Jordan Spieth

In The Bag: Jordan Spiet h Weapons of Masters Destruction So, what does it take to win the Masters wire-to-wire and in record-breaking fashion? (apart from oodles of talent of course) Here’s a look at the weaponry that Jordan Spieth used to decimate the opposition at Augusta National.

Driver Tit leist 915D2

Loft: 9.5° Shaft: Aldila Rogue Black 60 TX Hailed as Titleist’s best-ever driver with a 460cc pear profile clubhead that provides confidence, distance and stability. Delivers a higher trajectory and more dynamic face closure compared to the 915D3.

Fairway Tit leist 915F

Loft: 15° S haft: Gr aphite Design Tour AD D17 X Designed f or forgiveness, distance and great overall performance from the tee and off the turf. Larger profile provides confidence and a slightly higher flight compared to the 915Fd.

Hybrid Tit leist 915H.d

Loft: 20.5° S haft: Gr aphite Design Tour AD D195 X The slightly offset 915Hd profile delivers distance along with control and workability. Has a more compact head that generates a flatter trajectory and less spin compared to the 915H.

Irons Tit leist 714 AP2

Set Composition: 4-9 Shaft: True Temper Project X 6.0 Forged 1025C steel body with co-forged tungsten weights. Progressive CG creates highlaunching long irons and flatter short irons. Long to mid irons have higher MOI for more consistent distance.

Wedges Tit leist Vokey Design SM5

Loft/Bounce: 46°/08°, 52°/08°, 56°/10°, 60°/04° Shaft: True Temper Project X 6.0 Proprietary Spin Milled technology provides superb short game control through deeper TX3 grooves. The wedges come in tour-driven shapes with the industry’s most extensive range of bounce and grind options.

Putt er Sc ott y Cameron 009 prot ot ype

Length: 35" (Cut) L ie: 71° Loft: 4° Small, compact head with a flat topline, rounded heel and distinctive toe weight bumpers. Finished in Scotty Cameron’s glare-resistant 3X Black with a single sight line milled into the top.

Ball Tit leist Pro V1x

Four-piece ball with a new thermoset urethane elastomer cover that delivers excellent short game spin and superb feel. Higher launch and lower long game spin than the Pro V1.

Sh oes Under Armour Limit ed-Ed it ion Drive One

ArmourVent and Outdry technologies help keep the shoe cool and dry. Cleat-inspired carbon heel counter improves stability, while Micro G foam cushion enhances comfort. Fitted with Champ’s Zarma Tour spikes with SLIM-Lok.

Fact s & St at s

Jordan Spieth may not be the longest hitter on tour but his excellent approach play, short game and putting were the keys to his dominating Masters victory. Here are his numbers from that remarkable week at Augusta National.

Driving Distance

282.62 Yards (Rank – 43)

Driving Acc uracy

69.64% (Rank – 22)

Greens In Regulat ion (GIR )

75% (Rank – 2)

Putt s Per GIR

1.4 (Rank – 3)

www.mstgolf.com

Yamaha Forged Irons Feel The Distance

Yamaha Inpres RMX Forged Irons

The Yamaha Inpres RMX Forged Iron is a fully-forged iron made from 1020C steel for soft feel and excellent responsiveness at impact. The wide cavity design lowers the CG and moves it closer to the contact point, which increases initial velocity for more distance.

Weight distribution in the heel and toe creates a high MOI for increased stability and consistent distance control, which makes it forgiving enough for club golfers but with feel and performance that is appreciated by professionals.

SRP (4-9, P): NS Pro MX95 / 85 – RM6,360

Yamaha Inpres RMX Tour Model CB Irons

A stylish cavity back forged from 1020 steel, Yamaha’s Inpres RMX Tour Model CB is one of the popular choices among touring pros.

The refined clubhead features clean lines with minimal offset, promoting control and excellent feel. Feel is further enhanced by the inner structure behind the centre of the face. A honeycomb face milling structure increases spin for more control.

