Friday 25 April 2014
<< VIEW PREVIOUS IRON VIEW NEXT IRON >> Irons Test 2014: Progen Chromo Cost: £349 steel £399 graphite Tech: High performance 17-4 steel irons and hyper steel hybrids boast Hi-tack grips and stepless steel shafts to aid performance. What we said… James Ridyard: “Feels shorter in the shaft but the trajectory was strong and distance was decent.” Joel Tadman: “Thick top edge...
Friday 25 April 2014
<< Back to the start VIEW NEXT IRON >> Irons Test 2014: Cleveland 588 MT Cost: £449 steel £499 graphite Tech: Unparalleled combination of forgiveness and feel and fully inter-changeable with 588 TT and Altitude irons. What we said… James Ridyard: “You can see the back of long irons, which is off-putting. The heads are some of the biggest in the category,...
Friday 25 April 2014
<< VIEW PREVIOUS IRON VIEW NEXT IRON >> Irons Test 2014: Mizuno JPX EZ – SILVER AWARD Cost: £499 steel £679 graphite Tech: Combining Mizuno’s HOT METAL face design and ultra-pocket cavity the JPX EZ irons fly higher and longer with a predictable tight dispersion. The Harmonic Impact Technology (H.I.T) engineered cavity frame means the JPX EZ still feels like every...
Friday 25 April 2014
<< VIEW PREVIOUS IRON VIEW NEXT IRON >> Irons Test 2014: Ping Karsten – BRONZE AWARD Cost: £86 steel £102 graphite Tech: Karsten irons are the most forgiving irons Ping has ever made. They feature a larger head size, perimeter weighting, stronger lofts and progressive offset and sole widths. Irons are part of a hybrid set with long iron replacements. What we...
Friday 25 April 2014
<< VIEW PREVIOUS IRON VIEW NEXT IRON >> Irons Test 2014: Wilson D-100 Cost: £349 steel £429 graphite Tech: Distance and forgiveness comes via a thin clubface that helps deliver faster ball speeds for 10 more yards. What we said… James Ridyard: “It’s got a nice shape to it and a decent DG shaft. I got a very high flight but the...
Friday 25 April 2014
<< VIEW PREVIOUS IRON VIEW NEXT IRON >> Irons Test 2014: Yonex VXF Cost: £349 steel £489 graphite Tech: VXF Irons feature a new 10% larger head design. Double undercut cavity construction increases the sweetspot for maximum power and forgiveness. What we said… James Ridyard: “It feels light, mainly in the head. It’s nice to look at with a deep face, creating...
Friday 25 April 2014
<< VIEW PREVIOUS IRON VIEW NEXT IRON >> Irons Test 2014: Progen Haema Cost: £249 steel £299 graphite Tech: Heel-and-toe weighted iron featuring central polymer insert ensures accuracy and feel; heavy hybrid sole plate ensures low CG for high launch angle and distance. What we said… James Ridyard: “Long from heel-to-toe with a nice square leading edge. Limited offset is good for...
Friday 25 April 2014
<< VIEW PREVIOUS IRON VIEW NEXT IRON >> Irons Test 2014: Cleveland 588 Altitude Cost: £449 steel £499 graphite Tech: With this hybrid iron set, Altitude irons feature a bendable hosel to adjust lie angle, and can be easily interchanged with 588 MT and TT models at no extra cost. What we said… James Ridyard: “The face has loads of bulk behind...
Friday 25 April 2014
<< VIEW PREVIOUS IRON VIEW NEXT IRON >> Irons Test 2014: Benross MAX SPEED 2 Cost: £269.99 steel, £299.99 graphite Tech: An oversized head boasts corner stability and deep sole weighting for a low and deep CG, maximising forgiveness. What we said… James Ridyard: “Certainly feels light down to the DG light shaft, more suited to lower swing speeds. The shaft contributes to the high...
