Instant Classic: Cleveland Golf Driver a Beautiful Behemoth

As a guy who grew up playing woods made of a strange substance called wood, I find many of today’s drivers unappealing to the eye. There’s only one form a driver should take, and that’s pear-shaped.

Drooling yet?

So my heart skipped a beat when I saw Cleveland Golf’s new Classic Driver, due out early next year. Mahogany finish. Brass-colored face “insert” and sole plate. The word “Classic” scrolled on the crown as an alignment aid. Even a black leather head cover in a shape the company calls “RetroBarrel.”

Cue Homer Simpson drooling sound.

In a word, this is one gorgeous golf club. But that’s the end of the Cleveland Classic’s similarities with its ancestors. (You know, the ones made from trees.) The Classic maxes out the USGA volume allowance at 460cc, about three times the size of a persimmon driver head. Its face is massive – the deepest on the market, according to Cleveland. And off-the-rack models are powered by an ultralight Miyazaki graphite shaft.

While it’s not yet for sale to the public, the Classic has already been tested on Tour. In fact, 2011 Rookie of the Year Keegan Bradley used it en route to winning (with Brendan Steele) the Franklin Templeton Shootout last weekend.

Bradley, who strikes me as the traditional type, instantly fell for the club’s old-school aesthetics. “When I looked at the new driver, honestly, I loved it,” he gushed. “I love the gold face on it… You look down at the face and the thing that you focus on is the sweet spot. I think it’s brilliant. I think it’s gonna change the way drivers are made.”

Of course, Callaway, Ping, TaylorMade et al will have something to say about that. In fact, TaylorMade just introduced its new wood lineup, which carries a decidedly non-traditional name: RocketBallz.

May the best club win.

Ping G5 Hybrid Irons Game Improvement Irons

The Ping G5 Hybrid Irons replaced the Ping G2 and golfers of every handicap are still raving about these game improving irons.

Ping has been in business since the 1950s and have been known for their unusual putters, however as they progressed in technology they created “a process called ‘investment casting’ in manufacturing their irons, which allowed for more forgiving designs” than the old style irons.

Golfers will enjoy a longer set of irons with high performance. The Hybrids allow a high trajectory with the internal weight pads which give a good feel and reduced vibration to the player. The forgiveness in the clubs increases the confidence by almost every player who has tried these hybrid irons.

The solid feel of the club’s weight is immediately noticeable. The comfort is felt from the first swing. It seems no matter where you hit the ball; the G5 Hybrid Irons magically fly through the air to your target with little effort. These clubs are great for beginners and high handicappers.

Sizing

A benefit to having your clubs sized by a Ping retailer is that they will not only custom fit your clubs but if your swing should change in a couple of years they will refit them for free. Although Ping no long produces the G5, there are many sets on the market for those who are beginners or mid to high handicappers. Pay attention to the color coding which is the lie angle, check out the Ping website for more information on their color coding.

What players are saying about the Ping G5 Hybrid Irons 

Pros

• “Large head, wide sole – an improvement over the Ping G2”
• “The Ping G5 Irons provides forgiveness and consistency across the club face”
• “The deeper, parallel cavity & wide sole allow the center of gravity to be lower and further for higher launching, more accurate results” – “increasing the MOI – moment of inertia, off center shots are straighter” and less loss in distance.
• “Thinner, larger CTP also known as the Custom Turning Point – higher trajectory, stabilizes the club and dampens the vibration for a good feel.”
• “I have more control with my shots.”

Cons

• No hooks or slices, which can be seen as difficult to work the ball
• Plain looking

Cost & Where to buy

The Ping G5 Irons have been around for awhile which means you’ll be able to find a decent set of previously used clubs at an affordable price.  Most golfers will agree that no matter how well the clubs are rated, nothing beats having your clubs properly fitted by a professional.

Ping’s website has a Custom Fitting section where you can enter your data and receive a webfit on Ping clubs. That said, most Ping G5 Iron sets can be found at local and online shops like Golfsmith at $285 for a 4-GW with steel shafts. Ebay has sets 4-W with steel shafts starting at $120 plus $30 for shipping.

