Callaway Expands Apex Line with Musclebacks and Utility Irons

Crafted with the tour in mind, the new Apex Muscle back irons feature a classic design with some added playability.

Bag DropThis past year, the golf world saw Callaway revive a couple of old favorites with the reintroduction of the Big Bertha woods and Apex irons, the latter of course being made famous under the Ben Hogan name. Earlier in the month the Big Bertha’s received their first update with the V series and now it’s time for a new set of Apex irons. It should be no surprise that Callaway takes feedback and suggestions from its tour players seriously, so when they asked for a new blade, the company got to work; the result is the new Apex Muscleback irons. In addition to the new blades, the company has new matching utility irons to go along with them.

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Volume Four Hundred One

Tiger steals headlines with a break up, Hunter comes through despite hiccups, and Phil goes with the Phloppadoppalus.

Hittin' the LinksTiger made the news again this week without swinging a club. First as “caddy” for Jimmy Fallon, and most recently by ditching his swing coach of four years.

It’s playoff time and the TOUR players are chasing the big bucks. Karma paid dividends to Hunter Mahan this weekend, as he not only got the win, he jumped into the lead in the FedExCup standings and also likely made the Ryder Cup team. Not a bad weekend. That being the case, just two more open spots remain on Coach Watson’s team. There’s a lot to play for as the TOUR heads for the Deutsche Bank.

Let’s hit the links.

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New JPX and MP Irons from Mizuno

Mizuno adds to their line up with updates to both the MP and JPX irons as well as new wedges.

Bag DropOver the last few years, Mizuno has updated 2 of its MP iron sets each year as well as updating the JPX line of clubs. This year, the updates include the new MP-15 irons, a slight cavity back aimed at the better player as well as the MP-H5, the MP club for the not so good. In addition to those, Mizuno has unveiled the new JPX 850 irons. These clubs are unique from anything else out on the market as they include Boron in the forging process. Read on to get the details on each.

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TaylorMade SLDR Irons Review

Do the SLDR irons live up to the hype of their name, or are they a set soon to be forgot?

SLDR heroAnybody who has paid any attention at all to the golf equipment industry in the last few years knows that TaylorMade tends to flood the market with club after club, each promising to add more yardage than the last. While that hasn’t changed too much, the company has slowed things down and trimmed their offerings back a bit. Earlier in the year, the company re-introduced the Tour Preferred line of clubs which featured muscle backs, muscle cavities, and cavity back models. While consumers should be able to find a set that fits their game there, the company has given us one more option, the SLDR irons.

With the SLDR irons, TaylorMade hopes to follow the success that they have seen with the drivers and woods of the same name. Many golfers found longer drives by lofting up with a club with low and forward CG, and with the SLDR irons, the company hopes to add more distance throughout your bag. Read on to see if we think the SLDR irons are as good as TaylorMade says they are or if they are just another set soon to be replaced and forgotten.

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Is Eleven Years Old too Young to Play in a U.S. Open?

At eleven year’s of age Lucy Li is the youngest golfer to ever get through a sectional qualifier for a women’s US Open. I explain why she was to young for the biggest stage in the women’s game.

Thrash TalkThe darling of the 2014 Women’s U.S. Open at Pinehurst this year was not the winner Michelle Wie but eleven-year-old Lucy Li. Her colorful outfits and bubbly personality stole the show for anyone who watches women’s golf. She handled the pressure of being only eleven at playing in one of the biggest events in women’s golf. But this begs the question, is eleven years old too young to play in a U.S. Open?

Note that Lucy was not even the youngest player who attempted to qualify! She was the youngest to qualify but there was a nine year old, Alexa Pano from Florida, who was not successful but gave it her best effort. My daughter is still quite young, but nine years old seems on the young side to be playing in the biggest stage of women’s golf. At nine, I never gave a thought to giving press interviews people asking me questions in press conference. Is this too much at such a young age?

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Volume Four Hundred

Villegas gets a win, I get the shanks, and Santa gets beaned.

Hittin' the LinksEver have one of those rounds where just moving the ball in the general direction of the hole becomes an almost impossible ask?

Over the weekend, I joined a great group of TST members and staff for a little golf in Erie, PA. I’ve been playing pretty well of late and even dropped a couple strokes off my handicap in the last six weeks. So there I was warming up and hitting the ball solidly. All seemed right in the world. Then it happened… “El hoselo. The laterals. You know, the S-word.”

To make a long painful story short, it got ugly. I shot one of my worst rounds in years and only hit one solid iron all day. Most shots were fat, badly pulled, or both. On the bright side, I only shanked two or three. Why do I share this disturbing story? Because the overall theme of HTL #400 is redemption.

In golf, there’s always some hope for the next time you tee it up. You could find that one little swing key that straightens things out, you could make a hole in one or even an albatross, you might birdie or par your nemesis hole, or you could win that $2 Nassau with your buddies. That’s why we keep coming back. Let’s hit the links.

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Callaway Announces Big Bertha V Series

Building upon the success of the recent re-release of the Big Bertha, Callaway Golf introduces an even faster version; the Big Bertha V Series.

Bag DropThe name Big Bertha is arguably the most well known in the golf equipment industry, and for good reason. When the company recently re-released the Big Bertha line-up, it was a huge success. Many players found more distance with the company’s latest and greatest in the bag and now the company looks to add a few more yards with the fastest Big Bertha yet, the V series.

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Volume Three Hundred Ninety-Nine

The 2014 PGA Championship might just have proven once and for all that there is compelling golf without Tiger.

Hittin' the LinksWell, that was fun! Great leaderboard, lots of intrigue, a little controversy, and a great finish in the dark, the PGA Championship was a great wrap to the year’s majors. Let’s hope the playoffs and Ryder Cup can keep the momentum going.

Here’s some of the immediate reaction to the PGA Championship from the Twittersphere:

Now, let’s hit the links.

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2014 PGA Championship Staff Picks

The big guns of the PGA Tour are all in high gear making this year’s PGA Championship very intriguing. Let’s take a look at what The Sand Trap Staff expects for this year’s event.

Thrash TalkThe 2014 PGA Championship brings us to back to a familiar spot: Valhalla. In 2000 we were dazzled here with one of the best playoffs in PGA Championship history. Tiger Woods defeated Bob May to cap off a fantastic 2000 season. After delaying until 1:16pm on Wednesday, Tiger finally arrived on site. Phil had a fantastic round to finish his weekend at Firestone. Rickie, Jordan, Justin Rose… there are many guys to choose from. Let’s see who The Sand Trap staff likes this week.

A few notes as you read through. You will notice that we have added a few new members to the staff. Also, the third question was asked before Tiger’s re-injury; some answered before and some answered after.

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