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Top Gear
We invited the leading manufacturers in golf to nominate the best of the 2009 product range to form a series of showcases... here are the highlights.
TITLEIST
AP1 and
AP2 irons
The Advanced Performance
series represent Titleist's
most ambitious irons to date
and come in two versions.
The AP1 (pictured) is a sophisticated
multi-material construction
cast from steel but
with an aluminum cavity plate and elastomer
bar in the rear that creates the feel of a forging.
A dual cavity design pushes weight to the perimeter for forgiveness, while a
distinctive sole 'box' section of heavy tungsten nickel alloy lowers the CG
for the high ball flight required for mid- to high-handicappers.
The AP2 is a genuine forging whose slightly smaller blade profile and
hosel junction will appeal more to traditionalists. While still enjoying game
improvement features, the club is geared to more skilled players, with the
size of the tungsten/nickel box now reduced, as is the width of the sole
and back flange for more precise shot control.
Guide: AP1 £525/£595
(seven club set); AP2 £775 (eight club set).  Vokey Spin
Milled wedges
Bob Vokey's best-selling wedges
have been extended this year to
embrace three finishes and
greater loft and bounce specifications.
This Black Nickel finish, with
a notably softer feel, joins the Tour
Chrome and Oil Can, while loft options
now range from 48º to 64º (previously 54º-60 º),
along with various sole grind options developed in conjunction with
Titleist tour pros.
The heads are cast from soft 8620 carbon steel in a compact teardrop
shape with the 'high toe' profile favoured by better players.
The spin milling itself involves a high-tech micro saw that machines the
grooves with almost vertical edges to offer 30 per cent more volume than a
conventional wedge. Meanwhile, the steeper draft angle and tighter edge radius
increase friction delivering more spin on both full and partial shots –
especially in wet conditions.
Guide: £93.
PING
 iWi Putter Series
The six-strong iWi series reprises several of Ping's most popular head shapes
such as the Anser, Zing, B60 and Craz-E mallet, giving them a high-tech
makeover – including adjustable weighting.
The putters come fitted with a pair of 12g tungsten weight plugs while an optional
weight kit contains a pair of 20g and 28g weights to give golfers a wide
range of alternatives when customising for both feel and performance.
You can switch to heavier weights on slower greens in winter, or equally mix
the weights – for example having a relatively
lighter (faster closing) toe if you tend to
push your putts.
Feel is further enhanced by a special
face insert combining a soft two piece
urethane section within a
stainless steel plate.
The head shapes are tried and-
tested at the highest level,
while the system is easy to use,
with sufficiently differing swing weights
for a variety of players
and putting surfaces.
Guide: £120-
140 (weight kit £39.99).  S57 blade
Manufactured from Multi Material Technology and a featuring a 17-4 stainless steel
body, the S57 is a true blade in appearance and features of host of benefits that will
provide golfers who prefer the look of a tour-inspired clubhead. Testament to its performance
qualities is the fact that it is the iron of choice for Ping staff players including
Miguel Angel Jimenez and the new Masters champion Angel Cabrera.
The S57 looks like a traditional blade but has the added benefit of being crammed
full of features that make it immensely user-friendly and easy to hit, thanks, most notably,
to a 17-4 stainless steel body and tungsten toe weight to provide a relatively high
moment of inertia for a players iron, creating a better energy transfer on miss-hits.
A small compact head design with tour-preferred offset
offers a more pleasing look to the advanced
player. The centre of gravity is also positioned
closer to the shaft axis which creates
greater shot workability, more control,
forgiveness, a more penetrating ball flight
and enhanced distance control.
Available from 2-PWin both right-hand
and left-hand models. Fitted with a choice
of three steel shafts –AWT (Soft R, R, S &
X), Dynamic Gold (S300 & X100) and ZZ65
and PING's TFC 129i graphite shaft
(Soft R, R & S).
Guide: £90 per club (steel),
£105 per club (graphite)
CALLAWAY
 Big Bertha Diablo fairway woods & hybrids
Complementing the Diablo driver is a complete range of steel fairway woods
and hybrids. Again the novel 'Edge technology' describes the
head profile of the fairways whose internal weighting is
designed to optimize the centre of gravity for either
draw-biased or neutral flight.
