Of course, I would be referring to the TaylorMade Raylor, which for those of you that may be too young to remember, was a very popular fairway wood back then. The Raylor name has been brought back for their newest hybrid club, and as you can imagine, there is a bit of difference between the old and the new. Along with the Raylor, Taylormade has also brought us their latest irons, which share the name with their very popular line of woods from 2009.

TaylorMade Raylor
The first order of business is the Raylor, which you may have spotted as far back as this year's U.S. Open, as it made its way into the bag of Kenny Perry as a replacement for his 3-iron and Mike Weir as a replacement for his ability to get the ball in the fairway. The rough conditions at Bethpage Black commanded a club that ensured crisp, clean contact from any lie, which the Raylor was designed to provide. It became an invaluable tool for cutting through the tall fescue, due to a somewhat sharp, pointed leading edge, and the "Raylor Sole." This sole design resembles the hull of a ship, as it slopes up at the sides, providing a means to separate blades of grass as the head accelerates towards the ball. In fact, Taylormade says there is a 23% reduction in the surface that would otherwise rob you of precious clubhead speed.

The design of the sole also serves another purpose: the sole radius provides a great deal of assistance for sidehill lie shots. The Raylor's sole radius presents an angle of 17° up from horizontal, as opposed to the previous Burner Rescue, which was only 10°. That leads to 70% more sole relief on the heel and toe side, and effectively makes it much easier to make clean contact with a ball above or below your feet. Another benefit to the Raylor is a near-guaranteed increase in clubhead speed, due to the inch of added length in the RE*AX 65 gram shaft.

Price & Availability
The Raylor is available in two lofts, a 19° 3-iron replacement, and a 22° 4-iron replacement, for both right- and left-handed players. Though the MSRP is listed at $229, it can easily be found more in the neighborhood of $180. It is available in stores now, and if you have already had the opportunity to try the Raylor out, let us know what you think in the comments section below.

R9 Irons
For the R9 and R9 TP irons, TaylorMade sought to design an iron that combined modern performance (as in forgiveness) with superb distance in a classic frame. In order to pay special attention to each iron across the entire set, TaylorMade's R&D took different approaches for the long irons and the short irons.

The long and mid-irons are said to be extremely long and easy to hit, thanks to the enclosed, foam-filled chamber that resides behind the clubface, under the cavity insert. The virtually weightless foam actually originates as a powder that is sealed in this chamber, and then transforms into the foam substance after the clubhead is heated during production. This design, which acts much like a shock absorber, has been titled the "Velocity Control Chamber," and it provides the means for a large area of the 2mm thick face to exist without any support behind it. This allows the face more freedom to flex, much like a driver. This trampoline effect leads to an increase in distance as you can imagine. The Inverted Cone Technology on the inner side of the clubface helps maintain a consistent ball speed, even on shots struck a little off-center. Perimeter weighting emphasis in the long and mid-irons helps to maintain stability throughout impact.

The design of the short irons is intended to promote a higher degree of control and accuracy while giving the player the desired amount of feedback. They feature a deep, undercut cavity, with a broad, low center of gravity sole and heel-toe weighting for added stability. They have a clearly delineated leading edge and beveled sole which promotes solid contact and playability through the reduction of surface resistance, so that contact is made with as much force as possible, every shot. All of this is wrapped up into a compact, simple teardrop shape that should be pleasing to see at address. There also resides a thin layer of visco-elastic adhesive (made by 3M) on top of the black badge in the cavity, which provides vibration dampening. Like the long irons, weighting was pushed to the heel and toe for added forgiveness. The iron is then capped off with a nickel chrome-plated stainless steel and pearl finish.

Options and availability
The groove-rule-conforming R9 comes with a KBS steel 90-gram shaft (either regular or stiff flex) as its stock shaft option, though the Fujikura Motore is also available. The cool thing about the KBS shaft is that the wall thickness increases proportionately as the shaft diameter decreases, which promotes stability throughout the entire shaft, and should give the player more control and consistency. The standard set contains 3-iron through PW, and has a MSRP of $999, though a quick search led me to quickly find them for $799. They are available and in stores now for both righties and lefties.

R9 TP Irons
The compact head of the R9 starts off with a semi-straight leading edge and a semi-square toe. The thin, cambered, beveled (sounds like hash browns Waffle House, doesn't it?) sole again allows the club to pass through the turf without becoming stuck. At address, the thin topline should be appealing to most all players, as it is beveled along the back edge, creating the appearance most golfers like to see on approaching the ball.

Remember the VCC (Velocity Control Chamber)? It's also used in the R9 TP, but only in the 2-iron up through the 5-iron. This again allows for a low and deep center of gravity and assists in increasing the MOI. Perimeter weighting (provided by the undercut cavity) also contributes to MOI and stability.

One standout design feature in the R9 TP is the variable progressive face thickness. As the irons get shorter, the face gets slightly thicker. The 2-5 irons have a face that is 2mm thick, whereas by the time we get to the 8-iron, 9-iron, and PW, the face is up to 2.5mm. Why, you ask? Because this results in a progressively higher center of gravity in the mid and long irons, and adds to the great feel in the short irons. The Inverted Cone Technology is again utilized throughout the entire set to provide consistent distance from off-center contact.

