Leading Edge
Welcome to the Leading Edge, where the GolfChannel.com team and Golf Channel talent will regularly file thoughts and opinions from the world of golf equipment.
0Mahan holding on to Ping Eye 2 wedge
REX HOGGARD, Senior Writer, GolfChannel.com Posted 03/11/2010, 2:16 PM EST
DORAL, Fla. – Spied a familiar looking Ping Eye 2 lob wedge in Hunter Mahan’s bag on Wednesday at Doral. It was a club that looked vaguely like the pre-1990 version that – thanks to an agreement between Ping chief John Solheim and the U.S. Golf Association – is legal through the end of March.
Mahan’s club, however, is actually a new version of the Eye 2 which was made without grooves before being welded into a similar shape as his old Eye 2 and finally machined with 2010 conforming grooves.
It was a process that took 4 ½ hours, but Mahan didn’t feel comfortable with the new wedge he used to claim his second Tour title last month at the Waste Management Open.
In other equipment news, Ian Poulter answered some questions that arouse with the news that Puma had purchased Cobra Golf from the Acushnet Company in a recent Tweet.
“I will be using Cobra Golf equipment, wearing my IJP clothing, Titleist golf ball and FootJoy shoes,” wrote Poulter, who won his first Tour title last month at the WGC-Match Play.
0Puma to aquire Cobra Golf
GolfChannel.com Team Posted 03/10/2010, 11:55 AM EST
Puma announced Wednesday that it signed an agreement to acquire 100 percent of Cobra Golf from Acushnet Company. The acquisition includes the Cobra brand as well as related inventory, intellectual property and endorsement contracts and is subject to customary closing conditions and regulatory approvals.
"Through the acquisition of Cobra Golf, we reinforce Puma's commitment to our sports performance business by strengthening our growing and successful Golf category," said Jochen Zeitz, chairman and CEO of Puma."Cobra Golf has a history of innovative performance products fused with an edge and is therefore a perfect fit for Puma, reinforcing our overall mission of becoming the most desirable Sportlifestyle company. With Cobra Golf, Puma will capitalize on the many opportunities in the Golf category and upside potential ahead of us."
Based in Carlsbad, Calif., Cobra Golf was founded in 1973 and in 1996 was acquired by American Brands Inc. (later renamed Fortune Brands) and has since then been managed together under the Acushnet Company umbrella with its other golf brands.
Pending regulatory approval, the effective date of the acquisition of Cobra Golf is expected to be in the second quarter of 2010. Financial terms of the transaction will not be disclosed.
1Ping resolves Ping Eye 2 controversy with Tour
GolfChannel.com Team Posted 03/08/2010, 1:37 PM EST
It appears that Groovegate is over.
Ping chairman and CEO John Solheim announced Monday that Ping will waive its rights that prevent the PGA Tour from prohibiting the use of Ping Eye 2 irons and wedges that do not meet the Condition of Competition from being played at Tour events.
The waiver goes into effect March 29 and applies to the PGA Tour, Champions Tour and Nationwide Tour. As the request of the U.S. Golf Association, Ping will also apply the waiver to the U.S. Open in June. The PGA Tour will then adopt a Condition of the Competition that does not provide an exception for the Ping Eye 2 irons made before April 1990.
"John Solheim and Ping had a terrific opportunity to do something very positive and significant for the game of golf and we very much appreciate his willingness to take this action," said PGA Tour commissioner Tim Finchem.
Said Solheim: “We’re thankful for Commissioner Finchem’s understanding of our position and his role in helping bring about this resolution. We all believe it is in the best interests of golf. It levels the playing field on the PGA Tour and resolves a very unfortunate situation that we predicted would happen when the USGA first proposed the new groove rule more than two years ago.”
1TaylorMade introduces Burner SuperLaunch Irons
GolfChannel.com Team Posted 03/02/2010, 11:45 AM EST
Enter the Burner SuperLaunch, an iron specifically designed to be spectacularly forgiving and easy to get in the air, allowing a certain segment of players - mainly slower swingers and low-ball hitters -- to get more distance. In addition, Burner SuperLaunch iron's offset helps straighten a slice and promote a draw.
