Author: Alan Olson

Scotty Cameron Introduces New Studio Select Line

You like options for your putter? Then you are going to love the new Studio Select line from Scotty Cameron.

Bag DropScotty Cameron has made some changes over the years to his Newport-style heads, whether it’s using various finishes like the Oil Can Classics, inserts made from Teryllium and German Stainless Steel, or even adding them to his Detour line last year. This year, Scotty is raising the customization bar with his new Studio Select line of putters.

What makes these so different from Newports of the past? Options, options, and more options with the highlight being the addition of removable weights that will give you the putter weight you desire without having to add unsightly lead tape.

Come join me as we take a look at the latest incarnation of the Newport.

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Titleist Introduces New Irons for 2008: AP1, AP2, ZB, and ZM

Titleist goes high tech with their AP line yet stays traditional with the Z.

Bag DropFor a few months now we’ve been hearing about Titleist‘s new irons. Early reports were that Titleist was going to re-enter the “aspiring golfer” market as they’ve tended to call it, as well as to overhaul their low-handicap level irons.

We’ve managed to track down a bit more information, and it appears that the early rumors were correct. Titleist plans to launch four new iron sets in 2008. And while you may still be able to claim that the forged musclebacks we’re about to share with you are evolutionary, the cavity-back irons represent a distinct new beginning in iron design at Titleist.

The new musclebacks are named the ZB and the ZM, while the cavity-back models are named the “AP” for Advanced Performance and come in two models: the AP1 and the AP2. The latter of these represent the “new beginning” and are “multi-material, dual cavity designs.”

Let’s have a closer look at Titleist’s iron lineup for 2008.

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Odyssey Golf Rolls Out New Putters for 2008

Odyssey Golf gets the award for scariest looking putter in 2008.

Bag DropIn conjunction with the massive new 2008 offering by the parent company Callaway Golf, the gang over at Odyssey Golf is kicking out some new putters for you to try out. If you not a fan of inserts, well, you’re out of luck as the entire line features various forms of insert technology.

Never one to shy away from radical shapes and designs in the past like the 2-ball and 3-ball putters, Odyssey keeps playing around with various shapes and alignment aids in an attempt to make it easier for us to line-up our putts. The alignment help is great appreciated. Now, on with the putters…

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Callaway Revamps 2008 Line-Up

Callaway rolls out the technology red carpet for their new offerings in 2008.

Bag DropThe folks at Callaway Golf have been busy lately introducing new products that they hope will make their way into your bag in 2008. According to George Fellows, Callaway Golf President and CEO “This is the deepest, most robust new product lineup we’ve ever offered.” Based on the sheer amount of new products, he’s not kidding.

Never one to shy away from using composite materials, playing with geometry and making getting fit for your clubs easier with the OptiFit system, Callaway Golf is making some major line-up changes for the upcoming year.

From new offerings in the Fusion line (including a square fairway wood), the X-Series, new Big Bertha Irons, women’s clubs and oh yeah, new line of golf balls, Callaway Golf has delivered an early gift under the tree for the holidays. You’ll need a little bit of patience to wait until the first quarter of 2008 to get your hands on some of these goodies but it looks like it may be well worth the wait.

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TaylorMade Introduces 2008 Golf Ball Lineup

TaylorMade is ringing in the new year with some new LDP.

Bag DropTaylorMade Golf is kicking off 2008 with a bang by launching an entire lineup of revised and new golf balls that will give golfers a multitude of options to choose from based on what you are looking for in a golf ball.

Four of the balls will carry the TaylorMade name with the remaining two carrying the Noodle banner, and all will feature “a new proprietary aerodynamic technology called Low Drag Performance, which promotes improved distance on the most common types of off-center driver hits.”

With a pretty impressive tour staff that includes Retief Goosen, Sergio Garcia, Justin Rose, Natalie Gulbis, TaylorMade is continuing to make a name for themselves in the golf ball arena. I was impressed with how the original Tour Preferred Red and Black balls performed and I am eagerly anticipating giving version 2.0 a closer look.

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Adams Golf Introduces Insight XTD Drivers

Adams is offering a new long driver. How long? Ask the Long Drivers of America.

Bag DropYou may think of Adams Golf as the company that is known for making some great hybrids that are usually at the top of every “hot” list as well as some of the most played on all the tours. You would be right. However, Adams is more than just a one-trick pony. They offer blended hybrid sets, forged irons for the better player, as well as drivers and fairway woods.

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All the Same CoR to Me

Just how hot is that driver in your bag?

Bag DropAnd now all is right in the world. The R&A reminded golfers on November 11, 2007 that a new rule would go into effect on January 1, 2008 that would align themselves with the USGA to have a limit to the “spring-like” effect of drivers and establish a world-wide coefficient of restitution (COR) limit of 0.83 for all drivers, down from their previous limit of 0.86.

While this ruling doesn’t mean much to most golfers (especially those under the rules of the USGA) it will have an effect on the rest of the world as some previously legal drivers will now need to be replaced in order to fall under the new limit.

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Dean Thompson, Inventor of Z Factor Perfect Putting Machine

Dean Thompson, inventor of the Z Factor Perfect Putting Machine and Fore Inventors Only alumni gives us the lowdown on how he came up his idea for the perfect putting stroke, being on a reality show, and being close to Stina Sternberg.

Throwing DartsToday’s interview is with Dean Thompson, inventor of the Z Factor Perfect Putting Machine, which made it to the final five on The Golf Channel: For Inventors Only show.

Dean graciously gave us a few minutes of his time to share his thoughts on Fore Inventors Only, developing the “perfect putting stroke,” and what product he thinks should have won. We hope you enjoy the interview.

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Nike Introduces IC Putters

Nike is using some fancy engineering to help you drain more putts.

Bag DropThere is no doubt about the amount of innovation, technology, and thinking outside the box the folks at Nike Golf utilize to try to make golf easier for you. From their use of Sumo Technology for drivers, hybrids, and irons as well as various technological advances used in their golf balls, Nike is not afraid to chuck conventional thinking out the window when coming up with new ideas for golf equipment.

Taking innovation to the next level, Nike is introducing the IC Putters, which utilize some pretty funky technology called “optical engineering,” which they hope will help you sink more putts. After getting a look at them, all I can say is, I hope you love the color green.

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