Tag: Cleveland Golf

6 Last Minute Father’s Day Gift Ideas

We’re less than a week away from Father’s Day, and this year more than most is a year to celebrate what we all hope is the return of family gatherings and outdoor activities without restrictions. If you haven’t figured out what to get dear old dad on Father’s Day, here are a few last minute suggestions.

Try an Arm Lock Putter!

Let’s face it – If you are here, you and dad are probably golfers, and you both probably suck at putting. Why not try an arm lock putter? Several companies fit them and custom make them, and the style helps eliminate left wrist breakdown, which causes missed putts. I know, because I’ve switched and my putts per round stat has dropped by almost 1.5 putts in 4 months!

Odyssey has a new model called the Arm Lock 2-Ball Ten, SIK putters have a few models and a custom fitting program for those local to Orlando. I was recently fitted for my SIK (Study In Kinematics) arm lock putter and the experience was eye opening! Also, Bryson DeChambeau won the US Open with a SIK arm lock putter, and he’s statistically one of the best putters on the planet. Another great option is the Directed Force 2.1 putter from LAB Golf. LAB stands for lie angle balancing, which is a technology that prevents the face of the putter from opening and closing during the stroke. It just wants to stay square. Pair this tech with the arm lock style and you have the makings of a very accurate putter!

Recommendation: Book a fitting in Orlando with Greg Harrison from SIK golf to explore every nuance of dad’s putting stroke under a high-speed camera, and they’ll not only fix your stroke, but they’ll build you a putter to make more putts by fitting it to your new improved putting stroke. That’s a win – win if you ask me!

Walk The Course

18 months of COVID-19 lockdowns and restrictions has kept many of us indoors, and that means many of us also got fat or fatter! There’s an easy fix to get rid of those extra pounds – Get out of that golf cart and walk the course! Grab one of Big Max Golf’s Dri Lite Hybrid Bags and the Cape model push cart from Walker Trolleys and you’ll be ready to go in style. You’ll get years and years of use from both because they are built like tanks!

Big Max Golf has been selling top quality golf bags and accessories in Europe for years and now they are available in the USA. The Big Max Dri Lite Hybrid stand bag fits all push & pull carts, is 100% waterproof and weighs only 4.4 pounds. That’s what I call versatility. Paired with the solidly built and classic styled Cape pushcart from Walker Trolleys, you’ll be ready for anything the golf course (and Mother Nature) can throw at you.

Cleveland RTX Full Face Wedges

Who doesn’t need new wedges? We can always use new wedges. Some PGA Tour pros get new wedges every few weeks! While we common folk don’t have the luxury of having new wedges built for us each week, once per year we can keep our short game sharp with fresh grooves and take advantage of new designs like the new Cleveland RTX Full face Wedges. These clubs feature a high-toe profile and full face grooves, along with Cleveland’s Zipcore technology to reposition the center of gravity for more spin and control. You can also custom order your wedges with several custom shafts and grips, or even personalize the paint fill and add engraving.

Let’s Go Racing!

Lexus, the official vehicle of Pebble Beach Resorts, is offering a full-day racing experience at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca. Dad can drive this thrilling, iconic circuit while building his driving skills and confidence – on and off the track. Summer school dates include June 25, 26 or 27, and Aug. 20, 21 or 22, 2021. Fall and winter dates are also available. The experience is $995. To order a gift certificate or to register a participant as a gift, contact the Lexus Concierge at 888-211-8522 or Concierge@LexusPerformanceDrivingSchool.com

Must Have Accessories

Most golfers wear a glove when they play, but why not ditch the boring white or black color and add some personality with something from Bender Gloves? They have all kinds of fun designs for gloves that will make you and dad stand out on the course while helping you get a grip. Check out their limited time deals before Father’s Day here: https://www.bendergloves.com/

Bushnell range finders are being used by 98% of professionals on the PGA Tour. In fact, they invented laser rangefinders for use on the golf course. To say they are the industry leader would be a bit of an understatement to say the least. With a full range of devices at every price point and technology like Elements Compensation that adjusts distances based on factors like elevation, temperature and barometric pressure, Bushnell makes the best golf rangefinders on the market. Get more info here: https://www.bushnellgolf.com/golf-laser-rangefinders/#

June 14, 2021
Cleveland Smart Square Putter

Cleveland Golf is taking a shot at one of the most popular putters in history with a new spin on the tour proven design. Odyssey’s legendary Two-Ball putter is still in use by many, but they say that they have come up with something better in the new Cleveland Smart Square putter. We took a close look at it before it is released to the public on November 15, 2013.

The first thing I noticed was the obvious square design on the top of the putter. By using squares instead of circles, Cleveland claims that players aim the Smart Square putter 23% more accurately than the two ball design. The second thing you’ll notice is the color. It is a matte black with white paint fill that stands in sharp contrast with my white (or sometimes yellow) golf balls. It has a pretty standard looking mallet style head and double bend shaft to make it face balanced. This balance encourages a full release of the putter during the stroke and helps keep the face square through impact. The grip is a common Winn type with a soft and tacky feel.

Most new putters I get start out by rolling balls on my putting green at home, aka my office carpet which stimps at about 11. I then take them out to the course for a few rounds and some putting green sessions. My takeaway is that the Copolymer face insert gives the putter a nice feel, with the impact feeling firm but muted with a nice sound and low vibration. The insert is similar to competing putters on the market, but feels slightly firmer and the ball doesn’t spring off the face like some other inserts. It’s just right in my opinion.

Aiming properly is this putter’s raison d’etre, and the key for Cleveland is the Dual Axis Alignment feature. The two squares provide parallel lines the frame the ball at address, and the perpendicular lines help to show if the putter face is misaligned at address. As mentioned before, Cleveland Golf testing shows players aligned the Smart Square 23% more accurately than the Odyssey Two Ball Putter. Although they don’t mention it by name, we know that’s the putter they are talking about.

The Cleveland Smart Square putter will be available in three different variations. The standard heel shafted model and center shafted models will be available in lengths from 33″ to 35″, and there will also be a 39″ model with a heavier 400 gram head and heavy grip for a counter balanced feel. In my experience, the counter balanced design is worth trying out. I really like the way a counterbalanced putter swings.

The Cleveland Smart Square putter is a simple idea that makes plenty of sense. The putter rolls the ball very well and should be easy to align. The matte black paint job will not be distracting in the sun and should hold up to regular use. MAP (Minimum Advertised Price) for the standard models is $139.99 and $179.99 for the 39″ model, but street pricing may be a bit lower than that. The Smart Square putter hits stores on November 15, 2013. For more info, visit http://www.clevelandgolf.com/smartsquareputter/ and check out the video below.

October 7, 2013
Cleveland 588 RTX Wedges – First Look

Cleveland Golf has been a leader in wedges for a long time. While the basic design of a wedge has remained more or less the same since Gene Sarazen invented the modern sand wedge, many new technologies have hit the market to help players get the most out of their wedges. CNC milling is one of those innovations that allowed manufacturers to make deeper and sharper grooves, and eventually led to the USGA’s adoption of a new groove rule to combat the technology.

