Nike Introduces New 20XI Balls, Method Core Putters, and VR Pro Cavity Irons

Nike again thinks outside the box and the result is a brand new ball design that takes an inside out approach to improving the one piece of equipment we use on every single shot.

Bag DropNike Golf, it seems like, has always been a company to push the boundaries and buck the trends in order to produce equipment that legitimately does make positive differences in their customer’s games. Such clubs as the SQ Sumo2 and the original line of Slingshot irons immediately come to mind. While those clubs aren’t exactly synonymous with traditional clubs, they did go a long way in making the game more enjoyable for high-handicap players. Over the last couple of years, we’ve seen them tone down the appearances and even the sound in some cases, but don’t mistake that as them resting on their laurels. Their VR franchise is proof of exactly that as well as Nike’s commitment to give the players what they want. Even the SQ Machspeed line of drivers and fairways have a much more subdued, all black finish this year, which is a stark contrast to the light grays and bright yellows we’ve seen used in recent years.

As I said though, don’t mistake those trends in aesthetics as a lack in progressive thinking. In fact, they’re still pushing the limits as hard, if not harder, than before and a prime example is their newest golf ball, the 20XI. What makes it so revolutionary? Well, you’ll have to follow along to find out. While you’re at it, kick your feet up and take a look at the latest in the Method line of putters as well as the all new VR Pro Cavity irons.

Titleist Launches New 910F, 910Fd, 910H, and Updated Pro V1/Pro V1x Balls

The guys at Titleist have obviously been pretty busy, as not only have they recently released new fairway woods and hybrids, they have also given us updated Pro V1 and Pro V1x balls.

Bag DropAs usual this time of year, we’ve got a ton of stuff to cover, as this week we’re checking out the latest fairway woods, hybrids, and balls from Titleist. Normally,we stay away from forming opinions here at the Bag Drop, as that’s what reviews are for, but based on the product pictures I think you’ll agree with me that as far as appearances go, these clubs are gorgeous.

Beauty is only skin deep however, so we’re going to dig deeper into the story and see what makes these new sticks tick. So lets not waste anymore time and jump head first into these new products from Titleist.

Nike Launches New VR Pro Drivers, Fairway Woods, and Hybrids

Nike updates its VR lineup for the Spring of 2011 with the second generation of drivers, fairway woods, and hybrids.

Bag DropThough the whole Victory Red (VR for short) name started originally as the TW-inspired branding for Nike’s top of the line irons, it was extended last year to include an entirely new, game-enhancing set of drivers, fairway woods, and hybrids. Upon release, it was evident that Nike had produced their most player-friendly, traditional woods to date.

They further cemented that approach in the later months of 2010, as they confirmed that the SQ lineup is catered to game improvement, while the VR line is designed more around the needs of established/accomplished players. The second generation of VR woods and hybrids, labeled “VR Pro” (in line with the recently released VR Pro Blades and Pro Combo Irons) certainly holds true to that approach. All three clubs (driver, fairway, and hybrid) maintain a more traditional appearance and are designed to offer a lot in terms of workability. With that in mind, let’s have a look at what’s new for this year in the VR Pro hybrids, fairway woods, and drivers.

The Hot List: How to Improve It

Here are our suggestions on how to turn this issue into a the ultimate resource for someone buying new equipment.

Bag DropWe’re not going to waste much time here with introductions, just a quick background. Last week, we took a look at a lot of the common criticisms of Golf Digest’s Hot List, and received a lot of quality feedback from the staff and forum members here.

The bottom line is that subscribers and newsstand customers want to see a change. As one of, if not the biggest name in golf media, you’ve got the money and resources to give us something better, something more helpful. What is it exactly that we want? Well, it’s funny you should ask – I’ve got those answers for you right here.

The Hot List: Hot or Not?

January means Golf Digest’s annual Hot List issue. But is it really a helpful resource, or closer to one large advertisement?

Bag DropWe’ve all been there – it’s time for a new set of irons, or perhaps a new driver. Old reliable really isn’t getting it done anymore, and deep down, though you’d never admit it, you’re jealous of some of your buddies and the shiny new clubs in their bags. So you take to the Internet, in search of a new driver, but after a 5-10 minutes, you’re quickly overwhelmed with options, and totally unsure of what your next move should be. Of course, you could take a trip to your nearest retailer and ask for opinions, but you never really know if they have a hidden agenda going on, like if they sell one more R9, they get a free trip to Sawgrass or something like that. It sure would be nice to go to that store with four or five options in mind and then test them all to see what works best.

Hot List 2011

Then the thought hits you – Golf Digest‘s annual Hot List. Of course! Back in the day, it was a great place to find what’s new, and what’s hot. So you then run out, pick it up, and hurry back home to see what valuable info it holds inside. A short while later, you’re left even more dejected than before. Why? Follow along to find out.

Adams Introduces Speedline F11 Drivers and Fairway Woods

Maybe all of those LDA guys have Adams in the bag for a reason???

Bag DropThough it seems like everyone is starting to realize the benefits of a clubhead that is aerodynamically enhanced, the guys that started it all continue to refine those qualities of their drivers and fairway woods while adding complementary new tech along the way. Adams Golf now brings us the successor to last year’s Speedline FAST 10 with the new Speedline F11 drivers and fairways, promising even more reduction in drag.

TaylorMade Announces R11 Drivers, Burner SuperFast 2.0 Drivers, and Forged TP MB, MC, and CB Irons

A new year means a plethora of new clubs from TaylorMade, ranging from game improvement drivers to the latest in the “R” line to new forged irons.

Bag DropFirst and foremost, I hope everyone had a great Christmas and New Years! Now that we’ve got that out the way, it’s time for Bag Drop to get back on track, and what a better way to do just that than with a huge release of products from TaylorMade?!

They’re back at it again with the latest additions to the proven Burner and “R” lines of drivers, but they also churned out a what will likely be a real treat for fans of TaylorMade’s forged players irons. We’ve got a lot to cover, so lets not waste any more time with introductions!

Mizuno JPX-800 Pro Review

Mizuno has dropped the MX line, but filled it in with the JPX. How do the first replacements stack up?

Mizuno JPX-800 ProThough Mizuno said goodbye to the MX series this year, they had the new JPX series waiting in the wings to fill the game improvement gap. Of course I jumped at the opportunity to review the new JPX-800 Pro, since this new series would replace that which contained the MX-300s I loved so much.

Though a large number of players may not have been very excited about this change, Mizuno was there to reassure everyone, saying that this was their biggest commitment to the game improvement category yet, and that the JPX series may in fact be a game changer. When a global company such as Mizuno pools all of their talented engineers from around the world, you know they really do mean business. So how did that pay off in real world results?

The Sand Trap’s Holiday Gift Guide, Part Two

Didn’t see anything last week? Maybe this new list of gift ideas will help! Christmas is getting close, better not wait too late to get that perfect gift for your favorite golfer!!

Bag DropWe’re another week closer to Christmas day, which means seven fewer days to shop. It’s getting closer, but have you been able to scratch your favorite golfer off your list? If nothing really caught your eye last week, we’ve got another list of potential gift ideas that will definitely keep him or her smiling well after New Year’s has come and gone.

In case you didn’t catch last week’s Bag Drop, we’ll categorize a few items, broken down by price range, with $10 at the bottom end, up to $1000 at the top end. So let’s get started!