As always, let us start with some information with the Sonic Golf. This review includes a couple great videos which are worth watching, they are embedded in the story below. Enjoy!

Background

“System-1 has helped me tremendously. I always had a good rhythm, but I never had a consistent rhythm. It’s making my swing a lot more consistent, not just with the driver but the whole game. It’s one rhythm for the whole game instead of having a quicker rhythm for irons or slower rhythm for the driver.” – Vijay Singh, after winning the 2008 Deutsche Bank Championship

• Sonic Golf System-1 technology is inserted inside the shaft of your club fitted with our custom Golf Pride grip.
• The swing motion is transmitted wirelessly to a belt-worn receiver that converts your swing motion to continuous musical tones you hear on the headset unit.
• Slow swings are low pitch, quiet tones.
• Swing faster and the pitch and volume gets higher.
• With each swing you hear your rhythm and tempo, backswing/downswing transition, and the timing and speed of your clubhead release.
• Tune in to each swing and immediately improve the next!

The Sonic Golf System-1

With Sonic Golf System-1, for the first time, you can literally hear the rhythm, tempo and timing of your swing in real-time, as you swing, and tune in to the most fundamental success factors of the golf swing.

System-1 is simple, straightforward, and amazingly effective. Hear “casting from the top”. Hear jerky transitions from backswing to downswing. Hear the release of the clubhead before, at or after the ball, and hear the sweet sound of a smooth, fluid, rhythmic golf swing – in real-time, every time.

No matter your playing level or understanding of the mechanics of the golf swing, System-1 will help you make immediate and lasting improvements in your golf swing.

Setup and Usage

Once you have gotten past the initial setup phase, the System-1 is extremely easy to use and work with on the practice range. That little setup phase is a little involved, in that you must re-grip a club (or clubs) of your choice with a special Sonic Golf grip made by Golf Pride. The grip is actually the common Tour Velvet model by Golf Pride, however it has a little end cap and o-ring mechanism to lock the System-1 transmitter in place in the butt of your club. I received three of the Golf Pride grips and set them up on a Driver, Hybrid and 7 iron. Should you decide you would like to fit more clubs, you can purchase these specialty grips direct from Sonic Golf for around $5. So, this just means that you cannot run out the door and start swinging to the sounds of Sonic Golf as soon as the UPS truck arrives…blasted desire for instant gratification!

Click that transmitter into the butt of the club, plug your headphones into the receiver, turn both units on, ensure they are on the same channel and you are good to go. Start swinging away. The first thing I did was try to take some smooth swings with a gradual increase in pitch, with the height being just at or slightly past the ball. Of course, the first few swings were a little herky jerky and I could tell almost immediately this would be a great learning tool. But we will get more into that in the Performance section of the review.

Really, the only usage issue I had with the System-1 was when it came down to the ‘tape’ used to wrap around the transmitter that slides into the club shaft. Depending on the diameter of the shaft of your club, you may need to add or remove some tape from the transmitter to make sure it fits in there nice and snug. This makes switching up clubs at the range a little bit of a hassle. I am not sure if one could come up with some other way of doing this, maybe some rubber gasket on the device or a foam contraption of some sort. Aside from this nitpick detail, the System-1 performed flawlessly for me over the past couple of months.

Performance

First of all, I would highly suggest watching the video embedded earlier in this article. Understanding what is going on with this device and what it is telling you about your swing is paramount to using this piece of equipment successfully. You might think you can pick up the club and instantly say, wow, I am doing this…change this…and now my swing is perfect. The golf swing is never that simple. But, have some faith in the System-1, spend a couple sessions at the range with it, and you will find it to be an invaluable tool for you.

If you have been a reader of The Deep Rough for a while, you might remember that we had done reviews of the Tour Tempo and Tempo Timer devices. Both of these devices attempt to get you to swing to a smooth, consistent rhythm. Personally, I really enjoy using the Tour Tempo and do go back to it every now and then to try and see where my swing is at and do a little tempo tweaking. One problem I had with it, however, was the transition. Basically, the Tour Tempo plays some beeps, and you try and swing to the beeps. Well, if you’re a little slow, the beep comes a little quick, and you start jerking the club back down to the ball real quick…not a good thing. Well, here I am listening to the soundscape of the System-1, thinking, ok, nice and smooth, accelerate the pitch, make the pitch highest at the ball, little pause at the top…and it struck me, what if I combined this with the Tour Tempo device? Try and combine the soundscape of my swing along with the Tour Tempo beats. Well, it was pretty interesting, if not a little bit of information overload. It really helped me find a smooth, rhythmic golf swing that included some effortless acceleration through the golf ball. That is not to say you need to own a Tour Tempo to make the System-1 useful. Far from it. It was just something I had thought would work well together, and for me it did. Maybe the two companies will collaborate on some new training aid?

If you are someone who learns by feel, and cannot grasp the idea of trying to be in specific positions in your swing, I think a tool like the Sonic Golf System-1 is perfect for you. I am not much for ‘must have toe up at this spot in back swing…then this..then that’. I just get lost in thought and try to think about way too much when I am standing over the ball. When you practice with the System-1, you are not thinking so much about mechanical thoughts as your are trying to make your swing sound smooth, accelerating and just plain nice. That is a bit of an over simplification, but that is at least how I have looked at it.

