MacGregor Golf has been very busy over the last two years, bringing a series of interesting and innovative products to market in a attempt to reclaim market share. In 2005, the MACTEC NVG driver pointed the company in a new direction with a focus on cutting-edge technology.
The Bag Drop has just scored the scoop on MacGregor’s 2006 product line, and it is clear that MacGregor is going full-speed ahead in the MACTEC direction with a big batch of new drivers, hybrids, irons – and some interesting new Bobby Grace putters.
MacGregor Golf put out a press release a couple weeks ago promising plenty of new product introductions for the 2006 PGA Merchandise Show in January, but there were no details on the actual products. Thanks to a trusted Bag Drop operative, we can tell you what to expect from MacGregor for next year.
MACTEC Drivers
The MACTEC NVG 435 driver from last season will be replaced by two new models – the MACTEC NVG 2 and the MACTEC NVG Tour drivers. Both are slightly larger than the previous model, checking in at 445cc. And both have the hot beta titanium cup-face design used in the original MACTEC NVG driver. The general look remains the same, with four fixed tungsten weights around the perimeter of the clubhead, though a new deep gray color scheme replaces the midnight blue of the MACTEC NVG 435.
What’s different is apparent in price and in the shafts available in each driver. While the MACTEC NVG 435 sold at a steep $399 street price, the MACTEC NVG 2 driver should hit stores at the $299 price point. One of the ways MacGregor was able to lower the price of the driver was to eliminate the beta titanium crown insert, though the design still has a thinner crown area than many drivers on the market.
You’ll have to scroll a bit to see more of the Bobby Grace Mini GT Putter.
The MACTEC NVG Tour driver does have a beta titanium crown, along with a new solid design that includes polyurethane inserts. These inserts help reduce vibration and dampen sound. The original MACTEC NVG driver was one of the loudest on the market, but those who’ve hit the MACTEC NVG Tour driver say it has a much more muted, Titleist-like sound. That’s a solid step forward for the MACTEC line.
Another big step forward is the addition of Fujikura shafts to both MACTEC drivers. MacGregor and Fujikura worked together to integrate MacGregor’s Quadra-Action shaft technology into Fujikura’s designs. In fact, the MACTEC NVG Tour driver will have an exclusive Quadra-Action version of the Fujikura Speeder shaft that gearheads will love. You’ll pay for the performance, as the MACTEC NVG Tour driver will likely sell for $449, but this driver belongs in the super-premium category with drivers like the Callaway Big Bertha Fusion FT-3 and the forthcoming TaylorMade R7 425 TP.
MACTEC Hybrids
MacGregor’s first foray into the hybrid market will be the MACTEC NVG 2 Utility Woods. These hybrids look like condensed versions of the MACTEC fairway woods, with their titanium cup-face design and a steel body. Four tungsten weights work to lower the center of gravity and improve perimeter weighting. The NVG 2 Utility Woods have deeper faces than the MACTEC fairway woods, making them more versatile out of the rough. There will be four models available, in lofts of 17, 20, 23 and 26 degrees with a choice of a Fujikura Triple-Action shaft or a Rifle Hybrid steel shaft.
MACTEC Irons
There will be two new iron sets in MacGregor’s lineup for 2006, one aimed at low- to mid-handicappers and one aimed squarely at the game-improvement market.
The M685 irons are aimed at low- to mid-handicappers who want a forged iron with forgiveness. The 3-6 irons in the M685 set will feature a hollow construction that increases forgiveness and distance, while the 7-iron through PW are a solid design for greater control. Like last year’s MacGregor irons (like the M675 blades, which remain for 2006), the M685 irons have harder carbon steel in the long irons and softer carbon steel in the short irons to tune the feel and distance of each iron. The M685s also have tungsten inserts in the heel and toe for higher MOI. These irons have a brawny look that is hardly blade-like, but will fit in nicely with irons like Callaway’s X-Tours in offering a combination of forged construction with high-tech features.
Meanwhile, the MACTEC NVG 2 irons are game-improvement irons through and through. These are big, low-profile, hollow-construction irons with thick soles and toplines – and plenty of technology to help hit the ball high and straight. In keeping with the MACTEC woods line, the NVG 2 irons have cup-face technology that includes high-rebound maraging steel to help slower-swinging golfers to get more distance. Each NVG 2 iron also has tungsten weights in the sole. These irons have a love-it-or-hate-it look that is bold and futuristic. These should definitely draw a crowd at demo days.
Bobby Grace Putters
The MacGregor GT putterswere a favorite of mine last season, and putter designer Bobby Grace has some interesting new twists for 2006. The GT putter line adds a new baby brother, the GT Mini. This compact mallet has the same removable weights and high-MOI design as the other putters in the family, but in a much smaller package. If you’re not a fan of huge branding-iron style MOI putters, this is absolutely worth a look.
Meanwhile, Bobby Grace has brought back a name from his past with a new version of The Fat Lady Swings. The original Fat Lady – used by the likes of Nick Price and Annika Sorenstam to win majors in the mid-1990s – put Bobby Grace on the map with its big aluminum mallet design. The 2006 version has the familiar stair-step mallet design, but with a new cavity that adds an alignment-aid feature. Like other MacGregor putters, the new TFLS has interchangeable weights and an annealed copper insert.
It’s not over until “The Fat Lady Swings”… a second time? 2006 will see the return of the putter made famous by Nick Price in winning a few majors in the mid-90s.
Finally, Bobby Grace has added a putter he called the Tour Prototype to the 2006 MacGregor lineup. This is combination of a blade-style putter with one of his GT putters. The blade-like head has a rear-weighting design. This is a bit like the Odyssey Two-Ball Blade putters, and is a great option for those of you who like blades but need a little more stability and forgiveness.
That’s a supersized order of new products from MacGregor. The company is working hard to innovate its way back to the top of the golf business. It has a ways to go, since the big boys like Callaway, Titleist and TaylorMade work hard to protect their market share. But it is great to see a company that is bringing new technology to market rather than trying a me-too approach to someone else’s technology. Look for MacGregor’s new products to be officially announced in the next month or so, and watch for products to start hitting golf shops in the first quarter of 2006 – in fact, some retailers are already taking orders for the new Bobby Grace putters.
MacGregor truly does make awesome gear. They don’t get the credit sometimes, but their R&D is as good as anyone’s.
I had the opportunity to hit the 3, 6, and 9 irons of the M685 the first week of December. The rep had just obtained them the night before. The clubs I hit had the 5.5 Air lite shafts installed. They are awsome. I have been playing both Cleveland and the combo MacGregors over the past year; neither come close to the feel of the M685.
The clubs at address are something between a classic and a midsize. Contrary to your article, they do not have a “brawny” look, and are nothing like the looks of a Callaway. They have a clean, solid, traditional appearance.
I am waiting impatiently for the M685 to be available-I was told they will be out in March. All I can say is if you are a lower to mid handicapper looking for new sticks, do not buy anything until you have the opportunity to swing these clubs.
Handicap: 4