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Cleveland's latest take on the might of light


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From Golf Digest :

http://www.golfdigest.com/blogs/the-loop/2014/10/cleveland-latest-take-on-the-m.html

Cleveland's latest take on the might of light

By Mike Stachura

At the elite level, it seems golf is increasingly becoming a power game. That’s all well and good when you have plenty of power to burn. For average golfers, though, power often isn’t so easy to come by. In fact, Cleveland Golf estimates that average golfers, particularly seniors and recreational players, may have swing speeds 15 or more miles per hour slower than the average on the PGA Tour (113 miles per hour).

One solution that’s been offered successfully in Japan for years is clubs with lighter than traditional overall weights. Most notable has been the XXIO brand of drivers launched by Dunlop Sports, which repeatedly have been that country’s top seller, pushing well below 290 grams in total weight. That’s a good 10 percent below the weight of many typical drivers played in the U.S.

Cleveland, whose parent company is Dunlop Sports, has been developing lighter overall weight golf clubs since the beginning of this decade with clubs like the original CG Black, a driver introduced in 2011 that weighed just 265 grams or about 60 grams lighter than some of the leading drivers in the game at the time. Now comes the new family of CG Black metalwoods and irons, all aimed at average golfers and all featuring an ultralight platform. It’s what Cleveland’s engineers call an emphasis on “increasing the average golfer’s ease of swing.”

Says Jeff Brunski, director of research and development at Cleveland Golf/Srixon, “We looked at the typical average golfer’s swing and ball-flight inefficiencies, and targeted our technologies specifically geared toward them.”

The new CG Black driver weighs five grams less than its predecessor, is the lightest driver on the market from a major company and features the concept of lower “swing MOI.” This refers to the moment of inertia of the entire club from head to the butt of the shaft. Instead of a measurement of how stable the club head is on an off-center hit, swing MOI is a theory having to do with how little resistance a particular club might have to being moved. For example, a sledgehammer might have a high swing MOI in that it requires more force to move it faster, but a 260-gram driver like the new CG Black might have a lower swing MOI, making it easier for those less skilled or strong to manipulate it. The concept of swing MOI was also front and center with the recent introduction by Wilson of its adjustable D200 SuperLight driver, which weighs just 268 grams.

The new CG Black ($350; 9, 10.5 and 12 degrees), which is not adjustable, features the lowest swing MOI of any 460cc driver in company history, and includes a Golf Pride Tour 25 grip that is less than half the weight (25 grams) of a typical rubber grip.

The CG Black line also includes a sub-300-gram family of fairway woods ($200; 15, 16.5, 18, 20, 23 degrees), which features a 24 percent lighter face that allows the weight to be distributed for higher clubhead stability at a lower total weight. The CG Black hybrids also are about 25 grams lighter than typical hybrids and come in a range of five lofts ($170; 17, 19, 21, 23 and 25 degrees).

Rounding out the new CG Black line is a mixed set of irons ($700) that includes hollow hybrid-like long irons with 1770 high-strength steel faces, two-piece middle irons with a high-strength steel face insert and traditional one-piece cavity back short irons. It features a center of gravity slightly farther back and lower than last year’s super game-improvement 588 Altitude irons.

The full line of CG Black clubs is scheduled to arrive in stores next week.

Scott

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Interesting article.  I had read Srixon / Cleveland would only release wedges under the Cleveland name and that the rest of the product line would release under Srixon.  I guess that wasn't true or they changed their strategy.

I've tried the original CG Black driver and liked it a lot.  The lighter weight did increase my club head speed about 3 mph on average.  I also liked the Cleveland Classic 270 which was only about 5 grams heavier than the original Black.

Joe Paradiso

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I think "light" works ... at least for me, the intended market. I bought into Callaway's version of light -- the V Series, and my driver speed, compared to a traditional weighted driver, gained 7 mph.

Cleveland's version is even lighter and its website hits at the under 90 mph swing speed (although it features lower loft and stronger flexes for its users).

I assume there is a balance between "too light" and "not light enough" for each golfer.

