Tag: Driver

Kodak Playsport Pocket Camcorder Review
Kodak Playsport

Kodak has long been known for making photographic film and accessories, but since the digital camera has taken over the world of amateur photography, Kodak has been forced to change along with the rest of the industry. Digital cameras these days are getting smaller and lighter, and the pictures they take are getting better and better. Bigger, faster memory cards allow us to take hundreds of pictures at a time.

Golf instruction has also changed with the times, making use of lighter and cheaper video cameras to capture golf swings in greater detail. It used to be very impractical to video tape your golf swing on the course. Camcorders weighed several pounds and took up too much space. As a sign of just how far this motion capture technology has come, Kodak has introduced the Playsport pocket Camcorder.

Billed as a light weight, portable pocket camcorder for active lifestyles, it has many features that are sure to turn heads, especially in a package this small and light. We had the pleasure of having a few weeks to “play” with the Playsport, and we think Kodak has a solid offering on its hands. We won’t go into a real technical review of every feature, as there are many good reviews out there on gadget sites that you can get that info from. We wanted to give the basics and tell you about how this camera performs for our readers – golfers!

Notable Features:
1080p, 720p (30fps or 60fps), VGA, 5MP Still photos Bright 2" LCD Screen Waterproof to 3 meters
Design and Build:
The Playsport pocket camcorder is built solid and feels like it. The thing is about the same size as my iPhone with case, which makes it easy to slip into a pocket or golf bag. More specifically, it measures 4.4 x 2.3 x 0.8 inches and weights about 5 ounces, including the battery and memory card. It has rounded edges and a rubberized backing, along with the controls on the front and 2" LCD screen. The controls also feel solid and feedback is good. The bottom features a tripod mount, which comes in handy for golfers at the range to video tape their swings. Being waterproof, the side doors accessing the battery and cable slots were tight fitting. On one side below the power button are the mini-HDMI port, USB and AV jacks. The other side allows access to the SD/SDHC card slot and removable battery. The Playsport camcorder is light and easy to hold. The buttons are easy to reach and laid out well to allow easy operation without looking. The only caveat I had with the design is one that is almost unavoidable in a camera of this size. The lens sits flush with the body of the camera, and as such can be prone to the odd stray finger. The lens being relatively unprotected may lead to fingerprints or scratches, so one must be at least a little careful. Overall, this camera feels very solid, and it should be able to withstand a fair amount of jostling. We kept the camera in a golf cart cup holder for several rounds and it has no scratches or marks to speak of as a result.
Operation:
While the Kodak Playsport offers full 1080p HD video, don't let this mislead you into throwing your expensive HD camcorder away just yet. With such a small image sensor and lens, you are likely to be disappointed with the video quality at 1080p. Keeping in mind that this camera costs less than 1/10th the price of a high-end HD camcorder, we aren't complaining. Besides, most golfers will want to use this camera in the 720p setting at 60 frames per second, to capture the fast moving golf swing. 60fps does a great job at slowing down the golf club during a frame by frame analysis of the golf swing. I shot almost exclusively in this mode, although I took the opportunity to shoot some still shots as well. The five megapixel stills are adequate, but clearly this camera isn't designed to shoot still photos. Five megapixels is far below the standard these days, and the fixed focus lens isn't ideal for still photography. Overall the video taken with this pocket camcorder is on par with the other pocket cams I've tried lately. Let's face it - if you want top notch video quality, you'll have to pay a top notch price. Another great feature of this camera is the fact that it's waterproof to about ten feet. This took away the fear factor for us having it in the golf cart with drinks everywhere and a possibility of rain in the forecast. In fact, we had planned on shooting a swing tip on how to escape from a water hazard with this camera, but we haven't mustered up the courage yet! If we get a bit more time with it, you'll get that video very soon. Most golfers play on the weekend, and you don't get to choose the weather, so it's nice to know this camera won't turn into a pile of burnt silicon chips if you drop it in the Gatorade or it gets rained on. Being that it's waterproof, don't expect the sound to be great out of this camera, like most other pocket cams.