The sub-60g DVS graphite shaft will suit
many golfers looking for higher
clubhead speed. The fairways
come in 3-, 5-, 7- and
9-woods at £159 each.
Meanwhile, the hybrid
features two rails on the
rear sole to reduce turf
drag and help get the
leading edge closer to
the ball.
Available in 18º, 21º,
24º and 27º lofts at a
guide of £129 each.
 X-22 irons
By redesigning the distinctive
Notch Weighting (which
places weight in each club
where it creates the most benefit)
the new X-22s boast an MOI that is
fully 10 per cent higher than the X-20s, while the CG
position has been re-engineered to generate optimal trajectory and
distance control.
The irons feature a modified Tru-Bore design which improves impact
stability while also dampening vibration for an improved feel.
A satin-finished Tour version is also available – still with a forgiving
360º undercut channel but now with a thinner, more subtle
top line better players prefer and sole for more precise aesthetics
and ball-striking, respectively.
Guide: £849 (graphite shafts), £749 (Project X steel);
X-22 Tour version £749 (2-PW). MIZUNO
MX-700 fairway woods & hybrid
 The 'hot metal' principle of the MX-700 driver
reappears in the fairway wood and hybrid (pictured)
– though, instead of Ti9 titanium, the
face is now fashioned from extremely strong
but light ES230 steel.
When plasma is welded to the 17-4
stainless steel body of the fairway wood,
the thin face increases ball speed over a
wider area, while also allowing weight to be
redistributed to the peripheries for a lower
centre of gravity.
The effect is most marked in the hybrid
whose 431 stainless steel crown is a 'drop down'
design, meaning most of the mass is behind or
under the ball for a particularly easy launch and
high flight.
Fairway: 3-, 5- and 7-woods (15º, 18º and 21º)
with Exsar FS4 graphite shafts; guide: £119 each.
Hybrid: 17º, 20º, 23º and 26º with Exsar HS4
graphite shafts; guide: £109. MP-62 and MP-52 irons
 The profile of the MP-62 irons – as played by Luke Donald – is based on the custom
grind of the Ryder Cup star's long-time
favourites, the MP-32s, but with a subtle recessed
cavity housing Mizuno's latest Dual
Muscle design.
This refers to the weighting structure of a
central impact bar and a secondary muscle
pad which, respectively, place weight behind
the ball and locate the centre of gravity
sequentially throughout the set.
Meanwhile, those requiring rather more
forgiveness within the MP range should
check out the MP-52s – only slightly less sleek
and with a CNC-milled pocket cavity for the lowest CG of any in this premium series.
This improves on the club's impact stability while the wider, more forgiving
dual-camber sole reduces drag. Mizuno has conceived both sets so as to allow for mixing and matching, if required
(i.e. MP-52s at the long end, and MP-62s for more playability at the shorter
end).
Guide: £85 per club, fitted as standard with True Temper Dynamic Gold or
Project X steel shafts. COBRA
King Cobra SZ irons
 King Cobra SZ Irons – or 'Sweet Zone' Irons –
promise the best of all worlds: a sleek, low-profile,
clubhead design and shortened hosel result in a
low-and-back centre of gravity, while a wide sole
(rounded from front to back to prevent digging)
and heel-toe weighting system helps to achieve
the maximum Moment of Inertia (MOI). These are
the key attributes in a forgiving iron, aimed squarely
at golfers looking to launch the ball that bit higher –
and with the feel and the confidence this draw-bias King
Cobra delivers.
The SZ also features a unique patent-pending sole design which
keeps the clubhead centred and stable both at address and through
impact with the ball. The SZ performance design is coupled with a
urethane insert, layered across the back side of the entire face,
which dampens unwanted vibration and gives great feel.
The King Cobra SZ is fitted as standard with a choice of premium
Aldila DVS-HL or Nippon N.S. 1030H lightweight shafts.
Guide: 5-
iron - SW, £379 (steel), £449 (graphite).A3-, 4-iron, Gap and Lob
wedge are offered individually according to preference. Cobra Baffler TWS Utility
 After the Dual Weighting System of the previous
DWS, comes the Triple Weighting System
of the new model, with an additional plug in the
centre of the rear to shift the CG lower and deeper
for a higher launch and greater carry.