Cleveland 588 RTX

Now there is a new version of the timeless Cleveland 588 wedges, with a few technologies that will help players spin the ball. This new wedge is called the 588 RTX, and features their new Rotex Face. Not only have they increased the groove volume by 16%, but they have made their laser milling marks more durable, and added a directionally milled face pattern that adds roughness and imparts maximum spin on open-face wedge shots where impact tends to be closer to the toe.

I have hit a number of balls with the new wedges and my initial impressions are good. The Rotex face certainly does produce more spin initially than a wedge who’s grooves are simply stamped into the face. The feel is the same classic Cleveland 588 feel as always; Solid impact and a mid-soft feel. The sole grind has been modified a bit from last year’s model to allow the wedge to perform better with an open face.

Long term testing will probably reinforce my initial feelings, that this is just another solid, playable and reliable wedge from Cleveland Golf. There are no less than 7 models to choose from in the 588 line. There are satin and black pearl finishes available, blade or cavity back styles, forged or cast heads, a special RTG grind and even the option to create your own custom wedge at http://www.clevelandgolf.com/mycustomwedge/ All told, there are well over 100 different head, finish, loft, bounce and grind options available.

We’ll have a more detailed look at the 588 wedges soon. In the mean time, check them out at your local retailer or online at Cleveland Golf.

April 1, 2013
Cleveland Wedge Fitting App & Fitting System

As long as I’ve been playing golf seriously I have known the importance of custom fitting. Yet to this day, the vast majority of golfers buy their clubs off the rack, especially the most important clubs in the bag – wedges. If you are playing with wedges that aren’t properly fit you are throwing away strokes. Golfers tend to hang on to wedges too long also. Drivers are flashy and sexy and people tend to buy drivers more often than any other club, which is why most of the big companies introduce new models every year or sooner. What you should be doing is buying new wedges every few seasons instead of that driver that promises 20 more yards. You can only hit a driver about fourteen times in a typical round of golf, so unless you are holing out most of your iron shots, your score will still be largely determined by your play inside 125 yards. To help people get set up with wedges that will most help their game, Cleveland Golf has come up with their new wedge fitting system and a cool wedge fitting application. Here’s the scoop:

CLEVELAND® GOLF INTRODUCES REVOLUTIONARY WEDGE FITTING APPLICATION AND FITTING SYSTEM

HUNTINGTON BEACH, CA – March 5, 2013 – Cleveland® Golf has been proud to set the standard for wedges over the last 25 years. In that time, no other manufacturer has devoted as much passion and effort to wedge design, technology and performance.

This year, Cleveland® Golf has already introduced the groundbreaking RotexTM Face. Featured on new 588® RTXTM and 588® RTXTM CB wedges, RotexTM is an unprecedented combination of three technologies that promote maximum spin and control from all lies.

Today, Cleveland® Golf is excited to announce two innovations that revolutionize wedge fitting.

First is the online Wedge Fitting Application. Part of the redesigned Cleveland® Golf website, this Application allows anyone – especially club fitters and golf shop employees – to quickly select a proper wedge set with more confidence than ever before. Once the correct models, lofts, and bounces have been determined, wedges can be customized for lie angle, shaft and grip. Ordering a full wedge set from the Application is easy and safe.

The second innovation is the Cleveland® Golf Fitting System, which features interchangeable wedges – an industry-first. Available on new Fitting Carts and Fitting Displays, these interchangeable wedge heads are available in a multitude of loft, bounce, lie angle and model options, and are accompanied by a variety of interchangeable wedge shafts.

Changing wedge heads and shafts is done in a matter of seconds. Plus, interchangeable wedges feature identical specifications to the wedges a player will use on the course.

Wedge fitting has never been more accessible and comprehensive. Any laptop, smartphone or tablet can be used to conduct a quick and accurate fit. Plus, the most sophisticated wedge fit on the market is available at authorized Cleveland® Golf Fitting System dealers.

“It’s no secret that a player’s wedge game is critical to scoring and performance,” said Todd Harman, President of Cleveland® Golf/Srixon – U.S.A. “We’ve raised the bar with wedge innovations over the years such as multiple bounce options, ZipTM Grooves, cool finishes and now RotexTM technology. With the introduction of our new Fitting System and Fitting Application, we’ve made it easier than ever for any player to use the right set of wedges and get the correct loft gapping throughout their entire set. This is a game-changer for us and the equipment industry. The way that golf professionals and retailers are now able to comprehensively fit a golfer for a wedge set is truly a breakthrough.”

To use the Cleveland® Golf Wedge Fitting Application, please visit wedgefitting.clevelandgolf.com. To locate an authorized Cleveland® Golf Fitting System dealer, please visit clevelandgolf.com.

For more information on Cleveland® Golf/Srixon® and Never Compromise® products or staff players, please visit www.clevelandgolf.com, www.srixon.com and www.nevercompromise.com.

March 6, 2013
Cleveland Classic Driver

Let’s face it – these days to compete in the very competitive golf club market you need to have something unique. Companies like TaylorMade and Callaway spend lots of time and effort (and cash) in promoting their new clubs with flashy ad campaigns and PGA Tour endorsements. With every new driver model that comes out, the golf manufacturers almost always make claims to add distance and/or accuracy to your game, but let’s get real. If all these claims of more distance were true, we’d all be flying it 400 yards by now. I see lots of new club introductions every year, so when something truly unique hits the market I take note.

Cleveland Golf/Srixon made a splash last season with the Z-Star golf balls, the new XL, SL & TL series drivers (which I think are the most underrated on the market) and the re-birth of Never Compromise as a premium putter brand. Not resting on their laurels, they reintroduced one of the most popular wedges of all time in the 588 series, and this time around they are forged. Coming in 2012 is a new line of 588 forged irons in both a cavity back and blade model, and a complete line of Mashie fairway woods, hybrids and irons for the mid to high handicap players. There is also a fantastic new golf ball called the Srixon Q-Star. But the most exciting new product introduction for Cleveland in 2012 are the new Classic drivers.

