Our Picks For The Top Fairway Woods - 2013 - Great Golf Deals Blog

We are past the unofficial end of summer (Labor Day) and it's time to offer our humble opinion on the Top Fairway Woods For 2013. The selection team for this list consist of 8 full-time club sales people that have at least 3 years experience in the golf industry and our most experienced rep has over 20 years of club sales experience. We are not golf professionals and do not have any affiliation with any of the equipment manufacturers. We are just regular golfers with handicaps that range from scratch to 25 that because of where we work get a chance to play with and test all the latest golf equipment. We also get a chance to talk to a lot of customers to get their feedback on the equipment and that also factors into the selection.

The fairway woods often gets overlooked because golfers always focus their attention on new drivers with the latest technology or even the ever easier to hit hybrids clubs.  Next time you look at a golfer's golf bag more than likely what you will see is probably a fairly recent driver (1-3 years old) and some new hybrid clubs replacing the long irons.  

But what you will probably also notice is that the fairway wood is probably older than any other piece of equipment in the bag.  The perception has been the fairway woods have not changed much in terms of improvements and advanced technology.  If you believe this then you are missing out on some of the most important equipment advances that may have more of an affect on improving your game.

Despite its name, today's fairway woods are designed for use not just on the fairway.  New fairway woods are designed to be used off the tee when accuracy is more important than distance.  They are designed to hit out of all lies whether you're on a tight fairway or in deep rough.  It is a multi-purpose piece of equipment that can replace your driver on tight driving holes and because of the enhanced technology the new fairway woods still provide a ton of distance that can help you go after those long par 5 in two.

As a trickle-down effect from drivers, adjustabilty  has made its way now into fairway woods.  What used to be limited to just drivers is now available on a lot of the new fairways. Golfers can now make major adjustments to loft, face angle and lie angle to help them dial in the ball flight they are looking for.   But it is not just adjustability that is new in the fairway category.  New fairways are hot and produce a ton of ball speed and distance.  They are also easier to hit and get up in the air because of the design and location of center of gravity.

Bottom-line is if you haven't replaced your fairway woods in the past 3-4 years then you are missing out on some of the most significant changes in golf equipment technology.  Do yourself a favor and give some of these new fairways a try and you will see how these will help improve your game.

Our Picks for the Top 3 Fairway Woods For 2013 Season:

 Ping G25 Fairway Woods

Just hands-down a top performer. This is not one of the adjustable fairways but based on our experience with it it does not need any adjustment. The G25 was just long and straight out of any lie we could hit it out of. Off the tee this thing was 5-10 yards longer than any other fairway we tried and will keep your driver in the bag on tight driving holes. Off the fairway and in the rough this fairway performed flawlessly. Among the better-looking sticks in this category; long, shallow face and low profile lets you know that when you sit the club down, you're going to hit it well; handsome black matte finish.

TaylorMade RBZ Stage 2 Tour Fairway Woods

This fairway wood is better served in the hands of a mid-to-low handicap player because it is not the most forgiving one available.  What you lose in forgiveness you gain in adjustability, workability and distance.  TaylorMade's second generation of the speed pocket along with a center of gravity that is low and forward produces a low-penetrating ball flight that cuts through the wind.

The shallower low-profile head is easy to hit off the tee but more importantly is easier to hit out of challenging lies and still manages to get the ball up with no noticeable loss of distance or control.   

Callaway X Hot Fairway Woods

Probably the most balanced fairway wood of the group we tested.  The Callaway x Hot Fairway Wood was the hottest and most complete total performance fairway wood we tested, combining a modern Warbird sole with a Forged Speed Frame Face Cup to produce significantly hotter responses all over the face. The low CG in the head also promotes a lower spinning trajectory for ridiculously long distance from the tee, fairway or rough.

Regardless of whether you are a low handicap golfer looking for more playability or a high handicap player looking for forgiveness and distance this fairway will meet your needs.  We had no trouble hitting this out of any lie we could throw at it.  The lower-profile head instilled confidence when hitting out of the rough or on tight fairways.  Hitting off the tee was a breeze and this club was Long! 

Best Of The Rest

Cobra AMP Cell Fairway Woods - One of the few fairways with adjustable loft where the 3/4 wood can be adjusted from 13-16 degrees allowing maximum customization.  This was one of the longest fairways we tested and distance was consistent.  

