Bridging the gap between then and now was the SQ Dymo, which toned down the large grey Powerbow and had the option of the face-altering STR8-Fit Technology. Both the Sumo and Dymo were pretty successful, garnering tons of praise for being long and forgiving, and both still remain as a very affordable option on the market today. Can Nike continue to have the same success with their new lineup? Follow along with us as we look deeper at the Victory Red hybrids, fairway woods, and drivers.

Victory Red Hybrids
Like some of the irons with the same name, the VR hybrids are made for the mid- to high-handicapper. In an effort to create the ideal mix of workability and distance, the engineers at Nike's famed "Oven" decided to open the face slightly and move the CG forward. By finding an ideal center of gravity, it gives the player the player a heightened ability to work the ball, at the expense of forgiveness.

We have accomplished what we wanted to with these hybrids. We wanted to achieve a higher launch angle with significantly less spin. We've done that through altering the face angle and finding the proper center of gravity measurements.

Tom Stites, Director of Club Creation for Nike Golf

The 455 Ultra Thin steel face also plays a big part in the distance provided by this new hybrid. Making its debut in the VR line is the previously mentioned Split Compression Channel, which promotes distance across the entire clubface.

The standard Aldila VooDoo graphite shaft used in the VR hybrid also helps to promote consistent performance in terms of distance, accuracy and feel. Topping off this new hybrid is a Nike Golf Crossline grip.

Options and Availability
Four lofts are available, ranging from 15° up to a 24°, with all but the 15° available for both right-handed and left-handed players. MSRP on the new hybrid is $203.99, though I easily found them for around $170.

Victory Red STR8-Fit Tour Fairway Woods
Nike's new VR fairways are a bit of a departure from last year's SQ Dymo fairway woods. The first difference in this line is the lack of a square-headed variation. If the forgiveness of a square head is what you're looking for, Nike has the Machspeed lineup waiting in the wings. The second difference you'll find is the inclusion of the STR8-Fit Technology, previously only found in 2009's SQ Dymo STR8-Fit drivers. Last but not least is the use of the Split Compression Channel, which is also found on the VR hybrids, and is a spin-off of the Compression Channel found in the VR drivers. But more on that in a bit. First, let's look a bit deeper at these new-for-2010 components.

The VR fairway woods are the first of their kind to use the clubface-altering STR8-Fit technology. The newest version of the STR8-Fit implementation allows the head to be adjusted in a mind-blowing 32 different ways. At first glance, 32 different face angle options seems to be a bit excessive, but in the end, it means every aspect of this club can be fine tuned to meet your needs.

Like the hybrids, the fairway wood employs a 455 ultra-thin steel face. This face, coupled with the Split Compression Channel, promotes longer, more consistent distance on contact across the entire face.

Though it's nowhere near as visible as it was on previous Nike fairway woods, the Powerbow is again located at the rear of the club. This effectively helps locate the center of gravity low and forward to promote workability for those with faster swing speeds.

Our athletes prefer a smooth sole design for optimized playability on tight fairway lies. In order to achieve that, we split the compression channel on the sole to provide improved performance from every lie.

Tom Stites

The VR fairway comes with an Aldila VooDoo shaft (in A, R, S, or X flex) with Score technology, which increases the consistency of the shaft while strengthening it. You have the option of a 13° strong 3 wood (for righties only), 15° 3-wood, 17° 4-wood, and 19° 5 wood. The suggested price is $299, but expect to pay closer to $250.

Victory Red STR8-Fit/VR Tour Drivers
As you can see, Nike has brought us two versions of the VR driver: the 420cc VR Tour and the 460 cc VR STR8-Fit Tour. Possibly the most immediately recognizable and noteworthy fact is that the VR drivers are Nike's most traditional looking driver to date. At address, there's no square geometry or exposed Powerbow - only a simple, pear-shaped black head. Though this is purely speculation, given the fact that the guys at The Oven take a lot of input from their athletes, it seems that many of the tour players have voiced their opinions about favoring the more traditional look.

The new VR drivers are immediately recognizable, as both versions share Nike's new Compression Channel technology, which is visible in the form of a red channel that stretches across the sole of the driver (from heel to toe), behind the face. The Compression Channel essentially allows the body of the head to flex and rebound more, delivering increased and consistent ball speeds across the entire face of the club.