With drivers becoming more and more complicated with adjustable weights and hosels, interchangeable shafts and busy graphics, Cleveland went the other way with the Classic Driver. With a unique design and color scheme inspired by the persimmon drivers of the 50s and 60s, the Classic driver is sure to turn heads. I know this for a fact, because every time I pull it out of the retro leather barrel head cover, people want to see it. The Classic driver has a traditional pear shaped profile and a large, deep club face. In fact, it's the deepest club face Cleveland has ever produced. The sweet-spot of the driver is framed in by a brass colored section, just like a brass insert from a persimmon driver of yesteryear. The paint is a nice deep reddish brown, as most wooden drivers would have been painted back in the day. The word "Classic" is written along the top as an alignment aid, but I could have done without that as I prefer a clean look with no marks on the top. Either way, this club truly is a modern representation of a persimmon driver, but how does it perform? I put the Classic up against my current gamer, which is Cleveland's awesome Launcher TL310 driver (8.5 degrees loft). When I switched to the Launcher TL310 from the Cleveland Launcher DST, I went from a 43 gram shaft at 46 inches long to a 56 gram shaft at 45 inches, and picked up 10 yards in the process. Not only was I hitting the sweet-spot a bit more with a shorter shaft, but the head and shaft combo on the TL310 worked better for my swing. For this test, Cleveland Golf sent me a Classic 290 driver (7.5 degrees loft) along with a custom Miyazaki C.Kua 56x shaft. This is the same shaft that is in my Launcher TL310. My club maker then built the Classic driver to match the playability characteristics (frequency, shaft deflection & swing weight) of the TL310. As a result, both drivers feel much the same while swinging, and the shafts perform almost identically. After about two months of testing, both in practice sessions, casual play and even some competitive rounds, I can conclude that the Cleveland Classic 290 driver is going to stay in the bag. I can't say with confidence that the Classic is any longer than my Launcher TL310 driver because I've hit bombs with both clubs, and there are too many variables like ambient temperature, wind and course conditions to take into consideration. I'll have to get on a launch monitor for a while to determine which is longer, and if I do I'll be sure to update everyone on the results. What I can say is that the Classic driver spins less than the TL310 and other drivers I've hit recently. In my two months with the Classic, I've noticed that the ball flight is more penetrating and solid shots launch with less spin and seem to knuckle through the air with no ballooning, even into a strong headwind. When you catch a tee shot on the "hot area" of the driver (A shot struck just above the sweetspot), it launches high with very little spin and goes forever. Less spin means more fairways, and I've noticed that I'm hitting the ball with less movement left to right and right to left with the Classic. I've never been a very straight driver so I really notice when my tee shots don't curve as much. If I had to make an educated prediction, I would say that tee shots with the Classic driver carry less but roll more, and the Launcher TL310 hits a ball that carries more but rolls less than the Classic driver. The sound and feel of the Cleveland Classic are a little different than most titanium drivers on the market today. I have to admit I prefer the sound and feel of the TL310, which is a nice high pitch click. At impact, the TL310 feels like the face is flexing, almost like a trampoline. The Classic driver however feels a bit harder, and you can't feel the ball on the face as much at impact. Perhaps this is part of what makes the driver spin less than the TL310. It certainly doesn't feel bad, but its not as smooth as the TL310. If you hit a hard two-piece distance ball with the Classic driver, you might want to wear ear plugs. I recently played in a "glowball" night golf event and the sound of that hard glow in the dark golf ball with the Classic driver left my ears ringing. Check out the video below and you'll see what I mean. I had a chance to ask Nate Radcliffe, Cleveland Golf/Srixon's Metalwoods Development Manager, a few questions about this driver: ITG: What was the origin of the design and the retro theme of the Classic driver? NR: The design of the Classic driver was inspired by our heritage and history in creating persimmon woods decades ago. Cleveland is one of the few remaining OEMs that originally produced a Tour quality persimmon wood. ITG: Is the brass colored face insert area actually an insert, or simply painted differently? NR: The brass colored trapezoid is actually a thin metallic coating that is deposited over the titanium face and sole. The trapezoid hints at original persimmon designs but has drawn many extremely positive comments from our tour staff regarding alignment. ITG: Is the driver a one piece construction, or several pieces welded together? NR: The driver is created from several pcs using multiple, and carefully selected titanium alloys. ITG: How does the Classic driver differ in performance compared to the TL series clubs? NR: The Classic's deep face provides the potential for players with elevated tee heights to produce a high launching yet penetrating ball flight. Relative to the Launcher Ultralite, the Classic will spin slightly less for most players. As far as specs go, there will be something for just about everyone in the Cleveland Classic Driver. There are three different models to choose from: The Classic 270, 290 and Classic Tour. The number designations refer to the club's overall weight. The Classic 270 is the lightest model, with a 460cc club head and a super-light Miyazaki C.Kua 39 shaft and a 25g Golf Pride grip, making it one of the lightest drivers on the market to help slower swingers to gain a few yards by swinging the club faster. The Classic 290 is a bit heavier, with a Miyazaki C.Kua 43 shaft and 36g grip. Also 460cc in size, this one favors a wide range of golfers that want a stronger shaft and more playability. Both the 270 and 290 drivers have a square face angle at address. The Classic Tour driver has a smaller club head that measures 440cc, and sits one degree open at address. Designed for better players and strong swingers, the Tour driver is fitted with a premium Miyazaki Kusala Black 61 shaft that promotes a penetrating trajectory with a very stable feel. This model weighs in at 310 grams. Model: Classic 270 Size: 460cc Lofts Available: 9, 10.5, 12 Shaft: Miyazaki C.Kua 39 MSRP: $299 Model: Classic 290 Size: 460cc Lofts Available: 7.5, 9, 10.5, 12 Shaft: Miyazaki C.Kua 43 MSRP: $299 Model: Classic Tour Size: 440cc Lofts Available: 8.5, 9.5, 10.5 Shaft: Miyazaki Kusala Black 61 MSRP: $379 The Cleveland Classic driver will be available in retail locations on Feb 17, 2012. You can also pre-order from Cleveland at shop.clevelandgolf.com
Conclusions & Recommendations
Because the Classic driver is a low spin club, I suggest hitting this one before you buy. You may find that you'll need a bit more loft than usual, which will produce the ideal high-launch, low spin ball flight that is desireable these days for maximum distance. The Classic 290 will probably be the most popular model, with loft options from 7.5 to 12 degrees and a square clubface. With so many custom shaft options it's a good idea to get fitted by a reputable club fitter, should you choose to go with a custom shaft. For 90% of golfers out there I'll recommend the stock Miyazaki shafts. I've been playing them for a few years and they are among the best in golf for stability, consistency and light weight. Cleveland Golf keeps coming up with great clubs, and the Classic driver is no exception. I thought the Launcher XL, SL and TL series drivers were as good as anything on the market, but with the Classic driver they have managed to make a uniquely styled, high performance driver that separates itself from the pack. Not only that, but its price point is better than most of the clubs it competes with. This driver is going to make a big splash in the marketplace, and in my opinion it is worth a demo for everyone serious about their game!
Subscribe to our email updates! You'll get the latest fresh news, reviews and stories delivered right to your inbox or RSS reader, and automatically be entered in our latest contests and giveaways! We are 100% SPAM FREE! Also, don't forget to check in with our Facebook fan page for exclusive content and get involved by leaving us comments on what you think!

February 7, 2012
Aerotech Steelfiber Shafts

For decades, the material of choice for iron shafts has been steel. Compared to the hickory shafts of yesteryear and composite shafts of the present, steel shafts proved to be more consistent and stable. On professional golf tours around the world, steel shafts have been the overwhelming shaft of choice for irons for many years. There are several great steel shafts available for irons, like the new KBS C-taper shaft and the venerable Dynamic Gold shaft that has been around for what seems like forever. There have also been many advancements in composite shaft technology in the last decade. Graphite shafts are getting longer, lighter and more stable, but there hasn’t been a significant advancement in steel shaft design in a long time. Until now.