Titleist 913Fd Fairway Wood - This deep-face fairway wood produced a more boring trajectory with less spin. It was one of the most workable drivers we tested.  It felt like you could hit a draw or fade on command with no loss of distance.

Nike VR_S Covert Fairway Woods - The cavity-back design on this fairway wood makes this a solid choice for golfers seeking more accuracy, forgiveness and help with getting shots in the air.  If you can get over the cavity look, this fairway will perform for you.

Our Picks For The Top 3 Drivers 2013 - Great Golf Deals.com Blog

We are past the unofficial end of summer (Labor Day) and it's time to offer our humble opinion on the top drivers for 2013. The selection team for this list consist of 8 full-time club sales people that have at least 3 years experience in the golf industry and our most experienced rep has over 20 years of club sales experience. We are not golf professionals and do not have any affiliation with any of the equipment manufacturers. We are just regular golfers with handicaps that range from scratch to 25 that because of where we work get a chance to play with and test all the latest golf equipment. We also get a chance to talk to a lot of customers to get their feedback on the equipment and that also factors into the selection.

The driver stands tall and proud over any golfer’s bag. It is often the most expensive stick in the bunch and everyone loves to hit it. There has also been more innovation in driver design, materials, and manufacturing than among all other clubs. Some of those innovations later find themselves in other clubs. Multi-material construction used to be confined to drivers with stainless steel faces and composite crowns, but now you see multiple materials being used in irons with a stainless body, a polymer insert, and tungsten toe and heel weights in some models.

The biggest trend in driver innovation continues to be with adjustability. It used to be limited to minor adjustments in loft, lie, and/or face angle, but now we increasingly see wider adjustments. It is getting more common now to buy a driver that is fully adjustable. Golfers don’t buy a 10-degree driver, for example, that has adjustability allowing a few degrees of tweaking in one direction or the other. Rather, manufacturers are putting out one driver model that doesn’t come in different lofts but is fully adjustable to any loft needed – from around 8.5 all the way up to 12.5 degrees for some. That certainly makes it easier on golfers and easier on retailers, shippers, and manufacturers too. Imagine how much easier it is to manage inventory. As these and other innovations continue to come out on the market, you owe it to yourself to visit a retailer, talk to your pro, or visit a demo day and see what the new drivers can do for you.

Our Picks for the Top 3 Drivers For 2013 Season:

Cobra AMP CELL Pro Driver

The Cobra AMP Cell Pro Driver is probably not the first driver that comes to mind when discussing driver adjustability. There have been other equipment manufacturers that have done a fantastic job at touting their driver as the most adjustable driver on the market. But Cobra has quietly come out with an excellent driver that not only allows complete adjustability but also looks good and performs. 

The Pro model offers MyFly technology which allows you to adjust the loft on the driver from 7.5 degrees up to 10.5 degrees with a simple twist of a wrench. So now you can adjust your driver loft based on playing conditions, weather and how you're currently hitting the ball.

The Pro model head size is 440 cc which sets up well behind the ball and give you the confidence that you can work the ball left or right. It's available in two colors Silver, Orange, but what really sets this apart from the other available drivers is the premium Mitsubishi KuroKage shaft. This is not a shaft made for just this driver. It is the actual OEM shaft made by Mitsubishi that normally sells for $200.

The shaft, the head size, the adjustability and the cool looks all add up to a winner this year for the Cobra AMP CELL Pro Driver.

TaylorMade SLDR Driver

With the new TaylorMade SLDR driver, less equals more. If you've been following the latest releases in the TaylorMade driver lineup you've probably noticed that they have continued to add more features to their drivers. Features such as adjustable lofts, adjustable face angles, adjustable weights, different color selections, etc. With the new SLDR, TaylorMade has kept it simple and the results have paid off.

The new SLDR streamlines many of the driver features in an easy-to-use but powerful sliding technology that gives it a ultra-low and forward center of gravity which equates to higher launch angles and less spin - hence more yardage.

The SLDR driver comes in lofts of 8, 9.5, 10.5 and 12 with those being adjustable +- 1.5 degrees. So unlike the R1 driver where lofts were adjustable from 8 to 12 degrees, with the new SLDR you select the loft driver you prefer with still the ability to change the loft +or - 1.5 degrees.

