Tag: Driver

Aaron Rai Claims Stunning PGA Championship Victory; Scottie Scheffler Favored at CJ Cup Byron Nelson

There are moments in professional golf when something totally unexpected happens, and Aaron Rai gave us one of those moments this week. His PGA Championship win was genuinely shocking—the kind of victory that tells you as much about the person as it does about his golf game.

The moment everyone will remember isn’t just Rai lifting the Wanamaker Trophy, but that 68-footer he buried to deliver the knockout blow. That putt felt like it carried the weight of all those years he spent grinding through the professional ranks.

PGA Championship

Aaron Rai didn’t follow the typical path to major championship glory. This guy uses head covers on his irons—not to make a statement, but because of how he was raised. “I grew up in very much a working-class family, and golf has always been a very expensive game,” Rai explained. “I started from the age of 4 years old, and my parents made a lot of sacrifices for me to be able to play this game.”

Those head covers say everything about respect—for equipment, for opportunity, for the game itself. While everyone else chases distance and Instagram followers, Rai just quietly built a game on fundamentals and work ethic.

His win proves something important: he’s a completely different kind of major champion. Majors aren’t won with flash—they’re won with precision when everything’s on the line.

The week also brought up the ongoing mess in professional golf. Jon Rahm left the championship without answering LIV questions. Despite playing well, his silence about the tour split shows how the sport is still dealing with this divide.

Justin Thomas had his own weird weekend. After a great Sunday round, he had to sit around for three hours waiting to see where he’d finish. “It was weird, man,” Thomas said about playing well but having to watch everyone else determine his fate. Golf’s like that sometimes—you can do everything right and still not control the outcome.

Looking Ahead: CJ Cup Byron Nelson

The tour heads to Texas this week, where Scottie Scheffler is the overwhelming betting favorite for the CJ Cup Byron Nelson. The odds make sense given how consistently great he’s been. But after watching Rai’s surprise win, those betting lines feel like a reminder that favorites don’t always win. We saw this earlier in the season when Cameron Young pulled off his own upset victory at THE PLAYERS Championship.

LPGA Tour Action

While the men’s major grabbed all the attention, the LPGA Tour played the Kroger Queen City Championship at Maketewah Country Club. The $2 million purse shows how women’s professional golf keeps growing, even when the men’s majors dominate the headlines. The consistency we’ve seen from players like Nelly Korda throughout the season continues to elevate the women’s game.

Equipment Innovation and Industry Movement

Away from tournaments, the golf industry keeps chasing those tiny improvements. Titleist released new GTS Driver technology, with detailed info from the Titleist Performance Institute. It’s funny—Rai won with old-school fundamentals, but the modern game runs on skill plus science.

Getting properly fitted still matters more than most people realize. Recent work shows how swingweight, shaft, and loft changes can add 20+ yards right away. For weekend golfers, proper fitting is probably the fastest way to shoot lower scores.

If you’re planning a golf trip, protecting your clubs becomes pretty important. New reviews of the best golf travel bags show options for protection and convenience—essential if you’ve ever seen what baggage handlers do to golf equipment. For golfers looking to upgrade their equipment, our recent review of the Bushnell Tour V7 Shift rangefinder shows how modern technology can help with course management.

The Bigger Picture

Golf keeps its weekly rhythm with amateur golfers sharing their weekend stories online. These conversations about great rounds and frustrating struggles remind you that golf’s appeal goes way beyond what we see on TV.

The business side keeps expanding too. Events like the Multi-Course & Resort Operators Retreat bring together the people who actually shape how most of us experience golf.

In Spain, La Cala Resort will host the 2026 Andalucía Costa Del Sol Open De España, continuing Europe’s tradition of combining great golf with amazing destinations.

Maybe the best thing about Rai’s win isn’t the putting or handling pressure, but how he built excellence over time. In a sport that’s gotten obsessed with instant results and social media, his victory quietly reminds us that the most meaningful wins often come from the least likely places—and sometimes the longest journey leads to the best ending.

May 18, 2026

Honma TW777 Series Preview: New 2025 Models with Carbon Technology | Price & Specs

Published: December 2025 | Honma Golf Equipment News

Honma Golf has launched the Tour World TW777 series – a new line of premium golf clubs for 2025 that combines Japanese craftsmanship with innovative carbon fiber technology. These golf clubs deliver enhanced distance, improved feel, and exceptional forgiveness for golfers at all handicap levels, from beginners to tour professionals.

Honma TW777 Series Overview: What’s New for 2025

The standout innovation in Honma’s latest golf club release is the revolutionary Titanium Carbon Construction – a game-changing material that maximizes energy transfer for explosive distance and ball speed.

TW777 Key Golf Club Technologies:

Titanium Carbon Sole Technology – Advanced composite material integration provides superior energy transfer and faster ball speeds compared to traditional titanium drivers
Carbon Ring Structure – Reinforces clubhead stiffness to reduce energy loss at impact, delivering more consistent distance on off-center hits
Rear Carbon Body Design – 35% larger carbon volume versus previous Honma models enables lower center of gravity (CG), higher launch angle, and reduced spin for maximum carry distance

Honma TW777 Driver Preview: Three Models Compared

TW777 Standard Driver – Best for Low Handicap Golfers

The standard TW777 driver features adjustable weighting and a forged cup face for players seeking maximum ball speed and workability.

Key Features:

460cc titanium driver with SJ221 Forged Cup Face
Adjustable weight system: 3.5g front weight, 20.5g rear weight
One-piece carbon body construction
Available lofts: 9°, 10.5°
MSRP: $600

TW777 Max Driver – Best for Mid to High Handicap Golfers

Designed for golfers seeking maximum forgiveness and straighter ball flight, the TW777 Max driver delivers high launch with draw bias weighting.

Key Features:

460cc oversized driver head
Deep low-CG design for easier launch
Draw-bias adjustable weights: 4g toe, 15g heel
Available lofts: 9°, 10.5°, 12°
MSRP: $600

TW777 360Ti Mini Driver – Best for Control and Shot Shaping

This compact titanium mini driver offers tour-level workability for advanced players who prioritize precision over forgiveness.

Key Features:

360cc compact driver head (mini driver size)
Full titanium construction for traditional feel
Triple weight system: 4g toe, 4g front, 12g back
Available loft: 11.5°
MSRP: $450

Honma TW777 Fairway Woods: Distance and Versatility

TW777 Standard Fairway Woods – $375

Inspired by Honma’s legendary LB-GET persimmon fairway woods, the TW777 fairways feature the innovative “Get Sole” design for improved turf interaction from any lie.

Available Models:

TW777 3 wood fairway
TW777 4 wood
TW777 5 wood fairway
TW777 7 wood

Technology:

Carbon crown construction with tungsten weighting
C300 maraging steel face for faster ball speeds
Adjustable weight and hosel sleeve
Lower CG for higher launch angles

TW777 Max Fairway Woods – $375

The Max fairway woods offer enhanced forgiveness with a larger profile and forged cup face technology.

Available Models:

3 wood Max
5 wood Max
7 wood Max

Best For: Mid to high handicap golfers seeking easier launch and more forgiveness from the fairway and rough

TW777 Utility Woods (Driving Iron Alternative) – $325

The TW777 utility woods bridge the gap between long irons and fairway woods, offering versatility for approach shots and tee shots on tight par 3s.

Available Lofts:

3 utility wood
4 utility wood
5 utility wood
6 utility wood

Key Benefits:

Get Sole design for clean turf contact
C300 steel face for maximum distance
Balanced workability and stability
Precise distance gapping between clubs

TW777 PCB Max Irons: Game Improvement Technology

Complete Set: 5-iron through sand wedge

Target Golfer: Mid to high handicap players seeking maximum forgiveness

Availability: Contact authorized Honma Golf dealers for pricing and specifications

Where to Buy Honma TW777 Golf Clubs

The complete TW777 series is available now at authorized Honma Golf retailers across the United States and internationally. Visit us.honmagolf.com to find a dealer near you or to learn more about custom fitting options.

Honma Golf Club Fitting Locations:

Available at premium golf retailers nationwide and Honma authorized fitting centers for proper shaft selection and lie angle adjustments.

Honma TW777 Price Guide (2025 MSRP)

Club Type	Model	Price
Driver	TW777 Standard (9°, 10.5°)	$600
Driver	TW777 Max (9°, 10.5°, 12°)	$600
Mini Driver	TW777 360 Ti (11.5°)	$450
Fairway Woods	TW777 (3W, 4W, 5W, 7W)	$375
Fairway Woods	TW777 Max (3W, 5W, 7W)	$375
Utility Woods	TW777 (3U, 4U, 5U, 6U)	$325
Irons	TW777 PCB Max (5-SW)	Contact Retailers

Final Verdict: Should You Buy Honma TW777 Golf Clubs?

The Honma TW777 series represents a significant advancement in premium golf club technology. The Titanium Carbon construction delivers measurable improvements in ball speed and distance, while the expanded carbon body design provides forgiveness that rivals top competitors from TaylorMade, Callaway, and Titleist.

Best For:

Golfers seeking Japanese craftsmanship and premium materials
Players who value both distance and feel
Low to mid handicap golfers (standard models)
High handicap golfers seeking forgiveness (Max models)

Where Honma TW777 Excels: ✓ Innovative carbon fiber technology ✓ Adjustable weighting systems across all driver models ✓ Multiple loft and model options for different skill levels ✓ Premium materials and construction quality ✓ Versatile fairway and utility wood lineup

For more golf equipment reviews, new golf club releases, and technology comparisons, bookmark our blog and follow us for the latest updates on 2025 golf equipment launches.

Related Searches: Honma golf clubs review, best drivers 2025, carbon fiber golf clubs, Japanese golf equipment, TW777 vs Callaway Paradym, premium golf drivers, adjustable weight drivers, low spin drivers, game improvement irons

About Honma Golf: Founded in 1959, Honma Golf manufactures premium golf equipment combining traditional Japanese craftsmanship with modern technology. The company’s product lines include the luxury BERES series and tour-validated T//World clubs used by professional golfers worldwide.

December 15, 2025

First Look: Honma T//World 757 Collection

Honma has been one of our favorite brands for a while now. What’s not to like abut premium forged Japanese steel? While they aren’t the most well known brand in the USA, they are a market leader in Asia, and have been in the golf business for over 60 years. Honma’s Tour World (TW) collection are designed for Honma’s tour staff, low to mid handicap players and people that prefer a more traditional look and feel. The new TW 757 collection continues their legacy of amazing looking and performing clubs, and I can’t wait to get my hands on them and try them out. Without further delay, let’s let Honma’s marketing team fill you in on the new stuff with the press release below:

Honma Golf Announces New T//World TW757 Collection

Created in Honma’s renowned Sakata, Japan Design Studio, and paired with the hand-rolled VIZARD graphite shafts, the artfully designed TW757 line is set to make its way into the bags of Tour Professionals and aspiring players around the globe.

“We are extremely excited to get the long-awaited T//World 757 line in the hands of golfers across North America,” says COO of Honma North America, Janeann Lanning. “It’s a handsome product line loaded with performance-improving characteristics. The use of carbon in these two new driver models helps produce exceptional speed that’s going to catch a lot of people’s attention. And the three new iron models — built for mid to low handicappers — perform brilliantly in their respective categories.”

To learn more, visit https://us.honmagolf.com/collections/tworld.

DRIVERS

GOLF’S FIRST CARBON SLOT: The TW757 Driver features a new, patent-pending “Carbon Slot” to activate and optimize the performance of the lower half of the face at impact. By using a thinner layer of titanium, which is supported by a lighter and more responsive carbon insert, TW757 Drivers deliver higher launch conditions and lower spin to maximize distance, while yielding the highest initial ball speed in Honma Golf’s history.

Ti-CARBON FAST FRAME

Coupled with the Carbon Slot, the TW757’s Carbon Crown further increases discretionary weight savings, enabling low-deep CG placement in tandem with a Keel Sole design first used in the Honma GS line, and now enhanced in the new TW757’s high MOI 6-4 Titanium body.

Honma engineers also added two thick and long crown ribs to maintain rigidity around the clubface in conjunction with Honma’s unique, variable thickness, vertical groove clubface to transfer energy more efficiently at impact to maximize ball-speed. As an added benefit, the carbon elements of the TW757 also help to optimize the sound and feel preferred by better players around the world, a hallmark of Honma T//World products.

