Author: Jack Waddell

Golf Ball Fitting: The Next Big Thing?

In the last few years custom club fitting has revolutionized the way players can match their sticks to their game. Now the same seems on the way for balls.

Bag DropIn our Golf Talk Podcast coming up this Wednesday, you’ll get a chance to hear Erik J. Barzeski and I interview George Sine, Titleist’s Vice President of Golf Ball Marketing Worldwide, about the new Pro V1 and Pro V1x.

Without giving too much away (be sure to listen – there’s a lot of interesting stuff), one of the things he touches on is how Titleist is turning its attention to better identifying and matching golf ball performance characteristics to individual players.

While ball comparisons have popped up on some of Titleist’s competitor’s websites, they are very broad and not all that meaningful. For most of us, choosing a ball remains a largely subjective exercise.

Our discussion with George led me to investigate the world of golf ball fitting. I found news of a new software solution that may lead the way to true custom ball fitting.

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What Price Golf Technology?

The last 20 years have witnessed a sea change in golf equipment performance. Today we have more and better choices than ever. But is all that a good thing?

Bag DropFred Ridley, the former USGA president who now heads Augusta National’s Competition Committee, must be pleased with himself and his club for turning the Masters into a U.S. Open venue.

But after watching the train wreck that was this year’s event, it occurred to me that we were seeing more than the result of poor choices by the green jackets. We were seeing a consequence of poor choices by the blue jackets at the USGA who have allowed technological advances to change the game.

Would the hallowed grounds of Augusta been so bastardized had not club and ball technology forced it? I don’t think so. And that’s why I believe that while technology on some levels has helped the average golfer enjoy the game a bit more, on the whole I think we’ve lost more than we’ve gained.

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PowerBilt is Back with Premium Citation Club Lineup

Hillerich and Bradsby, the longest running family owned sports equipment company in the world, resurrects one of the most revered brand names in golf.

Bag DropOne of my fondest memories in golf goes back to the late 60s when I was finally able to afford a top “pro” line of woods. I chose Hillerich and Bradsby PowerBilt Citations.

They were gorgeous. The persimmon heads were beautifully shaped and the signature brass backweight clearly announced these were the real deal. Plus there was that “lucky” horseshoe logo engraved in the soleplate.

Sadly, as persimmon passed away, H&B joined other classic club manufacturers like MacGregor and Wilson in decline as a top brand. But now they’re making a comeback with a new line of premium clubs and have brought back long-time endorser Fuzzy Zoeller to gain presence on the Champions Tour.

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Putter Loft: Why it’s Important

Length, lie and head weight are the putter specifications most think of when it comes time to choose a putter. But loft is more critical than you might imagine.

Bag DropWhile in golf vernacular a putter is known as the “flat stick,” it’s anything but that. Every putter made has some degree of loft built into the face.

That’s because even on the fastest of greens the ball is sitting slightly down in the grass. Loft is necessary to lift the ball out that depression and get it rolling as quickly as possible. And it’s loft, not necessarily grooves, that contributes to the quality of that roll.

A putter’s length and lie can be fitted to you fairly easily. But getting fit for putter loft is a lot trickier. Here are some things to consider when you’re ready to fine-tune your putter to your putting style…

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Scotty Cameron Tweaks Circa 62 Putter Lineup

Introduced last year, the Circa 62 putters were a big hit. This season brings a new model along with a new finish, color scheme, and headcover. Huzzah!

Bag DropThere’s no question that Scotty Cameron putters engender mixed feelings among the general golfing population.

On the one hand, there are those who balk at the price or complain some designs are too derivative. On the other hand, there are players like me who really appreciate the subtleties of his improvements and the tremendous feel they afford. These people don’t mind shelling out the bucks for his putters. Not to mention the legion of fanatic collectors (last year one rare Cameron went for $35,000).

Coming out April 1 along with the Newport Detours we talked about in a January Bag Drop, the new Circa 62 putter lineup fixes one complaint I had with mine and introduces a whole new classic design. Unfortunately, it looks like one of last year’s models bites the dust. Here’s the story…

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Nike Golf Issues Recall of Sumo2 Drivers

Nonconforming spring-like faces are the result of an “unauthorized manufacturing variance.” Nike will replace any driver sold to date.

Nike Sumo2-DriverPushing the edge as manufacturers are doing these days, it was only a matter of time before something like this happened.

Although the Sumo² (the square one) had been approved by the USGA, apparently an unnamed equipment competitor went to the USGA in late February and made a complaint. Upon subsequent testing, the USGA notified Nike that a number of clubheads were found to be non-conforming.

Conforming models will be shipped within a month. They’ll come marked with a circular notch on the soleplate indicating they conform to USGA rules. Nike has a plan where consumers can trade in their drivers beginning March 26 either through their website or by calling 800-632-6453. The recall period will run until April 30. You can watch a video of Nike Golf President Bob Wood’s mea culpa here.

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Titleist Launches New 907 Drivers

With many new drivers coming out now, Titleist adds to the mix with their 907D1 and 907D2 models. These are seriously good clubs for seriously good players.

Bag DropI guess it’s official now. After writing about all the new drivers introduced in the past few weeks, it’s clear that a two-model strategy is now the industry norm. And that’s a very good thing.

While so many choices in head shape, lofts, and shafts can be confusing, in the end all those options mean you can find a driver that really is the best for you, your swing, and the courses you play.

The options Titleist now offers include their new high MOI (moment of inertia) 907D1 with its stretched out “triangle” clubhead and the more traditionally shaped 907D2. Both are 460cc and are “multi-material” designs using different metals, mostly titanium. Here’s the story…

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Dear USGA: Try My Equipment Rules Suggestions

In the spirit of the proposed equipment rule changes to grooves and adjustability, I offer up my own proposals for change. Hey, some may even make more sense.

Bag DropAs you may have gleaned from last week’s Bag Drop, I’m not particularly fond of the USGA’s recently proposed rules change on grooves. Still, as many have suggested, maybe it isn’t that big a deal.

So in an effort to calm down a little, I tried to follow the reasoning of the USGA as they researched, discussed, and promulgated these pithy proposals. I must report it was a prolonged contemplative exercise employing some Zen meditation, navel lint picking and omphaloskepsis, and a fair amount of gin.

Eventually it came to me that the grooves rule comes down to this: really good players are getting an unfair advantage from their equipment the rest of us aren’t. Following that premise, then, what else might we do to equipment to save the game from its very best players? Here are some ideas…

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It’s Official: USGA Proposing Groove, Club Adjustability Rules

As we surmised a couple days ago, the USGA is officially proposing a change to club grooves. If you’re a “skilled” player and play in competitions, say goodbye to your irons and wedges in two years.

Groove CloseupThe USGA today announced it is proposing two new rules changes. The first will revise grooves, the second will relax rules on adjustability so clubs can be better fitted to players.

The proposed groove revision would require all clubs to be made to this standard after January 1, 2010. However, the USGA will recommend a “Condition of Competition” go into effect January 1, 2009 that would allow committees to require newly conforming clubs in events for “highly skilled players.”

The new adjustability rule would go into effect January 1, 2008. Right now the rule only allows changes in weight. Thus, the new rule would likely make adjusting lofts, lies, or shaft flex possible, just not during a “stipulated round.”

If you’d like to discuss this, you can do so in the comments of this post, in our forum, or in the comments of this week’s Bag Drop on the grooves issue.