Editors' Picks And Reviews

Bag Boy has been rolling out push carts for 70 years, and they keep coming up with cool new models sporting the latest technology. Their new line of Quad Series electric carts — dubbed Navigator, Coaster and Hunter — are 22 percent smaller than previous models. All feature digital electronics with full color displays, super compact four wheel engineering and fully retractable fifth wheel for added uphill stability. All three models are built to take additional accessories including solar chargers, rain covers and scorecard holders. “With the choice of three impressively powerful models that are compact, lightweight and easy to fold, it is a new era of four wheel electric carts”, said Craig Ramsbottom, Bag Boy President.

The Navigator Quad is dynamic on every level. With a full directional remote control, it can be directed left, right, forward and reverse, giving the golfer more energy to play their best game. “It is the pinnacle of remote controlled power with intelligence to stay on track and respond to your needs at the press of a button,” said Ramsbottom. The patented Gyro “Anti-Deviation” technology helps master any terrain by keeping the cart on track irrespective of the terrain — it can literally move across a hill instead of down.

The Coaster Quad tames the terrain thanks to the controlled downhill speed braking system and electronic parking brake. Play on a steep incline and at the press of a button activate the electronic parking brake for an absolute stop on any terrain. The Coaster conveniently stops on command using the control distance function which can be set from 5 to 65 yards and will stop at the desired distance.

Finally, the The Hunter Quad is powerful yet extremely quiet and simple to use with signature Bag Boy features including a compact frame and controlled distance function. It has a powerful, whisper quiet single 230w motor powered by 12v SLA sealed lead acid battery, or you can upgrade to Lithium ion 12v 18 amp battery.

All models fold down to 28 in. x 22 in. x 13 in. and include umbrella holder, self-leveling drink holder, USB cable for remote charting. The Navigator also includes removable padded cart seat with storage compartment, which is optional with the other models.

$2,195.95 for Navigator

$1,595.95 for Coaster

$995 or $1,195 for Hunter

www.bagboy.com

G DRIVER

Dragonflies? Semi trucks? What do they have do with golf club design? Leave it to the iconoclastic team at PING to answer the question. Take the new G Driver: A close-up photograph of a dragonfly taken by John Solheim, PING chairman and CEO, was the inspiration for the primary innovation in this sleek stick. Solheim was intrigued by the wing structure and shared the photo with a group of engineers. Inspired by biomimicry, an approach to innovation that emulates nature’s time-tested patterns, they created Dragonfly Technology. The complex exoskeleton design yields PING’s thinnest (0.43 mm) and lightest crown to date, saving eight grams while creating an intricate and stable structure.

The weight savings helped drive the center of gravity lower and deeper than any PING driver, increasing dynamic loft and elevating MOI significantly for maximizing distance and forgiveness. Researchers also studied the base flaps that minimize “large-scale vortex shedding” behind 18-wheelers and integrated their learnings into the G drivers to improve aerodynamics and increase speed. Vortec Technology on the back of the club and “turbulators” on the crown contribute to reducing drag 37 percent in the impact zone, yielding greater clubhead speed and ball velocity for measurable distance gains from all swing speeds. The variable-thickness T9S face has a high strength-to-weight ratio, allowing for a thin face to increase ball speed. Loft is adjustable up to one degree up or down with five settings utilizing a lightweight, aerodynamically efficient and high-strength 7075 aluminum hosel sleeve. The G SF Tec driver (10 and 12-degree standard lofts) is custom-engineered with weight closer to the heel to produce a right-to-left shot bend (for right-handed golfers) and steer the ball back into the fairway. The G LS Tec driver (9 and 10.5 degrees) features a CG that is extremely low.
$435

FAIRWAY METALS

Nearly all golfers struggle getting the ball in the air easily with fairway woods. To solve that, the G fairway woods have a lower lead edge that yields 12 percent higher face impact, relative to the G30 series. It’s got the variable-thickness face like other G series clubs, as well as the cascading sole design and “crown turbulators.” Ping’s thinnest crown ever in a fairway wood means discretionary weight has been used to move the CG lower and farther back, making it easier to get the ball airborne. A unique process adds friction to the face for reduced spin. As with the driver, golfers can optimize launch conditions prior to a round by adjusting loft up to +/- 1 degree with five settings utilizing a 7075 aluminum hosel sleeve. The G SF Tec fairway woods have weight closer to the heel, a lighter swing weight, and higher lofts to produce right-to-left shot bend for players whose typical miss is to the right. The G Stretch 3 is custom-engineered to stretch a player’s distance off the tee and on shots into the green with its larger head, slightly forward CG, 13 degree loft, and reduced spin. Lofts across both models range from from 13 to 20.5 degrees.
$287.50 per club

