Over the past few years, the fledgling wedge company, Scor Golf, has been racking up awards from major publications like Golf Digest and Golf Magazine so my expectations were pretty high. For me, the short game is a really important part of my game. I have been really pleased with a number of boutique wedges I have reviewed thus far, so I was very interested to see how the Scor system stacked up. Note, when I say “system” it is because Scor is more than wedges, it is a fitting process and short game methodology.

Prior to receiving the wedges I went through Scor’s online survey where I answered a short questionnaire that included my current irons and wedges, shafts, distances, greens in regulation, number of chips/pitches per round and common misses. From that information, SCOR, sent me their solution to replace my 9-iron through my L wedge. Because they offer 20 different lofts (41 degrees thru 61 degree), the solution Scor suggested was tailored to my specific game in terms of loft, shaft and length. Specifically, they sent this recommendation:

Your Scoring Club Prescription
Hand: Right Hand/RH
Lofts: 43° 47° 51° 55° 59°
Shaft: GENIUS® 12
Flex: Firm + Flex

They also recommend a four club scoring prescription, but I opted for the full five club solution.

Their manufacturing process is quick and streamlined and my set arrived in NC within a few days after placing the order. When I opened up this box, besides the gleaming wedges, I was also greeted with a bag-tag to use as a reminder for my yardages, a divot tool, and a written introduction on how to work with their system to improve my short game. This included conversation about how to develop a more consistent short game swing, using less hands and more body and ways to open the face to create different yardages with the same length of swing (to cover more possible on-course scenarios). I had seen a very similar system described by Dave Pelz and Tom Kite so this philosophy was very familiar to me. Now, two months later, I can say that I am really impressed with the Scor wedges and the increased comfort they provide to my game.

They are easier to hit than other top wedges we’ve tried:

• The look of a blade may be intimidating to some, but the secret is in the grind of the sole of the club. The V-grind makes it much less likely that you will chunk the club around the green or in the sand. The key is in the way the clubs are designed where mishits have been proven to be more accurate than other leading wedges, particularly the common mis-hit on the wedge where the ball is hit higher on the face.
• The wedges have a tiny bit of a rounded leading edge that slides under the ball and makes it really easy to get the ball off the thinnest lies. A little work with these and you will see what a huge confidence boost this is.
• Shots out of the sand or out of the rough were simply easier. As a matter of fact, the V-sole allows you to take a square stance out of the sand, and most rough. You don’t even have to learn to open the face and swing across the shot like most people teach, if you’re not comfortable with that. I was able to stand square and simply pull a more lofted club for a shorter sand shot, or a less-lofted club for a longer shot, and put it right up by the pin.

The consistency of the design of 5 scoring clubs makes scoring easier than ever:

• I constantly found my practice going like this…I would look at the shot I needed to hit, and pick one of the 5 wedges that seemed like it would go that distance with a chip swing, or half swing. I would hit the shot, and if I had misjudged, I would pull the next club from the set, and 9 times out of 10, it was right on target. The more I’ve worked with the clubs, the better I have judged which clubs to pull with the swing I am most comfortable with.
• Full swings on approach shots were no different. Some work at the range with the yardage I was hitting my clubs on a given day meant that I could pull a yardage within a couple of yards all the way from 50 to 130 with very little, if any change in my swing.
• The consistent weights and consistent shaft flex with their Genius shafts (matched to each wedge) make the feel remarkably similar between clubs. As I mentioned, I’ve been able to try some other top wedges and have had a good bit of success around the greens with them, but these are more confidence-inducing than any I’ve tried with their design features and consistency of feel throughout the set. These shafts are weighted and have a tip flex that benefits the full swing as well as the chip or pitch swing. Most wedges are not designed with shafts that work this way through the scoring clubs, as the 9 and wedge are often a different weight and stiffness from most other wedges in the average golfers set.

Other things to note:

• The soft Lamkin grips give great feel, and are similar to the Lamkin crosslines I used for years. They are marked with dots that allow you to choke down to a specific point to again, use the same swing for different yardages. Keep track of these yardages with the included bag-tag.
• The face of each wedge has this unique fingerprint-like pattern that shows up with a little bit of dirt on the face, and in my opinion, helps to grip the ball better for more stopping power on chips.
• Most golfers aren’t aware of how much short game improvement will drop their scores faster than anything else. These clubs are a no-brainer to get your handicap down within a very short period of time, if you’ll just put in a little practice time.