TWO DRIVERS FOR OPTIMAL BALL FLIGHT – D and S

The TW757 line is a custom fit dream, offering two distinctly different drivers, each specifically designed to cover a wide array of ball flight preferences. Both drivers come in 9° and 10.5° and are adjustable for loft (+/- 1°) and face-angle (+/- 1.5°) via Honma’s P-SAT Sleeve and torque wrench.

The modern 460CC D Driver has two weight-ports in the sole, one each in the back-heel and front-toe for “Directional Control.” Placing the 9gr. weight in the back-heel will create a higher launching draw-bias, and for players looking for a flatter and more fade-biased ball-flight, simply move the heavier 9gr. weight into the front-toe weight port.

The traditional pear-shaped 450CC S Driver also has two weight-ports strategically located in the front and back of the sole for “Spin and Stability.” Placing the heavier 9gr. weight to the rear of the head creates higher launch conditions and increased MOI, while moving the heavier weight forward, the additional mass behind the sweet-spot creates a flatter trajectory with lower spin for hot ball-flight.

Both D and S models come standard with 9gr. and 3gr. weights, however weights are also available in 6gr., 12gr. and 15gr.

P-SAT (Precision Spine Alignment Technology) Sleeve and Non-Rotational Hosel System

Proprietary to Honma, the P-SAT sleeve and hosel system allows Honma VIZARD shafts to keep the shaft’s spine, as well as shaft graphics and grip markings consistently aligned, while not sacrificing the ability to adjust the TW757 driver for both loft and face-angle to optimize ball-flight.

All graphite shafts naturally have a slightly harder side or “spine,” which is created during the manufacturing process; hence all shafts are not always created or perform equal.

As a result, all Vizard shafts are factory tested during the quality control process so that the spine can be isolated and correspondingly marked in the 6 o’clock position, which helps to mitigate downward shaft deflection through impact, leading to more consistent strike patterns.

Retail pricing for Honma’s new TW757 D and S drivers starts at $719 and varies based on customizations and shaft selection.

FAIRWAYS AND HYBRIDS

Classically styled with a player approved compact footprint, the TW757 fairway woods and hybrids provide everything the player demands, and nothing they don’t.

All models feature a sole slot for higher launch and added speed and are built with an SUS630 stainless steel body paired with a 455-carpenter steel face. These premium materials also support a new Vertical Slot Face Insert to more effectively manage both centered and mishit shots alike.

In the lower lofted models, the TW757 3-Wood features a carbon crown to save weight and to generate higher launch conditions. While a cup face insert design in the 3-Wood and #3 Utility also helps increase initial ball speed to help players get home in two.

Playable from a variety of lies, the TW757 Fairway Woods and Hybrids/Utilities are designed with progressive internal sole weighting to generate consistently long carry distances. As an added benefit, the Fairway Woods feature an adjustable sole weight to fine-tune swing weight.

Retail pricing for Honma’s new TW757 Fairways starts at $415 and varies based on customizations and shaft selection. TW757 Hybrids retail for $350 with custom shaft options available for a slight upcharge.

IRONS: Three models of the tour driven TW757 irons meet the needs of the best players.

P Irons

The multi-material TW757P Player’s Distance irons are designed for players in pursuit of consistent distance and added control, while still demanding the look and feel of a traditional iron only Honma’s experienced Takumi (Master Craftsmen) can deliver.

Inlaid 12gr. Tungsten sole weights along with an undercut pocket cavity creates a low-and-deep CG in a relatively compact iron, which generates high trajectory in conjunction with a modern spec loft package.

The steel body also houses a 6gr. toe-weight to precisely center the sweet-spot, and a 2.2mm thin L-cup face insert generates consistently fast ball speed across the face for the better player looking for added distance with a measure of forgiveness. Honma’s new P irons retail for $1,272 (5–PW) in NS950 NEO steel shafts and $1,392 with Vizard TW757 graphite shafts.

Vx Irons

Forged from the softest premium S20C carbon steel, the TW757Vx Iron is a true players iron. The beautiful, tour-approved address profile in the one-piece cavity back forging features a 7gr. tungsten weight in the toe. The tungsten toe-weight serves to pull the CG towards the dead-center of the face (#4–#8 iron) for consistency throughout the bag. Optimal heel and toe weighting inside the cavity reduces energy loss on off-center hits, and generates high launch windows, with optimal spin and exquisite feel Honma T//World irons are known for. Honma’s new Vx irons retail for $1,272 (5–PW) in TW757 Modus Tour 105 steel shafts and $1,500 with Vizard TW757 IB-WF composite-material shafts.

B Irons

The TW757B is Honma’s advanced next-gen muscle back blade design. Featuring a thin top-line in a traditional-shaped blade, ideal CG placement is achieved by inserting a 7gr. Tungsten weight and resin insert into a strategically placed port in the toe (#3–#7 iron). With additional material removed to lighten the heel to further optimize CG placement, the TW757B iron presents an ideal balance of performance and feel to let the best players in the world dictate their preferred trajectory and distance control. Honma Takumi have crafted the TW757 blades from the softest 8620 carbon steel for the ultimate in player feedback with tighter tolerances than any previous muscle back blades in the company’s history.

Honma’s new TW757 B irons retail for $1,272 with TW757 Dynamic Gold Steel shafts.

VIZARD SHAFTS, MADE IN JAPAN, SAKATA

The exclusive VIZARD for 757 50 Shaft was holistically designed to synergize the TW757 Driver and Fairway Woods from grip to tip. The strong mid-section in conjunction with a sub 5.0° torque value stabilizes club delivery and maximizes energy transfer at impact, while a softer tip provides for high launch and optimal spin. This versatile shaft has a smooth feel and is playable for a wide variety of players looking for a premium ultra-lightweight shaft. As with all VIZARD shafts, this proprietary shaft is spine aligned at 6 o’clock for added stability and Made in Japan.

To complement the standard VIZARD for 757 50 Shaft, Honma produces some of the very best shafts in the world for players looking to take their game to the next level through Sakata’s world-renowned Custom Department. Produced in-house in Honma’s Sakata factory to the industry’s tightest tolerances, the VIZARD MA, MP, FZ and Platinum hold their own on professional tours around the world.

VIZARD MA is designed for High Trajectory and Mid Spin. Well suited for players who prefer a firmer handle or tend to have a descending attack angle or struggle to release the golf club, the VIZARD MA features Ni-Ti alloy for shape retention in the tip-section to allow for higher launch and easy release while still maintaining ample control. Offered in 40-, 50-, 60-, and 70-gram weight classes.

VIZARD MP is built for the player with a neutral delivery looking for a shaft offering High Launch and Low Spin in a smooth feeling shaft. This shaft’s slight draw bias is achieved by extensive layering of ultra-high strength TORAYCA^® T1100G materials to provide stability and feel in this popular custom shaft. Offered in 40-, 50-, 60-, and 70-gram weight classes.

VIZARD FZ was born to accommodate the strongest swings on tour and is now available to players around the world. The rigid tip-section of the FZ shaft is created by layering the high-strength and elastic TORAYCA M40X carbon fiber material in the tip area. This shaft creates a mid-launch condition and very low spin. Offered in 50-, 60-, and 70-gram weight classes.

VIZARD PT (Platinum) is an exciting new concept in ultra-premium custom shafts that helps players maximize clubhead speed. This shaft contains ultra-elastic carbon TORAYCAM40X in the bias layer for added tip reinforcement, and the ultra-high strength and elastic TORAYCAT1100G in all layers. This unique shaft features a stiff tip and butt section with very low torque, paired with an active mid-section to help increase swing speed. Offered in 40-, 50-, and 60-gr. weight classes in a single uniflex profile targeted at players with current clubhead speeds of 82–116 mph.

About Honma Golf

Honma is a prestigious and iconic golf brand. Founded in 1959, the Company utilizes the latest innovative technologies and traditional Japanese craftsmanship to provide golfers across the globe with premium, high-tech, and top-performing golf clubs with state-of-the-art heads and proprietary shafts built by master artisans to perform together holistically. Renowned for creating the world’s highest quality and most beautiful clubs, Honma offers equipment (including balls, apparel, and accessories) to fit all golfers, with the families aligned to suit the preferences and abilities of various segments of golfers: the world-renowned “Ultra-Premium” BERES luxury line and the Tour-validated “Premium Performance” T//World TW757 and game improvement GS lines. The premium club manufacturer and lifestyle brand was founded inside a small Yokohama workshop six decades ago and now holistically designs all products in Sakata, Japan. Honma operates as the only company that handles every step from design to final production in-house to create the highest-quality golf products on the market today. Honma’s products are sold in approximately 50 countries worldwide, primarily in Asia and across North America, Europe, and other regions. To learn more, visit https://us.honmagolf.com

April 7, 2022
First Look – Tour Edge Exotics Pro 721 Series
For years, Tour Edge’s “Exotics” brand was well known for producing some of the hottest, best performing metal woods on the planet, but in recent years that all changed. Now, Tour Edge’s Exotics line are simply some of the hottest and best performing CLUBS on the market. The new Exotics E721 and C721 series of spin-reducing and distance-enhancing irons and woods have taken the PGA Tour Champions by storm, and now Tour Edge is releasing a limited edition “tour van” lineup of woods for further spin reduction called the Exotics Pro 721 series. Here are the details:

Summary
- Only 1000 of each will be made available to the end consumer in this special small batch “Straight from the Tour Van” series.
- The more forward Center of Gravity Pro 721 metals were designed for the players with faster clubhead speed to produce low-spinning, penetrating shots.
- The all-new designs feature more compact heads and with deeper faces that sit open at address for the driver/fairway and perfectly square at address for the hybrid.
- The tour-inspired metalwoods showcase the extremely popular and highly effective Ridgeback support system in a new matte finish on the driver and fairway metals, while the hybrid features a matte finish stainless steel crown.
- Diamond Face 2.0 technology is utilized on all three of the metals.
- The Pro 721 metals were designed with the feedback from the 120 PGA Tour professionals who have played Tour Edge over the past few seasons, including over 25 players choosing to play Exotics drivers in tournament play.
- The Pro 721 series will range from $449.99 for the Pro 721 Driver, $299.99 for the Pro 721 Fairway and $249.99 for the Pro 721 Hybrid.
- The metals will be available to purchase by the end consumer at select retail locations and online on August 13^th.
More Info & Technical Details

Exotics Pro 721 Driver

Tour -Inspired Shape – The deeper face, shorter heel to toe and compact front to back ensures low spin and a penetrating ball flight. The more compact 440cc classic pear shape head the ideal shape and size for tour players and those who produce faster club head speeds.

Extreme Heel and Toe Flight Tuning System – The clubhead features a Flight Tuning System (F.T.S.) adjustable heel (3 grams) and toe weights on the sole (12 grams). Adjusting the F.T.S. dual weights in these ports that are placed to the extreme heel and toe of the clubhead can drastically affect ball flight and shaping shots in this compact, low-spin design.

Ridgeback Support System and Dual Carbon Wings – The Ridgeback spine within the Carbon Fiber crown acts as a brace to produce more power on center hit and allows for greater face flex in the heel and toe, meaning off-center hits achieve greater power and ball speed.

Ridgeback replaces extra titanium from the crown and sole with wrap-around Dual Carbon Wings that allowed for a precise and strategically placed Tour-level CG location, moving as much weight as possible to a low-forward position that produces the lowest possible amount of spin for faster swing speeds.

Diamond Face 2.0 Technology – The Pro 721 Driver utilizes Diamond Face 2.0 technology on its high-strength Beta Titanium face. This major breakthrough in face technology features 43 different thick and thin diamond shapes or “mini-trampolines” behind the face, producing full-face forgiveness with faster ball speeds and better performance on off-center hits.

Diamond Face also contributes to the reduction of spin in the driver head, with the 721 Pro Driver spinning less than the Exotics C721 Driver by 400 RPM’s on average.

Sound Diffusion Panels – Five different Sound Diffusion Panels placed strategically inside the club head vastly improves the acoustic properties of the clubhead.

Adjustable Hosel – An adjustable hosel allows adjusting the loft Plus/Minus 2 degrees.

Stock Shaft Options

The stock shaft for the Exotics Pro 721 Driver is the TENSEI AV RAW series from Mitsubishi.

