Tuesday, January 29, 2013

What Was "Hot" This Year at The 2013 PGA Merchandise Show

Each year the golf industry meets in Orlando Florida the last week in January for what has turned out to be the unofficial "kickoff" of the new golfing season. This is an industry show so only people in the industry and media are invited to attend. This year's show took place January 23 through January 26th at the Orange County Convention Center. The sheer size of this show is so big that you'll walk about the same distance of an 18 hole course walking through all the exhibits in the convention center.

As with each year there are products that were "hot" and some that were not from this year's collection of exhibitors. Whether these turn into commercial success is yet to be determined but based on the show "Buzz" factor here are some of the products that stood out.

Drivers:
The theme of the show for drivers was more adjustability. For several years now equipment manufacturers have been producing drivers that had adjustable weights, lie and face angles. But this year, the ability to adjust your driver's loft was introduced. Now you don't have to worry about buying the wrong loft for your driver as it can be adjusted easily with a turn of a wrench.

According to TaylorMade research, 80% of the golfers today play with the incorrect loft. Either too much loft or not enough loft will have a negative affect your distance. Here are the drivers that have loft adjustability this year:

TaylorMade R1 Driver: Probably the most buzz surrounds this driver simply because it is a TaylorMade and they are a marketing machine. Also, TaylorMade had the largest exhibit this year with what looked like 10% of the entire convention center.

Cobra AMP Cell Driver: In addition to loft adjustability, this driver is available in 4 different colors and definitely has that "cool" factor. It was also seemed to be the most forgiving of the new loft adjustable drivers.

Nike VR_S Covert Driver: Nike didn't have the biggest exhibit but their new driver was creating a lot of buzz at the show. Maybe it was because it's the driver Rory McIlroy is using now or because it's the first driver to use "cavity back" technology which was primarily used in irons.

Adams Super S Driver: Probably the least amount of buzz among the new loft adjustable drivers but it should not be overlooked. This driver takes the velocity slot technology which made last year's fairway woods so hot, and places it in a driver for the first time. But hits with this driver just seemed to go and go.
Woods:
The Callaway X Hot Fairway woods seemed to create a lot of buzz last week. Lots of people that tested said the X Hot driver and 3 wood would be their gamers this year.

Taylormade RocketBallz Stage 2 fairways is promising an additional 10 yards this year from last years RocketBallz fairway woods. The only thing I didn't care for was the graphics on the crown of new RBZ fairway wood but if you can overlook that I'm sure you'll happy with the performance of this new TaylorMade offering.
Cobra AMP CELL fairways, like the driver, offers loft adjustability and a choice of 4 different colors. With this you only need to buy 2 fairway woods and you cover all lofts from 13 degrees all the way up to 20 degrees of loft.

Irons:
The new 2013 Callaway X Forged were great. The soft lines of the sole and heel are what I'm looking for. Roger Cleveland, (Callaway's club designer) sure knows his stuff.

The TaylorMade Rocketbladez Tour Irons looked great, but would need to test them some more to see if their distance claims were true.

I liked the look of Callaway X Hot Pro, which was unexpected, and they offered an great balance of forgiveness and shot-making ability as preferred by better golfers. If I were to guess I would say these irons will be a winner the season for Callaway.

I didn't get to hit the Cobra Amp Cell Pro Irons, but they will do very well with the better player. Just gorgeous. Although it's a progressive set there really isn't much forgiveness in the design.

Gadgets:
This is the year of the electronic swing analyzer that uses a smart phone app to display results. The SwingSmart, SwingTip, GSA and SwingByte all use a wireless sensor that attaches to your club and sends data on your golf swing to a smart phone app. This data that normally was only available using a very expensive radar swing and ball flight analyzer can now be obtained at a fraction of the cost with these new mobile swing analyzers.

Training Aids:
The Golf Swing Shirt was the most interesting aid I saw this year. Basically its a shirt you you simply slip it on over your shirt and insert your arms in the center trunk sleeve. The shirt is designed to fit more snug than a customary shirt, which helps promote the feeling of body “connection” as you are swinging the club. Like many training aids, the swing shirt looks a bit awkward to wear, but it’s actually very comfortable. After trying it, you can definitely feel the “connection” it creates in the swing.

