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How tech can shape your game
D
ata has been in the news a
lot this year. From
Facebook to Brexit and
even England’s analytical
approach to penalties at
the World Cup, data
shapes our lives more than
we know. And as the world
becomes more connected, it’s only
going to get more important.
Most of us now use some sort of
technology when we play golf, whether it’s a basic
GPS watch or a full-on shot-tracking app. And if
you’re not using technology, you’re missing out.
“Did you know, for example, that when a
20-handicapper three-putts, the average distance
of his second putt is almost nine feet?”, says
Gavin Dear from Shot Scope, a former Walker
Cup player who’s now helping golfers improve
via the shot-tracking system. “That’s a clear
signal that poor distance control is the principal
cause of three putting. This golfer could spend
time on the practice green holing three-footers,
but it would not be of much use to him to practise
GET MORE TG
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reveal how stats can help you save shots
from tee to green. We’ve also got some
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Elsewhere, the issue is packed with new tech
that can help your game, from the latest gadgets
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a stats-based Here to help you play better, buy better
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stuf that’s
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more fun. Chris Jones, Editor
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 Contents
SEPTEMBER 2018

08 £30
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pend over £60.
ay smarter... lea
illion shots by g
aking tech to
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side the stats t
olfers win Major
CHINA’S roject 300
STAR the final part o PROJECT 300
Meet eries we look at How flexibility
Haotong helps our readers
Li. y Life in Golf hit it further.
verpool legend

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 Contents
SEPTEMBER 2018
87PING FIRST TEST
We put the new i500
and i210 irons through
their paces

PLAY BETTER EQUIPMENT SUBSCRIBE COURSES

32 The basics
Get your set-up to the ball
consistent every time.
34 Tour tip
Why Scot Russell Knox is a
green-finding machine.
35 Fault fixer
Give your tee shots a head start
to hit them straighter and further.
36 Scoring zone
88 Big launch: Ping irons GET 13 109 Regional guide
The full tech lowdown on the ISSUES Our pick of the finest nine-hole
new i500 and i210 irons. OF TG courses across the UK and
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FI T E EditedbyMichaelCatling

16 18

PAR 3, 177 YARDS PAR 4, 471 YARDS

Average score (French Open ’18) Average score (French Open ’18)
3.11 (Rank 9) 4.51 (Rank 1)

17 15

PAR 4, 480 YARDS

Average score (French Open ’18) PAR 4, 408 YARDS
4.17 (Rank 6) Average score (French Open ’18)
4.26 (Rank 4)

‘THERE ARE NOT MANY FINISHING HOLES

THAT ARE HARDER THAN THIS ONE. IT’S
GOT TO BE IN THE TOP FIVE I’VE PLAYED’
12 IS SUE 37 7 TODAYSGOLFER .CO.UK
 US PGA NEW HARITY
PREVIEW GEAR REKS

Never heard of Bellerive? Odyssey’s Red Ball c golf achievemen

Here’s what you need to know putter makes settin he year’s longest d

COUNTDOWN

finish in golf’
The French Open showed why Paris
National will be a superb matchplay course
I
t takes your breath away,
doesn’t it? The views. The
lakes. The greens which
cower under the many
mounds. Only now you
can add a 6,600-seater
grandstand, overlooking the
first tee and 18th green, to that
list. The French Open gave us
a taste of what to expect at the
Ryder Cup, with many of the
players predicting it could be
the best yet. The last four
holes at Le Golf National will
be where it’s won or lost, and
have already been dubbed the
“hardest finish in golf” by vice
captain Graeme McDowell.
Together, they delivered just
30 birdies during the final
round last month, while the
15th and final hole yielded a
combined 114 double bogeys
or worse across all four
rounds. The shared island
green probably had
something to do with it, as
did the waist-high rough and
bunkers surrounding them.
If the matches get this far in
September, expect even more
drama with balls and the
winning captain being
deposited into the water.

WHAT THE PLAYERS ARE SAYING

TOMMY FLEETWOOD JON RAHM JUSTIN THOMAS

“I struggle to think “The 18th is “The last four holes
of a better finish extremely difficult. are great. It has
that you could have. Every single shot is some risk-reward
I’d probably like challenging. There’s and the wind is also
the matches to be not many finishing a factor on holes 15
over before it, but I holes that are harder and 16. So I’m sure
would still relish the than this one. It’s it’s going to provide
challenge of playing in the top five I’ve a lot of drama like
them.” played.” R d C d ”

NEXT MONTH: MASSIV

RYDER CUP SPECIAL
ON SALE AUGUST 30!

TODAYSGOLFER .CO.UK IS SUE 37 7 13

FIRST TEE

Your uidetotheUS
P mpionship
Thefacts,figuresandstoriesbehindthisyear’sfinalMajor
What do I need to know?
The final Major of the season is celebrating
its centenary anniversary and will do so at a
course it visited for the first – and only – time
in 1992. That year, Nick Price won the
Wanamaker Trophy by three shots from a
group containing Nick Faldo. Since then,
Bellerive Country Club has hosted two
Senior Majors and just one PGA Tour event
– the BMW Championship – which was won
by Camilo Villegas in 2008. Not a lot to go on
if you’re a betting man.
The course layout is a trademark of Robert
Trent Jones, with lots of lengthy par 4s (six
are over 450 yards) and elevated greens
fortified by hazards. Opened in 1960, it
became the youngest course to host the US
Open just five years later when no players
finished under par. The original design
remains largely intact today and is built
around a large creek which comes into play
on half of the holes. The biggest changes were
undertaken as part of a $9.5 million
renovation – by Jones’ son Rees – in 2006 It
AUGUST9-12
BELLERIVECOUNTRYCLUB
STLOUIS,MISSOURI
setup to a Quail Hollow where it could be
pretty easy to shoot three or four over but,
you know, a good round is a couple under.”
Where can I watch the action?
Not on Sky Sports. Or the BBC, barring a
last-minute U-turn. Both withdrew from
bidding. There’s still a chance BT Sport or
Eurosport could pick it up, but it’s more
likely to be streamed online via Amazon
Prime, the US PGA website and/or social
media You can fo t t t

Surely Tiger’s played at Bellerive

before?
He hasn’t – he was still recovering from
winning the US Open on one leg, remembe
Phil Mickelson and Sergio Garcia were in
the field in ’08, but finished nine and 10 sho
of the pace respectively. Defending
champion Justin Thomas has arguably the
happiest memories after holing out for eagle
on the 18th during the media day last year.
But if you do believe in omens, Gary Player
completed his career grand slam here at the
US Open in 1965. What chance Jordan
Spieth will do the same this year?

How many players is he up against?

The field is 156 deep, but it will be reduced t
the low 70 scorers and ties at the halfway
mark. In the event of a tie, there will be a
three-hole aggregate score playof on holes
16, 17 and 18.

What’s the course like?

Bellerive’s PGA director of golf Michael
Tucker says there’s an emphasis on being in
the fairway. “There will be no first cut of
rough to protect balls from rolling into
bunkers, creeks, ponds and other hazards,”
he cautions. “The first step to success at
Bellerive is driving the ball in the fairway.”
THEKEYHOLES

THE 6TH THE 10TH

PAR 3 213 YARDS PAR 4 508 YARDS
Billed as Bellerive’s A monster of a dog-leg; it
signature. It played more was the hardest hole during
than a stroke over par in the 1992 Championship.
PICTURES COURTESY OF THE PGA OF AMERICA

the 1965 US Open and A large fairway bunker

led Player to hit all four tee catches the eye from the
shots into the left bunker tee, while the approach
so he could avoid the water needs to negotiate a creek
short right. Bob Panasik which intersects the run-up
wasn’t as lucky. Despite to a green 22 yards deep.
hitting the three-tiered With more sand short and
green in reg, he made a nine back, it’s a hard par and
after putting into the pond! easy bogey.

14 IS SUE 37 7 TODAYSGOLFER .CO.UK

 HOW FAR? Mike Browne broke the record for the longest-ever drive by a single-leg
amputee after clocking a 564.65 yard tee shot on a runway at RAF Honington.

When your set-up

WHAT’SBEHIND is right, Odyssey’s

Red Ball putter
lets you know.
THEPGA’SMOVE
TOMAYIN2019
The PGA Tour schedule will have a
new look for the 2018/19 season, and
it’s not just the US PGA Championship
which is getting a new (May) date in
the calendar. To accommodate the
change, the WGC Mexico
Championship shifts to the last
week of February, with the Players
Championship reverting to its old
mid-March slot for the first time since
2006. The Masters kicks off the Major
season during the second week in
April, while two new tournaments
– 3M Open and Rocket Mortgage
Classic – have been given the
graveyard slots between the US Open
and The Open. The St Jude
Invitational – the final WGC event of
the season – follows four days after TECH SPEC
the Champion Golfer of the Year is Available in right and
crowned (strange, we know) and left-handed models,
replaces the Bridgestone Invitational, with DFX grip as
which has been lost alongside the Dell standard, and in lengths
Technologies Championship and 33”, 34” and 35”.
Quicken Loans National. In a final bid to Price: £169
shorten the 46-tournament schedule,
the FedExCup playoffs have been
reduced from four to three events, and
will be played over three consecutive
weeks in August at the Northern Trust,
Keepyoureyeonthe
BMW Championship and the Tour
Championship respectively.

KEY DATES FOR THE 2018/19 SEASON

(red)balltoholemoreputts
Oct 25-28 WGC Champions Odysseyhascomeupwithabrilliantnewwaytotellhowyou’resetup
(Sheshan International, China) Odyssey’s 2-Ball putter is one red ball inside a scope on the into the proper putting posture.
Feb 21-24 WGC Mexico Championship of the most iconic golf clubs mallet’s head, Odyssey says it is Once in an improved position,
(Club de Golf Chapultepec) ever, with sales success to now easier than ever to align with the Red Ball inside the
Mar 14-17 Players Championship (TPC Sawgrass) match and millions finding their the face to the intended start scope, the golfer is now better
Mar 28-31 WGC Match Play (Austin CC) way into golfers’ bags because line on every putt (see below). able to align the putter face to
Apr 11-14 Masters (Augusta National) it was so easy to align. Combined with the black and the intended start line of the
Now, the putter company white framing from Odyssey’s putt. We are essentially able to
May 16-19 US PGA Championship (Bethpage Black)
thinks it has found something Versa alignment aid, this putter remove all variables in your
June 13-16 US Open (Pebble Beach) just as efective to get your almost sets up for you! putting set-up as you will be
July 18-21 Open Championship (Royal Portrush) set-up and alignment spot on. Odyssey says: “We’ve able to replicate your alignment
July 25-28 WGC St Jude Invitational The Red Ball putter is all discovered two very common and set up putt after putt. All
(TPC Southwind) about getting you properly faults of poor putting that these features are loaded into
Aug 8-11 The Northern Trust (Liberty National) positioned over the ball before plague all golfers – poor this great looking high MOI
Aug 15-18 BMW Championship (Medinah) you make a stroke. set-up, poor alignment. mallet design to help any golfer
Aug 22-25 Tour Championship (East Lake) With the aid of a funky little “Red Ball helps the golfer get hole more putts.”
RED: Majors BLUE: FedExCup playoffs

THE 18TH
WHAT YOU SEE
PAR 4 457 YARDS
A drive through a narrow
chute of trees must avoid
bunkers on the left and
another through the
fairway. Miss the short
stuff, though, and it’s a
hard task trying to hold a
slippery green, sloping from
right to left and surrounded RED BALL HIGH RED BALL LOW RED BALL TOO RED BALL TOO RED BALL
IN THE SCOPE... IN THE SCOPE... FAR LEFT... FAR RIGHT... CENTRE...
by three bunkers. Putts Your eyes are Your eyes are Your eyes are Your eyes are Eyes perfectly
get tougher when the pin too far outside too far inside the too far in front of too far behind aligned... you’re
moves back and right. the ball/putter. ball/putter. the ball/putter. the ball/putter. ready to go!

TODAYSGOLFER .CO.UK IS SUE 37 7 15

FIRST TEE

Ni allenges.
3, h l pla
Te t andsraised...
Wesalutethesemarathongolferswhohaveraisedatonforcharitythissummer
ISLEOFARRAN
Six years after playing
90 holes in one day,
accountant Sandy Fyfe
went three better at seven
diferent courses on Arran.
Fyfe, who made up a
fourball with Dave Kerr,
Bill Kennedy and Graeme
Cullen, got a ferry just to
attempt the challenge,
and even warmed up by
playing 12 holes at
Shiskine the day before.
The quartet were back on
the course again 24 hours
later, but not before
completing 18 holes at
Whiting Bay, Lamlash
and Brodick, and then
nine holes at Corrie,
Lochranza and Machrie
Bay. They finished their
93rd hole at 10.30pm –
18 hours and 28 minutes
after hitting their first
shots – and raised
around £9,000 for
Home Link Family
Support and Glasgow x7
Children’s Hospital.

IRELAND
A fourball, made up of
former Ulster and Ireland
rugby stars Stephen
Ferris (pictured) and
Andrew Park and
businessmen Gary Irwin
and Ashley Moore, hired a 225miles
private helicopter to
complete their 72-hole Dublin and then Royal
challenge, playing across Belfast. They finished at
four Royal courses and Royal Portrush just before
flying 225 miles. Starting at sunset, raising nearly
4.30am at Royal Curragh, £5,000 for Air Ambulance
the group played 18 holes Northern Ireland and
before moving to Royal Children in Crossfire.