While some golfers fume at the outbreak of new drivers, when new drivers address different needs, we do not need to complain. We need to demo.

Ping G400 Max 9/TPT Shaft, TEE EX10 Beta 4, 5 wd, PXG 22 HY, Mizuno JPX919F 5-GW, TItleist SM7 Raw 55-09, 59-11, Bettinardi BB39

 

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I think "light" works ... at least for me, the intended market. I bought into Callaway's version of light -- the V Series, and my driver speed, compared to a traditional weighted driver, gained 7 mph.

Cleveland's version is even lighter and its website hits at the under 90 mph swing speed (although it features lower loft and stronger flexes for its users).

I assume there is a balance between "too light" and "not light enough" for each golfer.

While some golfers fume at the outbreak of new drivers, when new drivers address different needs, we do not need to complain. We need to demo.

Did you gain 7 mph average or at top end?  I had some swings that were in that range or even slightly higher but I felt like I was over swinging to get them.  When I took what felt like me to a normal swing the average was 3-4 mph.

I know some people complain that they can't feel the head on some lighter drivers but I haven't experienced that problem or I'm not good enough to be bothered by it.

Joe Paradiso

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I think "light" works ... at least for me, the intended market. I bought into Callaway's version of light -- the V Series, and my driver speed, compared to a traditional weighted driver, gained 7 mph.

Cleveland's version is even lighter and its website hits at the under 90 mph swing speed (although it features lower loft and stronger flexes for its users).

I assume there is a balance between "too light" and "not light enough" for each golfer.

While some golfers fume at the outbreak of new drivers, when new drivers address different needs, we do not need to complain. We need to demo.

I am not really buying the "light" works, at least in terms of adding distance. Just the fact that the golf club head has to be lighter to maintain the D2 swing weight and 260 gram overall weight. That lowers the smash factor.

I agree that some golfers might find the right mix that optimizes their own capabilities though.

Matt Dougherty, P.E.
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I am not really buying the "light" works, at least in terms of adding distance. Just the fact that the golf club head has to be lighter to maintain the D2 swing weight and 260 gram overall weight. That lowers the smash factor.

I agree that some golfers might find the right mix that optimizes their own capabilities though.

Added distance argument: I think Rick Shiels had a Ping G30 (traditional) and Callaway BB V Series (light) set up so they were comparable in terms of spin/launch to account for different head characteristics. The Callaway looked to have the Fuji 565 (the 54g version), not the 43g Bassara.

For him (and I emphasize "for him" because we "take" to different setups differently), the BB V series bested the G30 by about (from memory) 7 yards in carry.

Cally sets up their standard at 45.5 in and D0. Ping standard is 45.25/45.75 depending on shaft at about D3.

I think it is horses for courses.

For some golfers, I think light will result in more distance. For others, it will lead to inconsistency. For those who are quick and very fast, assuming the head would work, they'd need another shaft.

But for those average golfers seen on the range who want more speed, I think it can work.

When I play a few rounds with the BB V Series now that it is set up, I will let y'all know.

Back to Cleveland. Worth a look for its market.

Ping G400 Max 9/TPT Shaft, TEE EX10 Beta 4, 5 wd, PXG 22 HY, Mizuno JPX919F 5-GW, TItleist SM7 Raw 55-09, 59-11, Bettinardi BB39

 

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Years ago, Featherlight clubs by Dave Pelz were a hot item.Plenty of manufacturers jumped on the bandwagon and came out with their own "featherweight" sets. Pros like Ray Floyd and Calvin Peete used them on the tour, and claimed they added 10 yards or more to their irons. But control became an issue, and they were adding layers of lead tape before they switched back to regular weight clubs. Could we be expecting a resurgence of the "featherlight" craze by some manufacterers soon in another attempt to sell clubs? Plenty of younger golfers will bite at the "new" concept of lightweight clubs.

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Note: This thread is 3426 days old. We appreciate that you found this thread instead of starting a new one, but if you plan to post here please make sure it's still relevant. If not, please start a new topic. Thank you!

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