The shape of the R9 TP head is very similar to that of the popular Tour Preferred irons, but by use of the Inverted Cone Technology, and the way the face blends into the hosel, there is a larger overall contact area.

Options and Availability
On top of the normal 3-PW set, TaylorMade is also making a 2-iron available for those brave souls out there, though they say it's extremely easy to hit, thanks to a low CoG and even more extreme perimeter weighting. The stock shaft offering is the KBS Tour Series steel in either X-Stiff, Stiff, or Regular flex, and there is no graphite option. The R9 TP irons are available to both right handed and left-handed players, and though TM lists them at $1125, they can be found for $899.

We'll be reviewing the R9 and R9 TP irons before the end of the year, so stay tuned.

© jlpucheu for The Sand Trap, 2009. | Permalink

In this volume of HTL we first send out a get well soon to Joey Sindelar, then turn our attention to the rain soaked and canceled Viking Classic, and investigate the Eisenhower-golf connection. Also, we look at the LPGA's new commissioner, see who's playing golf in Afghanistan, and do a wrap-up of the week's events. Read on!

Hole 1: Joey Sindelar
Joey Sindelar had to be taken to the hospital mid-round during the Charles Schwab Cup Championships. [Link]

Hole 2: Nada Viking
This week's Tour stop,The Viking Classic, was canceled due to weather. [Link]

Hole 3: Eisenhower Golf
Former President Dwight D. Eisenhower was more than a golf enthusiast. [Link]

Hole 4: New Commissioner
Michael Whan is set to take over the reins of the LPGA Tour, but is that a good thing? [Link]

Hole 5: Afghan Golf
Golf equipment is being shipped to our troops over seas in the middle east. [Link]

Hole 6: Asian Amateur Championship
South Korean Han Chang-won wins the Asian Amateur Championships and a trip to the Masters. [Link]

Hole 7: Singapore Open
Ian Poulter wins the Singapore Open by one stroke. [Link]

Hole 8: Charles Schwab Cup Championships
John Cook takes home the first place check while Loren Roberts takes home the Cup. [Link]

Hole 9: World Match Play
Ross Fisher beats Anthony Kim to win the World Match Play Championships. [Link]

© NM Golf for The Sand Trap, 2009. | Permalink

Have a look:

Not much is known at this point, but we can tell you that:

• The cart is early on in testing and, if I were to guess (and that's all this is), we should expect it in the spring of 2010.
• It's obvious in the video that the controls are very much like the Speed E Cart. I'm kind of hoping they added an audible sound to button presses so that you know whether you pushed "60" so you don't start to worry that your cart's just going to keep going… I think that was about the only thing I didn't like in the Speed E Cart.
• Speaking of the controls, they again appear about the same: 15, 30, and 60 yards, power on/off, and speed up/down buttons. The Speed E Cart maintains the same actual land speed over varying terrain, and this cart should do the same.
• The handle height adjustments - my lone complaint about the Micro Cart - are reported to be variable on the Micro E Cart.
• No word on price, but Sun Mountain seems to understand the economy and doesn't typically set high prices just because they figure golfers have money, so I'd expect the price to be about the same as the Speed E Cart's (give or take a hundred bucks).

So that's all we know - or can guess at.

© iacas for The Sand Trap, 2009. | Permalink

But something felt different when PING announced it would release two entirely new lines of clubs. PING actually seemed excited. In fact, PING was going out of their way to tell anyone and everyone that would listen that its new clubs had monumental improvements. Even if you didn't like PINGs in the past, you start to wonder, what did they come up with?

After putting the driver through a full battery of tests it has certainly made an impression on me.

Design and Technology
Like its predecessor, the G15 is a 460cc titanium driver meant for golfers seeking maximum forgiveness. This is where the similarities end, however.

The G15 is probably the most forgiving driver - on all types of mis-hit - that PING has ever created.

The G15 has numerous technological improvements over the G10. The G15 attains a higher MOI by lengthening the head from front to back. Additionally, a 7% larger face increases ball speed and provides consistency across the entire hitting surface. Lastly, weight savings from the ultra thin crown are positioned as an external sole weight to optimize the center of gravity for higher trajectories and reduced spin.

Weight saved by using an ultra-thin crown aids the forgiveness with unique sole weighting.

The improvements don't end at the clubhead though. The new PING TFC 149D shaft allows for a five gram increase in head mass without increasing swingweight or overall weight. All of these seemingly small changes should result in higher ball speeds and an increase in MOI.

Esthetics
I would count myself among one of the many golfers who have loved the way that PINGs feel but were less than inspired by their looks (remember the PING TiSi, anyone?). With the G15, and for the first time, PING's esthetics may have matched their technology.

Although PING did not change the crown finish for the G15, there are two noticeable differences between the PING G15 and G10 at address. First, PING abandoned the half moon alignment aid of the G10 in favor of a sleek yet subtle red arrow which first appeared on the PING Rapture. Second, lengthening the club from front to back to increase MOI makes the driver look more triangular in shape than the G10. Overall, I found the simplicity of the new look crown to be improvements over the G10.