ISLEOFWIGHT
Mark Taskas is a club
captain’s nightmare. In
2014, he challenged the
captain of Sandown &
Shanklin to a one-day,
charity match played across
every hole – 90 of them –
on the Isle of Wight. He’s
repeated the ritual every
year since, including in June
when he formed a three-
man team (pictured) with
Andy Buxton and David
Oldham and beat a captain’s
team, made up of Andy
Warren, Gerard Murray and
Brian Price. Lasting16 hours
and 20 minutes, the
match saw both
teams play eight
courses, walk over
67,000 steps each
and drive 50 miles.
x8
They also consumed
76 litres of water.
Taskas, who’s helped to
raise in excess of £12,000
for various charities, told
TG: “I’m running out of
people to play! Next year,
I’m going to challenge the
ladies and hopefully take on
eight teams of three in a
relay event.”
x6
SURREY
Four teenagers from
Cranleigh Golf & Country
Club used an inset day at
school to play a staggering
326 holes between them
and raise more than £2,000
for the Jigsaw Trust charity. to 109 each. They were
Junior captain Leo Wilson joined by James Carlisle,
and Oliver Lamboll who played 72 holes, and
completed six, 18-hole Alex Cheeseman, who defied
rounds, and then added a injury to add 36 holes to the
bonus hole to take their tally 14-hour marathon efort.

INVERNESS
A former Scottish
amateur golfer had double
cause for celebration
after bagging a hole-in-
one and blasting his way
through 180 holes in just
over 19 hours at Forres
Golf Club. Bryan
Fotheringham, who plays
of plus two, teed of at
3.20am and completed
10 laps of the 6,236-yard
course in just 694 shots
to finish on six-under-par.
And, as if that wasn’t
enough, he also lost just
one ball and walked over
100,000 steps. “There
were a few people who
didn’t think I could do it,”
the 40-year-old told TG.
“I had my heels taped up
after the seventh round
because I was sufering
from blisters. But I was
already on a high from my
hole-in-one during the
fourth round. That gave
126
SURREY
To mark Woking Golf Club’s
125th anniversary, assistant
pro Harry James and
secretary Richard Pennell
teamed up to hit
commemorative tee shots
at 4.05am and begin a
marathon efort that
spanned 126 holes and
ended at 5.45pm. The duo
averaged 18 holes every two
hours, and raised more than
£4,600 for Juvenile
Diabetes Research
Foundation.
NOT AGAIN, PHIL! Mickelson can’t seem to stay out of trouble. In his first tournament back after the US Open,
he was given a two-shot penalty after tapping down fescue in front of a tee box and improving his line of play.
SIGNUPFORTHEGREATGOLFCHALLENGE
If you were too busy working or member. The group with the most
sunning yourself on the longest day sponsorship by October 31 will win
of the year, set aside a day this a “Mini Ryder Cup experience” at
month to play 72 holes and raise The Belfry. The prize includes a one
money for Cancer Research UK. night stay in the four-star hotel (2x
x180 The rules are simple: Each team is
limited to four players and must
double/twin rooms), plus breakfast,
a three-course dinner, £40pp travel
nominate a captain to register allowance and a fourball tee time
me the shot of adrenaline everyone online and receive an on the Brabazon and PGA National.
to get through that individual Just Giving page for each Visit www.cancerresearchuk.org
halfway slump. When I
finished [at 10.27pm],
the main feeling was one
of relief. Someone asked
me whether I would do it
again, but there’s no
chance. It was bucket list
YORK
thing. That’s it!” A group of Yorkshire
Fotheringham, who firefighters brought a
teaches adults with whole new meaning to
learning diiculties, was
competing in honour of
the phrase ‘burning up
the course’ by playing x144
his dad, Richard, who was eight, 18-hole ‘medal’
diagnosed with vascular rounds in just 15 hours
dementia in June 2016. and 16 minutes at “The fatigue was really
He has so far raised more Aldwalk Manor. Rob tough,” said Goodman.
than £5,000 for Goodman, Paul Hillaby, “It was definitely the
Alzheimer Scotland. Neil Spratt and Pat hardest thing I’ve ever
Howdle racked up done. But, apart from
95,000 steps while four-inch blisters on
raising more than my feet the day went
£2,000 for Macmillan. very well.”
OXFORDSHIRE 24hrs
Tadmarton Heath Golf June 25 and played nap before
Club went to extreme through the night to doing the
lengths to support complete 100 holes presentation,”
captain Rob in 24 hours. The said
Mottershead in his 58-year-old finished Mottershead. “I
quest to raise over just 60 minutes before could hardly walk I
£15,000 for the Brodey the start of the was that tired. By the
Cancer Centre – by Captain’s Charity Day, end of the challenge,
lighting up four which he regrettably my playing partners
fairways, greens and chose not to play in. “I were helping to pick the
flags. Mottershead, actually had a bed set ball out of the hole for
who has a handicap of up in the committee me. I hit 463 shots, so I
four, teed of at noon on room, so I had a quick was 75-over-par!”
NORTH LONDON
Four members of Enfield each. Clydesdale, whose never broken par before,
Golf Club used £30,000 son is autistic and a so that made it extra
in charitable donations pupil at the school, told special.” Thanks to a
to purchase a TG: “We tried to make it team of spotters, the
wheelchair-friendly as diicult as possible. fourball teed of in “total
minibus for Oaktree We all play of single darkness” at 3.55am
Special Needs School figures, so we teed of and finished the par-
after completing a the competition tees, 504 course at 7.15pm.
144-hole marathon. carried our own bags and “We had enough
Neil Clydesdale, Doug kept score across all daylight to play another
Whelpdale, Michael seven rounds. The 18, but I don’t think any
Peak and Dan French standard of golf was of us could have played
played a week’s golf surprisingly good, and another hole,” added
in one day at their that contributed to our Clydesdale. “It was so
home course in speed of play. I shot 71 in tough. Everything from
North London the first round, which is the hips down hurt, but
and walked one under [gross]. Of it was enjoyable and I
43,300 yards my nine handicap, that’s can say that now I’ve
– 24.6 miles – bandit country. I had stopped hurting.”
x144
FIRST TEE
ABHAY KAPOOR
Remember the name. Abhay
Kapoor only took up golf last
year, but he won h
tournament in July
aged four. Think
that’s impressive?
He aced the 14th
hole at 3 Hammers
Golf Complex a
week later.
JORDAN MIXED
MASTERS
Golf is finally waking up to the
21st century and will debut a
mixed-gender event next April.
Featuring stars from the
Challenge Tour, LET and
Staysure Tour, each member will
tee of from diferent yardages
but compete for equal prize
money in a strokeplay contest
over 72 holes.
DANNY LEE
Forget autographs and selfies.
Lee m
Green
his Od
Editio
putter
worth
the he
& money) at the 2018 European
MICHAEL
LORENZO-VERA
The Frenchman clearly didn’t
receive the memo about ‘bigging’
up the Ryder Cup. Instead, he
went on a rant about people not
caring. “Honestly, nobody knows
there will be a Ryder Cup in
France,” he scofed.
GRAEME McDOWELL
Scheduled to compete in an
Open qualifier at St Annes Old
Links, G-Mac pulled out at the
11th hour after A
clubs. If only ther
was such a thing
being able to hire
– or buy – a
replacement set.
Oh, wait…
JOHN PETE
After accepting a medical
exemption to compete on the
PGA Tour, Peterson said he
would quit golf and go into real
estate if he failed to gain
conditional status. He needed to
earn 274 FedExCup points from
eight events to keep his card but
after coming up 0.586th of a
point short, he remained true to
his word and retired, aged 29.
18 IS SUE 37 7 TODAYSGOLFER .CO.UK
Sixty four golfers will
compete for three gold
medals at Gleneagles.
See it, do it, buy it
Keepthekidsentertainedandmakeuseoftheschoolholidays
SEE IT
The 2018 European
Golf Team Championships
Ryder Cup fever can wait. For
the first-time ever, European
Tour and LPGA Tour stars will
battle for gold (and equal prize
Championships in Scotland.
Team GB, featuring Laura
Davies, Callum Shinkwin and
Richie Ramsay, boasts the best
representation of the 15 nations
and is formed of six teams of two,
with three apiece competing in
the Men’s and Women’s Team
match play Championship taking
place at the PGA Centenary
Course at Gleneagles. Qualifying
runs from August 8-10, with the
two, 18-hole finals following on
August 12. Teams of four (two
men and two women) will also
contest a foursomes stroke play
Mixed Team Championship on
August 11. Tickets start from £15
or qualifiers; £25 for the finals.
Under 16s go free. Live coverage
will be broadcast on the BBC.
BUY IT
Caddyshack: The
Making of a Hollywood
Cinderella Story
Nearly four decades after the cult
film was released, we’ve now got
a book which is every bit as witty
and entertaining as the comedy
classic. It starts slowly, but give
it time because it bursts into life
with a series of shocking and
surprising tales – as told by the
surviving cast members, including
Bill Murray. They reveal how the
snobs-versus-slobs narrative
stretched to the cast, and led
to life on set being dominated
by bitter jealousies, drunken
infighting and rampant cocaine
use. Even the film’s famous
scenes were beset by chaos
and many were either ad-libbed
or last-minute additions to
the script, including Murray’s
character – Carl Spackler, the
wacky greenkeeper – and that
fairway-destroying gopher.
DO IT
The 2018 World
Hickory Open Championship
Plus fours at the ready. The World
Hickory Open returns to Scotland
in October, and you can join two-
time winner Sandy Lyle in the field
by dusting of a set of pre-1935,
hickory-shafted clubs. Open to all
sexes and handicaps, the ‘Festival
of Golf’ tees of on October 15
and b
better-ball team competition
at Longniddry Golf Club in East
Lothian. The action then gets
serious on the links at Gullane
No.3 and Lufness for the 36-
hole Open Championship, which
will feature up to 20 pros. The
two-day competition, which is
followed by an international match
at Kilspindie Golf Club on October
18-19, will be split into two adult
and junior categories: a medal for
handicaps 0-9 and stableford for
handicaps 10+. Entries close on
August 31 and are limited to 150
players on a first come, first serve
basis. Prices start from £150 for
the international match; £300 for
the team competition and Hickory
Open. A 50 per cent discount
applies for juniors.
www.worldhickoryopen.com
SEE IT
Farmfoods British
Par 3 Championship
Need to de-stress after a long
weekend? Head to Nailcote
Hall in Coventry and plant your
deckchairs – Augusta style –
behind the ropes to enjoy four
days of golf completely free.
The Professional Championship,
featuring LPGA and European
Tour stars, runs from August
8-9 and is sandwiched between
a Celebrity-Amateur Golf Day.
Among the big names scheduled
to attend include former Ryder
Cup captains Ian Woosnam and
Tony Jacklin, plus Charley Hull,
Len Goodman and Mike Tindall.
Just remember to apply for free
tickets online first.
britishpar3.com

“Truthfully it’s all been a bunch of bulls*** what I’ve heard complete horse sh**.”Here’s the deal: If
Ho-sung Choi has all the
moves – and a place in
the heart of every
golfer who swings it
a little bit differently
M ove aside Adam Scott.
Everyone’s favourite swing in
golf now belongs to . Ranked
500th in the world, the 44-year-old
journeyman is living proof
that there’s a million
diferent ways to hit a
golf ball; only his
might be the most
unorthodox – and free-
spirited – yet. What
starts of as a standard
swing finishes with a pirouette on
one leg in the follow-through, and
the occasional hop and lean from
side-to-side. Many Tour pros have
even tried to copy the motion, which
has been nicknamed ‘The
Fisherman’ due to its resemblance to
an angler reeling in a big catch. One
fan even ran a petition to get the
Korean an invite to the Open and on
this evidence, who can blame them?
ROCCO MEDIATE HAD A MESSAGE FOR PROS COMPLAINING ABOUT THE US OPEN…
ts; B) Don’t come. It’s real, real simple.
LOCKERROOMTALK
A $10M FRIENDSHIP
When Phil Mickelson first mooted
a high-stakes, winner-takes-all
showdown with Tiger Woods, we
all dismissed it as a fantasy
match. Only it very nearly
happened, and still could. All set
for a televised clash in Las Vegas
on July 3, someone pulled the
plug – but Phil says they are now
“working on a diferent date” and
hope to play a couple of
exhibitions every year around the
world. To get the first one of the
ground, $10 million will be on the
line – supposedly at Shadow Creek
in Las Vegas – and both players
will be mic’d up so we can
eavesdrop on all the trash talking.
USGA BACK IN DALY’S
BAD BOOK
It’s taken 19
years, but we no
have a sequel to
John Daly’s figh
with the USGA.
Back then, he sa
never play in the p g
only to backtrack a year later. But
now the gloves are of and Daly’s
threatening to never play in
another tournament run by the
USGA. The reason? They denied
his medical exemption to use a
golf cart at the US Senior Open.
Play nicely, kids.
COUPLES LIMPING
TOWARDS RETIREMENT
Age catches up with every man.
Even the evergreen Fred Couples.
Technically, there’s a lot to admire here. He’s The 1992 Masters champion
pretty orthodox in his set-up, his backswing admits his back is so bad now that
is on plane and his impact position is at the he doesn’t practise anymore. “I
level you would expect from a top-level pro. just show up every now and then
The craziness begins post-impact when he and play when I feel like I can,” the
rotates onto his left foot, lifts the right off 58-year-old told TG. It worked at
the floor and sometimes spins right round. It Augusta this year, when he
looks funky because we are so used to seeing
finished tied 38th, but Couples
pros swing with poise and in balance. What it admits he’s made peace with the
does show, however, is Choi’s commitment possibility that his next event
to every shot and the sense of freedom he could be his last. “Trust me, I will
has. So many amateurs make the mistake not have a problem with that,” he
of searching for the perfect swing, and then said. “I’m 58. In
lose their natural “feels”. But as long as you’re
finding the sweetspot more often than not, years, I’ve
probably played
there’s nothing wrong with swinging freely
and unconventionally. There’s no pictures on 25 tournaments
the scorecard remember! I just can’t keep
Steve Astle, TG Top 50 coach hurting myself.”
FIRST TEE

o Clubhouse
o
While his Real Madrid teammates were busy toiling at the World Cup in Russia, Welsh star
Gareth Bale used his summer holiday to experience the Stadium Course at TPC Sawgrass. He
chatter must be getting bored of playing a replica of the 17th in his back garden!