Overall Impressions:
Golfers will love the Kodak Playsport Pocket Camcorder for filming their swings, or capturing that special shot of your buddies in the bunker. It's light enough to be carried anywhere you go, and tough enough to not have to worry about treating it like a fragile electronic doo-dad. The image quality at 720p and 60fps was very good for a pocket cam, and it's fast enough to slow down a golf swing to the point of being able to see the golf club frame by frame. It's even waterproof, which means you can use it anywhere near the water without fear of getting it wet. For anyone that wants a portable camcorder that's easy to use, produces good video quality and is tough enough to last, the Kodak Playsport is a winner. Key Features Enhance Golf Experience The KODAK PLAYSPORT Video Camera’s high-performance features provide great value to golfers looking to improve their game, including:
- Video action print – Included in the built-in software. With the click of a mouse, any swing can automatically be turned into a 9-up video action print showing start-to-finish snapshots that are great for analysis and comparison.
- Easy playback and upload – Playback on your HDTV television with included HDMI cable, or upload to YouTube and Facebook with the included USB cable and built-in software.
- Slow-motion playback speeds – A variety of playback speeds, plus frame-by-frame stop action to allow golfers (and their coaches) to analyze every swing movement.
- Five image capture modes – From 5MP stills to full 1080p HD video, including 720p/60 fps which is ideal for capturing golf swings and other high-speed action.
- Electronic image-stabilization – Helps you get sharper videos and less blur.
- Made for rugged outdoor use – Has an LCD Glare Shield feature and is waterproof up to 10 feet.
Perhaps the best feature of this camera is the low price tag of $150. If that weren't enough of a motivating factor for golfers,Callaway Golf is partnering with Kodak to offer this camera for free with the purchase of a qualifying driver from Callaway! Callaway Golf Promotion with KODAK PLAYSPORT Still Underway Kodak and Callaway are jointly offering golf fans a special promotion this summer - purchase one of five highly-acclaimed new Callaway Drivers before July 31 and receive the new KODAK PLAYSPORT Video Camera for free. The KODAK PLAYSPORT Video Camera is specifically designed for consumers with active lifestyles, allowing them to capture full 1080p HD video with the touch of a button. To be eligible to receive the new KODAK PLAYSPORT Video Camera, consumers must purchase one of the following Callaway Drivers before July 31; the Diablo Edge , Diablo Edge Tour , CALLAWAY FT-iZ , CALLAWAY FT-iZ Tour , FT TOUR ,or CALLAWAY Lady FT-iZ Driver . The MSRP of the KODAK PLAYSPORT Video Camera is $149.95. Promotional details are described below. Callaway Promotional Details Mail in gift with purchase applies only to new 2010 FT-iZ, FT-iZ I-MIX, FT-iZ Tour, FT Tour, Diablo Edge Tour, Diablo Edge Drivers (excludes FT-9 and FT-9 I-MIX) purchased between April 16, 2010 and July 31, 2010 from a participating authorized U.S. Retailer. Claim forms must be postmarked by July 15, 2010 and received by July 25, 2010. Proof of Purchase required. Allow 8-10 weeks for delivery. Void where prohibited. While supplies last. Ages 18 and over. Maximum 2 per household during promotional period. Playsport camera photos courtesy of crunchgear.com and digitalcamerareview.com
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July 15, 2010
TaylorMade Introduces R9 SuperDeep TP Driver

Click photo to zoom in...

TaylorMade Golf has released another new driver to the market, but this one isn’t for everyone. The new SuperDeep TP is a pure player’s driver, descended from the legendary 300 Tour and R510 TP, according to the following press release:

CARLSBAD, Calif. (May 19, 2010) – TaylorMade, the No. 1 driver brand in golf, proudly introduces the R9™ SuperDeep TP, a pure player’s driver descended from the 300 Tour and R510 TP, both legendary among tour pros and highly skilled players.

The R9 SuperDeep TP driver is engineered to promote a mid launch-angle and low spin-rate for strong swingers who tend to launch the ball too high and with too much spin with other drivers. The ultra-deep clubface (2.55 inches tall) is the deepest of any TaylorMade driver ever, and the head height is equal to the USGA limit (2.8 inches). The head is also more compact from heel to toe than other drivers like R9 SuperTri and Burner® SuperFast. This gives R9 SuperDeep TP a lower MOI which, combined with its forward CG location makes it more workable for players who like to shape their tee shots.

