EQUIPMENT
New
Year,
New Gear Get your game in better shape for the Year of the Horse with the latest releases. Review by Charlie Schroeder. TaylorMade Jetspeed According to research conducted by TaylorMade, 72 per cent of all golf shots are struck below the centre of the clubface. This is a good thing when hitting wedges, but a liability when striking drives. So-called ‘thin” shots generate too much spin and “cause the ball to fly too high and land too short,” according to the company’s Senior Director of Metalwood Creation, Brian Bazzel. But there is hope, at least if you believe the, well, spin about the company’s new line of JetSpeed metalwoods. The addition of a Speed Pocket (a hollow slot behind the face that produces greater clubface flexibility and faster ballspeeds) helps to minimize spin on shots hit below the centre of the face. Like most new drivers this year, the JetSpeed, which comes in three different lofts, is adjustable. TaylorMade’s Loft Sleeve Technology gives players the option of adjusting the loft 1.5° up or down. In addition to the drivers, the Jetspeed metalwood lineup includes Rescues (four lofts) and Fairway Woods (five lofts). Prices for the collection range from HK$2,050-4,280. taylormadegolf.com 76
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PING i25 Since the advent of adjustable drivers (made adjustable by a separate shaft and clubhead), manufacturers have struggled to keep the club’s swing weight consistent. PING has addressed this issue with a variety of shaft offerings that accompany their latest offering, the i25. The shafts can be matched to individual golfers by their weight and flex, thus fitting the motion of the swing and desired shot shape. “With adjustable clubs, fitting for shaft weight has been limited because of its effect on swingweight,” says PING Chairman and CEO John A. Solheim. “The PWR series [Performance-Weighting-Responsiveness] overcomes that by varying the CG location of the different weights so we can offer options that optimize ball flight while providing a better-feeling, more responsive shaft.” Put simply, golfers of all abilities can now find a consistently weighted club that fits their desired shot shape. Another standout feature of the i25s is a golf ball-wide racing stripe on the crown that helps players better align their shots. The 45.25 inch/460cc clubhead comes in three adjustable loft offerings. From HK$3,400. ping.com
Callaway Big Bertha When it first debuted in 1991, Callaway’s oversized titanium Big Bertha driver revolutionized golf. Since then metalwoods have gotten larger and lighter. Although the company hasn’t released a Big Bertha since 2007, the mother of all metalwoods has emerged from hibernation for 2014 with a model that reflects the game’s latest trend, adjustability. Much like Mizuno’s MP-630 and TaylorMade’s SLDR drivers, the new Big Bertha boasts adjustable weighting via a sliding sole weight. Unlike those two offerings which were placed more in the centre of the sole, the (eight gram) Big Bertha weight slides in an arc along the club’s heel. This moves the centre of gravity farther back which makes it easier to launch your drives. Also available is the Big Bertha Alpha, which allows users the ability to change the CG vertically as well as horizontally. From HK$3,100. callawaygolf.com
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Cleveland Smart Sole Greenside shots can be some of the trickiest in the game. What often looks like a simple, short approach shot is made more complicated by a golfer’s inability to make solid contact. Cleveland Golf has addressed this issue with their latest offering, the Smart Sole. Available in two models (S and C), the Smart Sole wedge was constructed to eliminate excess digging in turf and sand for more solid contact. The more traditional looking (though still wide-soled) S version (pictured) promotes better launch from bunkers, while the C model, an old school-looking chipping wedge, was built for crisper greenside chips. Available in steel and graphite shafts. HKD$775-$925 clevelandgolf.com
Scotty Cameron Select Fastback Master craftsman Scotty Cameron attributes the success of his putters to his meticulous attention to detail. “[I make] sure there is complete harmony between how it looks, how it sounds and how it feels,” he says. Cameron has a new lineup of putters including the Select Fastback. All boast a silver mist finish. Precision-milled, this modern mid-mallet features a single bend shaft that promotes minimal toe flow for players who like a straight back straight thru stroke. Most noticeable on the Fastback are the bold top alignment lines, a so-called “crisscross sight line” that ensures golfers address their putter square at address. As Cameron puts it, “the best players in the world putt with the ball slightly up in their stance, under their left eye. This places the crisscross sight lines ... directly under their nose and between their eyes.” What’s best about the crisscross alignment aid is that it’s user-friendly. If you set the putter too far forward, the crisscross will make the face appear closed. If you put it too far back, it will look open. HK$3,000 scottycameron.com
Titleist DT Solo Although Titleist hasn’t unveiled any new Pro V1s for 2014, they do have a number of other offerings including the NXT Tour, Velocity and redesigned DT Solo, which, the company claims, combines a super soft compression core and soft ionomer cover for big distance gains and a soft, greenside feel. New on the DT Solo for 2014 is a spherically-tiled 376 tetrahedral dimple pattern that delivers a tighter, more consistent flight. Available in both white and optic yellow (pictured). HK$155 titleist.com 78
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Bridgestone B330 Bridgestone’s latest iteration of the B330 Series features Hydro Core Technology. That’s right, there’s actually water in the ball’s core. According to the company, engineers discovered that balls with water in their core formulation produce 30 per cent more gradation, which reduces spin from the core’s inner and outer regions, produces longer shots and improves accuracy. Which new version is right for you? If you have a swing speed under 105mph and want to add distance, play the 3-piece B330-RX. If you want more greenside spin there’s the B330-RXS. For players with swing speeds over 105mph, there’s the revamped 4-piece B330 (for more distance) and B330-S (for more greenside spin). HK$350 bridgestonegolf.com
ECCO Street Evo One It’s not easy to find a golf shoe that’s both comfortable and supports aggressive swings. But ECCO believes they’ve produced that exact combo with their latest offering, the Street EVO One. This performance hybrid golf shoe comes in both high-grade cow leather and genuine camel leather versions. But what makes it work is a direct-injected midsole with an integrated shank piece that cups and cushions a player’s heel while creating a stable platform. Both versions feature exclusive ECCO HYDROMAX tanned-in treatment for weather resistance. ecco.com
Footjoy DNA FootJoy’s new DNA – that’s DryJoys Next Advancement to you! – shoes were designed for serious golfers who crave both comfort and support. (Not to mention a modern style that has little in common with the conservative FootJoys of old.) Boasting materials of varying densities, the DNA’s were built to conform to the top of your foot. There’s a three-dimensional foam collar that actually molds to your ankle, which helps to lock it in place, minimize excessive movement and support your foot during your most forceful swings. Then there’s something the company calls FTF (Fine-Tuned-Foam) which is used throughout the midsole or, in FootJoy parlance, the “FitBed.” This adds an additional layer of (soft) stability in both the heel and forefoot. Like your golf shoes low-to-the-ground? The outsole is made from a thin thermoplastic urethane, ensuring you can feel every blade of grass. Or sand. Or whatever surface you play most of your shots from. Finally it’s no surprise, given the DNAs are in the DryJoys family, that they’re waterproof. The leather was developed by Pittards and is supple, thin and, most importantly, durable, so they last long and maintain the kind of breathability golfers like regardless of the weather. HK$1,820 footjoy.com HKGOLFER.COM
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