HIT TING THE SWEETSPOT

Thestoriesthathitthemarkormiss

HIT

MIS S

Yours for $96.8 million

The perks of playing on golf’s top table normally mean you can splash
out on a great, big house. But for Maverick McNealy, the Web.com
Tour star, it’s going to be diicult to top what he’s grown up in. His
dad, a tech billionaire, has put their family home on the market for
$96.8 million. The 13-acre, four-level mansion comes with a gym,
pizza room, ice rink, pool, tennis court, wine cellar, theatre, basketball
court, panic room and, of course, a 110-yard short game area.
Koepka’s (not so) prized
possession
There’s no greater reward in golf than winning a Major championship.
You’d think then that you’d treasure your trophy and never let it leave
your side. Not so if your name is Brooks Koepka, who turned up
at the Travelers Championship not knowing where he left his
US Open silverware. “I was trying to sleep so much, I
left it, I think, on the kitchen counter,” Koepka
said, before fessing up. “I don’t even
know.”

Norman MIS S
bares all
Sometimes a picture
MIS S YOU CAN’T BE SERIOUS… paints a thousand words.
In this case, the image of
the 63-year-old starring
We’ve heard – and seen – some peculiar rules at golf clubs, but these in ESPN’s “Body Issue”
might just be the most ridiculous yet. At one golf club in Sufolk, knives suggests they were a
are no longer provided alongside forks in the restaurant because members little short on volunteers
can’t stand the clanking of cutlery. Vinegar is also on the black list after this year. Still, there’s no
complaints about the smell, while all hats must be removed upon entry to denying Greg Norman is
the bar, otherwise “you will not be served or even spoken to” according to in fantastic shape. He
one former member. To top things of, some seniors petitioned earlier this even walks around naked
year to stop golfers playing on their own. at home. Apparently.

HIT
yone lost
e needs a hobby. And one
year-old’s is based around
exploiting yours. RJ Smith from
Minnesota is among a rare breed
of golfers who returns home with
more balls than when they left. In
fact, he collects them and houses
around 70,000 – including one
dating back to 1917 – in 460
crates in his garage.
HIT THE AWARD FOR
THE COOLEST
GRANDMA GOES TO…
Grandmothers are just the best,
aren’t they? If they’re not plying you
with treats when you’re ill, they’re
checking up on you, ofering some
words of wisdom. Just ask Justin
Thomas – his nan has the role of
motivational speaker down to a tee.

20 IS SUE 37 7 TODAYSGOLFER .CO.UK

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FIRST TEE

THE DAY Many of your readers will mourn

the recent death of Peter
Thomson, arguably the finest

I MET PETER golfer of his generation. I had the

pleasure of talking with the five-

MASTERMIND THOMSON… time Open champion at a Seniors

Your chosen specialist
subjectis…allthingsgolf
What is the name of the US
1 PGA Championship trophy?
Who did Keith Pelley succeed
2 as European Tour Chief
Executive in 2015?
tournament in 1991, and asked
why he had not written a golf
instruction book. His response was to put a tee peg in the
ground, take a 5-iron and swing back and through, clipping
the tee peg out of the ground. He turned to me and said, “so
simple – how can you write a book about that?” Maybe it’s a
LETTER lesson for all golfers to swing freely and not clutter our minds
OF THE with too many complications that befuddle us in our attempt
MONTH
to improve.
CLIVE TAYLOR BLACKBURN, WALES

Where will the 2019 US PGA

3 Championship be held?
Name the last apparel brand
4 to have both the world’s
No. 1 golfer and No. 1 tennis
player under contract at the
same time?
Which Englishman finished
5 runner-up to Rory McIlroy in
the 2012 US
PGA Championship?
In which country is the
6 European Masters held?
Who am I? Part of the “Golf
7 Boys” band, I am a two-time
WGC winner and earned a
captain’s pick for Team USA in
the 2014 Ryder Cup.
Tiger Woods has lost just one
8 of seven singles matches in the
Ryder Cup. Who beat him and
in what year?
Which golfer wore a pair of
9 trousers with one black leg and
one white leg at the 1960 Open
to protest against Apartheid?
True or false: Lee Westwood
10 has played in more Ryder Cups
than Luke Donald and Graeme
McDowell combined.
ANSWERS
5 David Lynn
10 True Djokovic; 2014)
9 Gary Player Scott and Novak
1997 4 Uniqlo (Adam
8 Costantino Rocca; 3 Bethpage Black
7 Hunter Mahan 2 George O’Grady
6 Switzerland 1 Wanamaker
DON’T GET CAUGHT
UP IN THE EMOTION
I enjoyed reading the “32 ways to play great
all summer” article in your July edition. As a
golfer with a handicap at the higher end, I am
always in need of advice! There were some
useful tips which I have already put into
practice, but you did miss one thing. No.33:
Enjoy yourself. I am often bewildered when I
see club golfers hitting their clubs on the floor
after a bad shot, or storming of in a huf after
18 holes. Practice is so important, but it
means little if you can’t enjoy the game.
MATT THOMSON
LAUGHABLE PUNISHMENTS
The USGA lets the golfing world down by only
imposing a two-stroke penalty on Phil
Mickelson for hitting a moving ball at the US
Open. A disqualification would have sent out
a clear message to all, but now I can picture
younger golfers chasing after a bad putt and
doing exactly what Phil did. As an interesting
comparison, my wife and her partner recently
returned a winning score in a foursomes
competition and yet they were disqualified for
failing to record their handicaps on their
scorecard. And this was despite their stroke
allowance having already been applied. It’s
one of a hundred examples where the
punishment doesn’t fit the crime.
RICHARD TUCK
SLOW PLAY IS A REAL TURN OFF
The excitement of the play-of at the
Memorial Tournament was overshadowed by
the abysmal pace of play during the final
round. Yet again, no penalties were applied
and the players took full advantage. A
threeball, including Patrick Cantlay, took eight
minutes from arriving at their tee shot to
actually playing their approach into 17 (or
STAMP maybe it was at 18 as I was nodding of!). No
IT OUT! one tunes in to see painstakingly slow
I find it amazing
how many pros get
debating and map reading by players and
caddies – we expect to see some golf action!
away with club If tournament oicials continue to ignore this
throwing and
problem, then they shouldn’t be surprised
kicking sand in when viewers turn of. They should remember
bunkers. It’s
the equivalent
they are competing with many other channels
for their audiences’ entertainment.
of abusing
umpires in tennis BRIAN THOMAS, POOLE
or ball tampering
in cricket. Swift SALUTING THE SPIRIT OF GOLF
action must be As a relatively new golfer, I feel I must pay
taken in order tribute to all the golfers I have met since
to protect our taking up this addictive sport. Right from the
great game. start, I have been helped by so many people –
A two-shot young and old, men and women – who have
penalty would patiently explained the diferences between
solve the issue
overnight. scoring for strokeplay, Stableford and
GRAEME matchplay. Not to mention the time spent
NORTHWOOD waiting for me to recover from mishits, air
shots and my inability to get out of the

