Tag: golf clubs

2023 Holiday Gift Guide

Treat the golfer in your life this holiday season with the best golf gifts! The holidays are a perfect time to show the golfers in your life that you care. With these unique golf gifts, you can help take their game to the next level or simply make their time on the course more enjoyable. Consider these excellent gift ideas:

Listen and Track with the Bushnell Wingman View GPS Speaker

The Bushnell Wingman View combines two essential golf technologies – GPS distances and a Bluetooth speaker – into one sleek, lightweight device that attaches to your cart or bag. The GPS provides precise front, center and back distances to the green, both visually and spoken, so you’ll know exactly which club to use. The built-in speaker lets you listen to music, podcasts or audiobooks from your phone wirelessly while you play. This is the ultimate golfer’s gadget and one of the best golf accessories for men and women.

Give the Gift of Comfort with VKTRY Insoles

Help your favorite golfer put their best foot forward with VKTRY insoles. These revolutionary carbon fiber insoles feature a patented technology that redistributes weight away from common foot pain points, providing all-day comfort and support. VKTRY insoles reduce fatigue and ensure proper alignment and weight distribution throughout the swing. VKTRY insoles can also increase ground forces during the golf swing, which helps you swing faster and hit the ball further. Give the gift of pain-free walking and an improved game. Mens and womens models available around $99.

Upgrade Their Irons with Takomo Forged Irons

Treat your special golfer to the innovative and incredibly affordable Takomo forged irons this holiday season. The S20 Japanese forged steel heads of the Takomo 301irons provide unmatched feel and feedback through the turf, while the hollow body design of the Takomo 101 irons shifts weight to the perimeter for more forgiveness on mishits. Takomo’s sleek, playability-enhancing irons come with premium KBS Tour steel shafts and start and only $489 for a 7-club set (4-PW)!!

I have a set of the Takomo 301 MB irons, and while I was apprehensive going back to a forged blade at 49 years old, my fears quickly went away as I rediscovered my love for these forged butter knives. Paradoxically, switching from a cavity back to a blade gave me my confidence back and has immediately improved my iron play. I love these irons, and knowing they are available for less than half the price of most premium Japanese forged irons makes it feel that much sweeter.

Carry in Style with Big Max Golf Bags and Carts

Make it easy for your golfer to get from hole to hole with top-quality golf bags and push carts from Big Max Golf – The most popular golf bags and push carts in Europe. The lightweight but durable bags come in stylish designs and provide ample storage. The push carts fold up small but hold all their gear securely while gliding smoothly across the course. Big Max bags, like the popular Dri Lite Hybrid Tour Stand Bag, start at $159.00 and push carts at $99.00.

Rapsodo MLM2PRO Launch Monitor

Personal launch monitors are one of the hottest segments of the vast golf accessory market, and the great thing for consumers is that as the technology gets better and better, so do the prices! A few years ago the cheapest effective launch monitor would set you back over $10,000, but now there are several very good products available for a fraction of that price. One of the best bang-for-the-buck launch monitors is the new Rapsodo MLM2Pro which sells for only $699 on Amazon and gives you 13 metrics like spin rate and spin axis and can be used indoors or out. For more info, go to www.rapsodo.com

With these wonderful gift ideas, you can make any golfer’s wish come true this holiday season! From smart tech to performance equipment upgrades, comfort essentials to carrying convenience, these products will bring a smile to any golf lovers face. Happy holiday shopping!

November 27, 2023
First Look – Callaway JAWS Full Toe Wedges
Callaway Golf has been a solid player in the wedge market for years, especially since adding legendary wedge designed Roger Cleveland to their staff. It would be easy to rest on your laurels after releasing a popular wedge line like the JAWS MD5 and PM Grind series wedges, but they continue to work on new designs and technologies to give golfers more options.

Callaway’s new JAWS Full Toe wedges are designed to give you control on all types of wedge shots, from chips, pitches, flops,
bunker shots, and full shots into the green. The JAWS Full Toe wedges combine four technologies to maximize spin.
- JAWS grooves – The most aggressive groove in golf. These JAWS grooves are extended across the face to provide spin anywhere that you make contact.
- To increase surface roughness of the clubface, Callaway added offset groove-in-groove technology and then combined it with a raw face, a first for Callaway. The wedges give you the spin and control you need to approach any shot with confidence, and the raw face will rust over time to reduce glare and give you that worn look many players prefer.
- The Full Toe shape and a specialized C-Grind make bunker shots, high flop shots, and short pitches and chips easy to hit, from any lie you face on the course.
- The JAWS Full Toe Wedges also provide enhanced control on full wedge shots. The JAWS toe pad moves weight and pushes the CG higher, for a design that creates a lower, more controlled trajectory. The Variable Weight Port System moves the CG away from the hosel for solid contact and enhanced feel.
- The JAWS Full Toe wedges come stock with a premium Lamkin UTX grip, True Temper’s newest Dynamic Gold Spinner shaft in steel, or a Project X Catalyst wedge shaft in graphite. Available in two finishes: Raw Face Chrome and Raw Black.
Features & Benefits

Spin Machine – Jaws Full Toe wedges combine full face JAWS grooves, offset groove-in-groove technology and an allnew raw face, giving you the spin and control you need to pull off every shot around the greens.

Confidence and Versatility – The Full Toe shape provides more face area with an enhanced toe peak. The shaping works with the specialized C-Grind to make short shots around the green easy to hit, especially bunker shots and high flops. This wedge is built to perform on mid and full wedge shots too, with great turf interaction through the ball so you can stick it close.