All three RAW versions feature a RAW finish that reveals the Aluminum Vapor (AV) Coated Weave in the butt section, a visible look at the added stability this unique weave provides.
- TENSEI™ AV RAW Blue features the softest mid-section and the most action of the three RAW shafts, leading to a smooth feel without a big hinge and kick.
- The TENSEI™ AV RAW Orange is a Counter-Balanced shaft with more weight placed near the grip and hands for greater stability and control and is a slightly softer offering than the RAW White in the mid/tip section.
- The TENSEI™ AV RAW White features the stiffest tip section and lowest spin of the trio of RAW shaft offerings, while still offering smooth action that doesn’t feel boardy.
Exotics Pro 721 Fairway

The “straight from the tour van” Exotics Pro 721 Fairway is a Limited-Edition small batch production of three 3-Wood lofts that is being offered to the public in only 1000 total pieces.

The Pro 721 was designed to be a low-spinning rocket for faster swingers seeking a more compact head with a deeper face.

The Exotics Pro 721 Fairway features tour-inspired shape with a tour-prototype look and feel that features a new matte finish Ridgeback support system on the crown.

Exotics clubs have been in play by over 120 different PGA TOUR players with over 1,600 Exotics clubs in play on the three PGA Tours over the past few seasons.

The Pro 721 metals were designed with the feedback from those PGA TOUR professionals.

Tour-Inspired Shape – The deeper face, shorter heel to toe and compact front to back is the ideal shape for the best players in the world. Designed for maximum workability, the Pro 721 Fairway features a slightly smaller 155cc tour preferred head size on the three lofts of 3-Wood offered. The compact head ensures a low spin, penetrating ball flight.

Extreme Heel and Toe Flight Tuning System – The clubhead features a Flight Tuning System (F.T.S.) adjustable heel (3 grams) and toe (15 grams) weights on the sole. Adjusting the F.T.S. dual weights in these ports that are placed to the extreme heel and toe of the clubhead can drastically affect ball flight and shaping shots in this compact, low-spin design.

Ridgeback Support System and Dual Carbon Wings – The Ridgeback spine within the Carbon Fiber crown acts as a brace to produce more power on center hit and allows for greater face flex in the heel and toe, meaning off-center hits achieve greater power and ball speed.

Ridgeback replaces extra titanium from the crown and sole with wrap-around Dual Carbon Wings that allowed for a precise and strategically placed Tour-level CG location, moving as much weight as possible to a low-forward position that produces the lowest possible amount of spin for faster swing speeds.

Diamond Face 2.0 Technology – The Pro 721 Fairway utilizes Diamond Face 2.0 technology, a major breakthrough in face technology that features 43 different thick and thin diamond shapes or “mini-trampolines” behind the face. This produces full-face forgiveness with faster ball speeds on off-center hits. Diamond Face also contributes to the reduction of spin in the club head.

Sound Diffusion Panels – Sound Diffusion Panels are placed strategically inside the club head vastly improves the acoustic engineering of the entire new Pro 721 metalwood line up.

Stock Shaft Options

The stock shaft for the Exotics Pro 721 Fairway is the TENSEI AV RAW series from Mitsubishi.

All three RAW versions feature a RAW finish that reveals the Aluminum Vapor (AV) Coated Weave in the butt section, a visible look at the added stability this unique weave provides.
- TENSEI™ AV RAW Blue features the softest mid-section and the most action of the three RAW shafts, leading to a smooth feel without a big hinge and kick.
- The TENSEI™ AV RAW Orange is a Counter-Balanced shaft with more weight placed near the grip and hands for greater stability and control and is a slightly softer offering than the RAW White in the mid/tip section.
- The TENSEI™ AV RAW White features the stiffest tip section and lowest spin of the trio of RAW shaft offerings, while still offering smooth action that doesn’t feel boardy.
Exotics Pro 721 Hybrid

The “straight from the tour van” Exotics Pro 721 Hybrid is a Limited-Edition small batch production that is being offered to the public in only 1000 total pieces.

The Exotics Pro 721 Hybrid ultra-compact shape was designed to be the most iron-like hybrid on the market. It features tour-inspired shape with a tour-prototype look and feel that features a new matte finish on the crown.

Exotics clubs have been in play by over 120 different PGA TOUR players with over 1,600 Exotics clubs in play on the three PGA Tours over the past few seasons.

The Pro 721 hybrid was designed with the feedback from those PGA TOUR professionals

Tour-Inspired Shape – The limited-edition Pro 721 Hybrid features tour-inspired ultra-compact shape with a deeper square-face. Ball strikers with faster swing speeds tend to gravitate towards smaller, more compact hybrid designs that they can swing with an iron-like swing.

Extreme Heel and Toe Flight Tuning System – The clubhead features a Flight Tuning System (F.T.S.) adjustable heel (3 grams) and toe (15 grams) weights on the sole. Adjusting the F.T.S. dual weights in these ports that are placed to the extreme heel and toe of the clubhead can drastically affect ball flight and shaping shots in this compact design.

Diamond Face 2.0 Technology – Different diamond shapes of variable face thickness behind the face act as mini-trampolines to create faster ball speeds and expand the sweet spot to outer areas of the face. There are a total of 41 total Diamond shapes featured on Diamond Face 2.0 on the Pro 721 Hybrid.

Sound Diffusion Panels – Sound Diffusion Panels are placed strategically inside the club head vastly improves the acoustic engineering of the entire new Pro 721 metalwood line up.

TrueLoft System – A TrueLoft System ensures extra quality control in the bending process of unfinished Pro 721 hybrid heads and includes an extensive triple-check on loft and lie in the final stages of the manufacturing process. This commitment to making sure that each club head fits the exact intended loft helps players expertly dial in their preferred distances.

The Tour Edge R&D team expects an average of six to eight yards in between each loft, giving the Pro 721 a 24–36-yard distance gap from 17-degree to 20-degree.

Stock Shaft Options

The stock shaft for the Exotics Pro 721 Hybrid is the TENSEI AV RAW hybrid series from Mitsubishi.

Both of these RAW hybrid shafts feature a RAW finish that reveals the Aluminum Vapor (AV) Coated Weave in the butt section, a visible look at the added stability this unique weave provides.
- TENSEI™ AV RAW Blue hybrid shaft provides Mid-Launch, Mid-Spin properties.
- TENSEI™ AV RAW White hybrid shaft is the heavier option of the two and provides Low-Spin and Low-Launch.
July 19, 2021
12 Days of Christmas Gift Guide – Day 4 – Club Champion Fitting

Day four of our 12 Days of Christmas Gift Guide features a company that leads the industry in one of our biggest passions in golf, and that is our mission to share the importance of club fitting with every golfer, no matter what your handicap. Whether you normally shoot scores in the 100s or in the 70s, we’re all trying to improve, and having your clubs properly fit is critical to playing your best.

When it comes to club fitting, one of the undisputed leaders in the USA is Club Champion. With more than 70 locations nationwide and a network of highly experienced and educated fitters with some of the most advanced fitting tools available, they can fit any golfer for any club. In fact, because Club Champion is brand agnostic, they have over 45,000 different head, shaft and grip combinations to choose from. Their selection of equipment truly is mind blowing.

So what are you waiting for? Until January 31, 2021, all fittings are 50% off with a $500 equipment purchase. Let’s face it, $500 doesn’t go as far as it used to for golf equipment. These days, when is a golf purchase not $500 or more? This is a no brainer for anyone in the market for a new driver or irons, and the club you thought you wanted might not be the one you end up with! The fitting process at Club Champion will identify club & shaft combo that works best for you.

Find your nearest Club Champion location here, or visit this website to purchase a gift card!

December 13, 2020
12 Days of Christmas Gift Guide – Day 1 – Honma TR20 Driver

Normally the 12 days of Christmas is the period in Christian theology that marks the span between the birth of Christ and the coming of the three wise men. It begins on December 25 (Christmas) and runs through January 6, but for our purposes it will begin today – 12/10/2020 – Which is also the first day of Hanukkah.

Let’s get right to it on day 1 with the first gift suggestion – The awesome TR20 driver from Honma Golf. I’ve been testing and tweaking the setup on my Honma TR20 driver for several months, but I believe I have it just about right now, and the results have been worth it. I’ve see measurable increases in ball speed and distance since putting the Honma TR20 in my bag. We’re not talking huge gains here, but I have picked up 3-6 yards on most tee shots and in drier conditions I’ve seen 10-12 more yards due to reduced spin.

Honma is a respected Japanese brand that has been making premium golf clubs since the 1950s. They entered the US market a few years ago with some fanfare and a focus on custom fitting. Potential customers are looking at spending several thousand dollars for a custom fit full set of clubs, but the price can skyrocket into the tens of thousands with their ultra-premium Beres 5-star line of clubs. The TR20 line fits into what is Honma’s “better player” segment. The TR stands for Tour Release, and from the look alone these clubs are designed to appeal to better players and traditionalists.

The TR20 driver uses more carbon fiber than anything else on the market and comes in a 460cc and 420cc sized heads, with several proprietary VIZARD shafts available to fit almost everybody. I was fitted for the 460cc driver with a VIZARD FD-7 shaft. After initial testing it turned out to be too weak for me, so I went to True Spec Golf and got fitted for and upgraded with a new shaft from TPT Golf called the 15 Lo, which is a heavier (79g), low spin, low launch shaft meant for stronger swingers. I’m right on the cusp between the stiff and X flex so i went with the X.

The Honma TR20 has a classic shape and their expert marriage of carbon fiber and titanium has resulted in what I think is a truly stunning and beautiful golf club. he traditional profile and lack of alignment marks harkens back to the glory years of hand shaped persimmon wood drivers, and Honma certainly built plenty of those.

One of the the reasons that proper fitting is important with these clubs is because you don’t want to spend the kind of money you’ll be spending for a Honma and not get the most out of them. This driver retails for $699 ($749 with the VIZARD FD-7 shaft) and with the $499 custom TPT 15 Lo shaft I had installed by True Spec, this is the single most most expensive club I’ve ever owned. For those on your list that demand the best, most unique and exotic Japanese craftsmanship without sacrificing performance, I highly recommend visiting a Honma fitting center soon!

December 10, 2020
First Look: Tour Edge Exotics EXS 220 Woods & Hybrids
Tour Edge, a little golf company from Chicago, had a great year in 2019. Their EXS and CBX 219 lines sold like hotcakes, they signed several prominent players on the PGA Tour Champions, and they rode that momentum into 2020.

This year’s EXS 220 clubs are the end result of that momentum. Tour Edge President David Glod’s strength is R&D and he has poured all of his knowledge of golf and advanced materials into the new clubs.
- Diamond Face Tech: Produces a hotter face with more ball speeds, less spin and more forgiveness.
- Sound Diffusion Bar: Using finite element analysis software, they added strategically placed material to alter the acoustic properties of the club. In other words – It sounds better!
- Max MOI: A new elongated shape and adjustable 9g back weight increases MOI (moment of inertia) for greater forgiveness. The 5440g per cubic meter is a 20% increase from the prior generation.
- Titanium Face: Using 8-1-1 ultra-premium titanium in the face allows Tour Edge to better distribute weight, as it is lighter than normal titanium.
- Triple Carbon Tech: Carbon fiber placed on the crown, heel and toe of the sole provides extreme weight savings and allows for repositioning of weight to increase forgiveness
- Adjustable Hosel: Loft can be adjusted +/- 2 degrees, creating a range of loft options between 7.5 and 14 in three heads.
I’ve fitted my EXS 220 driver with one of KBS Shafts’ new TD line of driver shafts. The KBS TD Driver shaft is new for 2020. This mid-launch, low spin shaft is ideal for stronger players. In fact, the Category 5 flex (Tour-X) that I have is even a bit too stiff for my 114-118 swing speeds. Still, this driver is an absolute missile launcher.

With a street price of $349, the Tour Edge Exotics EXS 220 driver is the best value of 2020. You simply can’t get a better performing driver for the price. This clubs outperforms many drivers costing $499 or more. It’s true what Tour Edge says: “Pound for pound, nothing else comes close.”

The EXS 220 three-wood and hybrid are in the hands of a club tester and based on his comments, I’m afraid I may not get them back!