The laser-welded insert is now made of thinner 275
Maraging steel to generate an even faster ball speed and a better
feel, while still following the 'Hotter 9 Points' design for consistent
flex across the face.
The Parabolic Leading Edge refers to the progressive tapering
from face to sole that results in a more effective bounce configuration
than the sharper, more 'digging' soles of many rivals.
Loft options are 18°, 20°, 23°, 26° and 29° (well as a custom
16°) with Women's, Senior's and Pro versions available.
Guide: £129 (Pro £149).
SRIXON
 XXIO fairway & utility woods
As with the matching XXIO driver, the Power
Charge technology in the face, body and
shaft of the matching fairway and utility
woods are designed to assure a high
ball flight, directional stability and increased
distance.
These beautifully crafted metals
are shaped to provide confidence at
address and to provide excellently
tuned acoustics at impact.
Available in 3 (14.5°) and 5 (18°)
fairway woods (guide: £199), as well
as 17°, 19°, and 21° utilities (guide:
£149). I-701 irons
The I-701 from Srixon is a
forged design with a traditional
profile but featuring a
pocket cavity-back weighting
that enables low- to mid handicap
golfers to get the ball
airborne more easily for higher,
straighter and longer shots. So it delivers
the benefits of a forged blade profile with the benefit of a
cavity.
 The head is a two-piece design with a forged 1025 carbon steel body
and an extremely soft, forged 1020 carbon steel face whose ultra-thin
structure promotes impressive distance across a high COR area.
The face itself is some 50%larger than on earlier Srixon irons, while
the famous Digital Impact Technology achieves the optimal weighting
and CG placement in every iron, improving both distance and dispersion.
The I-701 Tour version has a thinner top line, combined with a minimal
offset and higher CG for a more penetrating flight.
Guide: I-701: £599 with Nippon NSPRO 950 GH Steel shafts (3-PW);
I-701 Tour: £649 with True Temper Dynamic Gold steel. SCOTTY CAMERON
 Studio Select Series
The most famous of Scotty Cameron's extensive putter range is the Studio Select
series with some nine different designs now available in the UK. The putters all
sport the Cameron-preferred 4-degrees of loft and the designer's trio of distinctive
Cherry Dot graphics set in the cavity behind the face.
Six of the models are variations on Cameron's classic,
heel-and-toe weighted Newport blade designs which
are precision-milled from a block of 303 stainless
steel. They have the Titleist guru's distinctive
'raised toe' which helps players address the
ball with the sole parallel to the ground and
the face square to the target line.
The most recent models are the Newport
2.6 which is centre-shafted with zero offset; and the
Newport 2.7, a heel-shafted, face-balanced model with a thick
top line model. These are joined by the Square back mallet with an extended
square flange (best described as a 'double Anser' style); the Fastback
(a more rounded mallet); and the latest Kombimallet (pictured)milled
from6061 aircraft grade aluminum with 'three-point weighting' that refers to
the circular weights in the heel, toe and back that set the centre of gravity
deep for a true roll.
Guide: £225.
 Circa 62 Series
The Circa 62 Series is arguably the most aesthetically pleasing
of the many Cameron putters thanks to the sumptuous
retro styling of everything from the gun-blue charcoal finish,
which will age elegantly over time, to the hand-stitched headcover
and red Baby-T grip.
The range of design includes a series of flanged blades,
heel-and-toe, and low-profile mallets each precision-milled
from soft 8620 carbon steel that offer a particularly soft, responsive
feel.
'Negative sole bounce' ensures the head doesn't sit
closed at address, while the 'high toe' reduces the tendency
to lift the toe with the side-effect of aligning left of the target.
Guide: £215.
CLEVELAND
HiBore XLi irons
 The new wave of space-age irons with
bulky soles and deep, 'wood-like' rear
constructions throughout have transformed
life for those who struggle to hit
conventional irons.
With their huge hollow heads, Cleveland
's HiBore irons are arguably the ultimate
example of an 'extreme hybrid
iron' whose weighting delivers a forgiving
high-launching centre of gravity and
great stability.
The XLi model maximizes distance
thanks to the similar Distance Driven
Geometry as the driver, now combined
with steeper lofts and
shafts that are ½-inch longer
than standard.
Progressive offset and
heel-and-toe relief that reduces
turf drag complete a
powerful package.