Burner SuperLaunch irons are engineered to deliver forgiveness from end-to-end (heel to the toe) and top to bottom (topline to leading edge). In fact, TaylorMade claims it's the most forgiving iron they have ever made. That makes it a great iron for high-handicappers with patterns of inconsistent ball-striking. The Burner SuperLaunch irons boast the highest MOI of any TaylorMade iron.The first thing you notice about Burner SuperLaunch irons is that each features a wide, multifunctional sole, which is key to establishing the low and deep CG location that makes every one of these irons so easy to get high in the air. Each sole is beveled to reduce the degree of interaction with the turf. That means you get the low-deep CG-positioning benefits of a large sole, yet it plays like a much smaller, narrower sole.
When you rest a Burner SuperLaunch iron behind the ball, you'll notice the substantial topline, which contributes to the stability and forgiveness. TaylorMade engineers cambered the topline's rearward edge to give it a downward slant, resulting in a more dynamic appearance.
Like the Burner irons, the Burner SuperLaunch long-irons, mid-irons and short-irons were designed separately, which is clear when you see the long-irons, which boast a decidedly low-profile shape compared to the rest of the set. This shape, when combined with the wide sole and deep cavity, help make Burner SuperLaunch long-irons easier to launch at lower swing speeds. The low-profile shape also makes the long-irons look easy to hit, too. On the opposite end of the set, Burner SuperLaunch short-irons have a traditional face-height and profile, while the middle-irons are of medium-profile, about halfway between the traditional profile of the short-irons and low-profile of the long-irons.
Progressive face thickness throughout the set has the thinnest faces in the long-irons for higher COR, faster ball speed and better weight distribution and thicker faces in the short-irons for better feel. Inverted Cone Technology in every Burner SuperLaunch iron helps expand the area of the clubface that delivers fast ball speed to promote more distance on off-center hits.
The biggest benefit of Burner SuperLaunch is how easily they launch the ball and how high they launch the ball. Slower swingers will find it a breeze to launch these irons on an extremely high flight and with the spin necessary to keep the ball in the air long enough to achieve significant added carry, and when the ball comes down it will land steeply and softly.
Burner SuperLaunch irons also incorporate a new groove design that conforms to the USGA's new ruling on grooves, which will be enforced in high-level competition starting in 2010 and in recreational golf starting in 2024.
The standard set of Burner SuperLaunch irons includes 4-iron through attack wedge, and will be offered at a street price of $599 with steel shafts and $799 with graphite. A 3-iron and sand wedge are also offered separately. Burner SuperLaunch irons are offered in four shaft flexes - S, R, M, L. The Burner SuperLaunch ladies' set features its own unique purple color palette. Burner SuperLaunch irons will become available starting on April 1, 2010.
2Ping and USGA meet about Eye 2 Irons
GolfChannel.com Team Posted 02/11/2010, 3:24 PM EST
Officials from the USGA and Ping met yesterday in Dallas to discuss the use of Ping Eye 2 clubs on the PGA Tour.
USGA President Jim Hyler issued the following statement today:
"We met with representatives from Ping yesterday. Our conversation with Ping regarding the status of the Ping Eye 2 irons on the major professional American tours was productive, and we are hopeful that a solution can be found that respects and reflects the best interests of golfers and the game."
Ping Chairman & CEO
“We had a productive meeting with the USGA yesterday regarding the Ping Eye 2 groove debate on the PGA Tour,” said Ping Chairman & CEO John Solheim. “I’m encouraged by their willingness to openly discuss some of the challenges the golf industry faces relating to equipment issues. We left the meeting with an understanding we would continue to seek a solution that benefits golfers and acknowledges the importance innovation plays in the game.”
0Nike Golf introduces the SQ MachSpeed iron
GolfChannel.com Team Posted 02/10/2010, 9:35 AM EST
Due in stores on February 25, 2010, the SQ MachSpeed irons represent three key functions: speed, stability and launch. Speed leads to distance. Stability leads to forgiveness. And launch leads to functionality. The key advantage for golfers with the SQ MachSpeed irons is that they combine a high launch with increased distance. "With MachSpeed, we've developed a very fast iron through new and dynamic construction that works," said Tom Stites, Director of Club Creation for Nike Golf. "This iron is all about helping golfers increase their ball speed in order to generate distance. Our patented PowerBow technology allows golfers to launch the ball high and increase distance - a perfect combination to improving your game."