One of the differences between the VR STR8-Fit Tour and VR Tour drivers is immediately obvious - the inclusion of (or lack thereof) Nike's award-winning STR8-Fit technology. In case you're unfamiliar with it, the STR8-Fit technology allows for the adjustment of the face angle as well as loft and lie angle. The shaft adapter and grooved hosel allows the club head to be adjusted a maximum two degrees in all directions, including face angle (as in open or closed), lie angle, and loft.

If you were a fan of the adjustability of last year's Dymo STR8-Fit, the implementation of it in the new VR drivers will likely grab your attention. While the Dymo STR8-Fit was adjustable eight ways, the VR STR8-Fit Tour can be tweaked a total of 32 different positions! Yes, like I said about the fairway woods, that's an insane amount of options, but no one is saying you're supposed to constantly change it. As an owner of last year's version, I can say that it's nice to do some experimentation, but from my experience, once I found a position I was comfortable with, I've kept it there for the most part.

Another difference between the two is the actual club head size. When the world's number one player Tiger Woods revealed that they Dymo he was gaming was actually 380cc in size, a number of people were interested in a return to a smaller driver. It looks like the guys at Nike listened, as they made the VR Tour in a 420 cc, non-adjustable version. There are a couple of size variations with the VR STR8-Fit Tour as well, as the 8.5° and 9.5° are a 440cc head, while the 10.5° and 11.5° are 20cc larger at 460cc.

The final difference between the VR Tour and VR STR8-Fit Tour is the shaft. The STR8-Fit comes standard with the Aldila VooDoo graphite shaft, while the VR Tour comes with the Project X graphite shaft. Both are available in Regular, Stiff, and X-Stiff flex profiles.

The MSRP on both models is $479.99, though street price is more like $399.99. Nike is also offering their "Signing Bonus" program, where upon the purchase of one of their new products, you're given credit to purchase other products such as apparel or balls.

© jlpucheu for The Sand Trap, 2010. | Permalink

In this newest volume we start off by quelling some Tiger Rumors, find out who made the Match Play, and check out Bubba on Ellen. Also, we investigate some tough times for country clubs, see who became Assistant Ryder Cup Captains, and do a wrap-up on the week's events. Read on!

Hole 1: No Tiger!
There is no truth to the rumors of Tiger's imminent return says Steve Williams. [Link]

Hole 2: Match Play
Ross McGowan gets the last spot in the Accenture Match Play Championship, that is if Tiger doesn't show up. [Link]

Hole 3: Bubba on Ellen
Bubba Watson talks about his recent visit to the Ellen DeGeneres show. [Link]

Hole 4: Ryder Cup
Cory Pavin names four assistant captains for this year's Ryder Cup. [Link]

Hole 5: Tough Times
Country Clubs are having a tough time keeping their doors open. [Link]

Hole 6: Tiger Getting Some Family Time
It is reported that Tiger got to spend the day with his family in order to celebrate his son's first birthday. [Link]

Hole 7: You're Fired! Now Go Win a Golf Tournament
Jim Herman, an ex-employee of Donald Trump's, wins on the Nationwide Tour. [Link]

Hole 8: Omega Dubai Desert Classic
Miguel Angel Jimenez wins the Dubai Desert Classic in a play-off. [Link]

Hole 9: Riviera
Steve Stricker wins at Riviera and moves to #2. [Link]

© NM Golf for The Sand Trap, 2010. | Permalink

To be honest, I'm getting quite sick of it. It is not my place to know about his or anyone else's personal life, nor do I really care to know. Aside from his personal life, in his professional one, he has done much more good than harm. He has helped grow the game exponentially and the numerous charities he has supported including his own have helped a hell of a lot of people. In this week's Trap Five, I'm giving you five reason's why he should be left alone and return to golf on his own terms and not the public's. What are yours?

Number Five: For the Sake of the Game
There cannot be enough said about what Tiger has done to grow the game. When he does return, the game will continue to grow with Tiger. But, everyone needs to lay off the guy until he can get his bearing. If this media frenzy continues I think his personal leave from golf will take much longer than expected. And, his leave will have a more negative effect than it already has.

Number Four: How Would You Like It?
Seriously, regardless of the issue, how would you like your name and photo posted on every major newspaper with details of your wrongdoings? Some will say that he asked for it. By being a public figure he has opened himself up to criticism as well as praise. The only thing we should be concerned with his his game on the course. Off the course, allow him to enjoy his time with his family and friends without being bothered, as he has requested numerous times.