Earlier this year while watching coverage of the PGA Tour on television, I noticed tour players Matt Kuchar and Brandt Snedeker playing iron shafts that weren’t like the rest. They appeared to be composite shafts, but after some research I found out they were Aerotech Steelfiber shafts. I reached out to Aerotech Golf for more information on the shafts and they agreed to send me a set of the very same constant weight, taper tip Steelfiber i95 shafts played by the PGA Tour pros. To help me test these shafts, I had them spine aligned and installed on a set of Cleveland CG16 Tour Concept iron heads by my club maker extraordinaire Glen Belden. He’s been building and fitting amateur golfers and touring pros since 1979. These iron heads are similar to the retail version but have a smaller head with less offset preferred by their tour players. They are also made of softer metal for better feel . In this case – 8620 with a raw satin finish.

Founded in 1991, Aerotech Sports was the first company to produce an NHL approved composite hockey stick. They made helmets, bike components, fishing rods and more until breaking into the golf industry in 1994 when they produced their first golf shaft. At first Aerotech operated as an OEM supplier, making shafts for companies like Cleveland, Adams, Fenwick, Zevo and Pure Spin. In 2002 they launched their own line of branded shafts, and in 2005 Aerotech Golf was born.

The Aerotech Steelfiber shaft is like nothing I’ve ever seen before. Aerotech has managed to combine materials to create a shaft that has all the best properties of composite and steel shafts without any of the drawbacks. The innovative Steelfiber shaft is a high modulus graphite core wrapped with very thin steel fibers. Each steel fiber has a diameter of only 8 microns, or approximately 1⁄10th the diameter of a human hair. That means there is over 59 miles of steel fiber covering the entire surface of each shaft! This construction translates to a shaft that is very stable & consistent like steel, but is light weight and absorbs vibration like a graphite shaft.

I’ve played with heavy (130+ gram) Dynamic Gold X100 steel shafts in my irons for most of my golfing career, so I was a bit worried when switching to a 95 gram Steelfiber shaft. Before even hitting the first shot with my new irons, I knew that these shafts were going to be special. Just flexing these shafts with my hands, they felt stiffer than any graphite iron shaft I’ve ever tried. In my hands they felt as stiff as my old X100 shafts, even though they are 35 grams lighter, and after hitting a few hundred balls on the range my predictions were confirmed. This shaft is remarkable. After playing with these shafts in my irons for over 20 rounds, hundreds of range balls and several months in temperatures ranging from 50 to 95 degrees, I can say that the Aerotech Steelfiber shaft is a winner.

The first thing that stands out about this shaft is the vibration dampening. The Aerotech Steelfiber shaft does a great job at mitigating the shock and vibration of hitting the ground with an iron swing. As a result, they make your irons feel softer. My cast 8620 irons heads feel like butter on a solid strike, and on a cold day they eliminate that “stinger” you get if you hit the ball a few grooves low. The second thing I noticed was the stability and consistency of the Steelfiber shafts. It took me almost 72 holes to adjust to the shaft’s tendency to want to go straighter than my old shafts. I’m used to working the ball left or right with my irons, but these shafts hit it straighter than my old X100s and I had to make an adjustment and play less fade or draw. This sounds like a good problem to have for most golfers! The steel fibers woven around the shaft make them incredibly stable too. I’m able to hit knockdown shots, high shots and everything in between with no fear of losing control or ballooning the ball like a graphite shaft. Finally, the lighter weight of this shaft allows me to swing the club a bit faster, producing a little more distance. For me the gain wasn’t much, maybe a half club, but for others it will be more significant. Compared directly to the Dynamic Gold X100, the Steelfiber i95 tends to hit the ball slightly higher.

Aerotech offers the Steelfiber shafts in five weight classes: 70, 80, 95, 110 and 125 grams. On the lighter end of the spectrum, the i70 and i80 shafts will benefit players looking for more distance and/or a more stable composite shaft option for their irons. The i80 shaft is the most popular shaft in the Steelfiber line, and the one I would recommend for most golfers out there. The i95 shaft that I tested for this review is a great transition shaft for those wanting to move into a lighter weight iron shaft without going too light and substantially changing the feel of the club during the swing. The 95 gram weight allows the player to see some good improvement in distance while still maintaining accuracy and incredibly consistent distance control. The Aerotech Steelfiber i110 and i125 shafts are generally preferred by stronger players that are looking to maintain the overall effort it takes to swing their steel shafted irons, but want to benefit from the vibration dampening characteristics of a composite shaft. Aerotech Golf is able to maintain the playability of the 125 gram shaft by minimizing the wall thickness with the use of metal to increase weight instead of adding more graphite. Because graphite is 1/5th the weight of steel, it would take 5 times the amount of graphite material for the same weight increase, which increases wall thickness and gives the shaft a boardy feel.

As with many other golf products, the biggest measure of success for a company can be adoption on the PGA Tour. Aerotech shafts are used by several players on the PGA Tour without paying the players to use them. Most notable is Matt Kuchar. Using the Steelfiber i95 in his irons, Matt was #1 on the 2010 money list, scoring average, all around ranking and top ten finishes. He also finished second in the FedEx Cup standings. “When I switched to Aerotech Golf shafts, I was looking for a lighter weight iron shaft that could provide me with consistent ball flight and spot on distance control. Aerotech’s SteelFiber shafts fit the bill perfectly. The SteelFiber technology has allowed me to take advantage of all the benefits of a graphite shaft yet still maintain complete control over my golf ball.”

The only negative I can find about these shafts is that for a player like myself who is used to playing heavy clubs, the adjustment to light weight shafts can take some time. Despite my love for these shafts in my irons, I’m hesitant to install them in my wedges. I think I would have to go with the i125 to maintain the same weight and feel I prefer in a wedge. That being said, if you get these I highly recommend a skilled club maker installs them in order to get the gram weighting of your iron heads right, or they may be way too light on the swing-weight scale. This is often an issue when moving from a steel shaft to graphite in your irons.

Aerotech Golf really has something with the Steelfiber shaft. To me it’s the most significant advancement in iron shaft technology in my lifetime. The construction is unique and the performance of the Steelfiber shafts far exceeded my expectations. Any golfer who is looking to take advantage of the benefits of composite shafts without sacrificing the control and consistency of steel shafts needs to take a look at these. The Steelfiber line of shafts is also available for woods and hybrids, and they have a composite wood shaft called the Claymore that has taken the world of professional Long Driving by storm. The Steelfiber shafts are priced comparably to other premium steel shafts, and I believe they are a better value. Give them a try, I know you won’t be disappointed. Let us know what you think or what your experience with them is like by leaving a comment.

Don’t forget to “LIKE” the Facebook fan page for daily updates, exclusive content, unboxing pictures and more! Get involved in which products we review and tell us what you think!

