Golf Club Reviews

Nike ONE Tour

2009-10-26T09:05:00.003-10:00

How about a golf ball review folks?

I recently played the Nike ONE Tour golf ball. Traditionally, Nike golf balls have not been a big seller. When Tiger first signed with Nike, their balls flew off the shelves. But, lets face it, it is hard to overthrow a dominant brand like Titleist.

Nike continues in the ONE tradition by making the new Tour, Tour D and Vapor solid core, multilayer, urethane covered golf balls. The previous versions of the One did not live up to the expectations of this golfer. For instance, the Platinum spun too much and did not give me the distance off the tee that other golf balls did. The Black was a better all around ball but the cover did not hold up to well against full wedge shots.

The new ONE Tour is a vast improvement over previous versions. For instance:

The Tour is a longer golf ball off the tee than the Platinum. The Platinum had the dreaded "Wounded Duck Syndrome" where the ball would fall out of the air as if it was just shot down. The Tour did NOT do that and I was pleased that it was as long as some other golf ball brands on the market.
The Tour was not buttery soft like the Platinum. Rather, it felt more like the Black with a nice click off of the putter face.
The Tour still spins WAY TOO MUCH! The Tour and the Platinum spin way too much around the greens. The Dunes at Maui Lani has some of the firmest greens on the island here and the Tour was backing up like it had just been sucker punched. This type of spin for me is a big no no as I like to control my yardage and not have to worry about zippin' the ball back off of the green. I spun a Tour so far back off of the green yesterday that it rolled into the middle of a 30 yd long green side bunker. Completely undesirable for me. But, it may suit lower spin golfers perfectly.
The Tour has a cover that is somewhat durable. Every golf ball will scuff when it is hit properly with a wedge and the Tour is no exception. Although, it did hold up better than the Platinum in that regard.

All in all Nike has produced a ball that is better than its predecessors. My major complaint with the Tour was its spin factor. I believe Nike needs to tone it down a notch. But, with the new USGA groove rule coming into effect next year, maybe Nike doesn't need to do anything to it and it will perform beautifully when hit with restricted grooves.

At this time I know what some of you are saying "Well try the Tour D!" Oh believe me, I will. And, believe it or not, I am looking forward to putting the Tour D into play.

Stay tuned folks! The golf ball market is going to get crazy in the next few months and yours truly will be trying out and reviewing lots of the craziness!

Aloha

Tourstage 701 Irons

2009-08-12T10:01:00.003-10:00

Ok folks, here is the scoop.

Tourstage is primarily a Japanese product even though they fall under the Bridgestone name. But, seeing as how we live and work in Hawaii which is a cross-over market for them, I was able to get my hands on a set of Tourstage 701 irons.

The Japanese have always been known for their fantastic forgings and club designs and this set is no different. The only difference in set make up is that the iron sets are sold as 5i-pw. Also, the fact that they are designed for Japanese players makes the stats on them pretty weird as far as American irons go.

The set I tested/own came with True Temper s200 shafts which are 1/2 in under American standard. That means the 5i measured in at 37.5 in instead of 38 in. Upon inspection I found that the length, lie and swing weight were dead on. The 5i even came with a sticker on the shaft that states what all those factors are. That was kinda neat and ensures that Tourstage takes pride in its product and quality control.

This is one beautiful iron set as there is minimal offset, a medium width top line and cavity back which has a magnesium insert to improve feel. Not that they need the insert as the heads are forged anyway. These irons feel awesome! Mis hits still go to the target with minimal distance loss and without that "oops I just mis hit a forged iron" feel in the hands.

I was a little hesitant about getting s200's a half inch under my normal length as I would have to re shaft them, bend them and tweak them again and again. Not this set! I found that the 701's fit me perfectly and NO adjustment what so ever was needed.

Like I stated before, the irons come in sets of 5i-pw and come stock with s200's or NS Pro 950's. If one orders the irons with NS Pro's the clubs come out 1/4 in longer and 1 swing weight point lighter than those with s200's. A 3i and 4i can be ordered separately if one wants them.

As far as ordering this product or anything from Tourstage, one must live in Hawaii or Japan. But, our store, Golf-Maui can get these irons and lots of other products from Tourstage and ship them all over the world.

We can be reached at 800-981-5512 or visit our website www.golf-maui.com

Titleist 909D3

2009-07-30T09:34:00.002-10:00

Aloha,

This club review is on the Titleist 909D3 driver.

This line of drivers has been out on the street for several months now and this writer is certainly surprised that we at Golf-Maui have not had much interest in it from our customers. Under normal economic times Titleist equipment flies off the shelves. But, in todays times, golf sales are down worldwide.