Its combination of Flight Control Technology (FCT) and Movable Weight Technology™ gives you a choice of 448 possible launch condition combinations. R9 SuperDeep TP comes equipped with Aldila's new R.I.P. graphite shaft with Reverse Interlaminar Placement technology, which delivers low torque while promoting increased hoop strength and increased tip stability. Appearance-wise, R9 SuperDeep features an all-black finish, including the clubface, and includes TaylorMade's famous TP logo on the toe, and comes with an all-black headcover with magnetic closure. "This driver isn't for everybody," said Tom Olsavsky, TaylorMade senior director of metalwood development. "It was created for the select few who generate a rare combination of high clubhead speed, high clubhead control and high smash factor. If you're that player, this is the driver you've been waiting for." The R9 SuperDeep TP driver is available in three right-handed lofts (8.5, 9.5, and 10.5) and one left-handed loft (9.5). Three R.I.P. shaft flexes – R (60 grams), S (70 grams), X (70 grams). It includes a TP case with an R9 torque wrench (to adjust the FCT position and remove and install MWT® weights) and eight MWT weights: 1-gram, 4-gram, 6-gram, 8-gram, 10-gram, 12-gram, 14-gram and 16-gram. Availability starts on May 15, 2010 at a street price of $599. We'll have a SuperDeep TP to test and review very soon, so stay tuned for that one. If you are a five or below handicap and generate enough club head speed to hit the ball over 275 yards, you'll probably want to read about this driver! So far in our initial test hits, it's been very positive. Having hit about 20 balls with this beast, I can tell you that in stock form it is an anti-hook machine! The stock weights are set at 16g in the toe and 1g in the heel, creating a very fade biased setup. It hits low spinning bombs, but curiously not many on tour have put it in their bags, favoring the Burner SuperFast TP or SuperTri. Stay tuned!
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June 3, 2010
TaylorMade Introduces Burner SuperFast TP Driver

Sleek Black Finish and Tour Preferred Face Alignment Combined with Burner SuperFast’s Aerodynamic Head

TMAG Press Release – CARLSBAD, Calif. (May 18, 2010) – TaylorMade Golf is launching a TP version of its popular Burner SuperFast driver. Available to tour pros since March, the Burner SuperFast TP has been put in play by Retief Goosen, Y.E. Yang, Rory Sabbatini, Mike Weir, Pat Perez, Jason Day, Fred Funk, Justin Rose and Vaughn Taylor. Yang used it in April to win the Volvo China Open on the European Tour.

“The players who have put Burner SuperFast TP in play have done so mostly because they’re getting more ball speed and distance with it,” said Keith Sbarbaro, TaylorMade’s vice president of tour operations. “The aerodynamics of the head promote more clubhead speed, and the big face and high MOI allow them to go after the ball more. Vaughn Taylor has never been considered a long hitter. A player came to our tour trailer and asked for a Burner SuperFast TP because he couldn’t believe how far Vaughn was hitting it past him in a practice round.”

The Burner SuperFast TP features a fast, aerodynamic head shape, expansive clubface and slightly open clubface alignment. The inner side of the clubface incorporates TaylorMade's renowned Inverted Cone Technology, which promotes faster ball speed on off-center hits. The Burner SuperFast TP driver also incorporates TaylorMade's proven Dual-Crown technology, which both lowers and pulls back the center of gravity to promote a higher launch angle and less spin. Introduced in the TaylorMade Tour Burner driver two years ago, and also used in the Burner 09, Dual Crown technology is tremendously valuable. The Burner SuperFast TP driver is finished entirely in black, including the sole and clubface, and features a tour-inspired crown graphic and the famous TP logo on the toe. New Matrix Shaft Configuration Promotes Piercing Ball Flight Also critical to the Burner SuperFast TP driver's performance are its new Matrix shaft configurations, which promote a piercing, Tour-like ball flight and a stable feel. The Matrix HD6 (65 grams) shaft is in the S and X flexes, while the Matrix XCON 5 (54 grams) is the standard R-flex shaft. At 46.0" in length, Burner SuperFast automatically promotes a wide swing arc to promote increased clubhead speed. Available in three right-handed lofts (8.5, 9.5, 10.5) and one left-handed (9.5). Availability begins on May 15, 2010 at a street price of $349. I am still in the testing stages with this driver, but I can say the results have been very favorable so far. The feel is classic TaylorMade with a muted click at impact. This driver is workable and produces a nice controlled trajectory, with low spin. Stay tuned for a full review of the Burner SuperFast TP & the new SuperDeep Driver very soon!
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May 23, 2010
Cleveland Launcher DST Driver – Club Review