Once I get some more data from the awesome little Flightscope Mevo launch monitor, I’ll post the data and compare with a few other drivers, fairways & hybrids I’ve tested for comparison. For now – Enjoy the photos and find a local demo day to try them out! You won’t regret it.
March 25, 2020
Father’s Day 2019 Gift Guide

Father’s day 2019 is less than 2 weeks away, and in case you feel inspired to shower dear ‘ol dad in golf gifts, we have some great ideas for you! Happy shopping!

Bombas Socks – Yes, get your dad some socks! Socks are very underrated, and a way better gift than ties. Bombas’ Performance Golf Ankle Socks look great, perform great and Bombas donates a pair for every pair sold!

Callaway Apparel Big & Tall – You know Callaway best for drivers that hit bombs, top selling irons and colorful golf balls, but their classy and timeless apparel collection can’t be overlooked. Their big & tall choices are diverse, and for larger men like me, that’s a big bonus because it’s tough to find good looking golf clothes in larger sizes.

Stamina Pro Patches – Let’s face it, dad isn’t getting any younger. Give dad a little help getting those joints moving so he can play his best. These “active recovery” patches contain no drugs or synthetic chemicals, come in three different sizes and last 24 hours. The patches reduce inflammation, promote recovery, and optimize performance according to the company. Used on tour by Justin Rose, Tony Finau and others.

Enveed Golf CBD Blends – CBD/Cannabidiol products are all the rage these days, but not without controversy. Enveed Golf’s CBD blend is non-psychoactive and does NOT contain THC, so it will NOT get you high. Instead their full spectrum hemp extract is said to organically help alleviate pain, improve focus and help you relax in those anxious golf moments. CBD products are being used with increasing frequency on tour by players like Bubba Watson and Phil Mickelson. I’ve been using their tinctures for a few days and it seems to be helping!

Bushnell Pro XE Rangefinder – Our 2019 PGA Show best rangefinder is a range topping technological marvel for golfers. In slope mode, the Pro XE uses temperature and barometric pressure to more accurately adjust distances. It is the only 7x magnification rangefinder on the market and can hit a reflective flag at up to 500 yards. Plus it has magnets built in so it’ll stick to the roof posts on that golf cart to be at arm’s reach anytime you need it.

SkyCaddie SX500 – Not the rangefinder type? Get the best golf GPS device on the market – The SkyCaddie SX500. It has a huge, bright and responsive touch screen display, impressive battery life and a huge database of courses with detail info on hazards, bunkers and even green contours on select courses. The only place you’ll get more information about a course than the SX500 is in tour player’s yardage books.

Indi Golf Stingray Wedges – Indi Golf makes high-spinning wedges for all kinds of players. Their Stingray TT wedges offer 2 grind options, 2 finish options and they look & perform great. Things get really interesting when you pick up the USGA non-conforming Stingray wedge with huge box grooves. The spin you can produce around the greens is hilarious, and addicting!

Revo Eyewear – It’s time to ditch the old aviators. Instead, get dad a cool pair of sunglasses from Revo! They make modern, technologically advanced polarized sunglasses that are great for golfers, boaters and everyday wear. Check out their many styles and lens options here.

Exotic EXS Driver – Everybody wants a new driver, right? Why pay the premium for a big name brand when you can get the same or better performance from a driver that costs $100 less? Tour Edge Golf’s Exotics EXS is packed with technology and advanced materials, and sells for $399. Most of the competition sell their new drivers for $449, $499 and even $549. The Exotics EXS driver is simply the best bang for the buck in golf right now.

June 4, 2019
First Look: Cobra KING F9 Speedback Driver
Cobra Puma Golf has been on a hot streak lately with some great equipment, highly desirable clothing and some great results from their tour staff. Last year’s KING F8 and KING F8+ drivers were very good – at least as good as most of the competition – but that wasn’t good enough for the engineers at Cobra.

Cobra has taken what they learned with the KING F8 driver and released the KING F9 SPEEDBACK driver. To no one’s surprise, they created a monster. As far as I could tell, the KING F9 SPEEDBACK driver was the most talked about driver at the 2019 PGA Show.

I say it all the time, but fitting matters. There are tens of thousands of possible club and shaft options out there these days, and simply changing shafts can alter the performance of a club dramatically. Fortunately, the Cobra KING F9 driver is available in three lofts (9, 10.5 & 12), has 2 adjustable weight ports, an 8 position adjustable hosel and dozens of custom shaft options.

We’re testing the Cobra KING F9 SPEEDBACK driver now and will be back here in the near future with some test numbers and a full review, so stay tuned. In the meantime, check out the photos and video below!
- Not sure where that small nick in the paint came from…
May 9, 2019
Phillis Meti Hits World Record 413 Yard Drive with Exotic EXS Driver

In case you missed it, World Long Drive held their first event of the season the other day. The Ak-Chin Smash in the Sun was held near Phoenix, Arizona and televised on the Golf Channel.

In the women’s final, the three-time and defending WLD World Champion Phillis Meti broke her own world record of 406 yards by hitting a drive 408 yards, then followed it up with a ridiculous 413-yard blast using her Tour Edge Exotics EXS driver. Meti has won two of the last three world titles with an Exotics driver in play.

If you’ve ever used a launch monitor to track your drives, you’ll no doubt be impressed with the 127 MPH club head speed and 182 MPH ball speed she recorded on the record setting drive.

“It hasn’t really even sunk in,” said Meti. “I didn’t even think that was possible. That’s probably the fastest I’ve ever swung it to be honest. Hopefully, I can stay on this path and keep riding the roller coaster for the rest of the season.”

Meti’s Driver – Exotics EXS

“The EXS driver is a $299 driver that has now won numerous awards and that has been put into play on the PGA Tours, but this takes the cake,” said Tour Edge President David Glod. “For Phillis to hit 408 and 413 and produce those kinds of ball speed numbers means that she is an extremely great long driver and that the EXS driver is the perfect fit and the perfect driver for her quest to become the world’s greatest.”

The new Exotics EXS driver represents one of the best values in golf by combining many of the same technologies you’ll find in drivers that cost $500 or more, yet they sell for only $299. Not only that, but all Exotics clubs are hand built in the United States in Batavia, Illinois and every Tour Edge club comes with a Lifetime Warranty and a 30-day play guarantee.

For more information on Phillis Meti and World Long Drive:

https://www.worldlongdrive.com

For more information about Tour Edge and Exotics golf clubs, visit:

https://www.touredge.com/index.asp

I Wanna Do That!

Interested in getting into the sport of long drive? You don’t have to turn pro and compete with the big boys and girls on the WLD – Start at the grassroots level by joining ALD – Amateur Long Drive!

The Amateur Long Drive Championship Series has local tours starting up all around the country and regional events all leading to the ALD World Championships in Myrtle Beach.

What separates ALD from the rest? ALD has 14 divisions to compete in! There are Boys & Girls Youth (13 & under), Junior (13 – 17) and Men’s and Women’s Open (17+), Senior (45-60), Super Senior (60+), Veteran and Adaptive divisions.

Long drive is fun, fast paced and growing quick all around the country! For more information, rules and to sign up for an ALD event near you, visit www.amateurlongdrive.com

April 18, 2019
PING G410 Driver – First Look
PING has been on a roll for a number of years, especially when it comes to drivers. I’ve had a PING driver in my bag since 2015 with the fantastic G30. At the time it was one of the most forgiving and consistent drivers I ever played. Then came the “G” driver, and last year the G400 driver, which combined with a custom shaft from TPT Golf produced a 9-yard gain in carry distance!
The latest offering in the never-ending driver wars is PING’s new G410 driver. Given the great performance and sales success of the previous models, PING had a tough task in improving on the G400. Instead of reinventing the wheel, they’ve improved the adjustability with a moveable weight instead of fixed one and tweaked the design for better aerodynamics.

It’s difficult for any manufacturer to realistically promise more distance since they have all been engineered to the maximum tolerances that golf’s governing bodies allow. The USGA max limit for Characteristic Time (CT) is 257 microseconds. In simple terms, CT is the measure of how springy the face of a club is. A higher CT means a higher rebound effect, leading to faster ball speeds and more distance.

Because virtually all drivers are manufactured to the highest tolerances possible these days, performance comes down to custom fitting a club for each golfer by tweaking spin rates & launch angle. This is done by changing shafts and moving weights around until the best combination is found. The new PING G410 offeres greater adjustability than the previous generation with the moveable weight in the back that can be adjusted for neutral, draw or fade bias positions.

Specs

The G410 driver is available in two models:

The G410 Plus is available in 9, 10.5 or 12-degree lofts. Standard length is 45 3/4″ long with a 206g head weight, 455cc head size, and D3 swing weight. The head weight is adjustable for neutral, fade or draw bias positions.

The slice fighting G410 SFT (Straight Flight Technology) driver is available in 10.5 degrees with a 204 g head weight and D1 swing weight. The weight is fixed in a draw biased position.

Pricing

Street price at TGW.com and Dick’s Sporting Goods is $499. Custom options will drive the price to $549 and up.
April 10, 2019
CADI is Changing Golf Retail

For decades, the usual procedure for buying new clubs was to drop by the local golf retailer and buy your clubs off the rack. If you were lucky, one of your friends had the same club(s) and you got a chance to try it for a few swings before you bought it. Chances are more likely however, that the new driver sitting in your bag was a blind purchase. You took a chance that it would work out. Sometimes it does and you love the club, but most of the time it doesn’t and the club either sits in the garage or ends up as a trade-in or eBay auction. Now that driver prices have risen beyond the $500 mark, it’s no longer worth it to simply buy a driver off the shelf without a live demo first.

That’s where the ingenious Cadi Kiosk comes in. Every day can be a demo day if your course has a Cadi Kiosk installed. Simply use the touch screen interface to browse from a selection of the latest driver, fairway, hybrid and putter models, choose the one you like, swipe your credit card and a door will open with your club within reach. Simply grab it and it’s yours to try for the day on the course! Warm up with the club, take it on the course and hit it under real conditions. If you love the club, simply keep it and your card will be charged the full purchase amount. Easy peasy!

If you don’t like it or want to try something else, just return to the Cadi Kiosk and scan the club’s barcode. The system will ask if you want to return or exchange the club and you simply follow along. When returning the club, it will open a locked door for you to insert the club, then you simply walk away. The fee for a full day demo will likely be around $10. If you end up purchasing the club, the demo fee is credited back to you.

During the demo process, it is inevitable that some clubs will start to show signs of use. Not only will the Cadi Kiosk’s inventory will be updated regularly with new clubs, but the prices of slightly used demo clubs will also be adjusted to reflect their condition. This is another way to save money if you don’t mind buying a slightly used club.

With Cadi, there’s no need to go to the big box or specialty golf retailer. If you prefer to hit clubs on the course in real conditions instead of into a net or some jacked-up simulator, the Cadi Kiosk is for you. For golf course operators, placing a Cadi kiosk in a strategic location is a simple and effective way to enhance the golfer experience and expand their services without carrying more inventory.

Cadi plans to offer drivers, fairways, hybrids and putters from the most popular brands such as Callaway, Taylor Made, Cobra, Titleist/Scotty Cameron and more. The first of their innovative Kiosks is located at Orange Lake Resort in Kissimmee, Florida near the theme parks in Orlando. Plans are to open more locations in Florida and California in the near future.

For more information and to locate a Cadi Kiosk near you, visit https://www.cadikiosk.co m or check out their Facebook Page!

February 25, 2019
Closer Look: Cobra KING F8+ Driver
When I first started playing golf around 1989-1990, metal woods were starting to dominate the PGA Tour and only a handful of holdouts still used persimmon drivers and fairway woods. Golf club technology evolved rapidly in the 90s, and it wasn’t long before club heads started getting bigger and bigger. In the 1990s, the best player on the planet was Greg Norman, and he used the original King Cobra driver to launch tee shots like moonballs on a frozen rope. The King Cobra driver of that era will go down in history as one of the most recognized and influential clubs of the 90s, along with the Callaway Big Bertha.

These days, golf club technology continues to evolve but the emphasis has shifted towards fitting rather than distance. The USGA’s limits on club design with regards to performance have constrained manufacturers when it comes to ball speeds and overall distance, so much of the new technology you’ll find is geared towards fine-tuning the way the club performs for individual golfers. The new Cobra KING F8 and F8+ (plus) drivers are no exception.

