Equipment Reviews
Here we have listed what we feel is the best club in
each category of the golf game:
DRIVER
Mizuno MX-500
The Mizuno MX-500 driver delivers a high trajectory, optimum spin rates,
and maximum ball speed for long, straight drives. A new, innovative
graphite toe insert and graphite top crown allow the ideal amount of
weight redistribution around the club head, thus positioning the COG
lower and deeper creating a huge sweet area and a high, straight ball
flight. Mizuno engineers were able to save 23 grams of weight in the
crown by using carbon fibre composite, which is one-third the weight of
titanium, and repositioned that weight around the club head to create an
extremely low and deep COG thereby enabling players to launch the ball
with greater ease for maximum distance. In addition, through an
innovative graphite toe insert, 7 grams of weight was re-distributed low
and towards the heel to square the face at impact resulting in
straighter tee shots. A Perimeter Weight Slot further distributes weight
deep and toward the perimeter for increased forgiveness and a high, easy
launch. The MX-500 driver features the next generation of Mizuno's
CORTECH multi-thickness face design which now utilizes six
multi-thickness areas to generate the maximum Coefficient of Restitution
(COR) the USGA allows. CORTECH in the MX-500 is a combination of
multiple thickness face and high strength materials to ensure uniform
face deflection and a thin responsive face for increased distance and
consistency. Furthermore, the MX-500 utilizes an X-sole design which
provides exceptional solid feel and sound at contact, and a maximum
allowable USGA 460cc volume for unparalleled forgiveness.
FAIRWAY WOOD
Nike Ignite T60 Strong 3 Wood Steel Shaft
Built on the same principals as Nike Golf's popular T40 series, the new
Ignite T60's are an improved design, aimed at giving golfers at every
level a fairway wood that is even easier to hit. The new design allows
for optimum weight to be inserted low in the club head to offer superb
lift and shot trajectory. The Ignite T60 series features a 60-gram
Tungsten plug sole insert, which creates an even easier launch capacity
capability than their predecessors the T40. The Tungsten insert needs
less space to provide the same weight as steel, offering more room for
increasing the weight around the perimeter of the club. This is then
strategically placed in the club head for a lower and deeper centre of
gravity, helping to drive the club beneath the ball. "What we achieved
with the T40 was to increase the weight of the clubs' plug sole inserts
without sacrificing their power and finesse, making it far easier to get
the ball in the air," said Mike Kelly Nike Golf's club category business
director. "With the Ignite T60 series, we have managed to place more
weight in the sole of the club to create a fairway wood that will have
balls effortlessly flying off the fairways." The clubface is crafted
from custom 455 stainless steel, a material that is thinner, stronger
and faster than the surface of Nike Golf's previous offerings. This
allows for a larger sweet spot and a higher resistance to twisting than
experienced with the T40 fairway woods.
IRONS
Mizuno MP-60 Steel Shaft
The Mizuno MP-60 Cut Muscle Cavity iron continues
to maximize the performance for today's more aggressive game. The Grain
Flow Forged MP-60 is 4% larger and has a 10% larger sweet area when
compared to its outstanding Cut Muscle counterpart, the MP-32. The Cut
Muscle design in the Mizuno MP-60 delivers a slightly higher ball flight
in the long irons, and a mid trajectory in the scoring irons, while the
Cut Muscle design precisely positions the COG in each club for a
consistent and predictable ball flight. The MP-60’s feature an
innovative Cut Muscle Cavity design that provides ideal COG locations,
perfect trajectory, enhanced solid feel and increased forgiveness. The
grain Flow Forged, 1025 select mild carbon steel provides the ultimate
soft, solid, consistent feel. They come with a durable double nickel
chrome plated finish and modified U-grooves produce the ideal spin rate
for maximum playability in all conditions. Rolled leading edge, cambered
mid-sole, and rolled trailing edge deliver consistent striking ability
from all types of lies.
WEDGE
Titleist Vokey Spin Milled Steel Shaft
Titleist Vokey Spin Milled wedges are unique
products that provide a truly discernible performance option - increased
spin. By working with Tour players to create wedges that performed under
the most challenging major championship conditions, Bob has developed a
precisely machined, tight tolerance groove that provides the player with
increased spin on both full and partial wedge shots. Titleist Vokey Spin
Milled wedges feature a CNC machined cut face and grooves. A special
circular saw style cutting tool is used to create precise grooves with a
steeper draft angle and a tighter edge radius for increased friction.
Titleist Vokey Spin Milled wedges have 30% more groove volume than a
conventional wedge. This provides more consistent and higher spin,
particularly from grassy lies and wet conditions. Titleist Vokey Spin
Milled gives you the confidence to successfully execute more challenging
short game shots.