Since being purchased by SRI Sports in 2007, Cleveland Golf has been hard at work developing new clubs and products and they have seen a nice resurgence in the market and on the professional tours. Anchored by their ever-popular wedge offerings like the new CG15 Wedges and solid and playable irons like the new CG7 Black Pearl and the new HB3 Hybrid irons, Cleveland is making a comeback in the driver market in 2010. Cleveland’s previous driver offerings didn’t make a huge impact and while they were solid clubs, they were not very popular with consumers. The HiBore and HiBore Monster drivers just didn’t appeal to players visually, even though they performed well.

For 2010, Cleveland Golf has answered the call and is introducing three new driver models – the Launcher DST, DST Draw and Launcher DST Tour. Switching gears and going back to a more traditional looking club will help, and if that doesn’t get you interested, the performance of the new clubs certainly will. So, let’s see how the Launcher DST performs! (Click on the pictures for a closer look!)

Appearance

As I mentioned before, Cleveland went with a more traditional look for the DST. The new driver is a standard pear shape with a black paint job on the crown and some blue highlights around the chrome sole plate. The face area has just a few score lines arranged in a semi-circle around the sweet spot. The top line has no alignment marks or badges which makes for a nice clean look, focusing your attention on the ball that is about to be punished. This club has a very classic, simple look and to me it’s a nice departure from the odd shapes and weird materials and colors in use by some club companies these days. Some drivers look more like spaceships than golf clubs.The DST is a 460cc driver, but the black paint job and classic shape doesn’t make it look that big. The DST Draw sits three degrees closed and is draw biased via internal weighting. The DST Tour comes in at 430cc, and again it looks more compact, which is a feature some people prefer. Sitting two degrees open, it should appeal to better players and players who move the ball from right-to-left. As it is important to some, even the head cover looks nice. It’s made with a white vinyl with a dark blue sock, and a bright red Cleveland logo on the top. I’m not sure what the “E-Z Grab” handle is there for, we don’t really need that on a head cover, but I’ve seen weirder things on head covers before.