22 IS SUE 37 7 TODAYSGOLFER .CO.UK

 THE BIG HOW YOU VOTED
10% They’re overreacting.
QUESTION Carry on as normal.
20% Stick to a temporary
ban while it’s hot.
MANY GOLF CLUBS HAVEBANNED 55% Ban it permanently.
SMOKING ON THE COURSEINTHE 15% Let them smoke, but
WAVE. ARE THEY CORRECT?
only if they pick up the
cigarette butts.
bunker. But perhaps best of all, many
“strangers” have leapt to my defence and
prevented me from inadvertently breaking
rules and incurring penalties. I wonder if there
is any other sport in which you meet such
polite, honest and encouraging players. My
only question is why isn’t golf on the
curriculum in every school?
JAKKI MOXON
TIME FOR A GENDER-NEUTRAL
MAJOR CHAMPIONSHIP
Golf seems to have finally thrown of the
shackles of elitism and embraced diferent
ideas to try to move the game forward. I
remain in favour of keeping the ladies’ and
men’s tour separate, but I honestly believe
that the time has come to have a joint Major
and make a massive statement. Golf is one of
the few sports where this could work.
Sticking to diferent tee boxes would even
out the playing field, and then the rest of the
course could be negotiated by a player’s own
skill. Maybe this is one step too far, but I hope
that I will live to see the day when this
becomes he norm.
SIMON THORPE, SOUTHAMPTON
FROM DELIGHT... TO DESPAIR
Playing in a charity event at Fulford Heath
Golf Club in Earlswood, my regular playing
partner and I both had our first holes-in-
one (on diferent holes). Two days later, we
played again; this time a trophy (medal)
was up for grabs and fresh of our holes-
in-one, we fancied our chances. I was
playing well and stood on the 11th tee
(where I had
previously
triumphed) and
promptly
dispatched two
10%
20%
55%
LETTER OF THE
TH WINS
balls into the trees to the right and a third
into the trees on the left! Needless to say, I
couldn’t find any of them. Laughing about
it later in the clubhouse over a pint, you can
only imagine my feeling of utter despair!
Golf, who’d play it, eh?
SIMON GUMERY, SOLIHULL
MORE LINKS PLEASE!
I’m currently watching the Scottish Open at
Gullane on TV and thinking why don’t more
big events go to links courses? It’s so much
more entertaining than yet another parkland
– luck-of-the-bounce tee shots, slopey
bunkers. I’ve only ever played a little bit of
links golf before – but watching this makes
me want to try some more.
PETER FOSTER, LEICESTER
PREPARE LIKE THE PROS DO!
David Stevens made a great point in last
month’s issue about focusing more on the
short game when practising. Some years ago,
I reduced my handicap from mid-teens to five
in the space of a few summers after making a
conscious efort to prepare and practise just
like the pros do. Like most amateurs, I was
guilty of running straight from my car to the
first tee. Now, I always hits balls on the range
to loosen up and work my way through the
bag, starting with my pitching wedge (not the
driver!). I then practise shots in the
percentages that I use them on the course,
i.e. chips, pitches and bunker shots inside
100 yards (circa 35%), putting (circa 35%),
mid-to-long shots (circa 20%) and drives
(circa 10%). Most importantly, however, I’ve
stopped trying to play miracle percentage or
recovery shots. I’m still nowhere near playing
like a pro, but these simple tips have changed
my game for the better
WES GILLESPIE
CONTACT US...
By post... Today’s Golfer, Media House, Lynchwood,
Peterborough Business Park, Peterborough, PE2 6EA.
By phone... 01733 468000
By email... editorial@todaysgolfer.co.uk
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FIRST TEE
NICK DOUGHERTY
‘Going back to Le Golf National made me
relieved I was presenting, not playing!’
TheFrenchOpenleftmehooked,butbroughtbackbadmemoriesofmissedcutsandlostballs
O
ut of all the courses I’ve revisited
since retiring, Le Golf National is one
that makes me glad to be behind the
ropes. Not because I never enjoyed
playing it; I just never scored very
well. When I first played there, I was
told to stay patient and hit fairways
– but I never managed either. Every
little mistake was amplified, which is why I could
relate to seeing so many pros struggle during the
French Open. Although Alex Noren delivered the
big shots when they mattered to win his 10th
European Tour title, his nearest challengers
crumbled around him as they found the water or
thick rough. But that’s the genius behind the golf
course and the reason why the French Open is so
well loved on the European Tour. As much as it is
unforgiving, it rewards great golf tee to green.
That was one of my criticisms about Hazeltine and how
they took away the skill element of the tee by cutting all the
rough down. Instead, everything came down to putting,
which meant the scoring was superb. Some fans liked that,
but I felt it didn’t ask enough questions of the best players.
Le Golf National is the ultimate ball-striking course and
will provide a diferent type of
Ryder Cup drama. You may not
think playing to par is particularly ‘JUSTIN THOMAS TOLD ME IT WAS
exciting, but I know from
experience just how terrifying some ONE OF THE HARDEST GOLF
of the holes are. I always respected
and admired the layout, but I hated
COURSES HE’S EVER PLAYED’
the way it made me feel. The mental strain over the last four
holes, where water comes into play on three of them, is
excruciating for a player but enthralling as a spectator.
What will make this year’s Ryder Cup even more
exciting is the dynamic of the fourball matches and the
temptation for players to take on that riskier shot. You don’t
have that luxury in strokeplay. Justin Thomas told me it
was one of the hardest golf courses he’s ever played He
said that he felt like he had played some of
of the year, and still only finished on four-u
That bodes well for Team Europe, especial
the only would-be US Ryder Cup star to pl
It was a smart move on Jim Furyk’s part
six potential members of his team to Paris
week before The Open so they could see th
course, play it and speak with ‘experts’.
That’s why I’m inclined to think that more
was probably passed on to Spieth and Co
in terms of the learning experience than it
would have been had they played the
French Open and been in that bubble of
tournament play. Whether that will count
24 IS SUE 37 7 TODAYSGOLFER .CO.UK
against someone like Tiger Woods if he needs a
wildcard pick, I’m not so sure. Personally, I think
the criticism he received for appearing at a Nike
promotional event instead has been really unfair.
Every player has a number of sponsorship
commitments to fulfil every year, and Nike’s event
was probably in Tiger’s diary months in advance,
well before Furyk thought about a pre-Ryder Cup
bonding trip.
What we should be focusing on is where
Tiger’s game needs to be for him to even earn a
Ryder Cup call up. Right now, you could argue
that he hasn’t done enough to earn a place, but if
he picks up a win somewhere, how do you not
pick him? Yes, you can look at his record in
foursomes and fourballs and say he’s never been
much of a team player. But I think that’s more
Nick Dougherty is a down to his teammates being overwhelmed when they’ve
three-time European
Tour winner and now a been paired with him. In his heyday, most players – I
presenter on Sky Sports’ included – would have preferred to play against him, rather
golf coverage. Follow than with him, because that way you had nothing to lose.
him on Twitter Since Tiger’s return, the expectations have been scaled
@NickDougherty5
and Instagram back and he’s become less of an imposing figure in the team
@nickdougherty5 room as a result. Plus, everyone remembers and
appreciates the impact he made as a
vice captain at Hazeltine and they
now see him as a teammate. That’s
why I believe he can only have a
positive influence in the team,
regardless of whether or not he is
actually playing.
What counts in Europe’s favour, of course, is home
advantage and Bjorn will know that the style of the course
– particularly the stadium efect created by the banking –
In his seven has the potential to create a really intimidating atmosphere
appearances as a which will only add to the pressure of hitting all those shots
player, Tiger has been over water. The one downside is that I don’t think Bjorn
on the winning side can – or will – do much to change how the course typically
in the Ryder Cup just
once (1999). plays. Thick rough and narrow fairways are part of the
design, which means any element of surprise is likely to be
y the weather. Jimmy Johnson, who caddies for
aid the Americans will just hit irons of every
at’s assuming the fairways are as fast and firm as
in July, which is very unlikely. Paris usually
nty of rain in September and the softer the course
the more it plays to the strengths of the
s. My only hope is that it doesn’t become another
like Celtic Manor. I’d happily take the same
nd scoreline, though!
Nick’s ‘Tee Time Tips’ Instagram series has been made into a TV show on Sky Sports. The first
of four, 30-minute programmes aired during the Open week and features a collection of quick
and easy instruction tips from Nick and current Tour pros. Catch up now on demand.
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FIRST TEE
ANDREW COTTER
‘Given the right platform, there
is still a huge appetite for golf’
WiththeUSPGAsettobypassconventionalTV,we’vegottofindgolfwherewecan
Y
ou may have to indulge me a bit this
month. For this column may more
closely resemble a rambling stream of
semi-consciousness than usual.
The defence which I ofer here, is
that my brain is currently fried.
Since my last missive, which came to
you from the US Open, I have drifted
into other realms – a bit of athletics, some rugby,
but mostly huge swathes of tennis.
I must stress this is far from a complaint – it’s
just the life of a freelance broadcaster at a very
busy time of year. It is why, when I have endless
days sitting at home during leaner months I’m not
curled up in a corner, rocking gently and sobbing.
Or at least not that often.
So I’ve just arrived in Carnoustie after an
overnight drive from Wimbledon and my head is filled
with facts from other sports – facts which are now all but
redundant. They hang around the betting shops and bus
shelters of my mind, drinking from a bottle in a brown
paper bag. The first-serve percentage of Rafael Nadal
wanders aimlessly, with nowhere to go. I end up just
shouting it out at passers-by.
And of course, The World Cup
has been dominating – not that I
worked on it, but you couldn’t help
‘WE’LL BE WEARING SPECIAL
but be dragged in. It was a
compelling, fascinating
LENSES WHICH SINK US DEEPER
tournament where the mantra
of football coming home was
INTO OUR OWN CHOSEN WORLD’
repeated so often that it was believed. Until, like an errant
suitcase, it was diverted to Charles de Gaulle.
The most striking thing about the World
was the viewing figures which it generated
England’s semi-final defeat against Croatia
watched by almost 27 million people in the
Glossing briefly – and rather bitterly – ov
the fact that I was commentating with And
Murray and Tim Henman on BBC1 at the s
time, that number is extraordinary.
So let me give you some golfing number
comparison – if only because there is no ro
inside my head to keep them there.
The largest figure recorded for a Major
Championship in the last 20 years in the U
was the 6.1 million people who saw Darren
Clarke tapping in for victory in the Open a
St George’s in 2011. Interestingly, the next
biggest was here at Carnoustie in 1999 as
5.84 million watched Jean Van de Velde
paddling around in the Barry Burn.
So, discounting Trump chopping it arou
26 IS SUE 37 7 TODAYSGOLFER .CO.UK
Turnberry on the news bulletins, which recent
golfing event has produced the biggest audience?
Perhaps surprisingly the answer, by some
distance, is the Olympic Golf tournament in Rio.
Some 8.2 million watched the climax as Justin
Rose held of Henrik Stenson for gold and then
10.1 million tuned in for the medal ceremony.
What this shows is that while golf seldom
delivers huge figures, there is still an appetite for
it, if it is given the right platform.
Of course that is a sizeable ‘if’. The way all sport
is ingested now is very diferent.
People seek out their own favourites – they find
dedicated channels, they go to websites which
have video clips, they see it on social media or
they listen to specialist podcasts, tailored to their
needs. In a decade’s time we’ll be wearing
specially-adapted lenses which sink us deeper into our
Part of the BBC
commentary team, own chosen world. We’ll sit on the Underground seeing
Andrew Cotter only the news we want to and watching highlights of Jon
grew up tackling Rahm winning The Quicken Loans National.
Ayrshire’s links and
plays off 3. Follow
Consider also the recently announced Discovery
him on Twitter Channel deal with the PGA. The acronym that was
@MrAndrewCotter repeated in press releases was OTT. It does stand for over
the top, and in this case means
rights holders going straight to
consumers via the internet,
bypassing conventional television.
But where does it leave golf in
terms of exposure to the wider
world and the bigger audience?
Darren Clarke’s You may now be enjoying the final men’s Major of the
2011 Open win at year, the US PGA Championship, but I’m still not sure
St George’s was
watched by 6.1million watching it.
viewers. re is still no UK broadcaster confirmed. It
unced within the next few days, but it’s
The BBC, it almost certainly won’t be Sky
en be one of the mainstream channels on
gital.
d, collective experience of a massive
ing golf is not likely to happen any time
story unique to golf, as many sports head
dedicated corners of the web, but a shame
heless. All we can do is look for golf where
an – hardcore fans with the internet and a
Pal account.
nd wherever the US PGA is seen I know
have to find it somewhere myself – the life of
bing freelancer goes on. So I’ll be in Berlin
mentating on athletics, catching only clips
e from Bellerive Country Club.
rying very hard not to shout out facts about
lic’s forehand during the 1,500 metres.
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How to limber up to stripe one
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INSIDE THIS SECTION...

TOUR TIP SAND SET-UP BLIND FAITH MIND GAMES

How Russell Knox hits so many greens ry this drill in the practice bunker Pitch it close even if you can’t see the flag Why failure is the key to success
 PLAY BETTER Watch hundreds of video tips at www.todaysgolfer.co.uk

Four steps to…

A FIRST-CLASS ADDRESS
T here are not too many hard and
fast rules in golf technique these
days, but one enduring one is a
good set-up. Your address creates a
framework for your entire swing. A good
set-up promotes a free, balanced
movement that sends the club up and
down the correct line; a poor one means
a world of awkward feelings, constant
compensation and frustration. The
good news is that regardless of age,
skill or physical ability, any golfer can
improve the way they stand to the ball.
Here is a four-step process that will
help you to a first-class address.

POSTURE
Balanceisatthecentreofevery
effectivegolfswing,andmanycommon
swingfaultsarenomorethanthe
body,sensingitisoffbalance,trying
tostabiliseitself.Goodbalancecomes
fromsettingyourweightandbody
angleseffectivelyataddress.
ALIGNMENT
Setyourfeet,hipsand
shoulderssquaretoyourtargetlineand
youpromoteaneutralpathforyourgolf
swing.Thisallowsafreeandpowerful
releaseoftheclub,withnoneedforthe
manipulationoftheclubfacethat
comesfromhittingacross
theball.

FACE AIM
Launchmonitorshave
revealedjusthowdominantthe
aimoftheclubfaceisinthedirectionof
theshot.Indeedwiththedriver,around
85%oftheball’sstartinglineisdownto
faceaimatimpact.Aimitwellatset-up
andyouavoidtheinconsistencythat
comeswithmanipulation.

32 IS SUE 37 7 TODAYSGOLFER .CO.UK

 TOP 50 TEACHER Kevin Hale
HIT Academy, Forest of
Arden, Warwicks

STEP 1 INTRODUCE THE CLUB STEP 2 AIM THE FACE

Step forward with your trail leg only to place the club behind the ball. Always use the Pick a spot on your target line, three feet in front of the ball. Use the leading edge of the
club’s designed lie angle, its toe raised slightly off the ground, when you place the club; clubface to aim the face at your spot. A square face gives you your best chance of hitting
it ensures a consistent lie and shaft lean around which you can set up. your target while providing a useful reference in creating a square stance.

STEP 3 SQUARE UP STEP 4 BUILD POSTURE

Add your lead foot to square up to the clubface. Check you’re the correct distance from Bend forward from the hips to create your posture, and add knee flex. Check your forward
the ball by making sure you can fit your trail palm between your lead thigh and hand. bend by holding the club against the middle of your trail shoulder. The shaft should hang in
Rock gently from toe to heel to establish a balance point midway between the two. a position where it points down to the shoe laces of your trail foot.

TODAYSGOLFER .CO.UK IS SUE 37 7 33

 TOP 50 TEACHER Ian Clark

PLAY BETTER World of Golf, New Malden. Advanced Fellow of

the PGA. Master Professional at World of Golf.

Role model...
RUSSELL KNOX
W hat an early summer it’s been for Scotland’s Russell
Knox. After reaching a career-high world ranking of
18th at the end of 2016, indiferent form saw him
freefall to 137th coming in to this year’s US Open. But a
strong showing and a 12th place heralded a dramatic
BALL-TURF
STRIKE SEQUENCE
Examine the relative amounts of
rotation in Russell’s hips and shoulders.
return to form, Knox bagging a runner-up spot at the You can see his hips are more open to the
French Open with a dramatic play-of win at the target than his chest. He creates a look
Irish Open. Back in the world top 50, he now has a of body leading the arms, and the arms
Ryder Cup debut in his sights. leading the club – the perfect sequence
Underpinning his great recent form has been for powerful, clean impact. If you are a
some gorgeously crisp iron play. This year Knox is bit of a flipper and struggle with your
sixth on the PGA Tour’s greens-in-regulation striking, then everything about
stats, hitting more than seven out of 10 greens he this picture will help you.
looks at. Here we take a look at how he does it, and
discover what you can learn from an action that
owes more to technique than brute force.

ELBOW GAP CONSTANT

Look how Russell’s elbows have
stayed the same distance apart they
were at set up. This is a great swing
thought for you to use because it
promotes stability and consistent arc
width; the distance from the middle
of his hands up to his middle shirt
button remains constant. If you
want to hit the ball first then the
ground, copy this.

WRIST ANGLE RETAINED

You can see here how Russell has
maintained the backward bend in his
right wrist. This is known as the ‘right
forearm flying wedge’. By maintaining
it for this long into his followthrough
he ensures the clubhead cannot flip
past the hands, an unstable release
that leads to inconsistency and
often big hooks.

KNUCKLE BALL
Look closely at Russell’s right-hand
grip; you can see how the first knuckle
of his index finger is directly behind
the handle as he swings through
the impact zone. This helps to apply
constant pressure into the ball
through the club and guards against
any flipping of the hands. Make some
swings focusing on this knuckle RUSSELL’S SEASON
position through impact. BY NUMBERS
Driving distance:
290.5 yards (148th)
GIR percentage:
71.3513 (6th)
Strokes gained:
approach the green 0.316
(53rd)
Scoring average:
0.316 (53rd)
Sand saves:
50% (T28th)
34 IS SUE 37 7 TODAYSGOLFER .CO.UK World ranking: 49th
 TOP 50 TEACHER Chris Ryan
Director at the HIT Academy
at Forest of Arden, Warks.

Fault fixer... S ome of you may remember

Moe Norman, the enigmatic and
mercurial golfer known for his

TRY MOE’S START FOR curious technique and astonishing

ballstriking. One of Moe’s trademarks
was starting his swing with the club

LONG, STRAIGHT DRIVES

well back from the ball. With the
driver it was often opposite his trail
instep! While this was just a trait for
him, this diferent address can really
help anyone prone to short, slicing
tee shots. Here’s why you should
give it a try.

REGULAR SET-UP
Pull your driver, and take your normal
address position, the clubhead’s
sweetspot right behind the ball as
normal. Make sure at least half the ball
is above the driver’s crown, and that
the ball is opposite your lead heel, or
just inside.

BETTER COIL
When you move the club back slowly like this,
you engage your shoulders and upper body.
Effectively you are starting the swing with
your core already slightly turned, and this
primes it to make its full contribution to your
backswing coil. That will improve your action’s
path, width and power.

HEAD START
Now move the clubhead back along the
turf, until it is just past the outside of
your train foot, and hold it there. As you
do this, allow the hands and forearms
to rotate slightly. The face should look
slightly open to the ball-target line.

IMPROVED PATH
This new position also means you are starting
the swing with your weight and centre slightly
behind the ball. This moves the swing’s low
point back slightly, allowing the club to bottom
out before catching the ball on its upward arc.
This helps you attack the ball from the inside,
as well as promoting a stronger ball flight.