The real "secret sauce" on this driver is the 21 SLDR weight position on the bottom of the club that allows for up to 30 yards of shot shaping adjustment. Our testing also found that the sliding weight track was surprisingly easy to use, and that it didn’t take long to find the favorite of the club’s 21 settings. Most golfers will “set it and forget it” after their initial fitting, but gear heads will enjoy the ability to add left or right bias to their drives when they’re struggling with their games or making changes to their swing.

Though it may seem like yet another TaylorMade gimmick to sell more drivers, we found the SLDR driver to deliver significant results. We like the more traditional look of the club and the ease of use in making adjustments. But most of all, we liked the results we saw when taking it out on the course and putting it through the real tests. TaylorMade has a real winner with the new SLDR driver.

Callaway X Hot Driver

Callaway actually came out with 3 new driver lines in 2013 which is more than what they normally come out with in a normal year. The three lines included the Callaway RAZR Fit Xtreme driver, the recently released FT Optiforce drivers and the Callaway X Hot driver. All three are very solid drivers but to us one stood out over the rest. 

The new Callaway X Hot Driver is the product that will appeal to most of the market as it is targeted at golfers at all levels ( form mid-handicappers to single-digit players). But by no means is this a one driver fits all product. Callaway has also come out with a X Hot Pro model targeted at golfers with more advanced skills and faster swing speeds.

The Callaway X Hot Driver is a speed demon with many of the technical features designed to increase club head speed while at the same time provide forgiveness on off-center miss-hits. Maybe it's because we are more traditional golfers we like the classic looks on this driver with the matte-grey- gunmetal finish. The driver checks in at 46 inches which is a half an inch to an inch longer than standard. It has a 460cc head and speed-frame face is made of titanium that is thinner around the perimeter and thicker in the center which optimizes the sweet spot and decrease the amount of distance loss on off-center hits. It also has the Opt-fit adjustable hosel which one of the easiest to use and most intuitive compared to others that you need a PhD to understand.

If you are looking for a driver that can bomb it out there with the best of them but also still provide the technology and adjustability to make it forgiving on miss-hits then this is driver you're looking for. Callaway's X Hot Driver is a product that will move Callaway back into the forefront of innovative, high-performance metal woods. It's a position that they once had and are now on there way back to obtaining.

Best Of The Rest

Titleist 913 D2 Driver:  With Titleist you don't get all the flash like you get with the other drivers but what you get is flat out performance.  No surprises here this driver just performs - you can't go wrong with this driver but make sure you have the game to handle it.

 Nike VR_S Covert Drivers: Winner of the most radical design for 2013.  The first cavity back driver looks normal on top but when you turn it over you'll notice the large cavity in the sole.  This driver performed really well and if Tiger and Rory are using it then it should work for you.

Callaway Introduces New FT Optiforce Drivers and Fairways

CARLSBAD, Calif. -- Callaway Golf’s new FT Optiforce drivers and fairway woods are scheduled to be available at retail on July 12. Callaway officials have high hopes for Optiforce, but a more important strategy story is emerging at Callaway headquarters even as Optiforce claims its spot in the equipment spotlight.

Chip Brewer, in his second year as Callaway president and chief executive, is going public with an aggressive product introduction and marketing plan.

“We are not waiting for any traditional dates to release products,” Brewer said. “We are not following other people’s expectations. We are designing great products, and our touring pro staff is testing them, and we’re going to bring these products to the public whenever they are ready. We are not waiting around.”

Thus Callaway introduced Mack Daddy 2 wedges by Roger Cleveland on June 27 and the Optiforce family of metalwoods on July 1.

Alan Hocknell, head of research and development and father of the Optiforce, echoed Brewer’s sentiment: “We want to be less predictable…. More news, more often – that would be a good thing.”

Hocknell and his team have created two Optiforce drivers – 440 CCs and 460 CCs. These $399 drivers have more adjustability than any previous Callaway driver. And they also are the lightest modern-sized titanium drivers ever produced by Callaway.