(Left) KING F8, (Right) KING F8+

Cobra Golf’s F8+ driver is geared towards the better player (0 to 15 handicap according to Cobra), and the difference between this model and the regular KING F8 driver is evidence of that. The forward weight port on the F8 driver is located in the heel area and set back a bit to help square the clubface and produce a draw action to combat a slice. In the F8+ driver, the weight port is located front and center, near the middle of the clubface which moves the center of gravity (CG) forward to reduce spin, while remaining in a neutral position for better workability. The other main difference is in the shaft. The F8+ driver comes with a choice of premium shafts from Aldila and Project X that feature premium materials and stiffer, low torque profiles that reduce spin for improved performance in distance and dispersion.

Technology Overload

My Cobra KING F8+ came fitted with the Project X HZRDUS Yellow 75x shaft. Cobra Golf packed a lot of features and tech into this driver, so let’s go over all the features:
- Golf’s first CNC milled face – The forged titanium face is precision milled for exact face thickness, weight, and consistency. According to Cobra, testing against a traditional hand-polished driver face, the CNC milled face on the KING F8 driver produced increased ball speeds ranging from 1.2 to 1.6 mph across the face.
KING F8+ CNC Milled Face
- Have you heard of Taylor Made’s “Twist Face” technology? Sorry to break it to you, but Cobra did it first, and they did it years ago. Cobra’s Dual Roll Technology utilizes different curvatures on the top and bottom of the face to optimize launch and spin for shots hit above or below face center.
- 360 Aero – Polymer trips on the crown and titanium trips on the sole are optimized for better aerodynamic efficiency, giving you more clubhead speed. All I know is, they certainly help give the club a unique look at address.
KING F8+ 360 Aero
- 2 adjustable CG settings – With a heavier weight in the back and a lighter weight in front, you’ll get a slightly higher ball flight and more spin. If you swap the weights and put the heavier weight in the front, you’ll bring the ball flight down a bit and lower spin by as much as 400 rpm.
- MyFly w/ Smart Pad – The adjustable hosel has eight loft settings to fine-tune launch and spin to each player. In my F8+ driver, I can turn the loft setting from 8 degrees all the way up to 11.5. The Smart Pad ensures that the driver sits square at address in every setting for greater confidence. One issue with other adjustable drivers is that changing the loft also changes the look at address; Not so with the F8+ driver.
- Carbon fiber crown – Making the crown out of ultra-lightweight carbon fiber allowed Cobra engineers to move weight around where it is needed to make the club more forgiving. It also looks really cool.
Lamkin Cobra Connect Grip
- Cobra Connect, powered by Arccos, allows golfers to track their driving performance and accuracy with the Arccos app on their phone. A sensor built into the grip connects with the app and uses GPS to track your location on the course. The sensor can detect when you hit a drive and marks the location that you hit your second shot from to determine if you are in the fairway or rough and how far from the tee you are to calculate distance. Arrcos Driver, their stand-alone product, usually sells for $49, but the same technology is built into the F8 drivers at no additional cost.
What I Like
- I love the look of this driver. The nardo gray colored head with all the aero features and circular milling on the face just looks cool and futuristic to me. I’ve always been a traditionalist, but this club looks really good without being distracting.
- The feel is perfect. The ball comes off the face with a muted “click” and you can really feel the impact in your hands. In fact, the feel is good enough to know immediately where you hit the ball on the face, and that’s easily confirmed because you can usually see the impact mark from the golf ball on the face. This driver reminds me of the foam filled metal drivers from the early 2000s before they got obnoxiously loud.
- Ball flight with the driver set up at 9.5 degrees and neutral settings was ideal. The HZRDUS Yellow shaft keeps the ball from ballooning but still gets it in the air quickly. My short swing and relatively quick tempo managed to load this shaft pretty well, even if it’s not my favorite model shaft. I prefer something with a little more active tip section, like the excellent range of ultra-premium shafts from TPT Golf.
- Cobra has made it easy to customize this driver, with over 40 custom shaft options! You can also change the length, grip type and even build up your grips if that’s what you prefer. There are more than a dozen different grips available with the built-in Cobra Connect feature, and even more standard grips.
- The Cobra KING F8+ driver isn’t the most forgiving club I’ve hit recently, but it isn’t supposed to be either. This is a serious club for good players that can generate enough clubhead speed to make it work. Like I previously mentioned above, the face transmits feel to your hands about mishits better than most modern drivers. In this regard, the F8+ is a bit of a throwback.
- The KING F8+ is infinitely adjustable, between the multiple loft settings and weight port tuning. I ordered two extra weights from Cobra because I like to swing sledgehammers. I replaced the 12g & 2g standard weights with an 8g in the back and a 16g weight in the front. Overall swing weight at 45″ comes out to D7. I have swung heavy clubs for decades because I want to leverage physics to my advantage. As long as you can maintain your average swing speed, a heavier club will transmit more energy to the ball than I lighter one, and you’ll not only get more distance, but a heavy club is also more forgiving than a light club.
What I don’t like
- I’m not a fan of the stock Lamkin Crossline grip with Cobra Connect. I’ve always preferred cord grips, but unfortunately, the Cobra Connect grips don’t include a cord grip in their custom options. I used the stock grip for a while to play with the Arrcos app and Cobra COnnect features, but eventually changed the grip out for one of the new Lamkin Players Cord grips.
- The Project X HZRDUS Yellow shaft is a good shaft, but to get the most out of this club I would have had to order it with one of the many custom options. The other two stock options are the Aldila NV 2KXV Blue 60 and 2KXV Green 65 shafts. However, in their custom shaft offerings, I would lean towards Mitsubishi’s Tensei CK Pro line or Fujikura’s awesome ATMOS Tour Spec shafts (fitted in my Ping G400 three wood) would transform this club into a monster.
- I know I just finished saying that the Cobra KING F8+ driver is infinitely adjustable, but for some, that may not be a good thing. If you are one of the people that end up buying this club right off the rack and have not been fit for it, you’ll probably need some time to find the loft and weight settings that work best for you. Without the help of an experienced club fitter, it may take several months to get it right. If you have access to a launch monitor or a good pro, they can help you get it dialed in much sooner. It took my buddy Tony from Hookedongolfblog.com about two months to get his KING F8 driver set up right. I still don’t think I have it dialed in properly. It’s close, but I don’t think the HZRDUS shaft is right for me.
Cobra KING F8+ MyFly Hosel

Conclusions

The Cobra KING F8+ driver is loaded with tech, looks great, feels and sounds awesome and can be customized far beyond the needs of most golfers. It is the total package in a driver unless you prefer a super loud hollow sound at impact and a very high ball flight. This is a driver for serious players and purists which is blended with slick looking technology and aero features. Pricing varies depending on custom options, but expect to pay $399 for stock versions and up to $600 for a driver with custom shaft and grips.
August 15, 2018
Aerotech Releases New TiFiber Shafts
Aerotech’s Golf’s president & mad scientist Chris Hilleary is up to his old tricks again, and this time his experience in composites and engineering wizardry has resulted in the new Aerotech TiFiber shaft. Last season, Aerotech Golf’s SteelFiber shafts delivered 20 wins on pro tours around the world as well as won the coveted CME Race for the Globe Trophy and 2016 Money Title on the LPGA Tour. I’ve been playing with and evangelizing the SteelFiber shafts in my irons & hybrids for over 6 years, and for me, there’s no going back to steel.

Why TiFiber?

While the original SteelFiber shafts are incredibly consistent and playable, in driver and wood lengths they became too heavy for most golfers to be comfortable with. By replacing steel fibers with much lighter titanium, Aerotech was able to adapt the benefits of their SteelFiber technology to full-length driver and fairway wood shafts.

What is TiFiber?

TiFiber shafts combine a high-modulus graphite core like you would find in almost all driver shafts with 47 miles of micro-thin titanium fiber lacing the entire shaft surface. 47 Miles! The addition of high-strength, lightweight titanium fiber increases stability while allowing the weight to be redistributed to optimize tip stiffness. As a result, TiFiber shafts are a great match for modern oversized titanium/composite driver heads.

TiFiber shafts are currently available in two models – the TiFiber Tour 70 and Pro 60.
1. TiFiber Tour 70 shafts feature a “Tour Stiff” tip section to optimize flight by reducing spin and lowering trajectory. The Tour 70 is available in F5 (Stiff) and F6 (X-Stiff) flex options.
2. The TiFiber Pro 60 has a slightly softer tip section and benefits players who need a bit more launch and spin but still want the added stability of titanium. The TiFiber Pro 60 is available in F4 (Regular) and F5 (Stiff) flexes.
Success on Tour

Players with SteelFiber shafts routinely rank high on the PGA Money List, Official World Golf Rankings and the FedEx Cup Season Points. Brandt Snedeker and Matt Kuchar have been in Aerotech’s corner for years. In 2013, Kuchar & Snedeker ranked No. 2 and No. 3 in FedEx Cup points and ended the season as #3 and #5 on the PGA Tour money list. Snedeker also won the FedEx Cup in 2012 using SteelFiber shafts.

While the adoption of SteelFiber continued to grow on the professional tours, the company was testing the TiFiber shaft on tour in 2017 and introduced them to the public at the 2018 PGA Show in Orlando. It’s only a matter of time before TiFiber also records its first win on tour.

Performance

I spent some time on the practice range with the Aerotech TiFiber Tour 70x shaft installed in my Ping G driver. I hit several shots with both the TiFiber shaft and the Ping Tour 80x shaft (custom option from Ping) to compare ball flight and launch monitor data. I used the cool new FlightScope MEVO launch monitor to capture club and ball flight data.

My initial testing has produced numbers that are very similar to the stock Ping shaft, but the little FlightScope MEVO is limited in the data it can gather. More on that in a minute. Both the stock Ping shaft and the TiFiber were giving me similar numbers for launch angle, swing speed, smash factor and spin rates. Carry distance was about 2 yards less with the TiFiber, which is consistent with the ball speeds which were roughly 1 MPH lower with the TiFiber. Shots hit with the TiFiber shaft stayed in the air a fraction of a second less and flew about 5 feet lower, which may help explain the carry distance number. I only got to hit about 8 or 10 drives with each shaft, but once I gather more data I think the results will be more clear.

What the numbers don’t tell me is what I’m perhaps most interested in with the TiFiber, and that is shot dispersion. The FlightScope MEVO being a palm-sized personal launch monitor priced at $500, it can’t compete with the big boys that cost $10,000+ and one of the areas where the MEVO is lacking is measuring shot dispersion. Since it doesn’t track the entire ball flight, it can’t tell me what the dispersion is from shot to shot.

I did notice a difference between the shafts, but without measurable data, it’s hard to be 100% sure. I felt that I was hitting the ball straighter with the TiFiber shaft, with a tighter dispersion from shot to shot. I’ll get more data and play a few rounds with the Aerotech shaft in the coming weeks and will know more. I believe the TiFiber shaft to be straighter based on my observations.

3/12/2018: I’ll update this post when I get more info about the accuracy of the Aerotech TiFiber shaft.

Where Can I Get One?

The best way to get your hands on one for your driver will be to schedule a fitting with a good club fitting specialist like Tour Spec Golf. Aerotech Golf shafts are also widely available as custom options with many club manufacturers such as PXG, Callaway, Titleist, TaylorMade, Ping, Cobra, Bridgestone Golf, Wilson, Cleveland Golf, Miura, Srixon and more.

For more information on Aerotech Golf and Aerotech shafts, call 888.733.8988 or visit aerotechgolfshafts.com. Also check out the Aerotech page on Facebook: facebook.com/aerotechgolf.
March 12, 2018
True Spec Golf: Next Level Club Fitting

Most people are familiar with the concept of club fitting, and most golfers have probably been through some kind of fitting for their clubs at one point or another. As equipment has evolved, fitting has evolved with it. Adjustable drivers and interchangeable shafts have greatly benefitted club fitting professionals, allowing them to tune the clubs for each golfer. With the amount of technology available in the modern game, club fitting has become even more precise and important to get the best possible performance out of your clubs.

The Technology

Like many companies, True Spec Golf is taking advantage of technology to provide advanced club fitting for golfers of every ability. Unlike manufacturer specific fitting carts at those big box stores, True Spec Golf is brand-agnostic. Because of that, their fitting matrix stocks more than 30,000 combinations of club heads and shafts from all the leading equipment manufacturers. They combine that amazing selection with high performance launch monitors from industry leaders TrackMan and Foresight, and they use advanced tools like their patented Club-Connex adapter system to fit any shaft to any head, and the SST Pure Shaft Alignment System to ensure you get the best performance from your shafts.