Bottom line:
I’m more impressed than I was before, and I was plenty impressed before I used a whole set of 5 wedges. I am taking more dead aim at the flag than I ever have, and I’m being pleasantly rewarded swing after swing with these clubs.

You can learn more about Scor Golf and their fitting system on their website.

I discovered G Belts a few months ago when they popped up on my Instagram feed. Now, you would think there are only so many ways to photograph a belt buckle, but company founder Roderick McDaniel’s clever product placement defies commonality. Being a huge belt buckle fan (especially of huge belt buckles), I reached out to see if we could do a review of the early prototypes. 3 days later, voila,  G Belt in the mailbox.

I have about 6 belts in the stable, so for a new one to “crack the starting lineup” it has to really stand out. Quite simply, a belt is made up of two parts, the strap and the buckle. Each one is equally important to the overall look and feel but too often the strap does not get enough attention.

Beyond color and texture, the strap is critical as it must hold up for years without showing wear (other than nice aging). Too often straps are flimsy and thin. Fortunately, the strap that comes with the G Belt is 100% genuine leather and super wide, 1.75 inches to be exact. This makes the G Belt a perfect choice for pants or shorts that have really wide loops.

On to the main dish – the buckle. Big, bold and brash and just like it should be. Believe it or not, I spent two weeks trying to figure out what the “G” stood for before I broke down and asked Roderick. “Golf” that is what the “G” stands for – duh.

I felt like a complete moron until I realized no one else who I asked ever thought to say “Golf” either. Honestly, I am glad no one guessed “golf” because that is just too obvious. Anyhow, the font is great and the brushed metal allows it to stand out without being over bearing.

G Belts come in three versions, Sport ($80.00), Hybrid ($100.00) and Limited Edition ($150.00) with the difference between each being the leather quality. Personally, I received the Hybrid which is made from 100% cowhide leather. The Sport is also leather but I assume a slightly lesser quality.

Conversely, the Limited Edition is made from premium Italian Mammoth leather. Again, because a great belt should last 10 years at least, the leather is really critical.

Additionally, you can buy colored straps that come in 8 varieties so you can mix and match with the same buckle. G Belts can be purchased on their website. I would also recommend following the G Belt Instagram feed.

For whatever reason, I have never really been a Callaway guy, but because I am a social media nut, I have recently found myself paying more attention than ever to the brand. Primarily my increased awareness is due to the fact that Callaway is very active and effective on Twitter. For example, take a peak and you will see many of the top Callaway brass like Chad Coleman and Harry Arnett tweeting regularly in a very conversational manner (something most big companies do very poorly).

While the lion share of Callaway media revolves around their equipment, it appears as though Callaway is making a concerted effort to shine a brighter light on the apparel side of the business.

Like most big golf companies, the Callaway apparel is fairly traditional, although there are hints of trendy touches like contrasting collars and plackets. Historically, big companies rarely draw too far outside the lines when it comes to fashion; a decision that is probably wise since about 90% of golfers prefer traditional colors and styling, with purchasing decisions based primarily on the fit and price.

For our review we personally looked at two polos and two pairs of shorts. First off, we noticed the shirts run a touch big, nearly a whole size in our opinion. Specifically, Matt (pictured below) was much better suited to wear the medium polos than I was (he typically wears a large while I am a medium).

When you think of Callaway apparel, the names Ernie Els and Phil Mickleson bubble to the top. Both men, while never being accused of being fashion trendsetters, always look sharp and well put together. This is basically where I think the Callaway sweet spot is. Put another way, traditional golf attire with hints of hip.

The two polos we saw were the Simon Polo and Victor Polo. Again, both ran a size big but we were particularly impressed with the Viktor as we dug the offset color on the collar, placket and arm as well as the button down collar. This is a performance blend so it makes for a great choice in warmer temperatures.

The Simon Polo, while also 100% polyester, had a thicker look and feel than most. In fact it looks almost cottonish. Typically, I am not a huge fan of shirts that have contrasting colors on either side, but Callaway pulls it off aided by details like the chest pocket.