TODAYSGOLFER .CO.UK IS SUE 37 7 35

 PLAY BETTER
Scoring z ne...
GO IN-T -IN IN SAND
W atch any tour pro play a
standard bunker shot these
days and you will see an action
that works in-to-in, just like any normal
golf shot. This is quite a diversion from
the old wisdom in sand, which
1 the club to take, but it’s important you
3 base of its arc – ideal for the shallow sand
1.OPENTHEFACE
Hold the club in front of
you. A square face would
see a vertical leading edge,
pointing to 12 noon. Open
the face until the leading
edge points to 1 o’clock. This
exposes the curved sole or
bounce to the sand, and adds
loft… promoting a skimming
strike with plenty of height.
36 IS SUE 37 7 TODAYSGOLFER .CO.UK
Watch more short game tips at www.todaysgolfer.co.uk
mandated cutting across the ball with
an open face. In-to-in is proven to ofer
better strike quality and more accuracy,
so if you want to improve your own
sand play, build your action around the
technique detailed here.
2 much as in-to-in. This gets you out of
4 From that basic concept of how we
2.BRINGTHEFACE
BACKTOSQUARE
This open face will tend to send the ball
right, so bring it back to square by lowering
the handle. This can be tough to visualise,
but focusing on aiming the grooves rather
than the leading edge can help. Make
sure the butt of your sand wedge’s handle
points below your belt line.
To understand the basic approach
to the in-to-in bunker shot, examine
this image: it gives you the basic
stance, ball position and swing
shape that you’ll need to employ.
1.FOOTLINE
Aim your feet slightly left of parallel to
the ball-target line – if the target is at 12,
your foot line should point to around 11. We
need your body to turn through with your
swinging arms, and in sand this isn’t so
easy; this open stance gives your lead hip a
little extra assistance in clearing.
2.TARGETLINE
Naturally this line remains parallel to the
ball-target line at any point between the
ball and your feet.
3.SWINGPATH
This is perhaps a slightly curvier
representation of the journey we want
visualise the swing path in bunkers very
the old out-to-in way of thinking and
encourages you to swing at the target,
not across it.
4.BALLPOSITION
Play the ball forward of centre, under your
lead chest. This promotes impact with
the club moving in the level section at the
divot that gives you control over contact
and the ball.
are going to stand and swing in
bunkers, make two more changes to
your address to improve your action...
 TOP 50 TEACHER Adrian Fryer
Fellow of the PGA based at Liverpool Golf
Centre, www.liverpoolgolfcentre.co.uk

SWINGAROUNDYOURBODY
Those address adjustments will promote the
correct, modern in-to-in attack. But during
the swing itself, focus on making a more
rotary action that sees armswing and body
turn working together to move the club back
and through around you. Picture the clubhead
describing that curved, in-to-in arc through
the ball. You will gain three chief benefits:

SHALLOWERSTRIKEPATTERN
The ideal bunker strike sees a shallow, level
attack angle. When you deliver the club into
the ball on a shallow arc, the curved sole can
skim the sand properly, helping you limit the
amount of sand trapped between the face
and the ball. That means control of strike
and distance. With out-to-in, the attack gets
steeper and the contact less controllable.

MOREACCURACY
The theory with out-to-in was that the open
clubface offset the leftward path (right-
handers). This was flawed, because as the
face gets weaker it has less influence on shot
direction. The wide-open face typically failed
to counter the path, often creating pulled
shots. Play the shot with a more neutral path
and face and you can send the ball at the
target every time.
CHESTTOTARGET
As always in bunkers, complete your
followthrough, your hands reaching shoulder
height at least. Make sure that at the finish, your
chest has rotated to face the flag, with your
hands in front of it. This position reveals a good,
even contribution of arms and core that allows
the club to move correctly around your body.

SIMPLER
BALL POSITION
One other problem with out-to-in
was that it encouraged a wide-open
stance. With the foot line so far of the
ball-target line, golfers would struggle to
position the ball correctly in their stance
– typically it would go too far back. Played
with a square or slightly open stance,
in-to-in allows you to position the ball
in a familiar spot, just
forward of centre.

TODAYSGOLFER .CO.UK IS SUE 37 7 37

 PLAY BETTER Watch 100s of video tips at www.todaysgolfer.co.uk

Play smart…
THE BLIND
GREENSIDE PITCH

2 WORK OUT YOUR BEST MISS

In making your shot selection, always keep in mind
where you want to be playing your next shot from.
There is always a better side to play towards, and
that better side can sometimes take some working
out. What might be considered an easy bail-out
might leave you with a very difficult putt down a
steep slope. Look for the shot that combines the
most playable line with the flattest putt… and
always be aware of any green undulations you can
use to feed the ball closer to the hole.

1 START BY READING THE LIE

Of course, when you are well down below the
level of the green you need to get some quick
height into the shot to hit and hold the green.
Whenever you need to play a high shot, reading
the lie is very important. If the ball is sat up on
the grass, open the clubface but settle your
weight slightly behind the ball to encourage a
level strike. If it’s sitting down, again open the
face but you’ll need weight forward for a
slightly more descending attack.

38 IS SUE 37 7 TODAYSGOLFER .CO.UK


S ometimes, severe greenside
undulations leave you having to
play a blind shot over a fairly short
distance. The fact you can’t see the
flag at address is arguably more of a
psychological issue than a physical one,
and providing you go into the shot with
the correct picture in your mind’s eye, it
shouldn’t prove too much of a problem.
The bigger picture is the awkward
3 FACTOR IN EXTRA RUN
Playing uphill always makes the landing
angle of the shot shallower, and this will
lead to more run on the ball. Try to factor
this in if possible. The danger here is you
will try to get too cute, aiming to landing
the ball right on the very front of the
ridge in front of you to give the ball extra
run-out yards. But remember, a yard too
long is way better than a yard too short,
so err on the side of firm and give yourself
suitable margin for error.
TOP 50 TEACHER Richard Lambert
PGA Advanced Head Professional at
Crosland Heath GC, West Yorkshire
situation you need to escape from when
well down below the green. The golden
rule here is ‘never follow up a poor shot
with a poor shot’. Compounding your
original error is the cardinal sin. This is
not the time to attempt a miracle shot
but the time to give yourself a chance
of making a par while making sure you
do not make anything worse than
bogey. Follow these five pointers.
4 PLAY THE SHOT YOU
KNOW YOU CAN PLAY
While working out your best miss, keep
in mind that down below the green is not
the time to try something new. Select a
shot that sits within your skill set, leaving
yourself a sensible margin for error, and
you can approach and execute it with
confidence… and that means your chances
of solid contact shoot up. Remember that
golden rule of never following a mistake
with another. Also remind yourself that
there is such a thing as a good bogey.
5 USE YOUR EYES TO
FEEL THE DISTANCE
Stand behind the ball, in a position where
you can see the flag. While looking at the flag
make practice swings, gauging the speed
you will need to carry the ball to your chosen
spot. Don’t move in to the ball until you are
happy your swings are correct for the speed
required to hit the shot. When you feel you
have it locked in, go straight in to the ball and
repeat that speed and rhythm without taking
another practice swing.
TODAYSGOLFER .CO.UK IS SUE 37 7 39

PLAY BETTER BODY & MIND
Mind games…
WHYFAILUREIS KEY TO SUCCESS
D espite the very best eforts of golfers, coaches and
equipment manufacturers, golf remains essentially a
game of failure. Even Ben Hogan, by most accounts the
finest ball-striker the game has known, described golf as “a
game of misses”. Yes, there is the odd success sprinkled in
there somewhere… but the seasoned player needs no
reminding of how many ways there are to screw it up.
But while we all know all about failure, we are not all so
savvy about the damage it can do to us. Continual
disappointments can savage our confidence, cause us to
lose our focus and even ruin our enjoyment of the game.
That is why golfers, like no other sports players, need an
efective coping mechanism to deal with the times it
doesn’t go well.
The first step here is grasping that what we regard as
failure is directly linked to our expectations. We golfers are
consistently exposed to situations that raise our
expectations. We hit a series of shots on a flat, hazard-free,
consequence-free range, find a nice rhythm and see an
exciting potential in ourselves; we watch the golf on TV and
observe a dreamland standard, golfers
bombing pins and draining putts – never
mind that we only ever see the best players ‘LOWERING EXPECTATIONS
in the world on their hottest weeks; and
even on a day-to-day basis, a good round ISTHE FIRST STEP TO
today makes us feel there is no reason at
all why we should not be able to replicate
our form tomorrow.
REASSESSING YOUR
These facets and more continually raise
our expectations… and when our
RELATIONSHIP WITH FAILURE’
expectations are raised, the opportunity to ‘fail’ is raised
with them. Most often, failure is a failure to meet
expectation. It stands to reason, then, that if you can go out
on to the course armed with more realistic expectations,
you will go a long way to banishing the negative efects of
failure.
So what are more realistic expectations? Well first, let’s
look at the act of hitting a golf ball… moving the club around
you through 13ft of air at great speed to hit a small ball, in
the full knowledge that just a couple of degrees’ diference
in the clubface angle could send it into the pond. Seen in
this light, a successful shot seems much less of a
guarantee.
Then there is the golfing environment, a dynamic and
chaotic world of changing atmospheres, ground conditions,
slopes and situations. Compare this to the consistent,
controlled environments of running tracks, snooker tables,
velodromes and the like and you start to see why a golf
course is perhaps the last arena where its contestants
should be expecting a certain level of performance.
40 IS SUE 37 7 TODAYSGOLFER .CO.UK
TOP 50 TEACHER Karl Morris
Karl has worked with major winners
including McDowell and Oosthuizen.
Then there is the way we are built. Humans are wired for
adaptability, not repeatability, and that makes consistent
movement against our nature.
I say all this not to dent your confidence but in an
attempt to demonstrate why, when it comes to expectation,
we would do well to reign ourselves in. Lowering
expectations doesn’t mean not trying your hardest, or
assuming things will go wrong; it simply means heading out
to the course full of confidence, but armed with the
acceptance that in an unpredictable game, you might well
have a period when things don’t go as you expected or
hoped. I often tell the players I work with “Expect nothing,
deal with everything.” Not a bad rule to play your golf by.
I once asked former Ryder Cup player and captain Mark
James how he dealt with pressure on short putts.
“I expect to miss them,” he told me. “Then the pressure
goes away.” That doesn’t mean he’s not doing everything in
his power to hole the putt; it simply means that if the putt
misses, he’s in the best possible state to accept it. Failing
isn’t the problem; it’s your interpretation of the failure that
does the damage.
Lowering expectations is the first step
to reassessing your relationship with
failure. But you can also consider these
two factors. They will both help you
develop a healthier attitude to it.
1 Watch out for ‘should’. “I should have
holed that”… “I should be beating this
guy”… “This should be an easy par”… all
examples of using a word that links directly to expectation.
There are no “shoulds” in such a random, illogical and unfair
game as golf, so remind yourself of that the next time you
are tempted to use the word.
2 Follow Jordan’s example. No not Pickford, Michael.
The greatest basketball player in history once said: “I’ve
missed more than 9,000 shots in my career. I’ve lost
almost 300 games. Twenty-six times I’ve been trusted to
take the game winning shot and missed. I’ve failed over and
over and over again in my life. And that is why I succeed.”
Jordan regarded failure as an intrinsic part of success –
and indeed, if you read biographies of any major sporting
figure, you will see how a learned acceptance of failure
played a key role in their development.
When you lose your fear of failure, you also lose your fear
of winning… and that’s why an acceptance of failing is so
important to your development as a golfer.

Go prepared...
FIVE-MINUTE DYNAMIC WARM-UP
S o you’ve been sitting down all day,
staring at a computer screen,
waiting for the moment you can
leave and play some golf. It finally
arrives, so you sit in a car for 20
minutes getting to the course. Sure
EXERCISE #1
TWO CLUBS (30S)
Start by taking two mid irons out of your bag.
Place the handles together, faces of both square
to your target, and grip them in your palms as
shown. Make slow, full swings, allowing the
extra weight to stretch out the key golfing
muscles of your shoulders, chest and back.
enough, on the 1st tee you’re as
creased and rigid as a piece of
corrugated iron and it takes you six
holes to find any sort of rhythm and
form. What you needed was a
quickfire, dynamic warm-up that gets
TOP 50 TEACHER Simon Payne
UKCC Level 3 coach and PGA
Fellow pro at Cowglen GC, Glasgow.
your golf muscles primed for speed and
action and quashes any chance of
strain or injury. And here it is… nine
30-second exercises guaranteed to
take you from board to bendy in just
five minutes.
FINISH IT OFF
Those muscles need to work throughout your
motion, so it’s just as important to stretch out
the throughswing. Make sure you complete your
two-club swing. Sweep right through to a finish,
chest facing left of the target , belt right at it and
trail foot up on its toe.
Why you need to do this: This is simply to add
a little bit of weight to get the blood pumping in
preparation for the rest of the routine. The start
should be slow before building up a bit of speed.
TODAYSGOLFER .CO.UK IS SUE 37 7 41
 PLAY BETTER
EXERCISE #2: CLUB IN EACH HAND (30S)
Now separate the clubs and grip one in each hand. Make the same slow, full swing,
trying to keep the shafts parallel throughout. Why you need to do this: This helps
make sure your lead and trail arms are awake and making a coordinated and balanced
contribution to your motion.
EXERCISE #4: LEG SWINGS SIDE TO SIDE (30S)
Still leaning on your driver, take each leg in turn and swing it out to your side then back,
across you, for 15 seconds. Why you need to do this: This works your hip adductor
and abductor muscles, which play key roles in stabilising your pelvis as your hips rotate
and extend.
42 IS SUE 37 7 TODAYSGOLFER .CO.UK
Watch more warm-up tips at www.todaysgolfer.co.uk
EXERCISE #3: LEG SWINGS FORWARD AND BACK (30S)
Place your driver in front of you and lean on the handle. Spend 15 seconds swinging the
left leg forwards and back, then 15 seconds with the right. Why you need to do this:
This stretches out your hamstrings, quads and glutes. It improves mobility, helping you
maintain posture, while promoting rotation without sliding.
EXERCISE #5: CLAP IN FRONT AND BEHIND (30S)
Bring your hands together in a clap in front of your belt buckle, then swing them up in a wide
circle, over your head, to clap again behind you. Why you need to do this: The forward clap
mobilises the large trapezius muscle between your shoulder blades, which supports your
arms and aids stability. The backward clap opens up your chest, helping shoulder rotation.
 EXERCISE #6: BACK SLAPS (30S)
Take your golf posture and spread your arms out either side of you. Now fold them
around yourself to slap your back on both sides. Repeat for 30 seconds. Why you
need to do this: Back slaps work your chest pectorals and middle and lower trapezius
(neck) and deltoid muscles, improving joint mobility allowing for a full shoulder turn.
EXERCISE #8: HELICOPTERS (30S)
Grip your driver by the middle of the shaft and use forearm rotation to twist it one
way and the other. Do 15 seconds for each forearm. Why you need to do this: This
exercise loosens up the potentially tight tendons and muscles in your hands, wrists
and forearms, promoting full wrist hinge, cock and release.
EXERCISE #7: PISTOL SWINGS (30S)
Spread your arms, fold your elbows in close to your sides and point your forefingers out.
Turn back and through, keeping arms and body locked into position. Why you need to
do this: This stretches out your shoulder rotator cuff muscles and encourages your core
to drive backswing and throughswing rotation.
EXERCISE #9: SWING SHOULDERS (30S)
Take a wedge and simply swing it in a huge circle, keeping your arm stretch. Swap to the
other arm halfway through, before finishing with some fast swings to prepare body and mind
for speed. Why you need to do this: This drill works your shoulder deltoid and shoulder
trapezius areas, freeing up range of motion and promoting free arm motion from a stable core.
TODAYSGOLFER .CO.UK IS SUE 37 7 43
SUBSCRIBE A
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46 IS SUE 37 7 TODAYSGOLFER .CO.UK

