Callaway Golf decided it was time to make an adjustable face driver, that combines their Forged Composite and with its OptiFit Technology-resulting a performance driver for all golfers. Watch this video of Callaway’s Matt Haneline, talk about all the features of the soon to be released driver, from the 2012 PGA Merchandise Show.

Callaway RAZR FIT Lightning Review
I played 9 holes with Callaway RAZR FIT driver and I was really impressed with how easy it is to hit. The Variable Face Technology and Hyperbolic face give the RAZR FIT a large sweet spot that’s easy to hit. The RAZR FIT produces a nice medium-high trajectory on your drives, that explode off the face.

The Forged Composite crown helps reduce weight and create an optimal center of gravity, which makes for a high MOI driver that is very forgiving. Even on shots not hit squarely on the face, like the toe of the driver, my drives resulted in more of a fade, than a slice.

In terms of adjustability, you can set the face square/neutral, open, or closed. So your options are limited in terms of adjusting the face, but I prefer a simple setup like this, because you don’t have to mess around with so many settings. This in my opinion is where Callaway got it right. Changing the face is a snap, with the torque wrench that’s included. The RAZR FIT comes with a stock ALDILA RIP’D NV 458 CC 45.5″ shaft, that has a D5 swing weight, and Golf Pride, New Decade grip.

If your looking to purchase an adjustable face driver, you really should consider the Callaway RAZR FIT. It’s simple setup and forgiving face make it a great driver for all types of golfers.

The Callaway RAZR FIT driver will be available February 17, 2012.

www.callawaygolf.com

Kyle Stanley’s Setup for the 2012 Waste Management Phoenix Open:

• Driver: Titleist 910D3 8.5 with Mitsubishi Diamana Kaili 70X
• 3-wood: Titleist 910Fd 13.5 with Mitsubishi Fubuki 83X
• Irons: Titleist 503i 2-iron; MB712 4-P with Project X 6.5
• Wedges: Vokey Design 52.08, 56.14, SM4 60.10 with TT Dynamic Gold S-400
• Putter: Scotty Cameron Timeless (GSS)
• Ball: Titleist Pro V1x

www.titleist.com

Today COBRA Golf made it official, golfing sensation, Rickie Fowler, will join their worldwide roster of professional golfers. COBRA Golf will supply Rickie with the latest golf clubs as well as Tour Staff Bags and a selection of accessories. Rickie, who signed with PUMA Golf in 2009, will now represent the full COBRA PUMA GOLF brand both on and off the course. Rickie will also be featured in upcoming marketing campaigns for both COBRA and PUMA Golf.

“Rickie’s focus, determination and performance combined with his stand out style and joy for the game make him a perfect match for COBRA Golf,” said Bob Philion, President of COBRA PUMA GOLF. “He has had a tremendous effect in the golf industry over the past few years and his influence continues to grow. As we continue the revitalization of COBRA globally, Rickie Fowler will be instrumental in bringing our core DNA to life by being grounded in performance while bringing an edgy, unique personality and style to life. He will help us introduce the new COBRA Golf to a new group of consumers.”

Orange-Outs Tour Events
To celebrate Rickie’s full COBRA PUMA GOLF partnership, ‘orange-outs’ will happen at various Tour events, COBRA PUMA GOLF Experiences, retailers and this week at the 2012 PGA Merchandise Show. ‘Orange-outs’ will celebrate Rickie Fowler, his favorite color and the new COBRA AMP™ line of drivers, irons, hybrids and fairway woods. In some instances, fans will be able to participate and support Rickie, like this week at the Farmer’s Insurance Open. For information how you can join in on the fun, visit our Facebook page at www.facebook.com/cobra.

Rickie Fowler’s Cobra Golf Setup for 2012
Rickie will start out the year with COBRA’s brand new AMP™ Driver featuring E9 Face Technology™ with dual roll, Advanced Material Placement™, Adjustable Flight Technology™ with details in Rickie’s favorite color, vibrant orange, the AMP 3-Wood and AMP Pro Prototype Irons. Throughout the year, he will continue to test new COBRA Golf product and add it to his bag.

“I am so excited to have the COBRA sticks in my bag and be a full part of the COBRA PUMA GOLF Team,” said Fowler. “I’ve been hitting the AMP Driver great; I’m getting a lot more distance and the orange details look really fresh. I can’t wait to get out at Torrey Pines and put my new COBRA clubs into play.”

www.cobragolf.com

It’s funny how in life, what’s old is new and what’s new is old, and this is evident with the new Cleveland Golf Classic line of drivers. The Cleveland Classic driver takes its cues from the old persimmon drivers of golf’s past, with its color scheme and sole design, that reminded me of the old wood driver from my first set of golf clubs. But, don’t let its old school style fool you, this driver is packed with performance features you’d expect in a titanium driver.