For some more info on the System-1, below is a great video from the PGA Merchandise Show, where the guys from Sandbox8 interviewed the founder of Sonic Golf, Dr. Grober. He gives a real nice overview of the equipment and you can ‘hear’ what you will hear when you get one of these in your hands.

Conclusion

Unfortunately for me, I will now be boxing up the System-1 and sending it back to Sonic Golf. I really found this piece of equipment to be extremely valuable when it came to practice on my own. When you are trying to figure something out in your swing on your own, like say your transition, it is so difficult to get instant feedback without having a pro there with you. With the System-1, you simply put in the headphones, plug the transmitter into the butt of the club, and you’ll have all the instant feedback you could desire. I really enjoy these ‘feel’ type training aids and this one was no exception.

At $399 for the Solo (one receiver) System-1, the price may be out of reach for some golfers. However, I would suggest you call your local PGA Professionals, or check out the Instructor Finder on Sonic Golf’s website and have a practice session with one of these devices, I think you will be pleasantly surprised.

Sonic Golf also sells a Pro version of the System-1 for $499 (on sale at the moment, down from $599). The Pro version includes an addition receiver so that the instructor can ‘listen in’ to the student’s swing.

Mizuno MP-52 Irons

Today, we are going to have a look at the next in the line of Mizuno MP irons, the MP-52. The MP-52 offers up even more forgiveness, in a players style iron. There are a lot of pictures in this review. If you would like to see a larger version of the image, just click on the picture. You can also see most of the MP-52 Pictures I took on my flickr site. As always, we will start with some information from Mizuno, and then onto our detailed thoughts.

Background

The new MP-52 irons with Dual Muscle Technology are the most playable MP irons ever! The performance of the MP-52 iron set is based upon two innovative technologies. Making up Dual Muscle technology, is an outer muscle pad allows for a precisely placed, lower and deeper center of gravity, offering enhanced playability and an ideal launch angle, and an inner muscle pad that provides the unparalleled feel and the feedback that better players demand. The second innovation that sets the MP-52 irons apart and advances MP iron playability to a whole new level is a patented CNC milled pocket cavity. Two deep crescents milled into the club head allow for the redeployment of 14 grams of mass for a lower and much deeper COG. The performance advantage of this feature is increased playability on mishits and a superior launch. These advanced features are combined with a classic head profile to deliver tour level looks, feel and playability.

Mizuno MP-52 (left) vs MP-57 Irons (right)

Features

• Innovative Dual Muscle design combines solid feel and increased playability
• A unique CNC milled pocket cavity provides a lower and much deeper COG while maintaining thickness behind the impact area for amazing solid feel
• Exclusive Grain Flow Forged™, 1025E “Pure Select” mild carbon steel provides the ultimate soft, solid, and consistent feel
• Durable double nickel chrome plated finish
• Modified U-grooves produce the ideal spin rate for maximum playability in all conditions
• Rolled leading edge, cambered mid-sole, and aggressively beveled trailing edge deliver consistent striking ability from all types of lies

Specifications

The clubs we are reviewing are fitted with Dynamic Gold S300 shafts. Here are the standard specifications for the clubs. Since these clubs are forged, they are quite easy to have adjusted by your local clubfitter.

MP-52 vs MP-57 at Address

Looks

As always, Mizuno has nailed it in the looks department. With the MP line of irons, they have always put together a classic looking club that really suits the eye. While the MP-52 has integrated a deeper cavity back, at address the iron still looks like a solid piece of equipment that you can use to execute a shot with surgical precision. Have a look at this picture on the right and tell me if you can tell the difference between the MP-52 and MP-57?

If you would like to see how it compares to an MX-23, MP-67 or MP-33 at address, have a look at our MP-57 review. Since the MP-52 and MP-57 are so similar at address, there is little need to take additional images here.

Really, the only major difference you will notice is the slightly more ‘busy’ cavity back. But, as I have said here in the past, who ever looks at the back side of the club? If you are looking for a little game improvement in your irons, but want to retain that classic player look at address, it is tough to go wrong with this line.

Feel

Butter. Sure, it is not quite the same as a pured MP-33, however, if you have only ever hit super game improvement irons from the major club manufacturers, you owe it to yourself to feel a well struck shot on a Mizuno club face. For me, the only thing that has come close, is a Miura forged blade…but Mizuno will leave a lot more cash in your wallet!

Unfortunately, the MP-52s I have reviewed here were fitted with some Dynamic Gold shafts vs. Project X shafts in the MP-57s, so right there the clubs will have a slightly different feel to them. However, off the club face you can instantly tell where you have missed a shot, a little to the toe, a little thin…you will know it. Sure, you can get away with a slightly off center hit, however you will not be rewarded with a nice feel. This is one thing that has always bugged me about other game improvement irons…your subconscious brain is rewarded with a decent feel even when you do not hit it in the center of the face. That is not game improvement. So as long as you are willing to deal with some pain when you hit a thin shot in the cold, these MP-52s should also help you start hitting the ball on the center of the club face more often.

Mizuno MP-57 (left) vs MP-52 5 Irons (right)

Performance

Again, with the shaft difference, it is difficult to directly compare performance between the MP-57 and MP-52. Here, I will go with what Mizuno says, and say that the MP-57 has a slightly smaller sweet spot than the MP-52. Given that there is a little more meat toward the sole of the club, I would also suspect that these clubs launch the ball a little higher, with a little more spin than the MP-57s as well.