But light wasn’t the objective. More distance was the goal behind Optiforce. Translating light weight into more clubhead speed and ultimately more distance was the target of this complex project. Validation for this approach appears to be forthcoming, as several Callaway touring professionals have been testing Optiforce. The official launch is scheduled this week at the PGA Tour’s Greenbrier Classic.

“Fairway wood technology has taken a big leap forward,” Hocknell asserted. “Maybe the driver hasn’t kept pace to some degree because it is already constrained by the rules. We viewed this as an opportunity to get some of that back.”

Each of the two Optiforce drivers features eight different hosel-adjustability settings, although each has its own unique personality, according to Callaway. New $229 fairway woods (3, 4, 5, 7, 9) also carry the Optiforce name. The fairway woods were designed separately from the drivers and do not feature the same adjustability.

“The fairway woods are not an after-thought or an add-on,” Hocknell said. “There would have been a weight penalty (too much weight) to pay for adjustability. So we didn’t do it.”

One important note for Callaway fans: They will not be able to use their current driver shafts in the new Optiforce drivers. The existing adjustable hosel, used in Razr Fit and Razor Fit Xtreme drivers, will be replaced by a new adjustable hosel in the new Optiforce.

The change was necessary because the two Optiforce drivers are adjustable in a range of four different loft settings and two independent lie settings (standard and upright). The loft range for the 440 driver is 8.5, 9.5, 10.5 and 11.5 degree. The range for the 460 driver is 9.5, 10.5, 11.5 and 12.5.

The short explanation: There is one Optiforce 440 head and one Optiforce 460 head. Each can be tuned to one of four different loft settings and two different lie settings.

In discussing the dual drivers, Hocknell said: “Our competitors say they can give you one head, then you adjust it, and it will work for all golfers. We feel that’s not the case. Our two drivers are not at all the same, and we believe this is necessary for our audience. We are saying there are more sophisticated options here.”

The Optiforce 440 has a smaller head and is not designed to be a super game-improvement driver. Most golfers will see a lower, more penetrating trajectory.

The more forgiving Optiforce 460 has a larger head with additional draw bias, increased moment of inertia (resistance to twisting), and a center of gravity that is located more to the rear of the clubhead and slightly higher than that of the 440. Even the bulge radius of the face is different on the two drivers.

Carried over the from the Razr Fit Xtreme are the forged composite crown and the Speed Frame face. New for Optiforce is an aerodynamic package that came, at least in part, from extensive testing and communication with Formula One race car experts.

Two stock shafts are available – True Temper’s Project X Velocity, weighing 43 grams with a beefed-up tip section, and Mitsubishi’s Diamana S+ at 62 grams. With the Velocity shaft, total driver weight is approximately 290 grams. Both drivers have a standard length of 46 inches and a standard swingweight is D0.

Hocknell acknowledges that lighter drivers are sold in the marketplace, but he is steadfast in maintaining that the trick is to convert any additional swing speed into extra ball speed and more distance. “A lightweight driver in itself is a detriment to golfers if they can’t feel and control the clubhead,” he added.

Meanwhile, the Optiforce fairway woods take advantage of Callaway’s X Hot fairway wood technology, only with a higher trajectory. “The distance of X Hot and the trajectory of Razr Fit Xtreme,” said Hocknell, adding that "the 9-wood and the 4-wood attracted a lot of attention from our testers.”

The New Clicgear 3.5+ Golf Push Cart Review - Still The Best And Now Even Better - Great Golf Deals.com Blog

The first Clicgear Push Cart was introduced in 2007 at the annual PGA Merchandise show in Orlando where it won the "Best New Product" award. I was at that show and I remember the crowd reaction when they first saw the cart. You would have thought that they just invented a new golf club that guaranteed everyone would hit it 300 yards and straight. People couldn't get enough of it and had to get there hands on it as soon as it was available.

 

From there, the Clicgear cart has continued to improve the cart and it has reached almost a "cult" status where previous model owners will upgrade to the newest model as soon as it is released - even though the cart they have is perfectly fine. In a sense, the Clicgear cart has almost become the Apple iPhone of golf push carts.