The Titleist 909D3 was the first of its kind to enter our store and what a beauty it is! Like all Titleist equipment it sets up very square with gorgeous aesthetics. The alignment aid on top of the crown is very, very typical Titleist- a line and triangle.

The D3 is a little smaller in head size than its fellow drivers as it measures in at 440cc. I could not tell a difference in head size between the D3 and the typical 460cc drivers.

The D3 is a all titanium head with a internally milled face insert which increases ball speed all across the face of the driver. And, for you shaft replacement junkies, Titleist has decided to use a blind bore hosel rather than a bore thru hosel which makes new shaft installs easier.

The D3 I tested was done over the span of 3 days at our local PGA Section Pro-Pro event. It was a 9.5* with a stock 65 gram Diamana Titleist Blue Board in Stiff.

This driver is quiet! There was no harsh can or corked bat sound when swung. It was a pleasing sound that I can only describe as a silenced gun shot. Speaking of gun shots, the ball flew off the face and found the fairway a lot! I was able to manipulate ball flight easily by adjusting tee height and ball position. Normal ball flight was a nice medium, penetrating trajectory with a Bridgestone B-330.

This writer normally plays an extra stiff shaft in all his clubs, but after swinging the D3 with a stock stiff shaft, he has switched back to good 'ol stiff flex as I never missed the center of the club face..for all 3 days!

The Titleist D3 has 2 stock shafts: The Aldilla Voodoo and the aforementioned Diamana. Both of which were designed by their respective companies for Titleist and the D3 series of drivers.

Available lofts are 8.5*, 9.5* and 10.5*

This driver is the perfect blend of all factors: great looks, great construction, great feel, great sound and perfect length and control.

Non-Conforming Golf Balls???

2009-06-27T10:07:00.005-10:00

The USGA has instituted a lot of rules for the game of golf. Not only do they have rules, they have decisions on those rules. I guess that's why golf is a lot like life.

Anyway, the USGA has a conforming driver and a conforming ball list. A lot of people know about the conforming driver list with COR still being a hot topic and widely debated. But, did you know that there is a conforming ball list as well?

There are 5 categories with which balls are tested under to be deemed conforming or non-conforming:

Weight
Size
Spherical Symmetry
Initial Velocity
Overall Distance

Weight is the key issue these days with a couple of golf ball manufacturers asking the USGA to take certain balls of the conforming list because they were over weight. Not ALL of them, but less than 1% produced. This speaks very highly of those manufacturers who are keeping with the integrity of the game. The weight of the golf ball can not exceed 1.620 ounces. The ball can be as light as the manufacturer wants it, but not heavier than 1.620 ounces.

The USGA and R&A have different ideas on golf ball size as well. To be conforming by USGA standards, the golf ball can not exceed 1.680 inches in diameter. The R&A uses a smaller diameter for their rules. The golf ball can be as large as a manufacturer wants it to be, but it can not exceed the weight limitation.

The golf ball must be round/symmetrical/spherical etc, etc.

The initial velocity of the ball can not exceed certain limits and the overall distance of the ball can not exceed certain distances.

So, how does one find out if their ball is conforming or not? You must go to the USGA web site and click on "equipment". There you will see a link to their "conforming golf ball list". I would imagine that anyone playing in the U.S. will NOT have a problem with their golf ball being non-conforming, but you never know. The way to tell is to input your golf ball markings and wait for the results. Pay attention to EVERYTHING the list tells you about your golf ball. Do you have different markings than what the list says you should have? Then you may, MAY have a non-conforming golf ball.

Recently, two manufacturers (who shall remain nameless here) had issues with a certain percentage of their balls being over weight. Hence, the USGA removed them from the conforming golf ball list. That means nothing for the average player who uses one of those balls to post a handicap or plays in a small golf event. Remember, it was only less than 1% made so the chances of getting a non-conforming golf ball is slim to none. It gets a little quirky for the professional though.

If a professional was to play one of these "non-conforming" golf balls in a tournament, it would be up to the person bringing it to the attention of rules officials to see if the ball was illegal for play. In other words, the burden of proof is on the accuser NOT the accusee. And, how would they determine that? With a scale? Is the scale calibrated to USGA standards? Blah, Blah, Blah! The tour players don't need to worry about it as I am sure there stock of golf ball was replaced even before the general public got wind of this news. The local professional playing in section events probably won't get DQ'd for using it. But, I am sure it can and will cause some sort of hair raising adventure on the links somewhere in the world.

After reading this, I am sure there will be a few of you out there who go to the list and find out that the ball you currently play is not on the conforming ball list. Don't worry about it! There is no need to rush back into the retail store or pro shop where you bought them and demand a refund.

Remember, it is up to who accuses you of using a non-conforming ball to prove their case! I mean, who carries around a golf ball scale with them???

