The TaylorMade Penta TP Ball
photo credit: schatz Taylor has introduced the Penta TP 5-Layer Tour Ball. TaylorMade Corp. maintains that the new ball, with it’s re-designed urethane cover, provides softer feel and a higher spin-rate for shots under 100 yards. The Outer Mantle delivers optimum spin off short-irons for better stopping power. The Middle Mantle increases control with mid-irons and helps prevent up-shooting. The Inner Mantle promotes soft feel, high launch and low spin off the long-irons for much greater shot distance. The Core produces faster ball speed, high launch and low spin off the driver for maximum carry and distance.
The new ball is designed to optimize performance in all five key shot categories. Wedge/Putter, short-irons, mid-irons, long-irons and driver. The new ball is designed for amateurs and PGA Tour players alike.
Changing Your Set
photo credit: PburghStever How many clubs do you own besides the 14 that are in your golf bag? Changing your set to meet the needs of the course you are playing can make a difference in your score. You should have a total of at least 20 to rely on for changing course conditions.
If playing on a wide open course, it may be best to use a driver with less loft which delivers lower trajectory and greater roll for more distance. For tight fairways, try a more lofted driver with a shorter shaft for more control and less roll.
Most tour pros carry at least 3 wedges in their bag: the sand wedge, pitching wedge and lob wedge. Each club will deliver different results, especially for short shots around the green.
GOLF MAGAZINE Wedge Tests
photo credit: andrea.pacelli Titleist Vokey Spin Milled ($120) > Pros – consistent distance control, great balance, spin milled. Cons - less forgiving than many. Ping Tour-W TS > ($110) > Pros - above average distance control, teardrop head shape, very forgiving. Cons - difficult to pinch shorter shots. Mizuno MP T-10 > ($110) > Pros - softer impact feel than most, compact traditional head, black satin finish. Cons – can’t be seen well from rough. Callaway X Series Jaws ($120) > Pros - among the leading wedges tested, superlative spin, shines around the green. Cons - esoteric design, less distance forgiveness. TaylorMade TPxFT ($130) > Pros - ball flight is high and soft, good distance control, high tech, brushed finish. Cons - harder feel, inconsistent full shots from tight lies. Cleveland CG15 ($120) > Pros – zip grooves, best spin performer. Cons – heavy head, shorter distance-wise.
Glove Survey Results
photo credit: klavr Based on performance, innovation, feel and demand, the following are GOLF DIGESTS picks for the best golf gloves of 2o1o:
Gloves Over $15 > Callaway TOUR AUTHENTIC $17, Footjoy SCIFLEX $16, Footjoy STAYSOF $19, Nike DRI-FIT TOUR $20, Titleist PLAYERS-FLEX $21.
Honorable Mention: Bionic PERFORMANCE SERIES $30, Mizuno SKINTITE $19, Taylormade TOUR PREFERRED $22.
Gloves Under $15 > Etonic G>SOK $14, Footjoy SOFJOY $13, Footjoy SPIDR2 $13, Wilson Staff CONFORM $15,
Honorable Mention: Footjoy WEATHERSOF $10, Nike TECHXTREME III $13.
Glove Care > A glove must receive the proper care after it’s use. Store the glove in it’s original package or in a ziplock bag allowing the gloves natural oils to rise to the surface.
Fit > Most players use gloves that are too large. The glove should fit tightly and taut across the back of the hand and the palm.
Lie Angle
photo credit: nsaplayer The lie angle is the angle at which the shaft comes out of the clubhead. This is one aspect of properly fitting clubs that is widely overlooked. When you use clubs with the proper lie angle for your particular set-up, the entire bottom edge of your clubs will strike the turf (or sand).
If you set up with the heel of your club off the ground, the lie angle is too flat. Setting up with your toe off the ground means that the lie angle is too upright. The sole of the club must lie flat when you are set-up to the ball.
Getting fitted is a simple easy procedure that can be done at most pro shops or golf outlets.
Bounce
photo credit: Zach Dischner Bounce is the amount of tilting down and away, on the bottom of any wedge. More tilt simply means more bounce. The purpose of bounce is to help the club glide more smoothly through sand or thick grass (rough). The bounce always strikes the ground first and it keeps the leading edge of the club from digging into the ground first.
The typical sand wedge has 10 – 12 degrees of bounce. Lofted wedges, such as the gap wedge or lob wedges, usually fall within 4 – 6 degrees of bounce. The bounce for the club/s you choose depends on the kind of lies you intend to use it for. Less bounce is suitable for tighter lies. Lies that are in rough or sand require more bounce.
Lamkin 3GEN Grips
photo credit: spaceamoeba Lamkin, one of the leading grip manufacturers, has just come out with a brand new product, the Lamkin 3GEN Performance Plus grip. The new grips are fashioned from synthetic rubber that’s both soft and tacky. The grips enhance comfort, stability and harmony in your relationship with the golf club.
The new grips come in fashion colors with a black, purple, red on a white background and an all white grip. These new grips are available through special order from Lamkin at www.lamkingrips.com or at your local golf club or golf center.
One of the most overlooked parts of the golf club are the grips. Grips should be washed often and replaced once a year for serious players. Grips also make a huge difference in the success of your golf shots.
Clogged Grooves
photo credit: andrea.pacelli One of the biggest faults with most golfers is that they play with dirty grooves. The very same individuals will complain that they cannot get any backspin on their golf shots. Keeping your grooves clean is especially important during practice.
Every player should attach a towel on their golf bag when they play. Soak the bottom half with water and leave the top half dry. After every shot you can clean the clubface with the lower wet half of the towel and dry with the dry upper-half.
It won’t take long to figure out how helpful to your game clean grooves can actually be. It is also a good idea to clean the face of your metal woods. Waxing your clubs with car wax is an excellent way to make cleaning them easier.
Shaft Optimizer by Mizuno
photo credit: petersbar Do you have the correct shaft flex on your clubs? If you have doubts, Mizuno has the answer with it’s Shaft Optimizer. The Shaft Optimizer can give the following statistics: 1) clubhead speed. 2) swing tempo. 3) release factor. 4) shaft toe down. 5) shaft kick angle. All of this data can be achieved in just three swings.
To find the nearest golf shop with the new Shaft Optimizer, go to www.mizunousa.com. In less than a couple of short minutes you will know just exactly what shafts you should be using !
Mizuno Golf has always been known for it’s high standard of quality and customer service. Their equipment is used by some of the PGA Tour’s top money winners.
Do Your Clubs fit?
photo credit: nimish_gogri What if you hired a plumber for $60 per hr. who came to your job with improper tools? . . he’d be fired. How can you expect to play good golf with clubs that are improperly fitted? Your full potential will never be reached with an inferior set of clubs.
It is futile to spend countless hours at the practice range and golf course if you are using clubs that don’t fit. Keep in mind that, other than your own mental and physical ability, your clubs are your only other asset.
There are many important factors when being fitted for new clubs: 1) Lie. 2) Club length. 3) Shaft flex. 4) Grips. Attain the help of an experienced club fitter to help you with the fitting process.