, they stated,  “Using Polara golf balls is guaranteed to improve the game, increase accuracy and lower the score for every golfer.”  That’s definitely an eyebrow-raising claim.

If you go to their website, you’ll find videos and test results.  Limited editions of the Polara golf balls, with the Polara ‘No Limits’ logo are currently available for pre-sale at www.polaragolf.com.  Pricing starts at $27.99 for a box of 12 balls.  Please note that Polara is offering 100% satisfaction guarantee.

“If you are not completely satisfied with any of your Polara® golf balls, simply return the unused portion, package, and cash receipt within 30 days of purchase date (found on your receipt) and we will refund your purchase.”

Could be worth a try…

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Watch where you swing: Golfer sparks blaze…

Smacking a rock with a golf club caused a spark that ignited a brush fire that consumed 25 acres.

Wanna get away?

I’m sure the golfer who snagged that rock while playing at the Shady Canyon Golf Club in Irvine, California wasn’t feeling too darn good about the fact that it took 150 firefighters, 38 trucks, 53 helicopter drops and 22,000 gallons of water to put the brush fire out.

The good news:

(a) No homes were damaged
(b) No charges were filed against the golfer

There had been rumors that the golfer was smoking.  However, club officials confirmed that neither the golfer nor the other members of his party—his wife and another couple—were smokers.

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Furyk’s “Dooh!” Moment Leads to DQ…

You may have heard Jim Furyk overslept Wednesday after his cell phone alarm clock lost power overnight, causing him to be late for his pro-am tee time in The Barclays at the Ridgewood Country Club.  Under PGA Tour rules, that makes him ineligible for the tournament, the first of four FedEx Cup playoff events.

Per the story in The New York Times, Furyk, who is ranked third in the FedEx Cup standings, took responsibility for his cellphone calamity:

He said he set his cellphone’s alarm clock Tuesday night, but somehow the phone’s battery — which he thought he had charged fully — died overnight. He awoke at 7:23 a.m., seven minutes before his scheduled tee time, and threw on a shirt and pants.

Beltless, sockless, and with his shoes untied, Furyk rushed from his hotel to the course, but he was too late.

“I’m beside myself,” he said, his shoes still untied. “I have a way of climbing into stupid situations.”

On the Golf Channel, Furyk and Phil Mickelson weighed in with their take of the DQ rule.  Video (4:49)

Mickelson pointed out that the rule only applied to “half the field” and that it was “ridiculous.”

PowerMat seized the  opportunity. By noon on Thursday, a media alert crossed my desk with the subject:

Powermat: Because Waking Up Is the First Step to Winning the FedEx Cup

It referenced a CNBC report by Darren Rovell that said all Furyk really needed was a Powermat.  Per the alert, Powermat, the leader in wireless charging, is the fast, easy and hassle-free way to charge your cell phone while you sleep. Powermat simultaneously delivers real time, wireless charging to multiple electronic devices that have been enabled once with a Powermat receiver.  All you need to do before closing your eyes for the night is ‘drop and charge.

Maybe Powermat will step up and be a title sponsor of future Pro-Am events.

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Time to Update Rules? Things the USGA Should Consider…

In a recent post, Golfweek’s Adam Schupak proposed some rule changes for the USGA to ponder.

  • Eliminate the white stakes for out-of-bounds. Stroke and distance is cruel and unjust punishment. OB should be marked by red stakes (penalty and drop at point of entry).
  • A ball that moves without the intent of hitting should not be a penalty. This may create a gray area, but in a game of honor, I can live with that.
  • If a pro signs his scorecard wrong, he shouldn’t be disqualified for a lower score or forced to accept the higher score. With all the electronic scoring and Shotlink tracking that exists, this rule is archaic.
  • Allow a free drop from a divot in the fairway.
  • Tamp down all the spike marks you want. The advent of spikeless spikes has done wonders for eliminating this problem, so let’s go ahead and eliminate another antiquated rule.

Do you agree?

What other rules would you like changed?

Personally, I would love to see one added — a shot clock!

Here’s a link to where you can read up on USGA rules.

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