Ping Rapture V2

2009-04-21T08:24:00.003-10:00

Aloha. Long time no see! Anyway, this review is on the Ping Rapture V2.

A couple of months ago I was fortunate enough to see this driver before its release date and was quite pleased with what Ping has done to update the original Rapture. The first noticeable difference is apparent when one soles the club. Ah ha...no "spiderman" web like design on the crown. Now both the original and the V2 have the "Thin Crown Design" but only the original actually shows it.

The second noticeable feature are the external tungsten weight pads. These weight pads push the CG lower and farther back to reduce spin and optimize launch angle. To push the CG even further back, Ping has elongated the V2 by extending face height and sloping the crown. Although, one would never know it just by looking at it as it retains a classic 460cc head design. In other words, it is not a funny looking driver!

Ping has also done something pretty cool in regards to the stock shafts they put in the V2; they offer their TFC 939D or a Diamana Blue 63! That is a wise choice in my opinion and I am willing to bet that V2's with the Diamana go flying off the shelves.

The Ping Rapture V2 that this writer used was a 9* stock length with the extra stiff TFC 939D. What a beautiful club. I did notice that because of the extra 3/4 in on the shaft it setup just a hair closed. That was not an issue for me as I just choked down about 1 in.

Ladies and gents, this driver is looooong and accurate. Ball flight was easy to manipulate but its natural ball flight tendency seemed to be a slight draw with a medium-high trajectory. The V2 comes in stock lofts of 9*, 10.5*, 12* and 13.5* to help iron out your trajectory issues.

Once again, Ping has put out a winner of driver. So, go out and demo one today. You won't be disappointed.

Callaway Tour i Golf Ball

2008-10-10T10:21:00.004-10:00

For a first here on Golf Club Reviews we will be reviewing a golf ball. It never dawned on me until just now to do a review on a golf ball. So, why do one now? Well, everyone focus' on the latest and greatest drivers, irons, hybrids and putters from everyone so why not review the one most important piece of equipment we have... THE BALL!!!

The first time I saw the new Callaway ball being played I had to stop and ask my playing partner what he was hitting. He said it was the Callaway ix. I couldn't believe it, that ball was long! I bought a sleeve and went at it. Well, it was long alright, but green side control was lacking. Callaway then introduced the plain "i".

The i is supposed to be a replacement for the HX 56 tour ball. I loved the HX 56! It was long off the tee, spun when it was ordered to and the cover held up under hard wedge shots. Very hard to improve on the HX. Or so I thought.

The new i is a 4 piece, urethane covered, dual core ball. The inner core is designed for long drives. The outer core has tungsten in the mix so it reduces driver spin but excites the ball speed off the club face. The mantle, once again, reduces unwanted side spin for longer, straighter drives. And, of course, the urethane cover is soft for green side control. The i still carries the new tradition of hexagonal dimples within a seem less design. Several of these hex dimples are sunken even further to stabilize the core of the golf ball so it will roll true.

Off I went to play the new i ball. This ball does everything it says it will! I am a good driver of the golf ball so I really didn't notice any unwanted spin. The ball flew straight and true even into crosswinds and headwinds. It is a very stable ball. The check onto the greens with all irons was that reminiscent of a Pro V-1x. The ball hit and stayed put with no unwanted back spin or top spin. Chip and checks were a breeze with this ball. It really wants to "Suck soil!" And the feel off the putter face was no different than that of its predecessor the HX 56.

Callaway has done it again when it comes to their Tour i line of golf balls. I have no complaints about this ball what so ever. Well, maybe just one complaint, it doesn't like my putting stroke.

Adams Insight XTD A3 Boxster

2008-10-06T09:49:00.003-10:00

As you may have guessed, I like test driving new putters and drivers. Well, this weeks review is no different.

Square shaped drivers have been out for some time now, and now Adams has jumped on that band wagon with their Insight XTD series. The driver I tested was a 9.5* stiff flex, Aldila DVS 55 gram shafted driver.

At first looks, one can easily see the square head shape. What one doesn't see is the pear shaped face profile. I personally thought that was one neatly hidden feature.

This driver setups very square and is very easy to hit straight. The overall look of the square head is easily overlooked at setup due to some design additions on the trailing edge of the club. I forgot I was swinging a square driver!!!

This driver was long but the low center of gravity coupled with the lower kick point shaft sent my tee shots sky high. This high tee shot is most certainly undesirable out here with the nasty trade winds that we get.

Other than that, this driver was accurate and was fun to hit.

Odyssey Sabertooth

2008-09-30T09:42:00.002-10:00

The Odyssey Sabertooth is the subject of this Golf Club Review.

