Tag: golf

TaylorMade Introduces Three New Forged Iron Models

TaylorMade Golf has re-imagined and redefined the forged iron with the introduction of three new and distinctly different models: TPMB (Tour Preferred® Muscleback), TPMC (Tour Preferred Muscle Cavity) and TPCB (Tour Preferred Cavityback).

The sophisticated design of each of the three new models incorporates specific features and technologies developed to promote improved superior performance. Created with major input from tour pros, each new iron is an exquisitely designed instrument that blends classic forged iron features with modern performance elements. The TPMB and TPMC are both created using a state-of-the-art shaping process and modern, 6-step forging procedure that results in pure feel. The TPCB employs a multi-material construction comprised of a forged face and cast body.

“Forged irons are typically devoid of performance technologies,” said Bret Wahl, senior director of iron, wedge and putter development. “Their compact and solid construction, with thin sole, thin topline, high CG location and little to no offset, forces a very specific type of impact parameters to hit a good shot, with virtually no margin for error. The reward for that sacrifice is unparalleled feel and workability. We took a long, close look into the makeup of forged irons to determine if we could advance the performance with the use of technology, and we found that we could.”

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TPMB: Innovation in a Forged Muscleback

The Tour Preferred MB is a finely wrought muscleback blade expressly designed for the purist. With clear lines, a compact player’s shape and minimal offset, the TPMB delivers the pure feel, feedback and workability coveted by blade fans.

“This is the iron that many of our Tour Staff pros been waiting for,” said Keith Sbarbaro, TaylorMade’s vice president of tour operations. “The lines are clear and clean from every angle, and the pure feel of the ball on the forged face at impact is as good as it gets.”

The exclusive, 6-step forging process employed produces a more precisely shaped and finished head that looks and performs like a work of art. A thin topline, thin sole, straight leading edge, minimal offset and tapered hosel work in conjunction to promote the kind of pure face-to-ball connection sought after by skilled players.

In addition, the TPMB incorporates TaylorMade’s innovative new precision-weighting port in the back of the clubhead to solve an age-old problem. In the past, clubmakers have installed cartridges of varying weight in the hosel to assure that each iron in the set is of uniform swingweight. Doing so, however, affects the location of the CG in terms of its position between the toe and heel. The TPMB’s precision-weighting port guarantees precise swingweights while ensuring optimal and consistent CG location in every clubhead.

“The precision-weighting port proves that it is, in fact, possible to innovate and improve the performance of a true, forged blade,” said Brian Bazzel, manager of iron and wedge creation.

The TPMB also incorporates an advanced, USGA-conforming groove design to promote more spin and control from the rough, a crucial advancement in making it the ultimate player’s performance iron. The standard shaft and grip properties were chosen with input from TaylorMade Tour Staff professionals, and include True Temper Dynamic Gold shaft —the most widely played on tour—and Tour Velvet grips, a combination deemed optimal for promoting consistent and responsive performance.

TPMC: The Ideal Forged Players Cavityback

TPMC irons are designed with a clean, classic and maneuverable player’s shape that offers the optimum blend of feel, workability, and forgiveness. By incorporating a compact, shallow cavity, the irons deliver the feel and workability of a forging plus a degree of added stability.

“We worked obsessively with our Tour Staff to shape the TPMC irons into something that looks perfect to the better player’s eye, while at the same time incorporating feel, workability and stability,” said Bazzel.

The end result is a sexy, workable player’s shape with a thin topline, straighter leading edge and less-cambered sole. Like the TPMB, the creation of the TPMC starts with an exclusive 6-step forging process, which produces a more precisely shaped and finished head that looks and performs beautifully. The sole is moderate to narrow in thickness and less cambered, preventing deep digging. The leading edge features minimal heel-to-toe radius with the ideal amount of camber to cut cleanly and precisely into the turf with little to no resistance.

Additionally, the advanced groove design promotes more spin and control from the rough.

TaylorMade’s precision-weighting port is incorporated into the TPMC, guaranteeing precise swingweights while ensuring optimal and consistent CG location in every clubhead to promote optimized ball flight in the long-, middle- and short-irons.

Equipped with True Temper Dynamic Gold shafts and Tour Velvet grips.

TPCB

The Tour Preferred CB is a multi-material forged cavityback that’s beautiful, powerful and playable. Designed with a two-piece head, the TPCB’s advanced construction melds a forged face with a cast body that incorporates an undercut cavity to deliver the pure feel of a forged iron and the forgiveness of a deep cavityback.

“Uniting a forged face with a cast cavity allows us to deliver the best of both worlds: the soft feel of a forging with the stability and forgiveness of a deep undercut cavity,” said Wahl.

The TPCB boasts the highest MOI of the three new irons. That, combined with its Inverted Cone Technology (the only iron of the three with ICT), which promotes faster ball speed on off-center hits, helps make the TPCB extremely forgiving for consistent distance from shot to shot.

The TPCB also features a precision-weighting port that guarantees consistent swingweight throughout the set while ensuring optimal CG location in every clubhead to promote optimal ball flight every iron.

Additionally, the TPCB features the same new, advanced groove design to promote more spin and control from the rough.

The TPCB irons is the only model of the three being offered in both steel and graphite shafts. The steel is a new, 110-gram, mid-flight True Temper Dynamic Golf XP, which is lighter and promotes higher flight compared to the standard Dynamic Gold steel shaft. The graphite shaft options, developed by Fujikura, are offered in 90-gram stiff flex and 80-gram regular flex. Tour Velvet grips are also standard.

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Set Makeup, Pricing and Availability

All three of the new TP forged irons are offered in three shaft flexes – X, S, R. The TPMB and TPMC are available in the 2-iron through pitching wedge in steel shafts only. The TPCB, offered in both steel and graphite shafts, will be available in 3-iron through attack wedge. The standard TP set includes eight irons—custom sets will allow combination of any eight irons offered in each models—at a street price of $899. The street price for the TPCB irons with graphite shaft is $1099. The TPMB, TPMC and TPCB irons become available at retail starting in March 2011.

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December 7, 2010
Store Owner Arrested and Charged with Selling Counterfeit Golf Equipment

Yashow Market in Beijing, PRC

The U.S. Golf Manufacturers Anti-Counterfeiting Working Group (the “Anti-Counterfeiting Group”) reports that on September 14, the Public Security Bureau (“PSB”) conducted a successful raid leading to the arrest of the owner of a golf equipment store at the Beijing Yashow Market and the seizure of thousands of counterfeit golf products.

The Yashow Market is one of several shopping centers in Beijing that are frequented by tourists and others in search of bargains on “brand-name” products, including golf clubs, balls, shoes, apparel and other accessories. After the Anti-Counterfeiting Group notified the PSB that illegal copies of genuine golf products were being sold at the market, the PSB conducted an extensive investigation and seized 7,747 counterfeit golf clubs, balls, shoes, hats, gloves, bags, caps and other accessories. The local pricing bureau determined that the value of the seized clubs and other counterfeit equipment was $850,746 (USD) or 5,738,340 (RMB) based upon the retail price of authentic goods. A criminal detention warrant was then issued for Mr. Wei Si-xu, the owner of Booth No. 4155 at the market.

As part of the investigation, the PSB uncovered a warehouse where hundreds of counterfeit golf products were being stored for future sale at the market. PSB officers utilized sophisticated surveillance techniques to track the suspect and identify the warehouse.

