Tag: Woods

4 Fairway Woods You Need To Try

Whenever a new driver comes out on the market, people want to get it in their hands and try it. The driver is sexy. Despite the fact that you can’t hit more than about 14 drives on a normal golf course, many golfers spend an inordinate amount of time hitting driver on the practice tee. But what about those oft-ignored fairway woods?

Many golfers hit their three wood almost as far as their driver, with greater accuracy. Modern technology means fairway woods hit the ball further than they ever have. While there are many great fairway wood options on the market, here are a few that I have hit and think are worth a look if you are in the market for a new three, four or five wood.

Ping G30

If you are a fan of this site you already know what I think of the Ping G30 driver. Not only do I like it, but many more people do too. In fact, since the G30 arrived last July it’s the best selling driver in golf. In June 2015, 62% more G30 driver units were sold than the next closest driver model. It’s that good. Naturally you could assume that the G30 fairways are just as good, and they are. Available in 14.5, 18 and 21 degree lofts, the Ping G30 fairways are a perfect compliment to the best driver in golf. Street price: $249

Exotics E8, E8 beta & E8 Tour

Tour Edge’s legendary Exotics brand has built the hottest fairway woods on the market for several years, and while the premium price may scare away some people, their quality and performance is unquestioned. The latest Exotics E8 line is more affordable than ever without giving up anything in the way of performance and quality. The E8 model has the most forgiveness, the E8 beta model has a slightly smaller head and lower ball flight, and the E8 Tour has the smallest head and offers the most workability and control, along with an adjustable hosel. If you think your fairway woods are long, you need to hit the Exotics. After hitting just a few balls on the range, I put the Exotics E8 Tour in my bag for a tournament without any further testing, and won. It has stayed in the bag since and is now my “gamer” three wood. The small head, clean lines and exceptional performance inspired instant confidence for me, and they’ll do the same for you. Street price: $249 – $399 depending on model.

Nike Vapor Speed & Vapor Flex

I remember when Nike Golf started, riding the wave of Tiger Woods’ success. It has been many years and Nike Golf has gotten better and better in that time. While some of their radical designs are polarizing to some, I like that they are willing to take chances with innovative ideas. Their latest fairway wood offerings are the Vapor Speed and Vapor Flex models. Both models offer high launch and low spin with just the right amount of forgiveness. The Vapor Speed is not adjustable, while the Vapor Flex is. I tested the Vapor Speed model and came away impressed. The ball flight was high and straight with enough forgiveness for most golfers. If you are a Nike loyalist, you can’t go wrong with these sharp looking fairway woods. Add tons of custom shaft options and you are sure to find what you need. Street price: $249

Srixon Z355

Srixon Golf has enjoyed a resurgence in the United States this season. The brand is well established as a market leader in Asia , UK and Europe but has only just started to gain traction in the US following the success of their popular Z-Star and Q-Star golf balls. The latest fairway woods from the Japanese brand is the Z355. Available in four lofts (15, 17, 19, 22) and featuring Action Mass Technology, these fairways use more weight in the head combined with an ultra-high balance point shaft to help increase ball speeds and more consistency and stability. Street price: $229 (Available 9/18/2015)

Fairway woods aren’t as sexy as the driver, but everyone has them and many hit them as far a their driver, so why not upgrade to the latest tech? It also helps that fairway woods aren’t as expensive as the driver they go with. Give one of these fairways a try and you won’t be disappointed.

August 19, 2015
Introducing the TaylorMade JetSpeed Family

Thanks to their position as an industry leader and backed by their parent company the adidas Group, TaylorMade loves pumping out new clubs at a furious pace, often staggering their product launches throughout the year. It seems like they have a new driver on the market every 6 months. Earlier this year, the R1 Black was released, followed soon after by the new SLDR driver, now we have another new toy to play with. Here’s the official TaylorMade JetSpeed press release:

TaylorMade Golf Introduces JetSpeed Driver, Fairway Woods and Rescue Clubs

New Speed Pocket design unites with low CG and light weight to promote high launch and low spin for maximum distance

CARLSBAD, CALIF. (November 15, 2013) – TaylorMade, the No. 1 played driver brand on the PGA Tour, today announced the release of JetSpeed, a breakthrough line of metalwoods that includes the company’s first driver to feature Speed Pocket technology. In addition, JetSpeed fairway woods and Rescue clubs combine an enhanced Speed Pocket, an extremely low-forward center of gravity (CG) location and extremely light overall weight to promote faster swing speed, clubhead speed and ball speed for more distance.

“We expect ‘low and forward CG’ to represent the next great innovation in metalwood performance,” said Sean Toulon, Executive Vice President. “With our SLDR and JetSpeed products, we’re giving golfers of all types the opportunity to increase their launch angle and reduce their spin-rate, which ultimately leads to more distance.”