This writer loves testing new putters. Why? Well, I don't have the yips but I am very interested in trying new putters of radical design to see how well they put the ball in the hole. Lets face it, that is the name of this game. And, seeing as how I have been struggling with my putting for months now, this blog gives me an excuse to try anything and everything to improve my score.

The Sabertooth I tested was a stock 34" model. The first thing I noticed about this putter, was the weight. It had a nice heft to it without it being grossly over weighted due to its design. Alignment was a snap with this putter as it has a alignment feature that can not be described here. I did find myself rolling the ball more on line due to the putter's alignment markings. The Sabertooth also has a polymer face insert which deadens the feel and sound of impact. Although the insert may deaden the feel and sound of impact, it does give the ball an exceptional roll end over end if struck properly.

All in all, I believe that the Sabertooth is an excellent putter for those people who prefer mallet type putters and who have a problem with alignment. If the Sabertooth is just a putter that looks downright funny to you, stand by, because it is just the start from Odyssey.

Till next time...

Mizuno MP-600 Driver

2008-09-23T09:57:00.003-10:00

This driver was tested on a Sunday afternoon out at the Wailea Emerald course. Mizuno did a great job designing this driver. It has 2 adjustable weights located on the rear part of the sole and can be used to manipulate ball flight characteristics. The tool used to adjust these weights comes with the driver and is conveniently attached to a diagram of how to place the weights to manipulate ball flight.

The sample driver I used was 9.5* with a Fujikura E360 in stiff flex. Upon warming up with this driver I immediately noticed that there was no alignment aid or logo on the crown of the driver. I personally like that look, but others may like at least something on the crown. Another noticeable aspect of this driver was the swingweight. I did not measure the swingweight before I played with it, but did so after my round and found out that it was a little heavy. D6 to be exact. Another feature of this driver is the square face. This, coupled with the high swingweight, may pose a serious risk to some high handicap golfers.

I went to the first tee anxious to see how this beauty performed. I had the weights in the "Neutral" position but quickly changed them to the "Extreme draw" position after flailing my first ball over the road and out of bounds. I should clarify something at this point; I am a straight to draw ball flight player. If I hit something that far off line I immediately look at the club.

On the second tee I moved the weights. From that point on, I observed a ball flight which was a little low to my liking and was still fading a touch. But, I was looooong! The sound with which this driver gives off is something I can not describe. It's not quite Titleist, not quite Callaway but a mixture of the two.

I can't say I hit every fairway like I am able to do, but I was able to find a lot of short grass. Is this driver for high handicap golfers who suffer from a slice? No! The weights will not correct a severe left to right ball flight. Although, it will straighten it out some, it does not correct a slice to a straight to draw ball flight.

If ball flight correction is what you are looking for, this driver won't be for you. With its square face and tendency to hit fades, it is just not conducive for the average golfer looking for ball flight help.

TaylorMade Rossa Monza Spider

2008-09-20T07:47:00.002-10:00

The design of the TaylorMade Rossa Monza putter is one of function. It has a unique alignment aid on the top of the putter, two weights on the extreme rear corners of the putter and TM's AGSI technology. This writer test drove this putter yesterday out at the Wailea Gold Course.The Spider that was used was a 33", standard weighted, heel shafted double bend version.

I got some weird looks while using this putter on the practice green. Let's face it, it does look a little futuristic, but to be honest, I wouldn't care as long as the ball went in the puka. The first thing I noticed was the alignment aid. It is a solid white line with half circles along the length of the putter. I did feel that it did not help me in my alignment on putts outside of 10'. Inside that distance it was a winner. The ball came off the face with a nice end over end roll with no skidding or skipping. The ball rolled well all day, whether it was a good stroke or not.

At 33" and at standard weighting, this putter was light. I was consistently short of the cup all day! Because this putter has TM's MWT, it would be easy enough to increase the head weight and get the right feel. With the weights at the extreme corners it made for a very, very forgiving putter if the ball was not struck on the center of the face. Hence, the ball tracked to the hole even on mishits.

They say that the best golfers in the world would like a putter that lays open at address. Well, this putter does just exactly that. It's not too noticeable at address, but I did find some of my putts being pushed to the right.

All in all I would say that TaylorMade has a true winner in this putter. It will help the high handicapper golfer who has a problem with alignment and mishits and it will surely make more birdies for the scratch or pro golfer.

If the shape and size scare you away, don't worry, they are coming out with a smaller version called the "Itsy Bitsy" which will have 3 hosel options; double bend, plumbers neck and center shaft.

Golf Club Reviews

2008-09-18T09:36:00.002-10:00

Welcome to the start of Golf Club Reviews.

This blog, which is updated by the pros of Maui Golf Shop, will give you the heads up on the latest and greatest offerings from every major manufacturer of golf clubs.

Stay tuned, there is some fantastic offerings that will be reviewed here!!!