Guide: £549 (graphite), £475
(steel) [for 4-PW].  The Launcher
The latest incarnation of the popular
Launcher model features a 460cc
deep face that is some 20 per cent
larger than previous models, while a
crown only 0.5mm thick is the secret
to the low-and-deep weighting that
helps optimise launch conditions and
maximize distance. This is enhanced
by the horseshoe-shaped, 17g weight
pad on the rear of the sole that also improves
stability by raising the MOI.
This low spin, mid-trajectory driver is already in
the bag of Cleveland stars such as Vijay Singh, Boo
Weekley and David Howell, but as we found in our own
testing, it also works excellently for mid-handicappers with the
appropriate shaft.
Available in 9.0°, 10.5°, and 12.0° lofts, fitted with 45.5-inch
Fujikura Fit-On shafts (0.5-inch longer than the Monster XLS)
to promote higher swing speeds and additional yardage.
Guide: £219.
YONEX
 Yonex VMX irons
This stylish mid-size head continues
Yonex' tradition for thin-faced
technology - this time a 3mm
stainless steel face reinforced by
a three-layer graphite-and-elastomer
plate directly behind the
hitting area.
Dubbed the V-Con Core insert,
this strengthens the springy face
and delivers a great feel while freeing-up
weight for the intricate Triangular Weighting System
with its highly stable, high-MOI performance.
The irons come fitted with either the HS600 Hi-Stability
graphite shaft, or the True Temper Uniflex steel.
The men's set is a cavity-back construction
throughout (offered in 4-SW), the corresponding
ladies set is a seven-club 'combo' package (5-SW) in
which the 5 and 6 are hybrid irons.
Guide: £369 (steel); £549 (graphite).
 Nanospeed-i fairway woods
Reflecting the design philosophy behind the
Nanospeed-i driver, the fairway woods
reprise the defining Aero pentagon shape
but now with the Fullerene C60 Carbon
Graphite Crown matched with a
SUS360 stainless steel face.
The shallow head design sits
beautifully behind the ball, even
on tight lies, and incorporates
similar contouring to reduce to air
resistance and improve head stability
dynamically.
Available in 3-, 5- and 7-woods
with corresponding lofts of 15°, 18°
and 21° in shaft flexes of R, S and SL.
Guide: £179. ODYSSEY
 Black Series i#9
As the world's leading putter
company, Odyssey is the
first to admit that 'feel' is
highly subjective and, accordingly,
have steadily diversified
their range to offer
face inserts with differing feel,
sound and feedback.
The Black Series i models
were launched offering a Tour
insert with a notably firmer outer
striking surface than the XG, apparently
in response to several tour player
demands for a brighter sound at impact.
Five models of blade and mallet are currently
available, including a 2-Ball model
and the low-flanged #9.
Guide: £139.
 Hot XG Progressive Teron
Cheered by the success of the highly radical
Sabertooth model in 2008, Odyssey
adds two similarly intriguing new shapes
as part of the latest White Hot XG Progressive
series.
The flagship Teron is a radical
mallet with high-density
perimeter wings that contain
over 40% of the putter's
head weight for an incredibly
high MOI that helps keep the head
online during the stroke.
The sequence of thick white alignment
lines create what Odyssey calls a 'High
Definition alignment system' for extra accuracy,
while the putter also has a double bend
shaft and full-shaft offset.
(The XG insert itself is discussed in
more detail under the 2-Ball F7.) £149. NIKE
 Victory Red Forged
TW Blades
These are sleek muscle backs for
better players with a center of
gravity positioned precisely to
Tiger Woods' own specs for
his required control and shot shaping.
Forged from 1025 carbon
steel with a CNC-milled face, the VR
blades have more modified back pad and
a slightly thicker toe than Nike's original
blades.
“I like the new VR Blades because of
the consistent feel, the looks and the
workability,” says Tiger, who used the 60º
Victory Red Wedge at the 2008 US Open.
“I can shape the ball both ways, change
my trajectory, do whatever I need to do to
hit the ball closest to the hole.”
Guide: £720 (3-PW), £630 (4-PW).
 Victory Red
Full Cavity Irons
As well greater perimeter weighting
from the undercut design,
the Full Cavity irons have the
widest sole, thickest top line
and most offset in the VR
range to provide added forgiveness
and confidence
for the average golfer.