Enhanced Control – The Full Toe pushes the CG higher, for a design that creates a lower, more controlled trajectory. Our Variable Weight Port System helps us locate the CG away from the heel, for solid contact and enhanced feel.

Premium Components and Finishes – JAWS Full Toe Wedges come stock with a premium Lamkin UTX grip, True Temper’s newest Dynamic Gold Spinner shaft in steel, or a Project X Catalyst wedge shaft in graphite. Available in two finishes: Raw Face Chrome and Raw Black.

The JAWS Full Toe wedges will be available for pre-order on 8/26/2021 and in retail stores on 9/9/2021. MSRP will be $169.99 each.
August 10, 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
WITB – June 2017

My very first WITB post was written in September of 2015 before I left for the WAGT National Championship in Pennsylvania. Since then a lot has changed. In fact, nothing from that bag remains in play for me today, including the bag itself! All fourteen clubs have changed, I got a new staff bag from the WAGT and I’ve even switched golf balls.

I love to tinker with equipment, but being a low handicap golfer with a self-taught swing means that in order to play my best I need custom fit clubs. This makes testing new clubs a bit of a challenge. Variations in a shaft’s weight, kickpoint and flex can send shots way offline if not fit properly. I’ve worked hard with my amazing club builder to get every club in my bag set up perfectly for my game, and I can’t tell you how important it is for your game to have your clubs properly tuned and fitted by a competent club fitter.

Now – Let’s dive into my golf bag(s) and talk about my clubs, and how they’re set up as well as my favorite gadgets and gizmos that help me play golf.

My Golf Bags, Accessories & Favorite Gadgets

While I would prefer to walk, I play golf using a motorized cart most of the time since it is mandatory at many Florida golf courses, and most of my golf buddies are too lazy to walk with me at the courses that allow it. For that reason, I alternate between a custom 10.5″ Burton USA staff bag I got when I qualified to represent Team USA at the World Amateur Golfer’s Championship in 2015 and a new Sun Mountain 4.5 LS carry bag.

I’ve only had the Sun Mountain 4.5 LS carry bag for a few months, but I’m a big fan of the innovative design and efficient use of space. It’s the heaviest of Sun Mountain’s carry options, but also adapts well to life on a golf cart and holds everything I need to bring with me with ease. My Burton “Team USA” staff bag is huge and heavy, but I can pack it with everything I’ll need for tournament golf like some snacks, 32oz sports drinks, extra towels, rain gear and more. Despite the large size, I can shoehorn it nicely into my Club Glove Last Bag travel case and go anywhere in the world with it easily. So far I’ve logged over 20,000 miles of international travel on in without incident.

I like to have as much information as possible when playing, so I frequently combine the use of a GPS distance device with a laser rangefinder to get accurate yardage information and help plotting my way around the course. To that end, my distance measuring devices of choice are the SkyCaddie TOUCH and the Leupold GX-5i³ laser rangefinder. Both devices are one of the best available in each category, and function flawlessly. Adding Frogger Golf’s Latch-It rangefinder strap makes using the rangefinder that much easier, and the Latch-It ecosystem is my favorite new golf gadget in years. While I haven’t posted a round with it in a while, GAME GOLF is still a fun and easy way to track stats and help you improve. Since most of my clubs have changed, I plan to start using GAME GOLF again this summer to see how the newer clubs perform compared to the older ones.

Driver – Ping G LS-TEC 9°

Ping gave us one of the best drivers in the game a few years ago when they introduced the G30 and G30 LS-TEC drivers. I was fortunate to see amazing accuracy gains of 30% with it while still getting more distance over my old driver. Also fortunate for me, Ping later introduced the G LS-TEC driver that I now use. It is fitted with the Ping Tour 80 shaft in X-Flex, which is a custom option. They updated the head and made it sound a little different, but I haven’t gotten enough data to know if it’s really longer and straighter as they claim. Either way, I hit it great and recommend it for anyone that wants the best blend of distance with accuracy and forgiveness.

Fairway Woods – Tour Edge Exotics EX10 Beta

My recent struggle to find the perfect three-wood has been well documented, but when Tour Edge came out with the Exotics CB Pro f2 last year thought I had found my new fairway howitzer. It is a very high performance, versatile three wood that averages almost 260 yards and I couldn’t be happier with it. But – Tour Edge being one of the leading golf club companies when it comes to technology, they took some of the best design features from previous fairway wood designs and combined them using new a manufacturing process and created the Exotics EX10 and EX10 beta fairways. I immediately ordered the EX10 beta in 13 degrees with the new Project X HZRDUS Black shaft. I had my club fitter tweak it to my specs with a spine-alignment and swing weight adjustment, re-gripped it with my preferred Golf Pride MCC Plus4 grips and it is now ready for prime time. It’s very new and I’ve only played 18 holes with it so far, but the results have been impressive and I’ve already hit some tee shots with it to places I’ve never seen before. I can’t wait to try it out on the launch monitor.

Hybrids/Long Irons – Srixon Z H45 & U45

I got my Srixon Z H45 hybrid and Z U45 utility irons back in 2015 and from the first ball I knew I had something special in my hands. Even though it is marked with a number two, the Z H45 hybrid has 16 degrees of loft which makes it more of a one iron. As a result, it hits low, piercing bullets which makes it great for use off the tee, but not very versatile for approach shots. Depending on the course, this club may be swapped for a 50 degree gap wedge. It is fitted with an amazingly consistent Aerotech hls880 hybrid shaft.