The Mission

I visited True Spec’s fitting studio at Trump National Golf Club in Jupiter, Florida to get fitted for a three-wood. For years, finding a three-wood that performs the way I want has been like finding my personal golf unicorn. I primarily use a three-wood off the tee, so want one that has low spin and mid-low ball flight for distance, but I also want the club to perform well from the fairway if I want to go for a long par five in two from 250+ yards. Finding the perfect combo has been tough. I came very close last year with the Exotics CB Pro and have had some success with my newest gamer (an Exotics EX10 beta), but after several months of testing both clubs are just too spinny for me.

The fitting process takes place in a clean, modern fitting studio that opens into the driving range at Trump National. No indoor hitting bays here! I want to see the actual ball flight, not a computer simulation. My fitter Matthew welcomed me and let me hit some warm-up shots with my own clubs to get loose while he watched and gathered some swing and ball flight data from the Trackman. Watching my swing and Trackman data while I warmed up helped him select a few shafts and heads to get the fitting process started with.

The Process & Results

Even though the True Spec fitting studio has over 30,000 possible shaft/head combinations available, an experienced fitting professional like Matt can use that Trackman data to quickly eliminate the shafts he knows won’t work for me, streamlining the process and saving time. Using True Spec’s Club-Connex system, Matt set up a trio of three-woods for me to hit, each with a different shaft & head combo. I would hit 4 or 5 shots with each and switch back and forth between clubs while he made loft/lie adjustments or changed out shafts and kept handing me different combos to try. All told, I hit fairway woods from Ping, Exotics, Taylor Made, Titleist, PXG, Callaway and a few others.

After hitting about 50 shots, we started to zero in on the best performing head and shaft combinations. When you are using a top of the line TrackMan launch monitor you can be certain that the data you get will be accurate. In my case, the numbers don’t lie. Compared to my gamer three-wood, (Exotics EX10 beta with 13 degrees of loft fitted to a Graphite Design G70x shaft) the club Matt put together for me (Ping G400 14.5, turned down to 13.9 degrees fitted with Fujikura ATMOS Tour Spec Red 80x) was giving me 8.6 yards more carry distance and 10.3 more yards total distance. That’s a huge increase for me!

How’d He Do It?

How did Matt help me gain 10 yards with a new three-wood? Again, it’s all about the numbers. By selecting a club head (Ping G400) with a hot face and low spin, we were able to decrease my spin rate by an average of 678 RPMs! Because of the lower spin, we needed to increase my launch angle to maximize carry distance. By selecting a Fujikira ATMOS Red shaft with a slightly lower kickpoint, he was able to bring my launch angle up from from 9.3 degrees to 11. High launch – Low spin. That, my friends, is the recipe for greater distance.

As I mentioned in another recent article, finding the right shaft & head combination for you can pay off big, with more distance and consistency. In that post I mated a Ping G400 driver with the new shaft from TPT golf to gain 9 yards off the tee over my previous gamer – the Ping G. Was it purely by chance that the G400 three-wood also happened to be the best performing fairway wood for me?

I’m mildly shocked but very pleased about gaining 9+ yards with both my new Ping driver and three-woods, considering both clubs were fitted for me independently of each other. What that says to me is the Ping’s G400 line are very good clubs, especially when fitted with the right shaft by an expert club fitter. Even better, I finally found my golf unicorn – a versatile, consistent performing three-wood!

You Probably Need A Fitting

What is it worth to you to gain distance throughout the bag, while improving the feel and consistency of all your clubs? True Spec’s fitting process works, and it’s guaranteed. For more information, visit https://www.truespecgolf.com/ I’ve been preaching the benefits of club fitting for years, and I’ll continue to champion the cause. It really does make a difference in your game, no matter what your handicap.

February 27, 2018
PING Introduces New Products For Spring 2018
The Engineering and R&D teams at Ping have been busy in the last year. Following the release of the awesome new G400 driver and fairways, Ping just introduced the G400 Max driver along with G700 irons, Glide 2.0 Stealth wedges and Ping Vault 2.0 putters. All the new stuff is available for pre-order right now (Jan 15,2018). First, let’s look at the photos, and we’ll go into more detail after.

PING G400 Max Driver

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PING Glide 2.0 Stealth Wedges

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PING G700 Irons

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PING Vault 2.0 Putters

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Technical Details

Now for the important stuff – The specs and pricing! Below I’ve removed some of PING’s PR talk from their recent press releases and kept just the details that people want to see.

G400 Max Driver

In the G400 Max driver, PING achieved its all-time high MOI measurements by optimizing the crown and face design in the larger-profile, multi-material head. The forgiveness gains are attributable to the 460cc head and nearly four times the discretionary weight created by Dragonfly crown technology and the thin, forged face. Its high-density tungsten back weight wraps around the back of the sole to help bring the combined MOI (heel/toe and high/low) over 9,900 gram cm². Its CG position is lower and farther back than any current driver on the market to make it the most forgiving driver in golf – surpassing the current G400 driver.

G400 Max Driver Technology and Specifications:

Multi-material construction: Cast Ti 8-1-1 body, forged T9S+ face, high-density tungsten back weight, lightweight aluminum/thermoplastic adjustable hosel

Loft options: 9⁰ & 10.5⁰

Head weight: Std. (206g)

Head volume: 460 cc

Std. length: 45 3/4″ (Alta CB); 45 1/4″ (PING Tour and aftermarkets)

Loft adjustability: Up to +-1⁰

Stock grip: Golf Pride Tour Velvet 360 in six sizes (Blue -1/16″, Red -1/32″, Aqua -1/64″, White Std., Gold +1/32″, Orange +1/16″)

U.S. MSRP: $435

Shaft options: PING Alta CB (counter-balanced) 55 (SR, R, S, X), PING Tour 65, 75 (MSRP: $35 upcharge) (R, S, X), Alta Distanza 40 (MSRP: $35 upcharge)

Aftermarket shaft options (MSRP: $75 upcharge): Mitsubishi Kuro Kage Silver Dual-Core TiNi 60 (R, S, X), Project X HZRDUS Yellow 75 (5.5, 6.0, 6.5), Aldila X-Torsion Copper (50R, 60S)

Glide 2.0 Stealth Wedges

The Glide 2.0 Stealth wedges’ 8620 carbon steel head and precision-milled grooves deliver a softer feel and higher-spinning shots for greater control. The tour-inspired Stealth finish, which yields less glare and makes the head appear smaller, is applied using a QPQ (Quench Polish Quench) process for added durability. This wedge fits the game and the eye of players for whom performance and appearance go hand in hand.

A patented precision wheel-cut half groove near the lead edge on the 56⁰, 58⁰ and 60⁰ improves engagement with the ball (specifically low on the face) to significantly increase spin and control from all conditions. The wheel-cut milling process was developed by PING’s engineering and manufacturing teams to enable grooves with a sharper edge radius, which increases interaction with the cover of the ball at impact, creating more friction for improved spin and trajectory control. The grooves in the lower-lofted wedges (46°, 50° & 52°) are milled with a 20° sidewall and a .005″ edge radius for optimal full-shot performance. The higher-lofted versions (54°, 56°, 58° & 60°) are milled to a .004″ edge radius and a 28° sidewall to impart more spin, especially around the greens.

The patented design is offered in four sole grinds (SS, WS, ES and TS) to ensure Glide 2.0 Stealth wedges can be fit to a golfer’s divot depth or attack angle and most common turf conditions.

SS GRIND (46°/12°, 50°/12°, 52°/12°, 54°/12°, 56°/12°, 58°/10°, 60/10°)

An all-purpose mid-bounce sole with heel and trail edge relief to create versatility on touch shots around the green. Ideal for moderate attack angles and divots. Fits most golfers.

WS GRIND (54°/14°, 56°/14°, 58°/14°, 60/14°)

Full-sole design that provides turf security for players with a steep angle of attack. The reduced camber and added width prevent digging.

TS GRIND (58°/6°, 60°/6°)

A PING WRX-inspired design based on the Tour-proven half-moon grind. The TS grind facilitates shot making and precision from even the most difficult lies. The heel relief allows shots to be executed with an open face to difficult pins or from firm lies without fear of the lead edge sitting too high.

ES GRIND (54°/8°, 56°/8°, 58°/8°, 60°/8°)

Eye 2-inspired sole design provides the ultimate in bunker performance, resulting from the classic dish profile and the tapered hosel. A refined lead edge upgrades all-around performance with the iconic ES grind.

Glide 2.0 Stealth Wedges Technology and Specifications:

Std. grip: Golf Pride Tour Velvet in six sizes (Blue -1/16″, Red -1/32″, Aqua -1/64″, White Std., Gold +1/32″, Orange +1/16″)

Shaft options: Stock steel shaft — PING AWT 2.0 Wedge; Stock graphite shaft — PING CFS 65/70/80 (Soft R, R, S)

Aftermarket steel shaft options (no upcharge): True Temper Dynamic Gold (S300, X100), Dynamic Gold 105 (R300, S300), Dynamic Gold 120 (S300, X100) Project X LZ (5.0, 5.5, 6.0, 6.5), True Temper XP95 (R, S,), Nippon NS Pro Modus 105 (S, X), KBS Tour (R, S, X)

U.S. MSRP: $150 per club w/steel shaft; $175 per club w/graphite shaft

G700 Irons

In the G700 iron, PING engineers put a high priority on creating an iron that offers power and forgiveness by leveraging the advantages of a hollow-body design and a thin, maraging steel face, creating PING’s longest, highest-flying iron to date.

The hollow-body construction of the 17-4 stainless steel head allows for an internal geometry design that positions weight away from the face, creating a frame for metal-wood-like flexing and high COR to greatly increase ball speed and produce launch results that will amaze golfers.

Maraging steel, which is also used in the G400 fairway woods, hybrids and crossovers, is one of the strongest alloys in the world and is commonly employed in the aerospace industry, where strength and flexibility are necessities. Those properties make it an ideal face material to deliver more flexing for faster ball speeds that launch shots farther and higher.

G700 Iron Technology and Specifications:

Multi-material construction: Hollow-body 17-4 stainless steel head, C300 Maraging Steel face, HydroPearl finish

Available 4-9, PW, UW, SW in 10 color codes (lie angle). Black is standard.

Std. grip: Golf Pride Tour Velvet in six sizes (Blue -1/16″, Red -1/32″, Aqua -1/64″, White Std., Gold +1/32″, Orange +1/16″)

Shaft options: Stock steel shaft — PING AWT 2.0 (R, S, X); Stock graphite shafts — Alta CB (counter-balanced) powered by AWT, UST Recoil 760 ES SMACWRAP (A), UST Recoil 780 ES SMACWRAP (R, S)

Aftermarket steel shaft options (no upcharge): True Temper Dynamic Gold (S300, X100), Dynamic Gold 105 (R300, S300), Dynamic Gold 120 (S300, X100) Project X LZ (5.0, 5.5, 6.0, 6.5), True Temper XP95 (R, S,), Nippon NS Pro Modus 105 (S, X), KBS Tour (R, S, X)

U.S. MSRP: $160 per iron w/steel shaft; $175 per iron w/graphite shaft

PING Vault 2.0 Putters

The next generation of PING’s 100%-milled putters are crafted and engineered to provide tour-caliber touch and performance through proven innovations like precision-milled, patented True Roll Technology (TR), plus a new custom-weighting system. The new system offers sole weight options in steel (standard weight head), tungsten (15 gms heavier than standard) and aluminum (15 gms lighter than standard) to match a golfer’s feel and balance preferences.

Precision-milled TR technology ensures full-face forgiveness for consistent speed off the face. The individually milled face pattern varies in depth and pitch across the face, which speeds up off-center impacts, improving consistency and ultimately leading to fewer three-putts.

Golfers can choose from three premium finishes (Stealth, Platinum or Copper) in five models precision-milled from 303 stainless steel, including the new Dale Anser, which is inspired by one of the original Anser putter molds created by Allan Dale Solheim and detailed by his father, Karsten Solheim. The award-winning Ketsch mallet (Stealth or Slate finish) combines a fully-machined 6061 aerospace-grade aluminum body with a stainless steel sole plate for an extremely high MOI and offers exceptional alignment features. All the models are fit for stroke and designed with varying alignment aids to fit a golfer’s preferred look and alignment style. As part of the custom building process that ensures optimal balance, putters between 34″ and 36″ in length are built with steel sole weights; models 34″ and shorter feature tungsten weighting; putters built 36″ and longer use aluminum weights.