The sole of the G15 is what I would consider among PING's greatest improvements. The chrome treatment on the sole isn't new but the technical changes gave PING the ability to make significant esthetic changes. Rather than rubbing your face in the fact that there is a ton of new technology, PING's red, black and chrome paint treatment highlights the technology while remaining understated.

Esthetically, the hitting area remained nearly identical to the G10 with white groves and a v-shaped grooveless sweet spot. The only difference, for which you would have to be looking to notice, is a sightly larger face.

With a black crown, a silver, black and red sole, PING chose to continue the color scheme to their shafts. While there is a slight difference in color between the two stock shafts both shafts are shades of red and grey.

Although the word classic never came to mind when I was looking at the PING, the engineers' new appreciation of subtlety has made the PING a much cleaner and simpler looking club. Personally, I find this to be a dramatic improvement.

Performance
Describing their design process, PING says:

Utilizing finite element analysis and the latest in design software, PING engineers develop metal woods in a virtual world to ensure the highest level of performance before the clubs even reach the first tee. Factors such as moment of inertia (MOI), center of gravity (CG) location, crown structure and face thickness are carefully studied with the goal of designing longer, straighter and more consistent metal woods. Even the club's acoustics are analyzed to ensure a powerful sound and feel.

Clearly, to say that PING engineers take the performance of their clubs seriously would be an understatement.

If you have been playing a Titleist or one of the other "softer" sounding drivers on the market the first thing you will notice is the PING's sound. I am in the middle of a back rehabilitation program so my swing speed has been hovering at or slightly above 100 mph. Even at that speed though solid contact sounded and felt like an explosion. This was not obnoxious but it certainly made me believe I hit the ball a lot farther than I did.

The G15's lower, deeper CoG is obvious in this shot. The G10 is much more rounded from this view.

The distance you achieve with the G15 is going to have a lot to do with whether you are fitted or not. As stated above, the new external weight pad is meant to produce optimal trajectory and spin. At 100 mph, I want my launch angle to be between 15 and 16 degrees and my spin rate to be between 3000 and 3300 RPMs. I achieve those numbers with my 10.5 degree Titleist 909D2 so I assumed that a 10.5 degree G15 would be appropriate. I was wrong. Within a few shots I could tell that I was hitting the ball much higher than normal. That higher trajectory resulted in me hitting between half iron to full iron more into nearly every hole.

Once I put the PING on a launch monitor I could easily see why I had lost distance. Even though my spin rate was staying around 3500 RPMs, my launch angle was between 18 and 19 degrees. A few degrees may not seem like much but it certainly was enough to lose 5 or 10 yards. I would recommend not repeating my mistake. You should not assume that the loft in one brand will be equal to a PING's playing characteristics. PING prides itself on fitting a player with the club that is exactly right for them; a PING fitter should be able to tell you exactly which loft is right for your swing. Ignore the loft on the bottom of the driver and just focus on your launch angle if you really want to squeeze as much distance out of the G15 as possible.

Aside from the slight distance loss caused by trajectory, I was pleasantly surprised by the clubs extremely consistent draw. If I tried to hit a draw, the ball would draw about 10 yards. If I tried to hit the ball straight, the ball would draw between 5 to 10 yards. If I tried to hit a fade, the ball would fly nearly straight. Only when I tried to hit a hard cut could I get the ball to fade.

Even though I was aggravated that I could not hit my normal power fade on the range, the predictability of the G15's draw was quite an addictive weapon on the course. I could almost guarantee that if I could aimed down the right side of the fairway the ball would end up dead in the center. When playing partners tried the club, they didn't find that the club drew as much but they definitely noticed an increase in the straightness of their drives.

If you are considering buying a PING driver - particularly the G15 model - you are likely more interested in how the club performs for off-center shots. PING claims to be the most forgiving driver on the market and, to be extremely thorough, I grabbed a roll of impact stickers and a few hundred golf balls and parked myself at a launch monitor for an entire day. My findings were as follows:

• On all shots within a dime of the sweet spot, the ball lost less than 10 yards of distance and exhibited minimal curve.
• On the majority of shots hit off the toe of the driver, the ball also lost less than 10 yards of distance and had a hard yet controllable draw.
• On all shots hit high or low on the clubface, there was a slight trajectory change which resulted in minimal distance loss.
• On the majority of shots hit off the heel of the driver, the ball lost between 25 to 30 yards of distance.

After an exhausting day of testing, I was impressed that the driver performed extremely well for any shot hit within a dime of the sweetspot and was shocked to see how well the driver performed out on the toe. My one concern was the heel of the driver. The sound, the trajectory, and the distance all seemed like a completely different driver. The best way to describe it was dead. Still, because the driver performed so well on the majority of the face it absolutely is the most forgiving driver I have ever played.

Specs and Extras
The G15 drivers are available to righties and lefties in 9.0, 10.5, 12.0, and 13.5 degree models. The lie angle is 58.0 degrees and the head weight is 205 grams.