Additional Features:

Grip: Color coded, customized for hand size – black dot is their standard
Grip color: Black
Shaft: graphite or steel
Dexterity: Right and Left Handed
Player type: Men and Women
Shaft Flex: Stiff or Regular

Spy Review – Ping G15 Driver

Overview/Technology

The brand new Ping G15 driver was presented this year and its popularity continuously grows at a shocking rate primarily because of its appeal to a huge array of golfers. The Ping G15 is for golfers who seek longer distances off the tee with an aspect of forgiveness, as well as control.

A quicker ball speed is the byproduct of the bigger face. However, the greatest highlight includes the brand new high balance point which produces a higher launch as well as a rise in moment of inertia.

This 460 cc titanium head will be longer on the front to back than its predecessor, as well as will feature Ping's signature ultra-thin crown technology that will offer a boost in all-around performance. The weight savings from this thin crown paired with it becoming positioned as an outside sole will result in frequently higher trajectories as well as decreased spin rates.

Ping G15 Specifications

Loft Length Offset Lie Head Weight Swing Weight

9° 45.75" No 58.0° 204 grams D3
10.5° 45.75" No 58.0° 204 grams D3
12.0° 45.75" No 58.0° 204 grams D3
13.5° 45.75" No 58.0° 204 grams D3

Actual Golfer Feedback

"I just adore my Ping G15 Driver! I possess the twelve degree soft regular and I am amazed at the difference within the distance as compared to my older driver!"

"I bought my Ping G15 driver around one month ago and following four rounds with it, I could honestly state it’s firmly in the bag."

"The Ping G15 driver obviously sank lots of cash into R & D prior to coming out with this bad boy."

Positives/Pros

This is a driver that is made for the masses as well as possesses several fine qualities which fits a majority of profiles. You really cannot go wrong with this one.

Negatives/Cons

There aren’t many, however if I was forced to pinpoint a chip within the armor, it’d be in shaft choice. The stock shaft choice is always underneath scrutiny with me, but the Ping TFC 149D, as well as the Aldila Serrano 60 tend to be a bit of a short list for such a common driver.

Overall Rating

There is maximum forgiveness, accuracy, as well as distance that will all be rolled within a single neat package referred to as the Ping G15. This Ping G15 driver will be a must have for any avid player of golf.

Top 3 Game Improvement Irons

A golf iron is designed specially to be used when striking the ball. Generally, these are available in three forms which include putters, irons and woods, notable by design and intended use.

The putter club has a loft which does not exceed ten degrees and is designed mainly to use when putting on the green. Golf irons should not be essentially different from the usual and traditional make and form. The club should be made from a head and shaft, plus it might also have additional materials on the shaft to help players get a stronger hold. All the parts of the club should be solid to give one unit without external supplements. Some exceptions might be made for contraptions that will not change the function of the club.

Some Benefits of the Top 3 Game Improvement Irons

Adams Idea a2 OS irons are a great game improvement set. These are very easy to hit and can be found for reasonable prices. This set will be perfect for players with mid-to-high handicap who want to enjoy the game. The clubs in this set come with a large spot that will strike the ball high. Most people really love the idea of using a steel shaft in shorter irons with graphite within the hybrids. In general, this can help players to have much better control using their scoring clubs and much better distance with the longer clubs. Based on the promotions, it will pretty easy changeover from one club to the next and gapping will be consistent throughout the set.

Callaway Big Bertha Fusion irons have a traditional look with a lot of non-traditional technology. These have a good appearance and can provide the benefits of using an oversized iron for game improvement. They were made to maintain a conventional look, but behind this familiar appearance is a variety of unfamiliar technology. Basically, the idea was to combine these aspirations into a single club. The Big Berth Fusion is among the top three game improvement irons presently on the market, plus it’s the ideal Callaway set for the advanced handicapper.

Ping G5 irons are made for optimum performance, assisting to enhance ground impact to strike the ball better. Improved weighting tends to make this iron set very flexible. These irons come with club heads with traditional look along with dull-grey finishing and light-weight steel or the graphite shafts, to suit a player’s preference. The clubs include perimeter-weighted heads in order to retain distance control no matter where you strike the ball. These irons can be found with many different lie angles (shown by several colored dots on the clubs), allowing players to modify the clubs to make a swing. There is also a unique weighting technology that will increase the moment of inertia, resulting in an improvement for an average distance shot.

