The site highlights the following features:

• Display score needed to lower your handicap
• Average score reports (additional fee)
• Scores used in handicap highlighted
• Course Handicap
• 9 hole round support
• What would handicap be if I shoot…
• 1-click ratings lookup for 15,000+ courses
• My Courses for quick entry

As you can see from the screen above, the entry/score review process is pretty straight forward. The process of entering your scores and getting into the application is pretty dead simple. Just log in, select your course, a tee and put in our score. That’s about it. Once you have entered 20 scores, you can also print out a handicap card for yourself. While, this may not get you entered in a USGA event, it’s probably sufficient for your local four-ball. Unfortunately, this is not included in the ‘free’ account. You’ll need to upgrade to the pro account, good news is, this can be had for around $10 a year. Given that most courses will charge you at least $30 a year for handicap service, this is a decent option for the average golfer.

While the simplicity of this site is welcomed, and will probably be a positive for a lot of users, I have really grown attached to my iPhone golf scoring applications that tie in directly to online handicap tracking services. GolfHandicapCalculator seems to be missing that piece. If they could find a way to add that (perhaps open up an API so iPhone developers could publish to their tool) and if they could clean up the interface a little, it could be a compelling service to a wider range of users.

If you’re looking for a simple, straight forward, free way to track your scores and handicap, check it out (it won’t cost you anything!). If you’re looking for in depth statistics, community features and mobile phone integration, you may want to look elsewhere.

This review was sponsored via ReviewMe.com. While the post was sponsored, as always our goal is to review products without bias. We hope you’ve enjoyed this review!

Evan Golf – Last year, Fred Couples created a phenomenon when he wore ECCO’s Street Premier golf shoes during the Masters. Couples’ kicks left many wondering, “Why isn’t there more apparel that is stylish both on and off the course?” Well, now there is. Evan Golf was launched last August and the American-made line has been turning heads ever since. The company debuted its Spring/Summer men’s and women’s lines at the show, featuring fashion-forward designs that blur boundaries of performance wear and style without compromising on function. The clothing infuses new blood into the game, empowering golfers to take their style beyond fairways and greens.

AB Golf Designs – Head covers are a cost effective way to protect clubs and add a little personality to a golf bag. AB Golf Designs’ 2011 collection features a wide range of new products that not only stand out, they also help the environment. AB Golf Designs’ “The Throwback” collection has the look and feel of a traditional knit head cover, but is made with polyester fibers constructed from recycled plastic bottles. The collection is available for woods, hybrids and putters. (MSRP: $28.00) AB Golf Designs also unveiled their expanded range of Patriot Boxing Glove head covers. This year, Canada, Ireland, Italy and Japan join Australia, England and American flag designs. (MSRP: $25.00)

Ansai Heated Clothing – The battle to stay warm on the course is one many “climate-challenged” golfers know all too well. This year, Ansai Heated Clothing debuted jackets and vests featuring “MobileWarming” Technology, ensuring golfers remain comfortable during even the coldest days. Here’s how it works: Three heating panels (back, right chest, left chest) are built into the jackets and vests. The panels are powered by a rechargeable battery pack (about the size of a small cell phone) located in a pouch within one of the pockets. The battery pack lasts as long as nine hours depending upon the setting and can be removed, allowing the pieces to be washed like normal clothes. (MSRP: $190 for jacket, $150 for vests)

Bloom Designs Stationary – It is rare to find a golf-themed gift perfect for everyone. Clubs, clothes and equipment come in different shapes and sizes. One company at this year’s show literally has something for everybody — Bloom Designs stationary. Six years after unveiling their expansive array of golf and tennis stationary, the company is expanding its line to include travel mugs, candles, bag tags, coasters, recipe cards, organizers, cooler totes and note pads. Bloom Designs offers a custom design service where illustrations can be done for a specific event, theme, course hole, etc. and placed on their products. Retail prices range from $8-$30.

Hirzl Gloves – What golfer doesn’t like a soft durable glove? One of our favorite products from this year’s show is a glove that provides the kind of supple feel and secure grip that results in better shots and lower scores. Hirzl, a Swiss company, has developed what they call “GRIPPP technology.” Through an extensive tanning procedure they deliver a golf glove with unparalleled levels of control as well as ultimate breathability, form consistency, sweat absorption and water repellence. All of Hirzl’s gloves are made using a 45 degree pre-curved finger system designed for the natural curves of the hand. The result is glove that won’t bunch and fits perfectly.

UST Mamiya – A golf club shaft is one of the most vital pieces of equipment in the game and UST Mamiya is once again setting itself apart as the industry’s leading shaft company. The Texas-based brand unveiled three new lines of shafts, including the next generation of the popular ATTAS models, the ATTAS-T2, and the new MP5 and MP6 lines. It makes perfect sense the game’s leading shaft maker also makes superior grips. UST Mamiya launched a new line of multi-compound grips available in two different styles.

KENTWOOL – USA, USA U…S…A…! With more than 180 years of American textile heritage, KENTWOOL Performance Golf Socks combine a unique blend of natural and high-tech fibers to create a micro-climate system for superior moisture management and odor control. Bubba Watson and a host of PGA TOUR stars sport KENTWOOL Golf Socks on and off the course. Hewn from fine merino wool for ultimate foot comfort, each sock is designed to boost energy levels and increase on-course golf performance. At this year’s show, KENTWOOL expanded the line of colors to include lime green, blue, and purple. KENTWOOL Golf Socks are 100 percent Made-in-the-USA in Greensville, South Carolina.