To achieve speed and distance, the two-piece SQ MachSpeed irons have a higher CT (Characteristic Time) in the wider areas on the face resulting in faster ball speeds and longer distance. The new game-improvement irons feature a combination of AM 355 alloy and an off-the-face weld construction that creates a thinner, hotter face and a wider sweet zone. The new SQ MachSpeed construction offers an extremely hot center area that expands lower on the face where the ball is more likely to be in contact to prevent a decrease in distance.
The SQ MachSpeed irons provide stability and forgiveness because of Nike's PowerBow technology. Nike's PowerBow technology was first introduced in its earliest SQ product, the SasQuatch driver in 2006. The PowerBow creates an extremely deep center of gravity and provides a wider sweet spot.
Completing the three key functions of the Nike SQ MachSpeed irons is the launch capability. The SQ MachSpeed features a deep undercut behind the face, which repositions 50 grams of weight out and back to the PowerBow for high launching shots that travel far and land softly.
0Srixon introduces new Z-Star And Z-Star X Tour Yellow golf balls
GolfChannel.com Team Posted 02/09/2010, 11:14 AM EST
PGA TOUR professionals Vijay Singh and Jim Furyk, as well as a worldwide contingent of professional golfers are currently playing the Z-STAR and Z-STAR X series of golf balls. Tour victories for the Z-STAR ball series include Henrik Stenson's victories at the 2008 Nedbank Golf Challenge and the 2008 Omega Mission Hills World Cup, as well as Tim Clark's win at the 2008 Australian Open, John Rollins victory at the 2009 Reno-Tahoe Open and Jim Furyk's win at the 2009 Chevron World Challenge. The Z-STAR Tour Yellow golf ball is designed to be the best-balanced golf ball for the low-to-mid handicap players, seeking a combination of long distance, spin control and soft feel. The Z-STAR X Tour Yellow golf ball is a distance-oriented tour-performance ball for players looking for explosive distance and high-spin performance around the greens. The Srixon Z-STAR Tour Yellow ball lines both feature new Energetic Gradient Growth core technology, which Srixon claims promotes increased ball speed, as well as high launch and low spin. Their newly developed 324 large seamless dimples also help reduce wind resistance for increased distance, while the new coating on their super-soft urethane cover significantly improves spin performance from the rough, allowing players to go after the pin from any lie.
The Z-STAR™ and Z-STAR™ X Tour Yellow golf balls will begin shipping to retailers on April 1, 2010 and will carry a price of $39.99.
0Titleist introduces new NXT Tour and NXT golf balls
GolfChannel.com Team Posted 02/09/2010, 10:57 AM EST
Utilizing advanced multi-layer technology, Titleist claims the new NXT Tour will be longer off the driver and long irons for most golfers, while delivering consistent shot-stopping greenside control, soft feel on all shots and outstanding durability. The larger, faster 1.58" dual core, multi-layer design provides longer distance and soft feel on all shots while the soft, thin, more durable Fusablend cover contributes to soft feel and exceptional control into and around the green. Conversion to a low-count, high-coverage Tour-proven 332 Icosahedral dimple pattern in seven different sizes combined with a Staggered Wave parting line contributes to enhanced aerodynamics and longer distance off the driver and long irons. A Tour-validated A.I.M. (Alignment Integrated Marking) sidestamp assists in alignment at address off the tee, as well as when putting."The new, advanced design of the NXT Tour offers an outstanding balance of overall high performance and control," said Bill Morgan, Senior Vice President, Golf Ball Research & Development, Acushnet Company. "The New NXT Tour pushes the envelope of advanced multi-layer solid core technology, delivering longer distance, soft feel and shot-stopping spin."
The newly designed NXT replaces the NXT Extreme, and Titleis claims the ball improves upon its predecessor's promise of extreme distance and straight ball flight. A large and fast 1.575" solid core provides high velocity for extreme distance while a Ionomer cover contributes to low spin on all shots for long, straight distance. Higher coverage 332 Icosahedral multi-dimple pattern combined with a Staggered Wave parting line contributes to enhanced aerodynamics. This ball also has an A.I.M. (Alignment Integrated Marking) sidestamp assisting in alignment at address off the tee and while putting just like the NXT Tour. The NXT Tour also features a cut-proof cover for long durability.
The New NXT Tour and NXT golf balls will be sold in traditional dozens and three-ball sleeves. Shipments will begin February 1, 2010. The suggested retail price of the New NXT Tour will be $40.00 per dozen ($29.99 MAP), while the New NXT will carry a suggested retail price of $34.00 per dozen ($25.99 MAP).
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