TRUE Linkswear 2012 Line

TRUE linkswear springs into 2012 with the addition of the new TRUE phx shoe along with updates the previously released stealth and TRUE tour.

Bag DropThough TRUE linkswear opened for business back in October of 2010 (with the launch of the TRUE tour, reviewed here), in their first year of operation, they’ve gone through tremendous growth and grown into a leader in golf’s minimalist movement, which even the bigger guys in the industry are starting to take part in. Though some may advertise a barefoot experience, the problem is that their shoes still come equipped with large-ish midsoles that elevate the player from the ground. TRUE however, can easily back that claim up by boasting the thinnest sole in golf, clocking in at a whopping 2.5mm, which as they say allows the player to truly “Feel the Course”.

PING Introduces New i20 Lineup

PING rings in the new year by launching its latest product line, the i20 series.

Bag DropThough some players may be making resolutions to not buy new clubs this year, that looks to be much easier said than done, especially with the introduction of PING’s newest line, the i20. While we all know that there’s much more to a club than just a pretty exterior, the matte black finish of PING’s latest will surely compel more than a few to at least give them a swing.

I believe that if one were to ask around and get completely honest answers, appearance counts more than most like to let on; however when you combine a sharp, sleek exterior with aerodynamic refinements, strategic weighting, and supreme command and control, you’re more than likely going to have a winner on your hands. Let’s dig a little deeper and see what PING’s i20 line is all about.

Titleist Announces 712 Series – Part Two: MB And CB Irons

Titleist improves on its established and proven players irons with their recently introduced 712 Series CB and MB irons.

Bag DropLast week we introduced the newest series of game improvements irons from Titleist, the 712 Series AP1 and AP2, but you didn’t think the lower handicappers would be left out, did you? With this new series also comes Titleist’s newest player’s irons, the 712 CB and MB, designed for the golfer that doesn’t need the assistance offered by larger cavity backs and prefers something both small in stature and big in workability.

Of course with the introduction of a new series of irons from Titleist comes their newest players irons, this year (as it was in 2009’s 710 Series) in the form of the MB and CB. By building on those previous models, Titleist was able to incorporate a number of small refinements that push these irons even further in terms of what the accomplished amateur as well as the touring professional desires in a traditional blade. With that in mind, let’s look a little deeper into Titleist’s latest MB and CB irons.

Titleist Announces 712 Series – Part One: AP1 and AP2 Irons

Titleist brings the third iteration of their AP line of irons to the masses, intent on helping those that aren’t quite ready for the CB/MB level of players irons.

Bag DropIt’s hard to believe that already two years have passed since Titleist announced the release of the 2nd generation of their Advanced Performance (AP) irons. I distinctly remember covering it, especially because so many people were excited to see these come to market.

I was also lucky enough to review the AP1, and though the Bag Drop isn’t used for reviews, I can personally vouch for them being superb. So now the 712 Series AP1 and AP2 irons are being released next month, and are said to be improved over previous models. Though I can’t personally speak on that at this time, what I can tell you is that if Titleist says they’ve undergone improvements, I’d say you at least owe it to yourself to check them out. Let’s take a look at what refinements and improvements have gone into these new 712 Series Advanced Performance irons from Titleist.

Bag Drop: Nike Roundup Edition

News and notes from a few random pieces of equipment and apparel from Nike Golf.

Bag DropThe innovative minds at The Oven have been hard at work throughout the year and we’re now starting to see details on a few of their latest designs (and improvements on previous equipment/apparel) trickle out. As we’ve come to expect from Nike (as evidenced by numerous releases over the last couple of years), they’ve again taken care of the traditionalists as well as those that like their clubs and apparel to be a little outside of the box.

We’ll first take a look at the new Limited Edition VR Pro drivers and fairway woods, which do maintain a more traditional appearance and impact tone like those in the VR line before them. Then, we’ll jump over to the shoes/apparel side as we take a quick look at some new colorways that have been added to the Lunar Control shoe line. From there, we’ll shift gears to the not quite traditional, albeit old-school-cool Nike Dunk NG shoes, and then wrap it up with the all new, athletically-inclined Lunar Ascend shoe. Let’s hit it!