Stock shafts for the G15 are the PING TFC 149D and the Aldila Serrano 60. Their specs are as follows:

PING TFC 149D                        Aldila Serrano 60
Flex       Torque   Weight           Flex       Torque   Weight
--------   ------   ------           --------   ------   ------
L           7.0      47 g            Regular     4.0      57 g
Soft R      6.2      52 g            Stiff       4.0      60 g
Regular     5.8      55 g            X-Stiff     4.0      60 g
Stiff       5.3      60 g
X-Stiff     5.0      63 g

The G15 comes standard with the "dog-bone textured" PING ID8 grip. The ID8 is available in six color-coded sizes ranging from +1/16" to -3/64."

All G15 drivers come with the black and red slip-on headcover you see here. The G15 has an MSRP of $350.00.

Conclusion
The G15 performed as advertised. It was long. It was straight. It was forgiving. But my problem with PING has never been performance.

My problem with PING equipment has always been esthetics. PING has created some clubs that only the PING man could love. The confidence that a beautiful looking club inspires in us before we hit a shot down a tight fairway can be crucial. PING never made it into my bag for that reason alone.

The G15 is different though. Rather than screaming technological superiority at the world with its "interesting" designs, the G15 incorporates its technological advances in a much more subtle design. The result is a driver that both performs and looks great.

In conclusion, if you have always liked PING, the G15's improved performance should be in your bag soon. If PINGs designs have always caused you to shy away, perhaps now is the time for you to take another look.

© TMO for The Sand Trap, 2009. | Permalink

Adams Golf has recently released four new A7 Select putters, as well as brand new Idea Pro Black hybrids. Maybe you're saying to yourself "hybrids just aren't for me." Maybe you also forgot about Turnberry this year, where some old guy named Tom Watson kicked the crap out of players half his age with his trusty Adams hybrids for the majority of the Open Championship. If that doesn't make you at least consider giving them a try, fear not, because we're also going to take a look at some affordable new putters that may suit your eye better. Kick back, relax, and put the TPS reports to the side, as we take a look at the new hybrids and putters from Adams.

A7 Select Putters
First up are the new A7 Select putters. The A7 Select will be available in four models, 3 of which are blades, and a single mallet. All models are made of a soft stainless steel head construction and have precision micro-milled faces. Each model also makes use of Adams' CUT Design (Co-molded Urethane Technology) face insert to provide a soft feel.

Tim Reed, Vice President of Research and Development at Adams Golf said:

The CUT Design inserts on the new a7 Select putters deliver an extremely soft feel and pure roll, especially with today's golf balls," said Tim Reed, Vice President of Research and Development at Adams Golf. "Golfers everywhere will also appreciate these putters not only for their quality of construction but also their value.

The three blades are the 60 Series, the 61 Series, and the 64 Series. The 60 Series is a 345 gram heel/toe blade, featuring a plumbers neck with a full shaft offset. The 61 Series uses a high-toe design and weighs in at 345 grams. A half shaft of offset is provided by the S-neck hosel. The final blade is the heel-shafted 64 Series. As the lightest of the blades, the 64 Series is only 305 grams of stainless steel, and has a three-quarters shaft offset.

The lone mallet is the 62 Series and is the heaviest of the bunch, tipping the scales with 355 grams of soft cast stainless steel. The weight has been pushed out to the perimeter of the head, giving this putter a high amount of MOI. Multiple alignment aids are also carved into the cavity. The 62 Series uses a plumbers neck with a full shaft offset.

Options and Availability
All four models will be available in 33", 34", and 35" variations. Only the 60 Series and the 64 Series will be available to both righties and lefties. Unfortunately for the lefties, the 61 Series and the 62 Series are for right-handed players only. The A7 Selects are now available, and priced to move at $69.99.

Idea Pro Black Hybrids
Earlier this month, Adams also rolled the new Idea Pro Black hybrids out the door. This latest release in the Idea line of hybrids expands on the Pro Black muscleback irons, and appropriately comes with a sleek black nickel finish which will help to reduce glare. While the previously covered A7 line works well for the average player, the Pro Black is geared more towards the more advanced players.

For starters, 25 grams of weight were pushed to the lower back portion of the head in order to help the player get the ball in the air faster. Weight distribution can also be further tweaked via the forward weight port so that these hybrids can be dialed in perfectly to give you the perfect feel and launch conditions. The thin stainless steel crown and a Maraging steel face produces lower spin, while the minor amount of offset gives players the ability to work the ball as desired.

Tim Reed had this to say about the new hybrids:

Like the Tour pros, low-handicap golfers everywhere will appreciate the Idea Pro Black hybrids because they not only look great but the weighting system will give them the control and workability they are missing in their long irons.

Options and Availability
Adams offers many viable options for this hybrid, as it is available to both right-handed and left-handed players, with two different shafts to choose from, and in multiple lofts, including 16°, 18°, 20°, 23°, and 26°. The shafts offered are the 85 gram graphite Aldila Voodoo, and the 95 gram Matrix Ozik. Beware of the Ozik though, it will delay your order until November 15th.Though the MSRP is $249.99, realistically, expect to pay near $200 for the Pro Black, which is available now at your favorite retailer.