The First Driver with a Speed Pocket

The Speed Pocket was originally designed to increase the speed at which the clubface flexes and rebounds to promote faster ball speed. Why put a Speed Pocket in a driver, since the face is already as fast as the USGA will allow? TaylorMade engineers discovered that incorporating a Speed Pocket into the JetSpeed driver promotes less spin, as well as greater ball speeds on shots struck below the center of the clubface. Research suggests 72% of all golf shots are hit below the center of face, so the JetSpeed driver is designed to minimize the ill effects of shots struck below center.
“With most drivers, low impact generates too much spin, making the ball fly too high and land short,” said Brian Bazzel, TaylorMade’s Senior Director of Metalwood Creation. “JetSpeed’s Speed Pocket is engineered to dramatically reduce that added spin to promote more distance on that very common type of mis-hit.”

Visually, the extremely streamlined JetSpeed head features a matte black crown with a unique decal that promotes accurate face alignment at address. The matte finish also reduces glare and provides a stark contrast to the silver clubface, further making face alignment easier.

JetSpeed Fairway Woods and Rescues

JetSpeed fairway woods and Rescue clubs each incorporate a radically redesigned Speed Pocket that’s smaller and accounts for less weight, while remaining just as efficient at boosting the speed of the clubface.
The improved Speed Pocket is filled with a polymer that keeps debris out, improving turf interaction while absorbing unwanted vibration without slowing down the clubface.

The weight saved by the new Speed Pocket design is redistributed strategically within the clubhead to move the CG lower and more forward, a location that TaylorMade has proven promotes faster ball speeds and lower spin. JetSpeed fairways and Rescues reduce spin by 200-300 RPM compared to previous models to promote more distance.*

JetSpeed fairways and Rescues also feature a low-profile head design that makes it easier to make contact with the clubface below the ball’s equator, making it easier to launch the ball on a high, long-carrying flight and easier to get the ball in the air off the turf. The combination of low-profile head design and Speed Pocket work together to make JetSpeed fairway woods the longest and most playable fairways TaylorMade has ever created.**

TaylorMade Loft-Sleeve Technology

Available in the JetSpeed driver, TaylorMade’s Loft-Sleeve technology allows golfers to adjust the loft 1.5° up or down to dial in their optimal launch conditions. In the past, better players have been reluctant to play higher lofted metalwoods because of an increased spin rate. However, the new low-forward CG location dramatically reduces spin and results in greater distances with higher lofted clubs.

Shaft, Pricing & Availability

Equipped with the Matrix Velox T 49 shaft (46”), the JetSpeed driver is available in three lofts – 9.5°, 10.5° and HL (13°). Loft Sleeve Technology allows golfers to easily adjust their loft +/- 1.5° to find their optimal launch conditions. The manufacturer’s suggested retail price is $299 per club. An upgraded TP shaft, the Matrix Velox 60, is also available for a $100 upcharge.

The stock JetSpeed fairway wood shaft is the Matrix Velox T 69 shaft. At 69 grams, it’s a heavier shaft than TaylorMade has used in previous fairway wood models – which promotes better club control during the swing. Five fairway wood lofts are available: 3 wood (15°), 3HL (17°), 5 wood (19°), 5HL (21°) and 7 wood (23°). Each fairway wood retails for $229.

Matrix’s Velox T shaft powers the JetSpeed Rescue Clubs, with the weight determined by shaft flex: S/75 grams, R/65 grams, M/55 grams and L/45 grams. There are four lofts available: 3 (19°), 4 (22°), 5 (25°) and 6 (28°), each retailing for $199. JetSpeed metalwoods will be available at retailers nationwide starting December 13.

* TaylorMade robot testing indicates that a JetSpeed 3-wood generates 200-300 RPM less spin compared to an RBZ Stage 2 3-wood, to promote more distance. Both clubs tested at 15° with S-flex shaft. **Longest fairway claim based on robot testing, neutral setting at approximately 156 mph ball speed.

November 15, 2013
Tiger Woods – Illegal Drop on 15 at the Masters?

So far the 2013 Masters Tournament has had plenty of good stories, like 14 year-old Guan Tianlang making the cut or 53 year-old Fred Couples in contention again, but the big story so far this morning is the controversy brewing over the drop Tiger Woods took on the 15th hole yesterday.

Woods’ third shot on the 15th hole from 87 yards hit the flagstick and bounced into the water hazzard. After weighing his options, he dropped a ball back in the fairway and hit his 5th shot to three feet and made the putt for a six. Or so we thought…

After his round, he was asked about the 15th hole during a post-round interview and he may have incriminated himself. “I went back to where I played it from, but went two yards further back and I tried to take two yards off the shot of what I felt I hit, and that should land me short of the flag and not have it either hit the flag or skip over the back. I felt that was going to be the right decision to take off four (yards) right there. And I did. It worked out perfectly.”

Whoops! Let’s take a look at the rule in question (26-1) under which he took the drop shall we? (via USGA website)

If a ball is found in a water hazard or if it is known or virtually certain that a ball that has not been found is in the water hazard (whether the ball lies in water or not), the player may under penalty of one stroke:

a. Proceed under the stroke and distance provision of Rule 27-1 by playing a ball as nearly as possible at the spot from which the original ball was last played (see Rule 20-5); or

b. Drop a ball behind the water hazard, keeping the point at which the original ball last crossed the margin of the water hazard directly between the hole and the spot on which the ball is dropped, with no limit to how far behind the water hazard the ball may be dropped; or

c. As additional options available only if the ball last crossed the margin of alateral water hazard, drop a ball outside the water hazard within two club-lengths of and not nearer the hole than (i) the point where the original ball last crossed the margin of the water hazard or (ii) a point on the opposite margin of the water hazard equidistant from the hole.