Shoes:
This is definitely the year of the "minimalist" golf shoes. Like the minimalist running shoe trend that has taken over the running shoe industry, these shoes are made to be lighter and offer a more natural stride. But unlike running shoes, the shoes are made specifically for golf with protection and support where needed for the golf swing and waterproof guarantees for comfort in rainy weather.

The two that stood above the rest in terms of "Buzz" were the new Adidas adizero and the Footjoy M: Project. Both companies claim their shoes deliver more comfort and flexibility and can help develop better balance which is key to the golf swing.

Monday, January 21, 2013

Bushnell Introduces The New Tour V3 Rangefinder

Bushnell Golf, makers of the #1 Laser Rangefinder on the PGA Tour for more than a decade, continues the trend of offering Tour preferred technology for every golfer with the unveiling of the new Tour v3. Bushnell’s latest product introduces players to JOLT Technology, which allows golfers to feel their exact distance with each acquisition. The new technology, combined with new ergonomic design, will eliminate any doubt about yardages and offers the exact distance up to 1,000 yards.

“At Bushnell, we pioneered the laser rangefinder for golf and we continue to develop breakthrough technologies that revolutionize the Electronic Measuring Device market.” said Jordan Vermillion, Product Director at Bushnell. “The new Tour v3’s ergonomic design makes it unbelievably comfortable to hold, and will provide the golfer with extremely accurate distances to any object on the course.”

Continuing the trend of evolving precision through industry-leading technologies, Bushnell Golf is proud to introduce JOLT Technology in their new line of Tour v3 Laser Rangefinders. When the golfer aims the Tour v3 at the flag, JOLT Technology will provide short vibrating bursts to reinforce that Bushnell’s advanced PinSeeker technology has isolated the target and locked onto the flag. The vibrating bursts provided by JOLT Technology will now eliminate any and all doubt and assure the golfer that they have the exact distance to the flag.

As with all Bushnell Laser Rangefinders, the Tour v3 provides instantaneous measurements in yards and meters with incredible accuracy to within inches of any target on the course. The Tour v3 boasts 5-1,000 yards ranging performance, including 300+ yards to the flag and is legal for tournament play (all Bushnell laser rangefinder models, except the Bushnell Pro 1M Slope Edition and Bushnell Tour v3 Slope Edition, are legal to use when USGA rule 14-3/.05 is in effect). The Tour v3 Slope Edition has the same features as the Tour v3, as well as the addition of Bushnell’s PGA Tour trusted Slope Technology which provides compensated distances for elevation changes.

Product features include:

  • PinSeeker with JOLT Technology to confirm the laser has zeroed in on the flag
  • Accurate to within 1-yard
  • 5 yards-1,000 yards ranging performance (300+ yards to a flag)
  • 5x Magnification (objects appear 5x closer)
  • New ergonomic design provides stable grip
  • Posi-Thread™ Battery Door
  • Weather-Proof Construction
  • New Premium Carry Case and 3-Volt Battery are also included
  • Industry leading 2-Year Warranty
  • The Tour v3 and Tour v3 Slope will both be available at Bushnell retailer’s nationwide beginning in February. The retail price for the Tour v3 is $299 and Tour v3 Slope is $399.

    In an effort to continue its support of the Folds of Honor Foundation, a 501(c)(3) charitable organization with a mission to empower deserving military families with educational support and opportunities, Bushnell will make two new Patriot Packs available in 2013 featuring the Tour v3 and Tour v3 Slope. A percentage of every 2013 sale of the Bushnell Patriot Pack will be provided to the foundation’s fundraising efforts by. The all-new Patriot Packs come equipped with a Tour V3 (tournament or slope editions), limited edition Bushnell and Folds of Honor Foundation bag tag, new Bushnell productive carrying case and exclusive Bushnell Golf and Folds of Honor Foundation branded golf tees at a manufacturer’s suggested retail price (MSRP) of $299 (Tour v3) and $399 (Tour v3 Slope).

    Bushnell, the #1 choice of professional golfers, offers a full range of rangefinders, which continue to change and improve the way golfers assess distances, ultimately improving performance.

  • Friday, January 18, 2013

    Clicgear USA Announces New Rovic Pushcarts

    Clicgear USA, the exclusive U.S. distributor of the Clicgear Cart, announces the launch of a new collection of pushcarts called Rovic by Clicgear. The Rovic collection of carts will have lower retail price points, and also feature new styling with a more aggressive feel. The Rovic collection will feature a 3-wheel compact design (RV1C), a 3-wheel bag-on cart design (RV3F) as well as a 3-wheel junior cart (RV3J). Initial ship date will be June 1, 2013.