Technology
The Launcher features Cleveland's Sub 300g Technology, which makes it one of the lightest drivers in golf. The overall club weight is below 300 grams, which is 25 grams lighter than standard drivers. They achieve this in part by using a lighter grip and a new Mitsubishi Diamana Red shaft that weighs only 47 grams. This allows the shaft to be lengthened to 45.75" for more swing speed and the overall weight allows golfers to swing it faster for more distance. Cleveland's claims of increased distance are from 3 to 10 yards. The DST uses variable face thickness to create a larger C.O.R. on off center hits, so that mishits fly further. A lower and deeper center of gravity also helps get the ball in the air faster with higher MOI for straighter drives.
Specs and Options
The Diamana Red 47g is the stock shaft, but by no means is it the only shaft available for the Launcher DST and DST Tour. In fact, Cleveland has a very large selection of custom shaft options available from companies like Aldila, Fujikura, Grafalloy, Graphite Design, Mitsubishi, UST, and SRI Sports' hot new Miyazaki shafts. The Launcher DST is available in lofts of 9, 10.5 and 12 degrees. The Launcher DST Tour is available in lofts of 8.5, 9.5 and 10.5, and the stock shaft length is 45.125", rather that the stock length of 45.75" for the Launcher DST and DST Draw.
Performance
Cleveland was wise in keeping the Launcher name for these drivers, because its a great way to describe them! These clubs launch the ball. I have four demo units - a DST Tour with the stock Diamana 47g shaft, a DST Tour with the new Miyazaki Kusala Black 72x, and 2 standard DST drivers - One with the Miyazaki Kusala Black 61x, and the other with an orange colored Miyazaki C. Kua 43X. The Diamana Red is very light, and is designed for high launch conditions. It features a low torque, softer tip section to launch the ball higher with low spin. The Miyazaki Kusala Black shaft is designed with a firm tip section for lower launch and very low spin. The Miyazaki C. Kua series are extremely light, while still offering high performance for all golfers. The C. Kua series shafts have been very popular on the professional tours. [caption id="attachment_1822" align="alignright" width="300" caption="DST (Left) and DST Tour (Right)"][/caption] The DST Tour with the Diamana Red was noticeably lighter than the others, which had 61 and 72 gram shafts, compared to the 47 gram Diamana. Despite it's light weight, this is no wet noodle shaft. Diamana shafts are widely played on the PGA Tour in heavier weights like 75 and 85 grams, but several of the Cleveland Staffers were playing with the 47 gram Diamana shaft before switching to the hot new Miyazaki C. Kua shaft. A few years ago, shaft companies couldn't make a shaft that light because it couldn't stand up to the strength of a fast swinger. However, with the advances in shaft technology and materials, both the Diamana and C. Kua shafts perform very well. In fact I was quite impressed at how stable the C. Kua 43X was at impact for such a light weight shaft. My DST Tour 8.5 had no trouble getting into the air, and while the shaft could be felt working at impact, the ball didn't balloon as I would have expected. For most golfers, this shaft will be the best option, as it produces a mid to high launch with mid to low spin. The lighter weight will allow most golfers to generate more club head speed without swinging faster. For players seeking the pinnacle in shaft technology and stronger swingers who desire tour-like performance, the new Miyazaki shafts are a must hit. One of the fastest growing shafts on tour, Miyazaki already has more than 100 players using their shafts! Made in Japan and owned by SRI Sports, the parent company of Cleveland Golf/Srixon, Miyazaki shafts feature artwork from an artists by the name of Kusala and C. Kua. The Kusala series has three models, the Black series (Low launch), the Blue series (Mid launch) and Silver series (High Launch), all producing different ball flights. The C. Kua series are the ultra-light weights, and feature shafts ranging from 59 grams, to 43 grams and even a 39gram shaft! I'll go into the technology of these new shafts in a spotlight very soon. For now, all you need to know for the purposes of this review is that they are very high-end premium shafts and they perform brilliantly. The DST head and Miyazaki Black 61 shaft are a great fit together, and the result is a high launching ball that carries far without excess spin. Where my current driver (Titleist 909D2 w/ Grafalloy Epic) lands and stops, this one lands and hops forward with a bit of roll. I was testing on a wet golf course, but just the fact that balls were not backing up out of their pitch marks was a great sign. A few more drives, this time on a downwind par four with a dry fairway, and the ball shot forward from the landing spot with little discernible backspin. It was a breezy day and several holes were into the wind. Despite the high launch, my ball didn't balloon at all. (Update - I have been gaming the Cleveland Launcher DST driver with the C. Kua 43x shaft for several months now and it's easily the best driver I've hit in years.)
Feel and Forgiveness
The DST and DST Tour drivers are both about as forgiving as you would expect. Off center hits can be felt, and the gear effect helps to bring the ball back into play, but these are not game improvement drivers. If you struggle with a slice, the DST Draw will certainly help mitigate that, with a three degree closed face at address and draw-bias internal weighing placed low and towards the heel to help square the face at impact. The feedback is perfect. You know it when you miss hit them, and the loss of distance isn't too bad. The sound is a high-pitch click, but doesn't over power with the sound of shattering glass like some drivers. The video above can give you an idea of what the club sounds like at impact. The stock shaft, being designed for high launch, feels like it's kicking at the bottom, as designed. This makes it feel too weak, but the low torque prevents the club from twisting and the dispersion was very good. You can see the deflection in the shaft in the video. That's an Extra Stiff shaft too! By comparison, the Miyazaki Black shaft felt very strong and stable but not too boardy. A big swing is required to really bend these babies if you go with the Extra Stiff flex. Personally, I think the Miyazaki shafts will be a huge success.
Warning to DST Draw buyers: Be careful when selecting the proper loft for a closed face driver. The more you close the face of a club, the greater the dynamic loft at impact becomes. For example, a 10.5 degree driver with a 3 degree closed face will be more like a 12 degree driver at impact. Conversely, the DST Tour driver with a two degree open face will tend to hit the ball lower. An 8.5 degree loft at impact becomes more like a 7.5 loft. If anyone wants a better explanation of dynamic loft, just let me know and I'll write an article about it. It's a subject that hasn't been talked about much, but needs clarification since the advent of adjustable heads. Given the three different heads and lofts, combined with the multitude of custom shaft options, I would highly recommend a proper fitting to get you into the best driver for your game. Cleveland has a number of Demo Days planned throughout the country. Just check out the schedule on their website, or visit a retailer near you for a fitting. A few years ago I switched to a properly fit driver and shaft and gained 20 yards. I picked up the Launcher DST with the Miyazaki Black 61x shaft and hit it 10 yards past my current driver.
Overall Impressions
The Launcher DST drivers are very solid, long, and classic looking. Cleveland Golf has managed to pack a lot of technology into a club that doesn't look very technologically advanced. With clean lines and paint job and the great shaft options available, Cleveland has a big winner on their hands with the Launcher DST. Available now with prices in the $299 range, this is the best driver deal I've come across so far this year. If you haven't hit a Cleveland driver in a while, give this one a try. You won't be disappointed. For a second opinion (and a lefty's take) on the Cleveland Launcher DST Driver, check out the review by my friend Dave!
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February 15, 2010
First Look – Bridgestone J38 460 Driver