January 19, 2012
Cleveland CG Black Irons & Woods – Sneak Peak

Click photo to enlarge

For golfers who have lost distance over the years or are looking for a few extra yards (Who isn’t?) with forgiveness on off-center hits, Cleveland Golf is introducing the new CB Black line of woods, irons and wedges as a solution. The CG Black line is the next logical step from Cleveland’s ultralight drivers that debuted last year with great success.

The Cleveland CG Black driver weighs in at a paltry 265 grams, making it the lightest driver on the market. Using an aerodynamic crown design called “Speed Crown Design” which is shaped like a teardrop helps to generate more swing speed by optimizing airflow around the head during the swing. Cleveland’s “MaxCOR2 Variable Face Thickness Technology” increases the trampoline effect on off-center hits, increasing distance. The CG Black driver features the ultra-light Miyazaki C. Kua 39 shaft and a Golf Pride Tour 25 grip, a combination that decreases the overall weight of the club. In my experience with several models of Miyazaki shafts, they have been very stable and consistent at weights from 39 grams all the way up to 85 grams. The minimum advertised price for the CG Black driver is $399.99

Click photo to enlarge

Like the driver, the Cleveland CG Black fairways are among the lightest in golf. The teardrop crown shape increases swing speed and the weight screw at the rear of the sole plate to create a deep and low center of gravity, helping shots get airborne. As with the driver, the CG Black fairways are draw biased for greater distance and a strong trajectory. The same Miyazaki C. Kua 39 gram shaft is in the fairways. The minimum advertised price for the CG Black fairways is $229.99

Click photo to enlarge

The Cleveland Golf CG Black irons and wedges feature a multi-material construction that incorporates a thin titanium face for maximum forgiveness and distance. CG Black irons and wedges have an undercut cavity that positions the center of gravity low and deep to optimize trajectory, spin and playability. The irons are available with optional Miyazaki 59 gram graphite shafts or the Nippon NS Pro 850GH lightweight steel shaft. All irons and wedges sport Cleveland’s Tour Zip Grooves and Laser Milled treatment to maximize spin. The Cleveland CG Black irons carry a minimum advertised price of $999.99 (graphite) and $899.99 (steel) for a set of 7 irons. the CG Black wedges will be $139.99 (steel) and $149.99 (graphite)

The prices are a minimum advertised price, but I suspect when the CG Black line is released on November 25, 2011 that the retail prices will be slightly lower. We’ll be getting a set of these very soon and posting our review as soon as we can so stay tuned!

Subscribe to our email updates! You'll get the latest fresh news, reviews and stories delivered right to your inbox or RSS reader, and automatically be entered in our latest contests and giveaways! We are 100% SPAM FREE! Also, don't forget to check in with our Facebook fan page for exclusive content and get involved by leaving us comments on what you think!

November 2, 2011
Cleveland Golf Introduces 588 Forged Wedges

Cleveland Golf is bringing back one of the most popular and widely played wedges in the history of golf – The Cleveland 588 Wedge. The new 588 will be forged from soft 1025 carbon steel and I’m sure it will be a leader in performance and feel, surpassing even the newer CG14 and Cg15 model wedges that are widely played on the professional tours. Check out the press release and FABs below, and stay tuned for a complete review of these new wedges as soon as we can get our hands on them!

HUNTINGTON BEACH, CA –August 29, 2011 – Cleveland® Golf, the winners of more than 335 PGA Tour championships, including 26 majors, is extremely pleased to introduce the new 588® Forged wedge. The 588®Forge wedge, which maintains the popular, tour-proven shape of Cleveland® Golf’s original 588® wedge, offers a series of technological breakthroughs to provide added performance benefits for players of all abilities.

Made from 1025 carbon steel, the 588® Forged wedge offers golfers an incredibly soft yet solid feel and less unwanted vibration. The advanced Precision Forging process ensures the highest level of part-to-part manufacturing consistency for supreme confidence and trust over every shot. The 588® Forged wedge’s Tour Zip Grooves™ and Laser Milled™ technology help to maximize spin in accordance with USGA regulations. Also, exclusive to the588® Forged wedge is the Tour Concept steel shaft, co-developed and engineered by Cleveland® Golf and industry leader True Temper. With a unique stiffness profile that features a less active tip, this shaft promotes a more penetrating ball flight, increased spin and optimal distance control along with superior feel.

“The confidence-inspiring shape of the original 588 wedge remains the standard by which all competitors’ wedges have been judged for more than 23 years, and attempting to build upon that benchmark is not a task we take lightly at Cleveland Golf,” said Todd Harman, President of Cleveland® Golf/Srixon® - U.S.A. “Our 588 wedge is the most popular wedge in the history of the game, and with sales in excess of 3 million units worldwide, it’s arguably the single most successful golf club ever brought to market. Our new 588® Forged wedge not only lives up to the 588® legacy, it takes Cleveland wedges to a whole new level.” The No. 1 wedge of all time is back – and better than ever. Cleveland Golf’s new 588 wedge maintains the popular, tour-proven shape of its predecessor with a series of technological breakthroughs to provide even more performance benefits for experienced players. Every wedge is formed from 1025 carbon steel for incredibly soft, solid feel and the highest level of manufacturing consistency for supreme confidence and trust over every shot. Tour Zip Grooves™ and Laser Milled™ technology maximize spin in accordance with USGA regulations. Exclusive to the 588 wedge is the Tour Concept Wedge steel shaft, co-developed and engineered by Cleveland Golf and industry leader True Temper. With a unique stiffness profile that features a less active tip, this shaft promotes a more penetrating ball flight, increased spin and optimal distance control along with superior feel.
Features, Advantages, Benefits: 1. F- Original, Tour-Proven 588 Wedge Shape A- Remake of the most successful and preferred wedge shape ever, revered by golfers of all skill levels for its confidence-inspiring look. This is the standard by which all competitors’ wedges have been judged. B- Timeless beauty, versatile design for all-around wedge performance no matter what shot is required. Summary: For more than 20 years, the tour-proven shape of the original 588 wedge has been the standard by which all competitors’ wedges have been judged. The new 588 wedge maintains this confidence-inspiring look, which golfers of all skill levels can appreciate for its timeless beauty and versatile design. It offers the highest level of all-around performance no matter what shot is required. 2. F- Forged 1025 Carbon Steel Construction A- Softer metal, highest level of manufacturing consistency. B- Incredibly soft, yet solid feel sought by experienced players. Supreme confidence and trust over every wedge shot from premium manufacturing. Summary: Forging means quality – the incredibly soft feel and highest level of manufacturing consistency is immediately recognized and appreciated by experienced players. That’s the same quality found in the 588 wedge, which is forged from high-grade 1025 carbon steel for solid feel and constructed with a premium process to inspire supreme confidence and trust over every shot. 3. F- Laser Milled™ Technology A- More precise and consistent surface roughness than alternative methods. B- Optimal surface roughness to maximize spin. Summary: Using the precision accuracy of a laser, four perfectly calibrated texture lines are milled between each groove of a 588 wedge exactly to the conforming roughness limit. This breakthrough surface roughness application optimizes ball-to-face friction, maximizing spin under the rules of golf. 4. F- Tour Zip Grooves™ A- Precise milling technology preserves groove edges and maintains perfect groove consistency. B- Maximizes allowable groove dimensions while conforming to USGA groove requirements. Summary: The 588 wedge features Tour Zip Grooves™, which are crafted with precise milling technology that preserves groove edges and maintains perfect groove consistency. These grooves have the maximum allowable dimensions in accordance with USGA requirements. 5. F- Tour Concept Wedge Shaft co-developed and engineered by True Temper and Cleveland Golf A- Exclusive stiffness profile with a less active tip. B- More penetrating ball flight, increased spin and optimal distance control – along with superior feel. Summary: Exclusive to the 588 wedge is the Tour Concept Wedge shaft, co-developed and engineered by Cleveland Golf and industry leader True Temper. With a unique stiffness profile that features a less active tip, this shaft promotes a more penetrating ball flight, increased spin and optimal distance control – along with the superior feel expected from True Temper. 6. F- Multiple Bounce and Finish Options A- Two different finishes: Satin and Chrome. Three different bounces: Low, Standard, and High. B- Allows players to select wedges best suited to aesthetic preferences and course conditions. Summary: In addition to 10 different loft options, two different finishes are available in the 588 line – Satin and Chrome. There also are low, standard and high bounce options to allow players to select wedges best suited to their aesthetic preferences and conditions of the courses they play. 7. F- Automated Polishing Process (APP) A- New process further removes shape inconsistencies often found after manual polishing. B- Precise shape consistency for a premium product. Summary: Further enhancing the consistency of the 588 wedge is the new Automated Polishing Process (APP). This finely-tuned process is more diligent than ever before with removing the shape inconsistencies often left over after manual polishing. The result of APP is precise shape consistency for a premium product. Available in Chrome and Satin finishes, Cleveland® Golf’s 588® Forged wedges will begin shipping in November 2011 with a listed minimum advertised price (MAP) of $139.99. Available in a variety of loft and bounce options, the 588® Forged wedge can also be personalized at MyCustomWedge.com with an array of color, logo, shaft and grind options. For more information on Cleveland® Golf/Srixon® and their products, please visit www.clevelandgolf.com and www.srixon.com.