HaotongLiisatrailblazerforgolfintheworld’smostpopulatedcountry
WO R D S K E V I N B R OWN P I C T U R E S H OWA RD B OY L A N , G E T T Y IM AG ES
S
ince the first Open Championship was held in
1860, just 30 players in the men’s game have
walked of the 18th green to sign for a 63, or
better. They include many legends –
Nicklaus, Woods, Player, Price, Norman,
Faldo, Miller – representing many nations.
And last year, China was added to the list
(along with the first ever 62, from Branden Grace).
The man who achieved China’s first Major 63, at Royal
Birkdale, was Haotong Li, now ranked 42nd in the world,
and the best male golfer – by a mile – from a country of 1.4
billion people (LPGA Tour Shanshan Feng, sixth in the
world, is currently the best golfer from China, while the
next best male player is Wu Ashun at 344th).
Li turned professional when he was 16, and won his first
European Tour event – the 2016 Volvo China Open – just
four years later. Last year, he became the first Chinese
player to make the cut at a US Open; he finished third at
Royal Birkdale – the best Major finish ever by a Chinese
player – beat Rory McIlroy to the Dubai Desert Classic in
February and played in his first Masters in April.
He’s exceeding even the lofty expectations of the world’s
most populous nation, and is on a mission not only to put
Chinese golf on the global map, but emulate the achievements
of his idol Tiger Woods (with whom he shares the same
management company). The latter may be a tall order, but
there’s no doubt Li is supremely talented – and adept at
dealing with the Western media. When we caught up with
“China’s Tiger” he was in fine form and answered our
questions with a smile as wide as the Great Wall. Only two
topics were out of bounds – the authorities and golf back
home, and his mother’s retrieving of the putter he snapped
and threw into a lake at last year’s French Open…
The annual golf membership in China costs
£30,000 and there’s fewer than 500,000 players
in the country, so how did you start in the game?
BIG INTERVIEW
Through my dad. He’s a crazy golfer. I was about 10. His
buddy played golf and they wanted to play with a partner, so
that’s why dad introduced me to the game – it was dad and
myself against his buddy and his friend. Golf made me feel
like a boss because you can do anything you want on the
course, you’re the one in control and making all the shots.
Did you take to it straight away?
I loved it from the start, especially after holing out with a
7-iron on the driving range! I was quite happy too when I
could not only hit the ball 50 yards, but straight and high. It
was a warm feeling, like I had won something. I was
hooked and wanted to play it more and more. He didn’t
force me to practise, I wanted to do it and if I got angry on
the course dad would have say something afterwards. He
would never say anything to me during a round.
How did you take to amateur golf?
Actually, it was pretty rubbish. I turned pro when I was
almost 16. Just before that, when I was 15, I wanted to play
in the Asia-Pacific Amateur Championship, but my
handicap wasn’t low enough. Even just before that week in
Shenzhen I missed the cut. It was hard and I received a lot
of flak after breaking my umbrella. Not in anger, but in
sheer frustration following a number of three-putts. That
may be considered fairly normal behaviour elsewhere, but
not so in China.
Yet a week later you became the youngest winner
in European Tour history.
I was lucky to bounce back like I did and slam my
opponents the following week. It was a great feeling to win
in such a strong field. It gave me such a lot of heart and
belief. After that week I took a couple of weeks of to fly to
the Dominican Republic for a Web.com event, believing I
could get on to the PGA Tour. I shot -5 over two days, but a
bogey on the 17th in the second round saw me miss the cut ➔
TODAYSGOLFER .CO.UK IS SUE 37 7 47
 FOLLOW
IN THEIR
DIVOTS
Haotong Li
isn’t the only
Chinese star to
play on tour...
SHANSHAN
FENG
She became
the first
Chinese golfer
to win a major
championship
when she won
the 2012 LPGA
Championship.
ZHANG
LIANWEI
Now 53, Lianwei
was the first
Chinese golfer
to win on the
European Tour (in
2003) and play
in the following
year’s Masters.
LIANG
WENCHONG
The first Chinese
player to break
into the top 100
in the world,
succeeding his Li got the world’s attention with
mentor Lianwei. a 63 at Royal Birkdale last year.
He finished
eighth in the
2010 US PGA
after firing a new by a shot. I told my caddie: “Let’s book two tickets straight in Europe and in fact in every tournament I play in. But I’m
course record from there to London,” and since then I’ve been playing on going to see a lot of Europe this year.
64. the European Tour.
Give us a bit of an insight into golf in China?
DOU That’s been a good move, surely? I think it will be a top sport back home soon. There are a lot of
ZECHENGR
Last year the Those first two years were really important for me. There talented young kids capable of becoming superstars. There
20-year-old was so much more to think about than just making birdies. are obviously more players there now than before and
became the first Travelling to and from events, finding time to rest, working hopefully I am doing my bit to encourage and inspire more
Chinese player on my swing, trying to build up my body, it was a big emerging talent and stars in the future. This is my wish.
to earn a PGA adjustment for me. It wasn’t until 2014 when I began
Tour card after playing in bigger events in China on the OneAsia Tour and What are the courses and facilities like in China?
winning a Web.
com Tour event. PGA Tour China, that things started to come together. I Every course is private and the condition of them is really
like to play in diferent countries every week. I like seeing good. The clubhouses and facilities are perfect. It’s quite
TIANLANG the world. I’m a global player – I like playing in America as expensive to play – if you get a life membership at the
GUAN well as in Europe and I like seeing the diferent countries average golf club it’s around £100,000 and if you don’t have
He was 14 years around the world. membership it’s around £200-£300 for a round.
and five months
old when, in
2013, he became You must have got a great reaction after your 63 in
the youngest How much has all that travel opened your eyes? last year’s Open generated headlines…
player to make I had watched it for years on TV and seen all the amazing The performance has really helped and got me into this
the cut both in a places the Tour went and the players it produced and I was year’s Masters and WGCs. There was a big reaction when I
major (Masters) excited to give it a try. The biggest adjustment early on was returned home, a lot of people talked about it.
and on the PGA
Tour. the food. It sounds strange but I had grown up on a
traditional Chinese diet of rice and noodles and suddenly I How was Augusta and did your Masters debut live
WANG was in airports and hotels around the world having to get up to expectations (he finished T32)?
SHOUQIAN used to all diferent types of diets and food. It made me I thought I was going to be nervous on the first tee but it
Got on to the quite sick early on and homesick. It took a while to get used was all right. I made a lot of putts and was really happy to
Web.com Tour to, both physically and mentally. Luckily now, they look open with such a great round (69). I got a lot of confidence
through Q school
in 2015 when after players really well and we have so many options to from last year’s US Open, my first ever Major, and I’ve
he turned pro. choose from in Players’ Lounges. Even rice and noodles! improved a lot since then. I think one day I’ll become a
He played in good player!
his first junior But is the PGA Tour is still your dream?
tournament That’s the aim. I think this year I can play in 10-15 events in What are the strengths of your game?
aged six.
the US, which is a great opportunity for me. I want to win My putting has definitely improved since the end of last

48 IS SUE 37 7 TODAYSGOLFER .CO.UK

 BIG INTERVIEW
TWELVE
The number of

$100 CHINESE GOLF courses at Mission

Hills near Shenzhen MAJOR
An average green
fee for non-members.
IN NUMBERS – the world’s largest
golf complex. 63s
THE MASTERS
Nick Price
Zimbabwe, 1986
Greg Norman
$230,000 Australia, 1996
358,000 Joining fee at Shanghai’s
Sheshan International
US OPEN
Johnny Miller
Estimated number of GC, where the HSBC USA, 1973
lf Ch ( d Champions is played. Jack Nicklaus
USA, 1980
ar). Tom Weiskopf
111 USA, 1980
The number of courses Vijay Singh
0 ordered to close by the
Government in 2017
Fiji, 2003
TommyFleetwood
mber of due to water and land England,2018
s currently conservation concerns. THE OPEN
ted in China, Mark Hayes
t of which was USA,1977
ucted in 1984. Isao Aoki
Japan, 1980
Greg Norman
Australia, 1986
Paul Broadhurst
England, 1990
Jodie Mudd
USA, 1991

‘THERE ARE A LOT OF Li made a name for himself

winning the Volvo China
Open on home soil.
Nick Faldo
England, 1993

YOUNG KIDS CAPABLE OF Payne Stewart

USA, 1993
Rory McIlroy

BECOMING SUPERSTARS’ N. Ireland, 2010

Phil Mickelson
USA, 2016
season and my driving is pretty good too. When I don’t Henrik Stenson
Sweden, 2016
play well it’s usually down to my iron play as I tend to miss
a few greens here and there.
Haotong Li
China, 2017
You must be under immense pressure to deliver the PGA CHAMPS
Bruce Crampton
goods for the whole country? Australia, 1975
I suppose it is similar to Justin Rose in England – there Raymond Floyd
must be a lot of pressure on him when he goes back to play USA, 1982
in the British Masters, especially when he is hosting the Gary Player
event this year! I have asked him about this and he said S. Africa, 1984
that’s just the way it is, you go back to your home country Vijay Singh
and there is a lot of expectation on you. It must also be the Fiji, 1993
same for Matsuyama in Japan. But I suppose in the UK Michael Bradley
there are 10-15 players who are capable of taking the load. He’s already USA, 1995
When I go back home, there are only one or two guys… but superstar of Brad Faxon
I do feel a lot of pressure when I go back – I’m always in a Chinese sport. USA, 1995
TV group playing with a Rory or a DJ. I’m still young and Jose M Olazabal
still learning how to deal with playing with the game’s top Spain, 2000
players. Mark O’Meara
USA, 2001
What’s the biggest thing you’ve learnt so far? Thomas Bjorn
To believe in myself every day, because sometimes it’s Denmark, 2005
hard. I’ve had some bad weeks in the past, but it’s all about Tiger Woods
how you deal and learn from those. I shot -8 in South USA, 2007
Africa in the final round and from there everything Steve Stricker
turned, so I have to keep doing what I do well. Usually I USA, 2011
play my best golf when I believe… and when I’ve got a smile Jason Dufner
on my face. That’s what I need to keep doing. My parents USA, 2013
and coach have always told me to keep doing what I’m Hiroshi Iwata
doing and good things will come. Japan, 2015
AND ONE 62...
What’s next for you? Branden Grace,
My goal is to become a top 20 player in the world and I’ll be
South Africa,
2017 Open.
doing all I can to achieve this.

TODAYSGOLFER .CO.UK IS SUE 37 7 49

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THE

NEW IDEAS THAT CAN HELP YOU IMPROVE 46 TIMES FASTER

HOWTOPLAYBETTER...BASED
ONNINEMILLIONSHOTSBY
GOLFERSJUSTLIKEYOU 54 P

HOW RORY USES THE M USEFUL

BIG DATA SHOT-SAVING TECH
‘It’s the fastest way The best gadgets
to improve’ and apps
P77 P71

THE A.I. CADDIE THE BALL OF THE

ON YOUR PHONE FUTURE IS HERE!
We’ve used it... and you how
it’s incredible ve hit it
P72 SHOES THAT TRACK THE TOUR’S P69
YOUR SWING TECHNICIAN
For better weight Meet Bryson
transfer DeChambeau
P69 P70 TODAYSGOLFER .CO.UK IS SUE 37 7 53
 TOP 50 TEACHER
Gareth Johnston
CalcotPark,Berkshire
PGAProfessionaland
DirectorofGolf
atCalcotPark

more than you think

and aim long and left
on page 58.

