Tuesday 18 November 2014
As the golfing season draws to a close, we can reflect on our achievements. They say the definition of madness is repeatedly doing the same thing while expecting a different result. If 2014 did not produce the improvement in your game that you had hoped for, try to do something fresh and positive this winter. Here, I want to help...
Thursday 13 November 2014
With the latest golf shoes from adidas and FootJoy stealing all the headlines in 2014, choosing between them is tough, so we’ve got all the answers you’ll need to make the right decision. adidas Golf’s adizero One Key Questions FootJoy D.N.A Specially engineered from the ground up with an ultralight one-piece fused upper that bonds five layers for a glove-like fit; external TPU layer...
Friday 5 September 2014
There has never been a greater choice when it comes to GPSs or laser rangefinders. Want something just to give you basic yardages? You got it. Need more detail, like the distance to hazards? No problem! Want to accurately place the flag for the day’s pin position? Done! But which distance device would suit you best? Laser rangefinder Tend to suit better...
Friday 5 September 2014
The phrase ‘centre of gravity’ is bandied about all the time in golf, and it has a fundamental effect on the backspin, sidespin, forgiveness and ball speed on your tee shots. So it’s worth knowing a little about centre of gravity location in drivers and how you can fine-tune yours to maximise distance. 2014 is the year of CG in drivers. TaylorMade...
Monday 3 March 2014
It wasn’t all that long ago that choosing a new driver was a relatively straight-forward process. But things have come a long way in the last six or seven years. And TaylorMade Brand Director (EMEA and Pacific) Jason Howarth is quick to champion the invaluable role of custom-fitting. “Golfers should be professionally fitted to optimise the most important club in the...
Thursday 7 August 2014
In these days of hi-tech toys and video games, which are often solitary and introverted, so many golfing parents are keen to get their children to take up golf. What better way to spend a summer than outdoors, in a beautiful environment that is safe and playing a game that demands good conduct? Some of my happiest memories are the summer...
Friday 1 August 2014
My mentor, the late, great Alex Hay, had two golden rules for putting: Keep the ball low; Don’t take a divot! It is a well-used cliché to describe putting as a “game within a game”, but it’s true. On the course, a weekend golfer might score 95 – 30% of those shots are likely to be putts. You can bet that...
Thursday 24 July 2014
One of the best things about golf is its living connection with history. A keen tennis player at club level might never get a chance to play at Wimbledon; likewise, a local level soccer player might never play at Wembley. Amazingly, amateur and professional golfers have access to historic venues such as Turnberry, Birkdale, Troon and St Andrews. Golfers from around...
Tuesday 22 July 2014
Your hands are the only part of the body connected with the club when you swing, so it’s vital your hold on it is as secure as possible. A glove enhances your grip as well as your feel but what actually goes into making them? If you speak to FootJoy, the market leader in gloves since 1983, it’s a hell...
Friday 25 April 2014
<< VIEW PREVIOUS IRON Back to the start >> Irons Test 2014: Callaway Apex Pro – GOLD AWARD Cost: £799 steel Tech: 1020 carbon steel forging gives the Apex Pro the soft, responsive feel that the best players in the world demand. The tungsten inserts in the soles of the long irons make these incredibly easy to hit and deliver...
Wednesday 28 May 2014
When an idea is bubbling, what happens is the designer will make a three-dimensional CAD (Computer Aided Design) file, which can then be printed out in 3-D and painted. From there a prototype can be made. The idea might immediately reveal itself to be genius or, more often than not, it might show some promise, but also some flaws at...
Wednesday 28 May 2014
Putting is golf’s greatest contradiction. Easy to do, impossible to master. Simple, but complex. Satisfying, but maddening. An open book and a complete mystery. It is the same story for the high handicapper and the world-class pro. A maze, a conundrum, a place where a clever man like Austie Rollinson can spend 20 years looking for a definitive answer, know...
Friday 25 April 2014
<< VIEW PREVIOUS IRON VIEW NEXT IRON >> Irons Test 2014: Orka RS5 S25C Forged Cost: £120 steel, per club Tech: Forged from the finest Japanese s25c steel the RS5 cavity back provides the ultimate feel, quality and confidence. What we said… JR: “Similar ball speed and spin to other models in the category but lacked distance due to the high loft.
Friday 25 April 2014
<< VIEW PREVIOUS IRON VIEW NEXT IRON >> Irons Test 2014: Orka GS5 SC Tour Cost: £85 steel, per club Tech: Cast in 1025 steel, predominantly used in forged irons, offers a premium iron which is precision milled. What we said… James Ridyard: “Boasts arguably the most curved leading edge on test making it tough to align. Trajectory was fine, it was...
Friday 25 April 2014
<< VIEW PREVIOUS IRON VIEW NEXT IRON >> Irons Test 2014: Orka GS5 CTi Cost: £59.50 steel, per club Tech: CTi (Combined Technology Iron) has a low CG and a precision-cast CG slot allowing for a stronger trajectory. What we said… James Ridyard: “Both a large head and clubface but the top edge isn’t that thick, which is nice. It’s not the...
Friday 25 April 2014
<< VIEW PREVIOUS IRON VIEW NEXT IRON >> Irons Test 2014: Nike VRS Covert Tour Forged – SILVER AWARD Cost: £549 steel £649 graphite Tech: Features a deep, undercut cavity for longer, higher and straighter shots while the S20c carbon steel body generates superior feel. The NexCOR face, made from SAE 8655 steel, delivers faster ball speeds on a variety of...
Friday 25 April 2014
<< VIEW PREVIOUS IRON VIEW NEXT IRON >> Irons Test 2014: Nike VRS Covert 2.0 Cost: £449.99 steel Tech: A deeper undercut cavity-back design that generates higher, straighter shots. A thinner NexCOR face and no-weld sole delivers faster ball speeds across the face. What we said… James Ridyard: “Overall shape is solid. Long, straight, flat leading edge helps alignment. Small amount of...
Friday 25 April 2014
<< VIEW PREVIOUS IRON VIEW NEXT IRON >> Irons Test 2014: Nike VR Pro Combo Forged Cost: £849 steel Tech: A polymer-filled pocket cavity in the 3-6-irons produces a high, strong trajectory, and a split cavity in the 7-PW offers stability and precision with uncompromising feel. What we said… JR: “Mid-size head but with a thin top line. Very nice shape:...
Friday 25 April 2014
<< VIEW PREVIOUS IRON VIEW NEXT IRON >> Irons Test 2014: MD Golf STR10 Cost: £299.99 steel £399.99 graphite Tech: Made from the finest 403 Stainless Steel, the club features an undercut cavity and thick sole. Comes in black PVD finish. What we said… James Ridyard: “Nice-looking head for the size, nothing off-putting but no wow factor either. Has one of the...
Friday 25 April 2014
<< VIEW PREVIOUS IRON VIEW NEXT IRON >> Irons Test 2014: TaylorMade RocketBladez Max Cost: £1,299 graphite Tech: The Speed Pocket works with an ultra-thin face design and improved Inverted Cone shape to promote consistently high ball speeds and distance. What we said… James Ridyard: “These should suit very low swing speeds due to the light 55g graphite shaft. I actually found...