Cobra S3 Pro irons

We tested: 3-PW with True Temper Dynamic Gold steel shaft

Key Technologies: Heads are made of soft forged 1025 carbon steel. This combo set seamlessly blends cavity-back long and mid-irons with blade-like short irons.

OUR TESTERS SAY: Among the top performers in its class. Testers enjoy all the amenities of a classic muscleback with pure feel.

PROS
PLAYABILITY: Many guys marvel at the ease of hitting the mid-irons; they rave about the club’s overall workability, too.
ACCURACY/FORGIVENESS: Several testers find S3 Pro irons easier to hit, with more built-in “help” than expected.
DISTANCE CONTROL: The majority of testers control trajectories and distance very well on solid strikes.
FEEL: One of the best-feeling clubs out there; impact sensation is a delicious soft feel on pure contact; sweet feel around the green, too.
LOOK: Very high marks in the address position.

CONS
It can be a challenge to consistently hit pure; shots outside the sweet spot can be hard on the hands.

Have you tried this club? Tell us what you think here.

$799, steel
cobragolf.com
Sourced: golf.com

Titleist AP2 Irons

We tested: 3-PW with True Temper Dynamic Gold steel shaft

Key Technologies: The multi-material head has a medallion in the cavity (made of soft elastomer and aluminum plate) that enhances sound and softens feel versus the original AP2. A 55-gram slug along the length of the sole adds a bit of forgiveness.

OUR TESTERS SAY: One of the top-rated clubs. Testers experience a delightful balance of look, feel and workability in an understated package.

PROS
PLAYABILITY: A real ballstriker’s iron—overriding theme is to dial it up and hit the shot you imagine.
ACCURACY/FORGIVENESS: Testers are excited to be in control on slight off-center hits—they miss the target by no more than a few yards.
DISTANCE CONTROL: Dead-on distances across the board for the majority of testers.
FEEL: Superb feel for those thirsting for soft yet crisp contact; lovely sensation around the greens as well.
LOOK: Neat, clean head with subtle but useful technology wrapped in a tidy package.

CONS
Some testers struggle with knockdown shots; short irons are a challenge to dial in for a few testers.

From Golf Magazine (ClubTest, March 2010)

Category: Better-Player Irons
We tested: 3-PW with True Temper Dynamic Gold steel shaft

Company line: “The AP2 is a multi-material, dual-cavity design aimed at serious golfers who want greatly enhanced feel with Tour-like performance. Extensive analysis of sound and vibration enable us to take the quality of impact feel to a new level. A 55-gram tungsten-nickel sole weight further enhances feel and forgiveness.”

Our Testers say:
PROS: Among the top performers in the group; scores very high for forgiveness and accuracy; long irons are easy to hit and provide a surprisingly high trajectory; pleasing shape and look are a big plus; average to above-average distance throughout the set; a number of panelists said they’d like to buy it.

CONS: Some testers find it difficult to determine for certain that this version is significantly better than the previous AP2; acceptable impact feel, just not as rewarding as traditional forgings.

From Sports Illustrated Golf+ Equipment Issue (February 8, 2010)

Building on the high-tech design and success of the original AP (Advanced Performance) irons, Titleist is offering two new multi­material, dual­cavity sets this year — the AP1 and the AP2. “The AP1 and AP2 embody significant improvements in feel, forgiveness and shot control to what had already been recognized as a revolutionary step forward in iron design,” says Steve Pelisek, general manager of Titleist golf clubs. “The AP1 and AP2 feature the most successful marriage of playability and forgiveness — plus traditional looks, feel and feedback — in the market today.”

The concept for the original AP irons came from research showing that serious golfers want performance but not at the expense of feel. The Titleist research and development team has been conducting extensive sound and vibration analysis aimed at reducing the harsh lower-frequency vibration that causes poor feel in irons. This research led to combining several technologies and materials in the back cavity of the AP irons, resulting in a Tuned Feel System that enhances feel.

“The AP1 and AP2 irons retain the dual-cavity design and multimaterial construction that is the key to their advanced performance,” says Dan Stone, Titleist’s vice president of R and D . “However, the designs have been upgraded for feel with the addition of the Tuned Feel System. The structure of the AP1 also provides improved forgiveness, while a modified sole on the new AP2 provides improved ground control.”