Bridgestone is a relative newcomer to the world of golf for many people, but did you know that Bridgestone started making golf balls back in 1935? Yeah, I thought that was pretty amazing myself. Bridgestone started making golf clubs as early as 1972 and even though the company may not be as well known in the US market as Callaway, TaylorMade and Titleist, they have become the number one producer of golf balls in Japan. If you haven’t looked at Bridgestone Golf before, it’s probably time that you do, because their 2010 line-up of balls and clubs are going to take the US market by storm.

Bridgestone’s golf ball spots on television have become pretty well known. You know the ones? Fred Couples sitting with a beautiful woman reading fan mail about the B330RX golf ball, only to find out Lee Trevino is the one who’s letter they are reading? They also have had some success with their Ball Fitting campaign for amateurs. Indeed, the B330 line is a good golf ball and we should give it it’s due, but this post is about the new clubs for 2010. More specifically, the new J38 460 driver and Fairway woods.

Leading up to the PGA Show in Orlando I stopped by the PGA Demo Day at Orange County National and hit so many golf balls with so many different clubs that my hands, arms and back hurt for days! Of all the beautiful and technologically advanced drivers I got to hit, the Bridgestone J38 460 was one of the hottest, best feeling clubs there. What’s so special about the J38? Read on!

The J38 driver is all new for 2010. Followers of Bridgestone Golf will note that this is the first new driver they've introduced in some time. It's easy to get caught up in the 12 month new product lifecycle of TaylorMade and Callaway, but Bridgestone and a few others don't seem to follow that strategy. Along with a totaly new look, the J38 driver features an extended crown profile from the shallow face that promotes a low and deep center of gravity, for high launch and low spin. That, according to Bridgestone, allows for longer carry and maximum distance. There isn't any fancy weight plugs, or an adjustable hosel, or spiffy multi-material construction in this club. Bridgestone sticks to the KISS principle and I admire that. The biggest selling point for me is the high-quality Fujikura Motore F1 shaft that comes standard. It weighs in at 65 grams and comes in R/S/X flexes. This shaft is an upgrade for most other drivers, but comes standard in the J38. What's also impressive is the list of custom shaft options from Bridgestone. It's simply too long to show here, but the full list is available on their website. I counted almost 50 different shafts and a dozen grips that can be custom ordered with your J38. The J38 460 comes in 8.5, 9.5 and 10.5 degree lofts and all models are 45" long and sit square at address. There isn't much trickery going on here to help you hit it further, like making the shaft an inch longer as some companies do these days. The facts are, the longer the shaft, the harder it is to make solid contact. The primary factor affecting distance is solid contact, so a longer club doesn't necessarily mean more distance for most players. The Driver will retail around $399 and will be available in stores in March of 2010. Stay tuned soon for a first look at the hot new J38 Cavity Back and J38 Dual-Pocket Cavity irons!
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February 4, 2010
TaylorMade Introduces The Burner SuperFast Driver

TaylorMade golf has been hard at work in their labs developing yet another driver to help golfers hit the ball further. The Burner name has been around since TaylorMade has been making metal clubs, and the Burner has been a very popular driver both on the professional tours and at the local muni. For 2010, TaylorMade is introducing the latest and greatest version of the Burner, named SuperFast.