Quagmire – Golf is supposed to be fun. Many apparel companies seem to have forgotten that teeing it up is also about having a good time. Not Quagmire. True to its “Not Fit for the Fairway” motto, the company is highlighting 2011 with a slew of polos and t-shirts for men, women and kids featuring its unique ColorFusion technology. A throwback to Hypercolor from the early 90s, these leading-edge shirts feature fabrics or screen prints (depending on the style) that change color from body heat or sunlight. The Canadian brand is also debuting Quagmire Kids – keeping kiddos looking good as they head to the first tee or the first day of school.

Boccieri Golf – With an oversized booth transformed into a boxing ring, visitors of Boccieri Golf at the 2011 PGA Merchandise Show were asked to “Take the Heavyweight Challenge.” Maker of the TOUR-proven Heavy Putter, Boccieri has introduced several new offerings including the Heavy Driver, Heavy Fairway Woods, Heavy Hybrid and Heavy Irons, with additions planned for its popular Heavy Putter and Heavy Wedge. Boccieri Golf focuses on its exclusive counter-weight technology in each product. By incorporating a back-weight under the grip to raise the balance point, Boccieri Golf induces a smooth and steady swing. The Heavy Irons are available now and the Heavy Driver, which received stellar reviews during Demo Day, will be available mid-February to early March.

Adams Golf – Fresh off four “Gold Winners” on the “2011 Golf Digest Hot List”, Adams Golf displayed the latest and greatest at this year’s PGA Show including the new “Speedline F11 Driver.” The award-winning club features patent-pending Velocity Slot Technology visible on the crown and sole, keeping the airflow attached throughout the swing. Ultimately, it reduces the amount of drag while increasing the speed of the swing. Recognized as one of the world’s top golf brands, Adams Golf continues to serve as an industry leader for hybrid clubs as the most played on professional tours. Adams Golf develops high-performance and technologically innovative golf products, committed to helping players of all abilities enjoy the game of golf.

As always, let’s start with a little background information about the clubs, then we will get on to the meat of the review.

Background

The technology of the G15 Iron provides the high-launching, maximum forgiveness attributes that bring consistency to your iron play.. The stainless steel iron’s cavity design features a new Custom Tuning Port (CTP) which expands the perimeter weighting and increases the moment of inertia.

Weight savings from a thinner face is re-positioned to the toe for added forgiveness on mis-hits and its wider sole produces a higher launch angle. Stronger lofts combine with a center of gravity located low and farther from the face to produce longer shots without sacrificing the higher trajectory required in a maximum forgiveness iron.

Look and Feel

There is no mistaking the G15 for blades, that is for sure. However, even with the wide sole and thicker top-line of a super game improvement iron, the G15 irons are very reassuring at address. As expected, the club face is slightly larger than that of the i15, especially noticeable in the heel to toe dimension at address. Personally, I like this in the longer irons, however, feel a little less confident when it comes to the shorter irons.

Flip the club over and you’ll notice the wider sole. Part of the theory behind this design decision is to get the center of gravity lower and further back on the club. This helps launch the ball higher. So, if you are one who has a hard time getting some height out of your irons, you should be able to hit a high ball with these sticks!

There is a nice finish to all PING clubs, the G15 irons are no exception. The almost rough finish to these cast irons is very cool in my book. The graphics on the back of the club face are interesting enough, but not overly distracting. Very similar to the i15 graphics, and even the G10 line to some degree. You will not be seeing them while swinging the club, so the design of the backside of the club rarely influences my decision on a club purchase.

Feel is where I have always found the PING G and I series lacking. The PING i15s, in my opinion, have made a nice step forward in the feel department over the i10 irons. The same can be said for the G15 irons. That being said, a well struck 8 iron is not going to feel as buttery smooth as a Mizuno blade. The flip side on that is when you thin a 5 iron in the early spring, you are not going to feel like you just smacked a cold cinder block.

All that being said, in the super game improvement class of clubs, I think the G15 irons do an admirable job of preserving some level of feel. While you may not feel exactly where you may have mis-hit a shot, you will at least know you did. I cannot say this for all super game improvement clubs out in the market.

Performance

Like any club out there, if you try hard enough, you can make these things slice and hook. Now, a gentle draw or fade? That will probably depend on your swing. I have a slight draw tendency, couple that with the offset and draw bias in these clubs, and I was generally hitting these with a few yards of right to left in them. Are they any more or less workable than the G10 irons? Not sure I can say there is a huge difference there.

As I mentioned earlier, these clubs have pretty wide soles. Personally, I always seem to struggle with wide soles, especially when it comes to tight lies. I feel like it is a little more difficult to play these out of a wider variety of lies because of that sole. However, given that these things are so darn forgiving, I found myself in fewer situations that required a club with a little more ‘workability’. If you have trouble getting the ball elevated, the wider sole in this set of irons does help get the ball up quickly.

When it comes to forgiveness, you will be hard pressed to find an iron that is this easy on your poor swings. Thin shots carried distance well, as did shots out on the toe and to some degree the heel as well. Sure, come in there with the face wide open, and this club won’t help you…but none of them will.

Conclusion

I really loved hitting the long irons, especially when the ball was sitting up on a tee. Standing on the tee box of a long par 3 or a tight par 4, the 3 or 4 iron from this set are superb. As I generally find with most sets of irons, a well struck 3 iron is a pretty amazing feeling. With the G15 irons, I found it relatively easy to find the sweet spot off a tee and could get used to launching my golf ball way up into the sky, hurdling down the middle of the fairway.

That being said, I felt like I gave up a little something in the control and accuracy department with the shorter irons. Now, this is just me, and I am looking for shorter irons I can work and flight. If you are just looking for maximum forgiveness, to hit the ball straight, and make the game of golf a heck of a lot easier…these may make more sense for you! Wait a minute, why do I want to be able to work the ball?