I have two Srixon Z U45 long irons in the bag – The 20º and 23º models, which are my three iron and four iron. I absolutely love hitting these clubs. Forget about traditional long irons, these utilities are amazingly easy to hit while being more versatile and just as forgiving as a hybrid. My only regret is not replacing my old long irons with utilities like these much sooner.

Irons – Srixon Z745 (5-PW)

My irons are the 2015 model year Srixon Z745 cavity back forged irons. They replaced my Cleveland CG16 Tour Concept irons from 2010. The Srixon irons have a little less offset than the Cleveland irons which took a wee bit of adjustment for me, but I adapted to the new clubs quickly. I’ve been playing Aerotech Steelfiber shafts in my irons for over 5 years and I saw no reason to change with these clubs. I fitted them with the Steelfiber i110 constant weight shafts. There’s nothing like the feel you get from a forged iron with a graphite shaft, and with Aerotech you get that awesome graphite feel with the consistency and control of steel. I keep saying it over and over, but Aerotech really does make the best shafts in golf.

Wedges – Hopkins CJ1 (54 & 60)

When Greg Hopkins left Cleveland Golf in 2012, took one of Cleveland’s lead designers with him and formed Hopkins Golf, I became an instant fan. What Hopkins was doing essentially was selling a Cleveland look-alike wedge cast from soft 8620 steel direct to the customer that you could customize with various grind options and plenty of paint fill and stamping choices. I got a raw lob wedge with the channel grind and fell in love instantly. Sadly, Hopkins Golf seems to have shut down operations since mid 2016, so I took to the interwebs to find some and discovered a website that had the discontinued wedges I wanted in stock, so I ordered two for $60 each.

The other change I made in my wedges was going to a softer shaft. After consulting with my club fitter, we decided it would be best for me to switch from a Dynamic Gold X100 to the softer S400 that is so popular on tour. After a half-dozen rounds with the new wedges I’m glad I did and a little peeved that I didn’t so it years ago. At least now I have a three-wedge setup that works well for most situations. I still swap the 2 hybrid or 3 iron out for a SCOR 50º gap wedge on occasion if the course demands it, and will be replacing the SCOR 50º with a Hopkins 50º soon for a matching set.

Putter – Scotty Cameron Select Newport 2 Notchback Dual Balance

The most important club in my bag is the putter. It is also the club I struggle with the most, and as a result it becomes the club that changes most often. I have a bad habit of changing putters whenever I have a bad day on the greens, and these frequent putter changes only compound the problem by hurting consistency. I suppose that’s one of the drawbacks of being a golf blogger and having a couple dozen putters in the garage, all fighting for my attention.

When I really think about it, I’m being unnecessarily hard on myself because my putting statistics are very good compared to other players of my ability, but that’s the point – I’m trying to improve, not be average. Using a tool like GAME GOLF has shown me that I need to make more putts in the 5-15 foot scoring range. I think just sticking with one putter will help, so that’s my goal.

GAME GOLF Putting Stats

The putter I’ll be sticking with is a good one, even if the name is way too long and complicated – In my bag is the Scotty Cameron Select Newport 2 Notchback Dual Balance. It is like the standard Newport 2 Notchback but measures 38 inches long, has a 50 gram back-weight in the handle and features a larger head with an additional 50 grams of weight – hence the name Dual Balance. The idea with all the extra weight is to help slow down your stroke and eliminate the small muscles that tend to sabotage putting strokes. I love the heft and balance of this putter and if it’s a Scotty you know it rolls the ball well. My only gripe with Scotty Cameron is that they tend to have more loft (3.5º) than I like in a putter.

The Golf Ball

Last but certainly not least, since our last WITB post I have a new golf ball. In 2000 Titleist introduced the legendary Pro V1 golf ball and killed my beloved Titleist Tour Prestige and Tour Professional, effectively ending the wound golf ball era. In the coming years I struggled mightily adjusting to the new solid core golf balls. Eventually I found the Srixon Z-UR balls in 2005 and most recently played with the Srixon Z-Star & Z-Star XV until early 2016.

In early 2016 at the PGA Show in Orlando I met with the folks from Bridgestone to talk about their new B330 line and came away impressed. After a few rounds of testing the new B330, I switched. I ordered a case of the B330 balls with my logo, and an additional ten dozen without a logo so I’m set with enough golf balls to last me several years. The B33o is very similar to the Z-Star XV I used to play, but spins a bit more around the greens and flies a bit straighter in the wind. It’s very durable for a “tour” ball and I’ve been very happy with it so far.

June 13, 2017
Miura HB3 & HB4 Hybrids

Katsuhiro Miura is a legend in the golf community. Golf equipment junkies and forged blade purists all over the world know him well, and his reputation for building some of the finest looking and performing clubs in the world is well deserved. As the Miura brand grows, they expanded from irons into wedges, woods and even hybrids. Having played with Miura’s unbelievable forged blades in the past, I was eager to try the HB3 and HB4 hybrids to see if they could live up to the lofty standards Miura has set for themselves.

Miura Golf is a boutique brand, so you won’t find their stuff in a big box store or pro shop. Instead, they’ve built a network of skilled club makers that will fit each golfer properly to take advantage of the clubs and play their best. After all, if you are willing to spend over $2000 on a set of irons, shouldn’t they be done right? In my case, the HB3 hybrid was built with an Aerotech hls880 hybrid shaft. In my opinion, Aerotech makes the best shafts in the world, so it is a perfect match for the Miura HB3 Hybrid.