The Anti-Counterfeiting Group commends the PSB officers for their cooperation and exceptional effort in stopping the sale of counterfeit golf products at the Yashow Market. The Group believes that the raid should pave the way for future enforcement action against other vendors of counterfeit golf products at similar markets in Beijing. The Anti-Counterfeiting Group consists of the world's leading golf equipment manufacturers. Its members and brands include Acushnet Company - Titleist and FootJoy; Callaway Golf - Odyssey, Top-Flite and Ben Hogan; Cleveland Golf /Srixon and Never Compromise; Nike Golf; PING; and TaylorMade-adidas Golf and Ashworth. The Anti-Counterfeiting Group was formed in 2004 to petition governments to enforce their country's laws against counterfeiters of golf equipment products. As a result of the Anti-Counterfeiting Group's petitioning efforts, dozens of successful raids of manufacturing, warehouse, assembly and retail facilities have been executed by Chinese law enforcement and civil enforcement authorities over the past six years. Many business operators have been arrested and have now been prosecuted and sentenced in the Chinese courts. For more information, please contact the Anti-Counterfeiting Group's legal counsel, Wayne Mack of Duane Morris LLP, 30 S. 17th St., Philadelphia, PA 19103, (215) 979-1152
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September 27, 2010
Fourteen Golf On The Rise

Fourteen Golf, a Japanese golf club manufacturer, established itself in 1981 as a golf equipment design company. The highly successful venture developed exclusive designs for Titleist, Yamaha, Srixon (formerly Dunlop Japan), Wilson, PRGR, and many more. The original team was credited with developing the first hybrid iron and the highly popular “Citation” cavity iron by Power Bilt which was one of the most popular irons of the 1980s. In the year 2000, the business transitioned into a branded design and manufacturing company, known now as Fourteen Golf.

You may not have heard of them in the USA or Europe yet, but they make very high quality golf clubs, and they are on the rise! So far they are well known in Asia for very playable forged irons and wedges, and their most popular wedge design (MT-28 V5) has really caught on with the professional tours all over the world. The MT-28 V5 wedge features a classic design which features its signature Fourteen “reverse taper design” but has been improved by adding a groove strategically located in between the club sole and blade portion of the wedge. This structural change allowed the engineers to move the CG to a higher more stabilizing position for more precise shots.

In preparation for the new groove policy on the professional tours such as the PGA and LPGA, the company spent years engineering a new head and groove combination for the MT-28 V5 that would be in compliance with the USGA’s requirements and yet maintained the ultimate spin rate. The company not only met that objective but exceeded their expectations.

According to a recent press release, for spin and control the unique trapezoidal shaped groove works in unison with the MT-28 V5’s highly engineered head. This combination was tested in a variety of conditions and it outperformed the older MT-28 V4 in wet soggy conditions and maintained the same spin rate in dry conditions. The trapezoidal groove also undergoes a mirror-face milling process that precisely and carefully mills each groove for optimal spin.

According to an independent equipment survey, the Fourteen Golf TC-910 Forged Irons continue to dominate the Asian Tour with the number #1 ranked iron model played. At the Queens Cup in Thailand, Fourteen Golf had almost twice as many TC-910 Irons in play as compared to Srixon, Titleist, and TaylorMade and three times more than Ping and Callaway. According to Fourteen Golf COO Marcy Kamoda, "We are proud that the professionals on the Asian Tour use our TC-910 irons weekly. It helps the company on many levels. First, it exposes our product to the golfing fans or spectators who attend the tournaments and it also brings a level of credibility to the performance of our products." These traditionally shaped irons are manufactured with soft Forged S20C steel and are slightly offset. The CG moves progressively higher as the clubs get shorter, creating optimal spin rates for each club. Initially these irons were designed specifically for the professional, so fittingly they look like a "Players Irons." They are designed with a clean muscle-cavity back iron head that produces a classic forged feel. "In addition to receiving praise and support from the professionals, our TC-910 Forged Irons were included in the highly coveted 2010 Golf Digest 'Hot List'. The judges graded them with four and half stars for performance as well as in the look/sound/ feel category," added Kamoda. In addition to the success Fourteen Golf and their TC-910 Forged irons are enjoying on the Asian Tour, the company has been credited with many tour victories and Top-10 finishes. Fourteen Golf Victories: Including the recent victory at the Bentonville Open at Lost Springs Golf & Athletic club, Fourteen Golf has celebrated seven professional tour victories during the 2010 golf season; The South Georgia Classic on the Nationwide Tour, The Maybank Malaysian from the European Tour, the Carolina Series on the Hooters Tour, the Cyber Agent Cup on the LPGA, the Ladies Titan Tire Challenge and the Teva Championship on the Duramed Futures Tour. Fourteen Golf Top-10 Finishes: Fourteen Golf has received recognition for Thirty-six Top-10 finishes this year, they are as follows: (8) PGA Tour: (1) Verizon Heritage, (1) Shell Houston Open, (1) PLAYERS Championship, (2) at the HP Byron Nelson, (1) The Memorial Tournament Presented by Morgan Stanley, (1) St. Jude Classic and (1) another at the US Open. (4) Nationwide Tour: (1) BMW Pro-Am, (2) at the Stadion Athens Classic at UGA, and (1) Fort Smith Classic on the Nationwide Tour. (24) LPGA Tour: (3) Top-10 finishes were captured at the HSBC Women's Champions, (2) clinched at the Kraft Nabisco Championship, (2) from the Honda PTT LPGA Thailand, (3) at the Kia Classic Presented by J Golf, (1) secured at the Mojo Jamaican Invitational, (1) at the Tres Maria Championship, (1) from the Bell South LPGA Classic, (6) impressive Top-10s at the Sybase Match Play Championship and (3) at the LPGA State Farm Classic and (2) from the Shop Rite LPGA Classic. Tour success usually equates to retail success, so we are eager to see how this record helps sales. Fourteen makes very high quality clubs, but they are priced in the ultra premium price range. The TC-910 Forged Iron set is offered in three through pitching wedge. They are finished with a Nickel chrome satin finish and are built with a tour weighted Dynamic Gold Steel Shaft. They began shipping in the early spring and suggested retail is $1,199.00. Keep a lookout for Fourteen golf. If you are looking for top of the line clubs and something a little different, these will be a must hit!
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June 25, 2010
TaylorMade Golf Introduces Rossa Corza Ghost Putter

According to a press release issued today – TaylorMade Golf, maker of Rossa® putters, has unveiled Corza Ghost, a mallet specially designed to be exceptionally easy to aim, and exceptionally easy to use to roll the ball down your intended line. It was designed with significant input from the hottest putting instructor in the world, Rossa Tour Staff professional Dave Stockton.

“We started with the intention of designing a putter that’s easier to aim than any other,” said Bill Price, Rossa senior director. “That led us to experiment with a white finish. We consulted Dr. Steven A. Hitzeman, a professor at the Indiana School of Optometry and he felt we were onto something.”

The Contrast of White Against Dark Makes Aiming Easier
“Corza Ghost’s white putterhead stands out so clearly against its background — the putting surface – because of the high contrast between white and green,” said Dr. Hitzeman, who is also a past president of the Indiana Optometric Association and a past chairman of the American Optometric Association’s Sports Vision Section. “That high contrast maximizes stimulation to the retina and highlights the head’s shape and features. The contrast would be lower if the putter were black or gray because these colors are closer in luminance to the color of the putting green than white. White creates the biggest difference in luminance, hence maximizing contrast and promoting focus. Many golfers use the leading edge of the putter as part of their alignment strategy (by positioning the edge perpendicular to the imagined target line). So, this high contrast for the leading edge gives the golfer the best chance of squaring up the putterface at address. Also, the lines on the top of the putter are painted black to achieve maximum contrast against the white surface of the putter. All of these high-contrast alignment elements give the golfer the best possible chance of accurately aiming the putter.”