We also checked out the Torrell Tech Shorts and the Mikel Tech Shorts. Both had very similar cuts which I would describe as country club conservative with knee-length hems and wide legs. I did particularly like the Torrell houndstooth as a pattern that can add a touch of style when paired with a solid polo. The Mikel come in a solid grey which is obviously a bonus as you can pretty much wear them with any shirt on the planet.

Overall, we thought the Callaway line did a nice job of providing reasonably priced apparel that has the designer look. Interestingly, the Callaway website does not carry much of the apparel but from what I understand, they will be relaunching a whole new apparel e-commerce site later this year. Not to worry, you can find them in big box stores and lots of retail websites. Most of the polos run in the mid $30s and the shorts about $60. Pretty good bang for the buck in our opinion.

You can visit the Callaway website here.

When making a list of Golf Mecca’s a few places come to mind. Let’s see, Pinehurst, Myrtle Beach, Las Vegas and a little town they call Scottsdale. For those of you who have not visited Scottsdale, think of it as the Beverly Hills of the Phoenix area with the crown jewel (at least in terms of golf) being TPC Scottsdale. It seems reasonable, then, that when Ping went looking for a name for their newest Anser putter, slapping the moniker ‘Scottsdale’ on it seemed to make sense.

Ping Scottsdale Anser 2 TR

Right Hand, 350g Head Weight

Ping took a different approach to their new line of putters – the Scottsdale TR series. TR stands for “True Roll” and that’s the outcome you’ll expect thanks to their new innovation called “Variable-Depth-Grove Technology”. Yes, I agree, TR is a much better term than VDGT. By varying the depth of the groove from the deepest in the center to shallow as you move out from the center area of the putter face, Ping has proven that the TR system provides a much more consistent distance control when hit flush in the center or just off center towards the heel or the toe, and since none of us strike every putt perfectly (not even the Pros), this is a new technology that I was eager to try.

To start, I used the Anser 2 on my putting green at home to get a feel for it and it didn’t take long before I was draining those 7 foot putts with relative ease. I was truly surprised at how well the putter felt in my hands. I’m not sure what it is about the Ping grip, maybe Tiger could clarify, but it felt like an extension of my hands as I was hitting my putts. Never before has a putter felt that good in my hands as I was using it.

The insert that Ping uses is made from Aluminum so you’ll get the typical “ping” sound the clubmaker is known for but not the high-pitch version from years past. The TR technology I think is here to stay, and just like Ping proclaims, the off-center putts don’t come up short at all. Deliberately making off-center putts is nothing that I wanted to practice but I had to bite the bullet for the review and I was literally stunned at the results. I nailed my distances all day long on all three courses. My lag putting was outstanding and watching the alignment line on my ball stay straight as can be and not wobble back and forth was neat to watch.

I put the Anser TR though a three round test and came away feeling like my putting was clearly the better part of my game. I was rolling the ball better than I ever had and my distance control was not only a big surprise to me but my playing partners as well. The solid feel of the putter in my hands and the remarkable roll and touch that I was able to put on the ball let me know that Ping certainly has a winner with the TR series and their variable-depth-grove technology.

You can see the whole line of Ping products on their website. 

At Three Guys Golf we love to search out new lines of golf apparel, but it is equally rewarding to rediscover brands that we have forgotten about. One such company who has recently stepped up their game is Ashworth Golf.

If you are not a regular viewer of the PGA you may have missed it, but this past year or so, Ashworth Golf has made a tremendous and triumphant return to the apparel segment of the golf industry.

After TaylorMade-Adidas acquired Ashworth back in October of 2008, the company has been on a steady climb to the top in the classic golf attire world. With their new 2013 spring line offering inspired designs and improved fit, Ashworth is again making name for themselves as a solid choice for players looking for a classic look with modern technology. Their new line not only fits fantastic but it is also amazingly comfortable.

Helping Ashworth’s increased popularity is the addition of pros like Fred Couples, Justin Rose, Sean O’Hair, Justin Leonard, Rory Sabbatini and Johnson Wagner. Beyond building out a solid team, Ashworth has also been creative with their marketing by releasing limited edition performance polos that carry the Fred Couples name.

You will note, Freddie’s signature is embroidered on the inside of the polo right under the tag, adding a touch of Boom-Boom class to the shirt. Looking closer, you will even find this particular shirt is only 1 of 300 – yeah, that’s pretty cool. Some might be prone to sealing it up and seeing what they could get for it a few years from now but not me. I plan on wearing it until the stitches come apart!