The Tuned Feel System is a comolded medallion of soft elastomer and an aluminum plate. This insert has been designed to improve sound and feel. For the thinner-face, larger-cavity AP1, a more lively feel has been created. For the AP2 a softer, more solid feel is achieved.

AP2 Irons
Looking for ­player-proven performance? AP2 irons were the most-played model on the PGA Tour in 2008 and ’09, as well as the most-played iron at the ’09 Club Professional Championship and the ’09 U.S. Amateur. The multi­material, dual-­cavity design increases playability with shot control, while the soft-forged construction provides great feel.

From GOLF Magazine (December 2009)
The base construction is similar to its predecessor but the feel properties have been tweaked to block out lower frequencies (which create a harsh feel). Updates include the aluminum badge backed by soft elastomer in the cavity (which elicits a soft yet solid feel). A 55-gram tungsten-nickel sole weight further enhances feel and forgiveness. Short irons (7-iron to PW) have less bounce on the back edge of the sole, for crisper contact. Stock shaft is Dynamic Gold (original AP2 had Project X).

Have you tried this club? Tell us what you think here.

$999, steel
titleistgolf.com
Sourced: golf.com

Ping S56 Irons

We tested: 3-PW with True Temper Dynamic Gold steel shaft; 3-PW with FST KBS Tour steel shaft

Key Technologies: “Stabilizer bars” in the cavity are narrower in long irons for a higher ball flight (and faster ball speeds) and wider in short irons, for a lower flight. Varying the depth of the tungsten toe weight—shallower in long irons, deeper in short irons—has a similar effect on ball flight.

OUR TESTERS SAY: Pretty good combination of performance and feel, despite a look that’s quite different from traditional Ping irons.

PROS
PLAYABILITY: Testers have success maneuvering shots; some rave about control on knockdown shots.
ACCURACY/FORGIVENESS: Help is available directionally and distance-wise on mis-hits; a distinct lack of sidespin.
DISTANCE CONTROL: Comparable distance output (and control) compared to testers’ current sets.
FEEL: Forged-like feel on solid contact, with “cast-like” forgiving feel on off-center hits.
LOOK: Inspiring blade-like appearance with thin topline.

CONS
Some testers tend to hit too many thin shots; a few find that the light heads require an adjustment period.

From Sports Illustrated Golf + (February 7, 2011)
The blade-style S56 appeals to players who put a premium on shot control. The steel-body design has variable tungsten toe weighting that positions the center of gravity for higher-launching long irons and more penetrating trajectories in the short irons. The patent-pending Stabilizing Bar Technology varies in width throughout the set to optimize each iron’s center of gravity. The machined face and grooves ensure consistent performance and precise control.

From The Shop Blog (June 15, 2010)

During the Waste Management Phoenix Open in February, several Ping staff players had a chance to see and try clubs the company plans to release later this year. Hunter Mahan liked the company’s yet-to-be-released S56 irons so much he said that he’d put them in his bag that week. Unfortunately, the S56 irons hadn’t been approved for play by the USGA at that time, and Ping was not ready to release the clubs to the world, so Mahan (who won that week at TPC Scottsdale) and other Ping pros had to wait … until now.

Ping brought several sets of S56 irons to Pebble Beach this week; the clubs are an updated-version of Mahan’s beloved Ping S57 irons and feature several of the same design features.

The S56 irons have a compact head, minimal offset and only a touch of perimeter weighting. A weight cartridge nestled behind the face absorbs vibrations and allows Ping to adjust the swing weight of each club to match a golfer’s preferences.

And like the S57, the S56 irons also feature a tungsten weight in the toe area to extend the sweet spot that direction. To help maintain balance, Ping lengthened the hosel of the S56 (thereby adding weight to the heel area), which also broadens the sweet spot in that direction too. The result is a slightly more forgiving blade that will still allow better golfers to carve and shape their shots.

According to Matt Rollins, a PGA Tour rep for Ping golf, the sole of the S56 has been designed to work more effectively through the turf — a feature that tour players who hit the irons in February all noticed and liked.

Don’t look for the S56 to add yards to your game. Like other iron sets designed with accomplished players in mind, they were built with an emphasis on consistency and accuracy instead of power.