    Since its inception in 2006, Clicgear has become the leader in 3-wheel pushcart technology. Known for outstanding engineering and unparalleled quality, Clicgear has built a reputation of producing the finest product. Todd Hansen, National Sales Manager for Clicgear USA explains "The growth of Clicgear has been nothing short of amazing since 2006. Retailers and consumers have been asking for more, and we believe the Rovic collection will be a great addition to the Clicgear brand".

    While maintaining lower retail prices, the Rovic collection won't be short on features. Full-size consoles, hand brakes, durable tires and accessory mounts will all be standard on Rovic carts. "One of the focuses of Rovic is that you don't have to settle for an inferior cart just because you are not spending top dollar", says Hansen. "The great thing about the Rovic collection is that since it is manufactured by Clicgear, retailers and consumers understand the quality will be second to none".

    The Clicgear Cart was awarded BEST NEW PRODUCT at the 2007 PGA Merchandise Show in Orlando, and since that time has become the leader in 3-wheel pushcarts and pushcart related accessories. Clicgear develops and manufacturers their own product, which means the designs are unique to Clicgear.

    Thursday, January 17, 2013

    Rory McIlroy Struggles In First Competitive Round With New Nike Equipment

    After the first competitive round using his new Nike equipment, Rory may be asking himself why he made the changes. Rory shot a 3 over 75 that comprised of a lot of wild shots and several double bogeys including one where his drive ended up in a parking lot.

    Not surprisingly, McIlroy put his struggles down to "rustiness" rather than anything equipment based. But he did acknowledge that adjusting to his new clubs was an ongoing process.

    "My problems were more swing-related than club-related," he insisted. "Whenever the wind was right-to-left I was comfortable enough cutting the ball into it. But when it was blowing the other way I had trouble releasing the shot properly.

    "When you go out with new stuff you are always going to be a little bit anxious. I was hoping I was going to hit it on the course like I have on the range, but today that wasn't quite the case. Still, I learned a few things. Apart from that one shot on the par 3, my irons were pretty good. Hopefully I can put them into play tomorrow.

    "I'll be out on the range this afternoon, working on it. I obviously need to play a bit better if I'm going to make it to the weekend. It wasn't all bad, though. While this obviously wasn't the round I was looking for, there were a few good signs out there."

    HERE'S WHAT IS IN RORY'S NEW NIKE BAG

    DRIVER: Nike VR_S Covert Tour Driver (9.5°)degree, neutral position
    FAIRWAY WOODS: Nike VR Pro Limited Edition 3-wood/15-degree and 5-wood/19-degree
    IRONS: Nike VR Pro Blades (3-PW)
    WEDGES: Nike VR Pro Wedges (54°, 60°)
    PUTTER: Nike Method 006 prototype
    BALL: Nike 20XI X

    You Can Score Rory's New Nike Gear and Deep Discount Prices at Great Golf Deals.com - Discount Golf Equipment

    Thursday, January 10, 2013

    TaylorMade Introduces RocketBallz Stage 2 Driver

    CARLSBAD, CALIF. (January 3, 2013) – TaylorMade Golf Company, the No. 1 driver brand in golf, today introduced RocketBallz Stage 2, a driver that combines a lower and more forward CG location, a more aerodynamic head shape and an expansive, 4,100 square millimeter club face to promote up to nine more yards for better players compared to the first generation RBZ driver.

    Characterized by its unique crown graphic which enhances alignment, the RBZ Stage 2 driver also features TaylorMade’s Loft-Sleeve technology, which gives players the ability to easily tune loft and club face angle to fit their swing.

    “It’s hard to imagine bringing a driver to market that outperforms the original RocketBallz driver,” said Todd Beach, vice president of metalwoods R&D. “Making the head of the RBZ Stage 2 driver more aerodynamic while also making the clubface larger was a tremendous challenge and succeeding was critical to promoting performance that’s superior to the first generation RBZ driver.”

    The combination of a longer, lighter (50-gram) Fujikura RocketFuel shaft and light grip enabled TaylorMade to keep RBZ Stage 2 under 300 grams of total club weight. That, along with balancing the club to a slightly higher swing weight, allows the RBZ Stage 2 driver to promote faster swing speed for most golfers. The lightweight characteristics of the shaft coupled with the RBZ Stage 2 driver’s mass properties work together to create a moderate draw bias.

