TaylorMade driver top choice in poll
Survey shows a number of makers fare well with pros
My annual survey on the best, newest and hottest golf equipment has been done and the results are in.
As usual, drivers took the spotlight with TaylorMade’s M5 and M6 drivers, Callaway’s Epic Flash and Titleist’s TS2 and TS3 drivers topping the list.
“TaylorMade’s drivers eliminated the possibility of having a slower face,” said Adam Bruce, manager of golf operations of Edmonton’s Glendale club, on a piece of equipment that started out illegal but then was tuned back before the head was finished.
“Everything is at the maximum level. Now everybody, not just Tour players, have the fastest face possible.”
“The new M5 and M6 drivers make everyone faster with injected twist-face technology,” agreed Eagle Rock’s head pro Chad Rumpel where the face twists open at the toe and closed at the heel which helps bring off-centre hits back toward the middle as well as the injection of resin into the head and carbon composite into the sole.
“I think once again TaylorMade will be the leading driver,” said Greg Kincade, head pro at the Edmonton Country Club. “It will definitely help ball speeds for golfers of all levels.”
The fact that Tiger Woods won the Masters with the M5 isn’t going to hurt sales either.
Matthew Vincent, head pro at Coloniale, said Callaway Golf’s new equipment is “groundbreaking.
“The new Epic Flash technology has employed the use of artificial intelligence to generate even more distance. This is the first instance where artificial intelligence has been used. A typical driver will have fiveto-seven virtual prototypes before going to market. Through machine learning a supercomputer cycled through 15,000 face iterations, learning from each one, before arriving at Flash Face.”
Jerry Lukasewich, head pro at Edmonton’s Coal Creek, said that as well as “using a super computer to create a flash face that creates more ball speed and thus greater distance, the Epic Flash still has movable weight technology for draw or fade bias, and also has jailbreak technology as was featured in previous Epic drivers.”
“The Epic Flash models are undeniably game changing,” RedTail Landing head pro Joshua Davison commented.
“You can’t argue with the stats like No. 1 in worldwide drivers wins and worldwide driver usage across the major Tours this year.”
Dallas Cantera, head pro at Cardiff, is one of several that liked Titleist’s TS series drivers.
“The speed created from this year’s drivers to the previous 917 model is unbelievable as golfers can get their speed numbers up which translates to longer drives.”
Tyler Rumpel, head pro at Jagare Ridge in Edmonton, concurred.
“Tests have shown it is the longest driver Titleist has made and I have personally played it and that is the case.”
There is also a buzz around PXG. Especially their irons.
“They are expensive ($560 per iron) but they are amazing,” said Aaron Miller, head pro at Canmore’s Wolf Creek.
It’s been a long time since I’ve seen a hype around a club like this one.” Aaron Miller, head pro at Canmore’s Wolf Creek, on PGX irons
“They hollow out the inside of the club head — thin as a nickel and looks like a blade and then filled out with a new polymer material — and they are more forgiving than anything out there. The trajectory is better — they go higher and farther — and mis-hits are so much better. It’s been a long time since I’ve seen a hype around a club like this one.”
Other equipment mentioned was the adjustable PING putters.
“The shaft of the Sigma 2 putters can be moved from 32 to 36 inches while keeping the grip square,” said Robb James, head pro at Stony Plain.
“There is a chance your putter is the wrong length,” The Derrick’s Kyle Brandt agreed.
“A proper length is when the putter blade sits flat to the ground. No toe up position. By having an adjustable putter you can customize the length to match your stroke and posture.”