Shot
the s
Aberde
trumpg

54 IS SUE 37 7 TODAYSGOLFER .CO.UK


STAT
ATTACK!
After recording some nine million golf shots,performancetrackingsystemShot
Scope has come up with some fascinatinginsightsaboutwherewedropthem.
Here, we detail its key findings… and revealyouwhatyoucandoaboutthem
W O R D S D U N C A N L E N N A R D P I C T U R E S B O B AT K I N S
D
id you know that 84% of missed putts over
five feet finish short? Or, that your typical
drive is nearly 30 yards shorter than your
Sunday best drive? These are just two
intriguing statistics thrown up by
performance tracking technology
Shot Scope.
The wrist-worn system, which monitors both your
movement and your club’s through state-of-the-art GPS
technology, has measured some nine million shots over
262,000 rounds. That’s created a mass of data, from which
Shot Scope boffins have extracted a series of fascinating
and enlightening conclusions about how well – OK, badly –
we play the game. With the ability to be broken down into
handicap levels, age or even typical shot pattern, this data
has profound implications for where we need to target our
practice, and how we can save shots.
Here, we look at some of the system’s more eye-catching
findings, for three handicaps – eight, 14 and 20 – before TG
Top 50 coach Gareth Johnston shows the way to improve in
the areas the system suggests. When it comes to playing
better golf, data collection might not be top of your agenda.
After reading this feature, it should be…
BIG DATA GavinDear,formerWalkerCupplayerandShotScopecommercialofficer,explainsthevalueofstats
“Did you know, for example, that when a
20-handicapper three-putts, the average distance
of his second putt is almost 9ft? That’s a clear
signal that poor distance control is the principal
cause of three-putting. This golfer could spend
time on the practice green holing three-footers, but
it would not be of much use to him.
“This is a good example of how data can help
you target your work, making your valuable practice
time more effective.
THE TECH
ISSUE
HOW SHOT SCOPE WORKS...
Shot Scope was launched three years ago. The original
version focused solely on shot tracking, but the latest V2,
launched this year, adds regular GPS distance measuring,
with 35,000 courses mapped by Shot Scope’s own team
of 200 elite players. Ditching the need to fiddle with smart
phones, the system simply asks you to screw a series of
lightweight tags into the butt of each club. Chips inside
each send data to a wrist-worn device, which reads every
detail of how the club was used and moved… right down
to the vibrations of impact. The result of the shot is known
through a GPS reading of where the next shot is played
from. Ultimately, all activity is overlaid on a map of the
course to gain a clear picture of the golfer’s movement,
where their ame fired and where it spluttered. After the
ound, individuals
an access this
nformation either
hrough a smart
phone app or online
dashboard.
www.shotscope.com
“But also, imagine you are going to buy a new
driver for £400 – a serious investment. What are
you basing that purchase on? How do you know a
new driver is what your game needs? Data can give
you the true picture. You may find your driving is the
least of your worries, and that you should instead
be buying a gap wedge to plug a glaring weakness
in short game performance.
“Shot Scope won’t just get you playing smarter;
it’ll get you spending smarter, too.” ➔
TODAYSGOLFER .CO.UK IS SUE 37 7 55
 HOW TO
IMPROVE
THESE STATS
DRIVING DISTANCE
Gavin says: “To make Shot Scope as you can see we have split the data here We might have an inkling
information more relevant to the individual into 8, 14 and 20 handicaps. Interestingly that driving the ball further
golfer, we ask users to enter their handicap though, our data shows that regardless of will help us hit our second
into the system. This allows us to see how handicap, 3-woods are only a fraction more shots closer on par 4s, but
performance changes with skill level, and accurate than drivers off the tee.” Scot Scope stats quantify
just how much it can help.
On a 400-yard par 4, a
14-handicapper would
AVERAGE DISTANCES AVG P-AVG LONGEST
be almost 30ft closer in
DRIVER 3-WOOD Generally, golfers think they hit the ball two just by reaching their
further than they actually do. A golfer will distance potential! To do
normally assume their longest distance
8 is close to their average distance. Shot that, you need to focus
Scope P-AVG (Performance Average) on your angle of attack –
removes outliers both long and short to something that afects
give an accurate club distance for what your path, your spin and
14 a golfer would describe as a “good” shot. ultimately your distance.
It is noticeable that there is a drop-of
between handicaps with drivers, yet not
as much with 3-woods. A theory would
be the increased loft from a 3-wood will
20 help most golfers reach their distance
potential.

FAIRWAYS IN REGULATION
USING A DRIVER USING A 3-W00D

When asked which club is straighter,

their driver or their 3-wood, many
golfers would think the latter would find
the fairway far more often – but this
is not the case. On average, a 3-wood
hits 1.5% more fairways in regulation.
But considering the distance diference
between driver and 3-wood (see above)
there is not much advantage to hitting
3-wood from the tee, unless there is a
hazard in range with your driver.

HANDICAP HANDICAP

DRIVER ACCURACY
Understanding where you lose shots is key to Hitting into a fairway bunker
improving your scores. And for the handicap Costsagolferanaverage
golfer, fairway bunkers can ruin scores, and
should be avoided at all costs! of1.4shots

Hitting into trees

Costsagolfer1.1shots

Hitting a 3-wood
GREEN instead of driver (both
FAIRWAY
in the fairway)
Hitting into light rough Costs0.3shots
LIGHT ROUGH
Costsagolfer0.3shots
BUNKER

HOW AN INCREASE OF 30 YARDS WOULD HELP YOU IMPROVE

This is a good example of understanding
the benefits of hitting the ball further. Length Approach Average Approach Average
Taking a 14-handicap performance of hole distance after proximity distance after proximity
average (versus if they hit their longest P-Avg tee shot to hole longest tee shot to hole
drive on each hole) you can see there 450 228 YARDS 157 FT 204 YARDS 121 FT
would be a diference of 24 yards (when
they hit the fairway). Being 24 yards 425 203 YARDS 124 FT 179 YARDS 92 FT
closer to the green increases your green 400 178 YARDS 98 FT 154 YARDS 74 FT
success percentage and also your average 375 153 YARDS 73 FT 129 YARDS 51 FT
proximity to the hole with approach shots.
It makes a significant scoring diference.... 330 108 YARDS 37 FT 84 YARDS 29 FT

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 THE TECH
ISSUE

WHY ATTACK
ANGLE MATTERS
You might think that when it comes to
power, club and ball speed are king. But
picture two golfers with identical speeds,
one hitting slightly up through the ball and
the other chopping down on it.

SPIN LOFT
So called ‘spin loft’ – basically the difference
between the club’s loft at impact and the angle
on which it is attacking the ball – is one of golf’s
secret distance parameters. When spin loft goes
up – think chopping down with masses of loft – so
does spin, and you create a weak, powerless
flight… even if your ball speed is high.

BETTER PATH
Swing path and attack angle are linked. A
downward attack works in tandem with an
out-to-in swing shape, while an upward attack
promotes a square or slightly in-to-out path. So
besides keeping your spin down, a shallower, level-
to-up attack also straightens out your attack,
helping you hit more up on the back of the ball. That
ensures a much more efficient and powerful strike.

SET UP TO HIT UP
Use your address position to promote the
ideal attack angle. Ideally we are looking to
2 return the shaft to its designed position at
impact, hands level with the head, together
with an upward blow. Hands ahead delofts
the face; hands behind adds loft.

1 MOVE THE BALL FORWARD

Make sure the ball is opposite your lead heel,
or no more than an inch or two behind it. That
promotes impact after the bottom of the club’s arc,
encouraging a slightly upward attack.

2 TILT HEAD BEHIND BALL

This naturally sets your upper body leaning slightly
away from the target. This promotes the level-to-up
attack that creates the ideal, yard-eating impact.

3 WIDEN YOUR STANCE

3 Pull your trail foot back an extra few inches. This
helps you feel you can coil behind the ball, essential
1 to creating a backswing that allows you to deliver the
club on a shallow angle.
➔

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 HOW TO
IMPROVE
THESE STATS
DRIVING ACCURACY
AVERAGE TEE SHOT Shot Scope data makes a
One of the biggest findings here is what compelling argument for
Shot Scope term an “over-valuation” rethinking your target on
of hitting the fairway. For example, on a the tee. Clearly, adjusting
hole with sand or water down the right, your target to allow for your
aiming towards light rough up the left
would typically yield a lower score than shape can have serious
15 yds 52 yds wide 4 yds
aiming up the middle. implications for your score.
To demonstrate Shot Scope’s But whatever your target,
findings on this, we have mocked up your ability to hit it is
a realistic hole, with bunkering down massively influenced by
one side. the quality of your address
Understanding the danger allows
you to understand the correct line you position. Focus on grip and
should hit your tee shot on. alignment.
This example has been pulled
together using an average of golfers Thick rough
and trees Thick rough
between 8 and 20 handicaps. and trees

Thick rough and trees

Costsagolfer1.1shots
222 yards

FAIRWAY
LIGHT ROUGH
BUNKER
DANGER ZONE

WHAT IT MEANS... FOR FADERS

Shot Scope has told us that golfers who predominantly miss
their tee shots to the right will hit seven out of 10 drives
into trouble – trees, fairway bunkers or deeper rough. This
happens due to an over-valuation of the fairway; the player
has aimed straight down the middle and not considered that
ALIGNMENT:
the left rough should be thought of as friendly. WHEN YOU
But if that player moves their target point 25 yards
further left, into that playable light rough, it results in a
SHOULDN’T AIM
dispersion with only one golf ball in the fairway bunker, and AT YOUR TARGET
none in the trees. The number of shots lost is now two. There is two key reasons Tour
Results It means that just by moving your target point, a golfer Target line pros work on alignment every
of 10 tee can save five shots from 10 tee shots. moved 25
shots yards left day; first, because it is crucial to
hitting the target, and second
because it can so easily slip.
WHAT IT MEANS... FOR DRAWERS Whatever your standard, the most
The golfer who normally misses tee shots to the left is not common tendency is to aim feet,
punished as much as the fader/slicer due to the lack of hips and shoulders to the target
bunkering down the left side. instead of on a line parallel to it, as
However, gains can still be made by understanding which represented by the age-old railway
areas will allow an approach shot to the green, rather than a line analogy.
recovery shot back into play.
Aiming straight down the middle of the fairway results
in 3.4 shots lost left. But if this golfer adjusts their target BUDDY SYSTEM
line by 15 yards to the right, it frees up more space for Alignment is notoriously hard to check
the left miss. This results in 0.9 shots lost – and a gain
Results of 2.5 shots. Target line
yourself, so in practice take your address
of 10 tee moved 15 before holding the club in front of you as
shots yards right shown, across your chest with elbows
equally folded. Ask a friend to check where
your body is aiming… but remember that for
WHAT IT MEANS... BOTH WAYS the right-handed golfer, this line needs to
The golfer who can miss tee shots both ways can still be parallel left of target.
find value from changing their target line, and should be
attempting to pick the middle point between hazards.
Aiming straight down the middle the golfer loses 4.8
NEW TARGET
shots (mainly right, where the majority of the trouble is). But Data demonstrates the negative effects
by adjusting their target line five yards to the left, they are of over-åvaluing the fairway, and how the
only losing 3.4 shots – so gaining 1.4 shots. right-hander slicer can save shots simply
As we can seen in all three examples, the handicap golfer by selecting a new target in the light rough
can make significant scoring gains just by altering their left of it. When employing this strategy,
Results target line to suit their tee shot dispersion. Try not to Target line improve your margin for error by using the
of 10 tee over-value the fairway when light rough will still provide an moved 5 right side of the tee.
shots approach to the green. yards left

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 THE TECH
ISSUE

GRIP: SQUARE DEAL PALM FORM

Your grip is your sole contact with the
club, and so your only means of controlling CHECK YOUR HOLD
the face. A neutral hold, trail palm facing To check your Adjust your
the target, will always give you your best grip, hold he club position until the
chance of delivering the club consistently as normal before palm faces flush at
square. stretching out your target – then,
the fingers of check you have the
your lower hand. lifeline of the palm
Where is the palm against the side of
facing? Left of your gloved thumb
your target will before simply
tend to promote folding your fingers
an open face at around the handle
impact while right to form your grip.
of target will want
to roll the face shut
(right-handers).

ON-PLANE DELIVERY
In a perfectly on-plane downswing, your
clubshaft will aim parallel to your ball-target
line as it swings through horizontal. This is
more something to be aware of than to try to
create, but if you start hitting big pushes or
pulls, work on staging this position before
trying to repeat it at speed.
➔

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 HOW TO
IMPROVE
THESE STATS
APPROACH PLAY >100 YARDS
Gavin says: “From longer distances, 20-handicapper is twice as likely to hit the Shot Scope has identified
probably the key finding of our data is green with a hybrid than an iron. From inside just how much more
just how much more effect the handicap 100 yards, a clear pattern of short right efective the amateur
golfer is with hybrid than with long or even misses shows how adjusting your target is with a hybrid as
mid-irons. Indeed, from over 200 yards a further back and left can save shots.” opposed to a long iron. It
also demonstrates how
important it is to be playing
sub-100-yard approach
150-YARD SHOT From the fairway shots from the fairway.
Developing an accurate
hybrid technique, then, will
pay dividends. Here’s how
to play the ultimate fairway
finder.

DANGER
ZONE

HANDICAP

Understanding the distance each club GREENS IN

goes will help you make better decisions.
Shot Scope users find that they
don’t hit the ball as far as they think.
But once they know their actual club
distances (see chart, right) they can use
the information to make better decisions
and ultimately shoot lower scores.
Most holes have danger at the front
of the green, usually sand or water.
In this instance, most golfers would
select either the 8i or 7i – but actually
using a 6i is the correct club.
8i
LONGEST P-AVG AVG
REGULATION
Greens in regulation is a traditional
statistic, and to build yours you need
to do two things – hit a tee shot that
lets you hit the green, and then hit it
with your second (on a par 4).
Shot Scope has revealed there
is a significant decrease in GIR
percentage between an eight and a
14-handicapper. Why? It is mainly
due to the fact that, generally, a
14-handicapper won’t hit it quite
7i 6i as far and can’t reach some holes in
regulation.