Have you tried this club? Tell us what you think here.

$899, steel
ping.com
Sourced: golf.com

Mizuno JPX-800 Driver

We tested: 9°, 10.5° with Exsar DS5 graphite shaft

Key Technologies: “Cortech” clubface has multiple thicknesses to produce consistent, high ball speed on mis-hits while “Ultimate Dynamic Stability” technology aids forgiveness. An internal 10-gram back weight shifts the CG deeper and increases launch angle, while an internal 5-gram heel weight makes it easier to square the clubface through impact.

OUR TESTERS SAY: Traditional looking club with a pleasing, quality feel.

PROS
DISTANCE: Shots land hard and roll well due to lower-spinning head and penetrating ball flight; adequate length on off-center hits.
ACCURACY/FORGIVENESS: Mid flight and reduced sidespin limit most shots from straying too far off-line.
FEEL: One of the best for feel; soft, almost effortless sensation at impact on purely struck shots; well balanced with ample head weight that’s apparent throughout the swing.
PLAYABILITY: One of the few drivers in this category that allows the right kind of player to shape shots in both directions; boring trajectory is a plus in windy conditions.
LOOK: Appealing conventional shape and navy blue finish; understated graphics don’t shout “look at me.”

Mizuno JPX-800 Driver

CONS
Nothing spectacular distance-wise (average to above-average) for many testers; several testers prefer more help launching the ball high in the air and keeping it in the air.

$249,
mizunousa.com
Sourced: golf.com

Mizuno MP-53 irons

We tested: 3-PW with True Temper Dynamic Gold steel shaft

Key Technologies: The 3- through 7-irons have a milled “Pocket Cavity” that frees up 14 grams. The extra mass is distributed around the perimeter and contributes to the highest MOI (forgiveness) of any MP iron. The forged carbon steel heads feature a “diamond muscle” design for consistent, soft feel.

OUR TESTERS SAY: It’s more like a game-improvement iron than Mizuno’s typical forgings.

PROS
PLAYABILITY: A good option for shotmakers—distinct ability to shape shots; high ball flight, particularly in longer irons.
ACCURACY/FORGIVENESS: Forgiveness aplenty with unexpected distance on slight mis-hits; shots hit slightly thin carry well and stay in play.
DISTANCE CONTROL: Pure shots generate one-half club extra length.
FEEL: Pleasing impact sensation isn’t quite the soft, “stick to the face” feel that several testers associate with previous Mizuno irons.
LOOK: Thick, beefy look in scoring irons; thinnish topline does a nice job of masking the slightly larger head.

CONS
For some testers, this iron leans too much toward game improvement; looks more like a larger cavity back than other Mizuno irons.

Have you tried this club? Tell us what you think here.

$899; steel
mizunousa.com
Sourced: golf.com

Nike Method Core MC-3i putter

From The Shop blog (January 18, 2011)
Paul Casey fell in love with a prototype of Nike’s Method 001 putter after trying it at the company’s test center in Ft. Worth, Texas. After convincing company brass to allow him use the club in competition, Casey dropped it into his bag at the 2008 WGC-Bridgestone Invitational.

It’s never left.

In 2009, both Stewart Cink and Lucas Glover won major championships using a Method prototype, and last year Tiger Woods started sporadically using one too.

But for a lot of golfers, the $250 price tag attached the Method putters was simply too much to fork over. Nike aims to change that with the release of the Method Core line of putters, which have a $129 sticker.

Like the original Method putters, the Method Core line features a unique polymer-groove technology that Nike says gets the ball rolling on the greens faster. However, while the grooves are cut into the face of the Method putters, Nike designers set the grooves of the Method Core putters in an insert.

Essentially, the technology is the same: the grooves are partially filled with a polymer for soft feel, but the unfilled lower portion of the grooves grab the ball and get it rolling.

Nike says the original Method putter starts the ball rolling a touch faster, but not by much. The company also says that the Method Core putter should give a softer feel than the original Method because the grooves are housed in the insert.

Method Core putters will be available in three blade models and two mallets, and all will come with a Black Nickel finish that reduces glare. None of the designs are shockingly unique, and in fact, all five will look familiar to many golfers.