G HYBRIDS

PING G HYBRID

Variation on the new G-theme: These handsome hybrids’ innovative tiered internal sole helps activate face flexing to power the ball off the face faster for greater distance. The ultra-thin crown allows for a low-back center of gravity to ensure high launch, reduced spin and a higher MOI for, you guess it, maximizing forgiveness. The high-strength Carpenter 455 steel face is precision-machined to variable thickness, which saves weight and maximizes flexing to generate faster ball speeds across the face for consistently longer results. Like the G fairways, a unique process adds friction to the face to reduce spin. Crown turbulators and contrasting grooves on the face help provide a captured look and assist in aim and alignment, creating a consistently centered impact position. Available 17°, 19, 22, 26, 30 degrees.
$247.50 per club

G IRONS

The G iron utilizes revolutionary COR-Eye Technology (introduced in the GMax irons), which activates the sole, face and top rail in flexing for consistently faster ball speeds across the hotter face. The entire G set is heat treated using a specialized process that creates Hyper 17-4 alloy, which is 40 percent stronger than traditional 17-4 stainless steel. Metallurgical advancements combined with COR-Eye Technology provide four times the face flexing with improved stability. “The results are big distance gains and a higher peak trajectory for better stopping power so you can hit and hold the green,” Solheim said. “One benefit of that is a player might be able to club up and hit a 7-iron, for example, instead of a 6-iron.” Weight saved from the face was allocated to the low toe and perimeter, creating a high MOI for extreme forgiveness. Connecting the Custom Tuning Port to the sole creates a deeper CG that helps elevate the launch angle while increasing MOI. At address, the iron’s refined look is created by a thin top rail, satin-blast finish and appropriate offset. An enlarged multi-material damping badge joined to the cavity works with COR-Eye Technology to provide exceptional sound and feel.. Contributing to the improved performance of the G iron are PING’s proprietary Ascending Weight Technology shafts, an optimal combination of physics and feel. The shafts get lighter as they progress from the short irons and pitching wedge to the long irons. Lighter long-iron shafts help square the clubface to increase clubhead speed and optimize flight for distance and accuracy. Heavier short iron shafts improve trajectory control and feel. They’re also available with Dynamic Gold, Project X and other shafts. Available in 4 through 9, plus pitching, utility, sand and lob wedge.
$110 per club steel; $125 per club graphite

G CROSSOVER

Just when you thought the modern equipment array was pretty much, well, set, PING created a new category – the Crossover – to combine the precision, workability and control of an iron with the ball speed and forgiveness of a hybrid. “People love the look and feel of the Crossover because they haven’t seen anything like it,” John Solheim says. “It shouldn’t be confused with a driving iron; it’s higher-launching and much more forgiving, and offers a lot of versatility. Our extensive player testing has revealed this to be a very attractive option.” The high-strength Carpenter 455 steel face is precision machined to an optimal thickness for greater face flexing, faster ball speeds and longer results. The flat face, narrow top rail and appropriate offset deliver iron-like accuracy and workability. An innovative cascading internal sole engages the entire face, sole and top rail in flexing to maximize distance. Extreme heel-toe weighting helps locate the center of gravity low-back and expands the perimeter weighting to create a high MOI for maximizing forgiveness. Available as 3 (18 degrees), 4 (21 degrees) and 5 (24 degrees) with a stock Aldila graphite shaft; the PING Alta 70. AWT 2.0 steel or Tour 90 shafts.
$247.50

EXOTICS EX9 DRIVERS

The Exotics EX9 and EX9 Tour’s new Full-­Speed Impact design maximizes club head speed through a sloped crown and a subtle sole design optimizing weight distribution. The EX9 models are available in four clubheads, and feature adjustability options including loft, lie angles, and an interchangeable sole weight. The drivers encompass ideal sound, exceptional control, and explosive distance cultivating the best Exotics driver ever. “On the new EX9 models we moved the center of gravity much deeper in the head for super high MOI numbers,” said David Glod, president and founder of Tour Edge Golf. “This translates into our lowest spinning drivers to date and a greatly increased sweet zone for longer drives from all areas on the face.” The drivers feature a 6A4V titanium construction and a new Hexagonal variable face thickness technology. The custom Hexagonal configuration offers multiple levels of thickness for superior launch speed from more points on the face, especially in the heel and toe areas. The standard driver is a 460cc draw-enhancing clubhead available in 10 and 12 degrees designed to deliver forgiving, high-­flying drives.The Pro is a pear-­shaped, 430cc head, 9 or 10 degrees, with a deeper face to deliver Exotics legendary low-­spin power and faster ball speeds. Both models include the newly designed hosel allowing players to change launch conditions using eight settings and adding or subtracting up to one degree of loft. This advanced versatility gives players the ultimate control in achieving optimal distance and ball flight. The Full-­Speed Impact design is highlighted in the 460cc model by a new aerodynamic sloping of the crown reducing drag and generating faster club speed for maximum distance. The power grid removes weight close to the face and repositions it in the rear portion of the sole, promoting higher launch conditions. An interchangeable sole weight head helps players optimize the club’s performance; a heel weight helps golfers find the fairway with a draw, and the rear center sole weight is specifically located for a higher MOI and lower spin. The standard 6-­gram heel weight screw is housed in an 8-­gram weight pad for 14 grams of sole weighting.