SRP (4-9, P): NS Pro Modus S3 shaft – RM4,950 Note: with original rubber J200 grip (M60 with backline) – RM5,650

www.cobragolf.com

Cobra Fly-Z+ Driver The Z+ Facto r

Distance, forgiveness and adjustability come together in Cobra’s Fly-Z+ Driver, which boasts new FlipZone weight technology – a moveable weight system engineered to provide two different flight paths in one club that enables maximum distance for any swing and any golfer.

The FlipZone offers front-to-back CG adjustable through a moveable 15g weight on the sole. The front CG position provides a mid-launch angle with low spin and a penetrating ball flight with more roll, while the back CG position delivers a mid-launch angle with more spin for a higher ball flight and more carry distance.

Cobra’s Speed Channel Technology, which is an engineered trench around the perimeter of the face, minimises thickness for increased ball speeds across the face. Forged E9 Zone Face Technology removes weight from key areas behind the face and hosel to increase the size of the sweet zone for more distance on off-centre hits.

Advanced multi-material construction in the new Titanium 6-4 body and carbon fibre crown maximise discretionary weight, which is strategically positioned low in the head for more distance and forgiveness.

The Fly-Z+ driver also features Cobra’s proven MyFly8 and SmartPad, allowing golfers to select from multiple loft/ trajectory settings to tune their game. Loft Settings: 8.5° - 11.5° Head Colours: Black, white, blue, orange, green

SRP: Asian Specs (UST Attas 6 shaft) – RM2,169 /

Global Specs (Matrix VLC T ST shaft) – RM1,749

On Tour

Flamboyant American star Rickie Fowler used his orange Cobra Fly-Z+ Driver to power his way to an amazing comeback victory at The Players Championship. Trailing by five strokes with just six holes to play, Fowler birdied 13, 15, 17 and 18 and eagled 16 before beating Sergio Garcia and Kevin Kisner in a dramatic playoff at TPC Sawgrass. Fowler’s longest drive of the week measured an impressive 336 yards.

In ri ckie fowler 's bag

Driver Cobra Fly-Z+ (10.5°) in orange with Matrix Prototype 70X shaft Fairways Cobra Fly-Z+ #3 (14°) in orange with Aldila Tour Blue 73X shaft Cobra BioCell+ #5 (18.5°) in orange with Aldila Tour Blue 70X shaft Irons Cobra Fly-Z Pro MB Irons (4-9) with MB Dynamic Golf Tour Issue X100 shafts Cobra Fly-Z+ Forged (3-iron) with Matrix hm2 shaft Wedges Cobra Tour Trusty (47°, 51°, 57°, 62° / RF Grind) with Dynamic Gold Tour Issue S400 shafts

www.taylormadegolf.com

TaylorMade AeroBurner Driver Burning speed

TaylorMade’s sleek AeroBurner driver is all about speed, featuring an improved Speed Pocket and advanced aerodynamics to promote effortless distance for all players.

The most striking feature of the AeroBurner is the ‘Aero hosel’, a small fin located at the heel of the club to reduce drag. This combines with a raised centre crown and rounded toe section to improve aerodynamics and lower drag force.

The new Speed Pocket is twice as big as the JetSpeed, the first driver to feature the technology. Unlike the JetSpeed, AeroBurner drivers do not have loft sleeve technology which allows the length of the Speed Pocket to be extended across the entire sole.

The AeroBurner also features Inverted Cone Technology, which is milled into the inner side of the clubface and promotes higher ball speed on off-centre hits. The new matte white pearlized paint finish with black PVD face provides a stark contrast and helps in alignment.

Available in three lofts (9.5°, 10.5° and 12°) and the Asian version comes with an ultra-light 50-gram TM1-215 Mitsubishi Rayon shaft in S, SR and R flexes. The longer, lighter shaft and light grip add up to less than 295g in total club weight, promoting faster swing speeds. A slightly higher swing weight improves the feel of the club and promotes faster ball speed.

The global specifications driver comes with a Matrix Speed Rul-Z shaft and weighs in at less than 300g in total. A Tour Preferred (TP) version is available with a longer hosel to allow for a wide range of TP shaft offerings.

