Constant innovations in driver technology and the emergence of hybrids often dominate discussions about new clubs. However, fairway woods have quietly been improving each year, and it would be a mistake to overlook these new 2008 models.
Nike SQ Sumo2
The distinct square shape of Nike’s SQ Sumo2 Fairway Wood is no accident – the club is geometrically designed to give golfers incredible accuracy, distance and forgiveness. The square head provides a ridiculously high Moment of Intertia (MOI) which results in less twisting of the club to allow lots of leeway on miss-hits. Additionally, the club face incorporates Nike’s updated body shaping technology to generate maximum ball speed. With the SQ Sumo2, you will enjoy more consistently-accurate shots and even get lucky when the club corrects many of your mistakes. It may also become the most versatile club in your set thanks the Monorail sole, which makes it easy to hit from any type of lie.
Cleveland HiBore XLS
When it comes to hitting consistent long shots, size can matter. That’s why Cleveland’s HiBore XLS Fairway Woods feature a 25 percent larger head and 19 percent larger club face than the original HiBore. The head is sizeable enough that it offers fantastic MOI but is still light-weight enough to promote increased club speed. The face features so much surface area that it rarely produces a bad shot, so even less-than-great hits often result in excellent ball speed and accuracy.
Adams Insight XTD a3 Hybrid-FW and a3OS Hybrid-FW
The Adams Insight XTD a3 Hybrid-FW combines the versatility of a hybrid with the power of a fairway wood. Built for advanced golfers with medium-to-fast swings, it features the same patented Boxer Technology as the company’s popular hybrids to deliver a MOI higher than that of traditional fairway woods. The unique sole design of the club reduces ground contact by 22 percent compared to most bulky fairway woods, making it playable on almost any surface. It’s also a good option for hitting off a tee when a driver may get you into trouble. Adams also offers the Insight XTD a3OS Hyrbrid-FW which features the same innovations as the a3 model but is intended for golfers with slower swings. It features mass a slight offset that helps create optimal launch and eliminate slice.
Callaway FT-i Squareway
Much like the Nike Sumo SQ2, the Callaway FT-i Squareway Woods have a square-shaped club head which is hardly conventional but delivers results. Using the same technology as the FT-i driver, the club head is designed to shift weight to the back, heel and toe of the club creating high MOI and a low center of gravity. This results in excellent forgiveness across the club face and produces high-soaring shots. The cutting-edge weight distribution of the club head also means that it’s extremely stable, allowing Callaway to fit it with the longest shaft of any fairway wood the company has ever produced. The result is an increase in club speed and more distance without the sacrifice in accuracy generally associated with longer shaft.
Bill Kliewer is the Chief Equipment Advisor for The Golf Channel.
Friday, July 25, 2008
Bring the Power with These Standout Drivers
by Bill Kliewer, The Golf Warehouse (TGW.com)
Golf’s top brands are constantly putting out new and improved clubs. This is especially true of drivers, as players are constantly seeking ways to hit the ball farther and straighter off the tee. That’s why having a capable “big dog” is essential if one hopes to keep pace with the competition. Some of the best of the 2008 season:
Callaway has taken versatility to a whole new level with I-Mix technology, a system that allows golfers to switch shafts based on playing conditions. Available in both FT-5 and FT-i heads, players can choose among 70 available shafts. Each club head comes with a specially-designed hosel that attaches and detaches easily from the shaft using the I-Mix wrench. This means players can configure their Callaway drivers to promote the type of ball flight that works best on any given day.
The large 460cc titanium head features a high moment of inertia (MOI) for ultimate forgiveness while the large face increases the effective hitting area to promote consistent shots.
Mizuno spent years researching and developing the “Fast Track Technology,” making the MP-600 unique. Two adjustable eight-gram weights allow players to choose from 15 ball-flight settings – using a dial to tweak the center of gravity (CG) – giving golfers total trajectory control. Another feature is the CNC-milled “CORTECH” insert behind the face, giving this club a large sweet spot for explosive shots, even on off-center hits.