Look for the new Method Core putters to start arriving in pro shops by mid-February
Sourced: golf.com

Nike 20XI-s golf ball

IT’S FOR: Tour level players and skilled amateurs.
SKINNY: The 4-piece ball, available by summer, has a story all its own. A lightweight rubber-less core (made of polymer) makes the mantle and cover 10 percent heavier. As a result, drives launch with less spin (100-200 rpm) but maintain spin longer for better carry and control. The 20XI-S (replaces One Tour) has Nike’s softest urethane cover ever for max spin and feel on approach shots; the 20XI-X (replaces One Tour D) has a firmer cover for lower spin and more length.

BALL-FITTING OPTIONS:
1. Consumer takeaway piece at retail explains Nike’s ball offerings and how the products are designed for different player types.
2. A fitting tool available at nikegolf.com provides player profiles (competitive, want to hit it longer, have fun, etc). Select a profile, answer a brief series of questions and the tool directs you to the “right” ball.
3. Sales reps and technicians use a proprietary software program at demo days. Software recommends ball(s) based on launch conditions (captured using a launch monitor) and your preferences.

From The Shop Blog (January 6, 2011)
Mark Alan, Nike Golf’s product line manager for golf balls, will tell you the biggest recent advancement in balls was the switch from wound balls to solid-core models.

But Alan and Nike think the next major advance is about to be made with the 20XI-s and the 20XI-x, both slated to be available May 1.

The most unique aspect of the new 20XI (Get it? 20+XI=2011) is its core, which is made by injection-molding a new resin that Nike developed with DuPont. The material took four years to perfect, and Nike claims that the new core makes the 20XI 2-3 mph faster than the company’s previous offerings with compression-molded rubber cores.

Because the core material is so light, Nike engineers were able to use heavier materials in the layers that surround the core, which should add durability and increase the ball’s moment of inertia (MOI).

“You can think of it as a perimeter-weighted golf ball,” Alan said.

A high MOI helps a club resist twisting on off-center impacts. In golf balls, Nike says the increased MOI affects the 20XI’s spin.

“It resists spinning at impact with the driver,” Alan says. “But once you get the ball spinning, it stays.” It also means the ball is less affected by cross winds.

That should come in handy this week in Hawaii, where both Anthony Kim and Francesco Molinari are expected to play the ball during the PGA Tour’s Hyundai Tournament of Champions.

Alan says the balls should leave the clubface with 100-200 rpm less spin than Nike’s previous premium offerings (the ONE Tour), but will have 100-200 rpm more spin after the ball reaches the apex of its trajectory. That should mean more green-grabbing spin on approach shots.

While both models are made using four pieces—including the same core and compression layer—the 20XI-s has a softer urethane cover that should produce more spin around the greens. The 20XI-x also features a urethane cover, but its firmer, so the ball should produce slightly more distance.
$45.99/dozen, nikegolf.COM
Sourced: golf.com

Nike VR Pro driver

We tested: 9.5°, 10.5° with Project X graphite shaft

Key Technologies: Pear shaped driver with “Variable Compression Channel” designed to increase ball speed. The club’s CG location is positioned to optimize shotmaking ability, while the newest version of STR8-FIT face angle technology (32 settings) allows for full adjustability.

OUR TESTERS SAY: This is Nike’s best driver to date. It possesses good looks plus above-average distance and forgiveness.

PROS
DISTANCE: A number of testers indicate they hit it significantly longer than normal while a few others rate it about the same as their own.
ACCURACY/FORGIVENESS: Consistent off the tee and noteworthy for its forgiveness, particularly on heel hits; testers credit its adjustability with providing very good accuracy.
FEEL: Powerful, balanced feel with little twisting through impact; a few testers note a hot or explosive sensation off the face.
PLAYABILITY: Shot-shaping ability depends largely on how the face angle is set; many testers hit their “normal” shot pattern consistently after the fit is dialed in; others easily alter shot trajectory.
LOOK: Arguably Nike’s best yet; traditional shape sits nicely at address; attractive paint job.

CONS Some testers find it difficult to turn over; impact could be softer.

