Wedges:
The modern wedge is a thing of beauty and the 2015 models are spectacular in looks
and performance. Here are some of the favorites among golfers of all levels:
Ping Glide – The loft you choose with these wedges will
customize the kind of shots you want to hit. Grooves on the
higher lofts launch the ball lower without sacrificing
maximum spin, especially out of the rough. Lower lofts are
engineered to produce high spin on full-swing shots. A
longer grip allows a golfer to choke up if that’s what the shot
demands.
Cleveland 588 RXT 2.0 and 2.0 CB – Sharpened groove
edges and multiple levels of surface roughness between
grooves makes these wedges very versatile. Cleveland
manufactures wedges that are predictable in performance,
consistent in appealing aesthetics and familiarity. It’s a nice
combination when you want to dial in short game shots. The
CB model is for cavity back design.
TaylorMade Tour Preferred – There’s a square leading
edge on lower lofts for full shots and slightly rounded on
higher lofts for greater versatility and performance on openface shots. A chemical treatment on the face creates
microscopic friction elements for more spin and a lower
trajectory.
Titleist Vokey Design SM-5 – There are a wide range of
options here. The SM-5 is available with six loft grinds and
21 loft and bounce configurations.
Callaway Mack Daddy 2 – Sharper and deeper grooves than
previous Callaway models, the Mack Daddy 2 has 20
options. There are five new tour grinds with 52- to 60degrees loft. Straighter leading edge of the Tour Grind helps
with alignment for some golfers. No shortage of spin with
this wedge.
Mizuno MP-T5 – Instant feedback is provided by this
model. Design promotes more spin on short shots, not quite
so much on full swings. Five sole grinds match the high and
low bounce options for each loft from 54-degrees to 62degrees.
Mallet Putters
Titleist Scotty Cameron Futura X5/X5R - Futura X5 uses
stainless steel for the face and body. The weight is kept low and
moved out for optimal balance and performance. The lighter,
precision milled aluminum sole plate is engineered to help visually
expand the head size and also forms the flange to help alignment.
Every angle is created to help aim straight at the target.
Nike Method Converge – A resin material between the face and
back of the three Converge models maximize off-center hit
performance. The resin is also used in the groove insert to improve
roll. There are adjustable counterbalanced models with the weight
adjustable by a 15-inch rod in the grip.
TaylorMade New Spider Mallet/Daddy Long Legs – Continuing
with the new tour-chosen color scheme for enhanced alignment
and confidence at address, TaylorMade’s mallet-style putters offer
twist-resistance and distance control on off-center hits. The
counterbalanced Spider Mallet is 50 percent more stable based on
overall club MOI values over a traditional putter.
Ping Cadence TR – The Rustler model on this two-model line
offers a curved alignment line that goes all the way to the face for
stability to offset miss-hits. The insert perfectly matches crispness
and softness. Expect a nice roll-out with the Ping mallet putters.
Odyssey Works Versa/Tanks Cruiser/Metal-X Milled - Works
represents a new high performance technology platform where feel
meets roll. Odyssey Works putters combines a new Fusion RX
insert with Versa alignment, and Tour-proven head shapes. The 2Ball Fang has a 360-gram head with a full shaft offset, while the
Tank model has a slightly heavier 380-gram head and is
counterbalanced by a weight in the butt of the shaft to improve its
stability. It has a full shaft of offset.
Go Soft to Go Low
Soft is the buzzword for 2015 golf balls. The major manufacturers have
improved ball offerings for a greater range of golfers with the focus
squarely on a softer feel that doesn’t negatively impact distance. Here’s
a look at some of the new, softer balls.
Titleist ProV1/ProV1x – The flagship ball from Titleist marks its 15th
anniversary with what the company says are balls softer than ever. The
new Pro V1 and Pro V1x are designed for total performance from tee to
green with a bit more softness and spin.
The “softness” comes from a reformulated urethane elastomer cover
which transmits more short-game spin and control. The cover of the new
ProV1 has a spherically-tiled 352 tetrahedral dimple design. Inside the
three-piece ball is a very soft-compression ZG process core and an
ionomeric casing layer. The new formulation also creates a penetrating
trajectory and more durability than previous models. The ProV1x is a
four-piece model.
Callaway Chrome Soft – Yes, the buzzword is featured in the name of
the ball so there is no mistaking it. A new proprietary SoftFast Core
creates a very low compression but not at the expense of ball speed.
However, the compression is enough on shorter shots to enhance feel
and add control around the greens.
Wilson Staff Duo/Duo Spin – The company calls this the world’s
softest golf ball, again accentuating that particular feature. The low 29
compression produces extremely soft feel and increased speed off the
tee and with the long irons. It has a 302 dimple pattern. The Duo Spin
ball has similar distance and feel characteristics to the Duo, but has a
slightly higher 35 compression. It was created for golfers seeking more
workability around the green without sacrificing that soft feel. The Duo
Spin's three-piece construction adds an inner mantle.
Bridgestone e-Series – A new WEB Dimple Technology is
implemented in every model of the 2015 e-Series line. The new dimple
design uses a "spidering" pattern that provides 10 percent more dimple
surface coverage than the previous e-Series models. This new
pentagonal pattern combines with the aerodynamics of Bridgestone's
Dual Dimple design to reduce drag for a more penetrating ball flight and
greater distance.
Articles provided by Vartan Kupelian. www.vartangolflive.com
Vartan Kupelian spent 40 years writing sports for daily newspapers, 37 of those at The Detroit News before he left that distinguished
newspaper in August, 2008. He is the immediate past president of the Golf Writers Association of America. You can reach him at:
[email protected].