02 April 2014
<< VIEW PREVIOUS HYBRID >> VIEW NEXT HYBRID The Hybrids Test 2014: Cobra Baffler XL Cost: £129 Tech: A high MOI design with 20g tungsten perimeter is designed to increase distance and forgiveness. Sole rails aid a clean strike. What we said... James Ridyard: “Head design is quite rounded, easy to align. The two-tone blue with a line running parallel to the face helps alignment.
02 April 2014
<< VIEW PREVIOUS HYBRID >> VIEW NEXT HYBRID The Hybrids Test 2014: Progen Chromo Cost: £99 Tech: A high purity hyper steel face increases distance while an angular sole design creates strength and solidity at impact for accuracy. What we said... James Ridyard: “Looks a little toed in and upright, which will suit a slicer. Inconsistent feedback, not sure whether I hit them well or...
02 April 2014
<< VIEW PREVIOUS HYBRID >> VIEW NEXT HYBRID The Hybrids Test 2014: Cobra BiO CELL Cost: £159 Tech: Weight has been moved from the face and crown low and back, delivering a low CG and high MOI for improved distance. What we said... James Ridyard: “Found the flight to be a bit high and spinny. Having the onset is unusual and the leading edge is...
02 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...
02 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...
02 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...
02 April 2014
<< VIEW PREVIOUS HYBRID >> VIEW NEXT HYBRID The Hybrids Test 2014: Mizuno JPX EZ Cost: £129 Tech: A larger, deeper clubhead creates deep weighting for steeper landing angle. Flex Crown maintains high ball speeds from high or low strike points. What we said... James Ridyard: “Rounded head is done well, nicely balanced in look and feel. Leading edge is curved but not overly so, sits...
02 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,...
02 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,...
02 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...
02 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...
02 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...
02 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...
02 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...
02 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...
02 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...
02 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...
02 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...
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...
11 March 2014
Our annual drivers test is always keenly anticipated – but we can’t remember one quite as exciting as this year’s. Click here to start discovering the winners. Technology has evolved so quickly in the last 12 months that almost every manufacturer has at least one totally new driver in their line-up. If you’ve been following our launch coverage over the past six months,...