But back to those long irons. Today, the longest iron I am playing in my bag is a 5 iron. Anything above that, I am using a hybrid. It is difficult to beat the versatility of a hybrid and the forgiveness. But, a few sweet swings with the G15 3 and 4 irons on the range, and it is hard for me not to want to put them in play. So, we will see, they may make another appearance in my bag soon.

Should you be looking at the G15 irons? If you are currently playing something like the TaylorMade RAC OS2 irons and are looking for a little more feel and distance, this would be a nice step up. If you are coming from a set of blades, looking to make your Sundays more enjoyable, I would suggest stepping into something a little more intermediate, like the i15 irons.

The great news is, PING irons generally seem to retain their value well. So, picking up a set of either of these irons for a month or two would not cost you an arm and a leg if you consider the resale value.

Fast forward a year, the HSBC World Match play moved out of the state and the Shop-Rite became the only game in the Garden State. At this point, The Deep Rough had a year under its belt and a pretty good following. So, I thought I would see about getting some better access to the players/venue/organizers and try to learn a little more about how things ticked on the other side of the ropes. At the time, I really enjoyed watching the LPGA and felt like I could better relate to the lady’s game than what was going on with the men’s game. They used similar clubs, did not hit the ball 350 yards, were not spinning the ball back 20 feet out of the thick stuff, and missed the occasional 10 footer. So, I was all for doing whatever I could have done to help better expose the game to readers of The Deep Rough. I fired up google, dug around for the form to request media credentials, and kicked that process off. Shortly there after, I received a reply letting me know that my request had been denied. D’oh.

Fast forward another couple of years. Carolyn Bivins was given the boot. The LPGA seemed to embrace social media…they have a twitter account, that counts, right? The departure of tournament sponsors has been well documented. The lack of star power has been a problem. So, today, you would think the league would be all over getting whatever positive coverage they could get their hands on, right?

Yeah…not so much. The old HSBC World Match play made its way back to Hamilton Farm as the Sybase Classic. I thought, awesome, it’s down the street, let’s get in there and see how the LPGA has evolved over the past 4 years. So, I sent in my request for media credentials a few months ago. They are more ‘social media’ friendly now, right? They should welcome some local blogger coverage, right?

Dear Sean,

Thank you for your interest in covering the Sybase Match Play Championship. A summary of your organization’s media credential request is listed below:

Sean – Denied

Alrigthy then…seriously, nothing else.

It really just does not make a whole lot of sense to me. On one side, you have a number of LPGA players generating some amazing content through their twitter accounts. And on the other, you have the apparent desire of the league to control its image through traditional media sources. Does the LPGA embrace the opportunity they have to connect with fans through twitter? Or would they rather control what they players say through these new avenues for communication? Feel free to weigh in on this with a comment. (Unless, of course, you are just trying to sell Ugg boots, in which case, please just save your time…my time…and a little bandwidth..)

You do not have to look any further than Christina Kim’s twitter account to see how entertaining some of these ladies can be. I find real content, like she provides, pretty remarkable. A few years ago, you would be lucky to read a half decent interview with a PGA player in Golf Digest. Now, I can get workout advice from Trevor Immelman, get updates from John Daly on his game, and even get recommendations on Hibachi places from Christina Kim. How cool is that? LPGA, you would be wise to embrace this type of access. If I can relate to your product, I will buy your product.

Nike Golf gets it. They have embraced this form of marketing their product. Heck, they have invited me down to The Oven to check it out, meet the guys designing the clubs and then swing on over to Colonial to watch the Crowne Plaza Invitational. I could be wrong, but I am pretty sure I will have nothing but positive things to say about that experience!

So, best of luck to the women of the LPGA at the Hamilton Farm this week. Sorry I will not be there to experience it with you!

(Londonderry, New Hampshire) — ECCO USA announces the arrival of its distinctive, hybrid sport-casual Golf Street Premier shoe is available for $140 online at www.eccousa.com and ships to retailers later this week.

Showcased by ECCO Staff Player Fred Couples this past weekend, the Golf Street Premier is designed specifically to be worn both on and off the course. This tremendously versatile shoe features full-grain leather uppers, a sleek PU midsole and pre-molded traction bars which provide players with ideal traction, stability and comfort.

“The Golf Street’s outsole has roughly 100 molded traction bars and over 800 traction angles versus a standard golf shoe’s six to nine cleats,” says C.B. Tuite, General Sales Manager, ECCO USA Golf Division. “It’s no wonder Fred Couples relied on it during one of the most important golf tournaments of the year.”

Taking its cues from modern men’s fashion, Golf Street Premier includes funky color pops and cool metal-rivet accents. The ideal combination of style and function, it comes with synthetic blend wide-flat laces in two different colors for added user customization, including a contrast option for an additional dose of flavor. Like all ECCO golf shoes, Golf Street Premier is made using a proprietary direct-injection process that creates a one-piece construction which won’t break down over time.

In addition to Couples, ECCO golf shoes are worn in competition by scores of international Tour stars, including Aaron Baddeley, Colin Montgomerie, Stuart Appleby, Arjun Atwal, John Bickerton, Bradley Dredge and many others.

Coinciding with the recently introduced 2010 golf collection, ECCO has engaged in a series of major account and customer service initiatives. These include a supporting partnership of the PGA of America Golf Retirement Plus program, a new ECCO Golf Comfort Tech Van, a web-based retailer training module and the brand’s status as an official member of the Association of Golf Merchandisers.

Guaranteeing a level of quality that cannot be matched by any major footwear manufacturer, each ECCO golf shoe is made using a proprietary, direct-injection process. Touched by more than 225 sets of highly-skilled hands during production, each model is a testament to the brand’s unrivalled attention to detail that helps discerning players look, feel and play their best.