Thursday 24 April 2014
<< Back to the start >> VIEW NEXT IRON Irons Test 2014: Adams New Idea Cost: £499 steel, £599 graphite Tech: An iron set with hybrids, transitional hybrids and irons all with Velocity Slots boosting distance and forgiveness. What we said… James Ridyard: “While you get the added confidence of the bulk in the clubhead, the actual face size isn’t massive. Even the mid...
Tuesday 15 April 2014
If I asked you to hit a fence post with a sledgehammer, you would naturally strike with a vertical movement. If asked to beat a carpet on a washing line, you’d do so in a horizontal plane. Two different tasks will lead to two different techniques – without conscious thought. Children skim pebbles across ponds without formal lessons, or a...
Tuesday 8 April 2014
What golf ball do you use? That was probably quite an easy question. You will either have named a particular model from a particular manufacturer, or said “whatever I can lay my hands on”. This question might be a bit trickier: Why do you use that ball? Answers here will range from “it’s what I’ve always used” or “I just like...
Tuesday 8 April 2014
With some of today’s tour players averaging more than 300 yards off the tee and generating clubhead speeds in excess of 125mph, it’s hard to believe that a ball weighing no more than 1.62 ounces can withstand such violent treatment. The transfer of power and resulting speed of the ball through its long flight trajectory at the hands of a top...
Tuesday 8 April 2014
Golfers may think they have a special affinity with their golf ball. After all, it’s the one piece of equipment they are sure to talk to during a round with impassioned cries of “get up!”, “sit!” or “bite!”. But the majority of us know very little about the ball that we play. A recent survey among regular players discovered that...
Wednesday 2 April 2014
<< VIEW PREVIOUS HYBRID >> VIEW NEXT HYBRID The Hybrids Test 2014: Benross RIP/HOT/MAX SPEED 2 Cost: £89.99 Tech: Generates a powerful, controllable ball flight desired by the stronger player. The HOT SPEED 2 is larger, with more loft designed to offer more forgiveness. What we said… James Ridyard: “I like the head shape, similar to the Adams Mini but with more offset. White score...
Wednesday 2 April 2014
<< VIEW PREVIOUS HYBRID >> VIEW NEXT HYBRID The Hybrids Test 2014: Wilson Staff D-100 Cost: £119 Tech: Easy-to-swing lightweight design and correct mass properties deliver ideal launch angles and maximum distance. What we said… James Ridyard: “High quality shaft offers a balanced feel. Off-centre hits didn’t travel as far as I like. Came out of the rough well but struggled to keep the flight...
Wednesday 2 April 2014
<< VIEW PREVIOUS HYBRID >> VIEW NEXT HYBRID The Hybrids Test 2014: Adams New Idea Cost: £129 Tech: A refined slot design increases ball speeds, creates higher launch and additional distance on off-centre shots. What we said… James Ridyard: “More of a closed face than the Pro. More of a wood design than a hybrid, contrast between top and face works. Felt like a good...
Wednesday 2 April 2014
<< VIEW PREVIOUS HYBRID >> VIEW NEXT HYBRID The Hybrids Test 2014: Yonex VXF Cost: £89 Tech: Designed to be hit well from a variety of lies and fit neatly into the VXF iron range to complete the perfect combo-set. What we said… James Ridyard: “I instantly noticed the shorter shaft, one of the shortest on test. The look is very rounded but compact with...
Wednesday 2 April 2014
<< VIEW PREVIOUS HYBRID >> VIEW NEXT HYBRID The Hybrids Test 2014: Ping i25 Cost: £185 Tech: Designed to look more like an iron with a squarer leading edge on a more compact head. Flatter face reduces bulge and roll. Progressive CG locations. What we said… James Ridyard: “Certainly looks different to the i20, more compact with a deeper face. Aimed at flighting it lower,...
Wednesday 2 April 2014
<< VIEW PREVIOUS HYBRID >> VIEW NEXT HYBRID The Hybrids Test 2014: Wilson Staff FG Tour M3 Cost: £149 Tech: Three loft settings all with 2° upright lie angle options. Also three sole weight options to create ideal trajectory and speed. What we said… James Ridyard: “Even the standard lofts felt upright, causing decent shots to turn over a fraction. The hosel is unusually thick,...