New for 2013, the Clicgear 3.5+ Golf Push Cart is Clicgear’s latest model. Built for those of us who prefer to play golf the way it was meant to be played - by walking the golf course and taking in the surrounding while getting some actual exercise.  The new 3.5+ push cart has some subtle improvements over Clicgear’s previous 3.0 model, including: a larger storage net, larger cup holder, an improved bag strap system, improved umbrella holder storage bracket, and an improved positive lock braking system. They didn’t reinvent the wheel this time around as they didn't have to it is already a great cart. Clicgear simply has taken what many have called “the best push cart” and maximized it’s potential… at least until version 4.0 is designed.


WHAT'S NEW?
You can’t roll out a new model without some modifications. While I didn’t expect the modifications to be extensive, I do think that they should be improvements, thus adding to the quality of the overall cart. Here are the changes for the Clicgear 3.5+:

1. Increased Cargo Net Volume: It’s 80% larger! OK, that’s cool. More room to drop stuff in the net. I’d call that a plus. It’s not so huge that it gets in the way under the console, or that things get lost in its vastness.
   
2. Improved Braking System: Visually the brake is the same, but the locking cogs are easier to engage. The pin is smaller and there are more cogs, so you are less likely to hit the dividers which at times happened in the past. Before it was just a little roll forward or backward to engage the brake, now it isn't necessary, it engages almost every time you flip the lever.
3. Improved Umbrella Holder Storage Bracket: OK this one is reaching a bit. It works, and works better, no argument. However, I don’t use an umbrella and I actually leave the holder at home to prevent losing it and excess weight.
4. Larger Adjustable Cup Holder: At first I was skeptical of the smaller size, wondering if I could get a Gatorade bottle in it, but what I found is that this one will hold both the skinny Gatorade bottles as well as the larger sized ones. Because of the spiral expansion design it will hold tight just about any size beverage container. (within reason) It also holds the beverage much tighter, thus reducing spills and possible drops.
5. Improved Bag Strap System: This was the one thing that I was initially very puzzled about. The great thing about the previous clip systems was their adjustability. I thought it was pretty easy to adjust the strap length to match the diameter of the bag. The new hook and ring system definitely looks different, and guess what, it’s a better system. All of the adjusting is accomplished on the ring end, with the elastic cords sliding through and fastening on both the top and bottom of the ring. Pop the cords out, position the ring, and lock the cords back in place. It’s an easy system. If you always use the same bag, then you set it once and go. If you change bags all of the time like I do, the ease of adjustment is great.

DESIGN:

The Clicgear 3.5+ is everything you could ever ask for (and more) in a push cart. It’s made from strong over-sized aircraft grade aluminum tubing which is both highly durable and excessively lightweight (the 3.5+ is 18 lbs. total). When folded up the 3.5+ is incredibly small and easy to carry, making it great for storage and transportation to and from the golf course. We also discovered that this push cart will fit just about anywhere when folded up.

Not only is the Clicgear 3.5+ lightweight, sturdy and compact(able), but it’s also packed with features that are thoughtfully placed and intuitive. Some features that caught our attention during testing were the upgraded braking system, center console and storage net.


SET UP:

Unfolding the Clicgear 3.5+ is not the most intuitive process, which may explain why the company makes instructional unfolding and folding videos available on their web site. Clicgear tries to make the 5-step process easier by highlighting the critical knobs and levers in bright colors, but despite the fact that we’ve used these carts many times, we still do a little bit of head-scratching each time we come back to them. It truthfully isn’t rocket science, but there is a sequence that must be followed, and if you try to do something out of order, you tend to hit a dead end and have to start all over again.


VERDICT:

The Clicgear 3.5+ is likely the last push cart you’ll ever need. It is shockingly lightweight, extremely durable and can fold up in to a pint sized cube for incredible storage. We fell in love with this push cart’s ability to roll down the fairways smooth and straight. We found it to be effortless to maneuver and also comes with some impressive storage capabilities. If you’re a walking golfer who’s serious about your game, we highly recommend the Clicgear 3.5+ push cart for you.

PRICE:
The Clicgear 3.5+ retails for $219.99 and at that price it is still worth it. For a limited time you can pick up one of these carts for $189.99 at Great Golf Deals.com or purchase on "Open Box" version for $179.99.  If you're a walker and do not want to carry bags on your back, do yourself a favor and pick up this push cart  - you will not be disappointed.