In addition to the new line of polos, Ashworth has extended their product line to include pants, shorts, sweaters, hats, visors, socks, belts and even shoes. The best part is it how all flows together seamlessly.

Ashworth is certainly doing its part to make sure everyone is aware that they are here to stay. Case in point: the new “The Pants Petition” which very cleverly shows off the brand. So if you have been out to lunch on the Ashworth revival, it’s time to take a fresh look.

You can see the whole line of Ashworth apparel on their website.

The fact is, it takes guts to jump into the golf ball market, but the guys behind I Need The Ball have moved their chips into the center of the table. Like many small companies, it started with loose talk amongst friends and the belief that a box of high performance golf balls shouldn’t cost more than a round of golf.

If I were to ask you to list the top putters on the market today, I would bet dollars to donuts you would mention the name Odyssey. For years Odyssey has been producing solid putters, but in 2013, the Odyssey Versa has become one of the hottest flat sticks around.

The Odyssey Versa line comes in many different configurations. Six that come in either black/white or white/black plus the “2 Ball” version that is available in white. That gives players seven unique styles to choose from (thirteen if you count the two color choices)! For our review we received the Versa #1 in black/white.

Odyssey Versa #1 – Black

Odyssey took a huge leap forward in the development of the Versa, choosing to make the entire head of the putter an alignment aid versus sight lines or hidden dots. Two bold contrasting colors of black and white (or white and black depending on the version) make aligning your putt virtually stupid-proof.

The first time I grabbed the Versa I was a bit overwhelmed. The contrasting black and white head can give you the feeling of cluelessness if you’re not ready for it, but as I took the handle in my putting grip, took my stance, and looked down at the ball for the first time, the uneasiness of using this unique putter went away. I did have my doubts though as I began to stroke a few putts to get the feel of the Versa. Can seeing yourself misaligned by a mere degree be that noticeable? Once I had the feel for the putter I started focusing more on what this putter is all about and that’s alignment.

It didn’t take long for me to realize just how great the Versa is. Having only my previous putter to compare to the Odyssey at this point it was a no brainer. Using my putting green at home and putting from 7’ I was deadly accurate. Every putt I attempted was directly at the hole. A few times I misaligned myself on purpose to see if there was a difference and it was boy oh boy it was dramatic. The black and white contrast of the face acts just like a flashing neon STOP sign forcing you to reassess your position. That wasn’t the only great thing about the Versa though. The face of the putter has an incredibly soft feel to it when it makes contact with the ball, almost like a soft insert, but the roll is fantastic and true. That was a combination that I really liked.

Of course the at-home putting green was never going to be a true test so I took the Versa out to the course for three rounds to see how well it performed where it matters. Even though my putting numbers were not off-the-charts amazing over the 54 holes I played, I did manage to show some progress in some key areas like lag putting and putts in the 10-15’ range. The confidence of knowing I was aligned properly really made a difference to me.

The more I played with the Versa the more I liked it. The Versa feels great in your hands and with that soft feel coming off the face you have a great touch on your putts. There is no second guessing your alignment which improves confidence. There is no second thought in my head about where the ball is going; only speed.

At a price point of $169.99 I think the Versa is a fantastic putter for any player looking to decrease the number of putts per round. Odyssey also has done something I think is very smart. They now have an option where you can order your putter with a SuperStroke grip for an additional $20.00 Not bad at all!

If you’re one of those players that battles with proper alignment I can highly recommend giving the Versa a try.

You can view the entire Versa line on the Odyssey website.

I am a long-time fan of Sun Mountain push-carts and for the past three years I have used the Sun Mountain V2, which for some reason never took off like the original V1. To set the stage, I play about 2-3 times a week and walk about 80% of those rounds, so having a super solid premium push-cart is must-have. As I mentioned, I am very familiar with the Sun Mountain push carts but the new SV1 Speed Cart has made a number of changes which have really improved an already solid offering. Most notably these include:

Disclaimer: I am a golf gadget junky and always work under the pretense that the more information I have the better. Hence, when we received the Golf Buddy Platinum to review, I was first in line. Off the bat, the Platinum from Golf Buddy is a full featured handheld GPS device that has a list of features a mile long, but I want to focus on eight crucial items.