Along with the MP-52s, I have been playing an older set of Callaway Fusion irons, with identical shafts/setup. The Fusion irons are clunkers to look at from behind, but setup nicely and are extremely forgiving. They also cannot hold a candle to the MP-52s in terms of accuracy/consistency. With a good swing, I find the MP-52s are extremely consistent distance wise. If you have not done this yourself, take a shag bag, 20 or so balls, and an iron of your choice. Put a stake or something in the ground as a target, and pace back the distance you believe you hit that iron. Hit 10-20 balls at that target, and see how consistent you are distance wise. It is very easy to spray the ball a little left or right. But the distance the ball travels should be pretty close. With the MP-52s, it is extremely close. With the Fusions, I find I catch one here or there that just launches an extra half club.

While the MP-52s are slightly more forgiving than the MP-57s, do not mistake these for a set of Ping G-10 irons. They will not simply go high and straight with whatever you throw at it. They are workable, have a very playable sole and are great performers assuming you have a somewhat repeatable swing. Again, I say this, but I do not think that should scare away the 20 handicappers out there. People might say you have no business playing a club like this, but honestly, if you are on the right track with your swing (you have had some lessons, things aren’t too fundamentally awful), a club like this can only HELP your game. If nothing else, they are great to practice with at the range until you feel confident enough to take them on the course.

Conclusion

This review probably sounds an awful lot like the MP-57 review. And honestly, they are quite similar clubs. Ultimately, if you are trying to make a decision between the MP-57 and the MP-52 it is going to come down to personal preference. I would suggest heading to the range and hitting both of them side by side. If you can find a range with a launch monitor, that would be even better. See which of the two clubs fits your swing best. If you are looking for something with a little more forgiveness, but still some of that Mizuno buttery soft feel, check out the MX-25 or even a used set of MX-23s.

Just remember, no set of irons is going to ‘fix’ a bad swing!

You can find the Mizuno MP-52 Irons at most major golf retailers for $899 with standard steel shafts, $999 with Project-X shafts or for around $450-700 for a used set on eBay (just be sure to pay attention to the seller rating and watch for fakes!).

As usual, here is a little background from the people at Frogger first, then we will get into the detailed review.

The Amphibian Towel in Action

Background

The Amphibian Towel is the Ultimate Golf Towel. You can Increase Backspin, Distance & Accuracy with Clean Clubs! Optimize golf club performance and lower scores. Double the surface area of standard golf towels. Only golf towel that stays both wet and dry on sunny or rainy days.

• Two 28” X 14” Towels in one (twice the surface area of a standard golf towel)
• Waterproof interior membrane keeps wet and dry towels separate
• 100% Bamboo terry inside absorbs 3X more water than cotton, dries 3X as fast, naturally anti-fungal and anti-microbial
• Plush woven cotton jacquard outside
• Handy pull tabs keep hands dry while opening towel with ease

Look and Feel

At first glance, the Amphibian Towel looks like a pretty common golf towel. The exterior is plush with a little amphibian logo. The interior is a bamboo terry that is a little rough to the touch, at least compared to the soft fluffy exterior. The corner of the towel is fit with a little ‘dry tab’, which one can use to open the towel. This comes in handy when you want to grab the towel with your golf glove hand and not get the glove wet. The towel is also fitted with a fabric hook tab and carabiner for attaching the towel to your golf bag. I have gone through a lot of towels in the past with cheap grommets, they end up falling off in the washing machine after a cleaning or two. The carabiner and little hook for it on the Amphibian Towel seem rock solid, and I have had no issues with either.

Also available, is a smaller golf ball towel. The golf ball sized towel is near identical in functionality, though is sized to clean and dry a golf ball. It even includes a little carabiner. I attach both towels side by side to a clip on my bag, wet each, and am set for the round.

The golf ball towel is available in black, while the full sized towel is available in three colors: Black, Blue and Red.

The Amphibian Towel

Performance

Ok, enough about how it looks. What you want to hear is how it performs. So the beauty of this particular towel is that you can wet the inside and the outside stays dry. That may seem trivial, but think about playing a round. Hit a shot with your wedge, take a nice divot, the grooves are covered in dirt. You can take a couple once overs on the wedge with the BrushPro, but I usually also like to wipe off the face with a wet towel. So that means I need to carry a wet towel around. I also like to have a dry towel around to dry my hands, wipe the sweat off my forehead, or dry my golf clubs off after they have been wet. So now I need to keep half the towel wet, and the other half dry. Ok, not impossible, but a pain. Now…you also know that if it is a hot day out, most cotton towels will dry out or drip out pretty quickly, so that towel you have half wet and half dry…is pretty dry pretty quickly.

In steps the dual purpose Amphibian Towel. The bamboo terry inside really does suck up a lot of water and retain it for quite a long time. The strangest thing is, you pour some water on the inside to get it nice and soaked up, and you fully expect the outside to be wet, but it’s bone dry. Pretty neat. So, start your round off, soak up the bamboo terry with some water, clip the towel to your bag, and now you have a nice water source to clean your clubs at least until the turn. One nice thing I have found is that the slightly rough terry cloth on the inside (which I mentioned early on) has a nice texture for getting some grime off the clubs.

While I do not play a ton of rounds in the rain, another neat feature of this towel is that you can simply turn it inside out. Now that water absorbent bamboo terry cloth is on the outside, soaking up mother nature’s water. While the inside of the towel remains dry. You then have a nice dry towel attached on the outside of your golf bag…ready to dry off your grips or hands or whatever. Great stuff.

