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...
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...
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...
25 April 2014
<< VIEW PREVIOUS IRON VIEW NEXT IRON >> Irons Test 2014: Cobra Baffler XL Cost: £399 steel £479 graphite Tech: The new Baffler XL irons feature an oversized face with moderate offset design that yields a forgiving, draw-biased flight. What we said... James Ridyard: “Very long from heel to toe and also very rounded. It felt unwieldy at times, perhaps down to the lie...
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...
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...
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...
24 April 2014
Irons are the priciest buy a golfer makes, and the most used clubs in the bag. So choosing the best for your game is crucial. There’s a bewildering array of styles available, all promising to help you hit straighter and further, so it can be tricky to whittle down a shortlist of sets to buy. To help, we’ve done our biggest...
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...
08 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...
08 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...
08 April 2014
With more than 250,000 golfers having taken its Ball Fitting Challenge over the last six years, Bridgestone Golf is the No.1 brand in custom-fitting golf balls. When it comes to ball fitting, well over half of club players have heard about custom-fit sessions, but have yet to try them. Yet these fittings have discovered that the vast majority of golfers are...
08 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...
03 April 2014
If more and more tour players are appreciating the extra forgiveness and versatility of hybrids and plumping for one or two in their bags over their difficult-to-hit long irons, there’s no reason why us club golfers shouldn’t do the same. Not only do they tend to launch the ball higher, but they’re easier to hit due to the wider sole...
02 April 2014
<< VIEW PREVIOUS HYBRID >> VIEW NEXT HYBRID The Hybrids Test 2014: Lynx Boom Boom 3 Cost: £185 Tech: Features a Bi-Titanium head with the latest Hot 1 Technology gas injection and Effective Energy Transfer (EET) technology. What we said... James Ridyard: "The face is flat which reduces any gear effect that often helps amateurs. It also comes back beyond the hosel, which doesn’t suit...
02 April 2014
<< Back to the start >> VIEW NEXT HYBRID The Hybrids Test 2014: Dunlop DP1 Cost: £64.99 Tech: Unique rails and V-shaped concavity on the sole allow the club to slice through the rough whilst maintaining club speed. What we said... James Ridyard: “The head is compact but rounded, like an old 5 or 7-wood design. It’s easy to align thanks to stripe, but the...
02 April 2014
<< VIEW PREVIOUS HYBRID >> VIEW NEXT HYBRID The Hybrids Test 2014: Cleveland 588 Cost: £129 Tech: Cleveland’s first hybrid with variable face thickness to create fast ball speeds from the middle and on off-centre hits. What we said... James Ridyard: “Feels light and long in the shaft, which reduced control. It looks a little busy around the hosel and has a shiny finish. I...
02 April 2014
<< VIEW PREVIOUS HYBRID >> VIEW NEXT HYBRID The Hybrids Test 2014: John Letters TR47 Cost: £99 Tech: A two-piece cup face is combined with a PVD plated sole to reduce friction from the turf and maintain clubhead speed. What we said... James Ridyard: “The curved leading edge is not inviting to hit off a tight lie but adds versatility in the rough. Easy to...
02 April 2014
<< VIEW PREVIOUS HYBRID >> VIEW NEXT HYBRID The Hybrids Test 2014: MD Golf Superstrong STR10 Cost: £79.99 Tech: A hollow head combined with a tungsten weight screw improves ball speed, resulting in longer, more forgiving shots. What we said... James Ridyard: “The shallow face and rectangular head shape means there’s a large hitting area. The flat sole sits well on tight lies but it...
02 April 2014
<< VIEW PREVIOUS HYBRID >> VIEW NEXT HYBRID The Hybrids Test 2014: Yonex XP Cost: £149 Tech: The Dual Tungsten Power System is counterbalanced by the lightweight shaft to produce maximum power. Adjustable lofts. What we said... James Ridyard: “Head shape is round, face appears small but frames the ball well. Felt powerful from the sweetspot, lost a lot of distance away from it though.