No Annual Fee:

None, nada, zip, but the Platinum does come loaded with 40,000 courses and is ready to go right out the box. The courses are really easy to search and in the review mode you can scroll through the holes and see the layout. This means you can take a virtual tour of any course prior to actually playing it. This feature came in very handy when I traveled to Utah last month and wanted to check out the courses I would be playing.

Automatic Course and Hole Recognition:

For Golf Buddy veterans, this feature is a given but still relatively unique in the GPS world. Here is how it works: Turn on the GPS and forget about it. In just a few minutes, the course will be recognized and will move through the holes seamlessly. Every so often you may have to manually change the hole number if you play a course where the fairways are close together or in an odd configuration, but it happens rarely and not a big deal to toggle to the next hole.

Pin and Target Placement:

The Golf Buddy Platinum utilizes a touchscreen for both the overhead fairway and green view. In both cases you can use your finger to locate areas to change the yardage. For example, you can select an area to lay up to and get that distance. In the case of the green, you can move the pin to different location. Both functions work fairly well, but it can be a little tricky to get the marker to the exact point you want. Fortunately, there is also a “Target” selection that will tell you the yardage to the obvious locations, i.e. to the front of a stream, carry the stream, front of the bunker, etc.

Accuracy:

Obviously, accuracy matters and the Golf Buddy Platinum excels on this front. I verified a ton of yardages with my laser range finder and found the measurement to be nearly identical in every single case. I also compared the yardages given by the GPS system that was built into the cart (you know the ones that are in high-end clubs). Suffice it to say, the Golf Buddy Platinum will not steer you wrong with yardage.

Battery Life:

Over a three day period I played three different courses and a total of sixty three holes. I charged the Platinum up the night before my first round and it performed flawlessly for the next three days without returning to the charger once. That was a solid performance – Apple needs to look into what Golf Buddy is doing with their batteries and take a hint!

Ergonomics:

The Platinum fits comfortably in your hand and weighs in at 5.65oz. It has enough weight to it though that you can tell it’s well made. The case is shock and water resistant but I wouldn’t recommend bouncing it off the rocks and into the pond. Technology hasn’t advanced that far, yet.

The Score Tracking Mode and Statistic Analysis:

As I said earlier, I love information and have kept my golf stats for years. The idea of a GPS/stats unit is great but in reality it is a tough thing to pull off. My basic issues with the scoring module is that entering in your score and number of putts is way too hard and time consuming. One simple fix would be to make the default score be par and the default number of putts be 2. In the case of the Golf Buddy, the default is zero which means you have to enter numbers in for each hole. With that said, you can keep scores for the whole foursome plus stats for driving accuracy, putts and sand saves.

Readability:

Key to a GPS is the ability to quickly peak at the screen to get yardage to the middle of the green. The Golf Buddy is super easy to read as that information is always in the top right corner. A simple click of that box gives you yardage to front, middle and back of the green. Additionally the Golf Buddy GPS is easy to read in bright sunlight and while wearing polarized sunglasses.

There is a huge upside to Golf Buddy and their wide variety of products. The GPS was amazingly accurate from all area of the course and the automatic hole detection makes it one of the most user friendly GPS’s I have ever used. No more button pushing between holes or shots, you arrive at your ball, look down and you’re good to go. That’s how it should be.

The Golf Buddy Platinum retails for $399.99 on sale now for $345.99 you can view it and all the other products Golf Buddy has to offer on their website.

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. 

By far my favorite part of writing for Three Guys Golf is the opportunity to review products that I would otherwise never know about. This spring I came upon a small company called Appalachian Leather Works who sells handmade leather putter covers, yardage book covers and billfolds. The fact that they are located in the mountains of my home state of North Carolina is just frosting on the cake.

For years I have admired the yardage books that the guys on tour have, but finding one that was not boring or generic proved to be a difficult task. Fortunately, Appalachian Leather Works is neither boring or generic. Not only are they unique, but they come in a number of versions including gator, ostrich and snake. Each one is then hand-stitched with your choice of thread color. The result is a one of a kind yardage book that will be the envy of your foursome. Oh, and when I say hand-stitched, I mean stitched by a real person living in Boone NC.

So, you don’t have a yardage book? Neither do I, but don’t let that deter your decision because they also are perfect for a scorecard.  Why then do you need a scorecard holder? Because you can. Since I began carrying my scorecard a month ago, I have absolutely fallen in love with it. There is just a certain feeling of confidence when you can mark your score in a tour version cover. It is just legit!