The distinct look of this high-MOI driver is attributed to the concave ridges on top, giving the crown a hollowed-out appearance. This design allows for weight to be concentrated at the perimeters of the club head, lowering the CG and increasing the MOI. As a result, the club is very forgiving and makes it easy to launch the ball high in the air. Because the light head also provides excellent stability, the Staff Spine comes standard with a longer-than-average shaft to increase swing speeds without compromising accuracy.
The XCG’s magnesium crown is two times lighter than a typical titanium crown, meaning the weight of the club head is located largely in the steel sole. Meanwhile, the face is built with the same “titanium cupped face technology” that made Tour Edge’s Exotics Fairway woods so popular. These features in tandem mean the club promotes a high launch and boasts extremely high MOI to make it extra-forgiving on miss hits. In addition, the magnesium crown absorbs the impact of each shot so the club feels smooth upon contact.
Bill Kliewer is Senior Equipment Advisor of The Golf Warehouse (TGW.com), the world’s largest online golf store.
Unleashing Your Full Driving Potential in ’08
by Bill Kliewer, The Golf Warehouse (TGW.com)
Hitting a long and straight tee shot can do wonders for anyone’s score and confidence. Perhaps that’s why club manufacturers have placed so much emphasis on driver technology in recent years, and golfers of all skill levels are reaping the benefits. Don’t miss out on some of the latest and greatest big sticks of the 2008 season.
Nike Sumo SQ2 5900
The SQ2 5900 represents a step up for Nike’s already-strong Sumo line, with a deeper face and improved body shaping which add ball speed and improved accuracy. The weight of the light titanium head is distributed to the corners thanks to Nike’s Powerbow™ weighting system. This gives the club a USGA-maximum moment of inertia (MOI), as this square-shaped club offers unparalleled forgiveness on mis-hits.
Cleveland Men’s HiBore XLS
The Hibore XLS features a 17-percent larger club face than its popular predecessor, the HiBore XL. Cleveland also beefed up the new model to include a 13-percent higher MOI, resulting in optimal launch over a large area of the face. In combination, these features allow golfers to hit straighter, longer shots even when the swing isn’t perfect. The stability ridges along the sides and the crown plaque on top also make it easy to align the club at address.
Callaway FT-i Tour LCG
This square driver features a head made of ultra-light carbon-composite material so weight can be distributed to the extreme corners of the club. This helps make the FT-i Tour LCG the highest MOI of any Callaway driver to date. With this club, it is actually hard not to hit the ball straight. Additionally, the titanium face was designed using Callaway’s performance-enhancing VFT technology for explosive power to improve any golfer’s distance.
Cobra Speed LD F and Speed LD M
Cobra’s Speed LD series includes two different types of drivers — the Speed LD M that caters to mid to high-handicappers, and the Speed LD F for more advanced players. Golfers with moderate swing speeds (76-97 MPH) should try the Speed LD M. It promotes extra high launch to add distance to any shot, and includes a built-in draw bias to correct slice and add distance. The Speed LD F is for golfers with faster swings (over 87 MPH) and is designed to create lower spin, so golfers can take more control of their shots.
Bill Kliewer is Senior Equipment Advisor of The Golf Warehouse (TGW.com), the world’s largest online golf store.
Hitting a long and straight tee shot can do wonders for anyone’s score and confidence. Perhaps that’s why club manufacturers have placed so much emphasis on driver technology in recent years, and golfers of all skill levels are reaping the benefits. Don’t miss out on some of the latest and greatest big sticks of the 2008 season.
Nike Sumo SQ2 5900
The SQ2 5900 represents a step up for Nike’s already-strong Sumo line, with a deeper face and improved body shaping which add ball speed and improved accuracy. The weight of the light titanium head is distributed to the corners thanks to Nike’s Powerbow™ weighting system. This gives the club a USGA-maximum moment of inertia (MOI), as this square-shaped club offers unparalleled forgiveness on mis-hits.