The text in bold is what we’re interested in here. Tiger stated he dropped his ball 2 yards back from the original spot which, by definition, is not nearly as possible to the spot from which the original ball was last played. This is a pretty clear cut situation to me, and if you follow the letter of the rules there should be no other outcome that the obvious one. He should have been assessed a shot penalty. Instead of a 6, he should have made a 7. He signed an incorrect scorecard.

Tiger should be disqualified.

UPDATE 09:41am 4/13/2013: Augusta National has given Tiger Woods a 2 shot penalty but he has not been disqualified. Under Rule 33-7, Augusta National decided to give Tiger a 2 stroke penalty rather than disqualify him. The rule is below:

33-7. Disqualification Penalty; Committee Discretion

A penalty of disqualification may in exceptional individual cases be waived, modified or imposed if the Committee considers such action warranted.

Any penalty less than disqualification must not be waived or modified.

If a Committee considers that a player is guilty of a serious breach of etiquette, it may impose a penalty of disqualification under this Rule.

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April 13, 2013
Cleveland CG Black Irons & Woods – Sneak Peak

Click photo to enlarge

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

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

Click photo to enlarge

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

Click photo to enlarge

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

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

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November 2, 2011
Tiger Woods Speaks – Watch The Video!

There is no doubt that the statement Tiger Woods read to the world on Feb 19, 2010 will be replayed, analyzed, critisized, praised and more for the coming weeks or months. It may even go down in sports history as the turning point in a fall from grace, or a new start to a career that has become larger than life. Only time will tell. If you want to revisit the video of Tiger’s apology, here it is!

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On a more comedic note, former porn star Joslyn James called press conference immediatly after Tiger's to demand a direct apology. Now, this strikes me as increadibly selfish and very "hollywood". Not to mention that I think it absolutely hilarious that a porn star would fall in love with Tiger while having an affair! Hello Joslyn, wake up and smell the latex! Enjoy the video:

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February 19, 2010
Tiger Woods Speaks!

Tiger Woods seen running near his home at Isleworth in Windermere, Florida

Tiger Woods has come out of his self-imposed exile and will speak Friday, Feb 19 about what has transpired in the last three months and what his plans are for the future. The world will be watching, and the world will likely be disappointed. Tiger will reportedly speak from a prepared statement for about five minutes and will take no questions from the media. In fact, the media isn’t even allowed in. They will be covering the “event” from the Sawgrass Marriott convention center in Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida, about a mile down the road from the PGA Tour HQ, where Tiger’s statement will take place.

The timing of his statement has been questioned and criticized, taking place on in the middle of the Accenture World Match Play Championships, rather than on a Monday, which is usually a travel day on the PGA Tour. Accenture was the first of Tiger’s sponsors to drop him when the sex scandal broke. Is this a jab at his former sponsor? I doubt it, but some have questions. Ernie Els told Golfweek magazine after Woods’ announcement that his statement was “selfish.” “I feel sorry for the sponsor. Mondays are a good day to make statements, not Friday,” he told the magazine. “This takes a lot away from the golf tournament.”

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p style=”text-align: center;”> Tiger's statement has been orchestrated in White House style, with a few select friends and media members attending, but the rest of the mob forced to cover it via video. In other words, Tiger is ready to make a statement but he doesn't want to answer the tough questions. The questions everyone seems to want an answer to. Tiger has been very consistent throughout his career in declining the media any access to his personal life, and it doesn't look like he's about to change. Tiger is know for doing things his way, and it doesn't appear that he will let the media change him. It's relieving that Tiger is finally coming out and speaking about the scandal that has dominated golf and his life since Thanksgiving of 2009, but I'm afraid this isn't over. You see, Tiger isn't about to reveal the deepest darkest secrets of his life on a public stage. His statement on Friday will no doubt leave people with more questions than answers, and Tiger will have to deal with the media circus every time he steps into the public for some time. That is, until he wins another major... Here's a great video from Stephanie Wei of Weiunderpar.com that shows you the kind of outrage some media members are feeling about the timing and details of this announcement: Alex Miceli Calls Tiger Gutless from Stephanie Wei on Vimeo.
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February 18, 2010
Srixon Z-TX Clubs – Sneak Peak

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

Srixon Z-TX Irons

Srixon Z-TX Driver

Srixon Z-TX Fairways

New Srixon Hybrid

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

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

Z-TX driver
Retail price: $499

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

OFFERING
8.5, 9.5, 10.5

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

Z-TX fairway wood
Retail price: $249

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

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

OFFERING
#3, #5

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

* X-Flex – Custom aftermarket shaft only.

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

August 25, 2009