Cleveland HiBORE XL and XL Tour Driver Review

The Cleveland HiBore has helped Jerry Kelly and Vijay Singh (among others) to compete on the PGA Tour, but how does it help us amateurs?

Cleveland Hibore Xl Driver HeroOne of the first geometry-based drivers on the market, the Cleveland HiBORE has changed the shape of the tee game and set the tone for what has become a new era in driver head shape. Now in its second version, the HiBORE XL and XL TOUR attempt to prove once again that Cleveland is “Taking Distance Driven Geometry to a New Level.”

The HiBORE XL gets a lot of attention. After all, a former #1 ranked golfer and two-time winner in 2007 plays it: Vijay Singh. As most of you know, Vijay ditched the original HiBORE last year in favor of the 460 Comp only to come back and win with the XL this year at the Mercedes Championships and the Arnold Palmer Invitational. Whether or not the original HiBORE was to blame for Vijay’s down year in 2006 we may never know, but the driving show Vijay put on Sunday at the Arnold Palmer is proof that the HiBORE XL can earn its keep.

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Nine Holes With Gary Player

Come along for a quick nine with Gary Player. One of golf’s best known characters, Gary Player stalked fairways and won tournaments for many years.

ProFilesThere is no question in my mind that Gary Player is one of the greatest golfers in the history of the game. The South African native turned pro in 1953 and out of relative obscurity started winning. And for many, many years he never stopped.

With virtually an unassailable international victory total Player is a remarkable competitor, international figure, and ambassador of the greatest game.

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Blue Monster Unworthy of the WGC?

The season’s second WGC event starts today, but is Doral the right course for it?

Thrash TalkIt’s pretty weird not having The Players Championship in late March, but at least we get a World Golf Championship (WGC) event in its place. The fields for WGC events are always just as strong as they are for major championships, so it’s definitely an added bonus. On top of that, we still get The Players Championship and Sawgrass in May.

Like I mentioned above, the fields are very strong for WGC events. The golf courses are usually equal to the task, but this week may be a little different. I was watching “The Approach” on The Golf Channel last night, and one of the topics really piqued my interest. The topic centered around whether or not The Blue Monster at Doral is worthy of having a World Golf Championship event.

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Titleist Introduces Blog

The “serious equipment for serious players” company gets serious about blogging. Welcome to the block, Titleist.

TitleistAfter testing the waters a year and half ago with a revamped Titleist News section complete with an RSS feed, the equipment company “for serious players” has gotten serious about blogging, introducing today a new blog at the aptly named titleistblog.com.

Currently called the “Tour Blog” (and with only a “Tour” category), the site already has articles about player equipment on the PGA Tour, including posts from Bob Vokey on building a spin-milled wedge for Arron Oberholser, Adam Scott’s UNLV March Madness, and more.

Of course, you can’t expect any secrets to be revealed, but if you’re a fan of golf, then every little peek behind the curtain of life on the PGA Tour is fascinating. This blog promises to give you many such peeks.

Unlike many corporate blogs, Titleist’s Tour Blog allows commenting. Use your power of speech wisely, grasshoppers.

Off-Season Fitness

Working out over the off-season doesn’t have to be bore. Make a plan and stick with it before your treadmill becomes a clothes rack.

As I continue through my off-season plan (which you can read here and here), one aspect that I have tried to work on is a more golf specific fitness plan. Not the “I made a resolution to workout, blah, blah, blah” plan, but to actually incorporate exercises that will help ingrain better muscle memory for my golf swing, increase flexibility, and prevent me from losing any time during my golf season due to injury.

I also have another motivating factor which is purely selfish as I want to be one of the first men not to gain any “sympathy weight” during my wife’s pregnancy.

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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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Volume Ninety

Maybe Tiger was thinking whether or not his tournament should be an invitational or full field event.

Hittin' the LinksWell, my brackets destroyed and my favorite team was sent packing on Sunday but that was nothing compared to Tiger Woods’ meltdown in the final round at Arnie’s party.

This week we have a recap of the Arnold Palmer Invitational presented by MasterCard, the true cost of sportsmanship, and a little advice for tournament directors looking to get Tiger Woods to play their event.

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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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Callaway X Hot Fairway Wood Review

The Callaway X-Hot fairway wood is both long in the shaft and off the tee. It serves as a great second option off the tee and doesn’t do too bad off the deck either.

Callaway X Hot Fairway Wood HeroLast year, Callaway introduced its X fairway woods. That design harkened back to the old, and still popular, Steelhead and Steelhead Plus series. After carrying a Steelhead plus in my own bag for over five years I replaced it last year with a TaylorMade r7. I saw a jump in distance and accuracy that was impossible to ignore. It kept my beloved Callaway from getting back in the bag.

I had a chance last year to demo the non-Hot Callaway X fairway wood and liked it. It felt pretty good but it wasn’t quite good enough to make me think about removing the TaylorMade from my set – but it did make me think.

This year I was able to get my hands on the new Callway X-Hot fairway wood. Now I would be able to take a full and even better look at the new design. The question is, would it be enough for me to make a change after having a great experience with the r7? Read on to find out if Callaway is back in my bag.

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