Wednesday 2 April 2014
<< VIEW PREVIOUS HYBRID >> VIEW NEXT HYBRID The Hybrids Test 2014: TaylorMade JetSpeed Cost: £139 Tech: A redesigned, lighter Speed Pocket, filled with a polymer to keep debris out, boosts ball speeds off the clubface. What we said… James Ridyard: “Light, soft feeling stiff shaft. Not as well balanced or stable as SLDR but the shape is similar, just with more offset. I don’t...
Wednesday 2 April 2014
<< VIEW PREVIOUS HYBRID >> VIEW NEXT HYBRID The Hybrids Test 2014: Tour Edge Exotics XCG7/Beta Cost: £149/£169 Tech: A variable thickness ‘Power Grid’ positioned behind the sweetspot increases forgiveness. Sole weight pads raise MOI. Also comes in smaller, low-spin Beta version. What we said… James Ridyard: “Shorter length invites you to hit it hard. Seemed to climb but didn’t lose distance. I like the...
Wednesday 2 April 2014
<< VIEW PREVIOUS HYBRID >> VIEW NEXT HYBRID The Hybrids Test 2014: Nike VRS Covert 2.0/Tour – BRONZE AWARD Cost: £119.99/£149.99 Tech: Head size decreases as loft increases in the standard model. NexCOR Face boosts ball speeds. FlexLoft allows for independent face angle and loft adjustability in Tour head. What we said… James Ridyard: “Seems to sit a little upright but opening the face counteracted...
Wednesday 2 April 2014
<< VIEW PREVIOUS HYBRID >> VIEW NEXT HYBRID The Hybrids Test 2014: Titleist 913H/H.d – BRONZE AWARD Cost: £197 Tech: Distance and forgiveness is delivered through the range of lofts with outstanding ground contact and ball flight. Independent loft and lie adjustment. What we said… James Ridyard: “Pear-shaped look is quite toe-heavy, I’m not sure if it works in hybrid. I got a strong, penetrating...
Wednesday 2 April 2014
<< VIEW PREVIOUS HYBRID >> VIEW NEXT HYBRID The Hybrids Test 2014: Adams Pro/Pro Mini – GOLD AWARD Cost: £170 Tech: Featuring a high MOI upside-down head shape, the Pro Hybrid makes consistent contact easier for golfers of all skill levels. “Velocity Slots” on the crown and “Cut-Thru Slots” on the sole combine with an ultra-thin face to add forgiveness and ball speed. What we...
Wednesday 2 April 2014
<< VIEW PREVIOUS HYBRID >> VIEW NEXT HYBRID The Hybrids Test 2014: TaylorMade SLDR – SILVER AWARD Cost: £169 Tech: A low and forward centre of gravity placement is combined with weight re-located to the front of the head to promote faster ball speeds, a higher launch angle and a lower spin-rate. The SLDR rescue also uses a “speed pocket” for high ball speeds...
Wednesday 2 April 2014
<< VIEW PREVIOUS HYBRID >> VIEW NEXT HYBRID The Hybrids Test 2014: Ping G25 – SILVER AWARD Cost: £170 Tech: Progressive centre of gravity locations in each loft optimise launch and spin. The heads are traditionally shaped and feature an external sole weight for higher MOI. What we said… James Ridyard: “It feels a touch short in the shaft compared to others on test and...
Wednesday 2 April 2014
<< VIEW PREVIOUS HYBRID >> Back to the start The Hybrids Test 2014: Callaway X2 Hot/Pro – GOLD AWARD Cost: £169 Tech: For the first time, Callaway has brought thinner, lighter and more robust faces to its hybrids. The iron- like head shape inspires confidence over the ball and enhances turf interaction for better accuracy from all lies. Also comes in more compact Pro. What...
Friday 7 March 2014
<< Back to the start >> VIEW NEXT DRIVER The Drivers Test 2014: Dunlop DP1 Cost: £149.99. Tech: “Adaptive Drive” provides five face angle settings. Interchangeable 10g and 3g weights let you alter the draw/fade bias. What we said… James Ridyard: “I like headshape and the solid single alignment line really works. The textured effect on the crown is odd but it felt solid and...
