Believe it or not, my first real putter was an old Scotty Cameron I bought from a friend in 1998. For eight years I tried to master that club before I finally decided it was either cursed or I was just not skilled enough to use it. Since that time I have primarily owned mallets or some version of an over-sized putter. So, when it came time to review the Rife Iconic Z, I was nervous to say the least. I was, however, determined to give a blade putter another go because, outside of the results, I love the look and the feel of them.

Knowing I was going to have to make an adjustment to a blade putter, I first took the Rife Iconic Z to the practice green for about 20 minutes, where I promptly missed about 80% of my putts. Dejected would be an understatement for my outlook. I mean, holy cow, I have to write a review for a putter that I cannot use to make Country Club gimmies.

What to do? That was my question. My plan was two-fold. First, I decided to replace the standard sized grip with a mid-slim Super Stroke grip. Secondly, I broke out my Putting Alley which I find to be a great aide to breaking in a new putter or finding your lost groove. What resulted was no short of a celebrity makeover. Overnight I was rolling putts that just a day ago I could not make to save my life.

Six weeks and about 15 rounds with the Rife Iconic Z, I now believe I am cured of the blade yips. I give a lot of credit to the super stroke grip which I think helped with my control, but the putter itself has found a place in my bag that I did not expect it to keep. I had always planned to simply review the putter and then go back to my mallet, but so far I have not been able to make the switch. The 350 mg weight seems perfect for greens that are of average speed as it allows me to have the feeling of “tossing” the head toward the hole to get the distance right on long putts. Short putts are equally straight forward where it is easy to make crisp contact that gets the ball rolling on a straight line.

Ideally, you want the ball to start rolling as quickly as possible rather than skidding, which is why Rife developed Roll Groove Technology. You will note the fairly heavy grooves on the face of the blade which creates the traction needed to minimize any skidding.

The Rife Iconic Z is made from stainless steel and comes in three finishes: sterling, phantom, and rose gold. While not super tricked up, the Iconic Z has a pleasing shape with just enough bling to set it apart from the blah putters of the world.

For me, the beauty of a classic blade putter is the simplicity. I love the sharp angles, perpendicular lines and the overall vibe I get. Sure, I like mallets and other shapes of putters, but I am always drawn to the shape that most resembles the original tools of the game.

You learn more about the Rife Iconic Z and their other putters on their website. 

Last year, Adam reviewed the SeeMore M9 putter so I had a bit of familiarity with the brand, but until I visited the website I had no idea about the number of styles and customization options that were available. SeeMore offers everything from broomstick to conventional heel-toe weighted putters with a multitude of additional options. However, the one consistent feature in all of the SeeMore putters is the inclusion of the RST or Rifle Scope Technology.

What is RST? It’s so simple and effective. Basically, if you line up over the putter and can see the two white alignment lines but cannot see the red dot, the club face is square and you ready to roll the putt. On the other hand, if you see the red dot during your stroke, you’ve managed to open or close the face relative to square. In my case, I putt on an arc so as long as I don’t open or close the face related to my chest, the dot stays hidden and I roll the putt right on line. In other words, RST makes it super easy to get in the right position over the putter because it shows you if your face is square at impact.

SeeMore Si3w Specs and Performance:

SeeMore Si Series putters ‘feature precision cast 303 stainless steel heads with soft thermo plastic urethane (TPU) face inserts. This means it has an expanded sweet spot with enhanced perimeter weighting, softer feel and slightly less rebound for those preferring the performance of a tour-level elastomer insert. For most players I think the expanded sweet spot is absolutely a great benefit as it allows for slightly off-center hits.

Plus, I just really like the feel of an insert and having the ball come off the face with minimal noise and clank. Note, this insert is also milled so that it does have some grip which helps reduce skid and get the ball rolling as early as possible. This specific putter is 340 grams with a 33 inch shaft and standard 70 degree lie angle. However, nearly every aspect of the putter can be customized.

I putt mostly with my right hand and tend to keep the handle slightly ahead of my hands to further streamline my transition from chipping to putting. Because of this technique, I opted for the offset, or ‘whistle’ shaft, which is where you get the ‘w’ in Si3w. To finish it off, I opted for the orange oversize FeelTec grip and blue headcover that features the familiar SeeMore logo and American Flag.

It’s always a gamble when we get a new putter to review because we have little idea how it will actually suit us, and often times it takes a few rounds to get the feel for it. In the case of the SeeMore Si3w, it was pretty much love at first putt. Truthfully, it was just about the best of any putter I’ve ever tried out of the box. During my first round with the SeeMore, I rolled in a bunch of mid range putts and was always very comfortable getting in my stance and making good contact.

I also really like the elastomer insert and the sound and feel of the ball off the face. I was equally pleased with the FeelTec oversize grip as it is firm without feeling tough, and in my opinion, it enhances my feel on shorter money putts immensely. After several rounds, I’ve noticed that the 340 gram weight is best suited to medium and fast greens which brings up the question of whether you should have more than one putter.