The new Burner SuperFast driver is not only lighter than the previous Burner by 14 grams, it’s also longer. the Superfast now comes standard with a Matrix Ozik XCon 4.8 that measures 46.5 inches long. Remember your grandpa’s wooden driver with a steel shaft? That was 43″ long. The modern standard for drivers in at 45 inches, but TaylorMade is pushing the envelope with a driver at 46.5. The longer the shaft, the faster the club swings and the more distance you can create. There is a point of diminishing returns of course – the longer the shaft the heavier it gets, and the harder it is to swing fast. TaylorMade is counteracting this basic physics problem by installing the sub 50gram Matrix XCon 4.8 and a lightweight 30 gram grip.

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p style=”text-align: center;”> The new SuperFast sports a sleek and aerodynamic head shape, allowing it to fly through the air faster. The face area of the club is also the largest that TaylorMade Golf has ever produced, making forgiveness and gall speed easier to attain. With a 46.5 inch shaft, you'll need that forgiveness to hit it solid. This driver is squarely aimed at amateur golfers seeking more distance. Period. Will it live up to it's claims? We'll see! Once we have a review unit available we'll put it through it's paces! The TaylorMade Burner SuperFast driver will be available in three lofts - 9.5, 10.5 and High trajectory. The MSRP will be around $299, making it a cheaper option to the new R9 SuperTri at $399.
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January 22, 2010
TaylorMade Introduces R9 SuperTri Driver

TaylorMade’s R&D engineers should be drug tested. They seem to put out golf clubs faster than the market can keep up with these days. It seems like only a few months ago that the R9 came out, but it has in fact been almost a year. The R9 came in two models, the R9 and R9 460. The R9 was 420cc, had three movable weights (MWT) to change shot shape and trajectory, along with the FCT system that allows players to adjust the face angle and loft. The R9 460 had a 460cc head size, but lacked the MWT features of the R9. Golfers that wanted a 460 cc size and MWT were out of luck, until now.

This year, the staff at TaylorMade is introducing two new drivers at next week’s PGA Merchandise show in Orlando, FL. The subject of this first look is called the R9 SuperTri. This new model is an updated 460cc R9 with MWT and FCT, thus combining the best of the previous R9 and R9 460 in one club. The new driver also sports a black paint job, reminiscent of the once popular SuperQuad driver. The new R9 SuperTri is more forgiving than the R9 drivers that it replaces due to a lower and deeper center of gravity. The movable weights and adjustable hosel should allow for up to 75 yards of left to right adjustability. While this level of tweaking is far more than most golfers will ever require, the true equipment junkies out there have all kinds of options.

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p style=”text-align: center;”> [caption id="attachment_1591" align="alignright" width="299" caption="David Dusek/Golf.com"][/caption] The R9 SuperTri will be available in lofts ranging from 8.5 to 11.5 and comes with a stock Fujikura Motore 60 gram shaft. The TP version will be the same head, but adds a choice of 10 or so premium shafts from the likes of Aldila, Mitsubisi, and Matrix to name a few. The SuperTri will carry and MSRP of $399, with the TP coming in at $499. We'll be at the PGA Show next week and will hopefully have a chance to hit these new weapons. Once we do, we will report back on how they feel and perform! Check out this video of PGA Tour player Robert Garrigus' initial test of the new R9 SuperTri:
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January 22, 2010
First Look – Nike Victory Red & Machspeed Drivers!

Nike has a few hot new drivers coming out on early 2010, and from the early testing and adoption on tour, they should be a hit with consumers too. The two new drivers are the Victory Red and the Machspeed.

The Victory Red is a mode traditional shaped club and will be available in two versions – a 460cc sized head and smaller 400cc tour head. Reports are that the 400cc was inspired in part by Tiger’s 380cc prototype driver. Many better players and pros prefer smaller drivers, because they find that a smaller headed club is easier to shape shots and control trajectory with. Italy’s Francesco Moliari put the new VR STR8-FIT Tour driver in his bag and teamed with his brother to win the Omega Mission Hills World Cup last weekend.