All ECCO golf shoes feature a network of built-in technologies to create the ideal platform for the perfect swing. These include a direct-injected, PU-constructed midsole/outsole that:

1. Creates a one-piece shoe construction
2. Ensures unrivaled durability, flexibility, lightness and weather resistance
3. Provides a superior level of cushioning and comfort that does not break down over time, unlike commonly-used materials such as air, rubber and EVA foam

Optimal performance is further guaranteed by:

1. Ultra-soft, high-grade leathers with hydrophobic treatments for superb weather-resistance
2. Internal stabilizer to reduce torque and create ideal swing stability
3. Double-layer insole with cushion that absorbs heel force to reduce stress on the knees, hips and back
4. Internal Air-Circulation System to maintain a fresh, dry and cool foot environment
5. Dynamic Energy Return System that provides a trampoline effect during foot-strike and follow-through to reduce fatigue and restore energy with each step
6. Green-friendly outsole designs featuring molded traction bars combined with Stinger cleats from Champ and the Q-Lok insert system to provide ideal traction and grip

We will see if we can get our hands on some of these for a complete review on and off the course!

While I personally will not be there, we will have a contributing blogger submit some reports over the next week. You may also want to check out our friends at oobgolf who will be live blogging the event. Knowing Andrew @ oob, I am sure that will be a blast to follow.

If there are any products you are specifically interested in, drop us a note in the comments here and we’ll try to get some more details for you. I am getting inundated with emails from manufacturers who will be at the show, so I may have some info for you!

Christmas Golf?

Golf Balls

This is always the ‘old standby’, I am sure most people out there with a golfing dad has bought a dozen golf balls as a gift on numerous occasions. If your dad generally plays ‘whatever golf ball he finds’ you could surprise him with a dozen ProV1 golf balls, at a discount price. How, you say? Check out our review on KnetGolf, a company that resells refinished or recycled golf balls. You can get top quality balls for half the price, and I really could not notice any difference…performance wise or cosmetically. So if you are looking to surprise that golfer in the family with some pricey golf balls…without breaking the bank, that route is a great option.

Epoch Golf Tee

A big bag of wooden golf tees is another traditional gift for a golfer. Rather than boring that golfer in your family with a $5 bag of 100 wooden tees in their stocking, check out our Evolve Golf. They offer a couple varieties of environmentally friendly, reusable golf tees. Not long ago we reviewed the Epoch and Vireo golf tees. Both can be had for about the same price as a large bag of wooden golf tees, but will last a heck of a lot longer, might eek out a few more yards and you won’t be killing any trees in the process.

Sassy Golf Glove

So you have a lady golfer in your life, and have no clue what to get her. Well, Sassy Golf has a real simple option for you, a decked out golf glove designed by a woman for women. Elizabeth, over at Sassy Golf, grew tired of wearing a man’s golf glove sized for a woman. So she put together some cute glove designs and has been selling her Sassy Golf gloves like crazy! There are a number of design options available, so you have another opportunity to be a little creative. The gloves can be had for just under $20 and include a boutique style gift pouch…saves you some wrapping time perhaps? After you order one of these gloves for the golfing woman in your life, be sure to follow Sassy Golf on Twitter.

Practice Golf Balls

Is your golfer looking at a cold winter season, stuck indoors? There are a number of practice golf balls on the market that can help ease the winter golf blues. We have reviewed a few of the options in the past, all of which are great options, let’s have a look at see what might work best for your golfer. Almost Golf makes a soft, foam like golf ball that looks a traditional golf ball and almost feels and flies like one. It could be used indoors for chipping or hit into a net in your garage. Another option, if the golfer has a little less space is The Floppy. The Floppy is more of a bean bag type material that can be used for any number of short game shots around the house. It works great off carpet, and unless you are hitting it toward that antique vase, it should be relatively safe around the house. Now, for the golfer that is in a little warmer weather and can hit some balls outside, your best bet is the Birdie Ball. The Birdie Ball is the most realistic feeling of the practice balls we have tested, but flies a much shorter distance. So for someone with a small back yard, you can still take pretty big swings and not worry about breaking any windows…well…hopefully not! All of these practice balls can be had at stocking stuffer prices, and would be a great gift for the avid golfer.

Pure Ball Striker

How many people out there have spent hundreds of dollars on golf training aids, only to find them collecting dust in the basement? The Pure Ball Striker is a very simple, yet very effective training aid that will help you develop lag pressure in your swing. It’s as simple as a little piece of rubber cut to fit over your golf grip. You place the meat of your lower hand (right hand for right handed golfers) on the PBS and feel the club head lagging against that finger through your swing. It’s something you can use anywhere and anytime you are practicing. Coming in at under $15, it definitely falls into that stocking stuffer category. Here is a nice video review of the product.

Golf Clubs

Now, what about golf clubs? This is a tricky subject. If the golfer in your life is an avid golfer, he or she probably has a very good idea of what type of club fits their game and what they want in a club. Most likely they would want to demo a few sets of irons or try out a variety of drivers before setting on a single club. This makes it difficult to choose a specific golf club for such people. In this case, it may make sense to simply get them a gift certificate at a local pro shop. Maybe make it a little interesting, buy them a custom club fitting at a location with a launch monitor or motion capture technology (TaylorMade Performance Lab or MotionGolf). If you still want to stick with a golf club, check out our used golf club buying guide on oobgolf.

Win some Golf Stocking Stuffers!