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p style=”text-align: center;”> To make it even easier to aim the Corza Ghost, Rossa engineers put three black alignment lines on the crown and a circular hole in the back of the putterhead, giving you different options to focus on to lock in your aim. "You can focus on the topline to aim Ghost," said Bret Wahl, senior director of iron, wedge and putter development, "or you can focus on the alignment lines to visually connect the circular hole and your ball to lock in your aim. The point is that you've got options, each one highly effective." Because Corza Ghost's putterhead is white, its three alignment options are easier to focus on and use, according to Dr. Hitzeman. "The Corza Ghost putter's three alignment elements all have high contrast against their backgrounds. This high contrast maximizes stimulation to the retina, which helps the golfer to focus and use these aiming features effectively." Eliminating "Hot Spots" "Hot Spots" are reflections of direct sunlight from the top of the putter into the golfer’s eye, and distract the player's attention from the task at hand, which is to focus on the putterhead, the alignment system, and aiming the putter squarely down the target-line. "When I started playing on tour in the 1960s, I used a silver mallet," said Stockton. "Nicks and marks would form on the crown from normal use. They lit up when sunlight hit them at address, which I found extremely distracting, so much that I would have the crown sandblasted frequently to erase the hot spots. Because when you look down at the putter you don't want anything disturbing your focus, which should be on the putterhead and the features of it that you use to align the putterface squarely down the target-line." The Corza Ghost's white finish helps keep hot spots from standing out, allowing you to focus your attention on seeing the whole form of the putterhead and the alignment system, so you can aim without distraction. Large, Solid-Feeling, High-MOI Mallet Being a mallet, Corza Ghost's high-MOI head is extremely stable on off-center hits and feels extremely solid at impact. Its three alignment lines on the crown function not only to help aim the face accurately, but also to frame the ball in the middle of the face, which promotes solid, center-face contact on every stroke. AGSI®+ to Promote Better Roll Corza Ghost also has the advantage of Rossa's renowned and tour-proven AGSI®+ (Anti-skid Groove System Insert) Technology. AGSI+ features 14 polymer-filled grooves in the face that "hold" the ball briefly at impact to promote forwardspin for a smoother roll and more accurate results. The AGSI+ insert, in concert with the putterhead's extremely high MOI, also delivers superior consistency in forward roll on off-center hits, something not shown in tests of other popular putters. Two More Ghost Models in the Pipeline Corza Ghost is scheduled to appear at retail starting in June, at a manufacturer's suggested retail price of $159. Two more Ghost models – a blade and a mid-mallet – also with white finish and black alignment lines, are scheduled to become available in July.
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April 26, 2010
Nike Golf Commercial Featuring Earl and Tiger Woods

Nike Golf has released a new commercial featuring Tiger and the Voice of the late Earl Woods speaking to Tiger. It’s the first new commercial with Tiger since the now infamous transgressions… I’m not sure what to think about it or what the point of it is, except maybe to humble Tiger in the eyes of the fans. Watch the video and let us know what you think of it!

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April 8, 2010
Adams Idea Pro Black CB1 Irons – First Look
Adams Golf continues to come up with impressive looking clubs that perform well. A while back the Adams Idea Pro Black irons and Hybrids came out, and now the latest in the Pro Black series is the CB1 irons. Taking design cues and feedback from their staff of touring professionals, the CB1 irons are forged from 8620 carbon steel and milled to add detail and shape the grooves to the exact 2010 USGA legal dimensions. They also sport Adams’ very popular nickel chromium plated black finish, otherwise known as the black physical vapor deposition (PVD) finish. These new irons are sure to be a hit, bridging the gap between the Idea Pro Black blades and the A7 game improvement irons. They have very classic lines and less offset, so mid to low handicap golfers should love these sticks.

“Originally developed exclusively for our professional staff players like Tom Watson, the overwhelmingly positive comments about the feel and performance of the CB1s from the tour inevitably led us to make this set an integral part of the successful Idea family of irons,” said Chip Brewer, President and CEO of Adams Golf. “This stealth-looking set has already received high marks from golf enthusiasts plugged into the online community so we look forward to bringing the CB1s to low-handicap golfers everywhere who appreciate the control and workability of this forged set of irons.”

The stock shafts for the Idea Pro Black CB1 iron set are the Rifle Project X Flighted steel shaft or the Mitsubishi Rayon Javln FX i95 graphite shaft, available in regular, stiff or extra-stiff flexes. Offered standard in a right-handed 4-GW set configuration, the Idea Pro Black CB1 iron sets begin shipping to golf shops April 15 with a suggested retail price of $899.99 for steel and $1,099.99 for graphite.

We are trying to get a set of these for review, and when we do I’ll be sure to post it! Here’s some more detail and pictures:
- Forged 8620 carbon steel construction provides exceptional feel, performance and feedback for the skilled player.
- A precision milled cavity and precisely located center of gravity deliver a penetrating ball flight
  with workability.
- Each head has milled grooves that comply with 2010 USGA competition requirements while maximizing spin from all playing conditions.
- A thin top line and beveled trailing edge reduces turf interaction, delivering the look and workability in various turf conditions.
- Constant offset throughout delivers seamless performance and control through the entire set.
- Dramatic Ni-Cr plated black finish for a sleek and hot look.
- Rifle Project X Flighted Rifle steel shaft or Mitsubishi Rayon JAVLN FX i95 graphite shaft.
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March 31, 2010
Cobra Golf Sold To Puma

The Acushnet Company – Fortune Brands’ golf business – announced today that it has sold the Cobra Golf Company to Puma AG. The sale includes the Cobra brand, all related inventory, intellectual property and its endorsement contracts. Cobra’s list of professional staff includes Camilo Villegas, J.B. Holmes, Ian Poulter, Jason Gore and David Feherty. Cobra Golf has had a great year so far, with Ian Poulter winning the Accenture Match Play Championship, Camilo Villegas winning the Honda Classic and finishing third at the Match Play, and J.B. Holmes has started his year with 2 top three finishes so far.

Acushnet plans to continue to provide services for an agreed upon period of time beyond the sale to facilitate the seamless transition as Puma breaks into the golf industry on the equipment side. Production, distribution, field sales and customer service will continue with the help of Acushnet for a time, until Puma has gotten up to speed.

“With the sale of Cobra, we have the opportunity to devote all of our resources to the global growth of our industry-leading Titleist and FootJoy brands,” said Wally Uihlein, Chairman and CEO of Acushnet Company. “At the same time, Cobra is a strong brand with a heritage of innovation, and we wish the quality associates guiding the brand future success. Golfers and our valued partners will remain the key focus throughout the impending sale and we are confident that our customers will continue to be serviced to our high standards.”