©David Cannon/Getty Images

on to ur

The AeroBurner driver chalked up two highprofile wins in the USA recently, thanks to Steven Bowditch in the AT&T Byron Nelson and Anna Nordqvist in the ShopRite LPGA Classic.

Using a TP version (9.0°) with Fujikura Pro Series shaft, Bowditch opened with a stunning 62 and followed up with rounds of 68, 65 and 64 to win by four shots at the TPC Four Seasons Resort in Irving, Texas.

Sweden’s Nordqvist meanwhile claimed her fifth LPGA title using an AeroBurner TP driver (9.5°), carding rounds of 67, 69 and 60 for a one-shot win at Stockton Seaview Hotel & Golf Club in New Jersey.

TaylorMade was the No. 1 driver in play at both events.

In Ann Driver

Fairway

Hybrid

Irons

Putter Ball a Nor dqvist ’s Bag

TaylorMade AeroBurner TP (9.5°) with Mitsubishi Diamana B Series shaft TaylorMade #3 (17°) with Mitsubishi Diamana S shaft TaylorMade SLDR (21°) with Mitsubishi Diamana S shaft TaylorMade RSi TP (6-9, PW) TaylorMade Tour Preferred CB (4-5) TaylorMade Kia Ma Rossa Daytona TaylorMade Tour Preferred X

www.odysseygolf.com

Odyssey Works Big T Putters The Next Big T

The new Big T Putter line from Odyssey merges the new Fusion RX insert with the revolutionary dual alignment of the Versa range and the Marxman alignment system.

Standing over a putt, golfers look down on the Big T which makes it easier to line putts up. The Fusion RX insert combines the proven White Hot insert with ultra-thin stainless steel mesh and Odyssey’s patented Metal-X roll pattern. The result is a faster roll that reduces skidding and gets the ball into a pure roll faster.

While the V-Line mallet with its high MOI and pleasing symmetry was the catalyst for the Big T design, the range also includes other tour-proven head shapes such as the #5, V-Line Centre Shaft and the new Big T Blade model.

The Big T putters come with a black powder coat shaft that reduces glare and is popular with tour players. Features: • Quicker Roll with Fusion RX: Superb White Hot feel with quicker roll. • Dual Alignment: The ultimate set-up with Big-T alignment using Versa and

Marxman technology. • Tour Proven Shapes: A V-Line model, #5, V-Line Centre Shaft and a new Big

T Blade model • Black Powder Coat Shaft: Reduces glare and provides a stylish, contemporary look.

www.clevelandgolf.com

Cleveland 588 RTX 2.0 Wedges Spin Makers

Cleveland’s 588 RTX 2.0 series wedges are making waves on tour and with club golfers, boasting advanced spin technology for excellent short game performance.

Golfers can choose one of two models – the 588 RTX 2.0 which is a blade-type design for mid- to high-level golfers who value workability, and the 588 RTX 2.0 CB featuring a cavity-type design suitable for a wide range of golfers. Both are offered in either tour satin or black satin finishes.

The 56˚ and 58˚ wedges are available in low bounce angle, standard bounce angle, and high bounce angle. There are four types of heads – blade-type with tour satin finish, bladetype with black satin finish, cavity-type with tour satin finish and cavity-type with black satin finish – with 11 variations for each head.

In all, the new RTX 2.0 series provides golfers with 44 variations of head type to suit all playing styles and preferences.

RTX stands for Rotex, a breakthrough face design technology that delivers stable spin performance even with the clubface open and the direction of the grooves changed. The curving face pattern creates deep, rough lines for improved spin performance, while the Tour Zip Grooves provide more width with greater volume to channel debris more effectively. This also decreases the groove angle and groove shoulder radius, creating a more effective edge for improved spin performance.

Laser milling parallel to the score lines employs computer-controlled, precision processing to achieve a depth that approaches the maximum allowed by the rules. The distance between the lines has also been varied to accentuate the milling. Loft/Bounce: 56˚/Low, 56˚/Standard, 56˚/High, 58˚/Low, 58˚/Standard, 58˚/High

SRP: RM490

©Hunter Martin/Getty Images

On Tour

The Cleveland 588 RTX 2.0 wedges have raked up a number of wins on tour, highlighted by Australian teenager Minjee Lee’s breakthrough win in the Kingsmill Championship. The 18-year-old prodigy captured her first LPGA title by two shots after a final round 65.