The fact is, some putters are better suited for slow greens while others for fast so it makes sense to have more than one flatstick. Granted, this can be expensive, but in the case of the SeeMore Si3w (which is very reasonably priced at $165), it is not a crazy splurge to have more than one putter weight.

You can visit the SeeMore website to see all of the styles and options available.

After the age of the white golf clubs, there came… red? Over the past year or so, Nike has has gotten a lot of really good press on their new Covert line with the Tour Hybrids making Golf Digest’s 2013 Hot List Gold. So, when we received the 3 and 4 hybrids for this review, the expectations were pretty high.

Ok, let’s dive into the tech stuff to see what makes these hybrids unique.

First off, the face is more flexible than last years award-winning VR_S model with a 45% larger hotzone. What this means is you get more distance even with mis-hits when the ball comes across the face. The science behind this magic lies in the sole cavity where, like on a cavity back iron, Nike has moved the weight around to the heel and toe for stability and forgiveness. This movement of weight translates to straighter, longer shots. Notably, the Tour model has less offset, lower trajectory and more flexibility in its settings so the face angles can be set independent of the lofts with the removal of one screw.

Over the years, golf companies have really improved the club adjustment process and the Covert is no exception. The Nike Hybrid is amazingly simple to adjust and lightning fast. Simply take out the one screw and turn the adjustment to the desired loft and face angle then replace the screw – that’s it. All in all, the hybrids have 4 degrees of loft and 3 face-angle settings so the 4 hybrids can very easily cover your 5 wood through your 5 iron depending on what you need in your bag.

Visually, the clubs are good-looking with that deep rich red color. In terms of feel, upon picking up the club for the first time, I did notice it seemed heavier than I expected. Prior to hitting the club, I recalled that some reviews mentioned the ball felt a bit dead coming off the face so I was curious to see if I had the same reaction. While  there is a certain “thud” to contact, and a lack of spring, there was no lack of distance. In fact, I found the ball flight to be quite penetrating and very controllable off of a variety of lies, including punch shots and half swings.

After a little work at the range, I was very comfortable swinging the club and quickly began to use it for a variety of shots during any given round. Specifically, it is easy to draw or fade and with the adjustments I could create more or less distance depending on where I wanted it to fit with my set.

Beyond your basic shots, the hybrid is also very useful for some specialty shots. For example, I have used it to punch out of the woods, escape from deep rough or even bump a ball from just off of the green.

While I am not a huge fan of adjustable drivers, the adjustable hybrid makes a ton of sense. First, it allows you to fill in distance holes in your set even when those gaps change. With 4 different lofts it takes the perfection out of trying to decide exactly which hybrid you need. Just change the loft as your needs change.

To learn more about the Nike Covert Hybrid you can visit the Nike Website.

Rocketbladez Review:

A year ago I reviewed the Taylormade Burner 2.0.  Honestly, I loved the Burner 2.0’s and they remain a great seller for Taylormade. I actually wonder if  Taylormade wishes Burner 2.0’s were not so sweet because it makes it much harder to come up with a compelling reason to upgrade. Still, who am I to pass up a chance to check out the new RocketBladez technology.

After the huge success of the Rocketballz, Taylormade decided to take that same technology and put it smack dab in the middle of the irons. Taylormade calls it the speed pocket and you can see it on the 3 iron through the 7 iron.

I have been playing with the RocketBladez for nearly three months now and have zero complaints. They share many of the same characteristics of the Burner 2.0. In terms of distance, the RocketBladez  are similar to the Burner 2.0, which tend to fly farther than most other irons. However, I think the the Bladez are slightly more forgiving. Specifically, I was never a fan of the Burner 2.0 four iron, but with the RocketBladez, I love it.

The biggest difference for me is the ball fight. I find that a well struck ball has a really nice piercing trajectory, more so than with the Burner 2.0. The RocketBladez just seem to go a bit higher and come off more true.

So let’s talk tech. Taylormade research showed that the majority of amateur mishits occurred below the sweet spot of conventional irons, which is usually located at the center of the face (specifically around the 3rd groove). Hence, they wanted to design a club that allowed for greater forgiveness in this area. What Taylormade found was that by incorporating the slot technology used in their woods, the irons are able to provide more spring, forgiveness and consistent distance off the face.

In the case of the RocketBladez, they added a cool polymer from 3M in the slot that keeps out dirt and debris, but doesn’t dampen the spring-like effect of the ultra-thin face of the club. In short, the slot technology coupled with the inverted cone design on the back of the club gives the irons a longer, higher shot trajectory that also turns out to be more consistent over a wider area of the face.  Let’s see…longer, higher, straighter and more consistent – can I have seconds?

As for looks, the RocketBladez are quite appealing with the use of some subtle color on the back of the club. While they do not stand out with screaming flash, they are unique enough to get compliments from other players. Even though it may be hard to justify an upgrade from the Burner 2.0, they are certainly worthy of a hard look if your set is becoming dated. Not only are these clubs perfect for mid-handicappers, they have the workability required for scratch golfers as there are a number of pros who play basically the stock version of the club.