Final Thoughts
The A7 Select is an extremely affordable putter, and would more than likely do a great job for anyone looking for a nice, cheap flatstick. Though I'm not wild on the appearance of the yellowish urethane insert, don't let my opinion sway you. I do believe the Pro Black hybrid is gorgeous though. This is an Adams club I'd definitely try. While I don't think anyone would go wrong with either club, there's a reason Adams Golf is the #1 hybrid maker, and the Pro Black looks like another great option in their long line of quality hybrids.

© jlpucheu for The Sand Trap, 2009. | Permalink

In this volume of HTL we start off talking to Michael Jordan, then check out the 2009 Nationwide Tour graduating class, and find out why you should not think too much. Also on tap we listen to Sergio complain about his poor year, look back at Payne Stewart, and do a wrap-up of the week's events. Read on!

Hole 1: Michael Jordan
Michael Jordan does an interview about his days as U.S. Presidents Cup co-captain. [Link]

Hole 2: Graduation Day
Here is the 2009 Nationwide Tour graduating class. [Link]

Hole 3: Don't Think Too Much
A good article outlining the importance of a strong mental game. [Link]

Hole 4: Sergio
Sergio Garcia discusses the past year of disappointments. [Link]

Hole 5: Vokey Conforms
The new line of Vokey spin-milled wedges conform to the new USGA groove rules. [Link]

Hole 6: Ten Years
It's been ten years since Payne Stewart's death and some of those from the Tour remember that fateful day. [Link]

Hole 7: Nationwide Tour Championship
Matt Every wins the Nationwide Tour Championship and a trip to the PGA Tour. [Link]

Hole 8: Champions Tour
Phil Blackmar captures his first Champions Tour title at the AT&T Championship. [Link]

Hole 9: Frys.com Open
Stack and Tilter Troy Matteson wins the Frys.com Open after a little overtime. [Link]

© NM Golf for The Sand Trap, 2009. | Permalink

If that left you hungry for more, or if you're simply interested in the more classic irons that Titleist offers, look no further, as this week we give you the details on Titleist's new-for-2010 MB and CB irons. As an added bonus for you putter aficionados, the new Scotty Cameron "California" family of putters also get the proper once-over.

Titleist has a long-standing tradition of making clubs for the skilled golfer who wants a clean, understated design that simply performs and provides the desired feel and feedback. It looks like the MB and CB irons do just that.

Steve Pelisek, GM of Titleist Golf Clubs, said:

The feedback we received from this competitive and better player audience is that they want a compact blade length, minimal offset iron with solid feel and shot workability. Based upon the overwhelming positive comments from Tour players, club pros and competitive amateurs alike, the new MB and CB irons will please even the most adamant traditional iron enthusiasts.

While some may have balked at the appearance of the previous ZB/ZM offering, there should be no complaints about the two new models, as both should be pleasing to even the most hardcore traditionalist. The beauty of the new forged CB and MB irons is much more than skin deep though. Let's start by taking a look at what's new in the CB.

Forged CB Irons
The classic looks of the CB can be attributed to a number of qualities, which make it extremely visually appealing. The new irons are forged from 1025 carbon steel, and are covered in a beautiful chrome plating.

The face rolls off to a blunted leading edge and cambered sole, which allows the club to slide through the turf without getting stuck. As one can expect, the cavity is nearly devoid of any graphics, with only "CB," "FORGED," and the timeless Titleist script stamped on the back. At approach, the iron is capped off with a confidence-inspiring soft topline that gives it what Titleist calls a "classic but improved contemporary look."

The soft feel of the CB comes from the additional weight behind the impact area, which is provided the optimized cavity muscle. Like the AP irons, the dual hosel lengths of the CB irons were designed to add or reduce weight for optimal ball flight for both long and short irons. The long irons have the shorter hosel, which helps to keep the weight low for a higher launch.

Though forgiveness isn't a term generally synonymous with a blade like this, the CB is a bit more forgiving than the MB, thanks the MOI increase that comes with a cavity-back design. In addition to the added forgiveness, the long irons also have a lower center of gravity, which should help in achieving a higher ball flight when compared to the MB.

Options, Pricing, and Availability
Titleist chose the venerable True Temper Dynamic Gold steel shaft as the stock shaft. If that's not your preferred shaft of choice, Titleist Custom has a wide selection of shaft options for you to pick from. Though the default grip is the Titleist Tour Velvet Rubber by Golf Pride, again, their custom shop can top off your new irons with your favorite grips. Length and lie can also be tailored to your specifications as well. The MSRP is listed at $135 (per club) for the CB with the True Temper Dynamic Gold steel shaft, while the standard graphite offering is set at $159. They are set to drop on December 1, 2009, and will be available for both righties and lefties.

Forged MB Irons
If you're looking for the ultimate in shot control, the new forged MB irons will undoubtedly draw your attention. The muscleback irons are forged from 1025 carbon steel, and just like the CB, they're coated with bright chrome plating for a gorgeous finish.

The MB and CB actually have quite a bit in common. Like the CB, the MB makes use of conforming V grooves on the face of the blade. Looking down at the iron, the soft topline and rounded profile looks very similar to that of the CB as well.