Bridgestone Rounds Up J40 Lineup With Two New Forged Iron Sets And Wedges

Rounding out the J40 line is two new sets of irons, one for the low handicapper and one more geared towards the mid- to low-handicapper, as well as new wedges, which are offered in two finishes and a number of loft options.

Bag DropLast week’s Bag Drop was only half the story, as we covered Bridgestone’s two new J40 drivers, as well as the fairway woods and hybrids of the same name. Not covering their new J40 forged cavity back irons, pocket cavity irons, and wedges would be like covering the original release of Pearl Jam’s Ten and talking only about Jeremy, Alive, and Once, while completely ignoring the greatness of Release, Porch, Evenflow, and Oceans. By the way, happy 20th anniversary, boys.

Anyway, I digress. The J40 drivers, fairway woods, and hybrids really only tell half the story or – maybe more appropriately – they only get you halfway to your target (that being the bottom of the cup, and yes, I know technically, you can hit one of the long clubs on a par 3 or short par 4, but work with me here). To get you the rest of the way, Bridgestone is also releasing two new models of J40 irons, along with a variety of wedges to complete the set. So with that in mind, lets take a look at them!

Bridgestone Reveals New J40 Drivers, Fairways, Hybrids

Bridgestone unveils its new J40 line of clubs, and this week we take a look at the first half of that line – the J40 drivers, fairway woods, and hybrids.

Bag DropWhile most of you hardcore equipment nuts have at least heard that Bridgestone makes a lot more equipment than just golf balls, there’s a sizeable part of the population that has no clue that they have been producing a wide variety of clubs including drivers, fairway woods, hybrids, and irons. If you talk to someone who has actually played some of their equipment, you’re likely going to hear that Bridgestone’s clubs are possibly the best kept secret in the industry. I for one think that’s a shame, so this week, we’re happy to announce that Bridgestone has taken the covers off of their latest full line of equipment – the J40.

Previous families include the J33, J36, and J38 though there’s a chance you’ve seen other Bridgestone items on tour (other than balls, that is) and didn’t even know it. Maybe you’ve seen various Japanese players with a Tour Stage hat or bag? Yep, that’s Bridgestone too. Oh yeah, and some guy named Matt Kuchar has a bag full of Bridgestone clubs. Maybe you’ve hear of him? He’s only 8th in the world right now. So without further adieu, let’s take a look at the newest J40 drivers, fairway woods, and hybrids from Bridgestone Golf.

Adams Speedline 9088 UL Drivers, Speedline LP Fairways, and Idea MB2 Forged Irons

The newest addition to the Adams Speedline series of woods takes an ultra-lightweight approach to increase club head speed. Plus, we get a look at their new players irons, the Idea MB2.

Bag DropAdams has been rolling out new clubs on the regular lately. Earlier this year they released the Speedline F11 drivers, and now they continue that line with the new Speedline 9088 UL driver, which builds on the numerous designs and technologies we’ve seen over the past few years.

Showing their dedication to not only the low handicappers, Adams released the Redline hybrid/iron set, which had the other 98% of golfers in mind. This week, we see the same dedication to all sorts of players with their release of the new Idea MB2 irons to keep the better player happy, as well as the release of new Speedline drivers and fairways. Follow along as we take a look at some of the newest offerings from Adams Golf.

TaylorMade Announces New R11 Irons

TaylorMade’s R11 lineup has been extended to include a new set of irons.

Bag DropYou’d have to be pretty blind if you didn’t see this one coming. Following on the footsteps of the hugely successful R11 drivers and fairways comes the newest member of that family – the TaylorMade R11 irons.

I’ll have to be totally honest, I fully expected to see a R11 SuperDeep or R11 CGB Max or some other variant in the driver/fairway category first, but instead TaylorMade has rolled out an iron that looks to be playable by a wide variety of skill sets. Hopefully the staffers will keep the all white outfits in the closet for this release :-P.Let’s dig a little deeper and see how they did it.