As you can imagine the golf ball sized towel works equally as well. It’s great for cleaning up your golf ball real quick and drying it off. You do the same thing here, wet the inside, and use the outside to dry it off. It’s small enough that you can just clip it to a belt loop on your pants. It doesn’t seem to drip any water, so no worries about looking like you had an accident!

Conclusion

The golf ball sized Amphibian Towel can be had for $12.95, and would probably make a perfect stocking stuffer for the golfer in the family. I am pretty sure whoever you give it to will quickly be ordering him or herself the full sized towel as well, which can be had for $19.95. Frogger Golf also offers some discounts when combining the Golf Ball sized and full sized Amphibian Towel or even the BrushPro. Be sure to check out their site for more details.

If you are tired of cheap towels that rip, drip or just plain do not cut it…check out the Amphibian Towel. For $19.95, it’s not a bad deal. I cannot imagine having to replace it anytime soon.

Background

The ClimaProof Storm 3-Way

adidas Golf has introduced the ClimaProof Storm 3-Way Convertible Jacket, a versatile piece of equipment that can be worn three ways – long-sleeve, short-sleeve or vest – depending on the weather. Its unique combination of construction, modern materials and intelligent features make it a must-have for serious golfers who want to perform their best in the elements while enjoying the best possible protection against wind, rain and cold.

The ClimaProof Storm 3-Way Convertible Jacket unites advanced structural design and modern four-way stretch properties to eliminate excess material that would otherwise get in the way of the swing. That includes a thin-yet-warm removable 360° compression wrap inner layer that also delivers increased support and precludes the need for a liner, eliminating bulk. An athlete can make a full swing with complete freedom while wearing this jacket, and can also chip and putt without the distraction of excess material impeding the motion of the arms and hands.

Critical jacket features developed to increase comfort and convenience while eliminating distraction include:

• Convertible sleeves with stretch-elbow articulation for easy movement
• Shaped and adjustable cuffs for snug, comfortable fit
• Inner collar that flips up for added protection from the elements
• Bonded paneling in critical comfort zones to eliminate seams that can rub, chafe and irritate
• Waterproof zipper that makes a storm flap unnecessary
• Innovative silicone grippers on each shoulder that prevent bag-strap slippage
• Concealed venting for excellent breathability
• Concealed internal right pocket
• Waterproof to 20,000 mm
• Breathable to 15,000g/m2/24hrs

The ClimaProof Storm 3-Way Convertible Jacket was introduced on tour at this year’s Open Championship, where it was worn by adidas Golf Tour Staff professionals including Sergio Garcia, Justin Rose and Sean O’Hair. Colors: black, zinc-black and Barez. Sizes: S, M, L, XL and XXL. Includes a three-year waterproof warranty. Available in stores now. The MSRP is $275. To learn more, visit the ClimaProof Storm 3-Way Convertible Jacket website.

Look and Feel

A lot of golf jackets on the market today are quite loose fitting. The intent, I assume, is to reduce restriction. However, I find that, while loose and comfortable, the material can sometimes be distracting or even restrictive. The ClimaProof Storm is on the other end of the spectrum. The jacket has a very trim/athletic fit to it. If you have a little extra padding around the middle, you may want to look to size up. The jacket is definitely designed for a slim to V shaped body size. The interesting thing, however, is that the jacket was not restrictive at all. The sleeves fit nicely with little ‘loose’ material. The velcro straps on the end of the sleeves provided both nice protection from the elements and kept the jacket from interfering with your swing.

The jacket itself is very sharp looking. The jacket I received was in Barez (blue above), and I absolutely love the look. They have done a wonderful job of blending both style and performance into the functional elements of the jacket. For instance, the adidas logo style grip strips on the shoulders. They look pretty neat, and do a great job of holding your dual strap golf bag in place when it is wet out. There is nothing worse than having a bag slip and slide on your shoulders when it is wet, cold and windy out.

The material of the jacket is pretty interesting as well. The jacket does a great job of cutting the wind and keeping out any moisture, but it also seems quite breathable. I get pretty warm pretty quickly, and find the gore-tex style jackets to be too hot to play in, as they get all clammy inside. This jacket felt quite comfortable in both cool (40s) and warmer (60s) climates. When it was warmer, and not raining, open up the vent slots in the back, and you’ll feel quite comfortable. When it gets colder, the zip in Compression Layer will help keep you warm. It is a snug fit with the compression layer, but if you find it uncomfortable or too warm, it zips out quite easily.

Performance

As I mentioned earlier, the jacket is a snug fit, this means there is very little to get in your way during your swing. At first I thought it would be restrictive, but the joints…shoulders…elbows..turning your core…it really is as if you are not wearing a jacket at all. But walk outside on a 40 degree, windy, damp day, and you’ll be glad you are wearing it. You will not feel the wind a bit.

As you can see above, the jacket can be configured in three ways: Full Sleeves, Short Sleeves, No Sleeves. The No Sleeve option looked a little strange on me, but it is a nice option for warmer windy days. The sleeves come off quite easily and are also simple to reattach. The joints are all waterproof and seem to be windproof as well. I took the jacket out with just a short sleeve shirt on underneath during a very windy/chilly day, and did not notice any cold air on my arms. Solid in my book. I find some jackets are just too much of a hassle to remove the sleeves, so I never bother doing it. This one, I can work with.