It is when we look to the bottom of the clubhead that we discover one of the main differences between the two. The MB has a narrower cambered sole, and a single degree of added bounce in the long irons versus that of the CB. This is said to promote a crisper contact, and should slide through the ground quite nicely. The back of the head is expectedly clean, and shiny, with "MB," "FORGED," and the Titleist logo stamped and filled in black. Further inspection also reveals stamping on the hosel reflecting the 710 series name.

The MB is so much more than good looks though. One of the major contributing factors to the shotmaking abilities of this iron is the minimal progressive offset. The solid feel of this iron is largely attributed to the consistent muscle shape positioned behind the impact area. The aforementioned dual hosel design has also been used in the MB for optimizing the launch and flight path of both the long and short irons.

Options, Pricing, and Availability
The standard shaft and grip in the MB is the same as that of the CB - the proven combination of True Temper Dynamic Gold shaft/Tour Velvet Rubber grip. As you can expect, a plethora of custom options are available (including length and lie adjustment) from Titleist Custom. Though the MSRP is listed at $135 per club, most custom options will bring that price up somewhat. Both right and left handed players can get in on this action on December 1st.

Scotty Cameron "California" Family Putters
After seeing the new irons, are you drooling yet? If not, Scotty Cameron's latest California line of putters may induce just a little loss of jaw control. It's ok - we won't tell if you don't. As if that's not enough to push you over the edge, the Master Putter Craftsman (MPC, for short) also is adding three new models to the wildly popular Studio Select line.

Says Scotty of his California series:

Players who prefer the more flowing, less geometric lines of the Coronado or the Del Mar are now going to find that they don't have to sacrifice performance. With the wide range of weight and length options that we now have available, players can get a perfect fit for their stroke as well as their eye.

Though the California putters have what's being called a "Honey Dipped" finish, the bronze hue doesn’t come from any special plating or coating. Instead, the natural finish of the head is the result of a heat-treating step in the manufacturing process. The final result is a great looking head that also serves a purpose in reducing glare.

As you can see in the above picture, just like the Studio Select line, the sole of the California putters feature circular weights in the heel and toe, which provides players with the ability to balance the head weight to perfectly fit their stroke. They are milled from soft 303 stainless steel and then fitted with the desired weights. The draft sole design helps to achieve the proper alignment by keeping the putter square in the playing position. More assistance is provided by the high toe, which should increase the player's accuracy by keeping them from raising the toe and missing left.

Models
Coronado: Blade putter with a smooth, double-step flange and flow neck with a half shaft offset. The Coronado features an engraved site dot on the topline. Available in right hand only.

Monterey: A blade body with smooth double-step flange with a back pocket and engraved site line, and a plumbing neck hosel with a full shaft of offset. Available in right hand only.

Sonoma: A compact mallet with a D-shaped back flange and sight line, and a plumbing neck hosel with a full shaft of offset. Available in right hand only.

Del Mar: A heel-shafted mid mallet design with engraved sightline on the back flange, and a flow neck hosel with a half shaft offset. Available in both right and left hand.

Options and Availability
A wide range of options are available in the California line, including 33", 34", and 35" models, as well as heavy weight variations on the two longer models. Though the standard lie is 71°, the putters can be adjusted two degrees up or down to better suit the player. The clean appearance is maintained throughout the entire length of the putter via the use of a stepless shaft and a black Cameron Tour grip. They are priced at $325, and expect them to be available this December.

Scotty Cameron Studio Select
Three new models make their way into the Studio Select lineup as replacements/updates to the Newport 1.5, the Newport 2.7 and Fastback 1. The new models are the Newport 2.5, Squareback 2, and Fastback 1.5. These updated and changes were made in response to feedback Mr. Cameron has received at greens all around the world.

Again, Steve Pelisek, General Manager, Titleist Golf Clubs:

Scotty is a perfectionist and constantly solicits feedback from all of the players with whom he works. He takes the information he receives, builds upon it, and refines his designs, resulting in putters such as the Newport 2.5, Squareback 2 and Fastback 1.5. Utilizing the practice greens across the worldwide professional tours and the Putter Studio as his laboratory, in combination with his creativity and vision, Scotty Cameron is the foremost Master Putter Craftsman in the industry today, and it continues to shine through in his new California and Studio Select offerings.

Here's the rundown on the new models:

Newport 2.5: Popular Newport 2 head with engraved sightline on back flange and flow neck with a half shaft offset. Available in right hand only.

Squareback 2: A modified Newport-style mid mallet design featuring a more compact head with a square back flange and a plumbing neck hosel with a full shaft of offset. Available in both right and left hand.

Fastback 1.5: A modified Newport-style mid mallet design with a rounded back flange and a flow neck with a half shaft offset. Available in right hand only.

All three will be available in December for $325.

© jlpucheu for The Sand Trap, 2009. | Permalink

For this volume, we start off with a look at the famous Road Hole, find out which are the best courses for business, and check in on what is in store for the Fall Finish. Also on tap we discover Annika's busy retirement schedule, investigate a golf fight, and do a recap of the week's events. Read on!