From The Shop Blog (December 1, 2010)
No one, not even the pros, hits every tee shot in the center of the face. When better players miss, they tend to hit the ball low and toward the heel, so last year Nike released the Victory Red driver with a channel that ran along the bottom of the club, just behind the face, that was designed to make those misses more playable.

The next generation of that club has just been released, the Nike Victory Red Pro, and the technology has been taken a step further. Instead of running only behind the face, Nike’s Compression Channel now goes around the entire sole of the club.

“We’re literally as fast as we can be in the center of the face,” says Tom Stites, Nike Golf’s director of product creation. “If we get any faster, we’re going to be non-conforming.”

But the trick is to help players get that ball speed from as many places on the face as possible.

“If you compare the face of any driver to a trampoline, the most spring you get in the trampoline is in the dead center,” Stites says. “As you get closer to the edge, it gets more rigid. If you put a piece of plywood on the trampoline, anywhere on the plywood would spring just about the same amount. That’s what we’re trying to accomplish, to get that [maximum] rebound in as many places as we can.”

According to Nike’s research, the new VR Pro driver has a 2% higher Coefficient of Restitution (COR) across the face than its processor, which translates to 4-6 more yards off the tee.

At address the club has a classic teardrop shape, but Nike’s STR8-Fit system allows golfers to set the head in 32 different positions ranging from 2° open at address to 2° closed. Nike says the club has up to 45 yards of left-to-right adjustability. The STR8-Fit system also lets players adjust loft and lie angle.

“It’s still a club that is primarily going to help players with an inside-to-outside swing path because their misses tend to be in the heel,” Stites told me. But he added that the technology can also help players who have an outside-to-inside swing.

The Nike VR Pro driver will be available in early February 2011, in lofts ranging from 8.5° to 11.5°. It will come standard with a Project X graphite shaft for about $480. More shaft options will be available through custom fitting and ordering.
Sourced: golf.com

Wilson Staff DXi Driver

We tested: 8°, 9°, 10.5°, 12° with Aldila Voodoo graphite shaft

Key Technologies: Loft-specific mass dispersion controls trajectory while two tungsten-rubber inserts fine-tune CG location. The 8° and 9° have weight low to maximize vertical gear effect for lower-spinning shots, while the 10.5° and 12° have weight low and back to maximize dynamic loft.

OUR TESTERS SAY: Middle-of-the-road performer with above-average forgiveness capabilities.

PROS
DISTANCE: Many testers report average length off the tee, though a few find DXi to be surprisingly long.
ACCURACY/FORGIVENESS: Accurate driver with a large sweet spot; good for getting the ball in play.
FEEL: Solid, somewhat metallic sensation at impact.
PLAYABILITY: Some testers report a draw bias that makes it hard to fade; others find the DXi simply to be a straight hitter.
LOOK: Big, simple, clean clubhead with a shallow face that provides a wide hitting area.

CONS
Appears overly big at address to a lot of testers who prefer a deeper face; not as long as some others; not the ideal choice if bending the ball is your game.

From Golf Magazine (December 2010)
It’s for: All handicap levels

Utilizing two tungsten-rubber inserts on the sole to manipulate the center of gravity, Wilson is able to fit the same model driver to low and high handicappers. The weight plugs—5 grams in 8° and 9° lofts, 7.5 grams in 10.5° loft, 10 grams in 12° loft—are positioned lower and farther back in the head as loft increases, and vice versa. The result is a lower, more penetrating ball flight with the 8°and 9°, and a higher trajectory with the 10.5° and 12°. The face insert has five zones (or thicknesses) to bolster output on off-center hits. Wilson’s Smooth driver, by comparison, had a three-zone variable face.
Sourced: golf.com

Titleist 910D2 Driver

Titleist 910D2:

We tested: 9.5°, 10.5° with Mitsubishi Rayon Diamana Kai’li graphite; 8.5°, 9.5° with Diamana ‘ahina graphite; 10.5° with Diamana ‘ilima graphite

Key Technologies: “SureFit Tour” adjustable hosel helps to achieve proper launch, spin and direction through 16 loft/ lie combos. Tweaking loft (+1.5° to -0.75°) creates 825-rpm difference in backspin and 1.5° variation in launch angle.

OUR TESTERS SAY: One of the top drivers tested, highly rated in all categories. Titleist’s best driver to date for the masses.