Friday 7 March 2014
<< VIEW PREVIOUS DRIVER >> VIEW NEXT DRIVER The Drivers Test 2014: John Letters Masters Model Cost: £249. Tech: Features a plasma-welded, Beta Ti face and “Feel Cell” sole bar for explosive distance. Sits open by one degree. What we said… James Ridyard: “A very solid driver, in part due to the high-spec Aldila RIP shaft, but also a head that’s well balanced and inviting...
Friday 7 March 2014
<< VIEW PREVIOUS DRIVER >> VIEW NEXT DRIVER The Drivers Test 2014: MD Golf Superfit Cost: £129.99. Tech: A tungsten screw in the sole lowers the CG for a more optimum launch and spin. Has a Mitsubishi Rayon Javln FX shaft. What we said… James Ridyard: “The triangular look to the head wasn’t appealing, nor was the sound. The sole design is really cool and...
Written by Luther Blacklock on Friday 28 February 2014
When amateurs go to golf lessons they often have a pre-determined idea of how they should be swinging the club. Unfortunately, they are usually wrong – and these golfing myths are actually harming their performance. Myth 1: ‘Slow your swing down!’ I rarely tell a pupil directly to “slow down” their swing; in my experience, all that happens is they swing slow...
Written by Luther Blacklock on Friday 28 February 2014
Any teaching professional must share with his pupil a total desire to make the lesson work. When a pupil gives me five purple pictures of Her Majesty the Queen, I want them to go home fully believing improvement is possible and sustainable. While I cannot always judge the timeframe required by the pupil, experience tells me what their potential is; I...
Written by Luther Blacklock on Thursday 6 March 2014
So many golfers turn up to the club with a set of clubs that are the equivalent of a 20-year-old Lada that would have zero chance of passing an MOT. If you’re going to get the best out of your golf, it’s essential that your clubs are in good running order – fit for you and fit for purpose. Your PGA...
Written by Mark Crossfield on Monday 3 March 2014
Buying a new set of clubs has never been easy and with so many models out there, your brain can get frazzled before you’ve even started. But if I was in the market for a new bag or irons, or a driver, here’s how I’d go about it. First of all, do your research. Read Today’s Golfer, go online, ask your...
Written by Mark Crossfield on Monday 3 March 2014
More loft equals more distance. It’s a nice soundbite, but it’s not always the case. While the majority of golfers don’t have enough loft on their driver and would benefit from more, for the others and those using differently designed driver heads, more loft can in fact lose them distance. So let’s delve a little deeper into driver loft and how...
Monday 17 March 2014
Boffins in white coats love a good golf study – and over the years they’ve discovered all sorts of strange things that could help your game. Read our top tips to save you five shots. 1 Picture a positive outcome over putts… Next time you’re faced with a tricky putt, close your eyes and imagine the ball going into the hole. Why...
Written by Lee Scarbrow on Monday 3 March 2014
Try this drill to encourage a more penetrating ball flight. HEEL STARTS THE PROBLEM Lifting your left heel during the backswing prevents you making a powerful return over a stable base. This leads to a breakdown in your spine and shoulder angles in the downswing and through impact. SPINE ANGLE NOW SUFFERS As a result of this initial fault, your spine will be thrown...
Friday 7 March 2014
<< VIEW PREVIOUS DRIVER >> VIEW NEXT DRIVER The Drivers Test 2014: Cobra BiO CELL/BiO CELL+ – Bronze Award Cost: £249/£329. Tech: 50 per cent lower CG than last year’s model. Better player BiO CELL+ is 440cc. Loft can be adjusted without affecting face angle via SmartPad. Comes in five colours. What we said… James Ridyard: “Really like this. Nicely- shaped head, very stable shaft and...
Friday 7 March 2014
<< VIEW PREVIOUS DRIVER >> Back to the start The Drivers Test 2014: TaylorMade SLDR – GOLD AWARD Cost: £349. Tech: The SLDR has the CG positioned extremely low and forward in the head for high launch with low spin and faster ball speeds. A 20g sliding weight on the sole can be fixed in any one of up to 21 positions, changing dispersion by...