Danish veteran Soren Kjeldsen also used the RTX 2.0 wedges en route to his playoff victory at the European Tour’s Dubai Duty Free Irish Open at Royal County Down.

In Min Driver Fairway Hybrids Irons Wedges jee Lee’s Bag

XXIO8 (9.5°) XXIO7 #3 (18) Srixon Z H45 #3 (21) Srixon Z 745 (5-9, P) Cleveland 588 RTX 2.0 (50°, 54°, 60°) Srixon Z Star

www.honmagolf.co.jp/en

Honma Tour World TW727 Drivers Tour-Perfo rmers

Honma’s high-performance Tour World line offers four superb new drivers in distinctive shapes and sizes to suit a wide range of golfers.

The 460, 455 and 455S models feature Honma’s proprietary W-Forged Technology which enhances feel and increases forgiveness. The W-Forged process is a highdensity forging method that gives greater design flexibility by maintaining hardness but increasing strength by about 15%. This saves 2g off the weight, which allows a new variable thickness face design that creates an expanded sweet spot.

Shaft options for the TW727 range consist of Honma’s highlyacclaimed new Vizard series.

TW727 460 Driver

The most forgiving an easy-to-use model of the TW727 driver series with a deep and low CG location. Featuring a forged KS100 crown and ELF Titanium forged cup face structure, the TW727 460 generates medium spin and a high launch for more distance.

TW727 455 Driver

Designed for golfers who want forgiveness with workability, the TW727 455 generates low spin and a mid-trajectory. The 455cc clubhead features a forged KS100 crown and ELF Titanium forged face structure.

TW727 455S Driver

This is essentially an easier-to-use version of the 455 with a deeper and lower CG location, providing golfers with an ‘in-between’ option for those who prefer a smaller head than 460cc but want more forgiveness. With a forged KS100 crown and ELF Titanium forged cup face structure, the 455S generates medium spin and a mid/high trajectory.

TW727 430 Driver

This compact ‘player’s driver’ is designed for accomplished golfers who want low spin and a penetrating trajectory off the tee. Featuring a Ti5N forged face, the TW727 430 has a shallow and forward CG location which generates a strong trajectory and allows better players to shape their shots. Comes in a tour-inspired black IP finish.

www.nikegolf.com

Nike Golf Vapor Speed Driver Vaporising Speed

One of the most striking drivers is Nike’s Vapor Speed with its black crown and distinctive volt in the cavity back and Compression Channel.

Designed to promote a higher launch angle with lower spin, the Vapor Speed blends three key technologies – Nike’s new FlyBeam-reinforced Covert Cavity Back design, a reengineered Compression Channel and FlexLoft 2. The FlyBeam design stiffens the cavity back of the club, while the Compression Channel accentuates the spring-like effect across the face.

FlexLoft 2 allows the golfer the functionality of five lofts and three face angles within 15 different settings. The new, improved system is five grams (30%) lighter without compromising function. The redistribution of mass creates more stability, better launch conditions and faster swing speeds.

Another benefit of FlexLoft 2 is its forward and backward compatibility. Golfers with previous generations of Covert can use shafts with the original adaptor in the new head or vice versa. Loft Range: 8.5°-12.5°

SRP: Fubuki Z 50G shaft – RM1,590 /

Asian Specs Fubuki shaft – RM1,790

On Tour

Swedish star Suzann Pettersen used her Nike Vapor Speed driver with great effect in the Manulife LPGA Classic, birdieing two of her last three holes for a one-shot victory at Whistle Bear Golf Club in Ontario. The victory marks her 15th on the LPGA Tour and the first since 2013.

Averaging 278 yards off the tees, Pettersen recorded two eagles and 21 birdies over four rounds and finished on 22-under-par.