[View with PicLens]

Look and Feel
What I love about the Cleveland Classic is its pear-shaped profile, that most golfers will find aesthetically pleasing at address. And what’s also really cool is how gold color trapezoid on the center of face further adds to the retro look, but also serves as an alignment aid.

While the Classic feels really light when you pick it up, don’t let that fool you. Cleveland Golf engineers, created a clubhead that features a traditional weighted head at 199g.The mass in the clubhead helps promote power and forgiveness, without slowing down your swing. Other factors that lend to its ultralite feel are what is called RightWeight Fitting.

RightWeight fitting is a combination of multiple factors: unique grip, shaft, and clubhead to achieve a specific performance. That’s why the Cleveland Classic is available in three different models: Classic 270, Classic 290, and Classic Tour. This is great, because not every golfer has different needs. For example, The Classic 270 (model tested) has a total club weight of 270 grams. This helps generate increased club head speed for maximum distance with the same swing effort.

Performance
The Cleveland Classic driver has the largest and deepest face ever produced by Cleveland Golf. This results in giving the average player one of the largest effective hitting areas and hot ball flight. You can crush your drives with the Cleveland Classic and it produces a really nice mid-high trajectory ball flight. What I really liked is how easy it is to work the ball and shape my shots with the Classic driver.

In terms of forgiveness the Cleveland Classic doesn’t disappoint. The large face uses MaxCOR2 technology for added distance and forgiveness on off-center hits. Please keep in mind that while your drive may go off target left or right, your misses will not be as severe. Will your drive go as long on a miss-hit? Of course not. But it won’t be as bad of a miss. I’ll take that any day of the week!

Overall, the Cleveland Classic driver is one of my favorite drivers from Cleveland Golf. It’s retro style, large deep face, and RightWeigt fitting technology make this a driver worth checking out. I think you’ll be pleasantly surprised by Cleveland Classic.

Cleveland Classic Driver available Mid-February 2012. Pre-order now!

$299.99 (Classic™ 270, Classic™ 290); $379.99 (Classic™ Tour).

www.clevelandgolf.com

Wagner of the U.S. drives off the first tee during the final round of the Sony Open golf tournament at the Waialae Country Club in Honolulu, Hawaii

Earlier this week at Waialae Country Club, Johnson Wagner told TaylorMade Tour representative Paul Loegering that with the R11S, he had “never been able to hit is driver so long, high and straight.” Wagner, a new member to the TaylorMade Tour Staff in 2012, used his new white driver and a lot of confidence to pull away from a congested field at the Sony Open for his third PGA Tour win of his career.

The all-white, USGA maximum 460cc R11S features a 3° Flight Control Technology (FCT) sleeve and an all-new 5-way Adjustable Sole Plate (ASP) which allows the golfer to find their optimum address set-up – a proprietary setting not found in any other driver. Combined with TaylorMade’s Movable Weight Technology (MWT), the new R11S driver can be tuned for 80 separate launch settings, making it the most adjustable driver in golf.

Last week at the Hyundai Tournament of Champions, Wagner finished in the Top 10 and now sits atop the 2012 FedExCup points race.

Johnson Wagner’s Setup for the 2012 Sony Open:

• Driver:TaylorMade R11S driver 8*
• Fairway Wood: TaylorMade Burner SuperFast 2.0 fairway 15*
• Irons: Titleist CB712 3-9
• Wedges: Vokey Design 248.06, 254.10, 60E
• Putter: Scotty Cameron prototype
• Golf Ball: Titleist Pro V1x
• Apparel:Ashworth Mesh Back Pocket Polo: AM1377 Navy

www.taylormadegolf.com
www.titleist.com
www.ashworthgolf.com

Continuing with the perpetual theme of speed and distance in its new VR_S line of clubs in 2012, Nike Golf is introducing the Nike VR_S irons. Nike’s new award-winning VR_S club line is an extension of the successful Nike VR franchise, which was first introduced in 2008 and has more than 50 worldwide wins including three major championships.

The Nike VR_S irons feature NexCOR variable face-thickness technology, resulting in Nike’s fastest and farthest irons ever. Nike’s new NexCOR Face Technology brings driver face technology to its irons for the first time. It maximizes distance for the widest range of players through a new speed-expanding multi face thickness design. The NexCOR infinity design creates a bridge for ultra-thin, ultra-hot faces and unmatched ball speed from every club in the bag.