You can check out all of the specs and learn more on the Taylormade website.

 
TaylorMade Pre-owned Iron Sets from TaylorMadeGolfPreOwned.com
 

Salty Grip Review: About 5 years ago I started to notice guys on tour with large over-sized putter grips. Notably, KJ Choi was one of the biggest names to go all in with a really mongo grip. Looking to capture some of that magic, I too moved to a mid-sized grip but as it turned out, it was shortlived as I ended up swapping out putters and was too cheap to replace the stock grip.

Then recently, I read a great article on MyGolfSpy that “kinda proved” that grip size is a big part of putting success and that over-sized grips tend to perform better for most golfers. Coincidentally, around that same time, I learned of a company called Salty Grips who makes an over-sized cork putter grip. So with the stars aligned, it was inevitable that I review the Salty Grips.

Inspired by the old fishing poles of our/my youth, Salty Grips are made from cork harvested in Portugal and then finished locally in Virginia. Out of the gate, the Salty Grip feels very different than your typical rubber grip. Primarily, the Salty Grip is smoother as they do not have a manmade texture. For me, this means it feels very soft in my hands and promotes a light touch. The other difference is of course is the way they look. Salty Grips look like nothing else I have seen on the golf course. So much so that I regularly get comments and questions about the grip, which never happens with other grips.

Since the putter tends to be the most personal piece of equipment and the one we have the most pride in, adding a grip that is completly unique makes total sense. Additionally, unlike other grips, the Salty Grip gets better with age.

Yup, better with age, which is exactly opposite of every other grip I have owned which wears down and ends up capturing all kinds of grime from constant use. Salty Grips, on the other hand, gain character as the cork ages. Better still, you can always take a piece of  200 grit sandpaper if you ever want to clean them up a bit or add a touch of  texture.

As for installation, Salty Grips can be installed using basically the same method as other grips. The only difference is that you cannot man-handle the grip since they are made from cork. Once installed, the grips are as snug as any other grip and should last basically forever.

Salty Grips can be purchased on their website for about $35 and customized for about $10 more.

Don’t miss a chance to win your own Salty Grip

Axis1 Umbra Putter Review: The putter is perhaps the most personal piece of golf equipment any golfer owns, which is why preferences vary so widely. With that said, I think Bob Rotella is correct in his assessment that we should approach putting like we were a kid and not overthink the whole process. Unfortunately, we grow old, miss too many putts and begin to question everything – including our flat stick. This is exactly why having trust in your putter is so important. If you trust your putter, you make a more confident stroke and utilize your natural hand-eye coordination.

Confidence in your putter starts with how it feels in your hands and how natural your stroke is. The Axis1 putter is designed to have the center of gravity at the exact place where you are meant to hit the ball. This means that the putter is incredibly well-balanced and won’t spin right or left when you pick it up. Axis1 was not the first company to believe balance was critical to a putter’s design, but they updated the materials with space-age precision and attention to detail.

I played my first round with the Umbra putter without ever hitting it on a practice green or in a store. For some reason, Adam likes to spring new equipment on us just before we tee off. So, after negotiating the funky head cover that protects all the science in the putter head, the first thing I did was spin it in my hand to feel how it moved. My first thought was  ‘man, this feels so natural.’ Interestingly, this was a common first impression for a few of my buddies who also remarked on its exceptional balance.

Axis1 Umbra is labeled as a mallet design but it is really very different than most traditional mallets. I would say it is more of a cross between a blade and a mallet. In the end, I don’t care what it is called as long as it putts well. One design feature it does share with many mallets is the alignment aid on top. These are called  ‘L-frame alignment sight lines’ that are reminiscent of a two-ball putter. Conversely the length of the blade and the feel of the ball off the face are reminiscent of a toe and heel-weighted blade putter. A bit of the best of both worlds.

One aspect that did take a little getting used to was the counter-weight in the heel that comes forward from the face (see the bent shaft near the blade). At first, I found myself not making a full stoke because I was not comfortable really putting through the line because I was worried about the shaft hitting the ball. However, with a little practice, I didn’t even see the counterweight. In terms of impact, the face of the putter is smooth although it sounds a little pingy when you hit it. However, I stopped noticing that after a round or two. Moreover, we have been told that there is an Umbra version that has a damper insert to mute the sound if you prefer a deeper sound off of the face.

As I mentioned, I played my first round with the Axis1 without ever practicing with it. Despite that fact, I made a couple of birdie putts from the fringe and was a few strokes below my handicap in my first round using it. Since that time, I’ve spent a decent more time practicing with it and have grown to trust that the ball will go exactly where I’m looking.  and I mean, really go where I’m looking.

The Axis1 comes with a Wynn AVS slightly oversized-grip that feels great. My distance control has been really good even though it’s a different swing-weight than my normal putter (I tested the 350g and there is a slightly heavier 400g for faster greens) and I am comfortable using it on both fast and slow greens alike. While clearly not a scientific test, I feel like I have hit more short-to-mid length putts right in the dead center than I can remember for a while.