Additional weight screws can be purchased as a kit or individually. The kit includes 3-­gram, 9-­gram and 11-­gram weights to increase or decrease the swing weight. $299.99/$399.99

Exotics EX9 Fairway metals

Three models, three ways to pump up your fairway metals game: Tour Edge has long excelled at producing groundbreaking yet affordable clubs in this class, and the Exotics EX9 is no exception. Its new Full-Speed Impact design maximizes club head speed through a sloped crown and the Exotics’ famous SlipStream sole, whose wavy finish is both distinctive and functional on all turfs and lies. An interchangeable heel weight offers players of all abilities the added benefit of draw enhancement for legendary Exotics length and control. The first property of the new design in the EX9 clubhead is a sloping crown that reduces aerodynamic drag resulting in added speed at impact for maximum distance. The power grid moves weight close to the face and repositions it in the rear portion of the sole, promoting higher launch conditions. The EX9 also utilizes exclusive “robotic laser beam bonding” technology to adhere the Carpenter 475 cup face to the hyper-steel body. This provides flawless seams ensuring the tightest tolerances for exceptional performance. The EX9’s interchangeable heel weight and offers players the added benefit of draw enhancement. Available in 13, 15, and 17 degree 150cc heads, the EX9 Tour model also offers an adjustable hosel system, allowing players change launch conditions using eight settings and adding or subtracting one degree of loft. Finally, the Exotics EX9 Long is sure to resonate with players who want the accuracy of a 3-wood and the distance of a driver. It’s highlighted by a deeper face for even greater spring-like effect, and a 185cc clubhead for confidence in every shot. The Tour Edge R&D team paired the prominent clubhead with a 43.5 inch shaft to deliver driver-like distance.
$299.99

EXOTICS DG TOUR SERIES PUTTERS

The lineage of Tour Edge honcho David Glod putters continues to grow with the introduction of two new DG models, series 4.1 and 5.1. With over 30 years of experience designing clubs, Glod’s additions to the Tour Series are beautifully handcrafted with the latest technology creating a dream-like putter. The new 4.1 and 5.1 putter heads are a solid 365 grams. The 5.1 features a center shaft configuration and both models offer an optional counterbalanced grip. The Super Stroke Plus Series grip adds a 50g back-weight to achieve optimum balance and putts that drop more often. To deliver the ultimate in feel and touch, the putters are entirely CNC milled from a solid block of carbon steel. The milled X-grip face pattern provides unprecedented feel and control on the green and reduces skidding. The responsive, pure feel and feedback of the face design translates to incredible accuracy and touch. In addition, each putter has a hand-rolled leading edge ensuring that each stroke glides smoothly through the ball, even in the longer grass on the fringe. Available in a silver-bead or black PVD finish.
$249.99-$299.99 depending on grip and counterbalance

TOUR EDGE IRONS

Each of Tour Edge’s three new player-friend irons brings it own mix of superlatives to the table — rather, the fairway. The EXd for mid-handicappers and EXi for better players who want more workability (both $599.99) are variations on Tour Edge’s “thin-faced, low CG” theme. The EXd has the largest free-standing face with the deepest undercut cavity ever by Exotics. The face is hot and able to flex more at impact for big distance. The 431 stainless steel irons feature a generous offset design for added forgiveness helping players return to square at impact. The long irons have stronger lofts with low Center of Gravity (CG) positioning for huge distances. The EXi irons, meanwhile, feature a more traditional shape with less offset, engineered for maximum feel and control with distance. The combination of a dual undercut cavity for a deeper center of gravity, and the new Power Grid achieves a very thin sole behind the face. The Variable Face Thickness (VFT) design produces greater spring effect and forgiveness on more areas of the face. The CB PRO Tungsten irons ($799.99) combine hollow construction with progressive tungsten sole weighting designed for forgiveness, control, and distance. Each CB PRO is hollow from the top line all the way to the sole producing a more active face. The top line is thicker, but the progressive set allows players to shape shots more than with traditional cavity-back irons. They feature a heavy, solid piece of W-Ni tungsten in the sole; it’s heavier in the short irons and progressively moves through the set varying in weight from 95 to 90 grams.