The Miura HB3 hybrid has 20 degrees of loft, and the HB4 has 23. Meant to replace the three and four irons, these hybrids are designed to look and play much like the long irons they replace while adding height and forgiveness to your shots. Many hybrids are shaped like and play like woods, but Miura adopted a more iron-like profile and face design for greater accuracy and trajectory control.

For testing, I put the Miura HB3 in the hands of golfers who’s handicaps range from 0 to 18. The 18 handicap tester actually played with the hybrid for several months and it quickly became one of his favorite clubs. He loves the clean, classic good looks of the club. The black finish makes the HB3 look more compact and inspires confidence at address. The face is very hot. It feels like the ball really shoots off the face at impact, and the the dampened metal sound is perfectly tuned. The HB3 hybrid launches the ball with the high trajectory you would expect from a hybrid, but it doesn’t balloon in the air with too much spin. You get the high launch you want from a hybrid, and just enough spin to get longer carry and a softer landing than a long iron shot.

Some testers thought the Miura HB3 hybrid wasn’t as forgiving as some other hybrids. The lower handicap testers didn’t feel the same way, but they tend to hit the center of the club more frequently so that’s no surprise. Given that the HB3 is designed to look and play more like a long iron, it’s natural that it might not be quite as forgiving as other hybrids that are designed for forgiveness and distance.

Miura doesn’t have adjustable hosel technology yet, and while these features aren’t all that prevalent in hybrids yet, one tester thought it might be a nice addition. Since Miura is more of a boutique brand who’s clubs are built to order by professional clubfitters, I don’t think we’ll see a need for adjustable hosels with them.

Aesthetically speaking, the brass colored weight ports on the sole don’t appear to be anything more than cosmetic, but I could be wrong. While not adjustable by the player, it’s very likely the club maker can use the ports to adjust swing weight and CG (center of gravity) location for a player’s specific needs. I haven’t yet confirmed this detail with the manufacturer.

In the end, every single person that hit the Miura HB3 hybrid wanted to take it home with them. There are plenty of quality, high performance hybrid clubs on the market, but for those that want something a little different and the best quality available in custom built clubs, give the Miura HB3 and HB4 hybrids a try. Visit your local Miura authorized dealer for a fitting and more information.

September 13, 2016
Club Glove – Last Bag
Club Glove has long been known for making high-quality products. The fanatical attention to detail and durability they build into their travel cases is almost legendary. If professional tour usage is any indication of quality, Club Glove is king of the hill. 90% of PGA Tour pros use Club Glove to protect their golf clubs.

For years I’ve used a hard plastic travel case from a rival brand and have been happy with it, but despite the durability of hard cases, the weight and size are drawbacks. I am only able to fit a small carry bag with the driver removed in the plastic case, and it weighs in at about 46 – 48 pounds with only a lightly loaded bag inside. Most airlines limit weight to 50 pounds before charging you extra, so excessive weight is a constant problem when traveling with golf clubs.

Recently I traveled to Antalya, Turkey to represent Team USA in the World Amateur Golf Championships and as part of the package I received a sweet new custom staff bag. Because of the size of the new bag, I needed a new travel case to fit it in. That’s where Club Glove’s Last Bag comes in!

The Last Bag from Club Glove is their top of the line golf travel bag. This premium large collapsible bag weighs about 11 lbs unloaded and accommodates nearly any golf bag and up to a 47″ driver, plus still has room for additional gear and accessories. Here are the specs:

Club Glove Last Bag – Specs
- 51″ H x 19″ W x 16″ D • 86 linear inches
- Single piece burst proof construction made with Invista™ Cordura® 1000 D water resistant nylon up to 3x stronger and lasts up to 5x longer than standard polyester
- 1600 D ballistic nylon base reinforcement
- Reliable and durable YKK® zippers and ITW Nexus® Buckles
- Patented high-impact plastic wheelbase with integrated support and super high rebound 70mm 78A inline skate wheels with bearings for smooth and quiet transport (U.S. Patent #7,188,714 and # 7,219,902)
- Over the top zipper for easy loading
- Patent-pending integrated carry handle integrates with Train Reaction™
  (Patent Pending Ser#12/348,857)
- Patented adjustable restraint device to secure golf club set (U.S. Patent #6,901,979)
- 2 exterior shoe/storage pockets with nylon shoe bags
- ID card holder
- Made in the USA
Real World Testing

Specs are nice and all, but how does the thing perform when being tossed around by disaffected airline baggage handlers? The bottom line is this: If you are anything like me, you’ve spent a lot of time and money putting together a set of golf clubs that look great and help you perform your best. I personally have about $3500 worth of custom made equipment to protect when I travel, so I don’t want to throw my clubs in some cheap $25 travel case you can pick up at Walmart.

When I first received my Club Glove Last Bag, I was impressed with the thick cordura nylon and solid construction, but I was a little worried that my huge 9.5″ Burton staff bag would fit. My fears were misplaced however, because the bag fits inside easily. I picked the bright yellow color to make it easy to spot in airport baggage claims, and it also matches this website’s logo color. When packing my clubs I usually weave a couple extra towels back and forth between the irons to prevent them from banging around against each other too much. I then fit the golf bag’s rain hood on it, then slide it into the travel case.