PUTTER
Callaway Odyssey DFX 2-Ball
The Stronomic insert used in the Odyssey DFX
putters provides a distinctive feel that is somewhat crisper than the
White Hot insert used in Callaway's other putters. It also has a dark
gray finish that reduces glare in bright conditions- and further
highlights the white discs of the 2-Ball alignment system
UTILITY CLUB
Cleveland Halo Graphite Shaft
The Cleveland Halo Utility Club was designed with
a larger sweet spot making it much easier to hit than traditional
long-irons. This club?s higher MOI and lower CG allow for maximum
forgiveness on off-centre shots while also creating higher launch angles
and added spin for those long approach shots that require a soft
landing. Made with a 17-4 stainless steel body and a 455 Custom
Carpenter Steel face.
GOLF BALLS
Titelist Pro V1
The new Pro V1 for 2003 is a refined version of last year’s ball that
offers significant performance advances. The core has been reformulated
to provide more speed and the increased velocity translates to longer
distance at all ball speeds, yet the core has lower compression for
softer feel. In addition the new ball has a slightly reconfigured dimple
design that optimises surface coverage resulting in increased distance,
particularly with the driver.
GOLF SHOES
FootJoy Classics Dry Premiere
The FootJoy Classics Dry Premiere are the best shoes on the market and
well worth the price. It's like playing golf in your slippers!
comfortable beyond belief. They're soft but sturdy at the same time,
look great and fit like a glove. If you play golf as much as me then
Footjoy Classics are worth the investment. Will last you for a few years
at least and they will never go out of style. Definitely the Aston
Martin of Golf shoes.
GOLF BAG
Titleist Tour Bag
My old Adidas bag finally gave up the ghost earlier this year. After 15+
years of sterling service the last of the zippers on the bag finally let
go and I decided a new bag was in order.With the advent of modern
drivers and their huge headcovers I needed a bag big enough to secure my
clubs when the rain hood was up, with good graphite shaft protection and
one that had full length dividers for keeping things in order and also a
pocket for my keys, wallet etc and then enough hidy-holes for
waterproofs, jumpers, balls, gloves etc. After searching around on the
net and in AGD, Nevada Bobs etc. I had to come to the conclusion that
the only bags big enough to suit and fulfil all my requirements would
have to be a tour bag (plus the fact that they look SOOOOO cool and you
can get your name embroidered on them !!). As I play with a 983K driver,
690.MB irons and ProV's it had to be a Titleist Tour bag and the S52 was
the biggest on the market. The manufacturing qulaity is just superb. The
buffalo hide leather is lovely and soft and very tactile and the '05
Staff logo is very striking. The Titleist Staff Tour S52 bag has enough
pockets to satisfy the biggest horders around and I have found a niche
for all my stuff and all the pockets are very easy to access. The bag
stands on its base on even very uneven ground and isn't arrected by wind
at all, so you can almost hide behind it while waiting for your next
shot. I have used it 3-4 times in the rain (horizontal rain one
afternoon) and with the clever rain hood the bag has so far been 100%
waterproof. Suprisingly for a bag of its size, the Titleist Staff Tour
S52 bag is very lightweight and the balance of the wide sholuder strap
is perfect (I guess its designed for professional caddies and they make
their living from lugging bags around so its a good bet that a few of
the tour guys had a hand in the design). The only problem with the bag
is getting it in and out of the boot of a standard car..... ITS HUGE !!
It does come with a couple of auxilluary handles which make it easy to
move around but thats the only fault I've found so far. Overall this bag
is AWESOME. Looks great, holds all my rubbish and makes you FEEL like a
pro - even if you don't play like one.
GOLF TROLLEY
Powakaddy Freeway Titanium Sport Digital
The PowaKaddy Freeway Titanium Sport Digital golf trolley offers golfers
all the compactness and convenience of the standard Freeway, but with
added touches of finesse and state of the art digital control
technology. The new multi-functional digital command system features a
LED panel in the handle and delivers an even more responsive and
reliable cart than its market leading analogue companion. The Electronic
Distance Function (EDF), seen on other PowaKaddy models, is digitally
operated for the first time and offers three times as many speed
settings than before, providing 48 options in total. The EDF system
allows you to drive your cart 15, 30 or 45 metres in one click and a
simple scrolling action now allows you to choose the speed most suited
to your own walking pace. A one-press stop-start function also means
your cart will automatically proceed at the last speed setting that you
selected. In addition to the digital EDF system, the Freeway Titanium
Sport Digital also has all the advanced features that you would expect
from the ultimate driving machine. These include the tough super
lightweight AMST alloy chassis, low profile quick release sport wheels,
and a near noiseless motor.
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