The golf world is abuzz at the time of this column.
The Ryder Cup is imminent. Tiger is roaring again. And Bryson DeChambeau recently won another victory for everyone who believes golf is as much science as art.
Speaking of that science, we’re bound to see more of it in equipment for 2019. As companies file their ball-flight plans for the coming season, they’re collectively looking to help us hit the ball higher, straighter and longer than ever before.
A maxed-out mantra? Well, let’s take a peek at what’s ahead and see what some of the top manufacturers have up their sleeves.
Ah, looks like Cobra continues its enLIGHTened approach in its latest line of drivers, metalwoods and irons. TaylorMade is filling a set gap with its GAPR family, Cleveland is promising more scoring opportunities with the latest iteration of its RX wedges, and Srixon introduces the next generation of its Z series woods and irons.
Balls? You might just hear ‘soft’ and ‘feel’ mentioned once or twice.
Feeling a little light in the head is a good thing if you’re talking about golf clubs. And the lights are shining even brighter at Cobra Golf. The new F-MAX Superlite line takes the already light and extremely forgiving F-MAX family to a new level.
Lighter shafts and lighter grips make for lighter clubs. And that translates to higher swing speed and more distance. Cobra’s most forgiving driver weighs in at only 287 grams and promises to deliver unrivaled distance and accuracy for moderate swing speeds.
Their Superlite shafts deliver the perfect blend of launch and distance for golfers with moderate swing speeds. A re-engineered profile is 5 grams lighter, allowing for an easier, more balanced swing and more consistent contact.
Many players don’t pay enough attention to the grips they choose. Cobra’s larger midsize grip will appeal to golfers looking for more comfort and control, while weighing 7 grams lighter. Less grip weight means more feel in the head.
F-MAX Superlite metalwoods and irons have reduced weight in the clubhead, grip and shaft. For golfers with smooth tempos the reduced overall weight helps them swing easier, generate more club speed and maximize distance.
TaylorMade’s trio of GAPR clubs addresses the highs, lows and in-betweens of filling a gap between the 3-wood and shorter irons. With its iron-like shape, GAPR Lo will appeal to players with faster swing speeds who want a mid-to-low trajectory and like to work the ball.
GAPR Mid has a similar iron face profile and will appeal to a wider range of players looking for maximum distance and a bit higher trajectory. GAPR Hi (and mighty!) has the largest head and a more traditional hybrid look. It produces a high, penetrating flight. All three are available in a variety of lofts.
When Jason Day won The Players in 2016 using the Spider Tour putter, TaylorMade had the competition seeing red. Consumer demand went through the roof, and the company has since gone a step further in meeting that demand with the Spider Mini, various models of the Tour, and the Spider Interactive Powered by Blast.
The Mini’s 15 per cent smaller head, more forward CG positioning, weight changes and T-sightline make it a fine complement to the bigger Tour. The latter’s expanded lineup offers something for everyone: five different models that feature a combination of sightlines, toe hangs and hosels for a wide array of alignments to fit any stroke. The Spider Interactive Powered by Blast, another stroke of innovation from the company, automatically captures valuable stroke metrics in a seamless, non-intrusive design built into the top of the putter’s grip.
Cleveland, a name synonymous with high performance wedges for 40 years, continues to build on that reputation with the RTX 4. The fourth generation RTX features sharper grooves to promote more spin, and a more compact blade with less offset, giving it a classic look. It’s available in various lofts and grinds and three different finishes.
Srixon irons, fairways and hybrids are finding homes in lots of bags these days. And that’s likely to grow with the company’s new Z Series. The Z 785 driver promotes lower spin and a penetrating trajectory; the Z 585 driver promotes higher, straighter drives and additional forgiveness on off-centre strikes. Both have lightweight crowns and plenty of adjustability. The Z F85 fairway woods and Z H85 hybrids feature similar technology.
The forged Z 785 and Z 585 irons have it all: soft feel, classic look, forgiveness and updated sole to promote even cleaner contact. The Z 785 irons feature a tour cavity, providing additional mass behind the impact location for increased shot-shaping ability and versatility. The Z 585 irons feature an added speed groove, which allows for more face-flex, enhancing ball speed and distance. The new Z U85 Utility Iron features a hollow, forged construction for a high-launch trajectory, soft feel, and unmatched distance.
Hugely popular in Asia, XXIO (pronounced zek-si-oh) is catching on here in a big way. The name means excellence, and their focus is on extremely light, draw-biased men’s and women’s clubs for players with moderate swing speeds. The company manufactures its own shafts and designs the head, shaft, and grip for each club as a cohesive unit. Their innovative use of different grip weights is one of the ways that separates XXIO from the competition.