Hole 1: It Wasn't Hard Enough Already?
The R&A has decided to lengthen the Road Hole for next year's Open Championship. [Link]

Hole 2: Top Courses for Business Golf
Thinking about entertaining that client on the links? Here is a list of the best courses. [Link]

Hole 3: Fall Finish or Fall Start?
The Fall Finish is actually just the start for many players on the Tour and around the world. [Link]

Hole 4: Retirement?
For Annika Sorenstam retirement is awfully busy! [Link]

Hole 5: Fight!
Two Philadelphia brothers' round of golf ended in fisticuffs and a broken nose! [Link]

Hole 6: Nationwide Tour
Chad Collins wins the Miccosukee Championship, the last full-field event of the Nationwide season. [Link]

Hole 7: Westwood Likes Portugal
Lee Westwood ends a two-year winless drought with a win at the Portugal Masters. [Link]

Hole 8: Administaff Small Business Classic
John Cook closes with a solid round to win his third Champions Tour event. [Link]

Hole 9: JT Shriners Hospitals for Children Open
Martin Laird wins the playoff in Las Vegas. [Link]

© NM Golf for The Sand Trap, 2009. | Permalink

Though Andy Plummer and Mike Bennett studied the moves of some of the greatest golfers in history, including Ben Hogan, Tiger Woods, Jack Nicklaus, and others, the The Stack and Tilt golf swing was rejected by virtually every known teacher as a fad. It was tarnished with "that's a reverse pivot" and "you'll hurt your back with that reverse C finish." Mudslinging, golfers discovered, wasn't just for politics anymore.

In the years since, the Stack and Tilt golf swing has gained a steady following on the PGA Tour. Some high-profile names "gave up" on the swing, but many more higher-profile players have joined the ranks as well. What's more, the violent reaction a lot of "traditional" instructors have had to the Stack and Tilt move has subsided and allowed for some real study, and many instructors who take the time to understand the swing have come to see that it's not as different as they once thought.

On October 15, 2009 we held a chat between Stack and Tilt instructor David Wedzik and The Sand Trap's own T.M. O'Connell, Swing Check columnist and author of "Golf's Not Hard." Dave Wedzik just opened the first Stack and Tilt certified academy. T.M. O'Connell is a proponent of what he calls the classic move with a "Power Pivot."

The chat was a revealing one, and given the popularity of The Sand Trap's lone article on S&T from 2007, I suspect a lot of you out there may benefit from reading it.

Speakers
David Wedzik - Stack and Tilt
T.M. O'Connell - Classic "Power Pivot"
Erik J. Barzeski - Moderator

© iacas for The Sand Trap, 2009. | Permalink

Most professionals aren't concerned with looking cool, and if they're worried about breaking 40 or 90, we probably aren't seeing them in the winner's circle on a regular basis. But they are concerned with birdies.

This week we take a look at birdies on the PGA Tour.

Let's begin by looking at the most straight-forward method of making a birdie: hit the green in regulation and make the putt. This is known as the birdie conversion rate, and is a statistic tracked by the PGA Tour. As of, and including, the Tour Championship presented by Coca-Cola, the top 15 are:

Player              FEC      Birdie %    Birdies    Greens
----------------    ---      --------    -------    ------
Anthony Kim          35       35.68        289        810
Daniel Chopra        97       34.06        298        875
Tiger Woods           1       33.25        253        761
Jason Day            48       33.12        204        616
Dustin Johnson       14       32.98        311        943
Kris Blanks         168       32.97        179        543
Joe Ogilvie         121       32.88        268        815
Phil Mickelson        2       32.74        238        727
Fred Couples         84       32.61        195        598
Charley Hoffman      37       32.51        343       1055
Matt Bettencourt    106       32.33        313        968
Michael Letzig       86       32.23        312        968
Harrison Frazar     104       32.19        281        873
Steve Stricker        3       32.17        304        945
Nick Watney          12       32.02        318        993

11 of the top 15 "birdie converters" finished in the top 100 in the FedExCup. Only one of the 15 failed to qualify for the playoffs. Two of the players in the list had high-profile birdie fests recently. Anthony Kim set the record at The Masters for most birdies in a round with 11. That's a birdie on almost two-thirds of the holes in his round! Harrison Frazar posted a 59 in Q-School en route to medalist honors and his 2009 PGA Tour card. And it is no surprise to find that all three players with three or more wins this season are on this list.

As for percentages, Anthony Kim and Daniel Chopra sank more than one-third of their birdie putts this season. Tiger Woods, in third place, would share this honor if only one more birdie attempt had fallen this season (we will never know how close he came, because the television networks never seem to show him if anyone else is on the field). Jason Day, in fourth, would have needed two more to join the crowd.

The Par Threes
So, where do birdies come from? Is it a perfect lie and knowing the exact distance to the pin? If so, we would expect the par-three birdie leaders to be cleaning house this season. Let's look at the top five in that statistic.

Player              FEC      Birdie %    Birdies    Holes
----------------    ---      --------    -------    -----
Kris Blanks         168       18.22        39        214
Dean Wilson         145       18.18        50        275
Mark Brooks         173       18.14        41        226
Gary Woodland       207       17.59        38        216
Corey Pavin         129       17.16        46        268

… and not a single one of them even made the playoffs! In fact, only one of them would have qualified under last year's rules (which allowed 19 more qualifiers in The Barclays to begin the playoffs).