    Like the first-generation RBZ driver, the RBZ Stage 2 retains a large address footprint while incorporating a slightly deeper and larger face.

    TaylorMade is also offering a RocketBallz Stage 2 Tour model, which has a lower and more forward center of gravity and a stock Matrix 6Q3 shaft to promote a more penetrating ball flight. Availability for the standard model begins 2/1 at $299, while the Tour version is available 2/15 at $349.

    Tech Talk
    Loft Sleeve Technology
    Loft Sleeve Technology (formerly called Flight Control Technology) allows the player to easily adjust the loft, lie angle and face angle of the clubhead. The RBZ Stage 2 has been updated to offer 12 positions within the window of 1.5° loft adjustment. Lower, More Forward CG

    TaylorMade engineers discovered with the R11 driver that a low-and-forward CG location helps promote faster ball speed and a higher launch angle, both of which promote more distance. The RBZ Stage 2 Tour driver incorporates a CG location that’s lower and more forward than the first generation RBZ driver, promoting increased distance.

    Expansive Clubface
    The RBZ Stage 2 driver’s huge and deep clubface (4,100) gives the golfer more area to look at, which inspires confidence to swing faster and more freely for more distance.

    Crown Alignment Decals
    The white metalwood crown that TaylorMade introduced in 2011 on our R11 metalwoods works with the black clubface to make it easier to align the face accurately at address. We’ve enhanced that alignment benefit on the RBZ Stage 2 driver with the addition of a prominent crown decal. According to Dr. Steve Hitzeman, Professor of Sports Optometry at the University of Indiana, the additional linear reference features on the RBZ Stage 2 crown benefit golfers by providing additional visual cues for alignment.

    Designing the linear reference features was complicated, as we had to manage parallax as well as the rounded surface geometry of typical metalwoods. We used our MAT-T (Motion Analysis Technology by TaylorMade) System to define the visual angular range for most golfers using typical metalwoods’ lengths and lie angles. This produced a visual reference angle of approximately 70° from the ground for metalwoods. We fed that information into our Pro Engineer CAD system, which allowed us to define the exact layout of the decal in terms of position and angular orientation.

    Inverted Cone Technology
    Used in every U.S. TaylorMade driver since the R500 Series in 2002, the Inverted Cone milled into the inner side of the clubface promotes higher ball speed on off-center hits.

    Thick-thin Crown Technology
    The Thick-thin Crown design employed in the RBZ Stage 2 driver ranges from 0.6 to 0.4 mm thick, allowing TaylorMade engineers to save three grams versus the 0.6 mm Thick-thin Crown previously incorporated in the R11S and RocketBallz Tour drivers (2012).

    Monday, January 7, 2013

    TaylorMade Golf Company Introduces R1 Driver

    CARLSBAD, CALIF. – (January 3, 2013) The new R1™ continues TaylorMade’s mastery of adjustable drivers by offering the greatest range of adjustability of any driver in the brand’s history. R1 gives the golfer 12 loft-sleeve settings and 7 face-angle positions, as well as two movable shot-shape weights. R1 also allows loft and face angle to be adjusted independently of each other – a critical benefit. The R1’s three adjustability technologies allow it to be tuned 168 different ways to specifically fit a player’s swing to optimize distance and accuracy.

    Unlike most drivers, R1 lacks a loft number stamped on the head, because its “Loft-Sleeve Technology” offers a 12-loft sleeve settings to deliver a 4°-range of lofts, meaning the golfer can play anywhere from a 8° to 12° driver.

    “Offering a wide range of loft settings is imperative, because our research indicates that 80 percent of golfers are playing the wrong loft, which costs them distance,” said Dr. Benoit Vincent, chief technical officer. “The R1 offers 12 positions to help golfers find the loft that delivers the launch conditions that deliver maximum distance.”

    Why are so many golfers playing the wrong loft?

    1) Golfers typically choose the wrong loft when they buy off the rack, usually opting for too little loft because of a long-held belief that a lower-lofted driver will promote long distance. In fact, a low-lofted driver typically costs the average player carry and distance by promoting a too-low launch angle.

    2) Changes to driver design during in recent years to promote lower spin (such as moving the CG location lower and forward) has made it possible for many players to switch to a higher loft that promotes more carry and distance by achieving a better combination of high launch/low spin launch conditions.