PROS
DISTANCE: Several testers hit it longer than their own; off-center hits go nearly as far as center hits; adjustability leads to longer drives.
ACCURACY/FORGIVENESS: A true fairway finder, tops for overall control; testers rarely hit balls out of play.
FEEL: A different feel for Titleist; pleasing metallic crack at impact identifies a flushed shot; well-balanced club promotes good timing; crisp, crushed energy transfer.
PLAYABILITY: Consistent high ball flight; very good workability and fun to play; more flexibility to execute various shots than others tested.
LOOK: Traditional shape and simple, effective visual aid on crown; no distractions or gimmicks at address.

CONS
A few testers find it can be difficult to keep the ball down; testers with a descending angle of attack get too much backspin.

Titleist 910D3:

Titleist 910D3 Driver

Category: Tour Drivers
We tested: 9.5°, 10.5° with Mitsubishi Rayon Diamana Kai’li graphite shaft; 8.5°, 9.5° with Diamana ‘ahina shaft

Key Technologies: Compact, 445cc head has a “fast” face insert to increase ball speed and distance. The patented “SureFit Tour” dual-angle hosel allows for independent loft and lie adjustments. The low, deep CG increases stability and provides medium launch with mid/low spin.

OUR TESTERS SAY: One of the highest-rated drivers. Tops in playability, near the top of its class in distance, forgiveness and look.

PROS
DISTANCE: Most find it as long or a bit longer than their own club.
ACCURACY/FORGIVENESS: Mis-hits get a decent amount of help, causing minimal distance loss.
FEEL: Balanced feel during swing leads to a soft yet crisp impact sensation.
PLAYABILITY: Offers very precise performance on well-struck shots; adjustable hosel makes it a friendly stick for shotmakers.
LOOK: Hard to beat its pear shape and appealing paint job.

CONS
Not as much feedback on off-center hits as some testers would like; sound at impact can be a bit dull.

From Golf Magazine (November, 2010)

With the launch of its 910 D2 and 910 D3 drivers, Titleist brings the Tour van experience to your fingertips. Now you can set loft and lie angle independently of one another, thanks to the versatile SureFit Tour (SFT) hosel with patented “dual angle” technology. Its two-axis system enables you to dial in proper launch, spin and direction. Some other adjustable drivers provide excellent directional correction (right or left) through face-angle adjustment but seem to have less effect on launch angle (trajectory) optimization.

There are 16 loft/lie combinations using the SFT hosel. Titleist’s robotic testing shows that differences in loft (1.5 degrees more loft than standard to 0.75 degrees less loft) result in an 825 rpm change in backspin and a 1.5-degree variation in launch angle. Tweaking lie angle (between 1.5 degrees upright to 0.75 degrees flat) produces six yards of dispersion change. These are serious numbers when you’re trying to optimize ball flight.

That’s not all. The “variable” face insert has a larger maximum ball-speed area than the corresponding 909 driver (15% bigger in 910 D2; 10% bigger in 910 D3). In addition, several factors contribute to enhanced stability, including a 17 percent thinner crown (lowers the club’s center of gravity); a more sloped rear crown profile (moves CG lower and deeper); and a new swingweight screw location (more rearward than in prior models).

Have you tried this club? Tell us what you think here.

From The Shop Blog (June 29, 2010)

Titleist 910D2 and 910D3 Drivers

NEWTON SQUARE, Pa. — This week at Aronimink Golf Club outside Philadelphia, Titleist staff players are getting their first chance to play the company’s newest drivers — the 460cc 910D2 and 445cc 910D3.

What sets the new drivers apart from previous Titleist models is the Sure Fit Tour adjustment system. Using a torque wrench that comes with each club, golfers can set the clubhead into one of 16 different playing positions to customize face angle, lie angle and the playing loft.

The standard face-angle setting for the drivers is .5° open, but it can be made up to 1.5° open or 1.5° closed. As you adjust the clubface left or right, the effective loft changes within a 2.25° range.

According to Stephanie Bezilla, Titleist’s metal woods development manager, the adjustable-head system is a natural advancement of Titleist’s Sure Fit system that has been in place to expedite the custom-fitting process. Read more …
Sourced: golf.com