Number Three: Distractions Limit One's Ability to Focus
With all this stuff going on around him; I think it would be quite hard to focus on the things that are most important, like his family. It is my most sincere hope that he is able to continue his work in reconciling his mistakes and moving forward with his life. I think it would be much easier for him to do so if the paparazzi did not have such a presence nearly everywhere he might be.

Number Two: Give People a Chance to Talk About Other Things in Golf.
Like Phil making a stink about being slandered, John Daly retiring, or when Annika is going to return to the LPGA. All kidding aside, there are more interesting things in the world of golf than the private life of one man and I encourage everyone to seek them out. Here is one suggestion: go practice, so when the season rolls around in a couple months you'll be playing well all season instead of spending the first month or two regaining what you lost in the off season.

Number One: It's Not Affecting Just One Person
Not only is what the media doing wrong to Tiger, it is having a negative affect on those closest to him who have nothing to do with the public. Everyone has formed an opinion about what he should do, what she should do, how this is going to affect his children, etc. It is no ones business but the people involved. Tigers kids have nothing to do with the media nor does the majority of his family yet they are being subjected the same things a celebrity with a full publicity staff can barely handle and I find it to be utterly inhumane.

Photo Credit: © Erik J. Barzeski/The Sand Trap .com. All rights reserved.

© zrlaegel for The Sand Trap, 2010. | Permalink

It's only Week Five, but it's becoming obvious: this will go down as the worst year for the PGA Tour since 1995 (aka, the year before Tiger turned pro).

Picture the scene: it's December of 2009, and we're sitting in PGA Tour central command. All the honchos are huddled around the table wondering just how 2010 will play out with everyone's meal ticket - including their own - focusing on fidelity (and no, not the investment firm).

"It's fine, we were in the same spot last year," says one portly fellow with all the buttons of his polo shirt fastened, making his head look like a lollipop. "Plus, when's the last time golf was splashed all over the front pages? In December, no less."

"That's true," says a guy in glasses, the hired gun consultant who talks with the confidence of someone who knows he's getting a big check regardless of where his advice leads the group. "You guys are golden. Scandals cement celebrity, and you're lucky to have the most famous golfer in the world chasing tail across the globe. Whether good or bad, golf is being embedded into the public consciousness."

Before he can finish, the youngest face in the room lights up. It just hit him. "We're going to make a FORTUNE on his first tournament back." The rest of the room, uneasy that this glorified intern just had the misfortune of saying what they've all been thinking for weeks. A collective mutter fills the room.

"But until he gets back, what better guy to hand it over to than Phil," the chubby guy says, letting the kid off the hook.

He's right. Tiger's #1 in the standings, and draws more eyeballs to tournaments and to TV. But Phil is Mr. Charisma and charms his way into galleries and living rooms nationwide. With his wife's health improving, Mickelson closed the year on a roll, knocking off Tiger twice in the fall and ending 2009 on a two-tournament win streak.

"Let's just hope he doesn't Winged Foot it," the fat guy says, thinking he's funny. The rest of the room can only cringe, realizing it really could get worse.

As we sit here in the first week of February, it turns out that fat guy was right.

Tiger's still gone, having more trouble learning that fidelity thing than cutting a 2-iron around a dogleg. And instead of carrying the torch, Phil has landed on Yahoo's front page, branded a cheater and greeting everyone as they checked their email last week. You and I may agree that he's completely in the clear. But how about your wife, who asks why that nice guy you're always rooting for is a cheater?

As rough as this year promised to be, yes, it's gotten worse. So much worse.

This is the time of year that half the country is stuck inside. One of the real joys as a golf fan is spending a cold Sunday afternoon in your den, being whisked away to Riviera or Pebble Beach. If you're lucky you'll have a great duel down the back nine while the pot roast cooks away. There's a built-in audience of millions of cabin fever suffering golfers. So when your best player is busy taking 13 cold showers a day and Number Two is cutting off his nose to spite his face over the minutia of the golf equipment approval process and turning off a wide swath of fans, you better hope something like the Super Bowl will show up as a distraction.

Finally, the Tour gets a break.

Now, how can 2010 rebound? A month ago I told you that John Daly was going to surge back onto the scene and help ease the absence of Mr. Woods. So far he hasn't even sniffed a cut. All we needed him to do was toss a top 30 up there, give us some face time on a Sunday afternoon. Make us gawk at those pants and keep alive the hope that he can catch lightning in a bottle.