Okay, so hopefully you got some good advice there, and have enough time to order some little stocking stuffers for that golfer in your life. Now, if you are really tight on cash, and still want to get that golfer a pretty cool gift, have no fear, The Deep Rough has put together a little stocking stuffer contest for you! We will be awarding four prizes over the next couple of weeks.

• December 11th – Post a Comment – A Selection of a Dozen Golf Balls from KnetGolf
• December 16th – Follow us on Twitter – A Selection of Golf Tees from Evolve Golf
• December 18th – Subscribe to the Newsletter – Three Birdie Balls
• December 24th – Random One of the Above – A new Heavy Putter Mid-Weight CX2

To be entered into the contest, simply do one or all of the following:

Comment on a post on The Deep Rough (be sure to leave a valid email address) – We will select one comment posted after December 7th 2009, on December 11th. There is no limit to the number of entries, but please keep in mind that any that are determined to be spam will be deleted. So please, make your comments meaningful.

Follow us on Twitter and Retweet – Simply tweet the following:

RT @thedeeprough Enter our Stocking Stuffer Contest http://bit.ly/89mhHa

We will select one random person who tweets the message above on December 16th. Again, no limit to the number of entries.

Subscribe to our Newsletter – We will randomly select one new subscriber to The Deep Rough as of December 18th, make sure you have entered a valid email address and confirmed the validation email.

Lastly, for the putter, we will put all of the comments, tweets and new newsletter subscribers into a big pool, and randomly select one entry. The Heavy Putter Mid-Weight CX2 could be a nice little ‘slightly belated’ Christmas gift for someone!

Enter early, and enter often! Enjoy! Happy Holidays!

Winners

• December 11th – Dozen Golf Balls from KnetGolf – Jim V
• December 16th – A Selection of Golf Tees from Evolve Golf – @garthspaulding of CA
• December 18th – Three Birdie Balls – Jeremy of MD
• December 24th – A new Heavy Putter Mid-Weight CX2 – George of NV

Background

The TaylorMade Penta TP is the first tour ball with five solid-layers, with each layer engineered to optimize performance in five key shot categories that skilled players need – driver, long-irons, middle-irons, short-irons and partial wedges. The five layers of Penta TP include the core, inner mantle, middle mantle, outer mantle and cover, and each one plays a critical role in optimizing the performance of each of the five key shots.

Layer 1 – Cover

The soft Urethane Cover promotes a higher than average spin-rate on the all-important partial wedge shots required in the scoring zone, within 100 yards of the flag. These are the types of shots where many current tour balls fail to deliver the goods because they launch too high and don’t spin enough. Instead, most tour pros want a ball that launches lower and spins enough to stop fast after one or two bounces, which gives them maximum control over these types of shots. Penta TP’s soft, durable Urethane Cover has the necessary characteristics to deliver that coveted combination of lower launch angle and higher spin-rate, while also providing soft tour feel.

Layer 2 – Outer Mantle

The firm and fast Outer Mantle promotes optimum spin off the short-irons to stop the ball quick without sucking it off the front of the green or drawing it back too far from the hole. The Outer Mantle is the fastest mantle in the ball; because it’s positioned just beneath the cover it’s easily compressed by slower swingers (ball speeds 120 mph and below), helping them to generate higher ball speed for increased distance.

Layer 3 – Middle Mantle

The semi-firm and fast Middle Mantle, which surrounds the Inner Mantle , promotes mid-launch and mid-spin off the middle irons. Mid-launch promotes control; mid-spin keeps the ball from up-shooting, ballooning and falling short of the target. The Middle mantle consists of a fast material, allowing medium-slow swingers (who average from 120 to 140 mph in ball speed) to generate more ball speed and distance, as they will compress only the two outermost mantles underneath the cover.

Layer 3 – Middle Mantle

The semi-firm and fast Middle Mantle, which surrounds the Inner Mantle , promotes mid-launch and mid-spin off the middle irons. Mid-launch promotes control; mid-spin keeps the ball from up-shooting, ballooning and falling short of the target. The Middle mantle consists of a fast material, allowing medium-slow swingers (who average from 120 to 140 mph in ball speed) to generate more ball speed and distance, as they will compress only the two outermost mantles underneath the cover.

Layer 4 – Inner Mantle

The soft, fast Inner Mantle, which surrounds the core, promotes soft feel, high launch and low spin off the long-irons for exceptional distance and high, soft-landing flight that helps the ball sit quickly on the green. The Inner Mantle consists of a fast material, which helps players who average from 140 to 160 mph in ball speed to generate more ball speed and distance, because although they don’t swing fast enough to activate the core, they are able to activate the three layers between the core and cover including the inner mantle, which is the deepest of the three.

Layer 5 – Core

The extremely soft, low-compression core is the most critical layer to promoting high launch and low spin off the driver, which are well known to be the launch conditions that promote maximum carry and distance. Despite being soft and low-compression, Penta TP’s core is still very fast, which allows players who generate fast ball speed — in the 140 to 180 mph range — to generate more ball speed. Which means that if long-hitters who play a tour ball will likely be longer with Penta TP.

Progressive Distance Promotes More Yardage at a Variety of Swing Speeds

The layers of Penta TP are configured strategically to promote "Progressive Distance," which allows it to deliver terrific distance to all types of swing speeds. That’s because, as mentioned above, each layer is exceptionally fast. Slow swingers who generate only enough clubhead speed to activate the Outer Mantle will benefit. Medium swingers who can activate only the Outer and Middle mantles will benefit. Fast swingers who activate the Outer, Middle and Inner mantles will benefit. And of course, very fast swingers who activate every mantle plus the core will benefit.

