Tuesday 8 April 2014
What golf ball do you use? That was probably quite an easy question. You will either have named a particular model from a particular manufacturer, or said “whatever I can lay my hands on”. This question might be a bit trickier: Why do you use that ball? Answers here will range from “it’s what I’ve always used” or “I just like...
Thursday 3 April 2014
If more and more tour players are appreciating the extra forgiveness and versatility of hybrids and plumping for one or two in their bags over their difficult-to-hit long irons, there’s no reason why us club golfers shouldn’t do the same. Not only do they tend to launch the ball higher, but they’re easier to hit due to the wider sole...
Wednesday 2 April 2014
<< VIEW PREVIOUS HYBRID >> VIEW NEXT HYBRID The Hybrids Test 2014: Lynx Boom Boom 3 Cost: £185 Tech: Features a Bi-Titanium head with the latest Hot 1 Technology gas injection and Effective Energy Transfer (EET) technology. What we said… James Ridyard: “The face is flat which reduces any gear effect that often helps amateurs. It also comes back beyond the hosel, which doesn’t suit...
Wednesday 2 April 2014
<< Back to the start >> VIEW NEXT HYBRID The Hybrids Test 2014: Dunlop DP1 Cost: £64.99 Tech: Unique rails and V-shaped concavity on the sole allow the club to slice through the rough whilst maintaining club speed. What we said… James Ridyard: “The head is compact but rounded, like an old 5 or 7-wood design. It’s easy to align thanks to stripe, but the...
Wednesday 2 April 2014
<< VIEW PREVIOUS HYBRID >> VIEW NEXT HYBRID The Hybrids Test 2014: John Letters TR47 Cost: £99 Tech: A two-piece cup face is combined with a PVD plated sole to reduce friction from the turf and maintain clubhead speed. What we said… James Ridyard: “The curved leading edge is not inviting to hit off a tight lie but adds versatility in the rough. Easy to...
Wednesday 2 April 2014
<< VIEW PREVIOUS HYBRID >> VIEW NEXT HYBRID The Hybrids Test 2014: Cleveland 588 Cost: £129 Tech: Cleveland’s first hybrid with variable face thickness to create fast ball speeds from the middle and on off-centre hits. What we said… James Ridyard: “Feels light and long in the shaft, which reduced control. It looks a little busy around the hosel and has a shiny finish. I...
Wednesday 2 April 2014
<< VIEW PREVIOUS HYBRID >> VIEW NEXT HYBRID The Hybrids Test 2014: MD Golf Superstrong STR10 Cost: £79.99 Tech: A hollow head combined with a tungsten weight screw improves ball speed, resulting in longer, more forgiving shots. What we said… James Ridyard: “The shallow face and rectangular head shape means there’s a large hitting area. The flat sole sits well on tight lies but it...
Wednesday 2 April 2014
<< VIEW PREVIOUS HYBRID >> VIEW NEXT HYBRID The Hybrids Test 2014: Progen Chromo Cost: £99 Tech: A high purity hyper steel face increases distance while an angular sole design creates strength and solidity at impact for accuracy. What we said… James Ridyard: “Looks a little toed in and upright, which will suit a slicer. Inconsistent feedback, not sure whether I hit them well or...
Wednesday 2 April 2014
<< VIEW PREVIOUS HYBRID >> VIEW NEXT HYBRID The Hybrids Test 2014: Yonex XP Cost: £149 Tech: The Dual Tungsten Power System is counterbalanced by the lightweight shaft to produce maximum power. Adjustable lofts. What we said… James Ridyard: “Head shape is round, face appears small but frames the ball well. Felt powerful from the sweetspot, lost a lot of distance away from it though.
Wednesday 2 April 2014
<< VIEW PREVIOUS HYBRID >> VIEW NEXT HYBRID The Hybrids Test 2014: Cobra Baffler XL Cost: £129 Tech: A high MOI design with 20g tungsten perimeter is designed to increase distance and forgiveness. Sole rails aid a clean strike. What we said… James Ridyard: “Head design is quite rounded, easy to align. The two-tone blue with a line running parallel to the face helps alignment.