    R1’s wide range of lofts and face angles, along with its movable shot-shape weights, allow this single driver model to be tuned to fit the widest range of players, from Tour pros to high handicaps.

    The R1 features TaylorMade’s famous white, glare-reducing crown color, and also has an eye-catching new orange, black and gray crown graphic that offers two important performance advantages:

    1) R1’s crown graphic design helps the golfer to square the face to the ball accurately at address. That’s important because golfers can still use the contrast of white crown and black face to align the clubface, but TaylorMade studies indicate that golfers benefit from the linear reference cues of our new crown graphic to help align the face accurately.

    2) The “V” shape of the preserved white space behind the leading edge provides a frame to position the ball against, helping to heighten focus.

    R1 is equipped with Aldila RIP Phenom 55-gram shaft, which is ultra-light to promote faster clubhead speed, yet strategically weighted to deliver the feel of a heavier, 65-gram shaft. The shaft also features Aldila’s Hyberbolic Flex Technology™ to promote optimal launch conditions, ball speed and feel. The TaylorMade R1 Driver will be available at retail 2/1 for $399.

    Tech Talk

    Loft-Sleeve Technology Offers 12 Settings Between 8° and 12° R1 offers 12 loft-settings to choose from between 8° and 12° (7 settings at standard lie angle, 5 settings at upright lie angle), giving golfers a wide range of choices from which to achieve their optimum launch angle.

    7 Face-Angle Settings R1 offers seven face-angle settings to help golfers get the precise, confidence-building look at address: neutral/square, slightly open, more open, maximum open, slightly closed, more closed and maximum closed. Face angle can be easily changed without affecting the loft, an adjustability benefit offered only by TaylorMade.

    Shot-Shape Technology TaylorMade’s movable shot-shape weights allow the golfer to easily shift the clubhead’s CG location by 5 millimeters to promote either a draw or a neutral/straight trajectory, helping golfers hit the ball longer and place it more accurately.

    Thick-thin Crown Technology Varying the thickness of the crown allowed TaylorMade engineers to save critical weight that’s strategically repositioned to move the CG lower and farther forward. Lowering the CG promotes a higher launch angle, while moving it forward promotes faster ball speed.

    Inverted Cone Technology TaylorMade’s famous Inverted Cone Technology significantly expands the area of the clubface that delivers high ball speed, promoting increased distance on off-center hits.

    White Crown with New Graphic R1’s white matte finish eliminates glare on the crown and works with the black face to make alignment easy. The new crown graphic acts as an additional alignment aid, while the preserved white space creates a frame to position the ball against and promotes improved focus.

    Aldila RIP Phenom 55 Shaft R1’s ultra-light Aldila RIP Phenom 55 is faster clubhead speed, yet is strategically weighted to deliver the feel of a heavier, 65-gram shaft. The RIP Phenom 55 also features Aldila’s Hyberbolic Flex Technology™ that incorporates a stiff tip section to promote optimal launch and spin control, a very firm butt section for incredibly stable feel, and a softer center section that promotes an added “kick” through impact for maximum ball speed.

    Thursday, January 3, 2013

    Callaway Golf Announces Its New Line of X Hot Drivers and Fairway Woods.

    Callaway's RAZR Fit Xtreme will probably be the driver of choice in 2013 for many of the company's staff players, including Phil Mickelson and Ernie Els, but the new X Hot and X Hot Pro drivers offer a lot of performance features that should appeal to golfers looking for more distance off the tee.

    CARLSBAD, Calif., January 3, 2013 - Callaway Golf Company (NYSE: ELY) today announced its new line of X Hot™ Drivers and Fairway Woods, configured for blistering ball speeds and distance gains. Already adopted by some of the longest-hitting players on the worldwide tours, including newly-announced Callaway staff professional Gary Woodland, the new line of X Hot Woods are a result of Callaway R&D designing clubs for the best players in the world, and using optimized design progression and adjustability to make them accessible and high-performing for all players. This collection of hot, distance-promoting drivers and fairway woods will be available at golf shops nationwide starting on January 25, 2013.