Added Spin and Control in the Scoring Zone

The added spin Penta TP promotes in the scoring zone is especially important in light of the groove-change rule that will be implemented in high-level competitions by the USGA and R&Amp;A in 2010. The new grooves will impart less spin depending on the lie (much less out of the rough) and swing type (shallow swingers will lose more than steeper swingers). Penta TP will help some players recover some of the spin likely to be lost because of the new rule.
Recent testing with TaylorMade Tour Staff pros drew rave reviews from Sergio Garcia, Dustin Johnson, Jason Day, Retief Goosen and Justin Rose, who complimented Penta TP’s all-around performance and singled out for praise the spin and control on the all-important 30- to 75-yard wedge shot. "That’s been the biggest shortcoming in today’s tour balls," says Dean Snell, head of TaylorMade’s golf ball R&Amp;D department.

LDP Technology for Improved Distance on Driver Mis-hits

Penta TP also incorporates TaylorMade’s LDP technology, which uses improved aerodynamics to promote increased lift to keep the ball in the air longer for more distance on the most common types of driver mis-hits, which occur on the top half of the clubface. TaylorMade robot testing shows that LDP improves driver distance on mis-hits dramatically, and that TaylorMade balls with LDP are clearly longer on driver mis-hits compared to competitive balls without LDP. Also, Penta TP’s dimple configuration delivers the same hold-the-line stability in the wind that the TP Red and TP Black are renowned for.

Three Years in Development, Five-Layer Penta TP Delivers a New Level of Performance

"Penta TP took three years to develop as our golf ball R&D team carefully experimented with different mantle materials, compositions and thicknesses until the ideal combination was defined," said Dr. Benoit Vincent, TaylorMade’s chief technical officer. Extensive computer modeling, prototype creation, robot testing and player testing went into creating what we believe is the finest all-around performing golf ball of its kind, a ball that delivers outstanding performance on every key type of shot a golfer has to hit while also delivering tremendously soft and responsive feel off everything from driver to putter."

Penta TP on Tour

Penta TP is already being played on tour, first by Sergio Garcia and Retief Goosen, who switched into it at the PGA Championship. Other players who have switched into Penta TP include Y.E. Yang, Justin Rose and Jason Day. "It usually takes players several weeks or even months of trial before they’ll change balls," said Snell. "We’re seeing players switch into Penta TP after testing it for nine holes. That’s proof that Penta TP offers a dramatic improvement in performance."

A Great Choice for Every Level of Player

Penta TP was created for our tour pros, yet it’s a great ball for every level of player. You don’t have to be a fast swinger to achieve excellent distance with Penta TP, and it delivers the kind of spin in the scoring zone that a distance ball can’t compete with, giving shorter hitters the added control to get up-and-down more often. The same goes for higher handicappers – the extra spin Penta TP promotes will only improve the quality of their short shots, helping them score lower.

Look and Feel

Usually we go with ‘Look and Feel’ here, but well, it’s a golf ball.  Look is pretty similar to most other golf balls on the market!  That being said, there are a couple little look related things to discuss.  A lot of golf balls on the market these days include a great little alignment aid, much like what the ProV1 is offering with their latest models.  The Penta TP does not offer any such alignment aid.  In fact, the Penta actually has a little less text on it than the TaylorMade TP Red or Black golf ball.  With the Red LDP there is enough text there that one could use it to help in alignment in a pinch.  So, that is one small thing I missed.  Generally I end up using a little plastic line tool to draw a line on the ball with a sharpie anyway, so not a huge deal.  Just nice to have should you forget the line drawing helper (there is probably an official term for such a device, but it escapes me at the moment).

So with the TaylorMade TP Red and Black golf balls (I am always referring to the latest LDP model in this review..I know it gets confusing as the Red/Black seemed to have swapped from the 2007->2008 models, but alas, go with the LDP ones in this review), I found the Reds to be nice and soft off irons and while putting, where as the Blacks were a little firmer and clickier on putts.  I always liked the green side spin of the Blacks, but always preferred the feel of the Red.  That takes us to the first comparison.  I was happy to find the Penta had a nice soft feel to it on putts and on iron shots, similar to that of the Red.  I even found the feel off the driver to be nice and soft.  Not overly soft like a ProV1, but some solid feel to it on, not mushy.

So yeah, the Penta certainly delivers in the feel department.  Now, can it deliver in the performance department?

Performance

First thing I would like to mention here is the LDP technology built into the Penta.  This same technology was built into the TP Red and TP Black golf balls, and let me tell you, if you play in windy conditions, this ball is a life saver.  If you have played on windy days enough, you know that you either need to keep the ball down and out of the wind or make sure you make dead solid contact.  If you get a little side spin on the ball, it turns into a lot of side spin.  The LDP technology really seems to help the ball pierce through the wind, even on those shots that are not pured.  The LDP also seems to help keep the ball aloft on mis-hits on not so windy days.  Having played the TP Red or Black balls most of this season, I am going to find it hard to switch to any non LDP ball at this point!

Distance wise I found the Penta to be solid on both drives and irons.  With regard to the driver, I found that for me the Penta played at least a few yards longer than the Black consistently.  The Penta was pretty similar to the TP Red distance wise.

As mentioned in the Background section, the Inner Mantle layer provides a high launching, low spin trajectory with the long irons, and that certainly seemed to be the case for me.  Anything from a 3 hybrid through a 5 iron launched high and landed very soft on the green.  Combined with Project-X shafts in my irons, the Penta cut its way through the air, seeming to hang forever, then just drop from the sky nice and soft.  Was pretty to watch.

Mid to short irons held the green well and provided a consistent distance on well struck, full swing shots.  TaylorMade claims that the Middle Mantle layer should help with these irons and prevent ballooning.  I do not generally notice any ballooning with my irons when I play the TP Red or Black, and I did not notice any with the Penta either.  Sometimes the TP Black can get up there if I am playing on a windy day.  So, based on that, I would put the Penta more in the Red category on the mid irons, good thing for me.