Top 6 Golf Equipment Deals For Father's Day 2013 - Great Golf Deals.com Blog

Each year around this time all the top golf equipment manufacturers launch promotions and deals knowing that Father's Day is one of their biggest selling times of the year.  This year is no exception as they have outdone themselves with all the great deals that are out there.

To make it easier for you to find and decipher all the current deals that are out there we have compiled our list of the Top Golf Equipment Deals for this Father’s Day.

1.  Callaway’s $50 Instant Savings on their XHOT, XHOT Pro and RAZR Fit Xtreme Drivers

The Callaway XHOT and RAZR Fit Xtreme are some of the hottest drivers on the market this season.  Callaway has really come out with two great drivers this year that are bound to be on many top drivers’ lists for 2013.  The regular price of the X Hot driver is $299.99 and $399.99 for the RAZR Fit Xtreme driver.  During the limited time promotion period they will be priced at $249.99 and 349.99 respectively. The good thing about this promotion is that it is an instant savings and the price has been reduced for the promotion period.  There is no need fill out rebate forms and wait for a rebate check.  If you've been looking for a great deal on one of these drivers now's the time to act because this promotion only runs to June 23rd.

Here at Great Golf Deals.com we have X Hot  and X Hot Pro Drivers on sale for $239.99 and the RAZR Fit Xtreme for $329.99

2.  Bushnell NEO X and NEO Plus GPS Watch $50 Instant Savings Promotion

The Bushnell NEO Plus GPS Watch was one of the best selling GPS watches last year and the new NEO X GPS Watch looks to be just as good or better than last year’s model.  Both models offer over 25,000 pre-loaded golf courses, auto course and hole recognition and no annual membership fees.  The NEO X is lighter, thinner and also has distances to certain hazards.  The normal retail price of these watches is $199 but with the limited-time instant savings, the price is lowered to $149 during the promotion period that ends on June 16th.   

3.  TaylorMade $100 Instant Saving on their RocketBladez iron sets.

The new TaylorMade RocketBladez irons have been the top selling irons so far this year.  The standard model has given the mid-to-high handicap player more distance and accuracy in their iron play while the Tour model has already seen a lot of success on the PGA Tour.  For a limited time, TaylorMade is offering $100 off Instantly any RocketBladez 8-piece set.  The regular price of and 8 piece set is $799 and now you can pick up a set for $699 or less.  Again this is an instant savings so there is no need to fill out rebate forms and wait for a rebate check.

Here at Great Golf Deals.com you can pick up an 8 piece set in stell for $669.00

4.  Golf Buddy Father's Day Instant Savings Promotion

There must be something about dads and golf gps devices because a lot of the great deals for Father's Day are on golf GPS and Rangefinders. Maybe its because you don't need to know what handicap or get fitted for one of these devices that makes it a perfect gift idea.  In any case, Golf Buddy has always offered some of the best golf GPS devices on the market.  They range from the affordable Voice model that was the first golf GPS device to use both visual and audio to inform the golfer of distances to the full featured World Platinum with full color display and touchscreen.  Like the Bushnell GPS devices, there are no annual membership fees and they come pre-loaded with 30,000 courses.  Golf Buddy is offering a $20 Instant Savings on the Voice unit, a $30 Instant Savings on the Voice Plus unit and $50 Instant Savings on the World Platinum unit.  

5.  TaylorMade $50 Instant Savings on the R1 Driver

The TaylorMade R 1 driver is arguable the most adjustable driver on the market.  And now for a limited time, TaylorMade is offering $50 Instant Savings on the R1 Driver with this promotion.  With this driver you have 12 different loft settings and 7 face angle options and myriad of different weight options with the moveable weight technology.  This has been one of the most popular drivers among both amateurs and professionals because of the adjustability.  The regular retail price on this driver is $399.99 but during the promotion period you can pick this driver up for $349.99.  This again is an instant savings promotion so the price is automatically reduced and no rebate forms needed.

At Great Golf Deals.com you can pick up this driver for only $309.99 while they last.

