The Top 10 Products for 2008 |
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By: Dr. Barry Lotz
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TOP TEN GOLF PRODUCTS FOR 2008
IDEA PRO GOLD HYBRID/IRONS SET The aesthetically pleasing combo Idea Pro Gold set consists of a set of 3- and 4- Idea Pro Gold hybrids and 5-PW forged cavity-backed irons. The predecessor to this combo set, the Idea Pro combo garnered great reviews. This new set is even better! The 8620 carbon steel forged head is finished with a mirror-chrome plating and features a thin top line and sole to appeal to better players. Constant offset throughout the irons offer the better player more control and workability to their ball flight. A 14% increase in groove volume gives the better golfer more accuracy and feel. $599.00 Using feedback from players on the Nationwide, PGA, and Champions Tours, the Idea Pro Gold Hybrids are an update to the popular Idea Pro Hybrids and incorporate their Boxer technology for “advanced geometric shaping” to give you a higher moment of inertia and more forgiveness. Designed for the “elite” player, the Idea Pro Gold Hybrids feature an “enhanced weighting system” and a maraging steel face. The stock shaft for the Idea Pro Gold Boxer Hybrid is the Mitsubishi Rayon JAVLN FX 80-gram graphite shaft. $549.99 Steel Designed for maximum game improvement, Idea a3OS integrates six progressively shaped hybrids with two cavity-back short irons for consistent results.Set make-up: 3, 4 & 5 Boxer Hybrids: Three of the easiest-to-hit hybrids we’ve ever tested. These weapons, a.k.a. clubs, are designed with Boxer Technology which results in high MOI for more forgiveness and a straighter and longer ball flight. 6, 7 & 8 Hybrids: Three iron-like hybrids move the weight low and back for high-launching, easy to hit approach shots from the rough or fairway. Their wide sole design helps cut through turf interference allowing for more confident and accurate swings. 9 & PW: Cavity-back short irons with a large sweet spot helps deliver pinpoint accuracy and better feel around the greens. $699.00 An extremely popular set and brand, this eight club integrated set has great aesthetics and more importantly, forgiveness. As the name implies, the Transition set refers to the three types of clubs that make up the set: utility metals, hybrid irons and wide-sole irons.The clubs have been designed to give moderate-ball-speed players a higher level of forgiveness and playability, along with optimal launch and carry distance. And, as with the Wilson Fybrid, this set has been designed to eliminate distance gaps resulting in a higher level of consistency. The set includes 3 – PW with standard flex Aldila NV-HL lightweight shafts for high launch to promote increased carry distance. The 3-, 4-, and 5-irons are replaced with utility metals that have a wide-sole and low crown design for low-back CG (center of gravity) and increased MOI. The 6- and 7-iron are hybrid irons that feature a hollow, back-weighted, low profile design for improved accuracy. The 8-, 9-iron, the pitching and sand wedges, are wide-soled, deep cavity back irons for maximum forgiveness and optimum launch. That’s about as perfect a set of irons as you could want or imagine. Transition S sets are available in men’s, women’s and seniors’ models with Cobra/Aldila NV-HL shafts and Cobra/Golf Pride Tour Velvet grips. Men’s sets include 3-PW. Seniors’ and Women’s sets include 4-SW. $699.00 TOUR EDGE BAZOOKA QLS COMBO SET This Illinois golf company has set sales records with their products for the past few years and retailers confirm that Tour Edge offers great value for the money throughout their line. Their Exotics CB2 Hybrids, are, in this writer’s opinion. The best on the market! The hybrids and irons share the same appealing top line to deliver confidence in every club.Now, with the QLS Hybrid golfers get a shallow face, wide-sole design that has a heavy sole and lower center of gravity for higher flying, more forgiving shots. The irons combine a large undercut cavity, shallow face, and super-wide sole so shots fly higher, straighter, and land softer. The Combo sets available with 2 or 3 hybrids usually # 3 and #4 Hybrid and 5-PW in the irons. 