Last, and certainly not least, short game performance.  This is one area where I felt the TP Red lacked.  I play with a decent amount of spin on my wedges and short irons, but by no means do I generate Tour Quality spin.  That being said, I could usually get the TP Red irons to hop and stop or spin back a foot or two on full swings.  The TP Black always had a ton of bite in them for me.  I started to like using the TP Black for greenside shots, just because of that added spin, however never could get used to the harder feel.

In steps the Penta, which, so far had me feeling like it was a TP Red on the long shots, and the TP Red off the putter face.  Now, can it feel the same as the TP Red on pitches and chips, but bite like the TP Black?  The answer is…pretty darn close.  Full swings with a Pitching Wedge was providing a boat load of back spin, on par with the TP Black.  Little chips with the 58 around the green also could one hop and stop like the TP Black.  With the Red, on those delicate 5-10 yard chips, I often had to just let the ball release and run out.  You can be a little more aggressive with the Penta.  Me like!

Conclusion

So where do we stand with all of this?  I loved the TP Red off the driver, on the putting green, off my irons, but always felt like I could use a little more spin around the green.  The TP Black left a little to be desired off the tee and felt too hard inside 100 yards.  For me, at least, the Penta felt like a great compromise between the two.  Great distance, control and feel in the long game and great distance, spin and feel on the greens and in the short game.

Given that the Penta is priced around the same point as the TP Red and TP Black it seems like a no brainer to me.  Though I do occasionally find deals on the TP Red for $19.99 on various websites.  As long as I can get the TP Red at half the price of the Penta I may stick with that ball…I managed to get by with it for most of the year.  However, whenever I find a deal on the Pentas, or someone wants to get me some for Christmas..I will happily put a couple sleeves in my bag!

If you are a TP Red or TP Black player, you should most definitely check out the Penta.  If you are a ProV1 player looking for a little more distance off the tee, while retaining most of that greenside spin and feel, check out the Penta you may be surprised.  If nothing else, I think you will find the LDP technology to be a great addition to your game.

Dave, over at The Orland Golf Blog has also put together a nice review of the Penta TP from a higher handicapper’s perspective. If you are in the 25 range, have a look at his review, he does a nice job of explaining it from his perspective

Sunice Ultimate V2

Hurricane Ultimate Jacket V2

The Ultimate Jacket V2 is back in a new form (V2 for version 2) to provide the best-of-the-best in golf outerwear. This Gore-Tex 2-layer Performance Shell is now 25% lighter and provides 20% more stretch. Providing a Lifetime Waterproof Guarantee, it doesn’t get any better on a technical level than this. The Sunice science is evident in all the added golf-enhancing features of this jacket, including the X-Static stretch lining, Pro-Trim waist cinching system, wrist rain channel, in-pocket ball cleaner, full stretch back panel and the list goes on. The Sunice style is represented in detailing such as laser cut detailing on the elbows, laser cut and welded pocket frames, tractor foot imprints and the Sunice patented V collar design.

• Gore-Tex Performance jacket
• Ultra quiet and soft hand feel
• X-Static stretch lining
• Pro-Trim waist cinching system
• Wrist rain channel
• In pocket ball cleaner
• Exposed waterproof YKK zippers
• Soft touch chin guard
• Laser cut pockets
• Lycra action cuffs
• Adjustable Velcro cuff tabs
• Full top back stretch panel for ultimate freedom of movement
• Adjustable bungee at hem
• Sunice patented V collar with neoprene finish

Fabrics

• Gore-Tex 2-Layer Performance Shell
• Gore-Tex 2-Layer Stretch Shell
• 30,000MM / 20,000MVT
• Lifetime waterproof guarantee

Sunice Sophia

Hurricane Sophia

The lightweight Sophia GORE-TEX jacket is guaranteed to keep you dry and protected from intense precipitation and extreme wind conditions.

- GORE-TEX 2-layer Paclite shell
- Lifetime Waterproof Guarantee.
- Exposed waterproof center front zipper with lock down puller.
- Rain channel to avoid dripping on wrist and hand
- Laser cut pocket on chest and sleeve
- Adjustable velcro cuff tabs
- Soft touch chin guard

Our Thoughts

I was so excited when I received my new Sunice jacket, the black Sophia from the Hurricane collection. I tried it on as soon as I got home and was immediately impressed with the perfect fit and style. I wore it that night as it was pouring rain and I needed rain gear. I was pleased that at how effectively it kept me warm and dry. I received several compliments from co-workers on how sharp the jacket looked.

We had a golf outing at the school that I work at and it was a blustery day with a slight rain persistent through the first five holes. I wore multiple layers with the top layer being my new jacket. I could move easily in the jacket and it posed no hindrance to my golf swing. Once again it kept me dry and warm as well. Although initially I had difficulty finding the pockets, once I found them I was excited by all that I could put in my pockets. Wearing the Sunice contributed to fun day on the links when I could have been frozen and wet!

I recently wore my new jacket while participating in the Philadelphia Half Marathon. When I left the hotel at 6am for a 7am start, it was quite cold. I was very glad that I had thrown on my Sunice Sophia jacket even though I had not worn it for any of my training runs. I knew that it was incredibly comfortable and provided great flexibility while playing golf, so I knew I would be able to move well in it while running 13.1 miles. I also loved the pocket space as I wanted to carry a Clif bar, my cell phone to meet up with my husband after the race and my hotel key. I was not disappointed. I was incredibly comfortable running in the jacket and it kept me very warm. Actually I was so warm that I had to take the jacket off way through the race and tie it around my waist. Fortunately it is incredibly lightweight and did not affect my run at all.

