Nike VR Pro Driver Really Making a Splash On Tour

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.

Loudmouth Promotes World Champion Pants

Orange Fridays may not be the same at AT&T ballpark once fans get a hold of these new pants from Loudmouth.

The Gigante, Orange & Black-A pants will set you back $95.

For those chilly nights in SF, fleece-lining would be a nice addition.

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Adams Golf Intros Idea Pro a12 Hybrids & Forged Iron sets

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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Boccieri’s Bronze And Tour Series Heavy Putter Models Now Available Nationwide

Boccieri Golf just announced the expansion of its award-winning, Tour-proven Heavy Putter line to include the innovative Bronze and Tour Series collections, which are now available at select retailers and online at www.boccierigolf.com.

A premium CNC milled offering in a bright silver PVD finish, the Tour Series is available in a traditional offset blade (Q2-MT) and new half-mallet (R3-MT). Retailing for just $199.99, the putters offer all the feel and feedback associated with high-end millings at an affordable price.

Featuring four of Boccieri Golf’s most sought-after models – the H1-M, K4-M, L3-M and Q2-M – the Bronze series includes two blades and two mallets. Each showcases a distinctive black nickel finish and retails for $119.99.

Now for a clarification. ALL Boccieri putters are “Heavy.” But there are variants ranging from Lite-Weight to Mid-Weight Black to Mid-Weight Bronze, Mid-Weight Tour, and THEN Heavy Weight. Got that??

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Case Closed: Callaway Loses Patent Fight Over Pro V1 Ball

Acushnet Co, the parent company of Titleist, said it has won a long-running patent battle with Carlsbad-based Callaway Golf over the popular Pro V1 golf ball. On Thursday, a U.S. District Judge in Delaware denied Callaway’s request for a new trial and officially closed the five-year-old case.

Callaway sued Acushnet, claiming that the Pro V1 violated four Callaway patents (these came from Callaway purchase of the Top Flite golf ball business from a bankrupt Spalding in 2003). Though initially, Callaway was victorious (partially) with the possibility of collecting nearly a quarter million dollars from past sales of Pro V1 balls, Acushnet appealed. Last year, a jury ruled that the four patents were invalid because they were not new. Callaway fought the ruling but was ultimately unsuccessful.

The Pro V1 ranks as the most popular high-performance ball in golf. An interesting point that probably worked to Acushnet’s favor was that the company introduced the Pro V1 ball to professional players in 2000 — well before before the patents in question were issued in 2001 and 2003.

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Oakley’s “Rolling O” Heading to Huge Golf Expo in Sacramento

We got a sneak peek of the Oakley Monster Truck. Dubbed the Rolling O, it is a demo mobile that got to Sacramento a week early.

From Friday, April 29 through Sunday, May 1, 2011, the Oakley Rolling “O” Eyewear Lab will be at the Haggin Oaks Golf Expo to educate attendees about the technology behind Oakley’s eyewear.

Per the Expo’s website:

Get educated across the globe. Listen up and learn the stories and facts behind Oakley’s groundbreaking technology. Experience a self-contained 40-foot motor coach with front row seats at major sporting venues. Discover the truth about today’s eyewear marketplace of ideas at the Oakley HDO® Demo Tour. Not all sunglasses are created equal —they’re taking science to the streets to show you why.

For more information on all of the events during America’s Largest Demo Days, go to www.HagginOaksGolfExpo.com.

Wish we could have gotten inside for a preview.

Nike Method 002 Putter: Photo Gallery

To say I’m impressed with the Nike Method 002 putter would be an understatement. I’ve had the good fortune of spending some time with this superb putter over the past few weeks… and it is, in a word, stellar.

While my review is forthcoming, in the meantime I wanted to share a quick photo gallery for you to take in. The lines on the club are clean, and setup to the ball is extremely square and comfortable. When I place the Nike Method 002 down behind the ball, I immediately feel lined up, ready to make a confident stroke.

That said, I’m going to cut myself well short here because I could ramble on and on and on about this putter… I’ll save it for the official review. Enjoy the photo gallery below.

Nike Method 002 Putter Photo Gallery

Note: A quick thanks to Tim and Victoria over at Nike Golf for sending the 002 our way.

PETCO Park Adds TaylorMade R11 Driver Foul Pole

TaylorMade-Adidas Golf Company and the San Diego Padres just unveiled an 80-foot tall R11 driver foul pole in right field at PETCO Park as part of an innovative partnership agreement to extend through the 2013 season.

Weighing 950 pounds, the all-aluminum structure runs parallel with the existing foul pole structure, while the 14-foot wide by 8-foot tall image of the R11 clubhead is positioned on the fence in the corner of right field.

The weather- and impact-resistant grip was custom rolled out of .90″ aluminum, welded into a taper shaping and then given a vehicle, textured, bed lining coating to give it a rubber look.

It took 3 days and a total of 250 man hours to install. The R11 foul pole structure is the first of its kind in Major League Baseball.

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Ready for Some Fast Golf?

Is a dream round of golf for you one that lasts well under 4 hours? If so, then you might want to check out the Angel Park Golf Club, a busy 36-hole facility in Las Vegas.

According to GolfWeek’s Martin Kaufmann, the Express Lane fast-play program being run on Saturday mornings there requires players to sign a pledge agreeing to play in 3 hours, 45 minutes or less. Angel Park’s staff reserves the right to make groups skip holes or move to the other course if they’re not maintaining the proper pace.

Greg Brockelman, Angel Park’s director of golf noted that golfers are actually averaging less than 3:30, and the record to date is a foursome that finished in 2:48.

Angel Park Golf Club features 36 holes of championship Las Vegas golf designed by the legendary Arnold Palmer, the lighted Cloud Nine Short Course, and the world’s original natural grass Putting Course.

Express Lane tee times rotate between Angel Park’s Palm and Mountain courses. Brockelman has noticed that the groups that book those times tend to play ready golf and putt out quickly. He said Angel Park tries to facilitate fast play during Express Lane hours.

If the price was right, the Express Lane program would be the way to go.

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Quick Look: The Cobra Special Release S3 Driver

You may recall our quick look at the Cobra S3 Driver a little while ago. It’s a sharp looking driver, packed full of technology to help you hit the ball farther and straighter than ever before.

As wonderful as the S3 is, Cobra has stepped-up to offer a special release driver, much like they did for the ZL Driver last year. The Special Release S3 Driver (coming soon) features an all-white paintjob, and an Aldila RIP Beta Shaft.

On top of the features listed above, all of the standard tech you find in the stock S3 driver is on-board as well. You’ll get the E9 Face Technology, Adjustable Flight Technology, and a titanium 6-4 head and face with an aluminum hosel sleeve.

Look for the Cobra Golf Special Release S3 Driver to hit a pro shop near you at the end of April 2011. Hopefully I’ll get a chance to give this one a swing. She’s a sharp one!

Cobra Special Release S3 Driver Photo Gallery:

For more information, hit up Cobra Golf.