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Hey may look strange, futuristic, weird or all the above, but, according to those who get paid to know, the introduction of square drivers this month is a landmark moment. “In this industry, something happens every 10 to 15, or even 10 to 20 years, when a benchmark technology is introduced,” said Don Anderson, a golf equipment consultant. “And I look at square drivers as that kind of significant change, like when woods went from actual wood to metal. It will change the industry forever.” But that’s only if people can get past the initial shock of seeing a driver that is totally different from anything they’ve seen before. Square-backed drivers are just that: the head is square, with soft corners as opposed to the pear shape with the gentle, smooth curves we’ve all grown up playing. It all boils down to moment of inertia, or MOI, which means resistance to twisting at impact. The square shape of these drivers moves the head’s center of gravity back, improving the MOI. And, the theory goes, the higher the MOI, the less the clubhead will twist if the ball isn’t hit squarely. “This is not like composite metals versus titanium, or simply bigger clubheads,” Anderson said. “This is huge. It’s the first time the industry has went in and reverse-engineered a product to achieve greater results.” Get used to it. Though TaylorMade and Titleist aren’t jumping into the new shape, both Ping and Cobra are reportedly investigating it. Anderson, who visits China several times a year to inspect the foundries where most golf clubs are being built, says there are already people working on square hybrids and other clubs. “I think you’re going to see square hybrids and square irons with a flat edge,” he said. “By the end of the year, you’ll see them in golfers’ hands.” With people more comfortable with technology today as opposed to 20 years ago, Anderson doesn’t think it will take square drivers long to catch on with the general public. “Right now it doesn’t look conventional, but once people start playing with these things, they’ll understand why it’s such a huge difference,” he said. “This is going to spark a whole new generation of clubs that will add fuel to sales across the board. It’s an exciting time for this industry.” While square drivers rank among the most interesting products that will be unveiled or marketed this year, they’re not the only equipment making noise. Following are 15 products that could make a big splash in 2007. Cleveland Hibore XL This funky-looking creature, which looks like someone scooped out a chunk of the crown, is an enhancement of the original HiBORE. It’s definitely bigger, with 11 percent more face on the 460cc head. Higher launch and lower spin mean greater distance, and the weight redistribution means greater accuracy on off-center hits. The company has also worked with Fujikura to design shafts specifically for the club’s technology. The suggested retail price is $300. CALLAWAY FT-i It’s fitting that one of the pioneers of golf club development is one of the first major companies to jump into the potentially lucrative square club market. Callaway Golf isn’t shy about promoting the FT-i as “the world’s straightest” driver, even getting golf legend Gary Player to testify on its website that it’s the best driver he’s ever played. It’s also one of the most expensive, with a suggested retail price of $499. Adams Insight BUL Though not as radical as a square-back driver, the Insight BUL uses similar weight redistribution technology to increase forgiveness across the face of the club. It has a price tag of $399. Cobra S-9 Cobra claims its latest set of high-performance irons ranks among the best clubs the company has ever designed. These are game-enhancement irons, meaning low- to mid-handicappers will benefit most from what Cobra calls its most technologically advanced iron line to date. What does that mean? Maximum accuracy, distance, forgiveness and feel across the face. The suggested retail price is $599-$799. Mizuno Mx-19 Mizuno has designed its MX-19 series for players with handicaps ranging from 8 to 32. The oversized irons have a cavity, meaning higher launch and maximum forgiveness. If your game still needs work and you don’t want to take on a second mortgage for a new set of irons, these might make more sense. The suggested retail price is $549-$649. Callaway x-20 While terms such as “progressive wall reduction system” and “extreme notch weighting” probably don’t mean much to you, those design elements take forgiveness and performance to another level. The center of gravity is 6 percent lower than Callaway’s X-18 series, meaning even more feel. The suggested retail prices are $699 for steel and $899 for graphite. CALLAWAY HX HOT The HX Hot has a more resilient core than the company’s popular HX brand. Combined with the brand’s aerodynamic properties, the result is more distance across a wide range of swing speeds. This is Callaway’s mid-level ball, positioned between the Warbird and the HX Tour. The retail price for a dozen balls is $25. PINNACLE EXCEPTION Tired of spending your kids’ allowance on balls that wind up getting lost in the water or woods? Try this one. Pinnacle has a compression 30 points lower than similarly priced balls, which means more distance for people with slower swing speeds. The suggested retail price is $20 for a dozen, but you can find them for as low as $13 if you shop around on-line. TITLEIST PRO V1 Titleist is the biggest ball manufacturer in the world, and the Pro V1 is its flagship. So when the company says it has improved the product, golfers should pay attention. We have no idea what magic potion the company pours into its balls, but the latest recipe, Titleist claims, will add three yards per drive for swings of 167 mph, and two yards for swings of 160 mph. That’s fast, by the way, so take some time to figure out if the balls that sell for $59 a dozen are the right fit for you. Ping g5i Ping’s putter blades are classics, but the G5i — which is an enhancement of the G5 — works as well as Ping’s old-school beauties. The company claims that the G5i is 10 percent more forgiving than the G5. A crescent-shaped top rail and an alignment aid in the back helps golfers line up properly. The suggested retail price is $115-$145. Heavy putter B series This company’s niche is weighty putter heads, and the B series continues in that direction. Depending on the model, the head mass ranges between 45o to 550 grams as compared to conventional heads of 330 to 350 grams. It’s a mallet putter that looks a little odd, but people seem to love it once they get over the visual shock. The suggested retail price is $200-$250. Odyssey White Hot XG-2 More of the same from this company’s popular line of 2-ball putters. This version of the White Hot has the two large white discs on top to help your aim, but changes in weight distribution move more of the weight to the aluminum head, meaning greater feel. The suggested retail price is $200. FootJoy contour If you don’t want to break into your bank account but want a comfortable pair of shoes that will last more than a few rounds, it’s hard to go wrong with Footjoy’s Contour series. Though they look simple, there’s some high-teching going on, including compounds and devices to help traction and stability. They also come with a two-year waterproof guarantee. The suggested retail price is $110. Nike SP-8 TW Tour Like almost everything with this company, these shoes have game. We won’t bore you with all of the details, but this series uses something called a Power Platform, an outsole that combines four technologies for increased balance, smoother weight transfer and a stronger push through impact. The suggested retail price is $220. ADIDAS TOUR 360 These shoes debuted in 2005, but Adidas keeps embellishing the product. The core is a technology called 360 Wrap, which delivers firm, steady support that helps keep the foot centered within the shoe. And, with your feet being your only contact with the ground, remaining centered is key. They also look pretty snazzy. The suggested retail price is $180. |
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