Four proprietary PING Pistol tapered grips provide golfers with variances in shape and feel. The PP60 is a midsize, lightweight design with a foam under-listing and dominant flats for face awareness. The PP61 has an exaggerated pistol to fit the contour of the golfer’s hands, and a rubber under-listing for a softer response. The PP62 is a lightweight, oversized grip with a rounded profile. The CB60 is standard on custom counter-balanced putters in the line.

PING Vault 2.0 Putter Technology and Specifications:

Dale Anser (Blade)
- 350g, fully machined 303 stainless steel
- Available in Copper, Platinum or Stealth finish
- Slight Arc
- 35″ std. length, 3º std. loft, lie angle adjustable +-4º
– U.S. MSRP: $325.00

Voss (Blade)
- 350g, fully machined 303 stainless steel
- Available in Stealth finish (Copper or Platinum available special order)
- Slight Arc
- 35″ std. length, 3º std. loft, lie angle adjustable +-4º
– U.S. MSRP: $325.00

B60 (Blade)
- 355g, fully machined 303 stainless steel
- Available in Stealth or Copper finish (Platinum available special order)
- Slight Arc
- 35″ std. length, 3º std. loft, lie angle adjustable +-4º
– U.S. MSRP: $325.00

ZB (Blade)
- 350g, fully machined 303 stainless steel
- Available in Platinum (Copper or Stealth available special order)
- Slight Arc
- 35″ std. length, 3º std. loft, lie angle adjustable +-4º
– U.S. MSRP: $325.00

Piper (Mid-Mallet)
- 360g, fully machined 303 stainless steel
- Available in Stealth finish (Copper or Platinum available special order)
- Slight Arc or Straight
- 35″ std. length, 3º std. loft, lie angle adjustable +-2º
– U.S. MSRP: $325.00

Ketsch (Mallet)
- 365g, fully machined 6061 aluminum head, stainless steel sole plate
- Available in Stealth finish (Slate finish available special order)
- Slight Arc or Straight
- 35″ std. length, 3º std. loft, lie angle adjustable +-2º
– U.S. MSRP: $325.00
January 16, 2018
2018 Predictions

(Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images)

Now that Christmas has passed and we start looking forward to the new year, I think 2018 will be a good year for golf, and like usual we’ll start it off in Orlando at the 2018 PGA Merchandise Show. The level of participation and overall vibe we get from the show can give one a good idea of how the year will go. There’s always lots of hope and lots of hype, but in my opinion it still comes down to golfers and how often they tee it up with their friends. In the end, the success of this game depends on people, not products. With that in mind, here are my bold predictions for 2018.

Rickie Fowler Will Win a Major

2018 will be Rickie’s year. I predict that he will finally win a major tournament. He finished 2017 by winning Tiger’s tournament – The Hero World Challenge – in The Bahamas against a small but very strong international field. On the PGA Tour he enjoyed career highs in Top Tens (11), Top 25s (17) and Prize Money ($6,083,197). He also had the second lowest scoring average on tour at 69.083 and led the tour in sand saves at 68.66%. he’ll be pushed hard by good buddies Jordan Spieth and Justin Thomas, but I think he’ll use their previous major victories as motivation to join the club.

New Drivers, Prices Pushing $500

It should not come as a shock to anyone that most of the major golf companies will have new drivers for sale in 2018. Naturally, all of them will offer more forgiveness, better control and more distance. The driver is, of course, the most oft changed club in our bag and the promise of a few more yards to gain an advantage on your playing partners is often too attractive to pass up. That’s why the bulk of marketing dollars from companies like Callaway and Taylor Made go into driver sales. While the physics of hitting a golf ball has hit a scientific wall due to limits imposed by the USGA, companies are turning to more advanced materials and adjustability to sell new drivers that can be tuned specifically for each golfer. These changes are also pushing prices higher, and we’ll see the $500 mark become pretty standard for a new driver in 2018. Sadly, it won’t help, but more on that later.

Golf Participation Will Continue To Evolve

According to the National Golf Foundation (NGF), the number of people who played golf on a real golf course in 2016 fell 1.2 percent from 2015 to 23.8 million. Given statistical margin for error, these participation numbers have been more or less flat for the last decade. But the way in which we are measuring golf participation is changing. The NGF is now saying that defining golf participation only as playing 18 holes on a regulation course is too limiting. Thanks to the success of facilities like Topgolf and indoor golf simulators, the NGF was able to add more than 20 million off-course “participants” to the game of golf. 8.2 million of those people never stepped foot on a golf course. Most people that go to Topgolf don’t identify as golfers, but the NGF counts them anyway. If you hit a golf ball with a golf club, to the NGF you are a golfer. However you define it, in 2016 the number of beginning golfers grew 14 percent over 2015 – an all time high. And for the first time in five years, the number of “committed golfers” also grew. If you are reading this, you are probably one of the committed crowd. However you count, it seems the game of golf is seeing increases in participation, and that’s a good thing.

Tiger Woods Will Get Injured Again

Sorry Tiger fans, but you knew this was coming. He looked great at the Hero World Challenge about 3 weeks ago, but it remains to be seen how his surgically repaired back & knees will hold up. We’re talking about a professional golfer who’s had four knee surgeries, four back surgeries and injured his achilles in both legs. Twice. I believe the game of golf is better when Tiger is prowling on Sunday leaderboards, but at this point in his career I just don’t think his body will allow him to compete at the highest level for much longer. Let’s hope he has at least one good major run in him before his body fails him and he’s forced to retire, but expect him to spend some time in 2018 nursing injuries yet again.

I’ll Break 80 as a Righty & Lefty

I’ve played golf seriously since 1990 and I’ve managed to maintain a scratch or better handicap for almost 20 years, so obviously the first part of that prediction is a no-brainer. A plus handicap golfer like me will break 80 at least 90 percent of the time. But the second part will be much more difficult. I used to play left-handed more regularly before I moved to Florida in 1997, but since then I’ve played golf left-handed exactly twice, and it wasn’t pretty. My best round as a lefty was an 83, but that was about 25 years ago. My latest effort with a new lefty set I just scraped together last week was a confidence crushing 96, although I was very rusty and only playing with 11 clubs. I still need to find a driver, 5-wood and 3-hybrid for my lefty set. The goal of breaking 80 left-handed is quite ambitious, but I think I can do it with some practice. I’ll be chronicling this journey right here in the coming months.

New Clubs Still Won’t Help Your Game

That $500 driver you just bought with the fancy adjustable hosel and movable weights? You know, the one that promised more distance and forgiveness? It won’t really help your scores. Sorry to be the bearer of bad news. Even if that new driver really did give you more distance, the improvement likely won’t be noticeable, and your scores won’t improve. Why not? Because you still suck at chipping and putting, that’s why! The golf marketing machine has led you to believe that the driver is the most important club in the bag, but at best you’ll only use it for 14 shots on a regulation golf course. Despite all the advancements in technology the average golfer still shoots around 100. If that sounds like you, driver swings account for less than 15% of your score, and shots with the wedges and putter account for more than 65% of your score. That $500 is much better spent on lessons for your short game than on the shiny new driver.

USGA vs Amateur Golfers

I’m part of the growing number of amateur golfers that love the game and want to see if grow but are becoming frustrated with the direction the USGA is taking the game. When it comes to the rules of golf, we want to see things get simpler and help us play faster. While the USGA and PGA have given us some half-assed initiatives like “Tee it Forward” and “While We’re Young” to help the pace of play for amateurs, they continue to allow players on the professional tours to get away with 5+ hour rounds. When it comes to the rules of golf, we amateurs also keep getting the shaft. A couple of the biggest rule changes we’ve seen recently were squarely aimed at professional golfers, but didn’t really make a difference and instead have negatively impacted the amateur game.

The groove rule change in 2010 was designed to make it harder for professionals to control the ball out of the rough, placing a premium on hitting fairways in an effort to combat the “bomb and gouge” playing style of the Tiger Woods era. It didn’t work of course, as equipment companies countered with higher lofted wedges, more precise CNC machined grooves, shafts designed specifically for wedges that produce more spin, and softer golf balls with more advanced core and cover materials that spin more. The only people that suffered with this rule change were of course amateurs. Not possessing the athletic ability or club head speed to impart spin on the ball like a pro, the wedge game became that much more difficult for the rest of us because of a rule change made with less than 1% of golfers in mind.

The next major rule change banned the use of anchored putters. Everyone knows at least one person who used a “broomstick” or belly putter prior to the ban. Again aimed largely at the professional tours, the USGA and R&A were scared that an anchored putting stroke was an unfair advantage over the un-anchored stroke, even though PGA Tour putting statistics didn’t support that argument. They imagined entire generations of young golfers growing up with belly putters and decided they weren’t having it, so they banned the use of any putting stroke where the club is anchored to your body. How did it work? Well, I know a guy that still uses the putter, just not anchored. He says his putting hasn’t gotten any better or worst since the ban. An other guy I know using a long putter is a tournament level golfer but quit playing USGA sanctioned events in protest. At least those touring professionals can’t take advantage of anchored strokes any more even if it hurts amateurs everywhere. So how did the anchoring ban work out anyway? Well, the two best putters on PGA Tour Champions in 2017 were Berhand Langer and Scott McCarron. What do they have in common? Yeah, you guessed it. They both use a long putter. Nice work USGA.

I’m being pretty hard on the USGA, but it’s not all bad. In fact, the list of proposed rule changes for 2019 are very good, and I think they’ll make the game a little quicker, a little simpler and more enjoyable. It’s a good start for sure. Now, if we can just talk about making divots be treated as ground under repair…

December 26, 2017
2017 PGA Show – 6 More Standout Products

We’ve been walking around the 2017 PGA Merchandise Show in Orlando for a few days and we’re overwhelmed as usual with the sheer size of it and the volume of information that is available to attendees. Day two at the show was more of the same. With over 1000 companies exhibiting their products & services it’s impossible to see everything, but we managed to highlight 6 companies on day one and for day two we’re drawing attention to 6 more that made an impression on us.

Hole More Putts

All the way from Dublin, Ireland, Hole More Putts has designed an ingenious tablet device that analyzes your putting stroke, calculates a score based on five key metrics and even shows you specific drills to help work on your weaknesses. The technology is similar to something I’ve used before called the SAM Putt Lab but is far more affordable, portable and easy to use. This product will have a significant impact for avid golfers and golf instructors and deserves a feature length review, which we will have right here very soon!

EVNROLL

Mad scientist Guerin Rife has been designing putters for years, and his latest endeavor is going to make big waves. You may recognize the name from his former company Rife Golf. Rife was the first to put grooves on the face of a putter over 20 years ago – a design that is copied all over golf now. Having moved on from Rife Golf, he started EVNROLL in 2015 and is now making some of the best performing putters in golf. EVNROLL’s unique milled grooves use gear effect to actually steer mis-hit putts back on line with dramatic results.

Golf Buddy WTX

Golf Buddy has been one of my favorite gadget companies in recent years, and they continue to innovate and make easy and fun to use distance measuring devices for golf. The Golf Buddy PT4 is one of the best full screen handheld GPS devices on the market, with a bright color screen and lots of cool features. This year Golf Buddy gives us the WTX watch. The only GPS watch that gives you a hole layout view in color along with plenty of other info. It comes pre-loaded with 38,000 courses, syncs with your smartphone and even adjusts the green view based on the golfer’s position. I can’t wait to try this one out.

Frogger Latch-it Ecosystem

I’ve known Frogger Golf founder and CEO Jeremiah Bohannon for about 5 years. He’s one of the good guys in the golf industry, and just happens to make very high quality golf accessories. With the digital revolution that led to golfers having all manner of gadgets, people need a way to manage them all. Frogger has solved the issue with their clever Latch-It ecosystem. It enables you to quickly mount and unmount your GPS, laser rangefinder, towel, brush and smartphone to your golf cart, bag or even yourself. It uses a magnetic closure system and locks into place with a dynamic lock so it won’t fall off. I stopped by Frogger’s booth this year to thank Jeremiah personally for this product, and the very next day it was named Best New Product at the 2017 PGA Show. Clearly he’s doing something right!