Subscribe to our email updates! You'll get the latest fresh news, reviews and stories delivered right to your inbox or RSS reader, and automatically be entered in our latest contests and giveaways! We are 100% SPAM FREE! Also, don't forget to check in with our Facebook fan page for exclusive content and get involved by leaving us comments on what you think!

August 30, 2011
Cleveland T-Frame Putter Review

Click photo to enlarge

The putter market these days is more competitive than ever. Walk into a major golf retail store like Golfsmith or Edwin Watts and head to the putter section and you’ll see what I mean. There is so much choice it boggles the mind. There are so many different styles, shapes and features that there is something for everybody out there. Price points also vary from sub $99 putters all the way up to $300+ for the premium or limited run putters.

Cleveland has never been well known for putters, but their acquisition of putter company Never Compromise a while back helped strengthen their position in the putter market. Never Compromise had a lot of success in the early 2000s with several PGA Tour players using their popular “gray matter” putters. However, I haven’t been a fan of their latest offerings, called the NCX-Ray. The shapes and designs are just a bit too unorthodox for my tastes. In 2010 Cleveland released a new line of putters called the Classics and Classics BRZ with a copper face insert at $69.95 and $89.95 respectively. They also released the T-Frame Putter, which was engineered by Never Compromise in a collaboration of the two companies.

I like to think of myself as a putter aficionado, which is to say I'm a mental case and can't decide which putter to use on any given day. In fact, I've developed a bit of a reputation with my regular playing partners for having a different putter in the bag every time we play. Regrettably, they are correct. I'm always looking for the bigger better deal when it comes to putters. Over the years I've tried just about every type of putter, from blades to heel-toe to mallets and everything in between. I've come to realize that I putt best with my heel-toe Scotty Cameron 1997 CLN Prototype, with a long neck to produce just a slight toe hang. Next best for me is a fully face balanced putter, which usually is in mallet form. The Cleveland T-Frame is just that - a face balanced mallet. At first glance it seems pretty plain, but there is more to it than that. Let's take a closer look at the T-Frame from Cleveland Golf. The T-Frame putter is a half circle shaped mallet, with the most obvious feature being the "T" that is formed between the face of the putter and the metal bar that extends back from behind the face. A "T" shaped alignment line is milled into the top line to make it easier to line up putts. It took me a minute to figure it out, and the company doesn't advertise this fact, but the T-Frame's circular shape happens to be the exact diameter of a regulation golf hole. It fits perfectly in the inner dimensions of the cup. In fact, I used this putter to repair the hole after someone had hit the cup with a shot from the fairway and caused a divot on the edge of the cup. the T-Frame is made of 17-4 stainless steel with a satin finish to reduce glare, and the face is milled to ensure flatness. The engineers at Never Compromise took 70 grams of weight and redistributed it to the rear of the putter for greater MOI (Moment of Inertia) to make the putter more stable and forgiving on off-center hits. The T-Frame weighs 355 grams and is available in lengths of 33, 34 or 35 inches and lie angles of 68, 70 or 72 degrees to fit many different players and putting strokes. Being face balanced, (the face of the putter remains parallel to the ground when balanced by the shaft) this putter is quite forgiving and tends to perform best for those who prefer to make a short, popping stroke or a more square-to-square putting stroke. The head cover has a Velcro fastener and a silver dollar ball marker that will be sure to annoy your playing partners with its large size. I would have preferred to see a head cover that closes with magnets instead of Velcro. I play most of my golf down here in Florida with a cart, and it's convenient to stick the head cover to one of the metal bars on the cart for easy access, but that's just a personal thing. The Cleveland T-Frame performs very well, especially on slower greens. The 17-4 stainless steel doesn't give it the softest feel, but there is enough feedback at impact to easily control distances. The feel is kind of a firm pop accompanied by a muted pinging sound. It's quite nice actually. I am used to very soft carbon steel putters or those with inserts like Odyssey, but this putter was a refreshing change. At first I thought it would only be good for slow greens since the ball tends to jump off the face, but I wanted to see how it did on very fast greens, so I took it to a tournament in Vero Beach at Harbor Ridge Yacht & Country Club, a private facility with two beautiful courses by Joe Lee and Pete Dye. The greens were running over 12 on the stimpmeter for the event - The FSGA's Two-Man Shootout - and I took the T-Frame out during the practice round. I was quite happy with the way the ball came off the face, and despite being "hot", it was easily controllable. I liked it so much on the fast greens at Harbor Ridge that it went right in the bag for the week. I managed to putt pretty well, and my partner and I finished tied for fourth. The Cleveland T-Frame putter is priced at $119.95, and that plants it in about the middle of the price range for putters these days. I would recommend this putter for those who prefer the feel of a metal face, or dislike insert putters. While controllable on any green surface, it's more at home on slow greens. The ball pops off the face with a nice crisp feel and some may have trouble controlling it on very fast putting surfaces. The weight is perfect and forgiveness is very high. For those of you out there with a more traditional open-square-closed arc stroke, you may fight this putter, because being face balanced it wants to resist being open or shut too much during the stroke. So, if you play on slow greens, like the feel of a metal putter and have a square to square putting stroke, you can't go wrong with the Cleveland T-Frame!
Want to win free stuff? Subscribe to our email updates! You'll get the latest fresh news, reviews and stories delivered right to your inbox or RSS reader, and automatically be entered in our latest contests and giveaways! Also, don't forget to check in with our Facebook fan page for exclusive content and get involved by leaving us comments on what you think!