Instead, he quits. Or at least he thought about quitting while the cameras rolled. Now he's tweeting that we read too much into it, and he'll play Pebble, then Mayakoba. Is he a sympathetic character, or veering toward pathetic? I'm hanging my hat on him getting into a groove and posting a few numbers. In both starts this year he's improved dramatically from his first round to his second, so there's at least some cause for hope.

Secondly, the Tour needs those Young Guns who were starting to flourish a few years ago to take that next step. They're a few years older, but players like Anthony Kim and Camilo Villegas have the swagger and the pizazz. And how about Adam Scott reclaiming his spot as a top-five talent and top-three needle mover? He wrapped up 2009 with four top-ten finishes in his last five starts overseas, and he's got a good record at the Northern Trust (winner in 2005 and runner-up in 2006). How good would it be to see those three trading birdies on the back Sunday? You might even flip from the sixth hour of Super Bowl pre-game to check it out.

But the truth is, we are where we are: one month in, top two stars tarnished, and the reclamation project ready to throw in the towel. What's the rest of the year got in store? If January is any indicator, we'll watch Heath Slocum out-duel John Senden at Augusta, ever-exciting Steve Stricker flirt with the top spot in the world rankings, and Tiger will return with much fanfare in time for the majors, only to post finishes of 26, MC, 57, and T31.

But hey, there's good news for those guys sweating it out at PGA command central. They're not working for the LPGA. At least not yet.

Photo Credits: © Getty Images, © NNDB.

© philsRHman for The Sand Trap, 2010. | Permalink

But the thing I'm talking about is actually something you won't see: alignment sticks. Station after station, golfer after golfer, and not a single alignment stick to be found.

Walk around the range at a PGA Tour event and you can't get away from the darn things.

Everyone wants to be like a PGA Tour pro, but very few people practice like one. Here are a couple of photos from The Memorial and the Bridgestone Invitational showing pros - and their training aids - on the range.

Ryo Ishikawa has one of the more expensive training aids out there: a real live human being in the form of renowned instructor Jim Flick.

Then there's the always popular "hold this club against my head" trick:

Vijay Singh, as you might guess, combines the "hold this club against my hip" with an umbrella barely to the right of his target line, a glove under his left arm, the eyes of two trained individuals, and an alignment stick on the ground. I'm probably missing something else, too.

At the Bridgestone, Trackman launch monitors were used in a fairly heavy rotation by pros - like Mike Weir - looking to fine-tune their launch conditions.

Cameras are a big hit on the Tour as well.

Aaron Baddeley:

Ian Poulter:

But, naturally, the easiest and most readily available training aid are the $2 sticks from Lowe's or Home Depot. If a pro doesn't happen to have a stick, a spare club will often do the trick.

Paul Casey switched to a rope…

… after he whacked one of his sticks with his 3-wood:

And finally, proof that Tiger Woods was fibbing when he told us he draws the lines on his golf balls freehand.

© iacas for The Sand Trap, 2010. | Permalink

The Carlsbad, CA clubmaker has been busy with this year's new drivers and woods, as they have taken proven technologies from last year and refined them for the new S2 line. If it ain't broke, right??? When we covered the L5V last year, Cobra's jump into adjustability had just started, and only two flight control options were available. Since clubface adjustment is pretty much golf's new black, the engineers at Cobra thought the ability to open the face as well as close it would be a great option. Of course, there is so much more to the new driver than clubface manipulation, so follow along to see what else is new for 2010 in the new S2 drivers (and fairway woods).

S2 Driver
The new S2 Driver integrates a number of the technologies found in last year's L5V into a new, more traditional looking head. The new head has been designed to maximize energy transfer and produce a confident sound.

Adjustable Flight Technology is one of the key features of the new S2, though it has been slightly refined since it was used in the L5V. It now allows the player to fine-tune the face angle by closing or opening the face. The L5V's implementation of AFT only allowed the face to be set square or closed. Adjustable Flight Technology is accomplished via the use of a special hosel that allows the shaft and hosel fitting to be removed. A proprietary torque wrench inserts into the hosel screw port to tighten or loosen the fitting.

The face of the S2 has also seen both technological and aesthetic enhancements compared to previous models. In an effort to increase ball speed across the entire face, Cobra's engineers made use of their 9 Point Face Technology. The thin milled Rhombus Face insert is framed by a thinner titanium perimeter. The gorgeous black PVD finish certainly separates the S2 from previous Cobra drivers in terms of appearance, though the black face is becoming more common now. I wouldn't consider that a bad thing however.

