Golf Clubs n Tips

Ping engineers have done it again! The G15 is long and forgiving. The i15 may even be a bit longer on dead center hits and has more face curvature for shot making. The G15 is long and straight. Compared to theG10, the new G15 is a bit more forgiving and creates higher ball speed on off center hits. The launch angle is a little steeper to increase carry and is available in both neutral and draw versions. The G15 shaft’s balance point is closer to the handle and that allows more mass in the club head without sacrificing balance.

The i15 is designed for players with higher swing speeds. The club face has more curvature for a higher energy transfer on center hits. Drives should have a lower trajectory and less spin for a penetrating flight. The club weighting encourages a slight fade for heavy hitters.

Some Ping staffers will be trying out the new drivers at the British Open.

Tags: Golf Clubs - Drivers by Golf Clubs N Tips Staff
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Tour Proven Pear Shaped Hi-Tech Driver

The new Titleist 909 Driver Series, available at retail outlets in November 2008, is a tour proven traditional pear shaped titanium and composite family of drivers. The 909 Series includes the 909DCOMP, 909D2, and 909D3.

The Titleist 909DComp is a high performance driver with a  full pear profile 460cc clubhead delivering high launch with low to mid spin. It features a 6-4 titanium body, 6-4 titanium face insert, 1K composite crown. The composite crown creates a low and deep CG for reduced spin, higher launch and MOI, and longer, straighter drives. The 909DCOMP has a tuned sole and an internal rib to reduce vibration a deliver a very solid sound and feel.

The composite crown and tuned sole of the 909DComp, which includes optimized pockets and an internal rib for reduced vibration, deliver a tour validated sound and feel. Stock shafts include Titleist Matrix Ozik XCON-5 and Titleist Matrix Ozik XCON-6 with a MSRP $550.

The Titleist 909D2 has a 460cc clubhead with a full pear profile with 6-4 titanium body and 6-4 titanium face insert. It is a high performance driver delivering mid launch with low to mid spin. The tuned sole of the 909D2 includes optimized pockets and an internal rib for reduced vibration, providing solid feel and better sound.

The design utilizes an integrated titanium blind bore hosel to save weight, provide solid feel, and allow for more shaft options. The factory installed SureFit Swingweight Screw helps to position the CG deep while also providing a precise head to shaft match. Stock shafts are the Titleist Diamana Blue 65 and the Aldila VooDoo.  The standard length is 45″ with +2″/ -2″  available. MSRP $450
The Titleist 909D3 has a classic pear profile, deep face, and 440cc titanium clubhead construction. The 909D3 features modern profile that creates a low and deep CG for reduced spin, higher MOI, and longer, straighter drives. The classic pear shape with a smaller, deeper face enhances workability for shot and trajectory control.

The 909D3 shares the design features of optimized pockets and an internal rib for reduced vibration, providing solid feel and better sound. The same standard stock shafts  and lengths as the D2. MSRP $450

Our staff has wide ranging opinions on the 909’s. Our pros and and long hitting low handicappers really like the playability of the 909DCOMP. Our 12 handicapper struggled with it and hit the 909D2 better. The D3 appears to be more workable for those who consistently shape their shots.

Tags: Golf Clubs - Drivers by Golf Clubs N Tips Staff
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New Callaway Driver FT-IQ

Space age technology from the laboratory at Callaway. Made of 4 different materials this ultra new square driver looks different, feels different, and really is easier to hit. The Callaway carbon composite technology moves weight to areas of the club head to increase forgiveness. The IQ as it’s known will be available at retail in November 2008. It has a very low center of gravity and that allows almost any hit anywhere on the club face to get airborne.  The research engineers have made the titanium face thicker in the middle to reduce backspin. A lower spin for most swings will produce a longer drive. Now, the bad news. We understand that MSRP will be $499. Of course, we expect that will be discounted pretty quickly, but it will be pricey.

Several hours of range time with a borrowed IQ confirms it forgiveness. Hit it anywhere on the face the ball gets up. It has a large sweet spot. The Callaway engineers have created increased club head stability at impact on off-center hits. The appearance at set up is radically different than conventional club heads. If you have been playing an FT-I or a similar square driver, then it will not be a major transition. We do believe that set up image is an important factor, especially for lower handicap golfers.

Sound is another factor that is quite important in golf.  Callaway drivers do have a different sound. Some of our guys did not like the sound, set up, and flight path. Our 12 handicap tester loved it. He played a casual match with the IQ and shot a career best that he attributed to driving accuracy. He did hit 12 fairways.