In my opinion, one critical accessory for this travel case is the Club Glove Stiff Arm. The Stiff Arm is a metal pole with a plastic cap on top that expands and protects your clubs, should the soft-sided travel bag be dropped on its head. Simply place it in your golf bag and expand until you get a tight fit against the rain hood. The Stiff Arm extends past your driver and three wood to absorb any impacts, giving your clubs additional protection. When you buy on Amazon they send you the Stiff Arm free.

Once packed, the entire thing closes up nicely without much room to spare. The compression straps on the side of the bag allow you to take up that extra space for a nice tight fit. After adjusting the straps, it all felt very tightly packed and solid. The heavy-duty YKK zippers glide nicely and installing a standard TSA lock to secure the zipper ends was no problem. Once packed the bag weighed in at 46 pounds fully loaded, giving me some wiggle room for the airport baggage weight limit.

My trip from Florida to Turkey and back included layovers in New York and Istanbul both ways, so that meant that my golf clubs would be handled (or mishandled) by airport staff at least 8 times. Getting the clubs through the airport to the check-in counter was a breeze. The large rollerblade wheels roll smoothly, the beefy grab handles are easy to use and the hard plastic skid plate allows the bag to negotiate curbs and escalators with ease.

When I arrived in Antalya, Turkey I was happy that my bag arrived without any signs of wear and tear other than a bit of dirt and dust. The bag was intact and all my clubs were ready to go. After the return trip the bag showed some signs of tampering, but it was just the TSA that had opened it for inspection. It turns out that they rummaged around quite a bit because my lock was in the bottom of my golf bag instead of attached to the travel case, and some of the clubs were not in their usual position.

After traveling over 13,000 miles and being tossed about and handled by various baggage handlers, airport security, customs agents, bus drivers and golf course attendants, the Last Bag stood up to the abuse and came out smelling like roses. The fact that there was no damage or appreciable wear to the bag and its contents is testament to the build quality of Club Glove products.

In the end, the Club Glove Last Bag lives up to its name. If you are in need of a solid, high quality golf travel bag, this is the last bag you’ll ever need. The $299 MSRP may be a bit steep for some, but considering the investment you are protecting I think it’s worth it. This bag is tough as nails, easy to transport and functions perfectly. It even integrates and attaches to Club Glove’s other fantastic travel luggage to form a train for easy transport. If for some reason the Last Bag is not big enough for your bag, you can even get the Last Bag XL for those huge old-school staff bags. For more info, visit www.clubglove.com
January 4, 2016
Callaway Mack Daddy PM-Grind Wedge

Phil Mickelson has a lot of influence in the design and construction of his clubs, and his relationship with Callaway has greatly benefitted them both. These days, Callaway has one of the hottest (and longest named) drivers on the market in the Big Bertha Alpha 815 Double Black Diamond. It also has possibly the best new golf ball on the planet in the Callaway Chrome Soft.

Phil Mickelson’s influence has never been more apparent than in his feedback during the design of the new Mack Daddy PM-Grind wedges. According to Callaway, Phil gave his direct input to Callaway wedge maker Roger Cleveland on the design of these wedges. They have a unique shape and design that make it easier to hit aggressive shots out of deep rough, bunkers, on flops, and all the toughest shots that players face around the greens.

[slideshow_deploy id=’5248′]

The Mack Daddy PN-Grind wedges will be available in loft & bounce combinations of 56-13, 58-10, 60-10 and 64-10. Pricing starts at $129 and several custom shaft & grip options are available. The Mack Daddy PM-Grind wedges will be available starting May 15, 2015.

Click image to zoom

Check out the 3D view of the new wedge below.

May 14, 2015
10 Club Companies That Fly Under The Radar

Here in the US, spring is approaching and some of us will be out to buy new clubs. Considering the beating the golf industry has been taking in a down economy, the major brands are still spending millions in advertising to get your business. Everybody knows about the big boys like TaylorMade, Callaway, Titleist, Cleveland and a few others who dominate the market, but there are many more companies out there that make great golf clubs that you won’t see in the pages of Golf Magazine or on the Golf Channel. Here are just ten club companies that tend to fly under the radar.

1. Piretti Putters – Founded in 2008 by Mike Johnson, Piretti makes top notch milled putters. His designs are a little different, in that they tend to use more weight (15-45 grams more) in their putters and less loft than most for a smooth, consistent roll. As a result, their putters are some of the best feeling flat sticks I’ve ever used, and the Cortino LN model is a personal favorite of mine.

2. James Patrick Golf – Having studied under some of the finest club builders and grinders in the world, James Patrick started grinding his own wedges a few years later and the rest is history. His wedges are forged by Kyoei in Japan, one of the finest forge houses in the world. Building custom, hand ground wedges isn’t cheap, but the finished product is more than a golf club. For serious golfers, his wedges are works of art. Update 2017: James left for a job at Titleist/Acushnet for a number of years and his website went away, but he’s back and partnered with Titleist to continue pushing the envelope and making awesome scoring clubs.

3. Royal Collection – While virtually unknown in the USA, Royal Collection has been ranked #1 in the fairway woods and hybrids category for 7 consecutive years, according to the Darrel Survey. Once known outside Japan as Sonartec, they’ve since dropped the brand. Known mostly for their fairway woods, they offer a full line of premium quality clubs, including the popular and gorgeous looking Tour VS forged irons. Editors Note – June 2017: This article was written in 2012 and from what I can tell, Royal Collection has pulled out of the US market to concentrate their efforts on the Japanese golf market.

