Annual awards: Best new golf product offerings for 2009
As 2009 winds down, with a new year not far off, golf equipment companies have completed their introductions for the current season and are already focused on 2010.
Which means it's a good time for our CBSSports.com panel of testers to look back on the past year and make some judgments on the best products launched for 2009. When we say "for 2009," that includes some equipment that made its debut in mid to late 2008, with the strategy that those clubs and balls would carry through the current season as well.
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| Nike SQ Dymo STR8-Fit driver |
Also, ongoing models of clubs and balls are not listed. These anointments are meant only for equipment introduced for or during the past season.
Ranking new equipment was as tough a task as ever. In many categories, arguments could easily be made for a club or ball being given an Eagle Award instead of Birdie or Par.
Now, before we get into the various category accolades, we first present our Gold Tee Award for 2009 to the best overall introduction of the year.
For the first time in the history of these awards, Gold Tee voting by our panelists ended in a tie between Nike's SQ Dymo/SQ Dymo2 STR8-FIT driver and TaylorMade's r9 driver. The two drivers have something in common: Both are pioneers in bringing adjustable heads and shafts to market. Our testers cited innovation, worthwhile value of the new adjustable system to golfers and performance quality of the products as reasons Nike and TaylorMade's new clubs share our highest annual honor.
The following categories represent a selective showcase of eagles, birdies and pars for new clubs and balls in 2009.
Drivers
TaylorMade and Nike are two of the three companies offering adjustable heads and shafts to golfers. Nickent was the other company with a similar product.
The new TaylorMade and Nike drivers considerably advance the notion of interchangeability. Whereas previous efforts with interchangeable heads and shafts never took off, the new products are easy to adjust and reasonably priced by comparison.
Both Nike and TaylorMade drivers come with wrenches that make adjusting the shafts and hosels to any of eight biases easy to do. One benefit to both retailers and customers is in clubfitting, where different biases can be tried and the best one for a golfer's personal playing characteristics chosen. Further, for tinkerers, adjustable shafts allow for changes based on weather, course conditions and even a player's changing game over the course of a season.
Both types of drivers conform to USGA regulations. The drivers cannot be changed during a round but can be adjusted anytime between rounds.
"How many golfers will actually make changes in between rounds, based on different courses, course and weather conditions --I'm not sure, but it's certainly an option," said one custom club fitter at a Northeast retail operation. "But, the adjustability of the STR8-FIT has got to be a boon to helping golfers determine the best loft, lie and dispersion angle for their particular swings."
Nike offers its adjustability with two head types: the more conventional SQ Dymo shape and a geometric SQ Dymo2 square shape.
There are two basic models in the new TaylorMade r9 driver lineup, both containing the adjustable FCT technology. The r9 driver has a compact 420cc head along with three ports to accommodate movable weights (similar to the r7 family of drivers). The other driver is an r9 460, which boasts a 460cc titanium head but does not offer Moveable Weight Technology. Additionally, the r9 driver offers an r9 TP (tour-preferred) model. Both use the same 420cc head, but the r9 TP has a premium shaft.
"The two drivers are distinct, in that the r9 head is smaller, it launches lower with low spin," said Harry Arnett, TaylorMade senior director of metalwoods. "The 460, meanwhile, provides a higher launch with more spin."
Along with the driver, TaylorMade makes an r9 fairway metal with Flight Control Technology. Available in various lofts, suggested retail prices are $500 for the r9 driver and $600 for the r9 TP, with actual "street" prices at specialty stores about $100 less. Street price for the r9 460 driver is about $299.
"Nothing influences ball flight more than face, loft and lie angles," said Tom Stites, Nike's director of club creation. "This is significant because it means that if a player normally hits the ball far right or left, there is at least one of the eight locations that will allow him or her to hit it in or near the fairway."
While the suggested retail price for the STR8-FIT drivers is $540, a common "street" price is $299.
Eagle:
Nike SQ Dymo/Dymo2 STR8-FIT, TaylorMade r9, r9 TP, r9 460.
Birdie:
Adams Insight Tech a4/a4OS, Adams Speedline, Callaway Big Bertha Diablo, Callaway FT-9/FT-9 Tour, Callaway FT-iQ/FT-iQ Tour, Cleveland HiBORE Bloom, Cleveland HiBORE Monster XLS, Cleveland Launcher, Cleveland Launcher Ultralite, Cobra King Cobra S9-1, Mizuno MX-700, Nickent 3DX RC, Nickent 4DX with CYG Hosel, Nike SQ Dymo/SQ Dymo2, Ping Rapture V2, TaylorMade 2009 Burner/Burner TP, TaylorMade r7 Limited, Titleist 909 series, Tour Edge Bazooka GeoMax 2.