If it is super windy and wet out, there is even a little storm collar that flips up on the back of the neck. Personally though, on those days I stay inside!

Conclusion

I really have to say I love the look of this jacket, it is quite stylish while at the same time performs. My favorite little feature, strangely enough, are those little silicone grabbers on the shoulders. Even if you do not carry your clubs, they look pretty neat. But really, they do a wonderful job of keeping those bag straps secure on your shoulders…no more rubbing your shoulders raw.

The fact that the jacket is so breathable while at the same time keeping out the moisture and wind is pretty remarkable.

Unfortunately, checking in at $275 retail, this jacket may be out of the reach of some golfers, especially during these economic times. Nonetheless, it compares quite favorable to other jackets in the same price point, like the Zero Restriction Tour-Lite we reviewed last year. I have not seen any ClimaProof Storm 3-Way jackets on eBay yet, but you are probably better off picking it up from an authorized reseller anyway. The ClimaProof Storm can be had from GolfGalaxy for $274.99.

Be sure to check out the ClimaProof Storm Mini-Site. It has some great detail pictures of all the various components of the jacket as well as a 360 degree view and some videos!

Here is the complete press release, with a bunch of detailed information:

DIRECTV, atop the leaderboard in HD and interactive sports coverage among pay TV providers, continues its run of offering golf fans unique, in-depth tournament viewing with its PGA Championship Interactive service, debuting Aug. 7. Supplementing broadcast feeds from TNT and CBS, as well as the online offerings of PGA.com, DIRECTV will provide enhanced and expanded coverage of the 90th PGA Championship at Oakland Hills Country Club in Michigan, during all four days of the tournament.

The service, free to DIRECTV customers, will deliver four channels – all in HD – of Tournament coverage, including three unique channels that will focus on a featured group each day, featured holes and a new offering called “Players In Depth.” These channels will be available, along with live network coverage, throughout each network’s broadcast hours, Thursday and Friday from TNT (1-7 p.m. ET) and on Saturday and Sunday from TNT (11 a.m. – 2 p.m. ET ) and CBS (2-7 p.m. ET). Complimentary online coverage will also be available all four days from PGA.com. The PGA Championship Interactive Mix Channel will display all four channels on a single screen, allowing viewers to select and tune to each as a full-screen channel, each of them available in HD. Each individual channel will also provide access to scores and stats at the push of a button.

“DIRECTV Interactive is to viewers what a great caddie is to the touring pro. We’re their eyes and ears and we make sure they have all the information and the tools they need to get the most out of the game,” said Eric Shanks, executive vice president, DIRECTV Entertainment. “Major championships like the PGA and US OPEN golf and US OPEN tennis provide an incredible stage to showcase our HD and interactive technology and the new, exciting dimension they bring to the televised sports viewing experience. This is what content leadership is all about and what our customers have come to expect as we continue to explore innovative ways to engage the viewer.”

The PGA Championship Mix Channel (Channel 701) will feature a leaderboard on the left side of the screen and display the following four views:

• Live CBS/TNT network coverage of the tournament itself.
• Featured Group will follow a single group’s progress around the course, with announcers providing insight on the live play.
• Featured Holes will focus solely on two of the challenging par 3 holes on the Oakland Hills South Course. Viewers receive complete live coverage as players try different clubs, swings and strategies to meet the challenge.
• Players In Depth, a new featured channel, is a fully produced show with interviews, highlights, press conferences, graphics and up-to-the-minute stats. For example, a camera crew and host will visit the driving range or the 18th green and conduct interviews, while another host will provide voice-over highlights and lead-ins to additional content.

On each full-screen HD channel, a menu of features will be displayed on-screen for immediate access via remote. Features include:

• Top 5 Leaders: Displays the top 5 current scores against par.
• Leaderboard: Provides information on all golfers in the field.
• Scorecard: Hole-by-hole stats for each player in the field. The current round and any previous rounds are included. At the top of the page, the player’s current year’s stats are displayed.
• PGA Championship Trivia: A new 10-question quiz on the history of the PGA Championship appears each day.
• Past Champions: A list of the winners and runners-up from previous PGA Championships.

Patriot Golf Day Driver

TaylorMade-adidas Golf Company, the world’s leading maker of metalwoods, today announced it will produce a limited number of special-edition Patriot Golf Day drivers in hopes of helping the Folds of Honor Foundation raise more than $1 million during its Patriot Golf Day fundraising event. The foundation, which provides educational scholarships to families of those who have become disabled or lost their lives in the line of duty in Iraq or Afghanistan, is the sole beneficiary of Patriot Golf Day.

Patriot Golf Day is supported by The PGA of America and is the vision of Captain Dan Rooney, who is both a PGA Teaching Professional and an F-16 fighter pilot in the 125th Fighter Squadron of the Oklahoma Air National Guard. It was held for the first time on September 1, 2007; more than 3,200 golf courses participated and helped raise more than $1.1 million by donating one dollar for every player who played that day. This year, Patriot Golf Day will span all four days of Labor Day weekend (Friday, August 29 through Monday, September 1).

TaylorMade-adidas Golf has vowed to help the Foundation double the first year’s fundraising efforts by creating specially-designed, limited edition drivers inspired by the F-16 “Viper” fighter jet that Captain Rooney piloted during two tours in Iraq. The driver features the Patriot Golf Day Logo on the toe, a laser-etched F-16 jet on the sole, a deep “intimidation” black crown and a specially-designed Patriot Golf Day head cover in red, white and blue.