touredge.com

WILSON STAFF DUO URETHANE BALLS

Committed to innovation, Wilson Staff continues to transform golf ball technology, further solidifying its claim to offering the softest golf balls. The new 55 compression DUO Urethane is the latest addition to the revolutionary DUO line which also includes the 29 compression DUO, with two Ionomer layers, and the 35 compression DUO Spin, a three-layer model. “We have been working on a low compression solution for urethane since we first released the original DUO to the marketplace,” comments Frank Simonutti, Global Director of Innovation – Golf Balls. “Our testing has consistently shown that the majority of golfers, regardless of handicap, prefer a softer feeling golf ball. As the industry trend is toward softer feel balls, we remain committed to providing the softest feeling golf ball in all product categories.” The low 55 compression results in a softer feel while still providing exceptional distance. With a new multi-layer construction players can also expect an exceptional level of spin, required for the better player. So which DUO to put in play? The Wilson Staff F-C-D ball fitting system offers unique benefits to fit personal playing styles. While each ball carries its own technology, an extremely soft feel sets Wilson Staff golf balls apart from the rest. The Online Fitter makes it easy for consumers to find out what ball in the lineup suits their needs. $19.99-$37.99

WILSON STAFF FGTOUR F5 FAMILY

It’s anyone’s game, and these are the right clubs for, yes, anyone — that’s the message behind Wilson Staff’s FG Tour F5 line. They’re designed to suit the eye of the better player while providing game improvement technology to help the higher handicapper. Each of the FG Tour F5 woods and hybrids embodies Fast Fit technology, which is the lightest, easiest- to-use adjustable hosel system on the market while the F5 irons feature Speed Sole technology in the long and mid irons to generate added distance while still maintaining the soft feel of 8620 forged steel. Wilson Advisory Staff PGA Tour players heavily influenced and refined each club’s shape, look and face inserts its developmental stages. The FG Tour F5 driver ($379.99) is offered in two lofts, each featuring six loft settings and three adjustable sole weights to allow players to attain their ideal launch angle, ball speed and spin rate. An interchangeable weight placed low and close to the face decreases spin while maintaining an optimal launch for maximum distance. Reactive Face technology features variable thicknesses to maximize response and ball speeds at every spot on the face. A chemically-etched crown reduces weight where it does not benefit the golfer to be repositioned elsewhere in the head to lower center of gravity and increase moment of inertia. A Carpenter Custom 455 maraging steel face and Fast Fit technology lead to maximum distance and optimized ball flight in the FG Tour F5 fairway woods ($229.99). The face creates a thin, hot, high CT face for increased ball speeds and longer distances. Three loft models are available, each including a 6-way adjustable hosel for precise ball trajectory. The same design elements are in play for the FG Tour F5 Hybrids ($209.99 ). Larger volume on stronger lofted heads — 17 to 23 degrees, each with three loft and three upright settings — provides forgiveness on longer shots. The FG Tour F5 Irons ($899.99 Steel /$999.99 Graphite) feature the same Speed Sole technology debuted in D200 irons, delivering maximum distance for the player who still desires great feel. The result is a crossover blend between forged feel and pure distance. The stabilizing bar provides support behind a thin, responsive face to allow for greater forgiveness while still maintaining shot workability, and the cavity back head forged from 8620 carbon steel provides a combination of feel, feedback and forgiveness.

STAFF C200 IRONS

Wilson’s new iron is really a crossover, designed to dramatically improve mid- to high-handicapper player distance and accuracy in a more playable, midsize offering. At the core of the C200 clubs is cutting-edge, proprietary, patent-pending FLX Face Technology that minimizes the contact points between the body and thin face. In fact, 76 percent of the thin face is actually free from the body of the iron, allowing for maximized face flex upon impact. These voids, known as Power Holes, are literal holes that go completely through the head and provide the space for the face to flex. They are then filled with a TE031 Urethane to provide outstanding feel for the game improvement player. “The distance, forgiveness, and feel of the C200 irons exceeded even our high expectations,” said Michael Vrska, Global Director of Golf Innovation for Wilson Labs. $799.99

WILSON FG TOUR PMP WEDGE

Wilson’s newest wedges feature PMP – Precision Milled Performance – technology to maximize spin both full and partial shots. New milled, maximum volume HM Grooves provide spin on full shots while eleven laser etched Micro Spin Lines between each groove amplify spin on partial shots and the entire face is milled perfectly flat for consistency. The KBS Hi-Rev 2.0 shaft further enhances the desired high spin rates. These wedges have already been in play on the PGA TOUR by Troy Merritt, Ricky Barnes, and Brendan Steele, with other Wilson Advisory Staff players, like Kevin Streelman and Padraig Harrington, expected to follow soon. They are available in three sole designs – Traditional, Tour Grind, and Wide – and two finishes – Tour Frosted and Gun Blue PVD. They can be customized to provide 97 unique sole, loft and bounce configurations to allow every player a perfect fit, regardless of course conditions or swing type. You can even deck your clubs out with different stampings and paint fill through Wilson Golf’s custom department. “We had tremendous success with the previous generation of FG Tour Wedges, so when we started on what turned into the PMP wedges, we knew they had to be truly best in class,” says Michael Vrska, Wilson Golf’s Global Director of Innovation. “We listened to our tour staff. We listened to what amateur players had to say in testing. The resulting look, spin, feel and versatility is something that we are extremely proud of and excited to see their continued play by the best players in the word.” $119.99

WilsonStaff.com

M2

It seems like yesterday that the highly touted M1 line of clubs from TaylorMade hit the shelves, but now we’re on to the M2, which the company calls an improvement from stem to stern, giving golfers even more power of the tee, accuracy, feel and control over their club’s settings In M2, engineers have utilized the same proprietary multi-material combination, including the seven-layer carbon composite crown found in the M1, to develop a line of products that deliver two highly sought-after performance benefits: distance and forgiveness.