We went to great lengths with the Cobra S2 Drivers to ensure that they appeal to avid golfers of all abilities who seek superior distance, forgiveness and accuracy with ball flight optimization. The 9 Point Face Technology is designed to allow more shots hit across the clubface to perform as if they were struck in the center of the clubface. Adjustable Flight Technology enables golfers to quickly and easily optimize the ballflight they want via one of three face angle settings, which in turn helps them improve their accuracy and distance. In addition, the Cobra S2 driver features a highly engineered 460cc 6-4 titanium clubhead, which not only effectively transfers energy efficiently to the ball, but is designed to produce the best sound and feel in any titanium driver we've ever produced.

Tom Preece, VP Research & Development

Also available is the S2 Offset, which gives the player most of the advantages of the standard S2, with the big exception being the absence of the Adjustable Flight Technology. The purpose of the offset variation (depending on how you look at it) is to promote a draw/minimize slice. By giving the player a greater chance of squaring the club face, the S2 Offset can help a player become more consistent off the tee.

Women's S2 and S2 Offset models also hit the stores along side of the men's offerings, with a more feminine, blue PVD finish and with an L-flex Fit-On shaft that's a little lighter than the men's version. The Adjustable Flight Technology and 9 Point Face Technology are both key features shared by the men's and women's variants.

Both the S2 and it's offset variation come equipped with the 46" Fujikura Fit-On Max graphite shaft in a number of flex options. The Fit-On Max 65 is a lightweight, mid-torque shaft that should give the player medium launch angle and spin. If a different shaft is more to your liking, Cobra offers a number of custom shaft options, one of which is sure to fit your eye. The full list can be found here. Loft options range from 8.5° up to 11.5° degrees, in one degree increments. Topping the whole thing off is a Golf Pride/Cobra grip. Right handed players will enjoy the entire range of lofts and options, while only the 9.5 and 10.5 are available to lefties.

S2 Fairway Woods
Along with the plethora of new S2 drivers comes the new Cobra S2 fairway woods. Playability and forgiveness are key qualities of the S2 fairways, as the thin clubface promotes consistent distance, even on off-center contact. Cobra's material of choice is the proven 17-4 stainless steel. The progressive contoured sole is also said to increase forgiveness, and help the player make more consistent contact.

Like the S2 drivers, the fairway woods have the offset variant available for those looking for a draw-biased club. Women's versions (see below) of both the standard and offset models will be available as well.

Options and Availability
The S2 is available this week, with the standard choices being 3-, 5-, and 7-wood. The fairway woods also come with the 65 gram Fujikura Fit-On shaft as standard, though again, custom shafts are an option. The S2 fairway's standard swingweight is D3. Topping the club off is the same Golf Pride/Cobra grip found on the driver. It is also worth noting that while the 3- and 5- woods are available to players on both sides of the tee, the 7-wood is righty only. The suggested retail price is $185.

Final Thoughts
It looks like Cobra has a strong offering this year, with driver and fairway options that fit just about any player, male or female. The driver's traditional look at address coupled with the gorgeously mean-looking all black face and mostly black sole should certainly appeal to a wide range of players.

© jlpucheu for The Sand Trap, 2010. | Permalink

In this edition of HTL we start off with a couple of looks at the Mickelson cheating allegations, then turn our attention to the very sad world that is Ken Green's, and take note that JD is not actually retiring. Also, we find out what Tom Watson had to say about Tiger, investigate the actual story from Tiger Woods' wreck, and do a recap of the week's winners. Read on!

Hole 1: Cheater?
Scott McCarron is calling Phil Mickelson a cheater for using PING wedges this week. [Link]

Hole 2: Upset Lefty
Phil Mickelson is very upset and hinting at legal action due to cheating allegations. [Link]

Hole 3: Another Green Tragedy
Ken Green's son has been found dead in his college dorm room at SMU. [Link]

Hole 4: Not Retiring
John Daly is saying he is not retiring just days after he said he was "done." [Link]

Hole 5: Watson on Woods
Tom Watson did not pull any punches in a recent interview about Tiger Woods. [Link]

Hole 6: Tournament Bargains
If you are in the market to be a title sponsor for a PGA Tour event, bargains can be had! [Link]

Hole 7: I Knew It!
The real story is out about the infamous Tiger Woods' wreck. Possibly. [Link]

Hole 8: Qatar Masters
Sweden's Robert Karlsson wins the Qatar Masters on the European Tour. [Link]

Hole 9: Farmers Insurance Open
Ben Crane wins the Farmers Insurance Open at Torrey Pines. He even finished on Sunday! [Link]

© NM Golf for The Sand Trap, 2010. | Permalink

First Up, John Daly
John Daly retires in the parking lot after shooting 79-71 to miss the cut by a mile.