Nike engineers conducted impact studies and were able to map where consumers hit the ball on the face at impact on every club. Based on those results, the location of the NexCOR technology differs from club to club.

“We are driven to help golfers get better,” said Tom Stites, Director of Club Creation for Nike Golf. “This NexCOR technology allows for the clubface to produce greater energy return, higher trajectory and longer and straighter shots. Golfers will start noticing that they are hitting shorter irons into the greens. This will not only help to improve their confidence level, but also their game.”

The VR_S clubface delivers a high COR face for more distance. The new face construction expands the maximum COR zone from the low-center to the high-toe where the majority of iron shots are struck.

Using Nike’s PowerBow technology, the weight is positioned off the face with an undercut construction. The PowerBow technology produces a faster, higher launch for maximum carry, straighter ball flight and steeper descent to hold greens.

The Nike VR_S family includes drivers, fairway woods, irons and hybrids — all combining to what is the fastest and hottest family of golf clubs that Nike Golf has ever produced, and, in turn, generating more distance for every shot.

Nike VR_S Irons

Specifications:
4-AW, True Temper Dynalite 90: S,R; RH/LH;
4-AW, Nike Fubuki K: S,R,A; RH/LH;
5H,6H,7-SW Nike Fubuki K: W; RH

Availability: February 3, 2012
Street Price: $599 STEEL/$699 GRAPHITE

www.nikegolf.com

The Nike Golf Method putter franchise is expanding its boundaries in a Nike way with the introduction of a new mid-Mallet putter, the Nike Method Concept. Inspired by the notion of the Concept car, Nike designers have created an iconic shape that blends art with science without sacrificing the game-changing performance that Nike Method technology delivers – a smoother stroke and a truer roll with far less skid.

The art is in the profound shape. This radical shape has the appearance of a blade, yet plays like a mallet. This bold red front and the strong black back design radiates Nike and will appeal to those who are curious and are looking for ways to bring a new level of confidence to the putting green.

The science is in the multi-material technology and the distinctive two body parts. The face of the putter is light, weighing only 90 grams. The body is heavy, weighing 200 grams. This innovative combination of the two sections results in a very high MOI-to-head ratio putter with a small mallet footprint. While the Nike Method Concept has a small mallet footprint, it provides the stability of the largest mallets in the game.

The lightweight aluminum face and a high-mass stainless steel body position the center of gravity farther back in the head and lower to the sole, delivering a truer roll. As with the successful Nike Method putter franchise, the Method Concept also features Nike’s polymetal groove technology that generates a faster forward roll at impact for increased accuracy.

“We are giving consumers something new and something better,” said David Franklin, Master Model Maker, Nike Golf. “There’s a reason the shape is the way it is. It allows us to infuse vital science and powerful technology that delivers a very high MOI in a relatively small package.”

The Nike Method Franchise has more than 35 worldwide wins on the professional tours, including three major championships.

“Method technology has such a good feel and it rolls the ball beautifully,” said Nike Golf athlete and 2011 Masters Champion, Charl Schwartzel. “Those two aspects in putting are very important.”

Availability: February 17, 2012

MAP: $199.00, RH/LH: 32”, 33”, 34”
MAP: $229.00, RH 41”, 43” Mid-Length

www.nikegolf.com

Steve Stricker’s Setup for the 2012 Hyundai Tournament of Champions:

• Driver: Titleist 909D3 8.5 with UST Proforce V2 86
• 3-wood: Titleist 906F2 13.5 with UST Proforce V2 96
• Hybrid: Titleist 909H 19 with UST Proforce 104
• Irons: Titleist AP2 710 3-P with KBS prototypes
• Wedges: Vokey Design 254.10 (bent to 53), 260.12 (bent to 59) with TT Dynamic Gold Sensicore X100
• Ball: Titleist Pro V1x
• Putter: Odyssey

www.titleist.com

Born from years of research and development as well as extensive player testing, TaylorMade Golf is proud to introduce the ATV (All-Terrain Versatility), a wedge created to offer golfers a simple choice to handle the multitude of shots and course conditions. With its strategically designed sole geometries, the ATV is the most versatile wedge in golf.

“Prior to the introduction of the ATV, the wedge is a piece of equipment that traditionally forces a player to sacrifice a certain shot type,” said Brian Bazzel, product creation manager for irons, putters and wedges. “The ATV wedge is engineered to perform beautifully on a multitude of different types of shots, including chips, pitches, sand shots, full shots from fairway, out of the rough, off hardpan, flop shots and bump-and-runs.”