These putters are $300 at your normal outlets, and if you consider what you are shelling out for your new driver, and how much more you hit this club during a round, it’s not that hard to figure out. This may just be the club that has you playing with the exuberance of a kid again as you watch those putts roll right in the center of the hole.

You can see the whole line of Axis1 putters on their website.

Never one to rest on their laurels, TaylorMade recently sent us the newest version of the Ghost Spider putter, the Ghost Spider S. I just realized I have no idea what “rest on one’s laurels” means, but I’m pretty sure it works in that sentence. Anyway, having been fortunate enough to review last year’s model, it only made sense for me to have a go at the new Ghost Spider S so we could compare apples to apples (or insect to insects).

Truth be told, Adam sprung the newer model on me about 5 minutes before we were teeing off in a “toughie day” tournament. Normally I would never mess with the putter mojo within such close range of a tournament, but this one tourney was on the silly side and I was dying to try out the new putter. So on to the practice green!

Keep in mind that I was a big fan of last year’s model, and it’s been the only putter in my bag since I first tried it out. In a nutshell, the Ghost Spider was big, crazy looking, and super-stable. As a man wrestling with the yips, it was a lifesaver . . . it was the closest I had come to a point-and-shoot putter, and this was something that I needed at the time.

At first glance, the Ghost Spider S appears to be a bit smaller and cleaner than it’s predecessor. The head is indeed 20% smaller than the previous model (dubbed “Itsy Bitsy Spider” in the development stages), and it looks as though they decided to drop the “crazy” and just make a simple, efficient mallet putter. If you look closer, you realize that the same Spider shape is in play, but somehow they’ve tweaked the putter head to disguise the funky skeleton of the Spider line.

Little bit different, right? The biggest change, aesthetically, is that TaylorMade went with a black centerpiece and a single straight line for alignment. While the elimination of the old basketball court/male-gender-symbol look is the most obvious change, the fact that the centerpiece is now black is also a significant difference. TaylorMade says that the new centerpiece minimizes distraction – I can’t speak to that simply because I am essentially a moron, but I think it looks a bit more sleek and I certainly had no trouble lining up the face. And for you Star Wars geeks out there, don’t worry, it still looks like a storm-trooper. One thing to note – when standing over the club, there is a clearly raised portion of the black alignment aid that you can’t really see in the above picture. It looks cool, and also seems to play a role in lining up the putt. See below:

The Ghost Spider S still utilizes the Pure Roll insert with ridges designed to maximize, well, a “pure roll”, but that’s not to say it’s the same insert – TaylorMade has definitely tweaked the feel on this go’round. Again, I liked the old putter’s feel, noting that it was rubbery (which sounds bad) yet surprisingly still cool and satisfying on impact. The new Spider S has toned down the rubbery feel, heading more towards the ‘click’ direction, at least as far as a rubber insert can head in that direction without wearing tap shoes. The end result is a feel that smacks more of the top of the line putters. Solid and tight – not soft, not hard, just right in zee middle.

Pure Roll!

And actually, what I just implicated about the insert I think can be said for the new Ghost Spider S overall – this version takes a significant step out of the radical/not for everybody category and into the premier club category. Simply put, the Ghost Spider S wants to be taken more seriously than it’s predecessor, and I think it has earned that respect. TaylorMade has subtly fine-tuned every aspect of the putter, maintaining the Spider heritage based on high MOI and stability, but ultimately creating a brand new top of the line club.

I will not be adjusting these weights, but you can.

Let me put it this way, this is the first time I’ve ever played with a putter that I would believe costs $250 or more (it doesn’t, it retails at $179.99), which I think of as a whole new level. As a lefty, and a frugal lefty to boot, I rarely get to stroke a Scotty Cameron or a nice Rife or any of the other big boys over $200 . . . when I do, the feel of those putters is something I don’t quickly forget. With the new Ghost Spider S, I finally have an idea of what it’s like to play a round with one.

You can see the whole line of TaylorMade putters on their website.

Pure Grips Review: Most people spend a lot of time picking out their clubs but relatively little time choosing the grips. Usually, it is not until the grips become slick that we ever think about what kind of grips are actually on our clubs. Unless you are a golf nut, the choices of grips is fairly confusing as there are a ton of  brands, colors, styles and installation processes.

Like some other grip companies, Pure Grips offer a number of style and color options but what makes them truly unique is their very easy, efficient and green-friendly installation process. Plus, Pure Grips offer a 12 month guarantee. In other words if you manage to wear one out, they will send you another one.