Along with the yardage book, I now also carry an Appalachian Leather Works bill fold. Like the yardage books, these too come in a number of skins and thread options. I have long since given up my George Castanza wallet, so it was not a problem for me to fit everything I need into it. I keep six cards and $500 cash with no problem (ok maybe $18.00 but you get the idea). Keeping the fold closed and secure is easy with the rubber ring.

Since recently moving to a blade putter, I was in need of a new cover as I much prefer non-branded club covers. The Appalachain Leather Works putter cover I have is black leather with yellow ribbon, but you can customize nearly every aspect of the cover including the color of the leather, ribbon, stitching and faux fur. The fit is perfect and easily slides onto nearly any blade putter. The velcro clasp at the back is completely secure so there is no worries of it falling off.

So beyond the fact that I totally dig all of the Appalachian Leather Works products, the fact that they are handmade by a guy who literally lives in the mountains rather an a multi-national company makes the purchase just a little bit more special. Sure, there are some things big companies are really good at, like making drivers, but if you want a headcover or yardage book that is representative of the passion you have for the game, then you should demand handmade.

You can see all of the Appalachian Leather Works products on their website.  Additionally, we are offering a 10% discount on all purchases through the end of May. Just use code 3guys.

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.

AUR Golf Apparel Review: Unless you live under a rock you know the fashion revolution has overtaken professional golf. While there has always been a handful of colorful players, we have now reached a point where nearly every single tour player is meticulously dressed by their sponsors.

On the other hand, when we refocus the lens to our local golf clubs, the scene is a little different. Yeah, you see a few white belts here and there, and some people are finally getting the message about spikeless golf shoes, but by and large things are not changing as fast as you may think. The fact is designer golf gear is not cheap and are moreover many of us are not exactly built to pull off the “white pants” look.

Thankfully, AUR Golf  is offering a line of apparel suited for folks who want functional good looking apparel that will not break the bank. Plus, they are integrating environmentally responsible fabrics made from a variety of natural sources like coffee, bamboo charcoal and other recycled products. AUR then processes these materials into yarn that is extremely moisture wicking, odor-reducing performance polyester. The way I figure it, saving the Earth and still getting a shirt with UV protection, quick drying times and easy care sounds like a winning proposition.

While AUR does offer a number of styles with progressive colors and patterns, I went with a standard black polo shirt and khaki pants. The pants are well cut and sewn to be durable. Size wise, they are flat-front and they have plenty of room to move without being baggy. Even thought the shirt is solid black, I was impressed with the detail in the extra stitching in places like the shoulders where you need a shirt to hold together. Over the course of several rounds, they did all they were supposed to do in terms of stretch, moisture-wicking and sun-protection.

AUR Golf clothes are made for men and women and can be found at many stores and online. There is quite a variety of styles and colors to choose from, and a basic stylish polo will run you around $65. You can see the whole AUR line on their website.

It’s kind of cool when frustration actually results in innovation rather than just anther mangled 7 iron. As the story goes, the inspiration for Blunt Golf Umbrellas came to New Zealander Greig Brebner after he nearly lost an eye walking down the busy streets of London, where during a windy rain storm umbrellas were folding quicker than Superman in a laundromat. After this close encounter with the emergency room, Greig went back home to the drawing board, the design bench, and the wind tunnel. After much tinkering, the Blunt Umbrella was complete and able to with stand 73 mph winds.

Adam had seen Blunt at the PGA Merchandise show but it was not until this spring that we actually got the chance to test the golf version of these amazing umbrellas, the G1 and larger G2. The technology that makes them work is very cool and is thoroughly explained on their website. Basically, the quick opening system pushes the tension out along the umbrella’s floating ribs out to its aerodynamic blunt tips in something they call RTS or radial tensioning system. The bracing on the underside of the umbrella is unique and much stronger than regular umbrellas but without any extra weight. The result is that it takes about one gust of wind holding a Blunt umbrella to realize what makes it so unique.

In practice, we did not get to test the umbrellas in 70 mph winds but we did use them in 25 mph gusts that were giving my conventional umbrella fits. Frankly, the only thing we were concerned with was Adam dislocating a shoulder while holding onto the umbrella. You see the umbrella wasn’t flapping or budging or showing any problem standing up to the wind so it takes a bit of strength to stay grounded.