Beginning in August, participating golf facilities will receive a single driver in a commemorative box to put on display for silent auction prior to Patriot Golf Day. Net proceeds from the silent auction will go to the Folds of Honor Foundation to support college and vocational scholarships for the spouses and children of fallen and wounded soldiers.

“More than 37,000 service members have been killed or wounded, and Patriot Golf Day is a way for patriotic Americans to assist families of those military personnel who have given the ultimate sacrifice for our freedom,” said Rooney, who will return to Iraq for a third tour of duty this summer. “TaylorMade-adidas Golf’s support of Patriot Golf Day has helped us add a critical fundraising component that will allow us to reach more families with scholarships and other forms of support.”

“When we learned of Dan Rooney’s fundraising mission with Patriot Golf Day, it wasn’t a question of whether or not we would, but how much could we do to help,” said Mark King, president and CEO of TaylorMade-adidas Golf. “We hope the money raised from the auction of the TaylorMade limited edition drivers will positively impact families of servicemen and women who have made the ultimate sacrifice to protect our freedom.”

Last year this event was a great success. It’s nice to see the tradition continue and grow.

BagBoy Compact 600

Not long ago we had a look at the Clicgear 2.0 Push Cart, today we follow up in the Push Cart series with a review of the Compact 600 by Bag Boy. Bag Boy is a veteran in this field, with a wide variety of offerings and ample experience in providing golf gear to the masses. How does the Compact 600 stack up to current models? Let’s have a closer look and see…

Background

Make your walk around the course easier on your back by investing in one of these beauties. The Bag Boy Compact 600 Push Cart folds down to an incredibly compact size when not in use, making it easy to fit in your car when headed to the links.

• Telescoping handle for ultra compactibility
• Foldable scorecard and beverage holder for compact storage
• High modulus ultra lightweight aluminum tubing
• Handle mounted parking brake
• Quick release folding mechanism (lift and fold)
• Adjustable bag brackets fold for compact storage
• Adjustment mechanism guarantees perfect front wheel alignment
• Maintenance free 12″ non flat tires
• High strength support cable for long lasting durability
• Hi-tech, rust proof spoke wheels with steel ball bearings
• Quick release Velcro bag straps

The BagBoy Comapct 600 is available in two color combinations: Black/Red and Grey/Blue (the color of the unit we have reviewed).

Look and Feel

While we found the Clicgear 2.0 to be a rugged, mountain bike style push cart, the Bag Boy Compact 600 is, well, compact. Comprised of a thin aluminum frame, the Bag Boy looks and feels quite light and trim. At first glance, one might be concerned about the stability of this cart, but you can rest easy. The Compact 600 is a solid piece of equipment. The cart feels extremely stable and I believe will hold up quite well over time. As you can see below, the nice wide base of the wheels ensures that you will be stable over a variety of terrain.

While the Clicgear offers a ton of bells and whistles, along with the trendy rugged look, the Bag Boy Compact 600 takes a simplistic approach to the push cart. The straps to hold your bag are made of a sturdy material with simple plastic buckles which snap together. The brackets which hold the bag in place are also simple, yet effective. They fold out easily to snugly hold your bag and fold up out of the way when you are done with your round.

The storage compartment is very simple. A plastic latch holds the door shut versus a magnetic latch in the Clicgear 2.0. Unless you plan on sitting there all day opening and closing the door, the latch seemed to be sturdy enough to hold up over the long haul. Inside the compartment there is plenty of space for your wallet, phone, spare glove, or whatever you would like to keep out of the elements. While the compartment may not be completely waterproof, I found my items to be dry after a few light rain showers. The top of the compartment has a little clip to hold your scorecard and a pencil. This is quite convenient, and easy to write on as the surface is completely flat. It may be difficult to see in the picture above, but the compartment folds down so it could be perpendicular to the ground, so that makes it a little easier to write on as well. The arm with the handle and storage compartment is also extendable, so you can make sure that the handle is at a comfortable position for you while you are pushing the cart.

The parking brake on the Compact 600 is well designed. You simply flip a latch forward, and the brake is in place. Flip it back, and the brake is off. It certainly would not leap out as a must have feature of a push cart, but when you start actually using this cart, you will quickly find refined features like this brake are welcomed additions.

Performance

The first thing you will do with this cart is unfold it as you take it out of your trunk for your round. So easy of folding and unfolding is a big factor for me when deciding on a push cart. When you are running late for a tee time, you certainly do not want to struggle with a complicated push cart. I found the Bag Boy Compact 600 to be as simple to unfold and fold as the Clicgear 2.0. Do it a couple times, and you’ll have the cart out of your trunk and your bag saddled up within a minute or two. Folding is just as simple. It boils down to about 3 steps. Fold the front tire, lift the little red bar, and boom, it folds up. Done and done.

One issue I had with the Clicgear was the size of the tires and the resulting added friction over soggy terrain. As you could probably see in the pictures earlier in the review, the tires on the Compact 600 are slightly more narrow and rounded. This helps tremendously when navigating muddy or wet areas. The people at Clicgear said the reason for the wider tires was to avoid creating ruts on the course, but I did not find this problem with the Compact 600. Though, I do not push a 60lb Staff Bag around on my push cart…so perhaps you would do more damage to the course with narrow tires and an anvil on your cart! As with the Clicgear, the tires are made of a slightly soft rubber material, not hard plastic. This makes for a quiet, softer ride on cart paths.