©Vaughn Ridley/Getty Images

In Suz ann Pett ers en’s Bag

Driver Nike Vapor Speed Fairway Nike Covert #3 (15°) Hybrid Nike Vapor Speed #2 (17°) Irons Nike Pro Combo (4-5, 7-9, P) Nike VR Forged (6) Wedges Nike VR Pro (48°) Nike Engage (52°, 59°) Putter Nike Method MOD 30 Ball Nike RZN Black

almost obloo keng yip Intrepid photographer and long drive proponent Loo Keng Yip gives his rather slanted view on all things golf

Balanced Balls

A stray shot could be, amongst a list of causes, the work of a poorly balanced ball

Ever launched a draw or a fade that mysteriously strayed off track in spite of the stroke having felt just about perfect off the clubface? We rightfully anticipated a splendid arcing shot on target only for the ball to swing more or fly straighter than it should have.

What about the time on the green when you thought you had made sweet contact and had expected to see the ball markings rolling smoothly end over end blurring into nice neat lines but instead they seemed to tumble and stagger head over heels in some drunken dance?

Luckily, these instances usually do not also result in vast deviations from the intended ball path. Your drive didn’t balloon out into a full-blown hook nor a vicious slice. Your wobbly putt may have turned a little but it probably still held its line well enough.

Truth be said and in all likelihood, the majority of these slightly wayward shots materialised because we didn’t actually hit the ball quite as purely as we had thought.

But what if we had and the balls still strayed? There could be a variety of causes. A cut ball. Sand or grass caught between the ball and clubface. It is also plausible that the error was caused by a poorly balanced ball. And obviously mis-hitting a ball with poor balance only compounds the problem.

Try this. Dissolve two heaped tablespoons of salt into a cup of water, then float a ball in it. It will rotate and bob around for a bit, then come to rest. Mark the topmost point – the ‘North Pole’ if you like. Set the ball in motion again and you will find that it always settles with the mark on top. This indicates that the ball is not

perfectly balanced. If it were so, a different, totally random point would emerge on top each time.

Of course it is quite unrealistic, perhaps even impossible to expect anything even approaching perfect spherical balance in golf balls. Is it even necessary? Perhaps not but as it stands in our less than perfect world, the salt water test shows the ‘North Pole’ to be the lightest part of the ball; the ‘South Pole’ the heaviest. There is an imbalance. Each time we induce some side spin and/or roll to our shots, or indeed even if we were to absolutely flush a ball with no spin at all, poor balance could cause a ball to wobble and stray from the intended line. We are familiar with the ill-effects of driving on badly balanced car tyres. Something similar applies here. Whilst ball imbalance doesn’t seem to be a major issue, what if we are unlucky enough to play a ball that is badly out of whack?

Of course, marking a ball doesn’t improve its balance. What marking does allow for, however, is that we can help to ensure that by always placing the mark in a certain orientation (‘North Pole’ always facing up for example) that we might help to minimise the effects of one cause of shot inconsistency. Testing about 20 balls I had on hand I was surprised by how quickly the majority of them came to rest in the salt water test. That would indicate a relatively large differential between the heaviest and lightest portions of the ball. The faster and more assuredly a ball comes to rest, the greater the imbalance.

Just how prevalent is ball imbalance? Well, my tiny survey is surely not a true indicator of all the balls out there but there is at least one Japanese company that floats, marks and charges a premium for their “specially selected” balls. Looks like a good excuse for some DIY then. Pass the salt please …

Drive long and prosper. PG

Nick’s KnacksNICK GOH News and views from the wide, wide world of golf equipment by ParGolf contributor/tester Nick Goh

Bouncy Wedges

How to use the bounce of your wedges effectively

Can you remember the last time you were looking to buy a wedge? Ever wondered why there are so many options available? First there is the loft (52°, 54°, 56°, 58°, 60° & 64°) and then there is the bounce (6° to 14°).

So what do these options mean and do they make any difference at all?

It is quite obvious that loft creates height to the ball flight. The higher the loft, the higher you can launch the ball. You can add loft to the club at impact by simply opening the clubface as well but that would take some practice and guts to hit the ball with the clubface wide open.

