This Year's New Golf Equipment
Introducing some of this year's new golf clubs, golf shafts and more
Club makers know golfers love new golf clubs and they didn't disappoint for 2007. Golf won't be the same after some radical new golf product choices.
The annual extravaganza known as the PGA Merchandise Show and Convention has just concluded. Like the yearly auto shows in Detroit, the PGA Show is where golf club manufacturers, golf apparel companies and other equipment providers unveil and showcase themselves and their new golf clubs and other products. As for new golf club and club component offerings, this is a banner year. Here are just a few of the most striking examples of new, soon-to-be-released golf clubs. Choosing new golf clubs will never be the same.
The Epic Shaft. The first is not a new golf "club" at all, but if it lives up to True Temper's hype, it will change the game almost as much as Callaway's 1990 introduction of Big Bertha. Grafalloy, the graphite-shaft subsidiary of industry leader True Temper, rolled out the Epic Shaft. The Epic is a composition of graphite and steel, but not just any composition. It seems Grafalloy has put as much R&D into the shaft as pharmaceutical companies put into a new drug. They call the shaft material NanoFuse, as the combination of the two materials takes place at an almost molecular level. According to the company, the Epic will provide golfers with the first blending that delivers the consistency of a steel shaft, but also gives the distance and feel of graphite shafts. Practical results according to Graffaloy: a 35% tighter dispersion and 20-yard longer drives. If it holds true, the Epic will be truly remarkable new golf equipment.
Callaway Golf's FT-i Driver. PGA professionals love this new golf club and they think amateur golfers will reap great benefits from it. Callaway says the Complete Inertial Design repositions the weight to the corners of the clubhead. That's right, the corners. The clubhead is very nearly square. The new golf club design and weight distribution reduces clubhead twisting on off-center shots and improves stability. Combine those aspects with the carbon-composite body and, according to Callaway, you have the worlds straightest driver.
Just as radical is the Nike Sasquatch Sumo. Nike's square-headed driver will be available February 3rd.
Nike Golf's CCi Irons. Nike says these new golf clubs "combine classic clean lines with cutting edge technology." Aside from their aesthetic appeal, these new golf clubs seem to be a good choice for mid- to low-handicappers, as the longer clubs have a tungsten insert for added forgiveness and the shorter clubs have a polymer insert for increased feel and shot-directing.
A great choice for the higher-handicapper are the Adams GT 3 irons. These new golf clubs feature a wide sole that optimizes shot-making abililty from nearly any lie. The oversize face and low-and-back weight distribution optimizing launch angle should inspire confidence. The retail price is also very attractive, $299 for the set. That is $500 less than the Nike offering. They're already on in stores.
While men's golf apparel may be seeing some improvement, women's golf apparel has taken giant leaps with Titania Golf. The clothes provide a stylish look with durable, comfortable fabric.
The Grafalloy Epic shaft, should it live up to billing, would be this year's new golf equipment winner if there was a prize. From the limited view most people have had at this early stage, it appears golfers in general are the big winners.
Visit the Suite 101Golf Equipment Index for easy access to all our new golf clubs and equipment-related information.