The ATV’s sole design was designed with every curve, angle and edge serving a purpose to make the club more versatile. Significant relief at the toe, heel and trailing edge reduces resistance and changes how the sole reacts with turf and sand, depending on how the club is positioned at address and how much the face is opened. Each ATV sole is slightly different, depending on the loft.

Bazzel added: “You won’t find a bounce number etched anywhere into the ATV clubhead because the sole takes on different bounces depending on how you position the club for the type of shot you’re hitting, including where your hands are positioned in relation to the clubhead and depending on whether the face is square or to what degree it’s open.”

New Groove Design
The ATV wedge incorporates a new groove design created by the company’s R&D department that generates nearly as much spin as its previous highest spinning groove ever, the Z, outlawed in high-level competitions starting last year when the USGA reformed its definition of acceptable groove design. In addition, the flat areas between the grooves of the ATV wedge clubface incorporate a micro-texture that helps hold the ball to impart backspin.

www.taylormadegolf.com

[View with PicLens]

Similar to its Ghost Spider predecessor, the new Ghost Manta provides the performance benefits of a high-MOI (moment of inertia) putter, but is packaged neatly in a more traditional one-piece neo-mallet shape that is sure to appeal to a wide range of golfers.

“The Manta takes a very clean and classic Tour-proven look, along with an advanced and modern technology that often comes in a quirky head shape, and combines them into one comprehensive putter,” said Michael Fox, global product manager, putters and wedges. “The result is a putter that is powerful for players of all levels, while also providing confidence while on the green.”

The Ghost Manta’s white head contrasts sharply with the turf to make it dramatically easier to determine where the face is aimed. In addition, the Ghost Manta’s white finish helps golfers align themselves to the putt more easily, as well. A study of thousands of putting strokes using TaylorMade’s proprietary MAT-T (Motion Analysis Technology by TaylorMade) System revealed that 65 percent of golfers fail to square the putter face to the target from 12 feet, leading to inaccurate putts and higher scores.*

An update to its Ghost predecessors, the Ghost Manta features a new flat matte white finish which eliminates the distractions of glare and “hot spots” caused by reflected sunlight, making it easier for the player to focus his or her full attention on aiming the putter accurately and executing a sound stroke.

Key to the alignment performance of the Ghost Manta is its wide-bodied frame, which features two black rails on the top of the putter head that frame the golf ball and contrast with the white top to help improve alignment and visibility.

Additionally, all of the putter’s technology, including its two 50-gram tungsten stabilizing weights and user-adjustable weight in the center, are hidden on the sole of the putter to help the golfer maintain focus. The Ghost Manta features a new double-bend shaft, which provides the correct amount of offset without the shaft distracting from the putt.

TaylorMade teaching professional and renowned putting guru Dave Stockton helped develop the Ghost Manta, as he did with the original Corza Ghost and the entire TaylorMade Ghost series family.

Weighting system provides high MOI
The Ghost Manta features two 50-gram tungsten weights on the heel and toe of the sole, which are designed to stabilize the putter and increase MOI. This high MOI produces consistent speed on off-center hits. There is also a third user-adjustable weight in the back-center of the sole (additional weights may be purchased separately). The stock 33 and 34-inch putter heads weigh 360 grams, whereas the 35-inch putter head weighs 370 grams and the belly putter head weight is 380 grams. The head weight of the Ghost Manta long version is 440 grams.

Improved Alignment Elements
The Ghost Manta putter has two alignment elements: the leading edge and the dual alignment lines. The leading edge contrasts highly against the white surface of the putter and the green itself, while the alignment lines are painted black to maximize the golfer’s ability to see these elements clearly and use them effectively to aim the putter. Both of these high-contrast alignment elements give the golfer the best possible chance at effectively aiming the putter.

PURE ROLL Surlyn Insert
Like its Ghost Spider predecessor, the Ghost Manta is equipped with TaylorMade’s patented PURE ROLL insert, which promotes forwardspin to help reduce skidding to encourage a smooth, accurate roll and precise speed control. The PURE ROLL insert’s soft Surlyn construction delivers a satisfyingly soft sound and feel at impact.

Availability and Pricing
The Ghost Manta is available at retail on March 23, 2012. MSRP is $179 for standard-length center-shaft versions, and $199 for belly and long putters.

www.taylormadegolf.com

*65% claim is based on player data from TaylorMade’s MATT System.