4. Feel Golf – Having designed and built clubs for PGA Tour winners for years, Dr. Lee Miller has created some interesting clubs over the years. The most popular club in their lineup is the 73 degree wedge. Feel Golf is maybe the only company out there to reject the latest USGA groove rule and is still designing and selling square-grooved irons and wedges. Since the average golfer won’t have to switch until 2024, why not? Editors Note – June 2017: Feel Golf is no longer in business. My efforts to reach Dr. Miller were unsuccessful and I can’t find any presence on the web for his clubs.

5. Tour Edge Golf – Many readers will be familiar with Tour Edge, but I feel that they probably don’t get the credit they deserve. Their premium Exotics CB4 and XCG5 line of clubs are as good or better than any on the market, especially the fairway woods. Priced at $499, the Exotics CU irons are probably the best “bang for the buck” iron set in golf.

6. Henry Griffitts – Since the 1980s, Henry-Griffitts has been a pioneer in custom club fitting, and those who have played with their clubs tend to remain loyal for many years. Available only at select golf clubs, each player is fit for his set by a certified club fitting professional. Their new T12 forged blades are sure to appeal to the purists and low handicappers out there.

7. Byron Morgan Putters – Another small putter maker, Byron Morgan has built a cult following on golf websites such as The Putter Place and Puttertalk.com. Byron’s putters are all made one at a time to the exact specifications of the buyer. If you’ve always wanted a putter made just for you, Byron Morgan is one of the few people out there that can make it happen.

8. SCOR Golf – President Terry Koehler has come up with a short game scoring system that is unlike anything in the golf industry. His system replaces your short irons with his, which are precisely fit for your swing and set makeup. They offer every loft available from 41 to 61 degrees to come up with the best-matched set of scoring clubs available. There’s too much info to go over here, but check out their website for more info, and look for a full review of SCOR very soon! Editors Note – June 2017: Terry Koehler joined forces with Ben Hogan golf to revive that brand with his designs, which were an evolution of SCOR. While the company’s clubs were very well received, sales sputtered. While the Ben Hogan brand is still limping along during a restructuring, Mr Koehler has long since moved on to other opportunities.

9. Carnahan Golf – Carnahan is a boutique golf brand, available only in select golf course pro shops around the US. Carnahan’s wedges are as good as any major OEM’s offerings. In fact, my good buddy Tony from hookedongolfblog.com swears by them. Using heavier head weights and a longer shaft for versatility, these wedges are great scoring clubs. If you get a chance to try these clubs, don’t miss out!

10. Fourteen Golf – Another Japanese brand, Fourteen is picking up momentum in the competitive US golf market. Having signed PGA Tour players Ryuji Imada and Arjun Atwal to endorsement contracts, their awesome new RM-11 wedges are being played by many other touring pros without an endorsement. I’m also playing the RM-11 wedge, and I try dozens of different wedges every year. Fourteen’s wedges really are that good.

Well there you have it. Just ten of the golf industry’s lesser known brands. I’m sure I left off some good companies. There is also the accessories, apparel, golf balls and more. Maybe we’ll cover those next time. What company did I leave off? Which do you think belong or don’t belong on this list? Let me know what you think!

Don’t forget to “like” our Facebook fan page for unboxing photos, exclusive content and more. Get involved and leave us your feedback or questions!

March 27, 2012
Spring 2012 New Product Showcase

Spring is fast approaching, and those who live in a cold-weather place are probably itching to get out and play golf again! There are tons of new products coming out this year and it promises to be an exciting year for golf. With the new season on its way, here are just a few products that caught our eye.

Golf Buddy Voice
The Golf Buddy Voice is a golf GPS that speaks to you. Simply clip the tiny unit on your hat, push the button and it will speak out the yardage to the front, middle and back of the green. It comes pre-loaded with a ridiculous amount of golf courses and even detects which course you are playing automatically.

Tattoo Golf Clothing & Accessories
Tattoo Golf makes cool shirts with patterns inspired by tattoos. The shirts feature skulls and crossed golf clubs, dragons and other cool designs. Tattoo Golf’s accessories also garner attention, with the ultra-slick switchblade style divot tool being a very popular item. Check out their full line at Tattoogolf.com.

Wilson Duo Golf Balls
Remember the days of the old balata golf balls that felt like marshmallows? Wilson Golf is doing its best to bring that feel back with the Duo golf ball. Claiming the ball has a compression rating around 40, this is one of, if not the softest golf ball on the market. Bouncing the ball on the pavement may give some clue, as the ball hardly makes a sound compared to most modern golf balls. For slower swing speeds and those looking for a super soft feel around the greens, the Wilson Duo is a must have.

Nike VR_S Family of Clubs
Nike is all about speed with the new VR_S line of clubs for 2012. Replacing the popular MachSpeed line, the VR_S Driver features Nike’s ST8 Fit adjustable hosel system, a 55 gram premium Mitsubishi Rayon Fubuki shaft, and Nike’s NexCOR technology, which creates faster balls speeds all over the face of the club for greater distance on mishits. The clubs looks sharp and are designed for more distance. Look for a full review soon right here!