The straps held up well, my bag always felt secure in the cradling arms of the Compact 600. The cart also provides ample clearance for all sorts of terrain. Some carts I find have a very low front tire, and this causes a problem if you are trying to push the cart over those little wooden cart path barriers. You’ll notice in the picture above, the Compact 600 has a little more clearance than the Clicgear.

Last, but not least, everyone always wants to know…how is the cup holder? Ok, maybe everyone does not want to know that…but anyway…it held my 32oz water bottle just fine. It is slightly larger than the cup holder on the Clicgear, but should still be able to hold something as small as a can of soda.

Conclusion

The Bag Boy Compact 600 Push Cart can be had for $179.95, coming in at a slightly lower retail price than the Clicgear 2.0 or Sun Mountain Speed Cart. This compact, lightweight push cart is priced well. Sure there are slightly less expensive push carts to be found, but I do not believe there is a better price/performance contender out there. If you are looking for a very lightweight push cart, that folds down to fit into the smallest of trunks, with a more subdued look, the Compact 600 may be a great option for you. I really like the fact that it is so easy to push over just about any terrain. Couple this with the established brand of Bag Boy and you have a product that is both highly functional and backed by a solid company. If you have any questions about the Bag Boy Compact 600, please feel free to ask in the comments below, we’d be happy the answer them.

** Note, the winners have been selected and notified. If I do not hear back from them or if they do not meet the residency requirements, new winners will be selected. Thanks to everyone for entering the contest, it was very successful! Be sure to keep your eye open for the upcoming August contest! **

First of all, let me extend congratulations to the winners of the June Birdie Ball Contest and a big thank you to everyone who participated.

June Winners

• Mike of Beavercreek, OH
• Patrick of Tarrant, AL
• Robert of Thomasville, NC

For July we have decided to put together another very simple contest along the same lines as the June contest. However we have added a new prize to the contest. Three winners will be selected again, and in order the winners will receive:

• First Place: Three Birdie Balls and a set of Epoch Golf Tees
• Second Place: Two Birdie Balls
• Third Place: One Birdie Ball

To enter the contest, all you need to do is subscribe to our Newsletter by entering your email address and clicking subscribe below. On the morning of July 31st, 2008, we will randomly select 3 subscribers to The Deep Rough (previous winners excluded). The first selected winning First Place. So make sure you subscribe by July 30th! Could it get any easier? Email addresses must be valid accounts which have been verified, as winners will be notified by the subscribed email address. So make sure you verify your account! This is important, last month we had about 100 people who had not verified their accounts, so they were not eligible to win. Due to shipping costs, the contest is only open to residents of the USA and Canada. Feel free to send this along to your family and friends, have them enter as well!

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The Nike SQ Hybrid at Address

Over the past few months, we have had a chance to have a close look at a lot of clubs in the 2008 line of Nike golf equipment. From the Nike Sumo 5900 driver to the Nike Slingshot 4D irons, we have continually been impressed. Today we will be having a closer look at the Nike Sumo Squared Hybrids. These hybrids promise pinpoint accuracy and ample forgiveness.

Background

Ever been stuck with over 200 yards to the green and a tough lie? All alone, in the middle of the rough? Introducing the Nike SQ SUMO² Hybrid, a marvel of science (geometry in particular) to stand beside you in the most difficult of situations.

SQ SUMO² Hybrid Profile
Square head design, generous offset and extreme perimeter weighting make this Nike Golf’s highest MOI hybrid ever. Designed to deliver exceptional stability at impact and produce high launching soft landing shots.

Hot Cryo Steel Face
The lightweight face is thicker in the middle and progressively thinner at the edges, resulting in a more consistent ball speed, maximum distance and increased forgiveness across the clubface.

Nike PowerBow Weighting
The square Nike PowerBow design strategically positions weight low and to the perimeter. The resulting high MOI and low CG produce a very forgiving and stable head at impact.

Look, Feel and Performance

It was a big weekend. I was returning to my alma mater for my 15th Reunion and was arriving a day early to play in their annual golf tournament. A scramble format, I was paired with my husband and a classmate that I hadn’t seen in 15 years and I knew we were going to have a fun time. My only concern was how my golf game would hold up. My game has improved considerably since I started playing with the Nike Slingshot 4D irons, but I have continued to struggle off the tee as well as with shots over 150 yards.

The moment I stepped up to the first tee I knew I had a big decision to make. I could either use my driver which I’ve never been very successful with in the past or bring out my new Nike SQ Sumo 2 Hybrid 20 degree (3 iron) which I hadn’t had a chance to try yet. Since it was a scramble and the guys could choose not to take my drive, I decided to give the SQ Sumo 2 Hybrid 20 degree (3 iron) a shot and I hit a beautiful, high draw right down the middle. The moment I put the club in my hands I knew it was going to be good. Similar to the Nike Slingshot 4D irons, there is just a confidence that comes with using these clubs.