Bounce is used to help the player slide or glide the clubface on the surface of the ground. As its name suggests, bounce is used to prevent the leading edge of club from digging too deep into the surface by bouncing the club upwards when it touches the surface. It is especially useful in bunker play.

There are different textures of sand on each course. For soft and fine sand,

which normally is white in colour, more bounce will be needed to ensure you can slide the club across the surface. Anything greater than a 10° bounce should be the preferred club. Be sure you open your clubface, swing smoothly and accelerate through the sand. If you have insufficient bounce, the club will dig into the sand and more often than not your ball will still be in the bunker.

Selecting the right wedge with the right bounce will make each shot easier once you understand the lie that you have.

If the sand is rough and coarse (looks like brown sugar), you would want to get the club to enter the sand about two inches behind the ball with a little deeper blow to splash the ball out. An 8° to 10° bounce club with a slightly steeper swing path would do the trick here. You may want to square your clubface with this technique and accelerate through your shot.

For hard and clay-like sand, usually found in low-rated courses, you may want to chip the ball out with a highlofted club that has minimal bounce (6° to 8°). The idea is to get the leading edge a little into the sand and prevent the club from bouncing up too quickly. It may not be a good idea to splash it out with a 10° bounce club because you would most likely skull the ball over the green.

I see many golfers using their sand wedges (56°/10° or 60°/10°) for chipping around the green regardless of the turf condition. In wet or soft conditions, bounce can be your friend by helping your club slide through the surface of the turf. However, on a dry and hard ground, bounce might work against you if you happen to hit behind the ball. Just like in hard bunkers, the club will bounce up too quickly resulting in a thin shot.

Be sure you examine the turf and gauge the hardness of the ground. If the ball is on a tight lie with a hard surface, use less bounce. If it’s a tight lie on soft turf, use a higher bounce.

This is why many good golfers have a variety of wedges and they would use them according to the lie and condition of the sand or turf. Wedges are supposed to be your scoring clubs or at least to be used around the greens to save some strokes. Selecting the right wedge with the right bounce will make each shot easier once you understand the lie that you have. Play the safest and easiest shot that you can execute to minimise errors around the green. I am sure it will save you a stroke or two in each round!

So use the bounce of your club to your advantage and remember – bounce will make your club behave differently in different conditions.

Happy Golfing! PG

Stylish Evo

Ecco

One

Designed to deliver performance as well as great looks, the Ecco Evo One shoes exemplify the performance and style tour players require and desire. Strategically wider toward the rear, with a midsole that incorporates a specialised shank piece, it is made from camel and kara leather, creating a sophisticated and functional golf shoe. The E-DTS Hybrid Technology incorporates a two-tone TPU outsole with 800 traction angles, while the Eccodeveloped Hydromax treatment delivers premium quality water repellence; this special process actually keeps the leather from hardening after repeated wetting and drying, keeping it strong and durable, yet soft and breathable. Available at all Transview outlets. Enamel Bag

Titleist

Designed and developed to enhance the avid golfer’s experience from tee to green, the Titleist Two-Toned Enamel Bag (ref: TB5CT531) is constructed from PU Leather material with a brushed nickel tower ring, dry grip bottom and matching zippered rainhood. It also features a string of pockets, including a front large zippered ball pocket; full-size, side saddle ball pocket; additional zippered accessory pocket; and insulated beverage pocket. Available in two colours – Navy and Black/Red.

Fashion + Function

GolfBuddy

The new GolfBuddy WT4 GPS watch fuses fashion and function – apart from offering a sleek watch with digital/ analogue features you can wear on and off the course, the WT4 is also equipped with GolfBuddy’s advanced features to improve your game: full targets and hazards information, Dynamic Green View and Pin Placement features. The WT4 also sports a digital scorecard, GPS tracking and shot distance measurement. It uses a Lithiumpolymer battery (good for 13 hours in Golf Mode and a huge 20 days in Time Mode) and weighs in at a lightweight 65g ensuring optimum comfort throughout your swing. Available at all

Two-Toned

Transview outlets.