M2 Driver

The M2 meets the challenge of delivering more performance to players of all skill levels with the utilization of multi-material construction in its driver and fairway clubs. The goal: to deliver maximum forgiveness without sacrificing distance. TaylorMade scores by leveraging the weight savings from the carbon crown and redistributing the discretionary weight to the sole of the club, resulting in a low and slightly farther back center of gravity. The result is a family of clubs that deliver hot trajectories with massive sweet spots and maximum forgiveness.TaylorMade’s carbon composite crown design reduces overall crown weight by 5g and, therefore, its CG considerably.

With forgiveness a priority in M2, TaylorMade engineers focused on three key performance features that deliver ball speed protection on shots struck away from center-face: inverted cone technology (ICT), a redesigned Speed Pocket; and increased moment of inertia (MOI). Like M1, the M2 driver head is designed with a classic club head shape and fast, aggressive aesthetics where the black carbon meets the white titanium. The design suits the eye of better players from address but delivers performance for all, with maximized aerodynamics, face area, and a low center of gravity. The club’s 12-position loft sleeve provides up to four degrees of loft adjustment. In addition to the stock Fujikura Pro shaft, TaylorMade offers upwards of 30 additional premium custom shaft options at no upcharge. Retail price is $399.

M2 Fairway

Similar to the M2 driver, the multi-material carbon crown on the M2 fairway has created 5g of discretionary weight savings, allowing for an extremely low CG. The shallow head design delivers versatile playability from the tee and fairway. A new, fluted hosel design provides superior sound and feel without compromising distance. In all, the M2 fairway is engineered for dominant performance in every detail of the club, delivering exceptional distance and superior look and feel. In 2012, TaylorMade redefined the metalwood category and changed the state of the industry with the introduction of RocketBallz and the creation of the first ever Speed Pocket. The M2’s new, completely redesigned Speed Pocket significantly increases the flexibility of the low club face area for a higher COR, which results in higher ball speed for shots struck low on the face. Price is $249

M2 Rescue

Born from TaylorMade’s fairway wood DNA, the M2 Rescue is designed to deliver effortless launch and maximum distance from anywhere on the course. The redesigned open channel Speed Pocket creates a large sweet spot for maximized distance and forgiveness with low spin, and the low center of gravity delivers a hot trajectory for longer, more consistent shots. Aesthetically, the low profile shaping more closely mirrors the shaping of a fairway wood, leading to a more confidence-inspiring, easy to hit product. It goes for $199.

BALLS

TOUR PREFERRED

The new Tour Preferred and Preferred X are the company’s newest take on their popular four- and five-piece balls, respectively; the former has a softer feel at 80 compression, the latter is more penetrating at 87 compression. The Preferred features TaylorMade’s next-generation SpeedMantle inner layer, comprised of a material that is more than 65 percent softer and more flexible than the previous generation’s mantle for a softer feeling ball, while still maintaining the performance characteristics of the original Tour Preferred. It also still features the Soft Tech cast urethane cover, the company’s softest and most durable cover to date. The new Tour Preferred X features a new thicker re-engineered Soft Tech cast urethane cover for more greenside control. Similar to its predecessor, the Tour Preferred X delivers low spin off the tee, low iron ball flight but with more greenside spin, as preferred by the best players in the world. TaylorMade Tour Professionals who play the Tour Preferred X include Dustin Johnson, Sergio Garcia, Justin Rose and 2015 PGA Champion Jason Day, along with dozens of others. Both balls are finished with Low-Drag Performance Aerodynamics (LDP™), a 322 dimple pattern that provides distance off the tee and a penetrating flight through wind that tour players prefer. $47.99 per dozen

PROJECT (a)

TaylorMade’s 2016 lineup also features a new and improved Project (a), made for the competitive amateur player to promote more spin and improved performance where needed most: 30 yards and in. Its compression is now 70 versus 88 in the original model, which was achieved by dropping the core compression 33%, from 60 to 40 As amateur players generate nearly 50 percent less spin than players on tour, Project (a) is specifically designed to deliver more spin on mid irons, short irons and shots around the green, resulting in enhanced control and better chances at birdie or par. The ball also offers REACT core technology for more distance on long shots along with TaylorMade’s Soft Tech cast urethane cover to provide higher greenside spin, softer feel and improved durability. $34.99 USD per dozen