Par:
Cobra King Cobra L5V, Daiwa OnOff/OnOff Plus, Hippo XXL2, Nicklaus Dual Point ML3, PowerBilt Air Force One, Tour Edge Exotics XCG-V, Wilson Smooth.
Fairways
The Speedline hybrid-fairways feature Adams' Boxer technology with strategic internal weight placement designed to enhance the Moment of Inertia (stability on off-center hits) and, with a lower center of gravity, deliver a higher launch trajectory. There's an increased camber on the sole from heel to toe, which is meant to allow greater playability from a variety of lies on and off the fairway.
According to Adams, several tour pros in the top 20 world rankings are using the Speedline hybrid-fairways in competition.
"We've consistently seen tour pros switching from traditional fairway woods to our hybrid-fairway woods," said Tim Reed, Adams' VP of research and development.
There are standard and draw versions in the hybrid-fairways, with a choice of lofts. Suggested retail price for the Speedline hybrid-fairways is $229.99 each.
Eagle:
Adams Speedline.
Birdie:
Adams Idea Tech a4/a4OS, Callaway Big Bertha Diablo, Callaway FT, Cleveland Launcher, Cobra King Cobra S9-1, KZG Q series, Nickent 3DX RC, Nike SQ Dymo/SQ Dymo2, Ping Rapture V2, TaylorMade Burner, TaylorMade r9/r9 TP, Titleist 2009 906F4, Titleist 909 series, Tour Edge Bazooka GeoMax 2, Tour Edge Exotics XCG-V.
Par:
Daiwa OnOff/OnOff Plus, PowerBilt Air Force One.
Utilities/Hybrids
Ping's Rapture V2 hybrid line comes in lofts of 17, 20, 23 and 27 degrees.
The clubs have stainless steel bodies with tungsten sole plates and a longer face profile that expands the hitting area for more forgiveness. The choice of shaft types includes graphite or steel.
Like the drivers, the Rapture V2 hybrids received considerable praise from a cross-section of testers representing various skill levels. The clubs were deemed "easy to hit," "very solid" and "workable." Several players, pleased with the distances achieved and the high loft/soft landings, said they would replace fairway woods or long irons with the hybrids.
Suggested retail price for the hybrids is $190 each with a steel shaft, $225 with graphite.
Eagle:
Ping Rapture V2.
Birdie:
Adams Idea a7, Adams Idea ProBlack, Adams Idea Tech a4/a4OS, Bobby Jones Workshop, Callaway Big Bertha Diablo, Cobra King Cobra Baffler TWS, Nickent 5DX Ironwood, Nicklaus Polarity, TaylorMade Raylor, TaylorMade Rescue 09/Rescue 09 TP, Titleist 909H, Tour Edge Bazooka GeoMax 2, Tour Edge Exotics XCG-V.
Par:
Cleveland Launcher, Cleveland Niblick, Mizuno MX-700, PowerBilt Air Force One.
Irons
The new Callaway X-22 irons come 3-PW, with matching approach, sand and lob wedges. Precision notch weighting positions more weight to the perimeter for enhance forgiveness. Meanwhile, the topline is thinner and the sole narrower than previously for extra playability.
"The X platform has worked extremely well," said Jeff Colton, Callaway's senior VP of R&D. "The X-22 series continues refinement of that equation. Mass properties and the look at address is similar [to before], while we've squeezed out a little more MOI."
Retail prices for the X-22 irons are $699 per set (3-PW) with steel shafts, $899 with graphite.
In testing, reviewers heaped considerable praise on Callaway's new X-22 Tour model, which offers a sleeker design in comparison to the X-22s. The Tour version was judged clean, workable and forgiving.
With Royal Precision Project X steel shafts, list price for a set (3-PW) of the X-22 Tour irons is $799.
Eagle:
Callaway X-22/X22 Tour.