Coincidentally, prior to this full product review, I unknowingly have been using the Pure Grip on the Miura wedge that I reviewed for Three Guys Golf. Beyond the look and feel of the Pure Grips, it is the installation process that is much improved from the more traditional taping method. Having re-gripped many clubs in the past, this revolutionary re-gripping method represents a huge benefit for those “do-it yourself’ers”

Since I did not own an air compressor, I picked one up in the $85 range but I figured it will also run a nail gun and paint sprayer for jobs around the house. The other solution of course is to borrow your buddies air compressor in return for re-gripping his clubs. Pure Grips sells the ‘gun attachment’ with a nozzle on the end to blow air through the grip (this will aid you in sliding the new grips on and off). The only prep work is to get the old grip and the old tape completely off before  installing the new grip. Please check out our video below to see how easy it actually is. Since you can easily pop the grips on and off with their ‘no-tape’ installation process you can quickly try one for a few weeks, pop it off, and try another one without having to cut up the grip and destroy it in the process.

As a reference point, my favorite grips in the past have been the simple Lamkin Crossline so I chose to review the Pure Grips Pure Pro model which has a similar feel. In the end, I found that I actually like the feel of the rubber better as there is a slight increase in tackiness. Plus Pure Grips have a ton of color options (but I still chose black). One of the main selling point behind Pure Grips is that the rubber is more ‘pure’ than what most grips are made of. Specifically, where other companies use silicone and plastics in their grips, Pure Grips are 100% rubber which helps to keep your hands on the handle in wet conditions. It also helps with durability because they won’t dry up and crack. Again, the Pure Grips are noticeably more tacky than other grips which is really nice (and this tackiness stays with the grip over time).

In terms of real-world testing, I have really enjoyed the grip on my Miura wedge without even realizing what I was swinging. Now that I’ve had a chance to play with Pure Grips on all of my clubs, I’m honestly thrilled, and they are my new favorite grips. I have even spent a good bit more time hitting at the range without a glove because of how comfortable they are on my hands. Plus, the installation is so much easier so I will be more likely to keep my grips fresh rather than push them to where I have in the past.  Whatever grip you are used to, I think you’ll find a good fit in their selection of styles.

You can see the whole product line on the Pure Grip website.

While Miura may fly under the radar of the weekend hacker, any serious golfer knows the Miura name and the quality it stands for. Master craftsman Katsuhiro Miura has been perfecting his trade since 1957 and now boasts a product line that includes irons, wedges, putters and even a driver. Unlike the sticks you find in big box stores, the Miura products are individually forged to exact specifications. So after reading much of the hype behind the Miura wedge, I was very curious to see for myself how they would perform.

The wedge that I am reviewing is from the 1957 series and is called the ‘C-Grind wedge,’. As a topline observation about Miura I think this quote which is found on their website is very applicable. “The feel and precision of the Series 1957 C wedge can’t be explained in words, it must be experienced to be understood.”

The Science Behind Miura

Without being too technical, Miura wedges are forged which means they are literally pounded into shape. As you can imagine this is an incredibly precise and artistic process. The end result is a wedge that has a wonderfully balanced feel that large manufacturing cannot hope to realize.

The other unique manufacture process Miura uses is called spin welding. Spin welding produces a consistent hosel that is perfectly centered in each and every club.

Below is a table of the available options for the Miura C-Grind Wedge.

The wedge I tested was the 55 degree wedge with a stiff shaft. Out of the gate I was struck by the craftsmanship and beauty. Additionally, the club is amazingly well-balanced with incredible attention to detail. The grip is much like the Lamkin cross-lines that I’ve used for years, and the stiff shaft felt really solid to me. As I noted, this is a forged blade – a true blade for sure, and if you haven’t hit one, be warned this is not a beginners club and even for the advanced player there is a learning curve.

And that leads me to one of the main things I noticed: since a true blade is for moderate to higher skill levels, the best way to increase your skill level is to have good chipping technique, and sessions of good-old-fashioned  practice chipping around different greens. One thing that I noticed is that if I hit a poor shot with a forged club, there’s not the same forgiveness as with the cavity-back sand wedges that I have played before. For example, during a full swing, I don’t take a deep divot, and a couple of times when I caught it a little thin I ended up hitting it 160 yards dead on line. A bit scary when you are trying to hit to a small target 85 yards away!

But as I mentioned, work with this club pays off, and after a couple of weeks of working with it in different types of rough, off of tight lies, out of different types of sand, and playing with it in multiple rounds, it became easy to see why folks fall in love with these clubs. With the C-Grind, you really can use the rounded toe and heel to hit an incredible variety of shots that are only limited to your imagination and practice.  And as I got used to the bounce of the wedge, which was just a little different from what I was playing before, I could lay it flat and flop it, or toe it in and hit a little running draw across the green from a chunky lie, or anything in between. I short, I really like this club!

If you have not surmised, these are not the clubs you’ll find at the bargain rack. They are made by skilled professionals and the price reflects it, but given how important the scoring clubs are in your bag, they are worth a really hard look. And if you have the time and money to get fitted for one of their many different iron sets that are tailored for a wide variety of skill levels, you may just fall in love and never look back.  Ask K.J. Choi…

You can see the whole line of Miura wedges and irons on their website.

You may have noticed the one big, white putter that a lot of guys are using on Tour lately . . . it’s the Taylor Made Ghost Spider putter. It’s big. It’s white. And the one thing that jumped out at me when I first witnessed Beau Hossler and his grillpiece wielding it at the U.S. Open – it’s square.