Yet again Nike has come out with an incredible club with the SQ Sumo 2 Hybrids. I’ve played with a different brand of hybrids before and I never felt comfortable using them out of the rough. While playing with they Nike hybrids, I didn’t hesitate when I was in the rough to use them and I was not disappointed. I stepped up to the ball confidently and was astounded at the both the distance and trajectory out of the rough. Playing with these hybrids I’ve just enhanced my game even more! I’ve used the SQ Sumo 2 Hybrids (both 20 and 23 degree – 3 and 4 iron) several times since the golf outing and I’ve had similar results. I’m confident whenever I step up to hit the ball and am rarely disappointed. An incredibly forgiving club, even a mishit with these clubs travels a good distance and provides a decent next shot. I am starting to rely on the SQ Sumo 2 Hybrids a little too much though as I’m using them off the tee, in the rough and in the fairway. They’ve become my go-to clubs for any distance over 150 and they usually provide the desired result. I have been incredibly impressed with these clubs and recommend them for any woman who is looking for a hybrid that provides great distance and accuracy as well as confidence whenever you bring it out of your bag.

Specifications

Where to Buy

The Nike SQ Sumo Squared Hybrid can be found in just about any pro shop or golf retail store for a price of just around $150. Given that some hybrids seem to be creeping up toward the $200 range, this is quite a bargain for the technology involved. You can also find them used in the $100-$125 range on eBay.

Crocs Ace

Early last summer I purchased a pair of Off Road crocs, and they have rarely left my feet. They are quite possibly the most comfortable casual shoes I have ever owned. I always wear them to the golf course, and am anxious to slip them back on after walking 18 holes. When Crocs purchased Bite Shoes last year, my first thought was wow…when do I get golf spikes on my crocs?. Well, I did not have to wait long. Crocs quickly put together a golf shoe design, that is more than just spikes slapped onto the bottom of a traditional croc: the Crocs Ace.

Background

• the fusion of comfort and sport, a concept pioneered by others but perfected by crocs
• circulation nubs stimulate blood flow
• footbed conforms to foot creating a custom fit
• loose fit and lightweight design allow feet to bend and expand naturally, reducing fatigue
• adjustable turbo strap™hugs the heel enhancing stability and performance
• ventilation ports increase breathability while also helping you line up your feet “square to the ball” for increased aim and accuracy
• no holes on sides to protect your feet from fresh morning dew and incredibly easy to clean
• traditional golf spike pattern includes an innovative ‘target’ pattern to help you focus your game
• lug traction system features extra traction to effectively balance weight during swing
• so easy to get on and off you may forget how to tie your old golf shoes

Look and Feel

As you can tell from the pictures, at first glance, the Ace shoes look quite similar to the original Crocs. Upon closer inspection, you’ll first notice that there are no holes on the sides of the shoe. This prevents water or dew from seeping into your shoes during early morning or soggy rounds. Obviously they are not waterproof, but if you played with normal crocs, plenty of water would quickly get in there. Flip the shoe over, and you’re presented with the other obvious change…soft spikes!

The Ace shoes use Champion spikes which appear to be less grabby than typical scorpion or spider type soft spikes. However, I found them, in combination with the other nubs and creases, to provide ample traction on the course. With the rear strap of the shoe snug around your ankle, the shoes do feel quite solid on your feet.

Feel…yeah, these are crocs and they feel absolutely amazing. Your feet really do mold into the foot bed. If you haven’t worn crocs, it is difficult to explain. But wear these for 18 holes and your feet will still feel quite fresh. For walking, I haven’t worn any more comfortable shoes.

Performance

Now, we discussed water and comfort. No question these shoes are comfortable…once they are broken in. I was so excited to play a round when I first got these, I ran out to the course, slapped them on with no sock, and headed for the starter’s shed. Talked with the starter for a minute, he looked at my shoes, and asked if I planned on playing in plain old crocs…I showed him the sole, and he looked shocked. I trotted off to the first tee with a big grin on my face…oh how comfortable these shoes felt!

Well, about 6 holes into my round, I had walked through several puddles (the course was quite wet)…had brand new croc rubbing across the tops of my feet…and ouch. I had a couple huge blisters on the top of both feet. The combination of newness, water, and the stress of your skin sticking to the top of the shoe while your swing causes some big problems. I ended up having to stop after 9 holes as it just became too painful to walk. My own stupid mistake for rushing out there not thinking about the ramifications. I wear my normal crocs without socks all the time…why would this be a problem? Well, I would suggest wearing socks with them the first few times you play, or at least wear them around your house, your back yard…take your dog for a few walks…before you take them out on the course.

One of my initial concerns when I thought of Crocs making a golf shoe would be whether or not they could make a croc with enough lateral stability to support a golf swing. If you pickup a pair of these shoes, you’ll notice the top of the shoe is a little more rigid than a typical croc. This seems to make the shoe more stable than trying to hit balls wearing a normal croc. If you roll your feet ala Jack, you’ll feel quite comfortable. The shoes accommodate this quite nicely. The only problem I found was with my forward foot, it had a tendency to twist within the shoe rather than the shoe spinning out on shots where I have lost my balance or not shifted my weight properly.

Otherwise, the shoes felt quite supportive and had a good amount of traction on a variety of lies. Side hill lies on wet grass, bunker shots or just walking on the green, these shoes felt quite supportive.

Conclusion

While you may get some strange looks, and it takes a bit to break them in, the Crocs Ace Golf Shoes are quite possibly the most comfortable golf shoes I have ever worn. On wet days you will probably want to stick with your normal golf shoes, but on those dry, hot summer days, when your feet would normally feel like they would melt after walking 18…the Crocs Aces are a godsend.

Given that they can be had for under $40, these shoes are quite a bargain. If nothing else, I’d pickup a pair just to throw in your trunk to have for those quick 9 hole rounds after work.