Of course, 12 hours later, John's already backing off the comments with phrases like "I never said 'retirement'." Okay, John. If you say so. He's also saying he may not have enough money to continue to play on the PGA Tour.

The few sponsors that I have are great, but it's not getting me through these times. Maybe my mind may change down the road, but right now I don't have the money to be on the TOUR. My game has never been the same since my rib injury during The Honda Classic in 2007.

John Daly

His rib injury from 2007? Earlier in the week, John told Golf Channel he was hitting the ball great, but just needed to make some more putts. He said something like "my game is as good as it's ever been, just my putting needs fixing."

My advice to John: go away. For your own good. You're right - you are embarrassing yourself. Go away, work on your game. Do your corporate outings (you'll earn more doing that than MCing every week) to earn some money to pay your cadre of ex-wives, and if you actually return to a level that can compete, come back. The few fans you have left will likely welcome you back with open arms.

Phil Mickelson, Cheater
He's not. And I think once you get into arguments about "the spirit of the rules" you've already lost the argument, so I don't really care about that. The rules are what they are, and Phil is following them.

That said, I do find it funny that two guys (Scott McCarron, Rocco Mediate) who use long putters - a piece of equipment others have long said violate these mythical "spirit" of the rules - are leading the charge against Phil. It's not technically ironic, but it is… more than a bit silly.

But what's sillier is Phil Mickelson doing this to begin with. At the end of last year, Phil was near the top of the "pros this rule change helps" lists. The tougher you make golf, the more skill rises to the top, and nobody would deny that Phil has a lot of short-game skill.

What's dumber is that Phil - right now the de facto best player in the world - is getting involved with the grooves rule at all. WHY? What does Phil possibly stand to gain by "taking a stand" against the "ridiculous" rules change? By all accounts, Phil's still supremely pissed about the "conforming, but not approved" grooves he and Callaway submitted last year.

The golfing public has always been split on Phil Mickelson. Some percentage see him as fantastic and another percentage as a phony. The "phony" guys aren't being won over by this, and a good portion of the "fantastic" guys are now seriously considering their allegiance to a possible "cheater." How can "the people's champion" and the "fan favorite" care more about the millions of dollars Callaway spent researching the new grooves?

Phil had a great opportunity here to work hard on his game, win some tournaments, take a run at #1, and become the King. Instead, he's turning into the court jester.

Original Blame
Read over this summary of the PING Eye2 settlement and answer this for me: why is PING escaping blame? It seems to me that they understood the rules, intentionally circumvented them without alerting the USGA, and then sued when the USGA found that the clubs violated the Rules of Golf after PING had already sold thousands of sets of irons.

PING pointed out that the USGA used a different means of measurement - measuring from the edge of the radius instead of the center of the groove - in ruling the Eye2 grooves illegal. But I still side with the USGA here: no previous clubs had required a different form of measurement, including the clubs PING had approved by the USGA before they rounded the corner radius to stop shredding golf balls.

As part of the settlement PING released conforming grooves in their Ping Eye2+ irons, and that reads like an admission of guilt. Now look, it was 20 years ago, so I really don't care about assigning blame, but let's not assign blame to the USGA and completely excuse PING. That doesn't make any sense to me.

Performance
As for whether the Eye2 grooves actually provide more spin than current conforming grooves, the jury's still out. I've read quotes from TaylorMade researchers and vice presidents that say they do not. The USGA was forced to say "it's not about performance" in the settlement. Phil's only carrying one wedge, and it's his 64° model because those sharp edges "catch" the ball in ways "new" grooves can't, he says. Very few people play high-lofted wedges. And let's not forget the wedges are 20 years old. It's not like PING kept hundreds of thousands of Eye2 irons in a hermetically sealed, climate-controlled vault.

It's much ado about nothing. And they clearly haven't helped John Daly.

© iacas for The Sand Trap, 2010. | Permalink

PING has presumably given the i15 driver its rock star livery for a reason (read: "performance"). The i15 is "tour-style," which is marketingese for "you better have game." While that is really overstating the level of skill required (it's much more about shot shape and solid contact than handicap), the i15 is clearly the more demanding and higher performing of PING's two new drivers. Finding the one that's the best for you is the real secret. So (as PING's website asks) "are you a G-Man or an i-Guy?" According to the site, the G-Man desires "maximum power and forgiveness," while an i-Guy seeks "traditional look and feel." Frankly, I'm probably more of an "H" guy myself… I need some forgiveness (a little "G") while also being able, on my better days, at least, to take advantage of some "i" qualities.