The Machspeed driver is a square shaped driver that will likely replace the SQ Dymo2 STR8FIT. The Machspeed features aerodynamic slots on the sole that help the golfer generate more clubhead speed when swinging the driver. The square shape also provides a high moment of inertia for more forgivness. PGA Tour Pro Justin Leonard put the new Machspeed driver in his bag just before the President’s Cup, and almost won with it at Disney about a month ago.

Availability: February, 1, 2010 at golf shops and specialty stores nationwide

VR STR8-FIT Tour Driver
Loft Options: 8.5 (RH); 9.5 (RH/LH); 10.5 (RH/LH); 11.5 (RH/LH); All available in: R,S,X
MSRP: $479.99

VR Tour Driver
Loft Options: 8.5 (RH); 9.5 (RH); 10.5 (RH); All available in R,S,X
MSRP: $479.99

No official word yet on the release date for the Machspeed, but my sources tell me it will be March 2010. Enjoy the pictures!

Machspeed SRT8FIT

Machspeed SRT8FIT

Machspeed SRT8FIT

Machspeed SRT8FIT in Justin Leonard's bag

[caption id="attachment_1323" align="aligncenter" width="604" caption="Nike VR STR8-FIT"][/caption]

[caption id="attachment_1324" align="aligncenter" width="344" caption="Nike VR STR8-FIT"][/caption]

[caption id="attachment_1325" align="aligncenter" width="344" caption="Nike VR STR8-FIT"][/caption]

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December 1, 2009
Srixon Z-TX Clubs – Sneak Peak

As a fan of Srixon golf equipment I’m always excited to see what new clubs Srixon will bring to the market. While their lineup has remained unchanged in the United States for a few years, they continue to release new clubs in the Australasia market. With the popularity in Japan and the use of the new clubs on the professional tours, the new line of clubs will be introduced in the USA sometime this fall, and when I get more details and the release date I’ll update this post. The new drivers, fairways and irons will be called Z-TX, and they are also putting out a new hybrid. We are one of the first people to see these new clubs – check out the photos!

Srixon Z-TX Irons

Srixon Z-TX Driver

Srixon Z-TX Fairways

New Srixon Hybrid

*** Update 9/5/2009 ***

The new clubs begin shipping 10/15 and will be available at retailers shortly after.

Z-TX driver
Retail price: $499

Feature: Super Ti-X51- Face Material
– Advantage: Proprietary low density, yet strong Titanium material allowing weight to be moved away from the face

– Benefit: Promotes a higher launch angle with less spin combined with maximum COR

Feature: Twin Cam Sole
– Advantage: Strategically positions 11 grams of weight to the extreme perimeter of the clubhead creating a high MOI. The MOI created applies to the entire club head.

– Benefit: This clubhead is extremely stable through impact and fine tuned to each loft offering optimal launch and spin c

Feature: 6 part bulge and roll design
– Advantage: Patent Pending design that precisely controls side spin and launch angle when hit outside the center of the face

– Benefit: The 6 part bulge controls side spin while the 6 part roll controls launch angle resulting in better controlled miss-hits

Feature: Straight topline
– Advantage: Shape profile was inspired by Srixon’s professional tour staff and meet their critical standards

– Benefit: The shape allows for better alignment on every shot for added consistency

OFFERING
8.5, 9.5, 10.5

FLEX WEIGHT TORQUE KICK POINT
S 70g 3.5 MID
R 68g 3.5 MID
* X-Flex – Custom aftermarket shaft only.

Z-TX fairway wood
Retail price: $249

Feature: Custom 455 Maraging steel face with variable face thickness technology
– Advantage: Starburst variable face technology generates higher ball speeds

– Benefit: Higher ball speeds created by the face material and structure maximizes overall distance potential

OFFERING
#3, #5

FLEX WEIGHT TORQUE KICK POINT
S 72g 4.0 MID
R 70g 4.0 MID

* X-Flex – Custom aftermarket shaft only.

I always welcome comments, questions, hate mail – whatever. I want to hear from you out there! Let me know if the 5 minutes you wasted at work to read my blog was worthwhile. Thanks for visiting!

August 25, 2009