Super Stroke Splash Putter Grips
SuperStroke grips started to catch on a few years ago when KJ Choi used one of the original models on the PGA Tour to help quiet his hands while putting. Several more players on tour are also using them, as as the tour goes, the consumer market goes. Parent company TigerShark is introducing a new line of putter grips for 2012 called the Super Stroke Splash with pastel colors and various sizes and weights. I’m a big fan of the Super Stroke Ultra Slim myself. Check them out and maybe they’ll help your putting too!

February 24, 2012
Cleveland Classic Driver

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

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

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

February 7, 2012
Titleist 712 AP1 & AP2 Irons – Sneak Peak

Titleist has done it again. One of the most popular irons on the professional tours and amateur bags alike, the 710 AP1 and AP2 irons have been updated to the new look and performance of the 712 AP1 and 712 AP2 irons. They will be available in mid-November 2011. Titleist have made the new irons more forgiving and yet more playable. To get all the details, check out the following press release and pictures from Acushnet below.

Advanced Performance Iron Technology Sets New Standard for Feel with Traditional Looks.

Fairhaven, MA (September 13, 2011) – Dedicated to providing serious golfers with the highest performing equipment in golf, Titleist introduces the next generation of its groundbreaking Advanced Performance irons. The new Titleist AP1 and AP2 irons (712 Series) stay true to the design mission of “Advanced Performance with Feel.” Both models are multi-material, dual cavity irons that provide modern ball flight and forgiveness with the traditional looks, feel and sound that serious golfers have come to expect from Titleist irons.

“The new 712 line of AP irons represents another step forward in iron design,” said Steve Pelisek, General Manager, Titleist Golf Clubs. “With the development of the first AP irons in 2007, we knew we had created something special – irons that incorporated a true blend of classic golf club aesthetics with modern playability, forgiveness and consistency. With the new 712 line we’ve taken this breakthrough technology to a new, game-changing level by increasing the stability and forgiveness without losing any workability or shot control.”

HISTORY OF ADVANCED PERFORMANCE TECHNOLOGY: Iron performance can best be measured, not only by the quality of shots produced by well-executed swings, but also by the quality of shots when less-than-ideal contact is made with the ball. From an engineering standpoint, the key to maximizing shot quality on off-center hits is weight distribution. Club designers learned that by placing more weight around the perimeter of the club they could reduce the amount that the club twists on off-center hits. When the clubhead is more stable, off-center hits still fly relatively straight and far. However, perimeter-weighted irons had an intrinsic drawback. In order to redistribute enough weight to exact a measurable performance advantage, the clubhead shape had to change. The typically larger heads of these irons with their wider soles and thicker toplines were visually unappealing to many serious golfers whose concept of an ideal iron is represented by the compact profile and sharper lines of a traditional forged blade iron.

The rules changed when Titleist introduced Advance Performance technology. By successfully integrating new materials in a new dual cavity, multi-component construction, Titleist not only launched an iron that delivered modern performance and playability, but one that would also satisfy the sensibilities of even the most ardent iron traditionalist.

“The original AP irons changed the way golfers thought about irons,” said Dan Stone, Vice President, Research and Development, Titleist Golf Clubs. “AP technology opened up a host of new possibilities in which design aesthetics and performance no longer had to be mutually exclusive propositions. That original technology paved the way for the new advances that we’ve made with the new 712 line.”