The early buzz about this driver was that "hackers need not apply." Guys talked about this driver the way they talk about muscleback clubs… "We're not worthy!"

After all that talk, I had a certain level of concern that this driver would be too much for me, particularly on those days when my swing is not at its best. But after several rounds and couple small buckets of range balls, I can say that you shouldn't be afraid to try this driver provided you make reasonably good contact on most swings and don't fight a fade. Forget that "traditional look and feel" bit, it's more accurate to say that the i15 is for players looking to work the ball off the tee.

Design and Technology
With one notable exception, there's not that much technology in the i15 that we haven't already seen, to some degree, in the G-2, G-5, and G-10. You'll find what's become fairly standard stuff: a 460cc titanium head, a face that's thicker in the middle and thinner around the perimeter, and internal weighting designed to tune launch conditions. The i15 is however a refinement of all that engineering and tweaked toward players who make consistent contact with the center of the clubface.

The most radical piece of engineering in the i15 is the "onset" face. As you may have guessed that's the opposite of "offset." The hosel is actually positioned behind the clubface on the i15. This feature is intended to help counter the bane of many "better" players: the hook. Just as offset drivers (hosel positioned in front of the clubface) help slicers minimize their misses, the onset i15 should help players who typically play draws keep the dreaded hooks at bay.

The internal weighting of the i15 also contributes to a fade bias, according to PING, as well as helping to lower spin and produce optimum launch conditions. Finally, the i15 sports a bulge crown design (it's higher in the middle) and a deep face, intended to optimize energy transfer.

Esthetics
As already stated, the i15 is a good looking driver. While the sometimes controversial "half moon alignment aid lives on, it is a smaller, more subdued version of the one found on the earlier G-series models. I can live with it just fine, and I sure do dig the dark menacing look of this driver.

PING states that the i15 is for the player seeking "traditional look and feel" in a driver. Sitting on the rack in the golf shop, the i15 doesn't exactly scream traditional look (presuming "traditional" means resembling a persimmon head), and a few hits in the cage will confirm that the i15 does not feel all that much like persimmon, either. Clearly, traditional has more to do with the pear-shape of the i15 than its size. It would be true to say that the i15 driver looks slightly more "traditional" than the G-15 and most other drivers on the market today.

The "titanium carbon" gives the i15 a stealthy and dangerous look, which should be a good thing when you're on the first tee with your buddies.

PING says that the i15 has a muted sound, and I'd have to say that, for a PING driver, that is true. On off-center contact, the i15 sounds fairly similar to my old G5. When you hit it on the money, however, the i15 drops in tone and sounds solid, a little like how a good softball bat sounds when you drill one. And I mean that in a good way. You're not going to mistake the sound of the i15 with that of a persimmon driver, but in a sport filled with harsh, metallic-toned drivers, the i15 is among the better sounding ones.

Performance
PING drivers always seem to perform well, and the i15 is no exception. I played a G5 driver for quite awhile, and it remains one of the longest I've had the pleasure to play. It was a great driver for distance with a fair bit of forgiveness as well. But for whatever reason, when I missed fairways, I tended to miss them by a lot. I finally gave up some distance to play a driver that helped reduce those round-killing big misses.

So I when PING introduced the i15 driver, I was quite happy to give it a shot at making the bag. PING sent a 9.5° model with the UST AXIVcore Tour Red (S), a good looking combination that screamed performance.

When I first saw the i15 on the web, I was pretty stoked to see what it was like in person. One of the first things that got me excited about this driver is that it is purported to be fade-biased. I had even heard that the face was 2° open. Since I struggle to consistently hit a fade when needed with my current driver and because my usual bad miss is a hard hook, this aspect appealed to me. Suffice it to say, I was very excited to get my hands on this driver.

Which is why I was really surprised when the i15 appeared to have a slightly closed face. Erik had met me at a course here in Columbus, and before our round we were experimenting with the i15. He also thought it looked closed. We wondered if it might be an optical illusion caused by the onset.

We're both draw players, and, onset or no onset, the first few shots that each of us hit with the i15 curved left in a classic draw flight. Erik is plays more of a draw than I do, so his shots had a little more snap to them than mine (as well as hang time and distance). Was the i15 mostly marketing and not enough substance?