2,3,4,5 &6 hybrids are available. Both graphite and steel are available. NIKE continues to deliver outstanding products to the marketplace and their wins on Tour are causing golfers to take notice.NIKE SQ SUMO2 Hybrid/Iron Geometry set consists of four high MOI hybrids and four high MOI irons combine to offer the highest total MOI in a mixed set Nike Golf has ever created. The SQ SUMO2 iron has a longer blade length, wider sole and lower profile than the SQ SUMO iron for increased stability and lower CG. New club head geometry and vibration dampening inserts bring amazing feel to the SQ SUMO² irons, while SQ SUMO² hybrids give you confident length from anywhere on the course. The Nike PowerBow design shifts weight strategically to place the CG low and deep in the irons, and to the perimeter in the hybrids, to increase MOI and create a more stable club at impact while the TPU insert dampens unwanted vibrations at impact for that pure feel. $899.95 Steel $999.95 Graphite Tour Edge Bazooka QLS Combo Set This Illinois golf company has set sales records with their products for the past few years and retailers confirm that Tour Edge offers great value for the money throughout their line. Their Exotics CB2 Hybrids, are, in this writer’s opinion. The best on the market!The hybrids and irons share the same appealing top line to deliver confidence in every club. Now, with the QLS Hybrid golfers get a shallow face, wide-sole design that has a heavy sole and lower center of gravity for higher flying, more forgiving shots. The irons combine a large undercut cavity, shallow face, and super-wide sole so shots fly higher, straighter, and land softer. Both graphite and steel are available. The MX-950 Hybrid Iron set is ideal for the mid to high handicap player who is looking for ease of launch, unparalleled forgiveness and maximum enjoyment on the golf course.With the MX-950 hybrid set, Mizuno utilized multiple technologies in three distinct head designs to deliver seamless game improvement performance. Hybrid 3 and 4 feature internal high-density tungsten weights to create massive MOI values to deliver high, straight and ultra-forgiving shots, Grain Flow Forged 5 through 7 Hollow Technology irons also feature internal high density tungsten weights in the lowest and deepest area of the cavity to deliver solid, forgiving and consistent shots. Finally, Grain Flow Forged 1025E “pure select” mild carbon steel 8 through lob wedge provide pin seeking accuracy with soft, solid and consistent feel in one piece scoring irons. Mizuno’s Hybrid H.E.M.I. COG design philosophy is utilized in each iron for maximum energy transfer from club head to the ball. Another feature that sets the MX-950 apart from any other hybrid set on the market is their ability to be custom built to a golfer’s individual specifications. The MX-950 3 and 4 hybrids have an amazing two-tone paint finish which fades from black to blue, and the MX-950 5-LW irons are durable double nickel chrome plated with a mirror satin finish to provide durability and glare resistance. Modified U-grooves are utilized to produce the ideal spin rate, for maximum playability in all conditions. The suggested retail price for a set (3-PW) of MX-950 hybrids are $899.00 (steel) and $999.00 (graphite). www.mizunousa.com This is Callaway’s most technologically advanced game-improvement set. Their Fusion Technology, the superior weight-shifting science created by Callaway Golf, is incorporated in the new FT i-brid Irons set that features three hybrid-like clubs designed to replace hard-to-hit long irons and game-improvement short irons, providing the ultimate in forgiveness and playability. These clubs blend the control and accuracy of irons with the forgiveness, distance and versatility of hybrids. The low, deep center of gravity (CG) helps get the ball in the air quickly and easily, and the wider sole improves turf interaction.The Super Game-improvement Mid and Short Irons are designed for the ultimate in forgiveness in its oversized design with an increased offset, a large effective hitting area and a wide sole for exceptional turf interaction. The Fully Integrated Set Design Seamless performance progression throughout the set provides consistent distance separation with optimal trajectories. An advanced version of the original Tru-Bore Design, the polycarbonate tip plug at the end of the shaft, dampens vibration for enhanced feel and performance. $1299.95 Steel $1499.95 Graphite |
- Bloodline Golf Vale Putter – www.bloodlinegolf.com
- Callaway Epic Max Star Driver and Apex UW Utility Wood – www.callawaygolf.com
- Cleveland CBX ZipCore Wedges – www.clevelandgolf.com
- FootJoy Thermal Performance Full Zip Vest – www.footjoy.com
- Graphite Design’s Tour AD IZ shafts - www.prochoicegolfshafts.com
- JumboMax Golf Grips - JumboMax.com
- Odyssey 2-Ball Ten, Triple Track Ten – www.odysseygolf.com
- Sacks Parente Series 18 Cavity Back Flange Blade Putter - www.sacksparente.com
- Sqairz Golf Shoes – www.sqairz.com
- Tour Edge Exotics Pro 721 Drivers & C721 Fairway Woods – www.touredgegolf.com
I recently was examining swing sequences of some of the greatest players in history. Knowing that some of these players favored a draw as their standard shot while others preferred a fade, I sought to identify swing features within each group that would explain their respective ball-flight tendencies. Something profound emerged that I think will benefit all golfers, especially those cursed with a wicked slice.