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• Equipment

Benross Quad driver

The Quad term here refers to the exaggerated corner weighting in this contemporary styled, 460cc titanium head that helps to make this Benross’ most stable metalwood offering to date. The high MOI performance is further helped by the modern ‘wide footprint’ that extends the body back from the face, and also the choice of Aldila High Launch graphite shaft that complements the overall head dynamics.

Special mention should also go to the company’s exclusive Quad-Fit custom fitting system currently being rolled out at some 100 retail outlets across the UK. Featuring a special Twist-Fit hosel that allows the fitter and consumer to be guided quickly to the correct ‘spec’ without resorting to hundreds of individual demo clubs, the technology and fitting process is up there with some big brand rivals – but at a fraction of the price. Guide: £129.99

www.benrossgolf.com

Tour Edge Exotics XCG-4 driver

Here’s the follow up to last year’s XCG-3 which pioneered a special fusion process for multi-material metalwoods that eliminates all the excess ‘beading’ typically associated with traditional welding. This time the titanium face and sole is combined with a carbon crown and sole inserts, as well as two tungsten sole weights.

This driver head construction, together with a Graphite Design Tour shaft and a 26-gram WinnLite grip, allows for a super-light overall weight of 276g that follows a new trend in lightweight drivers also adopted by Cleveland, among others, this season. [There is also a 310g XCG-4 edition with a Fujikura Motore shaft.]

Distributed in the UK by Foremost Golf, the XCG-4 also boasts a Boomerang face (multiple levels of variable thickness that maximize the rebound effect from more points on the clubface) in what is one of the most high-tech metalwood ranges of the season. Guide: Driver £299 (Fairways £249, Hybrid £175).

www.exoticsgolf.com www.foremostgolf.co.uk

Cobra S3 and S3 Max irons

Behind the fashionable dusky finish lies some highly progressive thinking in terms of sweetspot design. In particular, the latest evolution of the ‘9- points’ face concept that aims to match the shape of the effective hitting area through the set to the actual strike patterns of most golfers. According to research, it’s only in the short irons that the expected circular sweetspot is relevant, with the ideal ‘high- COR’ zone morphing to a more horizontal pattern as we move down through the set, with an almost elliptical ‘high toe’ shape for the longest irons.

“Each S3 irons is optimized based on these results, so golfers know they’ll be getting what they need from every club,” explains Tom Preece, Cobra’s Vice President of R&D. Cobra’s first techie-yet-trendy offering since its high-profile tie-up with Puma certainly lives up to its hype – and includes a super-forgiving S3 Max version in a choice of irons or hybrid/iron combo set. Guide: S3 £499/£599 / S3Max from £399

www.cobragolf.co.uk

Callaway RAZR X hybrids

Available in two versions, starting with the standard head that might at first sight seem similar to Callaway’s existing popular Diablo Edge hybrids. But the special heat treatment process of the RAZR allows the face to be some 18% thinner which improves ball speed and also allows for a far better weight distribution. The RAZR X Tour model has the same face technology but emerges as a more compact version of the old FT Hybrid it replaces and delivers a more penetrating ball flight.

Both heads use a Zero Roll Design which, in practice, aims to create a more consistent launch angle irrespective of the vertical strike point. Typically, shots hit low on the face can suffer from a slightly steeper loft towards the leading edge but this has been compensated for in the new design. Guide: £149

www.callawaygolf.com

Cleveland Launcher FL fairways

A notable upgrade on the Launcher DST fairway wood, with a slightly larger size for the otherwise similar (and, again, very aesthetically pleasing head shape). Consistent with Cleveland’s 2011 policy for significantly lighter weights throughout most of their components, the Launcher FL is fitted with the latest Miyazaki shaft as well as a new Lamkin grip that together ensure the club is some 30% lighter than most rivals – with faster swingspeed and greater distance in mind. Most interesting are the three models of 3-wood here, each with different loft and launch characteristics, among a range that encompasses 13-, 15-, 17-, 19- and 22-degree options. Guide: £149

www.clevelandgolf.com

Adams Idea Black CB-2 irons

Sitting between the new CB-1 (currently played by Tom Watson) and the mega-forgiving Idea Tech V3 hybrid/iron combo package (we reported on in Issue 98), the CB2 is a large cavity-back iron forged from soft 8620 carbon steel and finished once again in Adams’ distinctive, anti-glare black nickel chromium.