6.  Clicgear Push Cart $30 Instant Savings

Ever since its introduction at the PGA Merchandise show a couple years ago, the Clicgear cart has been one of the most popular push golf carts.  Its lightweight design and ease of use make this the # 1 push cart on the market today.  This is a great gift for dads who want to get some exercise and walk the course but not want to carry a bag and clubs on his back  Think of it as a piece of exercise equipment that will keep dad healthy.  For a limited time get this cart for $189.99 with this $30 Instant savings on at Great Golf Deals.com

Lucky for dad - and for those buying for dad - the golf equipment makers and retailers are making it more affordable to equip dad with the latest and greatest golf gear this time of year.  If your like most dads, golf gear is something that's high on the list of things desired and will be greatly appreciated and used. Hopefully this list will help you find what the best deals are out there right now and also help you save a little money when buying for dad.

For a list of all the Father's Day deals currently available you can click here.

Bushnell rangefinder benefits Folds of Honor Foundation

The 2013 Tour Z6 Wingman Pack is Bushnell's newest golf laser rangefinder. It's also the latest Bushnell product whose sales benefit the Folds of Honor Foundation.

"Building off the great success of the original Patriot Pack, we are ecstatic to provide consumers with this Tour Z6 Wingman Pack and are pleased to add another product to the mix that will support Major Rooney's incredible foundation," said Phil Gyori, managing director for North America. "For as long as consumers continue to look for ways to support the Folds of Honor Foundation and gravitate to Bushnell's industry-leading products, we'll be privileged to be a partner and support the foundation."

Extra-small but extra-powerful, the Tour Z6 is Bushnell’s most technically advanced rangefinder, which allows golfers to instantaneously zero in on flags up to 450 yards away, with up to 18-inch accuracy. Featuring 6x magnification (objects appear 6 times closer) through a premium lens coatings for superb optical quality and adjustable diopter setting, the Tour Z6 includes Vivid Display Technology (VDT) for clear sighting in all lighting conditions.

The Tour Z6 comes with a two-year warranty. And long with the rangefinder itself, the Wingman Pack includes a limited-edition Bushnell Golf/FHF embroidered microfiber golf towel, premium carrying case and battery for a suggested retail price of $399.

Earlier this year, Bushnell unveiled two new Patriot Packs featuring the Tour v3 and Tour v3 Slope rangefinders. The all-new Patriot Packs come equipped with a Tour v3 or Tour v3 Slope, Bushnell and FHF bag tag, protective carrying case and exclusive Bushnell Golf and FHF-branded golf tees with a suggested retail price of $299 (Tour v3) and $399 (Tour v3 Slope). 

Founded by Maj. Dan Rooney in 2007, the Folds of Honor Foundation provides educational scholarships to the spouses and children of service members disabled or killed during U.S. military service. Rooney, a former F-16 pilot who served three tours in Iraq, founded Folds of Honor Foundation to ensure that families of fallen service men and women are never left behind.

In addition to the contribution, Bushnell has partnered with country music star Craig Morgan on a donation download program benefitting the Folds of Honor. A 10-year veteran of the U.S. Army, Morgan wrote and dedicated a song titled "What Matters Most" to the heroes Folds of Honor Foundation supports. The track, a tribute to the millions of service men and women who defend America's freedom, parallels the stories of so many who have lost loved ones on the field of battle. For each download of "What Matters Most," Bushnell will donate $1 (up to $10,000) to the Folds of Honor.

For more information or to purchase one of these new Bushnell rangefinders for the lowest price guaranteed visit Great Golf Deals.com - 

Our Callaway X Hot Driver Review - Great Golf Deals.com Blog

When you think of the brand Callaway what's the first thing that normally comes to mind?  If you're like most people probably the word "Big Bertha" comes to mind first - their iconic metal wood which revolutionized the metal driver and fairway wood market back in the early 90s'.

The introduction of the Big Bertha launched Callaway Golf to the forefront of golf equipment technology and established them as a leader in metal woods category.

Unfortunately for Callaway, for the past decade, it has lost it's way and for a number of years has had a hard time breaking through the crowded driver/metal woods market which it dominated in the 90's and early 2000s.

That is until now. With new leadership and a new aggressive attitude and marketing campaign Callaway is back and back "Big Time" with its new 2013 offerings.  But an aggressive attitude and marketing campaign will only take you so far - you still need the product to perform and boy does the Callaway X Hot driver perform!

The new Callaway X Hot Driver is the product that will appeal to most of the market as it is targeted at golfers at all levels ( form mid-handicappers to single-digit players).  But by no means is this a one driver fits all product.  Callaway has also come out with a X Hot Pro model targeted at golfers with more advanced skills and faster swing speeds.