IRONS

The M2 is designed for golfers who benefit from an iron that prioritizes both distance and trajectory, while also delivering great forgiveness and feel. It includes a new, proprietary fluted hosel, 360° undercut, Inverted Cone Technology (ICT), a new 3D badge and, as in the bigger sticks in the M2 line, the company’s patented Speed Pocket technology. The new hosel moves the center of gravity lower, redistributing it lower and further back in the clubhead. The M2 also features an advanced topline construction – a 360° undercut that functions to increase the unsupported face area while saving weight to lower the CG, creating a combination of high ball speed, optimized launch angle and spin rate which yields exceptional distance and high peak trajectory. First found in the RocketBladez irons in 2012, the Speed Pocket increases launch angle and ball speed while providing added forgiveness for shots struck low on the face. The 3D badge offers multi-material V-shaped struts to improve sound qualities and dampen unwanted vibrations. Meanwhile, the M2 Tour iron offers a more compact shape geared for players looking for distance with added workability. It toes the line between a distance iron and a players iron, and does so with performance and design that will appeal to a variety of players
$799 steel, $899 graphite for M1;$899 for M2 Tour (steel only)

PUTTERS

TaylorMade’s brand-new OS & OS CB putters offer a larger, high moment of inertia (MOI) design with an expanded sweet spot and improved alignment system. The OS models feature slightly larger head sizes than traditional putters while also delivering higher MOI. For players seeking even more stability, the OS CB models are larger with higher MOI and feature counterbalance technology to stabilize and smooth the putting stroke.The putters are available in three styles: Daytona blade, Monte Carlo mallet, and a newly-designed Spider Mallet featuring square trailing weight pads and a newly styled front blade. The three models are additionally distinguished by three distinct toe hang angles for a variety of putting styles. The Daytona hangs at 36°, the Monte Carlo at 20° and the Spider, face balanced (no toe hang). Featuring a raised contrasting red sight line, the OS putters are easier to align than traditional blade putters and feature a new deep-milled 6061 aluminum insert that engineers vertically to reduce backspin for better roll performance and promote a softer feel at impact. Daytona and Monte Carlo feature skim-milled surfaces that deliver true edges and sharp lines for an even more premium look, feel and finish.
$219 and $249

taylormadegolf.com

COBRA WOODS

KING LTD DRIVER

“There is a look better players like,” says Cobra head of research and development, Mike Yagley, “or it just doesn’t go in the bag.” He’s talking, of course, about Cobra’s flagship player, Rickie Fowler, for whom the King LTD was originally designed. It came out so well the company developed it for the general better-stick market. They’re calling it their fi rst “zero CG driver” and “the ultimate distance machine” thanks to forward-thinking design inside and out. “It’s a little more compact, like our F6 driver, but the best we could do was fi nd as much discretionary mass as possible.” The club’s carbon fi ber crown is 20 percent lighter. The titanium is all 811, also lighter. The face is “thicker where it needs to be and thinner where it can be.” The idea behind it all is to reduce the center of gravity to as close to “zero axis” as possible, which allows more effi cient impact in the head vertically and horizontally — and more distance. The driver also has the highest possible moment of inertia thanks to a 14 gram weight low and back and a space port, at 16 grams, also low and back. But the coolest thing is via the port, you can see right into the guts of the club. Finally, the LTD’s “My Fly” system lets you adjust the loft from 9 to 12 degrees without drastically changing the fact angle. Visually it’s a stunner, and thanks to all the technology, says Yagley, “you don’t have to think about anything else” but taking dead aim and letting fl y. The King LTD Pro is available in fi ve lofts — 7 to 10 degrees — while the LTD is available in lofts from 9 to 12 degrees. Both also have various fade and draw settings. The new LTD family also includes fairway metals and hybrids. $449

KING F6 & F6+ METALWOODS

While the King LTD driver is the biggest news among Cobra’s bigstick array this year, the King F6+ and F6 family of products is making waves of its own, especially in the metalwoods and hybrids categories. Each club, like the F6 driver, features two CG positions and 20-gram and 3-gram moveable weights.