Evnroll is going where no other putter has gone before. The critically acclaimed line has its roots in Guerin Rife of Rife putters. Their message is clear: “Every putter has a sweet spot. Only Evnroll has a sweet face.” They deliver on that promise through a unique face milling pattern that imparts progressively more energy transfer on off-centre hits. Translation: The ball rolls a consistent distance regardless of where it’s struck on the face. Do I hear fewer three putts? Their putters are available in a variety of blade, mallet and other models, and can be customized for lie, loft, length and grip.
Nancy Lopez Golf continues to be an industry leader for offering women unmatched choice, quality and technically advanced equipment, regardless of their abilities and performance goals. The company’s popular all-in-one sets cover off driver, iron, hybrid and putter needs in one convenient, bag-and-headcovers-included package. Individual drivers, fairways, hybrids, chippers and putters are available for specific needs.
In other equipment news for the coming year, while Mizuno may be best known for its classic muscle back irons, the new JPX 919 Forged again proves they know a thing or two about making great looking mid-sized forged irons that provide ample forgiveness. Proof that feel and looks can come in non-blade head.
Callaway’s limited edition Mack Daddy 4 Tactical wedges feature a new aggressive look with a distinct new Tactical PVD Finish, Black PVD Face and black medallions. The Tactical package also includes a limited edition Black Tour Issue Shaft and Lamkin Tactical grip. These wedges draw on the Mack Daddy 4 lineup’s innovative technologies and premium components, including groove-in-groove technology for more spin, classic shaping and versatile grind options.
Titleist’s new TS2 and TS3 drivers are engineered to deliver faster ball speed with higher launch, lower spin and increased MOI for more distance and game-changing forgiveness. This is the result of a 20 per cent thinner crown, a razor-thin face and an enhanced aerodynamic head design. Also out is the TS2 and TS3 fairways, the latter of which has an adjustable weight slot in the sole.
In a traditional sense, Ping’s i500 irons may be their best looking iron to date. The compact look and clean design will appeal to better players, but anyone who can hit it consistently near the sweet spot will benefit from the hot face, hollow-head design. With its larger head, cavity back and elastomer insert, the i210 will appeal to a larger group of players looking for more forgiveness.
New golf balls are always big news, and the unlimited choice for all skill levels continues to grow.
Srixon’s second generation three-piece Q-Star Tour ball will be a good fit for skilled players with moderate swing speeds. The thin urethane cover, lower-compression core, and aerodynamic dimple pattern promote maximum distance, feel and control. It’s available in pure white and tour yellow.
The lower compression Srixon Soft Feel’s soft, thin cover, innovative core and the same dimple pattern as the Q-Star Tour will be a good fit for players looking to maximize distance and control without sacrificing exceptional feel.
The Project (a) ball has been a big hit for TaylorMade, and the new model is even better. The three-layer design that incorporates a new Dual-Distance core and a new 322LDP seamless dimple pattern, is the same one that drives TaylorMade’s red hot TP5 and TP5X. More aerodynamics reduces drag and increases speed for more distance. Available in gloss white or yellow.
Now complementing the Project (a) is the brand new Project (s). There’s nothing quite like it on the market. With its 342LDP dimple pattern and two-layer core, the 60-compression Project (s) offers an even softer feel while continuing the company’s focus on low driver spin and significant driver distance, a combination all golfers demand. Also comes in a matte yellow and matte orange finish.
Bridgestone’s former flagship line, the B330, has given way to the new Tour B series. And ball fitting has gone by the wayside. But that doesn’t mean there’s been any change in performance. Replacing the B330 and B330-S are the Tour B X and Tour B XS. Aimed at low handicap players, both have a softer feel than the previous models. The Tour B RX and Tour B RXS target mid-to-low handicap golfers who want optimum trajectory and more distance.
Dean Snell is on the ball, you might say. At TaylorMade, he oversaw the development of balls like the Penta (first five-layer ball) and the current TP. Before that at Titleist, he co-designed the original Pro V1 and the Professional. So it’s hardly surprising that his own company, Snell Golf, is making a lot of noise in the ball market. The three-piece MTB Black has a lower-compression core than the previous model, which lowers driver spin for more distance. The four-piece MTB Red has fewer dimples and a firmer feel with longer clubs, but a softer feel and higher spin with shorter ones. Currently an online sensation, Snell balls will be available in pro shops in 2019. Call Shinebox at 1-855-761-4641 for more information.
Speaking of Titleist, their AVX balls are for golfers looking for that distance/feel combination. For those who like yellow balls, it’s the only premium Titleist ball to come in that colour.