Top 10 Easiest Drivers to Hit Straight

When it comes to the top 10 easiest drivers to hit straight, golf enthusiasts vary on which of these drivers were the most outstanding. Golfers value drivers which are versatile and have optimal distance and control. Golfers insist on having the straightest drivers available and club heads which are aerodynamic to increase the speed and distance of the ball.

One of the most valued gold club drivers in the top 10 easiest drivers to hit straight was the Callaway FT-9.  The Callaway FT-9 is said to be a forgiving driver which gives the golfer a combination of versatility, control and distance.

Another driver that helps hit straight is the Adams Speed driver.  Adams Speed Drivers are valued for their innovative driver design and aerodynamics.

Golfers looking for a quality hybrid driver may be looking for a consistent handicap hitting like the Cleveland HALO and the Cleveland Launcher drivers. The Cleveland HALO may not be as valued in the top 10 easiest drivers to hit straight list with its shaft, it is valued for its ability to clearly outdistance most driver hybrids with consistency. The Cleveland Launcher is valued for its thin crown and horseshoe-shape which allows the golfer to maintain low weight in the club head for distance and stability.

The Cobra S9-1 scores on overall consistency with distance and accuracy. Golfers also appreciated the drivers which are versatile in their adjustability like in the Cobra L5V. The setting in the Cobra L5V include straight or draw and is said to be an excellent driver in hitting. Another Cobra noted for its driving consistency is the Cobra DWS driver. Although the Cobra DWS driver is said to be lacking in weight, it launches the ball a good bit of distance and height.

Additional hybrid drivers in the top 10 easiest drivers to hit straight are the Nike SQ Series of drivers. These drivers are said to be equivalent to putters in the way they have to personally fit the golfer’s swing, and many of the Nike SQ Series fit the bill. Nike SQ Series has become favorites with amateurs and with the pros for their adjustability, square clubheads and low profiles.

Golfers who have a minimum handicap may like the sleekness and performance of the Nike Slingshot 17. It is said to be easy to hit from the rough and fairway and when it comes to hitting off the tee. The Nike SQ Str8-FIT is said to be one of the best adjustable-head drivers designed by Nike as of yet.

Also making the list of the top 10 easiest drivers to hit straight is the Ping G10. The PingG10 is said to be an outstanding solid performing driver which has an excellent range of the ball on the freeway. Even if it is the last driver on of the top 10 easiest drivers to hit straight it still has the ability to combine speed and power for a high launching ball.

2010 Ping Anser Forged Irons (Spy Pics)

Pings first ever production forged iron is here! The 2010 Ping Anser Irons are expected to be released to the public next fall. They are made of 8620 carbon steel with a partial tungsten sole.  They also have a larger then average sole width and offset. Really excited about these clubs. Can't wait to hit them!

USGA and Ping Meet About The Eye 2 Irons

Officials from the USGA and Ping met yesterday in Dallas to discuss the use of Ping Eye 2 clubs on the PGA Tour. Can you believe these people get paid to have such ridiculous meetings? All of this groove craziness is enough to make your head spin. At least we don't have to deal with it directly - like the pros on the PGA Tour. Actually... that would be awesome! Just being on the PGA Tour would be well worth the groove nonsense. Am I right?

USGA President Jim Hyler issued the following statement today:

"We met with representatives from Ping yesterday. Our conversation with Ping regarding the status of the Ping Eye 2 irons on the major professional American tours was productive, and we are hopeful that a solution can be found that respects and reflects the best interests of golfers and the game."

Ping Chairman & CEO John Solheim also issued a statement today:

“We had a productive meeting with the USGA yesterday regarding the Ping Eye 2 groove debate on the PGA Tour,” said Ping Chairman & CEO John Solheim. “I’m encouraged by their willingness to openly discuss some of the challenges the golf industry faces relating to equipment issues. We left the meeting with an understanding we would continue to seek a solution that benefits golfers and acknowledges the importance innovation plays in the game.”

New Ping In V2 Putter Pics

Click "continue reading" to see more pictures of the new Ping In V2 Putter line.

[Via GolfWRX.com]

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Ping G15 Driver, Fairway Wood, Hybrid Review Video

Ping i15 Iron Spy Pics

Release date said to be around August 10th 2009. Check back later for more information.

Click "Read More" to see more pictures.

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