Additionally, to maximize distance and ball speed, engineers used a 475 SS face insert combined with Cobra’s Speed Channel Technology. MyFly8 combined with SmartPad delivers eight loft positions to fi ne-tune your long game. Rounding out the metalwood collection are the King F6 Hybrids. Each club (2-3H, 3-4H and 4-5H) in RH/LH features a fi xed 13-gram back CG weight to deliver high MOI and a more center CG for both forgiveness and precision shot after shot. The new head shape is three grams lighter than previous models and touts a thin 455 SS face along with Speed Channel technology for maximum ball speed. The entire King F6 line, including driver, is available in women’s versions; they are fi ne tuned to maximize launch and distance for women who generally have slower swing speeds and need slightly shorter lengths and lighter swing weights. $199-$239

KING FORGED IRONS

Cobra rolled out two new King iron models this year — forged and forced TEC (enchanced cavity). Designed for the low-handicap golfer, KING Forged Irons are engineered for superior feel and control with unprecedented accuracy and precision. They feature a five-step forging process that yields a more precise shape, developed with feedback fromRickie Fowler, a more aligned grained structure and tighter weight tolerance. The result is the best feeling, best looking irons that elite golfers demand. A co-forged tungsten toe weight positions the Center of Gravity (CG) directly behind the hitting zone in the center of the face delivering precision shot making. Computer Numerically Controlled (CNC) Milled Faces and Grooves deliver maximum spin and trajectory control. The Forged Combo set (cavity back mid & long irons plus muscle back short irons & wedges) comes in a Diamonized Black Metal Finish (DMB) around a Forged 1025 Carbon Steel Body. A full set of muscle-back irons are also available. The KING Forged Tec (Technology Enhanced Cavity) Irons, created for the mid-handicap golfer, provide the feel and precision of a tour iron with maximum forgiveness and distance. This multi-material construction iron features the same five-step forging technology a found in other Cobra Forged irons along with a new J15 high strength steel forged face insert material to enhance distance and save weight. The remarkable feel comes from the harmonic cavity insert which is an engineered Thermoplastic Urethane (TPU) Insert, positioned directly behind the impact zone, between the face and the back cavity, for vibration damping and improved feel at impact. Combine this with tungsten heel-toe weighting for forgiveness, and precisely centered CG and the KING Forged Tec irons are true game-changers. $1,099-$1,199

WEDGES

COBRA KING WEDGES

The brand new KING wedge is designed to improve feel and performance on the shots that really count. In addition to a new muscle shape, the KING wedge collection utilizes progressive grooves, variable face roughness and three sole grind configurations, to provide golfers with superior feel, increased spin consistency and personalization for different swing types. COBRA engineers used modal analysis to help tune vibrational frequencies (or shape) to deliver the softest feeling wedge to date. The KING wedges (MAP $149) are designed and manufactured using new Progressive Milled Grooves which feature wider grooves and gapping on higher lofted wedges, and traditional groove spacing on lower lofted wedges. Three sole grind configurations are combined with the iconic COBRA Notch, which provides golfers with the ability to choose the perfect wedge to match their game and turf conditions. $149

cobragolf.com

CLEVELAND PUTTERS

With last fall’s latest additions to their TFi (True Feel Innovation) line of putters — the new “Smart Square” alignment system — Cleveland Golf caught the attention of their main man Dave Pelz even more deeply. “The SmartSquare putters have two little boxes on them,” he told Golf Tips. “The 2135 is a new putter than has an alignment line that’s 21.35 millimeters off the surface. The line goes to the center of the ball. When you look down, you can see that the line stays with the ball. It’s a better alignment system. I can’t believe I didn’t think of it. They’ve moved the SmartSquare boxes up to half the height of the ball.” The TFi Smart Square is Cleveland’s most advance to date. Their tour-inspired designs feature a milled, copper-infused face cap over a copolymer insert; the combination of materials allows for immediate feedback from sound and feel when striking the ball, while the insert creates soft feel and consistent speed across the club face. The TFi 2135 blade features Cleveland’s new 2135 technology, while the latest additions to the TFi Smart Square mallet line continue to feature the Smart Square alignment technology. Regardless of whether a golfer putts with their eyes behind, directly over, or well over the golf ball, these putters create perfect alignment. Two squares create parallel lines that frame the ball at address and provide a clear visual path to the hole. They also generate two perpendicular lines that easily highlight when the putter is misaligned – even by a fraction of a degree.
$129.99-$199.99

DRIVERS,FAIRWAY METALS, HYBRIDS

A huge hit in Japan since 2000 and now making their debut in America as Dunlop’s high-end club, the XXIO9 series is making waves especially in the longer-shafted department. From driver through hybrids, they feature new technology by maintaining longer wrist cock without adjusting your swing to create a change in head path. This change increases head speed to deliver greater distance: 5.5 yards more with the driver than the previous model. The core concepts of the XXIO series haven’t changed since the first generation — distance, forgiveness, and an exhilarating impact sound — but golfers will find the new series more advanced and attuned to their needs than ever before. The face has been updated from the previous open-face structure to a new cup face structure which enhances COR performance. In addition, the thinner surrounding area of the face creates a sweet spot 10 percent larger than that of the previous model and improves the carry distance for off-center shots. The fairway woods also feature a heavier head and a newly developed shaft that is lighter and has the balance point closer to the grip. Thanks to the newly designed face and sole of the head, these woods provide forgiveness for greater distance through the bag. What makes even higher head speed possible is original shaft and head designs by Dunlop Sports, which help to improve the head path during the first half of the downswing — increasing the arm rotation speed and increase swing speed.
$279.99-$649.99 per club

