Written by Simon Daddow on Thursday 15 June 2017
Virtually every new putter launched comes with the promise of better roll. Whether the improvement comes from face grooves, a new insert or milling pattern, the designer’s intention is always to reduce the amount putts skid, impart more top spin and get putts rolling smoother, sooner. If they do that, they’re more likely to hole their line – and go in. TaylorMade’s...
Written by Simon Daddow on Friday 9 June 2017
They’re among the most popular irons on sale. But how do TaylorMade’s models compare? The introduction of the TaylorMade M1 and M2 families has seriously simplified TaylorMade’s 2017 club line-up. While both irons are built for distance, the M1 is all about ultimate adjustability while M2 focuses on forgiveness. It’s a pretty straightforward choice for most club golfers, but what about...
Thursday 1 June 2017
Phil Kenyon counts the likes of McIlroy, Rose, Stenson and Westwood among his growing list of students, and they go to him for one reason – he really knows his stuff. For a man who coaches the cream of the crop on the European and PGA Tours, Kenyon could be forgiven for shouting from the rooftops. Lesser coaches are guilty of such bravado,...
Written by Equipment Editor on Friday 19 May 2017
What four golfers made of Cobra’s latest irons, including One Length options Bryson DeChambeau caused a massive stir in the equipment world last year when he burst onto the scene with a set of same-length irons. Cobra quickly signed him up to a major endorsement deal, promising to make their 2017 irons available as both standard and one-length options. Cobra reckons a set of One...
Written by Camilla Tait on Wednesday 8 March 2017
Who should use ladies’ golf clubs? With a market saturated by countless men’s golf club companies, the number of specifically designed women’s golf clubs has always been considerably less. Having said that, all of the female professionals on the LPGA and LET tours use men’s clubs and with lighter graphite shafts available, it certainly begs the question of who really needs to...
Written by Edward Colman on Friday 16 December 2016
Game-changing equipment doesn’t come around very often but Cobra’s new CobraCONNECT grip stands out as a potential game-changer. CobraConnect was launched alongside the brand’s 2017 product range and while shot tracking’s been around for a few years, in the past to access shot data you’ve had to install expensive tags in the grips of your clubs. Cobra have simplified the shot...
Written by Simon Daddow on Tuesday 29 November 2016
Mizuno believe they have tailored each of their new JPX900 irons to a specific type of golfer, so which is right for your game? Boron infusing, milled pocket cavities, multi-thickness faces, different head materials and PowerFrame technology. Mizuno’s latest iron range, the JPX900 series, features them all, and it’s no wonder the company considers the three models in the series their most...
Written by Simon Daddow on Thursday 17 November 2016
Modern golfers are increasingly buying sets of irons from 5, 6 or even 7-iron to PW. Whereas just a few years ago a standard set started with a 3 or 4-iron, manufacturers are replacing those with forgiving wide-body hybrids. Ping and TaylorMade make #3, #4 #5 & #6 hybrids, while Callaway makes a #7 too, which means you could just use an...
Written by Edward Colman on Thursday 10 November 2016
When was the last time you heard a new driver launch boast about control and forgiveness over distance and power? How about never? Usually, new driver launches are accompanied by claims of extra aerodynamic performance and double digit gains in carry distance. But Callaway has chosen a different line with the re-launch of the Big Bertha Fusion driver. They say for...
Written by Simon Daddow on Wednesday 19 October 2016
Different hybrid designs suit different golfers – so which is best for you? Most golf brands offer two or more hybrids in their range. TaylorMade for example makes the M1 and M2, Callaway makes an Apex and XR 16 (and two others) while Srixon produce the Z 355 and the Z H65. There is a lot more to these clubs than just...
Written by Edward Colman on Monday 10 October 2016
How soft golf balls are closing the gap on performance, but retaining it on price. Our testing has shown just how closely some premium and softer compression golf balls are matched for performance, which for you the golfer has to be a good thing. Yes it’s a tough choice to decide which is best suited to your game, but we reckon there’s...
Thursday 1 September 2016
Which type is best for you? To choose your best distance measuring device, you need to be honest about how and where you play. For example, during testing we played the Castle Course at St Andrews where blind tee shots are a feature. A rangefinder would have made it really difficult to plot our way...
Written by Edward Colman on Friday 29 July 2016
If you want help getting your handicap down this summer, look no further than this great test. PING G £92 (s) £104 (g) Per club Availability: 4–LW (inc UW, SW) Stock shafts: AWT 2.0 (s); CFS (g) 7-iron loft and length: 30.5°/37in Tech: Heat-treated to make the heads 40% stronger than the 17-4 steel Ping traditionally use in their irons. COR-Eye technology behind the face encourages...
Written by Simon Daddow on Wednesday 27 July 2016
We don’t all have £300+ to spend on a new big stick, so is it worth going second-hand? The average price of a driver in our Top Gear mega test was more than £311. For that kind of cash you get the latest technology, performance and the chance to get a proper fitting. Yet that’s still out of reach for a lot...
Written by Simon Daddow on Wednesday 27 July 2016
Toe-hang and face-balanced putters have been on the scene for years but now there’s a new putter balancing act on the scene. The new concept is Torque Balanced, which means if you balance the putter shaft on your nger the toe of the putter – not its face – points to the sky. The idea behind the design is that the...
Tuesday 8 December 2015
It wasn’t long ago that electric trolleys were considered a purchase for the over 60s or those who needed extra help completing a full 18 holes. Today that’s all changed. Over half of UK golfers use one to take the strain out of carrying a heavy bag, and help them stay fresh and competitive over the latter holes of a round.
Thursday 15 October 2015
Get insured with Golf Care The cost of injury, damage and theft are the last things golfers want to worry about when they step onto the course. The financial implications of a mis-hit have never been greater. The case where both a golfer and the club were found liable for nearly £400,000 following an accident that resulted in a player losing the...
Friday 2 October 2015
It’s not long since yardage books and marker posts were the only help golfers got plotting their way around a course. Things have changed massively over the last five years and now distance measuring devices feature in most golfers’ bags. But with the increasing choice, how do you decide which best suits you and your game? Handheld GPS, laser rangefinder or...
Monday 17 August 2015
For anyone who thinks golf is a science, consider the moment we pick up a new putter in a pro shop. The experience turns us into mystics and fortune-tellers. “Phew, I’d hole some putts with this” is the response you’re looking for – though it could just as easily be “Oh God no,” with the putter hastily re-racked before its venomous...
Monday 20 July 2015
Walk up to the counter of every golf shop in the land and you’ll be greeted by a wall of golf balls. They are all 1.68 inches across, they are all white – apart from the ones that are yellow – and they are all covered in dimples. Read the packaging and they all promise you the long game of...