Birdie:
Adams Idea a7 hybrid iron set/a7OS, a7OS Max, Adams Insight Tech a4/a4OS, Callaway FT, Callaway FT I-Brid, Callaway X-Forged, Cleveland CG7/CG7 Tour, Cleveland HiBORE XLi, Cleveland HiBORE Bloom XLi, Cobra King Cobra S9 women's, Daiwa OnOff/On Off Plus, Mizuno MP-52, Mizuno MX-100, Mizuno SORA (women's), Miura CB-301, Nike Victory Red, Nike Victory Red TW Blade, Ping Rapture V2, Ping Rhapsody, Ping S57, TaylorMade 2009 Burner Plus/Burner TP, TaylorMade Tour Preferred, Titleist AP1/AP2, Tour Edge Exotics XCG-V, Wilson Di9.
Par:
Bridgestone J36 Combo, Cobra King Cobra Transition-S set, Cleveland Launcher Combo, Mizuno MP-62, Mizuno MX-200, Nicklaus Polarity HCT, Nike Victory Red Forged Split Cavity, Tour Edge Bazooka GeoMax 2, Tour Edge Moda (women's).
Wedges
Titleist's Vokey Design Spin Milled wedges, crafted by Bob Vokey, tout an increased volume for the grooves.
With heads made of soft carbon steel, the three finishes available include black nickel, chrome and oil can. There are nine lofts, ranging from 48 to 64 degrees.
Titleist will continue to offer these Spin Milled wedges, along with the new Spin Milled C-C wedges that made their debut this month. The C-C (Condition of Competition) wedges will conform to the new USGA and R&A rules regarding grooves that take effect on a graduated basis beginning with tour pros in 2010 and coming into play for average golfers who play by the rules in 2024.
Suggested retail price for the 2009 Spin Milled wedges is $119 each.
Eagle:
Titleist Vokey Design Spin Milled.
Birdie:
Bridgestone WC Design, Callaway X-Forged, Cleveland CG12 DSG, Cleveland CG14, Miura wedge series, Nicklaus Spin Slot, Nickent ARC, Nike VR Forged, Ping Tour-W, Scratch 1018, Scratch 8620, TaylorMade Z-TP, Wilson Tw9.
Par:
Adams Puglielli Tour, Bobby Jones Pelz, Mizuno MP-R.
Putters
Interchangeable steel and tungsten weights in the heel and toe allow customizing the six models in Ping's iWi series, including the Anser and Zing blades, and B60 mid-mallet.
A stainless steel body harbors a stainless steel face insert with elastomer back for enhanced feel. Face response is rated "medium-firm." Putters include an optigraphic alignment aid.
List prices range $169 to $199.
Eagle:
Ping iWi.
Birdie:
Boccieri Golf (Heavy Putter) Mid-Weight series, Miura Series 1957, Nancy Lopez Fame, Never Compromise NCX-Ray, Nicklaus Black Line, Odyssey Black, Odyssey White Hot XG330, Ping i-Series, Rife Barbados, SeeMore FGP2, TaylorMade Rossa Itsy Bitsy Monza Spider, TaylorMade Rossa Monza Spider Balero, TaylorMade Rossa TP by Kia Ma, Titleist Scotty Cameron 2009 Studio Select (Newports, Squareback, Fastback), Titleist Scotty Cameron Studio Select Kombi, Tour Edge David Glod Tour Proto, Wilson Staff 88, Yes! Robin/Jennie/Dawn.
Par:
Nickent Pipe Dream, Scratch series, Slotline SL-784, TaylorMade Rossa Core Classics.
Balls
Bridgestone's Tour B330-RX is a tour quality ball that joins the company's previous high-performance B330 and B330-S models. What's unique about the RX ball? It's designed for advanced players who have moderate swing speeds.
"Our research revealed a large segment of skilled golfers with slower to moderate swing speeds who were not being fitted properly for a tour-caliber ball," said Dan Murphy, Bridgestone's senior director of marketing. Most tour balls available before RX, Murphy said, were best-suited for advanced players with higher swing speeds only.
According to Bridgestone, the RX is the softest multilayer urethane ball available. Suggested retail price is $58 per dozen.
Eagle:
Bridgestone B330-RX.
Birdie:
Bridgestone e7+, Bridgestone 2009 Tour B330S, Callaway HX Hot Plus, Callaway Tour/Tour iX, Nike ONE Tour/Tour D, Nike Vapor, Pinnacle Dimension, Pinnacle Gold, Precept Distance iQ 180, Precept Lady iQ Plus, Srixon Soft Feel/Soft Feel Lady, Srixon Z-Star/Z-Star X, TaylorMade TP Red LDP, TaylorMade Black LDP, Taylor Made TP Burner LDP, Titleist New Pro V1/Pro V1x.
