If you’re looking to upgrade your clubs, change the ball you use or purchase any new golf equipment, our in-depth gear features can help you make the right decisions.
TED JOHNSON Titleist | Vokey SM5 [+] Grind, loft & bounce options [+] Better players who want ultimate fitting have most options here [-] S, M, K, F, L & T grinds=overload Price: $130 Callaway | Mack Daddy2 [+] Deeper, sharper grooves [+] Ultimate spin machine now has more loft-bounce options [–] Tour grind costs … Read more
TED JOHNSON Nike | Vapor Pro Combo [+] Steel insert face thru 7-iron [+] Heavier toe moves Cg to middle of face, increasing sweetspot [+] Blending forgiveness & performance Price: $1,100 Srixon | Z545 [+] Steel face 10% more solid [+] A game improvement iron that will fool all those blade lovers [–] Traditional look … Read more
TED JOHNSON Tour Edge Exotics | E8 fairway [+] Tour-level performance [+] Adjustable from 12 to 15 degrees, traditional look, hot face [–] Some disagree on its value Price: $350 Nike | Vapor Speed hybrid [+] Channel slot and sole cavity duo [+] Slot makes face bend for distance; cavity-back weighting for stability [–] Clubhead … Read more
TED JOHNSON Ping | G30 [+] Slots in sole for faster speed [+] “Turbulators” reduce drag, thin face and optimum sweetspot=long [–] Some put off by matte black look Price: $350 TaylorMade | R15 [+] Ultimate fit and distance [+] Two highly adjustable weights, higher launch & less spin [–] Countless fitting options; confusing? Price: … Read more
Does TaylorMade’s AeroBurner take the guesswork out of club selection? Tony Dear It seems a bit of a contradiction. The smaller head (253cc) suggests it was designed for better players who have no trouble finding the sweetspot and like to work the ball. However, the extra loft (12, 14, 16 degrees) and shorter shaft … Read more
A novel approach to “bounce” makes it easier to escape the sand. Tony Dear The press release says the RAKE Sand Wedge has 56 degrees of loft, 26 degrees of “entry rail bounce” and ten degrees of “sole bounce.” It’s unlikely the average or casual golfer can say with any degree of certainty what that … Read more
The Fort Worth 15 irons have brought the iconic Hogan brand back from the brink of extinction. Tony Dear Somewhere in your basement, attic or garden shed is a rusting, long-forgotten set of Hogan Edge or Hogan Apex irons. Heck, there may even be a set of less iconic Hogan Radials, or even more obscure … Read more
Longing to be long again? Look at the new CG Black Custom driver and irons. Tony Dear “Imagine someone who has played good golf all their life, a mid-to-low handicapper, a skilled player who has lost a little bit of clubhead speed.” If that sounds like you, read on. The speaker is Adam Sheldon, a … Read more
In this year’s battle of the balls, the harder they come, the harder they’ll sell. Jon Rizzi | Colorado AvidGolfer Most avid players aren’t orb-livious. They know golf balls aren’t one size fits all. They also know the key factors—distance, feel, spin and control— largely depend on swing speed and the ball’s compression rating. Slower … Read more
The E8 Tour Fairway Wood turns the brand’s “affordable quality” into “premium-priced superiority.” Tony Dear Tour Edge golf equipment has been around for 30 years, but ask a handful of people in the clubhouse bar what they know of the Illinois-based company and you’ll hear a lot of ums and ahhs. One guy might tell … Read more