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p style=”text-align: center;”> Pending regulatory approval, the date of the sale is expected to be early in the second quarter of 2010, and all Cobra Golf business will be conducted by Acushnet Company until that time. All Acushnet Company associates dedicated to the Cobra business are expected to become employees of PUMA. Financial terms of the transaction were not disclosed.
"Through the acquisition of Cobra Golf, we reinforce PUMA’s commitment to our sportsperformance business by strengthening our growing and successful Golf category," said JochenZeitz, Chairman and Chief Executive of PUMA. “Cobra Golf has a history of innovativeperformance products fused with an edge and is therefore a perfect fit for PUMA, reinforcingour overall mission of becoming the most desirable Sportlifestyle company. With Cobra Golf,PUMA will capitalize on the many opportunities in the Golf category and upside potential aheadof us.”
Based in Carlsbad, California and founded in 1973, Cobra Golf produced one of the first utility clubs - the Baffler - long before use of such hybrid clubs became popular. Cobra's innovation continues today with recent releases such as the new ZL and S2 Drivers, as well as the Baffler Rail Hybrid. In 1996 Cobra Golf was acquired by Fortune Brands and has since then been managed together under the Acushnet Company umbrella with its other golf brands. “Titleist and FootJoy are powerful golf brands that are poised for long-term growth,” continued Uihlein. “This laser focus and our longstanding commitment to deliver superior performance and quality will strengthen golfers’ trust in the Titleist and FootJoy brands in all global markets.” The most prominent Puma spokesman is Rickie Fowler, who has sported Puma's apparel on the PGA Tour for only a few tournaments but is already making a mark, not only with the flashy style (or lack thereof) but with his great play, earning several top 5 finishes in his young professional career. One has to wonder if Rickie will be encouraged to move from Titleist brand equipment (Owned by Acushnet) to the newly acquired Cobra Golf. It will also be interesting to see what happens with the Cobra Golf brand. Will Puma rebrand Cobra equipment as its own or retain the well known and respected Cobra brand clubs?
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March 10, 2010
Heavy Putter Introduces New 2010 Models

Boccieri Golf – the company behind Heavy Putter – have announced the expansion of its line of putting tools to include models in three distinct weight classes – HEAVY-, MID- and LITE-WEIGHT Series. To paraphrase the press release – The LITE-WEIGHT Series stems from feedback from players on the PGA Tour, which conveyed a preference for a club that retains the benefits of the Heavy Putter, but on a lighter scale. Featuring a total weight of 600 grams – 100 grams more than standard putters from other leading brands – it is offered in five distinct options. When paired with existing Heavy Putter models – including the 750 gram MID-WEIGHT and 900 gram HEAVY-WEIGHT Series – the new styles provide a putter for every preference.

In addition to the LITE-WEIGHT Series, Boccieri Golf also introduced the new MID-WEIGHT and HEAVY-WEIGHT models in a black PVD finish, with other styles showcasing a silver satin finish. All models feature the company’s system of added overall weight within both the head and grip. This is supposed to cause the body to engage its larger muscles for a consistent swing path, uniform pace, precise distance and directional control, as well as tightening end-over-end golf ball roll.

"It's been five years since we launched the Original Heavy Putter Series," says Stephen Boccieri, President and CEO of Boccieri Golf. "In that time, our products have played a key role in victories on all major Tours, received numerous awards and increased market share at a rapid and steady pace. Our patented weight management system helps golfers make more putts and lower their scores. The addition of the LITE-WEIGHT Series brings a new dynamic to the line, making it tremendously accessible to all players."

John Daly was pretty impressed with Heavy Putter, and he's currently using the K4-M model seen in the picture to the right. I'll post more pictures once I get them, so come back here for the latest.

The new Heavy Putter models are:

LITE-WEIGHT Series (Total weight: 600 grams; head/back weight: 375/65 grams)

* D1/D3-L - Full-sized, face balanced mallet with high MOI available in a center shaft (D1) or a heel-mounted, double bend shaft (D3) - only in black PVD finish
* M4-L - Traditional flanged blade with heel shaft and long hosel
* N1-L - Toe-droop blade with a center shaft orientation, classic design and two-sided face allows for use by both right and left handed players.
* L3-L - Mid-sized, face balanced mallet with a double bend shaft
* Q2-L - Classic toe-droop blade with a plumber's neck hosel

MID-WEIGHT Series (Total weight: 750 grams; head/back weight: 400/200 grams)
* D1/D3-M - Full-sized, face balanced mallet with high MOI available in a center shaft (D1) or a heel-mounted, double bend shaft (D3) - only in black PVD finish
* P3-M - Face balanced blade/mallet hybrid with a double bend heel-mounted shaft and square shaped head - only in black PVD finish
* Q2-M - Classic toe-droop blade with a plumber's neck hosel

HEAVY-WEIGHT Series (Total weight: 900 grams; head/back weight: 465/250 grams)
* D1/D3-H - Full-sized, face balanced mallet with high MOI available in a center shaft (D1) or a heel-mounted, double bend shaft (D3) - only in black PVD finish
* L3-H - Mid-sized, face balanced mallet with a double bent shaft - only in black PVD finish
* P3-H - Face balanced blade/mallet hybrid with a double bend heel-mounted shaft and square shaped head - only in black PVD finish
* Q2-H - Classic toe-droop blade with a plumber's neck hosel - only in black PVD finish

The MID-WEIGHT and LITE-WEIGHT series putters are available April 1, 2010 and will sell for around $120 USD

Also new for 2010, Boccieri Golf has introduced the Heavy Wedge "Control Series," including four traditionally designed blade models which incorporate the company's trademark counterweight technology for what the company claims is superior performance on both full swing and greenside shots.

Contact: 888.PUTTER.4, info@heavyputter.com, www.heavyputter.com, www.boccierigolf.com, www.theheavywedge.com.

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February 24, 2010
How To Regrip A Golf Club In Under 4 Minutes

Re-gripping your own clubs is one of the easiest do-it-yourself tasks as a golfer, and it saves you money and time over having someone else do it. Plus, when you do it yourself you are guaranteed that the job gets done the way you want. In this video, I’ll show you how to re-grip a club fast and provide a few tips that I’ve picked up along the way. I’ve re-gripped over 1000 golf clubs in my golf career, and there are many ways to do it and many tools for the job, but I like to keep things simple and cheap.

What you need: Work bench, Vice with Rubber Vise Clamp, New Grips, Double-Sided Grip Tape, Grip Solvent (I use mineral spirits), Knife (I prefer a hook blade to straight blades), Catch Pan for solvent (Optional), Towel or Rag and a few minutes of time!

Editors Note: Of course it would normally take a little longer to re-grip a club if I took time to remove the old grip tape, but in this case I used the existing tape to build it up the grip a bit. Normally, removing the old tape adds a few minutes to the job.

A few tips and tricks I didn’t mention in the video:

1. I use my finger to plug the hole in the grip, and then allow the solvent to drain through that hole to coat the grip. It’s the fastest way to do it in my opinion.
2. When sliding on the new grip, be careful not to get squirted by the extra solvent coming out of the hole at the end of the grip! Stand slightly to the side as I do, or wear an apron.
3. Beginner tip: While securing the club in the vice, align the clubface square, and when sliding on the grip you can align it while it’s still in the vice. Once you get more proficient, you’ll be able to line the grip up pretty well as you slip it on as I do.
4. I get most of my re-gripping supplies from Golfsmith. I’m not paid to say that or promoting them specifically, but it’s just easier to get everything from the same place. They sell grip solvent, but I prefer to use mineral spirits, because it also serves as a cleaner for other tasks. Golfsmith even sells complete re-gripping kits with pre-measured, water-activated tape and grips, but I prefer to do it the old fashioned way.

Enjoy the video!

It’s not a very complicated task and doesn’t take years of practice to master, but regripping your own clubs is fun and rewarding. It allows you to experiment without costing too much and you don’t have to drop of your whole set at the local shop and wait a week to get them back. I’ll follow this with more DIY videos on golf related topics in the future. If there is anything in particular you would like to see – DIY videos, golf swing tips and drills or whatever, send me some suggestions and we’ll film it!