Clearly, the game of golf gets easier when we find the fairway off the tee. While the ball seemed to travel a long way in the air, we experienced a high trajectory that didn’t roll all that much. Comparing the IQ to the Ping G10, we think overall distance was a bit more with the G10, but accuracy is more controlled in the air. If you want increased driving accuracy with a very forgiving driver, then check out the new Callaway FT-IQ. Our marketing affiliate, Austad’s will have it available in November 2008.

Tags: Golf Clubs - Drivers by Golf Clubs N Tips Staff
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Cobra Adjustable Driver – Longer or Longest

U.S. Golf Association regulations theoretically level the playing field. However, if you can generate enough club head speed, a driver face that generates a very low spinning shot can provide a distance advantage. Cobra claims their new L5V scheduled to be available October 1st with an estimated $480 MSRP is “insanely long and straight”.

This is Cobra’s successor to the popular L4V and represents a major step into the future of club design. The face height is deeper with a lower center of gravity. This new design the effective hitting area and provides a significant improvement in forgiveness for off center hits. Depending on individual swing factors the spin rate is down 10-15% and moment of inertia is up. The trademark dimples are shallower and the sound, a very important factor for feedback, is more metallic than the L4V.

The most revolutionary feature is the adjustable face angle which Cobra refers to as adjustable ball flight. Shafts are interchangeable with a torque wrench and a simple rotation of the shaft after insertion will alter face angle from a draw bias to open.

The L5V comes withe your choice of three Diamana shafts plus several optional custom shafts. The Diamana shafts come in X, F,and M for extra-fast, fast, and moderate swing speeds. Tinkering with the adjustments can provide hours of range entertainment. The big question for Cobra is will golfers seriously test and evaluate all the options to optimize their individual setting?

Here’s the bottom line. Most of us golfers want more distance and most of us can achieve it by getting a lower spin rate off a driver face that provides for more roll. A driver face with a draw bias and a shaft appropriate for our swing characterics can greatly improve our shot trajectory and roll out. Since most of us don’t have a tour van available to alter and tweak our equipment, Cobra is providing us the next best thing and we can tweak away.

Visit our marketing affiliate Austad’s by clicking the banner below for all your golf equipment and accessories. Austad’s has been satisfying customer’s since 1913.

Tags: Golf Clubs - Drivers by Golf Clubs N Tips Staff
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Ping Golf Has The Recipe – Forgiveness and Distance

The Ping engineers claim they used a Cray supercomputer, one of largest and fastest computers this side of Star Wars, to simulate and optimize the G10™ driver’s crown, sole, and face structure for maximum energy transfer, and read distance. They have produced a thinner crown, allowing some of the club head weight to be shifted to produce a higher moment of inertia.

In short, they claim more forgiveness on off center hits and optimal distance: two things that we golfers, cherish. We went to the range, and then played the G10™ at Dragon Ridge Country Club in Henderson, Nevada, a beautiful venue that hosted the Senior Open Qualifier earlier this year.

First let’s explore the company specs on the G10. The clubs have no offset and can be ordered with lofts of 7.5°, 9.0°, 10.5°, 12.0°, and 13.5°. There is a draw bias available. The standart shaft is 45.75″. Lie is 58.0° and head weight is 199g with a swing weight of D3.
• These are design specifications that may vary due to manufacturing tolerances
• Standard swing weights for Soft R and Regular shafts are 1 point lighter than shown
• The G10 Driver is available in both RH and LH models.

Note that while the length is three quarters of an inch longer than the old standard for drivers, it is a good half inch shorter than several current competitors. It is a light driver which should slightly increase swing speed.

We really liked this driver on the range. We had the square faced (rather than draw) version and started hitting nice high little draws with the 9.0° head right from the get go. When we tried to hit a fade, it reacted accordingly with cut shots. Toe hits traveled remarkably well. It is more forgiving, if possible, than the G5 that we fell in love with in 2005.

The only negative appeared on really ugly heel pulls that squibbed dead left. No surprise.

The course is always the ultimate test. It is a gamer. It is in the bag (replacing the most played driver on the PGA Tour). It is a bit longer than the G5. Since I’ve been hitting a driver than comes with a 46.25” shaft, I’m thinking of re-shafting this one to that length as an experiment to see just how long this club can be.

Our marketing affiliate, Austad’s, carries Ping Golf products.

Tags: Golf Clubs - Drivers by Golf Clubs N Tips Staff
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