Why is this? When we see a famous par three on television, we tend to see relatively short holes, such as the 17th at TPC Sawgrass, the 16th at TPC Scottsdale, or the 12th at Augusta National. None of these, from the tournament tees, extends beyond the reach of my 6-iron; why aren't the professionals throwing darts?

Truth is these aren't examples of typical par threes. In the case of 17 at Sawgrass, we can be thankful for this. Many of the par threes that the professionals see require long-iron approaches, and this may explain the lack of birdies and the par-three scoring average, too (as of the Tour Championship, only six players are under par for the season).

It isn't that Phil is bad with his long irons; he just doesn't hit them that often in a green-in-regulation attempt, certainly not in proportion to short irons and wedges over the course of a round. And therein is a difference in the professionals' game, versus that of a mid-handicapper, one in which the mid-handicapper has an odd advantage: we hit long iron approach shots far more often, so our scores on par threes tend to not be much out of line, relative to par, with our scores on par fours.

The aforementioned Phil Mickelson, incidentally, is sixth on the list of par-three birdie percentage leaders, so it isn't as though those players low on the rankings are all doing poorly on par threes.

The Par Fours
This brings us to the par fours. Players at all levels see more of these than any other hole type, unless we're playing par-three courses (or are regulars at John Daly's all-par-five design). Whoever is leading in birdies on par fours must have had a good shot at the FedExCup this year.

Player              FEC      Birdie %    Birdies    Holes
----------------    ---      --------    -------    -----
Joe Durant          167        21.62       128       592

That's not very encouraging. In all the years that the Tour has had the FedExCup, the person ranked 167th would not qualify to begin the playoffs. All right, who's next?

Player              FEC      Birdie %    Birdies    Holes
----------------    ---      --------    -------    -----
Joe Durant          167       21.62        128       592
Dustin Johnson       14       20.25        175       864
Anthony Kim          35       19.90        158       794
Hunter Mahan         27       19.25        186       966
Jonathan Byrd        66       19.16        151       788
Fred Couples         84       19.10        102       534
Marc Leishman        20       19.10        183       958
Charlie Wi           56       18.81        170       904
Jason Dufner         11       18.80        182       968
Justin Leonard       39       18.60        170       914

First, something encouraging: Joe Durant and Dustin Johnson made birdie on par fours on more than one in five attempts this year. This amounts to one per side, and if one more of Anthony Kim's attempts had dropped, he would have joined this club. Other than Joe Durant, the top ten in par-four birds had some good staying power, with four making it to the Tour Championship and another four reaching the penultimate tournament of the playoffs.

The Par Fives
And now, house cleaning. The par fives. After seeing the last category leaders, maybe you're expecting to see someone who didn't fare very well this year, but quietly led some scoring category. If you expect that, you'd be wrong.

Player              FEC      Birdie %    Birdies    Holes
----------------    ---      --------    -------    -----
Tiger Woods           1       56.77        109       192
Nick Watney          12       54.55        150       275

How far back to do you have to go to find a tournament at Torrey Pines that one of those two didn't win? 2004. Let's expand to the top ten:

Player              FEC      Birdie %    Birdies    Holes
----------------    ---      --------    -------    -----
Tiger Woods           1       56.77        109       192
Nick Watney          12       54.55        150       275
Matt Jones          126       50.33         76       151
Bubba Watson         53       50.00        118       236
Anthony Kim          35       49.54        108       218
Steve Marino         15       49.29        138       280
Steve Stricker        3       49.19        122       248
D.J. Trahan          96       49.00        123       251
Scott Piercy         88       48.76        118       242
Dustin Johnson       14       48.25        124       257

Fully half of the top ten in par-five birdies made it to the Tour Championship. Of these, only Steve Marino didn't win at least once in the past year, and only one of the top ten didn't make it to the playoffs. Four of them birdied at least half of their par fives, and, as with par fours, Anthony Kim would have joined the party if one more attempt had fallen.

The massive birdie count on the par fives relative to the threes and fours is instructive to us amateurs, too. We might not be able to reach them all in two, but we can hit short irons and wedges into the greens with very little risk by intelligently planning the hole.

Conclusion
As fun as the math behind the professional game is, having our own low scores is more fun. In particular, we can observe that par is a very good score on a par three and that birdies don't do us an immense amount of good on such holes. I, for one, am happy if I can play my par threes in a 3.5 average. Obviously, I want a lower score, but not to the point of being unhappy. I regularly see playing partners upset over par on such holes, as though these were crucial scoring opportunities.

I see the same playing partners accept net bogeys on par fives, essentially writing them off due to their length. Such holes' length, however, puts the advantage in your hand: they are rarely a full 3-wood longer than an average par four, and this lets you effectively choose the shots you want to hit. Zach Johnson, hardly a long hitter, used this to his advantage en route to his win at the 2007 Masters. Tiger is often credited with thinking his way around the course better than anyone, and he accordingly has a commanding lead on the very holes that offer the advantage to the most thinking players.

This article was written by Michael Shindler, or "Shindig" in the forum.

© Guest Author for The Sand Trap, 2009. | Permalink