Next time my clubs will be free!

As a man who was fully immersed in a case of the yips with my 2 more-traditional putters, I was ready to give a mallet putter another shot. And what I found on TV as well as in the store was that the Ghost Spider seemed like a slightly new version of the mallet putter so we figured it was worth a review. And to be clear, the putter head is big by most standards, but not ridiculous or clunky like some misguided efforts made in the past by manufacturers hoping to reduce “twist”. In other words, go to a store and try every mallet putter on the rack – the Spider will not feel bigger than any other model, but somehow it stands out as unique, and sometimes that is all our brain needs to think a flatstick has the answer.

So like any good yips victim, I put the Spider in my bag and have used it for about ten rounds now. I’m not very technical when it comes to putting, so I may not have all the scientific info that you are craving, but I can say that this thing is basically as close to a “point and shoot” putter that I’ve ever tried. I was able to immediately eliminate the true shanks that had haunted my putting game for the last few months . . . it’s just an easy club to take back, swing through, and put a good stroke on. Within the first round I played with the Spider, my foursome was already commenting on what a good roll my putts had.

Aside from not being technical about putting, I was also clearly just a very bad putter for the last few months, so I understand that this could make my opinions decidedly less relevant to some of you out there. Fair enough, and for that reason I’ll point out yet again that this is just one Golf Guy’s opinion:

– The Spider has Taylor Made’s “PureRoll” insert with ridges designed to promote a better roll coming off of the clubface. I am always indifferent to whatever technology companies put in their putter faces, and I generally call BS on that stuff seeing that so many guys on Tour still use good old metal blades and get the job done (oh how I cringe when I see Tiger using that circuit board on a stick). One thing to make note of, however, is that the insert produces a truly unique feel to the putter, definitely different from the Odyssey inserts. It’s nothing crazy or out on the fringe, just different, and to me it feels a bit more energetic and still solid. Any friend of mine that tried the club would immediately notice the different feel of the face on impact . . . it’s hard to describe (mainly because I’m an idiot), but I’m going to try anyway: it’s like it makes no apologies that it is a rubber insert, but somehow you don’t feel like it’s cheesy, it’s just a solid, good feeling strike. And as disgusted as I am with myself for knowing this/benefiting from this, it seems to be super forgiving on mis-hits, because most strikes feel great. I’m sure this is also a testament to the putter head itself, because a mis-hit is seriously hard to produce with this putter.

– Given how the putter performs, the shape and design of the club kind of take a back seat and I don’t really applaud or dislike any one particular aspect. The alignment aid makes sense on paper, but my first thought was that it might be distracting. In practice, I don’t really see much genius to it when I’m standing over the ball, but it’s also not a distraction, it’s almost an afterthought because somehow the whole clubhead lends itself to lining up in the right direction. Plus, I honestly don’t have the bandwidth to try and figure what the heck is going on with that alignment design, it’s like a Picasso drawing to me, so as they say on MTV, “I’m over it”.

If forced to come up with an overall way to differentiate this putter from others, I would say that the Taylor Made Ghost Spider gives me the sense that I’m aiming a path towards the hole that is 2 inches wide, while other putters make me feel like I am aiming a line that was drawn with a pencil. In other words, in my mind, putting with the Spider is like painting with a wider brush, and I honestly have no idea if that’s a positive thing or a negative thing for most golfers. For me, it has worked wonders as I am putting a great roll on the ball and not getting too caught up in the details . . . and draining a lot of putts. Still, I’d be interested to know if someone with a better putting stroke would prefer the more precise vibe of other putters, or maybe they would put the alignment aid to better use than my ADD-addled cranium and make the Spider just as precise.

The bottom line is, if you’re anywhere close to considering a new putter, the Ghost Spider must be on the list of new sticks to try.  Its increased presence on Tour is reason enough, but I think most folks will understand what’s going on once they swing it a few times. Like my one friend who can also appreciate struggling with the flatstick said, “this putter should be illegal”.

You can see all of the Taylormade equipment on their website and other high res images on our Facebook Gallery.

Scor 4161 Wedge Review: Everyone knows that a good short game is critical to scoring. Not only can a good short game overcome mediocre driver and iron play, it is really the only way to go low. Unfortunately, I have never really had a great short game in part because I approached it from a defensive standpoint. For example, I have been of the mindset that I can shoot mid to low 80’s by not 3 putting, hitting some greens and not making double bogeys. Good advice I think, but as I have worked toward becoming a single digit handicap player, I knew I would need to become a better wedge player in order to move into the 70’s. So when I went looking for new wedges I poked around and found a newish company called Scor Golf.

When I spoke to Scor Golf founder, Terry Koehler, the first thing I realized is that this guy knows more about wedges than about 99.9% of the world. Morever, Terry is more than willing to share his knowledge with anyone who is interested . . . in fact he writes a really informative blog on wedge play. So after 30 minutes on the phone, I went to the Scor Golf website and filled out my profile. Scor then came up with my optimal set and sent me a 41, 45, 50, 55 and 60 degree wedge. Note: this also meant that I would have to replace my stock PW, gap and sand wedge. The 41 should replace my 9 iron but I am still in the process of getting comfortable with that.