February 22, 2010
Cleveland HB3 Hybrid Irons – First Look

Cleveland Golf/Srixon has been hard at work coming up with an entire lineup of new clubs for 2010. In the line up are the already very popular CG15 Wedges and CG7 Black Pearl irons. Add to that the new Launcher DST Drivers and Fairway woods, the new CG1 Tour irons and Classic BRZ Putters and I have a feeling it will be a good year for Cleveland.

In the super game-improvement category, Cleveland looks to become a major factor with its new iron offering called the HB3 Hybrids. The third generation of their HiBore irons, they are lighter, faster and longer than any of Cleveland’s previous iron sets. They have aggressive internal weighting and a forgiving sole design as well as being a fully hybrid transitional set. Designed primarily for high handicap golfers, the HB3 Hybrids come equipped with Action Ultralight graphite shafts, which are 15 grams lighter and have a lower kickpoint than their predecessors.

The combination of ultra light shafts with a low kickpoint and the low CD of the HB3, these irons will hit the ball high and straight. The will start shipping to retailers on April 1, 2010 and carry an estimated price tag of $599 (Steel) and $699 (Graphite)
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February 12, 2010
Srixon Z-Star Tour Yellow Golf Balls

I played with a yellow golf ball yesterday. I didn’t find it in the woods or swipe it from a range basket, and I didn’t get it in a 24 pack from the local Walmart either. No, I played Srixon’s new Z-Star Tour Yellow golf ball. New for 2010, Srixon is making their already very hot Z-Star golf balls in Yellow. Why would a company re-introduce a yellow golf ball to the market? After all, yellow golf balls come with a stigma that they are cheap and only for hackers. In fact, when I started rolling the Tour Yellow on the practice green yesterday, a few of my playing partners made some jokes and asked me if I needed more strokes. According to Srixon, the reason yellow golf balls will make a comeback is purely mental.

According to a Srixon press release “Science has proven that yellow is the most visible color in the visual spectrum and psychology has correlated green with calming and stress relief; therefore Srixon has combined the two colors based on these findings to tap into the player’s mind and expand the benefits of playing a better ball.”

The idea is that a player will feel more at ease standing over a 3 footer to win a few bucks off your buddies if the ball is a yellow with a bit of green, rather than white. I may be more receptive than most to the idea that the ball’s color can help you play better, since I was a psych major in college and I take great interest in the mental side of the game. While I can’t confirm or deny the claims that the Z-Star Tour Yellow has a calming effect on the player, I can say that this ball is easier to see in the grass (and, ahem – the woods) and being yellow, there is certainly no confusion as to which ball was mine. Was it just a coincidence that I played my best round in months and made boatloads of putts with it? Perhaps, because I also had two 3-putts. Either way, I’ve been playing the Z-Star X since it came out and always liked being different, so I’ll continue to play the Tour Yellow and see what happens. Plus, it helps that the ball is the same color as my favorite website’s logo!

“The new Z-STAR and Z-STAR X Tour Yellow golf balls are currently being tested by numerous PGA and Nationwide TOUR players, who are presently playing the Srixon Z-STAR series of balls,” said Chris Beck, Brand Manager for Srixon. “The response from our tour staffers has been overwhelmingly positive. We understand that players at all levels of the game want to lower their scores and the Tour Yellow balls have definitely peaked the interest of our tour players, as well as consumers.” Indeed, early word from a high-ranking source inside Cleveland Golf/Srixon is that several Srixon staffers will put the Tour Yellow into play on the PGA Tour this year. Recently at the 2010 Masters Par 3 Contest, Jim Furyk made a hole in one with the new yellow ball, and Tim Clark had some success at the '10 Accenture World Match Play Championships using the ball. It's important to note that the Z-Star Tour Yellow is the exact same ball as the Z-Star. They all use an ultra-thin urethane cover technology, a larger core and a softer cover to improve distance, spin and feel. The only difference is the color. For more on the Srixon Z-Star line, check out our review here. The Z-STAR Tour Yellow golf ball is designed for the low-to-mid handicap players seeking a combination of distance, spin control and soft feel. The Z-STAR X Tour Yellow golf ball is a distance oriented tour-performance ball for players looking for a bit more distance and high-spin performance around the greens. The Srixon Z-STAR Tour Yellow ball lines both feature new Energetic Gradient Growth core technology, which promotes increased ball speed, as well as high launch and low spin. The 324 large seamless dimples also help reduce wind resistance for increased distance, while the new coating on their super-soft urethane cover significantly improves spin performance from the rough according to Srixon. The Z-STAR and Z-STAR X Tour Yellow golf balls will begin shipping to retailers on April 1, 2010 and will carry a price of $39.99.
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February 8, 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
The Tiger Woods Mistress Meter – On The Rise Again

The Tiger Woods story just won’t die. I suppose we should all have seen this coming when he (allegedly) paid Rachel Uchitel to stop talking. Now, every other Woods mistress is coming out of the shadows for their 15 minutes and big payoff, whether it be from Tiger or the bloodthirsty tabloid media. Golf fans all around the world are holding their heads down in shame, for their squeaky clean superstar is now being dragged through the mud by the media in a desperate attempt for ratings, page views and dollars.

Being that intothegrain.com is a form of media, I suppose I sound like a hypocrite by accusing the media of not leaving well enough alone while I sit here talking about the very story I want to see go away. However, this isn’t just the biggest story in golf at the moment, it’s one of the biggest stories period, and it deserves it’s attention. Everywhere you turn on the television was an update, or a joke, or a SNL skit about Tiger. Every few hours it seems a new mistress is coming out and telling her story. During the NFL game Sunday between the Jacksonville Jaguars and the Houston Texans, A blonde woman with a huge plastic golf club started chasing a person in a tiger costume and a red shirt around the stadium. You can’t get away from the story. Hell, I’ve deleted more Tiger Woods joke emails this week than I care to remember. This story is now out of control. Chris Mathews and Nancy Grace are even talking about it!

And so in the last few days we have seen the so called Mistress Meter rise to a number between 7 and 10, depending on what smut magazine you read in the grocery line. I’m not going to comment as to which ones are lying or telling the truth, or give you details about where and when. Go to a tabloid for that. I am also hearing reports that his wife Elin has moved out and is considering divorce. Of course, this information will likely change in a matter of hours as the wave of inaccuracy and speculation spreads all over the internet.

As a golf addict and internet blogger, all I want to do is write about golf. I’m not thrilled about covering this story because it is mostly about family, marriage, children, scandal and public image. I don’t want to see a family torn apart, and I don’t want to see a man’s image tarnished by the press, but ultimately he brought it upon himself. Tiger Woods’ private life has always been well guarded, learning from others like Michael Jordan and Shaquille O’Neal. Obviously, what happens behind closed doors in the Woods home is none of our business, but because it has now become everyone’s business, maybe Tiger himself needs to come out and set the record straight. This story has become a raging fire, and Tiger himself is probably the only one that can begin to smother the flames…

December 7, 2009
A New Model of Learning Golf

Without a doubt, golf and fitness have been inextricably connected. The benefits of working out specifically for golf have been highlighted time and again by the top professional golfers in the world. While there are many different types of golf swing philosophies, there is still a common basic level of physical ability necessary to perform the full golf swing. Amateur and recreational golfers now understand the simple fact that physical limitations such as poor flexibility and a weak core can affect their ability to perform an efficient, consistent golf swing no matter which swing model they are learning. I recently became more aware of this reality when I got a new middle aged client that had NEVER played golf before and wanted to learn. Realizing how important his body was to playing the game, he signed up for 6 weeks of golf fitness training with me at the same time as he signed up for 6 weeks of golf swing lessons from a PGA professional teacher.