August 5, 2010
Enter The Cleveland Golf CG15 Wedge Giveaway!

Christmas is coming up so fast, and we never get enough time to soak it all in. Before you know it, the family has gone home and the useless gifts you got from Aunt Bessie and Uncle Fred are already collecting dust in the back of your closet. Well, thanks to the folks over at Cleveland Golf/Srixon, we are going to try and make the holidays last a bit longer and get you what most golfers really want – FREE GOLF CLUBS!

Since Christmas is already so close, we decided to run the contest until Dec 31, 2009 and make this a New Year’s Present! One lucky golfer will be the proud recipient of two brand spankin’ new Cleveland CG15 wedges in the gorgeous new Oil Quenched finish! That’s a $240 Value! We have a 54/14 and 60/12 wedge to send to the winner. You can always exchange the wedges for different lofts at a local retailer if the loft/bounce combo isn’t exactly what you need. For more information about theses awesome new wedges, check out our full review.

To enter the contest, simply fill out the form below and tell us what your Golf New Year’s Resolution is. The funniest and/or most creative and/or most inspirational entry will be chosen by the staff of ITG and we’ll announce the winner on January 2, 2010!

Entry deadline is December 31, 2009 at 11:59PM – And please, only one entry per household. Duplicate entries will be disqualified. Good luck to all and have a great Christmas!

THE CONTEST HAS CLOSED AND A WINNER HAS BEEN ANNOUNCED, BUT SUBSCRIBE TO OUR EMAIL UPDATES BELOW TO BE THE FIRST TO KNOW WHEN WE ANNOUNCE OUR NEXT CONTEST!

Since you are already giving us your email address, why not subscribe to our RSS feed and/or email updates? You’ll get the latest fresh news, reviews and stories delivered right to your inbox or RSS reader! Also, don’t forget to check in with our Facebook fan page and get involved by leaving us comments on what you think!

December 16, 2009
Club Review – Cleveland CG7 Black Pearl Irons

Since 1979 when Cleveland Golf was founded, they have made quality golf clubs. Like many golf equipment manufacturers they have had their ups and downs. There is a lot of competition out there, with the huge marketing machines of Taylor Made and Callaway stealing the show. Cleveland has been through thick and thin and has maintained a solid market share in this hugely competitive market. Cleveland is largely known for it’s wedges, and with the introduction of it’s newest model – The CG15 – they are poised to regain a bigger piece of the pie in 2010. They are also introducing a new line of drivers and fairways called the Launcher DST, which we’ll review very soon right here. The irons remain much the same, but they have created a new club from a popular design that I think will do very well, and they are called the CG7 Black Pearl irons. I wrote a preview article about these in September, and we were very eager to try them out! Let’s take a closer look at these clubs and what they have to offer.

Appearance

Cleveland’s CG series irons are not new. In fact they have been around since May of 2007. The CD Gold and CG Red irons are still in use on the professional tours also. Next came the CG7 and CG7 Tour irons, which are also widely used on the pro tours, and finally we have the new CG7 Black Pearl (BP) and CG7 Tour Black Pearl irons. The new BP irons look similar to last year’s CG7 irons, with similar basic shape and graphics. The biggest difference is obviously the new Black Pearl finish. The matte black finish looks a lot like the gunmetal finish that was available in previous Cleveland clubs. They also feature Cleveland’s new Laser Milled face texture that increases surface roughness to maximize spin, along with the already popular Zip grooves. There is a lot going on in the cavity of the CG7s. Crammed in there is a one piece injection molded visco-elastic insert that covers the entire perimeter of the cavity and the base of the head. This insert provides vibration dampening across the entire face for superior feel, even on off center hits, according to Cleveland. All of this, combined with the heel and toe weighting provides for a pretty forgiving iron that looks very sharp as evidenced by several double-takes from interested observers as we tested these on the range at LPGA International in Daytona Beach, Florida.

CG7 Tour BP

Performance

The CG7 line of clubs are firmly placed in the middle of Cleveland’s lineup. For the ultimate in game improvement for high handicap players, they offer the HiBore XLi and launcher Irons. For the traditionalist and/or better players, they have the CG Tour forged blades, and for everyone in between, they now have the CG7, CG7 tour, CG7 BP and CG7 Tour BP irons. Given their position in the lineup, they should appeal to a wide range of players from scratch golfers to mid handicaps. The CG7 BP irons have more offset and stronger lofts than the CG7 Tour BPs. The difference doesn’t seem like much – the PW is 45 vs. 46 degrees, and the 5 iron offset goes from .180″ to .135″ – but it makes a big difference. Most lid to low handicap golfers will prefer the Tour version that has less offset and weaker lofts. Even with a 46 degree pitching wedge, many players will have to carry a gap wedge to bridge the difference in loft from PW to SW.