When we got out on the course, I managed to play an unremarkable round. It wasn't a great driving day, but I also don't remember getting into all that much trouble off the tee either. According to Scorecard, I hit 9/14 fairways, with most misses winding up in the left rough. That's a slightly above average driving day for me, but I sure wasn't entertaining any thought of kicking my current driver (a Titleist 909D2) to the curb yet, either.

However, the second time I had the i15 out, I started to get it slotted very nicely and found I could easily play a little draw that went hard and long. Ball flight withe the i15 is lower than with my Titleist (Voodoo shaft), but overall distance was slightly longer. I started thinking, maybe PING is on to something here.

While it is fair to say that the i15 is hook resistant, it is not hook proof. My typical shot shape with the i15 was still a draw, as it is with my usual driver. However, I was happy to be able to reliably move the ball to the right when I needed to (something I haven't been able to do consistently with my driver this year). That's a big plus for me.

I've heard some pretty good players say that they thought the i15 was going to be too unforgiving for them to play. While the i15 is not going to be confused with game improvement models (like the G15), players looking to be able to work the ball off the tee and who regularly find the fairway now should still be able to find it with the i15, as well.

Specs and Extras
The i15 is available in left or right-handed models in three lofts.

Loft      Length      Lie      Head Weight      Swingweight
----      ------      ---      -----------      -----------
8.0°      45.75"      58°         199g              D3
9.5°      45.75"      58°         199g              D3
11.0°     45.75"      58°         199g              D3

The club is offered with the PING-designed TFC700D (R, S and X flexes) and UST AXIVcore Tour Red 69 (R, S and X flexes) shafts. Additional options are available (at additional cost) through PING's Custom Options program.

Conclusion
In my experience, the i15 provides above-average workability and distance. This driver is not going to be a good fit for everyone. If your modus operandi off the tee is to try to hit a straight ball every time, this may not be a good fit for you. If you struggle with a slice, then there are definitely better choices for you. But if you want to move the ball both ways off the tee, then this is one of the more workable recent driver options that I've come across.

Golfers who want to work the ball, who make consistent middle-of-the-clubface contact with the ball, and who hit a reasonable number of fairways a round may well find a new friend in the i15.

While my first outing with this driver did not live up to my expectations, it has been steadily winning me over since that first experience. I'm not sure the i15 is going to boot the incumbent out of the bag, but I'm certainly going to give it the chance this spring, and so far as I can tell, it's going to be a close race.

© georgep for The Sand Trap, 2010. | Permalink

I don't get to play seeing as I live in Massachusetts, which can sometimes be mildly depressing. Those of you who live through a snowy winter every year can empathize with this dilemma. So, as the spring comes closer I always try to remember why I spend so much time practicing in the winter. Here are my five reasons to be exited about golf all year. What are yours?

Number Five: Walking 18 Holes
Some people may disagree with this one, especially if they own a cart. Believe me, I'm not going to knock the use of carts, but there is something about walking for an entire round that cannot be experienced while sipping a cold one driving down the fairway. It is peaceful and can clear your head. If you get out early enough to put in nine holes before work, you're in great mood all day.

Number Four: Playing a New Course
I have not met one golfer who didn't like to mix it up and play a course they haven't before. There is something almost childlike about discovering a new course to love. Or, maybe even playing a course that you have dreamed about playing and finally took the time to get there and enjoy yourself. For me someday, it will be The Old Course at St. Andrews.

Number Three: Friends
Having a relaxing day at the course with your best friends is never a bad time. You get to catch up, crank some drives, talk trash to each other, and make more memories. Plus, if one of you happens to get an ace, you have witnesses as well as a little bit of dough missing from buying drinks.

Number Two: The Low Round
Everyone has personal goals. Mine happens to be playing at a +2 for the year(which means I need to shave about six strokes off of my game). But it doesn't matter whether its breaking 100, 90, 80 or par. Not only does it get you exited about playing, it also serves as a reminder that your work all winter paid off. And, if you were able to do it once, it will happen again.

Number One: Competition
Playing against someone else or on a team is what I enjoy the most. It doesn't matter what is on the line. All that matters is that you put yourself out there. This year for me is especially exiting as I will be playing for my college. Although I've played in charity tournaments, I get the feeling this is going to be a whole new animal. I'm doing everything I can to get prepped for the spring while most of my competitors are partying all winter. I hope it pays off.

© zrlaegel for The Sand Trap, 2010. | Permalink