In light of these connections, golfers must find a way to analyze themselves from both a physical and technical standpoint. One way to do this is to participate in a golf fitness screen. While many different medical and fitness professionals are selling their own golf specific screens, there is no doubt in my mind that the Titleist Performance Institute (TPI) has created the current gold standard screen. I have used this screen hundreds of times and I know that when I am completed with the TPI physical tests I will have all the information I need to develop a corrective exercise program for the golfer. The screens will assess all the key movements and muscles used in the swing as well as looking at an individual’s posture, balance, power, and patterns of movement. After assessing these areas, the TPI fitness professional will then prescribe exercises and stretches designed to correct the physical limitations. Some of these exercises will be available through an online program that has video descriptions and pictures of the exercises that are all downloadable for printing or to an IPOD or other media device for portability. Other exercises may be provided by your TPI trainer based on their own experiences with golfers. In many cases they may be even more specific because the trainer has spent time learning from your local golf swing teaching professional and is aware of the necessary physical requirements of that teachers swing philosophy.

Once you have begun correcting your physical limitations, you will then return to your PGA professional and learn how to integrate your new abilities into the golf swing. At this point, you are now ready to move on even further with your golf fitness trainer because you will inevitably continue seeking improvements in your game, especially in the areas of increasing power and distance off the tee.

As you can see, I am describing a progressive pattern of training that is based on achieving basic levels of movement with your TPI program and then moving on to more sport specific power fitness training all the while as you are advancing your swing efficiency by working with your PGA teaching professional. In my opinion, this is the new model way of learning and improving in the game of golf. Obviously, there are other very important factors in the game including equipment analysis, mental training, and medical care specific to physical injuries that may limit ability in golf. But initially the only requirement is to have an expert that can help you understand how to swing the club correctly and an expert that can help you understand how to move and train your body to achieve those key swing positions.

Sounds easy enough, but really all we can do as teaching professionals is create the “right environment” for potential success; you the student are in control of the outcome of success or failure. So if you really want to get better at golf, I believe you should seek out these professionals and get to work on your physical and technical abilities. The game is just easier to learn when you get the right information and motivation. Good luck on your journey, and be tenacious in your pursuit of perfection! In Health, Scott Shepard, MSPT CSCS TPI Scott Shepard is based in Central Florida and has an office in Lake Mary, FL. For more information on Scott and his golf specific fitness and injury rehabilitation programs please visit www.planeperformance.com or contact him at 407-222-7489. < p style="text-align: center;">Check out Scott's other great articles! Foam - Thats How I Roll - Golf specific Mobility

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November 24, 2009
Inside The Rife Putting Lab!

Down the line view of my stroke at address

RIFE Putters was started in late 2004 and has quickly become one of the fastest growing putter companies in the world. Company founder Guerin Rife has been in the golf business for over 15 years. Mr. Rife began by designing training products and clubs as a hobby for friends in the early 90’s. He designed training aids for some of the top teachers in the industry, including David Leadbetter, Rick Smith, and Jim McLean. By 2004, the initial designs for the original Two Bar putter had been developed by Mr. Rife, and he knew it was time to bring the technology and his unique design capabilities to the masses via a 30 minute infomercial. Rife now has over 100 tour players worldwide using their putters. RIFE Putters is also the #1 putter on the Champions Tour, with as much as 40% of the field using a RIFE putter. This is significant, because Rife does not pay anyone to play their putters. There is no better endorsement for a product than the best players in the world asking for your stuff because it simply helps them play their best.

Putting stroke - top view

About a month ago I had the opportunity to visit my friends at the Rife Putting Lab inside their headquarters in Sanford, Florida. The putting lab has an eight camera system with special high-frame rate cameras and software that allows the Tour and fitting department to fit the best players in the world. The cameras capture your putting stroke from all angles, and using the software, they can play back your stroke using visual aids to show path, face angle and alignment. The Lab was previously available only to Rife’s tour players, but now anybody can make an appointment to have a fitting done. There is a fee for the service, but that fee is well worth it to get a properly fit, top of the line putter.

Worm cam view

Using the multiple camera angles, my fitter Danny had me roll several putts and we looked at the video. We noticed that since I had added 3 inches to my putter to make it a belly putter that the lie had changed. The heel of my putter was slightly off the ground, requiring a quick adjustment. I like to use a 38″ belly putter with a normal stroke, like Angel Cabrera and Eduardo Romero. I feel it allows me to stand tall and get my eyes directly over the line, as shown in the first photo above. The putter is also heavier and requires a shorter stroke to hit the ball with the same force as a standard length putter. As you can see by the multiple camera shots, it’s easy to see everything that’s going on in your stroke and not only fit you for the right putter, but identify stroke flaws.

Adjusting the lie angle of my putter

The staff at the Rife headquarters really know there stuff. Rife doesn’t sell anything but putters and that allows everyone to gain intimate knowledge of their products and how best to use them. They stock a large assortment of models and styles to meet every taste. While we needed to make a small tweak to my trusty 2 Bar “Dana” Special Edition, I also fell in love with the new IBF Tour Aussie Mallet and couldn’t leave without one. Once you go through the fitting process for the putter of your choice, the staff at Rife can customize it to your needs for length, lie and grip. Some models can even be altered with different custom finishes and sight lines and dots can be added. To schedule your own fitting at the Putter Lab, click here, fill out the form to have a Rife representative contact you, and tell ’em intothegrain sent you!

Standard putter on the left, Rife putter on the right

I’ve had my Rife for several years and it’s been a regular part of my “gamer” rotation for that entire time. I have always loved how the ball rolls immediately off the face with no skid like most other putters. Indeed, with 35 worldwide wins in 24 months, the best players in the world have taken notice and are putting Rife putters in their bags. A few players have even renegotiated their equipment contracts to be able to choose their own putters, since they putt better with the Rife models they love. The demonstration that was shown to me of the difference between a normal faced putter and the roll groove technology in all Rife putters was eye opening and shows you instantly what their putters are all about.

A golf ball will sit in a slight depression on the green. This is caused by the weight of the ball and gravity. Conventional putters must have 4-6 degrees of loft on the face to basically chip the ball out of its depression. This creates a slight backspin until the ball hits the ground and the friction of the grass causes the ball to skip or skid before it begins its true forward roll. The grooves on the face of Rife putters interact with the ball to produce immediate over spin, allowing the ball to roll on line towards your target much sooner than a traditional putter. In the image here to the left, we rolled a ball on a felt board to show the effect of the roll groove technology. With the rife putter (on the right), the ball started rolling right away, and with a standard putter (on the left) the ball skidded and hopped 3 or 4 times before starting it’s forward roll. Obviously, the faster the ball starts rolling the better your chances of making the putt. Imperfections in the greens can easily knock the ball offline, especially if it’s skidding during the first 4 or 5 feet of the putt.

I've been using my Rife putter for years with a great deal of satisfaction. Now that the opportunity has presented itself for players to get properly fitted for a Rife putter, I think it should help more and more people roll the ball better than ever. Don't overlook the flat stick when you get a club fitting done. It's the most important club in the bag! Weather you have a Rife putter or not, have it properly fit for length and lie at the very least. If you have any questions concerning putter fitting or Rife putters, feel free to leave a comment or email me at jfd@intothegrain.com. Don't forget to stay in touch by subscribing to our email updates below!

