Equipment Features

  • TaylorMade Reader Test: Making the 5switch

    Friday 7 July 2017

    Heard a lot of good things about the TaylorMade TP5/TP5x and wondering if you should make the switch? With five of the World’s top 10 using TaylorMade’s latest golf ball, it should come as little surprise that there’s been a big buzz about the TP5 and TP5x. Between World No.1 Dustin Johnson, Masters Champion Sergio Garcia and youngster Jon Rahm – the...

  • Buy Better: The best ball inside 125 yards

    Written by Simon Daddow on Monday 26 June 2017

    Want to find out which ball performs best inside 125 yards? We asked three of the world’s top ball experts to explain how you can select one that will help you get up and down more often. Longer, faster, higher launching, more spin, less spin, softer feel, whiter, rounder… we’ve heard all the claims imaginable when it comes to golf balls. But...

  • Which putter rolls the best?

    Written by Simon Daddow on Thursday 15 June 2017

    Virtually every new putter launched comes with the promise of better roll. Whether the improvement comes from face grooves, a new insert or milling pattern, the designer’s intention is always to reduce the amount putts skid, impart more top spin and get putts rolling smoother, sooner. If they do that, they’re more likely to hole their line – and go in. TaylorMade’s...

  • The TaylorMade Irons Test: M1 takes on M2

    Written by Simon Daddow on Friday 9 June 2017

    They’re among the most popular irons on sale. But how do TaylorMade’s models compare?  The introduction of the TaylorMade M1 and M2 families has seriously simplified TaylorMade’s 2017 club line-up. While both irons are built for distance, the M1 is all about ultimate adjustability while M2 focuses on forgiveness. It’s a pretty straightforward choice for most club golfers, but what about...

  • Phil Kenyon: Meet the World’s hottest putting coach

    Thursday 1 June 2017

    Phil Kenyon counts the likes of McIlroy, Rose, Stenson and Westwood among his growing list of students, and they go to him for one reason – he really knows his stuff. For a man who coaches the cream of the crop on the European and PGA Tours, Kenyon could be forgiven for shouting from the rooftops. Lesser coaches are guilty of such bravado,...

  • Reader Test: Cobra One Length irons

    Written by Equipment Editor on Friday 19 May 2017

    What four golfers made of Cobra’s latest irons, including One Length options  Bryson DeChambeau caused a massive stir in the equipment world last year when he burst onto the scene with a set of same-length irons. Cobra quickly signed him up to a major endorsement deal, promising to make their 2017 irons available as both standard and one-length options. Cobra reckons a set of One...

  • Ladies golf clubs: Who should use them?

    Written by Camilla Tait on Wednesday 8 March 2017

    Who should use ladies’ golf clubs? With a market saturated by countless men’s golf club companies, the number of specifically designed women’s golf clubs has always been considerably less.  Having said that, all of the female professionals on the LPGA and LET tours use men’s clubs and with lighter graphite shafts available, it certainly begs the question of who really needs to...

  • Reader Test: Cobra’s new CobraCONNECT grip

    Written by Edward Colman on Friday 16 December 2016

    Game-changing equipment doesn’t come around very often but Cobra’s new CobraCONNECT grip stands out as a potential game-changer. CobraConnect was launched alongside the brand’s 2017 product range and while shot tracking’s been around for a few years, in the past to access shot data you’ve had to install expensive tags in the grips of your clubs. Cobra have simplified the shot...

  • Which Mizuno JPX900 irons are right for you?

    Written by Simon Daddow on Tuesday 29 November 2016

    Mizuno believe they have tailored each of their new JPX900 irons to a specific type of golfer, so which is right for your game? Boron infusing, milled pocket cavities, multi-thickness faces, different head materials and PowerFrame technology. Mizuno’s latest iron range, the JPX900 series, features them all, and it’s no wonder the company considers the three models in the series their most...

  • When should you replace irons with hybrids?