The Blunt umbrella is made from a polyester skin that is very durable and completely waterproof. Additionally, there is hardly any effort to put these lightweight beauties up and down; you simply grab the very comfortable, ergonomic handle and push the rubber piece until it clicks. You then pull on the same piece and the umbrella comes down with no buttons to push or to get stuck (like they do on my current umbrella). The shaft at the center is made from a durable and lightweight fiberglass which is strong enough to be driven over. Yes, Adam left his umbrella in the garage and his wife drove over it. No worries, it is a good as new (no, joke, this is a true story).

Adam and I are both 6 ‘ 2″ and use push golf carts that have an umbrella holder. The Blunt umbrellas easily fit into the carts and did a nice job of covering us and the openings of our bags. Adam tried the large G2, and I tried the slightly smaller G1. While both umbrellas are tall and wide enough, we would love to see even a larger model with a taller handle. I would expect that the only problem would be figuring out how to secure the umbrella to the cart such that it all does not fly away. Seriously, these umbrellas will not fold up so a strong wind will grab the Blunt and just go.

These umbrellas run at $100 and $120, so they’re not cheap, but a huge part of their philosophy is that these last much longer and keep a bunch of cheap umbrellas out of the landfill which is where most of ours end up. I know I’ve tried to fix several of my golf umbrellas with super glue, or by trying to re-bend a messed up rib and I’ll go ahead and say that I’m really glad to have an umbrella that just stays open.

Blunt umbrellas come in a variety of accent colors, with the base being a simple black, and they also have a light cover that you can store them in, or carry with the light shoulder strap. Blunt umbrellas… they really do reinvent the wheel.

You can learn more on the Blunt USA website

With most major golf apparel brands going the way of techno performance, In Fiamme is one of the few companies who is still making classic golf polos. I know, “classic cotton polo” is not exactly sexy but this is not your average cotton pique (and not all of us want to be sexy anyhow). Yes, In Fiamme polos are cotton, but that is about all they have with the other duds in your closet.

Off the bat, each In Fiamme shirt is hand cut and sewn in Milan, Italy (and not in some big manufacturing plant). No, these are carefully produced in small lots such that each shirt has immaculate quality and detail. Specifically, In Fiamme polos are all constructed of double-mercerized, 100% Egyptian cotton yarns which is considered one of the finest cotton fabrics in the world.

Admittedly, I prefer a more modern fit and look but that does not mean I cannot appreciate the quality of the shirt. Moreover, the In Fiamme shirts have a certain level of class that you will never get with a performance polo. The reality is that the company understands their customers prefer substance over pizazz.

While I only wore two of the In Fiamme polos, I was able to personally see the whole apparel line in January at the PGA Merchandise show. In general, I would characterize the majority of styles as “Country Club Conservative” but they do have a number of more progressive styles as well.

What all of the styles do share, however, is a classic fit that complements a “mature” figure. In other words, if you carry a little weight, you really should avoid the sheer, thin material. What In Fiamme understands is that a more gentlemanly look can be achieved though the combination of fine cotton and complex patterns.

With that said, the shirts are not cut such that they look like the Tiger Woods shirts of 1999 where if you hold your arms up you look like a triangle of cotton. The shoulders meet at the end of your shoulders and girth of the shirt is size appropriate. I did note, however, that most of the shirt sleeves are longer than today’s modern cut. Sleeves go from mid-bicep to elbow. Again, longer than the modern cut but preferred by the more conservative gentleman.

As anyone who has worn a cotton polo knows, what is a dead give away for a cheap shirt is the buttons and collars. All In Fiamme shirts are made with laser etched genuine mother-of-pearl buttons and have double stitch hems with a lycra-infused collar to prevent curling. In other words, these shirts will look this good for a long time.

The other thing you will notice (or not notice), is that the shirts do not have a logo which is great news for those of us who prefer to not look like a walking billboard. To me, knowing that you are wearing a fine Italian garment is enough-I don’t need to have it advertised on my chest. Slightly off topic, but ever see a totally bad ass car that you know is a loaded up Audi, BMW, Porsche or Maserati but the owner has cleverly taken off ever single emblem? Yea, it makes it that much cooler. Be that guy.

You can see the whole collection of In Fiamme shirts on their website.