Chef’s Cut jerky

Tucked away in some of the less travelled back aisles of the PGA Show was Chef’s Cut Jerky, but you couldn’t tell they were in a small booth by the size of the lines out front to sample their amazing jerky. After sampling their many flavors of jerky and meat sticks, I found myself coming back again and again like that one house on Halloween when I was a kid that used to give out full cans of coke. While Chef’s Cut jerky isn’t a “golf” product, it was born on the golf course and became a huge hit because of golf. As far as a mid-round snack it works well. Low in fat and high in protein, jerky is my favorite snack, and now Chef’s Cut if my favorite jerky.

PerryGolf

If you’ve ever wanted to spend a week playing golf in Scotland or Ireland, then PerryGolf is a good place to start looking. They are probably the number one tour company in golf, offering cruises and guided trips for guys, gals and couples to destinations all over the world. New for 2018 are guided trips to Argentina. The 11 night vacation includes six rounds of golf and plenty of activities to make your vacation a truly memorable one. A week of golf in Scotland is still at the top of my personal bucket list. Perhaps with the help of PerryGolf I’ll make it a reality very soon!

January 27, 2017
2017 PGA Show – 6 Standout Products

For the golf industry, the biggest day of the new year arrived on Wednesday, January 25th with the opening of the 2017 PGA Merchandise Show. We walked around the massive Orange County Convention Center yesterday and took in all the sights and sounds. As one of my friends who was attending for the first time said as we walked into the main hall – “I’m in sensory overload right now!”

There are over 1000 exhibiting companies and over 40,000 attendees from 90 countries so it’s nearly impossible to see everything, but here are a few of the products and companies that got our attention and are making a buzz this year.

Tour Edge Exotics XJ1

Originally intended for the Japanese market, Tour Edge decided to bring their “Super metal” driver and fairways to the US market after the overwhelmingly positive feedback from testers. With a body made from lighter and more flexible 9-1-1 Titanium bonded to an amorphous Kevlar-carbon crown and paired with a 45 gram Fujikura Air Speeder shaft, the XJ1 driver is designed to perform best for golfers who swing under 100 mph, delivering higher ball speeds and more distance for slower swingers. I attended a private Tour Edge media event on Monday and the club is living up to the hype. The fairway woods may be even better. The heavy tungsten sole represents two thirds the weight of the club, placing the center of gravity very low and making them very easy to hit. Technology and performance come at a price however – The XJ1’s MSRP is $599 and the fairways retail for $449. Given Exotics’ reputation for making awesome clubs, they are going to be worth the price. Just ask anyone who has an Exotics driver or fairway wood in their bag.

Single Length Irons

If you haven’t heard about single length irons yet, you probably will this year, starting right here. The idea is simple. By making all your irons the same length (usually between 37.5 to 38.5″ long, or the length of a 6 or 7 iron) you will be more consistent because the setup position will be identical for every club. The concept was brought to national prominence by NCAA and US Amateur Champ and Bryson Dechambeau and he’s continued to use the single length irons on the PGA Tour after signing an endorsement deal with Cobra/Puma Golf. Naturally, Cobra is now marketing a set of single length irons, and so is the company Bryson’s original irons were made by – Edel Golf.

The concept is interesting and has its merits, but there are also a few drawbacks. Because the length and lie angle of every iron are identical, with only the loft changing, distance variation or gapping between clubs will shrink. If every club is the length of a six iron, that means you’ll hit your long irons shorter than normal and your short irons further than normal. I personally feel that transitioning from a 38.5″ pitching wedge to a 35″ sand wedge will prove challenging for many, but I’m hoping to have a chance to test the concept this season and report on the findings here!

Ouul Bags

Pronounced OWL, this new company produces light-weight golf bags and luggage with striking colors, patterns and designs. A particular favorite of mine is the Ouul Python Collection stand bags. They are super light weight but very sturdy, with handles around the top that make handling the bag so much easier when walking the course. The bags only weigh 2.7 pounds and come in ten different colors.

Honma

Honma is a Japanese manufacturer that has been around for over 50 years. While they’ve been well known in Japan for decades, they are just starting to make waves in North America. They made worldwide news recently when Japanese PM Shinzo Abe gave US President-elect Donald Trump a $3700 gold-colored Honma driver as a gift.

While speaking to him yesterday, Marketing, Media & Public Relations Manager Keith Patterson pointed out that Honma Golf enjoys 100% market share in the “over $50,000 golf clubs” segment. While this is funny, it’s also true. Honma makes a set that sells for $50,000 and includes graphite shafts infused with gold flakes, gold plated club heads and hand stitched golf bag.

While a $50,000 set of gold clubs makes for an interesting story, it’s important to note that Honma makes clubs for serious players also, and they are very, very good. I’ve been disappointed with Honma in the past, but the company culture has changed. With several new faces in the management team, a can-do attitude and contagious energy, they are entering the US market with a vengeance and the PGA Show floor is buzzing with excitement about their clubs. We’ll be bringing some in depth coverage to this brand in 2017, so keep an eye out!

Ecco Cage Pro SPYDR-GRIP

Ecco makes golf shoes that I think have the best combination of fit, durability, comfort and performance on the market. They continue to innovate and bring to market some of the best looking and best performing golf shoes in the world. For 2017, they have a new model called the ECCO CAGE PRO featuring a new SPYDA-GRIP sole with naturally placed pivot points for better traction and grip.

Hickies

For people like me that are lazy and hate tying shoes, you’ll want to take a look at the Hickies lacing system. Replacing your laces with the memory-fit elastomer Hickies lacing system turns any shoe into a slip-on. The stretchable Hickies help customize the fit of your shoes without much effort and they look cool too. Multiple color options allow you to customize the look of your golf shoes also. Hickies burst on the golf scene in 2016 when Danny Willett won the Masters wearing shoes laced with Hickies.

January 26, 2017
High Heat Driver – Game Changing Technology For Amateurs

Knuth Golf may be a new player in the golf equipment market, but the company’s namesake is anything but. Dean Knuth spent many years working with the USGA to develop and evolve the current course and slope rating system that is used to establish, maintain and adjust player handicaps different courses.

With degrees in mathematics and computer science and decades of service to golf, Dean was the obvious choice to design the first driver that is specifically made with the amateur golfer in mind, not the pros on tour. So what does it take to design a club for amateur golfers, and how does it differ from other drivers on the market?

The Technology

Amateur golfers don’t swing like the pros, so why play the same driver the pros play? Knuth’s High Heat driver is designed to help slower swing speeds of amateur golfers, and it does that by offering a driver with a center of gravity (CG) that is 25% deeper and 18% lower than any on the market.

What does a low and deep CG do? Simple. It makes the club easy to hit! The deep and low CG of the High Heat driver allows golfers with slower swing speeds to launch the ball higher with less spin than other drivers. Another benefit of the deep, low CG is forgiveness. Since most mid-to-high handicap golfers tend to hit the ball lower on the face, the low CG is a great benefit to help get the ball airborne.

“High MOI” is technical term that golf companies are tossing around these days. MOI, or Moment of Inertia is simply a measure of resistance to twisting. What high MOI means for a golf club is more distance and better accuracy on off-center hits. The High Heat has a higher MOI than just about every driver on the market. Terms like moment of inertia and low CG sound cool for a testing lab, but in the real world what it means is you get a club that is very easy to hit solid, and very forgiving when you miss it a bit.

Visually Stunning

The first thing you’ll notice about the High Heat driver is the sleek cobalt blue paint job and the shiny mirror face. The cobalt blue is striking and sharp, and gives the High Heat an identity that is unmistakable. The blue color scheme was also favored because it mimics the color of a flame when it burns the hottest. The polished mirror face is functional as well as being aesthetic. When hit, the ball leaves dimple marks on the face telling you where you made contact, and simply wipe away with a soft towel. Plus you can use it to deflect sunshine into your opponent’s eyes while he’s hitting! (wink)

Specifications

The High Heat driver comes in right and left handed models in three lofts – 9.5, 10.5 & 12 degrees. Standard length is 45 inches. There are also four premium shaft options to choose from: Fujikura Pro Sakura, Fujikura Pro 53, 63 and 73 and the Aldila Magnum 44. My testers had the Fujikura Pro 73 in X-Flex and the Fujikura Pro 63 in Stiff flex.

Play Testing

I spent quite a bit of time playing and testing the High Heat, and put it in as many players’ hands as I could to get as much feedback as possible. After half a dozen rounds with it I can conclude that the High Heat is one of the most playable and forgiving drivers I’ve ever seen.

Someone like me who swings over 110 MPH and hits the sweet spot with regularity won’t see as much benefit from the High Heat as the average golfer, but even for me it was very accurate and forgiving on mishits. For the other 95% of golfers out there, this driver is a game changer. The low & deep CG really helps players with slower swing speeds launch the ball higher with less spin while still being very forgiving and playable.

Many of the play testers that tried the High Heat said that it had a huge sweet spot and the ball seemed to shoot off the face with a springy feel. The noise was also distinctive. It sounds a bit like hitting the ball with an aluminum baseball bat. Most testers I gave it to gained distance with the High Heat, and not surprisingly the golfers with the slowest swings seemed to get the most out of it.

In my personal testing I got great results from the High Heat, even with my tour-level swing speeds. While it is designed primarily for average golfers, any golfer can benefit from it. In my case I saw better forgiveness and excellent accuracy. The look and sound are unique, but not off-putting by any means. Personally I think the driver is gorgeous.

Machine Testing

Knuth Golf saved me the trouble of inventing a golf swing robot to test their club against the other leading drivers on the market. Instead, they contracted with Golf Labs, the most reputable independent golf testing company in the world. Below is an excerpt of the results of that testing provided by Knuth Golf:

On October 29, 2014 on a clear and relatively calm day in the San Diego area, Golf Labs tested the High Heat driver and Major Brands on its range using their precision robotic tester set at 95 mph.

High Heat’s submission, identified as D-12 on the hosel, was marked 10.5 loft on the sole and was shafted with a Fujikura Pro 853 Stiff flex 53 gram shaft. It was tested against the Major Brands’ 10.5 lofts with their standard Stiff flex shafts. The testing was conducted against TaylorMade SLDR, Ping G30, Titleist 915 D2, Callaway Big Bertha Alpha, and Nike Covert 2.0.

Golf Labs’ test used its standard 5 point test which provides total distance and dispersion from the center line on center and four off-center hits based on hitting six balls at each of those 5 points. The four off-center hit locations are located 1⁄2” above and below the center of each driver’s face; and 3⁄4” to the right and to left of center. Golf Labs also used new Titleist NXT golf balls.

Golf Labs’ test results showed that High Heat’s total distance on center and off-center hits toward the center line was the longest, its total dispersion was the lowest and it had the most forgiveness than any of the Major Brands with one partial exception. The only exception was Callaway’s Big Bertha Alpha total distance toward the center line on center hits was the longest but High Heat’s total distance toward the center line for off-center hits was longer than Callaway’s Big Bertha Alpha and High Heat’s total dispersion on center and off-center hits was lower than Big Bertha Alpha.

Final Thoughts

The High Heat driver from Knuth Golf is a game changer. It has the lowest and deepest CG in the industry and is one of the most forgiving, easy to hit clubs I’ve ever hit. If you believe high performance can only come from a name-brand driver, you’ll be shocked when you hit this one. As soon as you hit it, I’ll bet you will want to put it in the bag. Many of Knuth’s happy customers have been prodding him for the past year or so with the inevitable question – When will you make fairway woods and hybrids? The answer is – Very soon!

Knuth Golf introduced their new fairway woods and hybrids at the 2016 PGA Merchandise Show in Orlando, Florida, and they will be available in time for the 2016 golf season. The High Heat driver sells for $399 direct, but you don’t have to pay that much. In fact, to save $70 check out the special offer below! For more information on all the clubs available from Knuth Golf, visit their website at www.knuthgolf.com

Special Offer

We have arranged for a special price of $329 for the High Heat driver, which also has a 30 day full money back guarantee. Just go to www.knuthgolf.com, add the driver to your shopping cart, and at checkout simply select Intothegrain.com when asked how you heard about High Heat. Happy shopping!

February 1, 2016