I have been thoroughly impressed with the new Sunice Sophia coat while going to work in a rain storm, golfing on a cold and rainy day and running a marathon. I would highly recommend this jacket for any woman who is looking for a stylish rain/wind jacket that is incredibly comfortable, has lots of pocket space and allows for much flexibility.

To learn more about Sunice, their products, and where to buy these jackets, check out the Sunice website.

Background

The G15 driver is engineered for golfers seeking a maximum forgiveness driver that delivers distance and accuracy. Its 460cc titanium head is longer front to back and features PING’s patented ultra thin crown technology. Weight savings from the thin crown are positioned as an external sole weight to optimize the center of gravity for higher trajectories and reduced spin.

A larger face is designed to increase ball speed and provide consistency across the entire hitting surface. The new PING-designed TFC 149D high balance point shaft allows for a five gram increase in head mass (without increasing swingweight or overall weight) which results in higher ball speeds and an increased moment of inertia.

Look and Feel

The Ping G15 driver is an interesting piece of equipment. At first glance it appears to be a traditionally shaped, large head driver of 460cc. However, upon closer inspection one can make out the triangular geometry of the club head. It is not nearly as pronounced as something like the TaylorMade R7 CGB Max, but it is definitely there. I really liked the shape of it, not quite as clean as something like the Nickent 4DX, but much more pleasing to the eye than so many drivers these days.

The club head is finished in a dark color that is very subtle and does not distract you at address or during your swing. The crown of the club is set with the trademark Ping alignment aid, a reversed crescent moon. Again, nothing distracting about this, the alignment aid is a dark gray that does not stand out significantly, just enough that you can easily align the ball and club face.

Feel off the face is solid when well struck. Heel or toe shots are instantly recognizable, as are hits that are a little thin or fat. Unlike some other drivers today, if you do not hit the ball on the sweet spot, you will not be falsely rewarded with a solid feeling impact. This is a welcome surprise in a driver in this category. Generally I have found that the game improvement drivers always seem to reward you with an awesome feeling…you look up and you have hit a snap hook that nose dives 100 yards off the tee.

For those of you who are bothered by offset and draw bias in a club, you will be happy to know that the G15 sets up pretty neutral and looks quite square at address. There is a draw bias version of the G15 for those of you looking to help ease a slice. That particular model offers up a slightly more pronounced offset. The standard G15, on the other hand, will look quite pleasing to a golfer who naturally hits a draw. No worries about having to hold off the release to avoid those big hooks!

Performance

The day UPS dropped the G15 off at my door, I headed right over to my home course and took the driver out for a spin. I did not even bother to hit up the range, just took it right on the course. Little crazy perhaps, but it worked out pretty well. Lucky for me, the loft and shaft seemed to fit my swing pretty decently. I ended up hitting about 70% fairways, which is well above average for me.

With my swing, the ball launched quite high and seemed to have a pretty good spin rate, as the ball seemed to hang in the air forever and then roll out quite nicely. My driver was fitted with the PING TFC 149D shaft in stiff flex. It seemed to be quite stable and worked well with my particular swing. Nonetheless, you would probably want to be fitted by an authorized PING club fitter to help set you up with the right shaft/head combination to optimize the driver for your game.

I usually play with a Callaway FT-5 driver that has been fit with the proper lie/loft and shaft combination. The FT-5 is a solid performer in the ball speed department, one of the longer drivers out there. Fit to my swing, it should produce about as much distance as I can get on the course. Amazingly enough, I found solid strikes with the stock PING G15 to be not far behind the FT-5. At the same time, it also seemed to be far more forgiving.

As I mentioned earlier, it was very easy to tell where on the face the ball hit on a poor swing. On those hits, distance loss does not seem to be as severe as it is with a driver like the FT-5. While the driver does seem to be quite forgiving, it will not be as forgiving as some of the square faced clubs out there. There will always be trade-offs in the golf equipment market. Do you want more forgiveness? Do you want to maximize distance? Do you want to be able to work the ball? Generally you need to make a compromise somewhere and take whatever you feel will work best with your game. The PING G15 driver seems to settle nicely in the, good amount of forgiveness, lots of distance, and still some workability and decent feel.

Conclusion

I have been playing the G15 for about a month now, and have had some of my better driving days of my golfing ‘career’. When struck on the screws, this club can launch the ball a long way. And I suspect, if I were fitted with the right shaft/loft combination, I could eek out a few more yards from this combo. In addition to the great distance, the level of forgiveness has been great for my game. I really do struggle with my driver at times and find playing with drivers more along the ‘player’ level of driver can be a problem. I still manage to lose a ball now and then with the G15, but have kept a lot more balls in the short stuff (or at least playable) while I have been bagging the G15.

I cannot speak to how the G15 compares to previous generations of the G line, however, I would highly recommend adding the G15 to your list of drivers to hit if you are on the market for a new ‘Big Dog’. Coming in at $299 retail (or around $225 on eBay), the G15 is slightly less expensive than some of the high tech, bells and whistle drivers out there. So be sure to find yourself a local authorized PING fitter and take a couple swings with this stick. Let me know how you make out with it!

As with most of our reviews here, Ping has provided the G15 driver used in this review free of charge. As we receive equipment from all of the major golf equipment manufacturers, we try to remain unbiased and provide an honest look at every piece of equipment we review at The Deep Rough, this is nothing new. We would have a much harder time putting together all of these reviews if the manufacturers if we had to go out and purchase all of this equipment at retail prices. And for full disclosure, just about every piece of equipment we receive for a review we end up giving away to charity or as prizes in contests.