November 18, 2009
World Golf Hall of Fame – Class of 2009

In the late 1980s, former PGA Tour Commissioner Deane Beman envisioned a Hall of Fame for the PGA TOUR. The Golf Hall of Fame had previously been located in Pinehurst, NC. With Beaman’s leadership, the new Hall of Fame became an industry wide initiative and welcomed some of the game’s best known organizations to assist in the effort. With help from founding partner Shell Oil Company and many others, construction began in 1996 and the World Golf Hall of Fame opened in St. Augustine on May 19, 1998. Since then, 125 of the most influential and well known figures have been enshrined in the hall, along with memorabilia and artifacts from the careers of the inductees.

This year, the four names selected for induction into the Hall of Fame were Christy O’Connor Sr, President Dwight D. Eisenhower, Jose Maria Olazabal and Lanny Wadkins. It was a great night in North Florida, with temperatures for the induction in the low 70s, and plenty of star power in attendance. Presenting the inductees were Christy O’Connor Jr. for his uncle Christy Sr., Arnold Palmer for Dwight D. Eisenhower, Seve Ballesteros (via Video) for Jose Maria Olazabal, and Jim Nantz presented Lanny Wadkins.

Born in Fuenterrabia, Spain on Feb 5, 1966, Jose Maria Olazabal was the son of a farmer. Growing up, he started playing cross handed, and even though he eventually made the switch, it was difficult for him at first. It’s a good thing for us that he did. At 17 years old, with the unwavering support of his family, he turned pro, and as he stated in his induction speech “the rest is history”. Jose Maria had seven wins as an amateur, 21 European Tour wins, two victories on the Japanese Tour and six PGA Tour wins, including of course, two Masters Tournaments. His Ryder Cup record is just as good, with 18 wins, five halfs and eight losses. Many of his victories came while partnered with his mentor and great friend Seve Ballesteros. Before his pre-induction press conference, Arnold Palmer was coming off the stage and met Jose Maria to congratulate him. Mr. Palmer asked him “How do you feel today Jose?” Jose replied in his signature Spanish accent, “I’m shaking like a leaf!” His induction speech was delivered with the same passion and emotion with which he played golf. He told a story of a young boy who grew up to become a major champion, and finished his delivery with an emotional tribute to his parents, who were sitting in the front row, in Spanish.

Born in 1924, Christy O’Connor Sr’s great career spanned over 40 years. He won no less than 24 European Tour events, including two British Masters and two Vardon Trophies. In the 60s he won at least one tournament a year on the European Tour. He also played in an Irish record 15 Canada Cups, now called the World Cup, winning it in 1958. As far as the majors, he only played in The Open Championship. He had 10 top-10 finishes in 26 tries, including a tie for second in 1965 at Royal Birkdale. Americans don’t know the O’Connor name very well, mostly because he rarely played in the US. He was often refered to as “Himself” and was a huge star in Ireland. One of the best players ever in adverse conditions, he developed a smooth swing and ball striking skill that made comparisons to Ben Hogan inevitable.

Christy’s Nephew Christy Jr attended the induction ceremony on his behalf, siting health concerns for his Uncle making the trip overseas. In a video address, Christy Sr. stated that he was very sad to not be able to attend in person, but he was truly honored and had been walking on air since being notified that he had been selected to being the Hall of Fame.

Dwight D. Eisenhower was selected posthumously to the Hall of Fame for his contributions to the game of golf. I took the following text from the Hall of Fame’s website Bio, since they summed up Ike’s life in golf much better than me. I wasn’t even born when Ike was a public figure!

“So just why is this all-American hero with an 18 handicap being inducted into the World Golf Hall of Fame?After all, he never won a major. Or a professional golf tournament. Or a significant amateur event. Heck, he never even won a club championship – at any level.

Quite simply, Ike profoundly popularized and significantly helped grow the game as no one else since perhaps Francis Ouimet in 1913 and Bobby Jones in 1930. Ike didn’t start playing the game until he was in his mid 30s and then, because of a knee injury, suffered from what was called a “congenital slice.” But once he did start playing, he became completely smitten. Upon his return from Europe, he joined Augusta National – and later Blind Brook Club in New York, Burning Tree just outside of Washington and El Dorado in Palm Springs. His handicap varied from a low of 14 to 18, but he did manage to break 80 on about a dozen occasions.

And boy did Ike love the game! He had a putting green installed on the White House lawn and would occasionally slip out of the Oval Office in the afternoon for a round. His 29 trips to Augusta during his Presidency were dutifully reported in the national press, sometimes derisively. Of course, all that publicity shone a hot spotlight on the game and fueled continued interest in it. At the same time, a young charismatic golf professional by the name of Arnold Palmer came out of western Pennsylvania hitching up his pants and winning golf tournaments. With Palmer’s win in the 1958 Masters shown on television, America fell hard for the game, just as their President had. And it didn’t hurt that the President and Palmer became fast friends and would play often at Augusta. It was a combustible mixture – a President, a King, The Masters and the advent of golf on television, to catapult the game to dizzying heights of popularity. And it was Dwight David Eisenhower – Ike to all of us – an inveterate everyman golfer, who was responsible for igniting America’s love affair with the game.”

Lanny Wadkins was the final inductee into the Hall of Fame for 2009, and he was presented for induction by his friend and CBS Sports golf anchor Jim Nantz. Nantz delivered an eloquent and vibrant speech, telling a few stories and engaging the crowd. He even pointed out the match Wadkins played with Arnold Palmer as a young man, beating Palmer that day. Of course, that drew a smile from the King, sitting in the front row. Nantz also listed Lanny’s accomplishments, which included 21 PGA Tour wins, including the 1977 PGA Championship. Lanny was a great amateur player in the 70s. He attended Wake Forest University on the Arnold Palmer scholarship, and played on the 1969 and 1971 Walker Cup teams and the World Amateur Team in 1970. Along with his PGA win in 1977, he had 7 other top three finishes in majors from 1982 to 1993. He also played on eight Ryder Cup teams which is a record he shares with Billy Casper and Ray Floyd. His overall record of 20-11-3 is one of the best of all time.

Wadkins started to tear up as he worked his way down the list of his closest supporters, and for a man of strong character such as him, it was quite a moment. His brother Bobby was in the crowd and could not hold back his tears. He also took a moment to remind his sons that he can still play, and looks forward to taking a few dollars from them yet. Both his sons have developed into fine players, with his oldest son attending his Alma Mater – Wake Forest.

It was a great day at the World Golf Village and the Golf Hall of Fame. We had a wonderful opportunity to meet some legends of the game and enjoy a beautiful evening in St. Augustine.

The World Golf Village is much more than just the Hall of Fame. The WGV offers world class golf, accommodations, shopping and entertainment. The golf courses at the WGV are second to none. The first course called the Slammer & Squire was designed by Bobby Weed with special consultants Gene Sarazen and Sam Snead. Winding through pine forests and open wetlands, many of the holes offer a view of the World Golf Hall of Fame. The second course was co-designed by Jack Nicklaus and Arnold Palmer. Naturally, they called it the King & Bear. It remains as the one and only collaboration between these two legends of the game, and of golf course architecture. The WGV also features a world class Spa and several dining options. The Hall of Fame is also accompanied by an IMAX theater and the 30,000 sq/ft PGA Tour Stop, which is the largest golf retail store in Florida. For more info on vacation packages and what the WGV has to offer, click HERE.