My test set of CG7 Tour Black Pearls came with the venerable Dynamic Gold shaft and Cleveland grip. I warmed up with my own clubs first and then grabbed the CG7 BPs. My first impression was that they sat nice and square and were easy to line up. The contrast of the white scoring lines against the black finish may be a distraction to some, but I didn't mind it. The feel of these clubs was a surprise. They feel softer than I would have imagined for a cast cavity back iron. This may be due to the visco-elastic insert, dampening the feel and sound of impact. As I continued to hit balls, I found it rather easy to shape shots and hit knockdowns and punches. These clubs perform at a very high level! The feel is very muted and softer than expected, and the forgiveness is about where I expected. They will moderately help a mis-hit shot, but you'll know you miss hit it. As far as performance goes, they were very similar to my Srixon i701 Tour Forged irons, and I think I could adjust to these in just a few rounds. As with all new clubs, the new finish starts to wear immediately, and the sandy turf in Florida certainly expedites this process. After several hits, the face of the clubs show scratches and wear to the micro grooves. With the shorter clubs especially, the Zip grooves will scuff a new golf ball that is trapped aggressively against the turf. Out of the rough the deep and sharp Zip grooves provide spin, and the rounded shape and compact club head helps them slide through tall grass better than most. Just to avoid confusion, these clubs conform to the current USGA groove specifications for amateur golfers. They do not conform to the PGA Tour condition of competition that goes into effect Jan 1, 2010. For more info on the new groove regulations, read my explination of the new rule here.
Specs and Options
The CG7 BPs come with several different shatf offerings. In steel the standard offering is called the flightspeed shaft, but you will probably want to chose one of the custom shafts. You have the choice between the Dynamic Gold, DG Lite, DG Sensicore, Dynamic Gold SL, Project X, Rifle Flighted and Rifle shafts. In graphite, you have a choice between a standard Cleveland branded shaft or offerings from Aldila and Grafalloy. I've never been a fan of "stock" shafts, as I feel these are mass produced with lower quality standards than the custom option shafts. As always, I highly encourage getting properly fitted for your new irons also. It's just a smart thing to do and helps you make the most of your investment. [caption id="attachment_1292" align="aligncenter" width="570" caption="Specs - CG7 Black Pearl Irons"][/caption] [caption id="attachment_1294" align="aligncenter" width="568" caption="Specs - CG7 Tour Black Pearl Irons"][/caption] With Cleveland Golf, it's important to note that they have a great promotion going on for the remainder of 2009. If you purchase a set of in-line Cleveland Golf Irons in 2009, you will be eligible to trade in your set for any of the new models of equal or lesser value introduced from January 2010 to December 2011 at no charge. All you have to do is buy your set at an authorized Cleveland Golf dealer and register your purchase at this website. It may sound too good to be true, but it’s not. If you are tempted to make a purchase, you can use our affiliate link to get free ground shipping on any orders over $75...
Overall Impressions
I think Cleveland golf has another winner on their hands with the CG7 Black Pearl irons. Matched with the hot new CG15 wedges, they will make a great addition to anyone's bag. They are forgiving without sacrificing feedback, and feel almost like a forged club. They look really sharp, and everyone we showed them to liked them at first glance. Pros: Good feedback with forgivness, Solid muted feel, good spin potential, sharp looks Cons: Stock "flightspeed" shaft, opt for a custom shaft. dark finish shows wear faster than chrome clubs
Don't forget to enter our New Year's Resolution Cleveland CG15 Wedge Giveaway! Entries close Dec 31, 2009 so enter now!
For more info and the latest articles and stories, subscribe to our RSS feed and email updates!

November 30, 2009
Inside the Cleveland Tour Van!

I visited the driving range and putting green yesterday at Disney’s Palm and Magnolia courses to snap some pictures and peer into a few golf bags to see what’s new and hot out on tour. The resort is hosting the tour’s final event – the Children’s Miracle Network Classic. I also stopped by the Cleveland Tour Van to snoop around a bit. Cleveland has been very generous in sending us clubs to test out and has granted me a level of access to their products that is normally reserved for tour players and staff and the benefit is passed on to our readers! Let’s take a rare look inside the tour van and see what’s going on…

The Cleveland tour van is equipped with everything one would need to build and repair clubs, including a bending machine, grinders and gripping station and much more. The trailer is shows up early in the week and leaves before the first round on Thursday. While on site, it is powered by a generator, and along with the other manufacturer’s vans combines to make the area smell like a bus station.

In the photo below, you can see a small sample of the clubs they have to build for their tour players. On the far left is the new Launcher DST Tour driver, which has garnered lots of attention and buzz, and several Cleveland staff players have already switched. The next two clubs are tour-only versions of the new CG15 Wedges which differ from the consumer level product in two main ways: The tour wedge has the new USGA conforming grooves, and it has a raw finish which will rust over time rather than the chrome finish. For a closer view, visit the photo gallery. On the far right is a similar tour-only wedge with raw finish, but it’s the popular GC14 model.

The photo at the right shows an open drawer filled with wedge heads of different models and lofts. There is something for everyone, and if not, the bending machine can be used to quickly make adjustments. The staff in the tour van can assemble a playable wedge in a matter of minutes, and the fast set epoxy they use sets fully in about an hour. There are several other drawers like this one that hold iron heads also. The CG7 Tour heads I saw are similar to the current offerings available to the public, but they have a different color scheme and smaller blade profile combined with less offset and a thinner top line, and of course the new USGA conforming grooves. Check out the pic of the CG7 Tour irons from the bag of PGA Tour star and major winner David Toms below: [caption id="attachment_1077" align="alignleft" width="300" caption="CG7 Tour irons in the bag of David Toms"][/caption] I want to quickly disclose that intothegrain.com is in no way affiliated with or being paid to promote Cleveland/Srixon Golf and its products. We strive to provide unbiased and accurate information and reviews, and we always send back all the demo clubs we receive, as required by the manufacturers.
Don't forget to enter our New Year's Resolution Cleveland CG15 Wedge Giveaway! Entries close Dec 31, 2009 so enter now!

For up to the minute updates and stories, sign up for email updates or our RSS feed!

November 11, 2009
Cleveland CG7 & CG7 Tour Black Pearl Irons

Cleveland and it’s parent company Srixon Golf have been in the news (at least on this website) a lot lately. Srixon is introducing a new line of clubs that will ship in October, and from the looks of them they will do well. Click HERE to see them. The Srixon line, dubbed Z-TX, have already done very well in Japan, and now will be available for the US market. I currently play with the Srixon i701 Tour irons which have been around for a while, so I’m excited to see the new offerings. Srixon should see an increased market share in the US, with the growing use of it’s Z-Star golf balls on the professional tours garnering more attention among consumers.

The latest offering from Cleveland Golf is the new CG7 and CG7 Tour Black Pearl irons. Available in November, these irons are essentially the same as the original CG7 and CG7 Tour, except for the black pearl finish that Cleveland has made famous in it’s wedges and CG1 irons. What does this mean? Well, it means they’ve taken a nice looking club and made them gorgeous. We don’t have many details on these, but we know that the CG7 will retail for $699, and the CG7 Tour will go for $799. They also appear to sport Cleveland’s new Laser Etched grooves, which will be available on the new CG15 wedges also. Both sets also qualify for Cleveland’s Free Irons Promotion. If you purchase a set of Cleveland Irons, you will be eligible to trade in your set for any of the new models of equal or lesser value introduced from January 2010 to December 2011 at no charge. All you have to do is buy your set at an authorized Cleveland Golf dealer and register your purchase on their website.

Enjoy the sneak peak pictures, and check out the full review right here! Subscribe to email updates and the RSS feed to get the latest stories delivered as they come out!

CG7 Black Pearl Irons:

CG7 Tour Black Pearl Irons:

The only question mark for me is, although the black pearl finish is gorgeous, black pearl finished clubs are notorious for their lack of bendability. I had a set of the old TA3 irons with the black finish, and my club maker insisted he could bend them. He did indeed bend them. One broke in the bending machine, and two others broke shortly after on the range, leaving me with three shafts with nothing but a hosel attached and a lack of faith in Cleveland Clubs. The bottom line is, if you get them custom fit from Cleveland you’ll be fine. Just stay away from having someone bend them after the fact. Thanks for visiting!

<

p style=”text-align: center;”>
Want to win free stuff? Subscribe to our email updates! You'll get the latest fresh news, reviews and stories delivered right to your inbox or RSS reader, and automatically be entered in our latest contests and giveaways! Also, don't forget to check in with our Facebook fan page for exclusive content and get involved by leaving us comments on what you think!

September 20, 2009