XXIO IRONS

As with the bigger clubs in the high-end XXIO line, these irons put Dunlop — Cleveland-Srixon’s parent company — into a new rarefied sphere of performance at a mid-level price point. They deliver painstaking attention to both feel and XXIO’s distinctive forgiveness, in addition to the long flight distance produced by Dunlop Sports’ original Dual Speed Technology. DST lowers the Swing MOI – expressed as the smoothness of swinging with the shoulder as the center of rotation. The larger the value, the more difficult the club is to swing; the smaller the value, the easier it is to swing. These irons are engineered to match golfers’ discerning tastes for attributes such as a soft feel at impact, head shape, and impact sound. Distance is improved by utilizing a lightweight shaft with a CG closer to the grip. In addition, the N.S. PRO 940GH DST steel shaft employs a Natural Step Flow design which enables the performance tuning without changing the step positions. The design of the shaft tips for the long irons have been made softer to increase launch angle for longer ball flight, while the shaft tips for the short irons have been stiffened to reduce flexibility, creating greater accuracy, with same look in all clubs. $959.99- $1,199.99 for the 6-club set

SRIXON Q-STAR/Z-STAR BALLS

On the heels of last year’s rollout of Srixon’s 4th generation of Z-Star and Z-Star XV golf balls, including Z-Star XV favored by world tour professionals and other high-level pros, is the new Q-Star. Both dial in the qualities that golfers of every level crave for distance, control and feel. The Q-Star is an all-ability ball with tour ball technology designed for mid to high handicap golfers who demand premium performance. It provides the best combination of distance, greenside spin and durability in its class. Unlike other all-ability golf balls, which only perform well in certain aspects or with specific swing speeds, the new Q-STAR golf ball delivers exceptional performance in all aspects of the game at every swing speed. As with the Z-Star and XV, the Q-Star combines next generation SpinSkin with Speed Dimples innovation to give golfers unmatched feel and control, and the Energetic Gradient Growth core delivers incredible distance. SpinSkin increases frictional force by 18 percent and overall cover softness by 21 percent compared to the previous Z-Star, leading to more greenside spin and touch.

CLEVELAND WEDGES

Cleveland-Srixon is, of course, one of the world’s wedge leaders, but who can argue that they have the best advocate out there in short game guru Dave Pelz? “With Cleveland I’m really happy with being a product ambassador,” Pelz told Golf Tips. “I’ve found superior products. The faces of the Cleveland RTX wedges are better than any others in golf. It’s not the grooves, but the space behind the grooves. They have all this machine contouring, milling instead of sandblasting. It’s much longer lasting. They’re making the face with a bunch of little bumps that have the same grit as the first time you hit it, but it lasts longer. They’ve increased the friction on the face another 10 percent. They’ve got more lies, lofts, bounces, variables than anybody in the game.” The 588 RTX 2.0 ($129.99/$139.99) combines the performance of its highly-successful predecessor, the 588 RTX, with new spin technology and sole grinds. Designed with sharper grooves and a new micro-milled face pattern, they take spin and control to the next level. They are available in a traditional muscle-back head shape for the better player, as well as a more forgiving cavity-back design for the improving wedge player. The new Smart Sole 2.0 wedges ($109.99/$119.99) are designed for men and women golfers to help remove new stress from their short game, with Cleveland’s widest wedge sole, engineered for smooth turf interaction which promotes cleaner contact for increased consistency from every lie around the green.

clevelandgolf.com,
srixon.com

ODYSSEY PUTTERS

The No. 1 putter on Tour just jacked up the hole-fi nding temperature for 2016 with its White Hot RX Putters, and even added to the popular Odyssey Works line. In the White Hot RX Putters, Odyssey has taken its legendary White Hot feel, made it even better, and combined it with better roll to get the ball in to a pure roll faster to help golfer’s control their speed. The White Hot RX insert is coupled with a dual-layer injection molded insert with a softer core that leads to exceptional speed and feel. To promote even better roll, White Hot RX features the oval design that was made popular in Odyssey’s Metal-X and Odyssey Works lines. The new elastomer insert features an oval striking surface with a textured clear coat to increase friction and help get the ball rolling faster. It’s offered in eight head shapes including the new V-Line Fang, which blends the technologies and shaping of the Odyssey #7 model with the popular V-Line mallet for improved alignment and accuracy. Meanwhile, the new Odyssey Works line extensions include the Fusion RX insert — where feel meets roll — and major-winning Versa alignment from Odyssey Works, along with some of Odyssey’s most innovative technologies and head shapes. New models include Versa Marxman Fang, Versa #7H Putter, Versa Sabertooth, and Versa Tank Sabertooth.
White Hot $159.99 & $179.99 Odyssey Works $199.99

odysseygolf.com