Made from 431 stainless
steel (25% softer than the more
commonly used 17-4 grade) the irons
have face which is thinner towards the
top and thicker closer to the sole to
enhance the low-CG/high-launching
effect.
Guide: £560 steel, £640 graphite
(4-SW). GOLFSMITH
 Fluid Forged 675X irons
Fantastic muscle blades from
Snake Eyes...
just the kind of
weapons loved by low handicappers
everywhere. The 675B
Forged Irons are forged of a
slightly softer 1030 carbon
steel for a buttery feel.
All the
ingredients are here: thin top
lines, bevelled tour-grind sole
and minimal offset. Each clubhead
undergoes a five-step
forging process to align the
grain structure and eliminate
voids for consistent feel and
performance through the set.
Fitted as standard is the True
Temper Black Gold Frequency Tuned
shaft.
Each set is custom assembled to order at
Golfsmith's UK HQ.
Guide: £599 (3-PW).
 Custom 685BX wedge
The latest Custom 685BX wedges
begin life as an investment cast
(from a soft 8620 carbon steel)
before being subjected to an
800-ton force forging process
that – say Snake Eyes – delivers
the highest molecular compaction
of any form forging in the
industry.
The sole of the wedge is
then ground to tour specs, relieving
material in the heel and the toe
to create this wonderful rounded profile
for excellent shot-making versatility
in all condition.
The wedges feature finely CNC-machined
face for increased spin across the
entire face.
Available in Chrome (52, 54,
56, 58 & 60) or Black (52, 56 & 60) finish.
Guide: £109.
BENROSS
 Innovator X FairBrid Metals
The intuitive FairBrid concept simplifies the
buying decision between the many choices
of fairway woods, long irons and hybrids at
the long end of the market which is understandably
causing confusion for so many
golfers.
Benross' refreshing solution is no longer
to distinguish between these confusing categories
but, instead, to offer one style of
metal wood head for all the relevant lofts up
to the 5-iron (at which their irons sets now
sensibly start).
Simply fill-in with Fairbrids down to the
driver with four evenly-spaced lofts of 15º,
18º, 21º and 24º.
And, as Tony Johnstone
discovered in our driver test, the performance
is superb for what is an entry level
price point.
Guide: £79.99.  VX51 Forged irons
The VX51 irons combine the forged
feel demanded by better players
with the forgiveness required by
average ball strikers.
The heads are fashioned
from exceptionally soft 1020 carbon
steel for feedback and
workability, while the undercut
rear cavities are precision-milled
to ensure both a thin face and
perfect weight distribution and consistency
between clubs.
Finished in a smart, anti-glare brushed satin and offered in a
choice of True Temper Dynamic Gold and the latest lighter, step less
Project X steel shafts.
A premium product with state-of-the-art technology and high quality
components but at a price representing exceptional value.
Again, terrific value at £399 for a set of eight irons.
MIURA
 Forged CB301
For the purist who appreciates the traditional shape of a forged iron, and with
it the promise of the utmost in feel and workability, the Miura forgings demand
close inspection. The current range includes a pure muscle-back
blade, and also this cavity-back model – the CB301 – which redefines the
concept of weight distribution to provide golfers looking for the performance
of a blade the comfort of forgiveness via a centre of gravity that is pulled towards
the heel, while weight is added towards the toe.
The net effect is that
the clubface squares more easily, resulting in consistent ball-striking.
Miura is at the forefront of forging – the company is unique in that it forges
the head and the hosel separately,
which actually makes
for a stronger union (and
hosel) when the two components
are spin-welded
together. The Miura heritage
and standing in this
art reflected in the price of
what are hand-crafted instruments
of precision.
Guide: £1,100 (add £200 for SSTPured steel shafts).
 Miura Black Wedge Series
The most obvious user-benefit following
the acquisition of a Miura forged wedge is
a club that delivers the feel, feedback and
workability associated with some of the
finest forgings in golf. Miura's forging techniques
rearrange the molecular structure of the
mild steel in a pattern that is uniform throughout the hitting
area of the club in a manner that is unique to his clubs.
This tightness in the grain structure of the metal is what gives
Miura-made clubs the controlled, soft feel that better players
crave.