    Distance gains of 13 yards* with the new X Hot Driver have been achieved with a host of design and engineering advancements that make the new drivers fast, hot and more lightweight than their predecessors. Callaway employed its powerfully fast Speed Frame™ Face Technology that increases ball speed, saves weight and optimizes stiffness and stress distribution across the face for more efficient energy transfer. The new face technology promotes more - and more consistent -- distance, even on off-center impact. Also, by decoupling the face performance from the rest of the driver head, Callaway R&D is able to boost ball speed without sacrificing optimum trajectory. And a tighter curvature face on the X Hot Driver (relative to the RAZR X Black Driver) offers a look at address preferred by better players, along with consistent sidespin and dispersion to promote accuracy.

    "With the X Hot Drivers, we pushed the Speed Frame Face's efficiency to a new standard, producing high ball speeds while maintaining the trajectory and accuracy that discerning golfers demand," said Dr. Alan Hocknell, SVP, Research & Development, Callaway Golf. "The fast face on X Hot is one piece of the puzzle, though. We went to great lengths to configure the X Hot drivers not only to promote distance, but to progressively optimize performance for various player types."

    In the X Hot Drivers, Callaway has implemented its thinnest casting technology ever in the all-titanium head to create a lighter swing weight and overall configuration, a combination that benefits most players in terms of head speed and distance, especially golfers with an average swing speed. Another benefit of the new, thin casting technology to the golfer is the inclusion of Draw Bias Progression, which changes the amount of draw bias depending on the loft, allowing golfers to better control sidespin and tune their shot shape. Players with higher lofts can take advantage of higher draw bias for straighter shots, while players with lower lofts can utilize a more neutral CG that fits their game.

    Also featured in the Callaway X Hot Driver is the adjustable OptiFit Hosel, which adjusts the face angle in Open, Square or Closed positions to improve accuracy and trajectory, and allows golfers to dial in their preferred look at address. As a notable value-add, the Callaway X Hot Drivers also feature Project X Velocity shafts as the stock offering.

    The Standard Callaway X Hot Driver will be available in 9.5-, 10.5-, 11.5-degree models and a 13-degree HT-model, and will feature a lighter overall club weight and a lower swing weight than the X Hot Pro model. It also features attractive crown decals and an alignment Chevron on the matte grey-colored crown. The X Hot Pro Driver will be available in 8.5-, 9.5- and 10.5-degree models and feature slightly more open face angles than the Standard version. The Pro version will be available on February 15, 2013. Both versions of the new driver will debut with a new product introduction price of $299.

    In addition to the X Hot Drivers, Callaway is bringing a new line of fairway woods that Tour Pros, the blogosphere and industry insiders have been buzzing about in recent weeks, the X Hot Fairway Woods. Aiming to deliver the hottest, most versatile and most complete fairway woods in golf, Callaway R&D engineered a Forged Speed Frame Face Cup made of high strength Carpenter 455 stainless steel that is, remarkably, up to 40 percent thinner than last year's fairway wood face -- with a 90 percent larger sweet spot -- jamming the CT level right up against the limit allowed by the USGA. As a result, the Forged Speed Frame Face Cup produces significantly hotter responses all over the face, and does so with superior launch conditions.

    The markedly low CG in the fairway wood head, accomplished with a novel proprietary design called the Internal Standing Wave, delivers more ball speed and lower, more consistent backspin, resulting in longer, more consistent distances from everywhere on the course: the tee, fairway or rough. This new, wave-shaped weighting design engineered inside the club head projects up from the sole toward the face, creating a lower and shallower CG and higher MOI.

    "We are seriously proud of the X Hot Fairway Wood's design and performance. We think we have set a new and extremely high bar in the fairway wood category," said Hocknell. "The distance gains are for real. In testing with Staff Professional Alvaro Quiros, for example, he gained nearly 18 yards against the gamer in his bag."

    Not to be forgotten among the staggering distance gains is the complete performance and versatility of the X Hot Fairway Wood and X Hot Pro Fairway Wood; the sole is designed for improved performance from a variety of lies. Contributing to this versatility is the Modern Warbird® Sole, an updated design that builds off of one of the most adaptable fairway woods ever produced to allow for more dynamic shot shaping and a decidedly more useful fairway wood.

    To further enhance speed and distance, the X Hot Fairway Woods will be available with a lightweight Project X Velocity shaft as the stock offering. The Standard X Hot Fairway Wood will be available in a 3-Wood, 4-Wood, 5-Wood, 7-Wood, 9-Wood and 11-Wood. The Standard version features slightly longer length shafts and more upright lie angles. The X Hot Pro Fairway Wood will be available in 13.5-, 15-, 17- and 19-degree models. Both versions will be available for a new product introduction price of $229.