The Callaway X Hot Driver is a speed demon with many of the technical features designed to increase club head speed while at the same time provide forgiveness on off-center miss-hits.  The driver checks in at 46 inches which is a half an inch to an inch longer than standard.  It has a 460cc head and speed-frame face is made of titanium that is thinner around the perimeter and thicker in the center which optimizes the sweet spot and decrease the amount of distance loss on off-center hits.

LOOKS:
Callaway has decided to go in a different direction and eschew the popular "white" clubhead look and has equipped the X Hot driver with what can best be described as a matte-gunmetal finish.  The color gives this driver a futuristic look while maintaining a traditional look and feel.  The gunmetal finish against the black club face looks great and does not have that "look at me and my new driver" look.

The club head design can be summed up in one word; "classic".  The head of the X-Hot is a nice and evenly rounded shape without any of the triangle look you see with many heads out there. There is no doubt that it is a 460cc driver, yet it is in a subdued style that doesn’t seem all that large to your eye. Obviously the finish plays a role in this though as well. All in all, this is a driver that presents a clean and classic shape.


ADJUSTABILITY:
The X Hot driver uses Callaway's OptiFit technology which was the same as used in the 2012 RAZR Fit driver.  What's great about this feature is that it is by far the easiest to adjust and you do not a Phd  in club physics to make the proper adjustments for your game.  The X Hot driver is designed to have a square face angle in its neutral setting. Setting the face angle to the open (O) position on the Opti-Fit Hosel will open the face to 2.5 degrees and subtract 1 degree of loft. A change to the closed (C) setting will set the face 1.5-degrees closed and increase loft 1 degree.  Each adjustment made a noticeable change in the ball flight as the OptiFit technology was more than fancy name for a new technology.

Also because it uses the same OptiFit technology in all the Callaway Drivers you can easily swap shafts between different drivers without having to purchase a special adapter.

Sure there are other drivers that offer more ajustability, almost to the point where it is overkill but with the X Hot sometimes more really isn't better.

FORGIVENESS:
The X Hot driver is the most forgiving driver in the Callaway lineup.  The 460cc head is the largest allowed by USGA specifications but what really makes this driver more forgiving is the Speed-Frame face technology and interior weighting technology.

The speed-frame face is made of titanium that is thinner around the perimeter and thicker in the center which optimizes the sweet spot and decrease the amount of distance loss on off-center hits.

Additionally, the X-Hot line has interior weighting that is meant to promote a draw, as most average golfers struggle with slicing the ball right. The good thing about this is that Callaway has not altered the look of the driver to achieve this. Instead they altered the interior weighting to keep the head-shape clean and attractive. Additionally, Callaway’s research led them to see that as more loft is needed in a driver then typically more draw bias is needed as well, so as the lofts increase in the X-Hot, so too does that interior weighting.

DISTANCE:
Face it, the main reason we all buy new drivers is to get more distance.  We may not want to admit it but being the shortest driver in your weekly foursome is not fun and it sure would be great to be able to get to a par 5 in two sometimes.

The Callaway X Hot Driver excels in this area.  At 300 grams, the X Hot driver is the lightest driver Callaway has ever put out.  Paired with the 46 inch lightweight Project X shaft, thin titanium speed-frame face and innovative internal weighting the driver can get it out there with the best of them.  Callaway's marketing campaign claims you can gain 13 extra yards with this driver and that is on the conservative side.  Now granted my driver is currently 4 years old but I was seeing 20 yards gained but more importantly my miss-hits were not penalized with lost distance as much as my older driver.

OVERALL:
Although it's still only early May and a lot of the golf season is still ahead of us I feel confident right now that the Callaway X Hot Driver will be on my top 3 drivers list for 2013 at the end of the season.  If you are looking for a driver that can bomb it out there with the best of them but also still provide the technology and adjustability to make  it forgiving on miss-hits then this is driver you're looking for.  Callaway's X Hot Driver is a product that will move Callaway back into the forefront of innovative, high-performance metal woods.  It's a position that they once had and are now on there way back to obtaining.


The X-Hot driver comes with an MSRP of $299.99 but you can get it for less at Great Golf Deals.com