Congratulations to the World Golf Hall of Fame’s Class of 2009. I can’t wait for the Class of 2010 next year!

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November 4, 2009
Club Review – Cleveland CG15 Wedges

Cleveland CG15 w/ Black Pearl Finish

Cleveland Golf has a long history of making great wedges. The almost iconic 588 wedges are still in play all over the world for pros and weekend hackers alike. Founded in 1979, Cleveland Golf was purchased in December of 2007 by SRI Sports, the parent company of Srixon Golf in Japan. Over the last few years the wedge market has become very competitive, with the tour success of Titleist’s Vokey wedges taking a slight edge in weekly wedge count on the PGA Tour. The founder of Cleveland Golf – Roger Cleveland, sold the company in 1990. Later, he hooked up with Callaway Golf and now designs clubs for them. Even Taylor Made has gotten into the act, and several smaller companies also seek to steal some market share in the wedge world. Still a market leader, Cleveland Golf has a new wedge offering for late 2010. The CG15. Last month I first wrote a preview of these wedges, and Cleveland was nice enough to loan me a few to test out in person. Let’s take a look at these beautiful new wedges and see how they perform.

Appearance
With the exception of advances in CNC machining that led to sharper and deeper grooves, technology in wedges hasn't changed much since Gene Sarazen invented the modern sand wedge back in the early thirties. Subsequently, little has changed in Cleveland's wedge offerings in the past few years. From the CG10, to the CG12 and now the new CG15, Cleveland retained the same basic look. There isn't much you can change on a classic wedge design, so most companies relocate the text or change the graphics. With the new CG15 wedges, they have moved the bounce angle number and dots from the hosel area to the sole of the club, just below the loft number. They've also moved the company name from the sole to the back of the club, replacing the logo that was there on the CG12. Cleveland has also rolled back the trailing edge of the club to make it more playable when opening the club. Cleveland's new CG15 Wedges are offered in 3 distinct finishes - Chrome, Oil Quenched and Black Pearl. The chrome finish is the classic treatment that we are all used to seeing in a wedge or forged iron. The Black Pearl finish is a dark matte finish similar to Cleveland's gunmetal finish. This dark finish has become familiar to Cleveland fans. The other finish being offered with the CG15 wedges is called Oil Quenched. This finish has a beautiful reddish brown tint to it, and like other non-chromed clubs, it will rust over time. Many players have come to prefer a rusty style wedge, one for the glare resistance, and two because many players believe a lack of polish makes the clubs softer. Either way, a choice of three finishes certainly is more than most companies can offer.
Performance
The good folks at Cleveland Golf sent me three wedges of different lofts and finishes to put through their paces. I had a 52 degree Oil Quenched, 56 degree Black Pearl and 60 degree Chrome wedge to test out. The timing of my play testing was almost perfect. I was fortunate to have a fantastic venue to test out the wedges at Golden Ocala Golf and Equestrian Club in Ocala Florida. I was in town competing in the Florida State Mid-Amateur Championship and I had several friends available to hit some balls with them and give me their opinions. The short game practice facility at Golden Ocala is second to none, featuring three beautiful practice greens with bunkers and plenty of space to hit from all angles. In fact, there is enough space to hit short chips all the way out to 100 yard shots, making it a perfect place to try out new wedges. I put the CG15 wedges through their paces, hitting everything from basic chips and bunker shots to pitch shots, knockdowns and full wedges from a variety of lies. To sum things up, these wedges are very solid. They have the predictable feel common to Cleveland wedges. It's soft and muted, and vibration is kept to a minimum, even on mishits. The feel almost reminds me of a forged cavity back iron, even though these wedges are neither forged nor cavity backs. This is a common misconception among consumers. Cast and forged clubs differ only in the manufacturing process, not in feel or performance. The reason many cast clubs feel harder than forged ones is simply that harder metals are easier to cast than softer ones. Cleveland has never made a forged wedge, and neither has Bob Vokey, who's Titleist wedges combine with Cleveland to dominate the wedge market. They use soft carbon steel to cast their wedges, and they feel every bit as soft as a forged club of the same metal. Cleveland's Zip Grooves have been augmented with a new feature called Laser Etched grooves, introduced for the CG15 wedge. Using a laser, 4 texture lines are milled between each groove exactly to the conforming roughness limit. This roughness application optimizes ball-to-face friction and maximizes spin under the rules of golf. In my experience, the ability to produce spin depends less on the club or grooves, and more on the golfer's ability and the golf ball used. Having said that, these wedges can put some serious spin on the ball. From a fairway lie the spin produced is similar to most other wedges. On chip shots executed with proper technique, the ball skids and grabs hard, trickling the rest of the way to the hole. From the rough is where the modern box grooves really shine. Because of the increased groove volume and shape, more grass and dirt is trapped by the grooves and balls hit from the rough spin much more than when hit with wedges with more traditional V grooves. I had no problem stopping the ball reasonably quickly from lies in all but the thickest rough. I found that the initial finish on the face of the Black Pearl and Oil Quenched wedges wears quickly, but this is normal and unavoidable, just as with any other wedges. The face of the chrome wedges also wears just as fast, but because of the finish its not as noticeable. The grooves and even the laser etched grooves micro grooves held up well in my 4 days of testing, and I predict they will wear well for at least a season for most golfers. It remains to be seen how long the laser etched grooves last under normal use. I always recommend new wedges every year for serious golfers. These wedges are very well balanced, and in the hands of a skilled golfer they become deadly scoring weapons. I was able to hit low spinning shots and high flops alike with ease. The multiple bounce and loft options ensure that they have a wedge for everyone's needs or wants. Another option that has been in Cleveland's arsenal for a few years is the DSG wedge, which stands for "Dynamic Sole Grind". These wedges have a sole that is beveled to allow the leading edge to sit closer to the ground when the face is opened. This allows for more versatility for a variety of lies and turf conditions.

Specs and Options
With three finishes, two different grind options, lofts from 48 to 64 degrees and several bounce options, there is sure to be a CG15 for everyone. The most popular lofts have several bounce options to make the wedges more versatile for different players and turf conditions. The 56 degree loft for example is offered with 10, 14 or 16 degrees of bounce, and the DSG version has 8 degrees. There are also several custom shaft options available to upgrade the stock shaft, which is the now very popular "wedge flex" shaft that many companies are selling wedges with. This is a shame, because these shafts are garbage. I have seen wedge flex shafts flex all over the place on a shaft deflection board, and the weights are also not tightly controlled as they are on a shaft like the Dynamic Gold. I would highly suggest ordering wedges with the same shafts that are in your irons for consistent feel.
Overall Impressions
I think Cleveland has a winner with the new CG15 wedges. They feel very solid and well balanced, and Cleveland offers more loft, bounce and finish options than any other manufacturer. The Zip Grooves with Laser Etched micro grooves generate plenty of spin, and they look great in the bag. My personal favorite is the Oil Quenched finish (seen at far left below), which has a gorgeous red tint that is unlike any other club out there. I wish the stock shaft was of better quality, and I also would love to see a comprehensive wedge fitting system available to help match players with all those loft and bounce combination for best performance.
Pros: Soft, solid feel, tons of loft/bounce options, good spin potential Cons: Stock "wedge flex" steel shafts are disappointing. Laser etched grooves may wear fast. With so many loft/bounce options, Cleveland needs a comprehensive wedge fitting system. The Cleveland CG15 wedges will become available after November 13, 2009 for an MSRP of $119 each. For more pictures, see my preview article here.
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October 13, 2009