As you’d expect with this company, the CB-2s are ‘feature-packed’ with everything from a vibration-absorbing cavity construction (which delivered a great feel in our own tests), a 4-way sole camber to reduce turf interaction, and progressive offset to optimise trajectory and distance from the 4-iron right through to the wedges. The set features newly conforming milled grooves. Guide: £799 (set of eight, fitted with KBS Tour 90 steel shafts) www.adamsgolf.com

TaylorMade Tour Preferred irons

TaylorMade has a full new range of irons for 2011 covering all the bases. The previously launched, ultra game improvement Burner 2.0 irons (featuring a 90g shaft and sliceeliminating offset) are now joined by a trio of Tour Preferred models that, uncharacteristically for this company, are either fully or partly forged from 1025 carbon steel.

In each case, the distinctive screw behind the face is a weighting port that allows for a consistent swingweight throughout the set while also ensuring optimal centre of gravity location in every head. With a forgiving TP Cavity Back, a midmarket Muscle Cavity and a no-frills Muscle Back, there’s something for everyone – albeit at prices of £699-799 for just seven clubs, reflecting the market’s growing demand for separate purchases of hybrids and wedges.

www.taylormadegolf.eu

Mizuno MP T-11 wedge

Having been boxed into a corner over square (or, more accurately, ‘high volume’) grooves, it didn’t take long for the leading wedge scientists to come up with some exotic new groove initiatives that still conform to the USGA’s and R&A’s new rules. Mizuno’s MP T-11 Quad Cut range is unique in having two rather different groove styles to optimize spin according to loft.

The 50- thru’ 54-degree models have narrower, deeper grooves appropriate for the fuller, squarer strikes normally associated with these longer distances; while the 56-64 degree models have a wider, shallower design that better complements shorter, partial strikes where the golf ball does not fully compress (but where spin rates have been most affected by the rule changes). Guide: £105

www.mizunoeurope.com

Scratch Golf 8620-USA wedge

Scratch has been a cult, ‘boutique’ brand among the cognoscenti since 2003, with top pros such as David Duval among those currently playing their deliciously stylish irons and wedges. While initially famous for forgings like their premium 1018 wedges, the 8620 series is actually a teardropshaped casting that offers a tour quality product at a much lower price point.

The milled face features the conforming version of Scratch’s popular ABC grooves (standing cryptically for All Bite no Cover). Lofts are from 47-60 degrees and there are six sole grinds to suit different styles. The latest USA model refers to full USA manufacturing of each component – with the wedges soon to be available in the UK through Urban Golf, in a choice of dark satin or unplated black oxide finishes. Guide: £99

www.scratchgolf.com / www.urbangolf.co.uk

Nike Method Core putters

The original Nike Method putters burst onto the scene in 2009 with major victories from Lucas Glover and Stewart Cink and further wins from Paul Casey, before Tiger Woods turned up at St Andrews for last summer’s Open with one in his bag (we hear the midmallet 03 model is the latest to take his fancy). But the central Method concept of ‘polymetal groove technology’ that reduces unwanted backspin at impact is now also available in the new Nike Method Core line at the far lower price point just £120, thanks to an alternative insert arrangement that’s far less costly to manufacture.

www.nikegolf.com

Rossa Ghost putters

The all-white Ghost made its mark last summer with Justin Rose’s US Tour victories and has since been credited in inspiring the similarly albino look of the TaylorMade R11 metalwoods. More than a fashion statement, the ghostly finish is scientifically claimed to create the greatest contrast with the green grass thereby highlighting the putter-head’s shape to encourage better alignment.

The visual strategy continues with the three bold lines on the top of the putter (now painted black to achieve maximum contrast against the white surface), and the circular hole in the rear of the Corza body that creates a third visual check as well as helping to position the golf ball in the centre of the clubface. The concept has been extended in 2011 to three new Tour Ghost models, including the Daytona, Fontana and Maranello. Guide: £119

www.rossaputters.com

Benross Pure Red and Pure Red High MOI putters

These technically savvy new putters come in two distinct versions, both featuring precision milled faces and the company’s exclusive version of V-shaped grooves designed to ‘grab’ the golf ball at impact and impart top-spin for smoother, truer-running putts. The traditional Pure Red series consists of eight styles of classic looking head Benross Pure Red and Pure Red High MOI putters shapes, while the wide-bodied HI-MOI models have stretched body designs for more stable impact dynamics. Both versions are fashioned from soft 304SS carbon steel, sport easy-on-the-eye alignment aids and are fitted with stepless steel shafts and Concept 10 Mid Tour white grips as standard. Talking of white, six of the models feature Benross’ White Nano Blast finish for that upto- the-minute fashionable look found on a trendy market-leading rival, but here at far more affordable price.Guide : £59.99 (£69.99 High MOI)

www.benrossgolf.com