    Written by Simon Daddow on Thursday 17 November 2016

    Modern golfers are increasingly buying sets of irons from 5, 6 or even 7-iron to PW. Whereas just a few years ago a standard set started with a 3 or 4-iron, manufacturers are replacing those with forgiving wide-body hybrids. Ping and TaylorMade make #3, #4 #5 & #6 hybrids, while Callaway makes a #7 too, which means you could just use an...

  • Callaway’s Big Bertha Fusion driver against XR 16 and FT-5

    Written by Edward Colman on Thursday 10 November 2016

    When was the last time you heard a new driver launch boast about control and forgiveness over distance and power? How about never? Usually, new driver launches are accompanied by claims of extra aerodynamic performance and double digit gains in carry distance. But Callaway has chosen a different line with the re-launch of the Big Bertha Fusion driver. They say for...

  • Which hybrid test: Wide body v narrow body hybrid

    Written by Simon Daddow on Wednesday 19 October 2016

    Different hybrid designs suit different golfers – so which is best for you? Most golf brands offer two or more hybrids in their range. TaylorMade for example makes the M1 and M2, Callaway makes an Apex and XR 16 (and two others) while Srixon produce the Z 355 and the Z H65. There is a lot more to these clubs than just...

  • Soft golf balls are closing the gap on premium balls

    Written by Edward Colman on Monday 10 October 2016

    How soft golf balls are closing the gap on performance, but retaining it on price. Our testing has shown just how closely some premium and softer compression golf balls are matched for performance, which for you the golfer has to be a good thing. Yes it’s a tough choice to decide which is best suited to your game, but we reckon there’s...

  • Handheld GPS Guide

    Thursday 1 September 2016

    Which type is best for you? To choose your best distance measuring device, you need to be honest about how and where you play. For example, during testing we played the Castle Course at St Andrews where blind tee shots are a feature. A rangefinder would have made it really difficult to plot our way...

  • Game-Improvement Irons test 2016

    Written by Edward Colman on Friday 29 July 2016

    If you want help getting your handicap down this summer, look no further than this great test. PING G £92 (s) £104 (g) Per club Availability: 4–LW (inc UW, SW) Stock shafts: AWT 2.0 (s); CFS (g) 7-iron loft and length: 30.5°/37in Tech: Heat-treated to make the heads 40% stronger than the 17-4 steel Ping traditionally use in their irons. COR-Eye technology behind the face encourages...

  • Best drivers for £150 test 2016

    Written by Simon Daddow on Wednesday 27 July 2016

    We don’t all have £300+ to spend on a new big stick, so is it worth going second-hand? The average price of a driver in our Top Gear mega test was more than £311. For that kind of cash you get the latest technology, performance and the chance to get a proper fitting. Yet that’s still out of reach for a lot...

  • Perfect putter test 2016

    Written by Simon Daddow on Wednesday 27 July 2016

    Toe-hang and face-balanced putters have been on the scene for years but now there’s a new putter balancing act on the scene. The new concept is Torque Balanced, which means if you balance the putter shaft on your nger the toe of the putter – not its face – points to the sky. The idea behind the design is that the...

  • Trolley Test 2015

    Tuesday 8 December 2015

    It wasn’t long ago that electric trolleys were considered a purchase for the over 60s or those who needed extra help completing a full 18 holes. Today that’s all changed.  Over half of UK golfers use one to take the strain out of carrying a heavy bag, and help them stay fresh and competitive over the latter holes of a round.

  • Insurance

    Thursday 15 October 2015

    Get insured with Golf Care The cost of injury, damage and theft are the last things golfers want to worry about when they step onto the course.  The financial implications of a mis-hit have never been greater. The case where both a golfer and the club were found liable for nearly £400,000 following an accident that resulted in a player losing the...

  • Distance Devices Test 2015

    Friday 2 October 2015

    It’s not long since yardage books and marker posts were the only help golfers got plotting their way around a course.  Things have changed massively over the last five years and now distance measuring devices feature in most golfers’ bags. But with the increasing choice, how do you decide which best suits you and your game? Handheld GPS, laser rangefinder or...

Load more