Not to make this post too much about me, but I figure many of you can relate to being a bit terrified of blades and wedges. Prior to taking the wedges to the course I spent about an hour on the chipping green and what I found was that they were very easy to hit and much more forgiving than a traditional wedge. After a bit of practice I was even peppering the pin. Now I am not going to get crazy and tell you I have gotten all Phil Mickleson, but I will tell you that I am now far more aggressive with my wedges such that I am looking to save strokes, not just avoid taking more. Again, with some more practice I now know exactly how far each one will go so I can hit a full shot at 100, 80 and 60 yards. For you strong guys who hit a PW wedge 140 yards, ask yourself how do you manage your game inside of 125 yards. The Scor wedges are meant to bridge that gap. In fact, the name Scor 4161 is in reference to the fact that Scor offers wedges with lofts between 41 and 61  at 1 degree increments. For those of you counting that is 20 different lofts!

For me, I now have much better touch around the green and I even have confidence hitting the dreaded 60 degree wedge out of green side rough. Again I am not going to give all of the credit to Scor wedges but I am at an all time low handicap, 8.4, since putting them in my bag. The fact is I am now shooting in the 70’s on a fairly regular basis which I believe is only possible if you are able to regularly hit greens inside of 125 yards and chip to inside of 7 feet on a consistent basis.

So what makes the Scor wedges different from all of the rest? What Terry explained is that while drivers, irons and putters have changed dramatically over the years, wedges have remained basically the same. With that in mind, Scor developed a wedge with technology to deliver a more accurate and forgiving ball flight. Specifically, the V-Sole not only gives optimal bounce but because of the shape, it also is more forgiving when you dig the club too much or skull it slightly. Again from personal experience, I am now very comfortable hitting a 55 or 60 degree wedge from virtually any lie as I know I do not have to make perfect contact for the ball to come off the club properly.

The other unique feature of the Scor golf club is the progressive weighting system. With most irons, the clubs are all weighted the same. With the Scor Golf irons, each club is weighted differently to match the loft. This way your lob wedges are optimized for spin while 58 to 61 degree wedges are optimized for trajectory and control.

On a side note, one thing I love about wedges is that they are truly an art form. Hand grinded wedges are all the rage and the results can be visually striking, but in the end performance is what matters. This is not to say the Scor wedges are ugly because they too are very good looking. My point is that when comparing high end wedges, technology matters and Scor has it in spades. Plus, Scor Golf puts their money where their mouth is and offers a 30 day money back guarantee. Yup, if you don’t like ’em, just send them back but don’t go looking to get your hands on mine because they are staying in my bag.

You can see more high res images of the Scor 4161 wedges on our Facebook Gallery and learn more about Scor Golf on their website.

Nike VR-S Driver: So let’s start with the usual disclaimers.

1) I have been and remain a huge Tiger Fan

2) The only Nike gear I own are two pair of shorts and a few shirts

3) I have never believed that Nike was the real deal in terms of golf clubs

Now that we have that out in the open, I will go ahead and spoil the ending and let you know I love the Nike VR-S Driver. In the past 3 years I have primarily carried a Ping G10 but I have hit a ton of other drivers in a simulator (see my post on the Free Driving Range). It’s not about the money either, no, the reason I never bought another driver is because I never saw any significant distance or accuracy improvements over my Ping G-10. Ironically, I never, not once, ever, hit a Nike driver because I “knew” I would not like it.

So here is the deal. I took the Nike driver to my home club’s driving range where the tee boxes have been set on the lower level such that some people can reach or fly net (but not me). My first drive rolled up to the net. Then the next and the next and the next. Even I did not need a launch monitor to know I hit the ball farther, the proof was in the net. The next day I played my regular course and was farther on nearly every single hole I played. In some cases I was flying traps that I have never flown. Yup, the Nike VR S driver is 15-20 yards longer for me than my Ping G-10 and every other driver I have hit the past 3 or so years (and all of the ones before that too).

Now, maybe it is not fair to compare a Ping G-10 to the Nike VR-S since the Ping is about 3-4 years old but as I stated, I have also hit other newer clubs but never realized much distance improvement. Why then am I a picking up so many yards? From a technology standpoint, the Nike VR S driver is built with the NEXCOR face which is supposed to increase ball speed – okay, sounds reasonable. Additionally, the aerodynamic head and lighter shaft are also part of the equation but I will leave that to the rocket scientists. Just as important, the Nike VR S is extremely forgiving which allows me to swing more aggressively as the misses are far less severe.

As for the looks and sound of the club, I am also a fan. While the white club head is the “new black”, I still dig a standard looking club. The Nike head is a grey metallic color but honesty I would not care if it was green as long as I keep picking up the extra yards. The stock shaft is Fubuki decorated in Raider Nation black and silver. Finally, in terms of sound, Nike drivers (like the old Sasquatch) are often associated with a poor sound. While the VR-S has a bit of a softball batish flavor, I had no issues with it (as a reference, I hate the sound of the old Sasquatch).