Wednesday 2 April 2014
<< VIEW PREVIOUS HYBRID >> VIEW NEXT HYBRID The Hybrids Test 2014: Benross RIP/HOT/MAX SPEED 2 Cost: £89.99 Tech: Generates a powerful, controllable ball flight desired by the stronger player. The HOT SPEED 2 is larger, with more loft designed to offer more forgiveness. What we said… James Ridyard: “I like the head shape, similar to the Adams Mini but with more offset. White score...
Wednesday 2 April 2014
<< VIEW PREVIOUS HYBRID >> VIEW NEXT HYBRID The Hybrids Test 2014: Cobra BiO CELL Cost: £159 Tech: Weight has been moved from the face and crown low and back, delivering a low CG and high MOI for improved distance. What we said… James Ridyard: “Found the flight to be a bit high and spinny. Having the onset is unusual and the leading edge is...
Wednesday 2 April 2014
<< VIEW PREVIOUS HYBRID >> VIEW NEXT HYBRID The Hybrids Test 2014: Wilson Staff D-100 Cost: £119 Tech: Easy-to-swing lightweight design and correct mass properties deliver ideal launch angles and maximum distance. What we said… James Ridyard: “High quality shaft offers a balanced feel. Off-centre hits didn’t travel as far as I like. Came out of the rough well but struggled to keep the flight...
Wednesday 2 April 2014
<< VIEW PREVIOUS HYBRID >> VIEW NEXT HYBRID The Hybrids Test 2014: Adams New Idea Cost: £129 Tech: A refined slot design increases ball speeds, creates higher launch and additional distance on off-centre shots. What we said… James Ridyard: “More of a closed face than the Pro. More of a wood design than a hybrid, contrast between top and face works. Felt like a good...
Wednesday 2 April 2014
<< VIEW PREVIOUS HYBRID >> VIEW NEXT HYBRID The Hybrids Test 2014: Mizuno JPX EZ Cost: £129 Tech: A larger, deeper clubhead creates deep weighting for steeper landing angle. Flex Crown maintains high ball speeds from high or low strike points. What we said… James Ridyard: “Rounded head is done well, nicely balanced in look and feel. Leading edge is curved but not overly so, sits...
Wednesday 2 April 2014
<< VIEW PREVIOUS HYBRID >> VIEW NEXT HYBRID The Hybrids Test 2014: Ping i25 Cost: £185 Tech: Designed to look more like an iron with a squarer leading edge on a more compact head. Flatter face reduces bulge and roll. Progressive CG locations. What we said… James Ridyard: “Certainly looks different to the i20, more compact with a deeper face. Aimed at flighting it lower,...
Wednesday 2 April 2014
<< VIEW PREVIOUS HYBRID >> VIEW NEXT HYBRID The Hybrids Test 2014: Yonex VXF Cost: £89 Tech: Designed to be hit well from a variety of lies and fit neatly into the VXF iron range to complete the perfect combo-set. What we said… James Ridyard: “I instantly noticed the shorter shaft, one of the shortest on test. The look is very rounded but compact with...
Wednesday 2 April 2014
<< VIEW PREVIOUS HYBRID >> VIEW NEXT HYBRID The Hybrids Test 2014: Wilson Staff FG Tour M3 Cost: £149 Tech: Three loft settings all with 2° upright lie angle options. Also three sole weight options to create ideal trajectory and speed. What we said… James Ridyard: “Even the standard lofts felt upright, causing decent shots to turn over a fraction. The hosel is unusually thick,...
Wednesday 2 April 2014
<< VIEW PREVIOUS HYBRID >> VIEW NEXT HYBRID The Hybrids Test 2014: Tour Edge Exotics XCG7/Beta Cost: £149/£169 Tech: A variable thickness ‘Power Grid’ positioned behind the sweetspot increases forgiveness. Sole weight pads raise MOI. Also comes in smaller, low-spin Beta version. What we said… James Ridyard: “Shorter length invites you to hit it hard. Seemed to climb but didn’t lose distance. I like the...
Wednesday 2 April 2014
<< VIEW PREVIOUS HYBRID >> VIEW NEXT HYBRID The Hybrids Test 2014: TaylorMade JetSpeed Cost: £139 Tech: A redesigned, lighter Speed Pocket, filled with a polymer to keep debris out, boosts ball speeds off the clubface. What we said… James Ridyard: “Light, soft feeling stiff shaft. Not as well balanced or stable as SLDR but the shape is similar, just with more offset. I don’t...