NEW ADVANCES IN THE 712 AP IRONS: The improvements incorporated into the new AP irons came about as the result of continued research that indicated that serious golfers were looking for improvements in three main areas. First, most players wanted even greater refinements to the clubhead's profile. Both the new AP1 and AP2 models feature sleeker contours that result in a better address position. Players also expressed a desire for more forgiveness, to get more out of their miss-hits, or said another way, better distance control. Both the new AP1 and AP2 have been improved with internal weighting that utilizes higher density tungsten in order to distribute mass more efficiently which increases the moment-of-inertia (MOI) without changing the CG location or the blade length. The higher MOI provides more consistent ballspeed across the clubface and better distance control. Better distance control leads to more scoring opportunities and is the key to good iron play. The third wish-list item that research uncovered was that players wanted more forgiveness without any loss of workability or shot control. Traditionally it has been thought that forgiveness and workability were mutually exclusive. The new AP irons prove that they are not. "When speaking about iron workability, it's important to dispel the myth that adding forgiveness to an iron decreases its workability," explained Stone. "In the golf industry, when we talk about Moment of Inertia, we're referring to MOI-y, which is the heel/toe stability of the clubhead on off-center impacts. The higher the MOI-y, the better the accuracy and distance on off-center hits. But the most influential property affecting workability is the Moment of Inertia around the shaft axis, which is mainly driven by blade length and the location of the clubhead's center of gravity from the shaft axis. When we redesigned the 712 AP irons, we redistributed weight in the clubhead so that we not only increased clubhead MOI or forgiveness, we kept blade lengths the same and maintained the same CG distance from the shaft axis. This allows players to flight and shape shots." CONSTRUCTION: The new 712 AP1 and 712 AP2 irons retain the dual cavity design and multi-material construction that is the key to their advanced performance. However, the designs have been significantly upgraded for more forgiveness, higher ball speeds on miss-hits and improved distance control. Additionally, the new AP1 features a new topline shape and progressively reduced blade lengths resulting in more traditional-looking short irons. Notable changes to the new AP2 include a new, tour-inspired square toe profile and reduced sole width in the short irons for more precise turf performance. Both new AP models incorporate Titleist's Tuned Feel System, a co-molded insert of soft elastomer and aluminum plate. This insert has been specifically designed to improve the sound and feel of each new iron. Extensive improvements to the new AP1 structure include a redesigned stainless steel soleplate and integrated tungsten nickel sole weight that redistributes discretionary mass from the topline, center bar and sole cradle to low in the head, resulting in increased stability and forgiveness. The new AP2 structure also makes use of a new steel cradle that holds tungsten weights located heel and toe, providing greater forgiveness on miss-hits and more consistent distance control. NEW 712 AP1 IRONS FEATURES AND BENEFITS Overview/Player Profile: Titleist AP1 irons are advanced performance, multi-material, dual cavity irons providing more forgiveness with solid feel and improved looks for the aspiring to skilled golfer. Increased Forgiveness through an advanced technology, multi-material, high MOI design featuring a precise stainless steel body and high density tungsten sole weight Higher Ball Speed on miss-hits for improved distance control More Forgiving Long Irons with a 4% increase in moment-of-inertial (MOI) More Traditional Short Irons through a progressively reduced blade length Improved Solid Feel from the high MOI design and tuned feel cavity insert Improved Confidence Inspiring Appearance with a beveled topline, traditional shape and more precise address profile Stock Shafts and Grip: True Temper Dynalite Gold XP is a high performance mid-weight steel shaft with a more stable tip designed to optimize initial launch angle and maximize distance. Stock graphite shaft is Tour AD by Graphite Design, exclusively for Titleist, a slightly higher launching shaft that matches weight and performance of Titleist lightweight metals shafts. Stock grip is the new Titleist Tour Velvet by Golf Pride, a truly round, one-piece, injection molded grip with industry standard sizing. Other shaft, grip, length and lie options are available through Titleist Custom. Grooves: Modified U, conforming to 2010 U.S.G.A./R&A groove specifications. Price/Availability: Available in both right and left hand beginning November 18, 2011, with a suggested retail price of $112 per club/steel, and $135 per club/graphite. NEW 712 AP2 IRONS FEATURES AND BENEFITS Overview/Player Profile: Titleist AP2 irons are advanced performance, multi-material, dual cavity forged irons providing more playability, solid feel and an improved classic profile for the serious and skilled golfer. Increased Playability through an advanced technology, multi-material, forged carbon steel body and high density tungsten weight design Consistent Ball Speed and improved distance control on miss-hits from a 7% increase in MOI with no loss of workability or shot control Improved Solid Feel from increased MOI and the tuned feel cavity insert Precise Short Irons with reduced sole widths in the 8, 9, P for improved turf performance Improved Appearance with a new squarer profile Superior Shot Control from the small progressive offset and traditional constant blade length Stock Shaft and Grip: High performance, tour-proven Dynamic Gold steel shaft provides tour preferred feel, weight feedback and performance. Stock grip is the new Titleist Tour Velvet by Golf Pride, a truly round, one-piece, injection molded grip with industry standard sizing. Other shaft, grip, length and lie options are available through Titleist Custom. Grooves: Modified V, conforming to 2010 U.S.G.A./R&A groove specifications. Price/Availability: Available in both right and left hand beginning November 18, 2011, with a suggested retail price of $154 per club/steel and $175 per club/graphite. Specifications: 712 AP1 Irons 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 P W Loft 20° 23° 26° 29° 33° 37° 41° 45° 50° Lie 60° 61° 62° 62.5° 63° 63.5° 64° 64° 64° Offset 0.245" 0.220" 0.195" 0.170" 0.145" 0.125" 0.110" 0.105" 0.100" Bounce 1° 1° 2° 2° 3° 4° 5° 6° 7° Length 39.00" 38.50" 38.00" 37.50" 37.00" 36.50" 36.00" 35.75" 35.50" 712 AP2 Irons 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 P W Loft 21° 24° 27° 31° 35° 39° 43° 47° 51° Lie 60° 61° 62° 62.5° 63° 63.5° 64° 64° 64° Offset 0.160" 0.145" 0.130" 0.120" 0.100" 0.100" 0.90" 0.85" 0.80” Bounce 0° 1° 3° 4° 4° 5° 6° 7° 7° Length 39.00" 38.50" 38.00" 37.50" 37.00" 36.50" 36.00" 35.75" 35.5” ON TOUR: The new 712 AP irons received instant validation from players at the PGA TOUR's AT&T National event, where the prototype irons were first introduced. A total of 19 players (out of an event-leading 40 Titleist iron sets) put sets of 712 irons in play the first week they were available, including the winner of the event, Titleist Brand Ambassador Nick Watney. Success followed three weeks later when Scott Stallings captured the Greenbrier Classic with the new AP2 irons for his first career win. Among those who have already put the new sets in play with success include Ben Curtis with the AP1 and the following relying upon AP2: Ben Crane, Brendon DeJonge, Jason Dufner, Brad Faxon, Hunter Haas, Marc Leishman, Jarrod Lyle, Matteo Manassero, SY Noh, Tom Pernice, Jr., Brett Quigley, Michael Sim, Scott Stallings, Josh Teater, Nick Watney. Titleist and FootJoy comprise the major golf brands of the Acushnet Company. For additional information or photography of the new AP iron line, please visit us on-line at: www.titleist.com
Subscribe to our email updates! You'll get the latest fresh news, reviews and stories delivered right to your inbox or RSS reader, and automatically be entered in our latest contests and giveaways! We are 100% SPAM FREE! Also, don't forget to check in with our Facebook fan page for exclusive content and get involved by leaving us comments on what you think!

September 14, 2011