Seeing we are in 2012, the Nike VR S driver is adjustable and comes with a 15 page manual in like 14 languages. I read exactly zero pages (heck I don’t read the manual for a gas grill, no way I am reading a driver manual). I also did not tweak the driver even though I know it has 8 adjustable face settings. Since I hit it straight out of the gate so well I figure there is no need to mess with it with it – plus, I am on board with Matt’s assement of the world of adjustable drivers.

My only issue I have is the headcover. Sure it is big and solid, but it just does not fit very well. I actually asked my wife to check it out to make sure I was not doing something wrong. In part, it is the 3/4 sleeve that is the culprit. While it may allow for easier club removal, it also tends to let the driver float around more than I want it to. No biggie for me since the first thing I do with a new club is chunk the headcovers so I can put on my wool or leather headcovers.

Overall, I love the Nike VR S driver. For a guy who is constantly being chided for needing to play the senior tees and has become to accustomed to being the first guy to hit his approach shot, the VR S is a dream come true. The distance I picked up has changed the way I can play a number of holes on my home course and I have been able to use more scoring irons since I am 15 to 20 yards closer to the pin.

So if you have any preconceived notions of Nike golf, put them aside for a moment and give the VR S a try.

You can learn more about the VR S driver on the Nike website.

Cleveland Junior Golf Clubs Review: Let’s face it, golf is not the most exciting game to learn. What’s worse is that golf is one of the few games you have to practice for a long time before you are even allowed to play. While I may be content to whack balls at the range all day, the same is not usually true for our short attention-span kids (I wanted to say MTV kids, but I guess that just dates me and is not even a good metaphor anymore). So out of the gate, moms and dads are fighting a battle to engage their kids into the game many of us love.

Taylormade RocketBallz Fairway Wood Review: Some clubs we have no loyalty to (driver), some we nearly marry (putter), some we just  hang on to for no particular reason (irons) and some we barely think about (fairway woods). For me, I have aways been pretty happy with my 3 wood whether it was an old Taylormade or Ping G10. I just wanted to be able to hit it 200ish and know it would go pretty straight. Mostly it was to knock the ball down the fairway on a par 5 or make an easy swing on a short par 4. However, there are those times in which you need to carry water thats 215 so you want to feel good about your 3 wood (or your 7 iron if you are Tiger Woods). Given the fact I have never been accused of being a long hitter, I was therefore more than willing to give the Taylormade RocketBallz fairway wood and its promised 17 yard gain a test drive.

From a distance perspective, we at Three Guys Golf try to give you the scoop but without launch monitors and all that, all I can tell you is that I hit it farther on my home track than I usually do. I know my distances well enough to clearly say that much. The one area I did struggle with the Taylormade RockeBallz fairway wood was hitting it off of a tight lie. I think because the club is taller than most, I was catching it thin and hitting it low. The good news, is that it runs like the devil. With that said, I did get it figured out and can now hit it from any lie. While I may only hit it 3 or 4 times a round, I do love when it is “RocketBallz Time”

The club itself is really good looking (unless you are not a fan of the white club). On the back you will notice the “speed pocket” behind the face. This is supposed to create the extra distance. One draw back of the speed pocket is that it is akin to a dustbunny magnet. Depending on the conditions of your course, you may find yourself regularly having to use a tee to dig out the dirt or grass that has been forced inside of it. Not a huge deal but something I never had to worry about with my other fairway woods.

So lets just talk Taylormade for a moment. I sure get the sense that these guys are ahead of the curve in terms of driver and wood technology. Again, if you have come to Three Guys Golf looking for specs or actual evidence you have come to the wrong place, but if you want a review based on opinion and pure conjecture – bingo, I’ve got that for you. From what I have read, Taylormade went back to the drawing board with the Taylormade RocketBallz and designed the whole thing from the ground up. Hence the deeper face, speed pocket and large head. I know every company is trying to make a great wood, but it sure feels like Taylormade is laser focused on making the best darn woods in the business.

Finally, I just wanted to touch on the sound. While it has no real effect on the ball flight, I dig the springy whack the club makes. It just seems to tie the whole club together. When I picked up golf seriously in 1999, Taylormade was the first 3 wood I owned, now 12 years later it is again back in my bag, and likely to stay there for quite a while.

A while back I wrote a bit of a rant about the Cleveland Classic Driver and its relevance in today’s market. My original take on the Cleveland Classic was that I simply did not buy into the “classic looks” concept – the fact that it was designed to evoke memories of the old persimmon woods was not something that sparked my interest. And maybe I took a few jabs at the folks who actually would buy into such a “gimmick”, but that was only because I am so charitable in nature. Well it appears that Cleveland was paying attention, because they called my shot and immediately shipped out a Cleveland Classic driver of my choice. The package may as well have had the words “eat crow” spray painted across it, because surely that was their intention.