Miura also uses a proprietary “spin welding” process to produce
the industries' most consistent hosel. This unique procedure
ensures that the bore depths and hosel heights are
identical on every Miura made head and the shaft of every
club will be perfectly centred.
Available in Nickel, Chrome or the Black Series finish, with
the following loft and bounce combinations: 50/5, 52/6, 54/8,
56/9, 58/8 & 60/7.
Guide: £140 per club (add £20 for SSTPured)
GEL GOLF
 GEL Paul Hurrion Series
Having made a name for himself as one of
the world's leading putting coaches – three time
major champion Padraig Harrington
heading an ever- growing client list – Paul
Hurrion is proving equally
successful in the competitive
arena of putter design.
In association with
GEL Golf, his latest series
features a range of styles
to suit all tastes, including this
centre-shafted Rego model, a face balanced
putter with a modified alignment
console and no offset.
Twin weight alignment arms create a unique
weight distribution within the putter face for
balance and purity of strike. Guide: £185.
Visit the website www.gelgolf to find out
more and view all of the models in the current
line-up. TAYLORMADE
 Burner 09 Irons
A great example of a high-tech,
'three-in-one' set designed to deliver
both extra distance and, as importantly,
consistent distance
increments from club-to-club.
The long-, middle- and short-irons
were designed separately, with the 3-, 4-
and 5-irons having not merely wider soles (for a
high launch) and greater offset (to help square the face at impact), but
also an ultra-thin (1.9mm) and flexible alloy face for higher ball speeds.
Powered by a lightweight, longer shaft and lightweight grip, the
Burner 09 adds as much as 15 yards extra distance according to company
tests with the 4-iron.
The 6-, 7- and 8-irons adapt these same features for their optimum
performance while the remaining short irons are tuned for more feel,
control and playability, with a thinner top line and a less pronounced undercut
cavity.
Guide: £549 (eight iron set with steel shafts); £649 (graphite).
MDGOLF
 Seve Icon
Full Forged irons
The brand new Seve range from MD
Golf includes this good-looking cavity
back iron which is fully forged from
1020 carbon steel for a particularly
soft feel.
The sumptuous, clean lines
start with the thin top line which will
appeal to purists and better players,
while significant weight has been
moved lower in the head providing
the high ball flight that will also help
average golfers.
The quality of the standard option
components include a choice of True
Temper Dynamic Golf and Project X,
while grips are UST Multi-Compound
with Black/Red finish.
Hugely competitive
at a guide of £399 (set of eight).
WILSON
Tw9 Tour Wedges
 The wedges which Padraig Harrington
played to win the Open at Royal Birkdale,
are now available commercially.
The Tw9 features U-grooves milled into
the head after casting and which offer exceptional
shot-stopping spin. The heads
are then double heat-treated to provide a
soft, responsive feel which is further enhanced
by the elastomeric coating in the
recessed areas.
“The Tw9 wedges were superb, they
worked great,” said the Irishman at his
Open victory press conference. “I saw
them for the first time two weeks ago and
put them straight in the bag.”
Offered in classic satin or black gunmetal
finish, the wedges come in seven
different loft options from 48° to 60°.
Guide: £74.99 (satin); £84.99 (black).
MADE IN JAPAN
 Precision irons and forged wedges
It's a case of serious kit for serious golfers from the bespoke
Made in Japan brand, which is increasingly
currying favour here in the UK. The company first
made waves with its range of traditionally forged
wedges, constructed from ultra soft 1012C double
pressed steel, a real players club with minimal
offset, a milled face for the lower trajectory
favoured by the better player. The Nickel Chrome
plating on the latest models, including the Seida
wedge, looks fantastic and gives a really soft feel off the
face.
Available in 51,56 & 60 lofts, guide: £145
For those who like to look down on an exquisite top
line, the shape and profile of the cvBlade will be instantly
appealing. As a bonus, the iron features a semi cavity
that delivers the sensation and the advantages of a blade
but it's not so unforgiving. A lower centre of gravity in the
longer irons for an easy trajectory is coupled with a
strong flight in the shorter irons for control and spin.
Available in either DG or NS Pro steel shafts.
Guide £699 (4-PW – this price for a limited period only).
Reproduced with kind permission of Golf International.
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