Big Sticks

So as the region is mired in the middle of a sloppy "winter storm" that is dumping wet snow and making driving miserable for everyone I am reduced to thinking warm thoughts. Thoughts of what it was like to be in an equally wet Orlando, Florida at the end of January enjoying myself at the PGA Merchandise Show. In particular, I'm thinking about the "big sticks" that I made swings with during the week. While some were "juggernauts" a few others were a little less impressive. That said, I walked away with the thinking that there is so much parity in the golf industry right now that the difference between "Head A" and "Head F" is so minute that differentiating between the options becomes very much "intimate".

Basically, it all boils down to individual preferences, tastes, and shafts. Of course, by the time that you add a Trackman or FlightScope into the equation you now have an idea of the numbers being generated by each driver. But, what we see, feel, and hear has a place next to that technology and it does remain somewhat integral to our selection process regardless of being somewhat overshadowed. What did golfers and club makers do beforehand without said technology? We watched the ball flight and fitters would use stopwatches to determine our carry distance whilst watching the apex and the total yardage. Maybe we had someone out on the range measuring as well. Sure the options weren't as numerous like they are today when it comes to heads and shafts.

Without divulging too much and ruining reviews for a later time, I wanted to give you my impressions of some of the offerings in as little words as is possible. Based on my "organic observations" here are some of the drivers out there to demo if you're in the market for a new "big stick".

Cobra KING LTD - It's very possible that Rickie Fowler alone has sold his fair share of these based on his results this year. One victory overseas and a playoff loss in Phoenix, the LTD has seen a lot of "T.V. Time". It's cool looking, fresh, hot and has "Zero CG".

Srixon Z 355 - This is a driver that feels the best through impact (remember what I said above about intimate). In a time where everyone thinks that lighter is better (and the key to more length off of the tee) Srixon has taken a "new" approach. By utilizing "Action Mass" Srixon feels that the key to consistency and distance is in the club having more mass. The Z 355 has accomplished this feat by having a swingweight of D8. What was old is new again.

TaylorMade M2 - I have owned the M1 and simply put the M2 in my opinion is a superior driver. Better feel, better sound, better spin and better distance. I wish that the M2 was the M1. Many TaylorMade staffers have gone to the M2 in favour of the M1. That says something. See my review at www.alexandertothgolf.com

PING G - PING has various heads in this range including the LS Tec.  It feels great and it feels even hotter almost like you can feel the "trampoline effect" where the club face springs in and out. No doubt it's a forgiving stick but I had issues with the spin when swinging the PING G. It took me using the LS Tec head and a Tour X Stiff shaft to get the spin numbers down.

Bridgestone JGR - Having already written a review on this driver I feel that this might be a "sleeper" out of all the models this year. Passes on the ball results in long straight drives that just seem to carry forever. The flight of the ball was fun to watch.

Callaway XR 16 - No doubt that Callaway Golf knows a thing or two about R&D but then they teamed up with aerospace leader Boeing. Callaway with Boeing's help was looking for one operative word for the XR 16... "Speed". This is the head that the well reputed long drive champion Jamie Sadlowski uses in competition. This is a driver that at the end of the week, I ranked inside of the Top 5. Long, forgiving and accurate. I would have loved to see some launch monitor numbers on this one or better yet... to see it on the course in action.

There are so many others that I have to pass judgement on but not right now. Drivers from Yonex, Wilson Golf, Nike Golf and other models from Cobra Puma Golf to name a few. Stay tuned because at a later time I will list my Top 5 drivers from the show.

Until the next tee.