Cleveland Men’s HiBore XLS
The Hibore XLS features a 17-percent larger club face than its popular predecessor, the HiBore XL. Cleveland also beefed up the new model to include a 13-percent higher MOI, resulting in optimal launch over a large area of the face. In combination, these features allow golfers to hit straighter, longer shots even when the swing isn’t perfect. The stability ridges along the sides and the crown plaque on top also make it easy to align the club at address.
Callaway FT-i Tour LCG
This square driver features a head made of ultra-light carbon-composite material so weight can be distributed to the extreme corners of the club. This helps make the FT-i Tour LCG the highest MOI of any Callaway driver to date. With this club, it is actually hard not to hit the ball straight. Additionally, the titanium face was designed using Callaway’s performance-enhancing VFT technology for explosive power to improve any golfer’s distance.
Cobra Speed LD F and Speed LD M
Cobra’s Speed LD series includes two different types of drivers — the Speed LD M that caters to mid to high-handicappers, and the Speed LD F for more advanced players. Golfers with moderate swing speeds (76-97 MPH) should try the Speed LD M. It promotes extra high launch to add distance to any shot, and includes a built-in draw bias to correct slice and add distance. The Speed LD F is for golfers with faster swings (over 87 MPH) and is designed to create lower spin, so golfers can take more control of their shots.
Bill Kliewer is Senior Equipment Advisor of The Golf Warehouse (TGW.com), the world’s largest online golf store.
Hit it Far, Stick it Tight, Lower Your Scores
by Bill Kliewer, The Golf Warehouse (TGW.com)
It’s no secret that technology has changed golf – some argue for the better, some for the worse. Unless you feel strongly the game should only be played with a gutta-percha ball, niblick and mashie, we suggest you begin evolving. While the arrival of 460cc drivers and fancy hybrids have certainly made an impact, perhaps the piece of equipment most affected by recent advancements is the golf ball. Here are a few which are certain to please.
Used by PGA Tour stars Phil Mickelson and Ernie Els, among others, the new Callaway Tour ix is the most technologically advanced ball the company has produced to date. The ix’s dual core construction allows for great distance off the tee while still offering tremendous spin around the green. A mantle layer works with the dual core to produce high ball speed, while the new thermoset urethane cover provides soft feel and short-game spin for excellent control.
Used by more than 150 Tour professionals, including Fred Funk, Retief Goosen and Sergio Garcia, the Taylor Made TP series helps golfers with fast swings achieve greater distance and accuracy. These balls help reduce bad shots because of a dimple technology called “Low-Drag Performance” that maintains lift on off-center hits to minimize distance loss. The TP Red features a four-piece construction and is best for players who prefer more spin and higher trajectory, while the TP Black employs a three-piece construction for less spin and lower trajectory.
The latest versions of the most popular balls among Tour players are perfect for advanced golfers who demand nothing less than the best. These balls improve anyone’s short game because of a super soft cover, giving them excellent feel around the green. Both models employ a “Staggered Wave Parting Line” where the two cover pieces meet, allowing for greater dimple surface coverage. This improves aerodynamics, resulting in more accurate shots with striking regularity. With 392 dimples, the Pro V1 produces a high trajectory while the Pro V1x has fewer dimples and creates less spin for golfers who prefer a lower trajectory.
One of the oldest and most reliable brands in golf,
The Karma features a 50-compression core and a softened two-piece cover which help make it the ideal ball for mid-to-high handicappers. The low compression means golfers with slower swings can optimize their distances, while the cover delivers a soft feel on approach shots. In addition, the 312 dimples on the surface help to build confidence by promoting a high trajectory so players can consistently get the ball in the air.
Bill Kliewer is Senior Equipment Advisor of The Golf Warehouse (TGW.com), the world’s largest online golf store.
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