THE HYBRID V IRON BATTLE MOVE THE BALL BACK

3 HYBRID V 3-IRON GIR (200-220 YDS)
Take your regular set-up… but now move
8 53% 11% 36% HYBRID IRON the ball back in your stance. This promotes
8 17% 12% a strike earlier in the swing arc, with the
14 55% 7% 38%
14 12% 6% club swinging more from the inside, its
20 51% 10% 39% 20 9% 4% face more open and its attack angle slightly
more downward.
4 HYBRID V 4-IRON GIR (180-200 YDS)
8 42% 50% 8% HYBRID IRON STABLE DELIVERY
8 23% 22%
14 51% 42% 7% Hit the shot from this ball position and
14 17% 11% you could expect to hit a squeezing push
20 53% 40% 7% 20 12% 7% with perhaps a little bit of cut spin. While
that doesn’t sound ideal, it’s a stable and
5 HYBRID V 5-IRON GIR (160-180 YDS) repeatable delivery of the club that is never
8 20% 80% HYBRID IRON going to put any huge shape into the ball.
8 27% 29% Also the slightly descending attack angle
14 24% 76% works well with the hybrid’s low-down
14 22% 20%
20 27% 71% 2% 20 17% 16% weighting and easy launch.
6 HYBRID V 6-IRON Due to the fact that most golfers carry
either a hybrid or an iron, it is very
8 4% 96% diicult to compare these directly.
Instead, Shot Scope has looked at
14 9% 91% the data regarding the distance the
club was hit from, and the result.
20 7% 91% 2% Interestingly, from over 200 yards,
The introduction of hybrids changed how long shots were played into the green. a hybrid is almost twice as efective
Marketed as easier to hit consistently and easier to get up in the air, lots of golfers compared to a long iron. It is still more
jumped on the idea. Only recently have manufacturers started producing sets of irons efective between 180-200 yards, but
without 3, 4, and 5 irons. This might point towards a reason that 4 iron/4 hybrid use that gap closes within 180 yards.
is now 50-50 among club golfers. It is interesting that not many handicap golfers This proves that most club golfers
elect to carry a 3-iron, but that the 3 hybrid is the most commonly carried hybrid. In should not be carrying irons which they
general terms, a hybrid will travel eight to 12 yards further than the corresponding can hit over 180 yards – instead, swap
iron, but in reality accuracy and consistency are the keys. them for hybrids.

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 THE TECH
ISSUE

NEW AIM
So to make this stable delivery work in your favour,
simply swivel your address position to aim further
left (right-handers). Pick a new target 10-15 yards
left of where you want to finish and set up with
that further back ball position.

KEEP IT SIMPLE
Ultimately, this technique means making your
normal swing… just with the ball further back and
your aim further left (right-handers). It takes a
little courage to aim left of where you want to send
the ball, but trust that back ball position and make
your normal, committed swing.

CONTROLLED STRIKE
Very quickly you will gain the feel of how this
technique allows you to “block” the ball down the
fairway. It’s a simple, repeatable and effective way
of putting the ball into position… and it will save
you loads of shots.

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 HOW TO
IMPROVE
THESE STATS
AP LAY <100 YARDS
APPROACHES WITHIN 100 YARDS Efect of lie on performance Shot Scope clearly shows
These three images show the efect of diferent lies
how, for the handicap golfer,
on green hit percentages, and proximity to the hole.
FAIRWAY the typical pitch miss is
It highlights the importance of finding the fairway on LIGHT ROUGH short right (right-handers).
short par 4s and also with second shots on par 5s. BUNKER As it suggests, simply
picking a new target further
AVERAGE DISTANCE TO left and further away can
HOLE AND GREEN (60-100 YARDS) address this in the short
term; but at the root of
FAIRWAY this miss is a tendency to
Average leave the face open through
Green proximity impact, which causes high,
hit % to hole weak, cutting shots. Here are
8 64% 34 FEET two things you can do to get
that face squarer more often.
14 61% 40 FEET
20 54% 48 FEET

ROUGH
Average
Green proximity
hit % to hole
8 58% 39 FEET
14 51% 46 FEET
20 42% 56 FEET

BUNKER
Average
Green proximity
hit % to hole
8
1. PRACTISE WITH
42% 51 FEET
14 35% 56 FEET
A METRONOME
20 29% 65 FEET One of the biggest problems for the
amateur playing a part shot is creating a
good rhythm that allows you to square the
face. Typically the swing is too short and
snatchy, causing you to leave the clubhead
behind you, its face open. But if you have a
HITTING THE TARGET How to improve your wedge approaches smart phone, downloading a free and easily
Below are two examples of a 14-handicapper’s average shot dispersion with their wedges. You can see that simply by adjusting available metronome app can really help.
the initial target, more than double the number of approach shots can hit the green. The average proximity to hole can also be
reduced by 33%. That’s a lot of shots saved during the course of a year.
AIM AT THE FLAG ADJUSTED TARGET
AIM POINT MOVED
BACK 20 FEET AND
LEFT 22 FEET

RESULT RESULT
PUTTING 6 PUTTING 13
BUNKER 1 40.45ft average BUNKER 2 30.1ft average
CHIPPING 13 proximity to hole CHIPPING 5 proximity to hole

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START AND STRIKE
ON THE BEEP
The metronome app allows you to
programme beeps or tones per minute.
Set this to 60 and you will hear a beep
per second. This is a pretty good place
to start. Now, with the beeps audible to
you, all you have to do is start the swing
on a beep and try to time impact for the
next one.
THE TECH
ISSUE
ADJUST TO TASTE
Swing rhythm is a personal thing: you may find
60bpm too fast, or too slow. So adjust the setting
until you create a beat that feels comfortable to
you. Hit a series of wedges, starting on a tone
and striking on the next one, and you will begin to
feel a pleasing rhythm that gives you that little
extra time to square the face. That means better
distance control and improved accuracy.
2. THUMBS ON TOP
For a second way to square up
that face, a great little swing
thought is simply to feel your
thumbs rotate to their starting
position – broadly on top of
the handle – through the ball.
If you are missing short right,
split your grip and hit some
pitches with your attention on
your thumbs; chances are you
will feel they are more to the
side of the handle at impact, a
position that leaves the face
open.
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 HOW TO
IMPROVE
THESE STATS
SHORT GAME
Gavin says: “Our shot game data identified time as part of a much more even spread of Shot Scope data clearly
something we have termed ‘the lob wedge club usage from 8-iron to putter. Our data suggests that versatility in
addiction’ – poor short gamers pull the lob clearly shows the benefits of adjusting clubs short game club selection
wedge 42% of the time around the green, around the green rather than using the same and approach is much
while better players use it only 8% of the one all the time.” more beneficial than an
unthinking lob wedge
choice. To select the right
club at the right time,
POOR SHORT GAME PLAYERS CLUB PW GW SW LW Putter picture each shot in terms of
The Shot Scope database shows that poor short game players USAGE 16% 9% 24% 42% 9% its carry-to-run ratio… then
don’t use the same variety of clubs around the green. Oddly, tailor your technique to each
they rely on higher lofted clubs, which require more skill and an
exacting strike to get the ball close to the hole. They are most likely scenario.
manufacturing a shot to try and get the ball close to the pin.

BETTER SHORT GAME PLAYERS

The better short game player uses a large selection of clubs around
the green, with 48% of shots played with an 8i, 9i and PW. We
1
know these clubs have a better margin of error than higher lofted CLUB 8i 9i PW GW SW LW Putter
wedges. The better short game player will select a club that gets
the ball rolling on the green quicker. USAGE 12% 14% 22% 12% 6% 8% 18%

THE LOB-WEDGE ADDICTION

The real concern here is the lob wedge addiction shown by
eight- to 20-handicappers within 20 yards of the green.
Why do they love it? Many golfers regard it as the “short
game club”, having seen Tour pros pull one out to get the ball
checking up next to the hole. People see Phil Mickelson use
his 60° wedge all the time and think “I can do that!”.
Well here’s reality check – you can’t.
Eight-to-20-handicap golfers use their lob wedge 38%
of the time – yet this club, in the same handicap category,
only accounts for 8% of up and downs made. Golfers can see
an instant performance improvement by not using the LW as
much. A great concept is to use a club less than you normally
would. So for instance, if you think I will chip with my SW, try 75% CARRY, 25% RUN:
using your PW. Your scores will thank you for it.
THINK LOB WEDGE
There is a place for an LW Always look to carry the ball on the green; it
If you are here, 38% of the time you have another problem! gives the benefit of a predictable bounce.
Short-siding yourself with your approach
means picturing a shot with plenty of carry
BUNKER PLAY GREEN and minimal run. Clearly you need quick
Pulling the right club (often one more than you think you need!) can play a part in FAIRWAY height to find that trajectory, so go for your
avoiding greenside bunkers, but on the whole you can’t avoid them completely. On most lofted wedge.
average you will have one or two greenside bunker shots per round. Consistently LIGHT ROUGH
playing good shots from sand requires good technique and practice – and poor play BUNKER
can cost you a lot of shots very quickly. The goal should be to get the ball out and
onto the green every time; playing for the middle section of the green will increase KEY THOUGHT: POINT
your margin for error. THE CLUB AT THE SKY
To create quick launch you must not only
Number of green select a lofted club but also develop a
bunker shots technique that retains that loft. To find
per round INSIDE
that, train a free release of the clubhead
8 1.5 MISS 6FT that gets the clubshaft vertical quickly
after impact. This thought maintains or
14 2.1 even adds loft through the ball.
20 2.3

1
RESULT FROM BUNKERS
Inside 6ft Miss the green
8 21% 19%
14 13% 32%
20 8% 42%

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2 50% CARRY, 50% RUN:
THINK PITCHING WEDGE
When you’re faced with a shot that needs
to spend half of its journey in the air and the
other half bouncing and rolling, you need a club
that will give you some height but also some
forward momentum. Your wedge or 9-iron has
the ideal loft to deliver this mid-range flight so
he work for you.
ANDLE
STAYS OVER BALL
Feel that, as you swing back and through, the
grip of the club stays level with the ball. In
reality it will move slightly back and slightly
through, but this thought helps you develop
easy club speed while encouraging the
forgiving sole to work into the turf through
impact. If this sounds a little handsy, note
that within this action, your chest or core
continues to rotate back and through. This is a
free release, not a flick.
THE TECH
ISSUE
3 25% CARRY, 75% RUN:
THINK 8-IRON
A golden rule for short game club selection
is to take the minimum loft you need to carry
the ball to the green. With plenty of green to
work with, this can mean a relatively straight-
faced iron like an 8 or even 7. The stronger loft
means you can cover distance to the flag while
making a shorter, more controlled motion that
creates less shot-sabotaging spin.
KEY THOUGHT: CUT OFF
THE FOLLOW-THROUGH
Play this shot with a deliberately shortened
follow-through and a more punchy impact.
Accelerating to a quick stop limits clubhead
release and is a great way of keeping loft
off the face… helping the ball run out. It also
encourages impact higher in the clubface, a
lower-spinning strike that further encourages
the ball to run.
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 HOW TO
IMPROVE
THESE STATS
PUTTING
Gavin says: “Shot Scope’s findings on putting scores. But another, neat feature of Shot Scope As Shot Scope suggests,
arguably ofer the biggest opportunity to save is the ability to track your performance with most three-jabs are caused
shots. The high percentages of three-putting a range of diferent putters. This way, a clear by coming up short… which
across all levels, coupled with evidence of poor pattern will emerge of which one works for you, is most often a question
distance control, indicates a fast track to lower and which ones don’t.” of strike quality. A pure
strike means optimal
energy transfer into the
ball; mistrikes mean less
NEVER UP, NEVER IN... 84% OF ALL MISSED 16% energy and less distance. To
PUTTS OUTSIDE FIVE FEET FINISH SHORT MISS SHORT improve your strike on longer
Most golfers will think of putting performance in Make %, but in reality for the handicap putts, let your core take
golfer getting the ball past the hole is the key factor. 84% of all putts outside five feet control of the stroke.
that are missed finish short. This is a frightening statistic and one that will become very
noticeable the next time you play. Just concentrating on getting the ball past the hole will 16%
improve your Make % – and lower those scores. MISS
LONG

TRACK THE PERFORMANCE NUMBER OF PUTTS PER

OF ALL YOUR OLD PUTTERS ROUND BY AGE
We all have a love-hate relationship with putters and generally
NO OF PUTTS PER ROUND

pick a model based on looks. But understanding diferent types of

putters – and which performs best for you – will reduce scores. The
Shot Scope V2 can track as many putter models as you want, so
you can find out for sure which one works best for you...
MAKE %
ODYSSEY 2-BALL
TAYLORMADE SPIDER
EVNROLL ER2 CENTRE SHAFT
An interesting snapshot is looking at putts per round
by age. It is noticeable how putts per round is highest
between the ages of 20 and 39. The assumption would
be that golfers between these ages don’t get to play
enough golf, and the experience of older golfers grooves
a most consistent putting stroke.

OVERALL PUTT %
BY HANDICAP
STARTING DISTANCE
% HOLED

TTING
WARNING!
HANDICAP
GOLFERS SHOULD
GO INTO LAG
MODE AT 20 FEET

8 14 20
1 PUTT 2 PUTT 3 PUTT
The average first putt distance for a handicap golfer is 18.6 feet. This is a fascinating graph. There doesn’t seem to be
Efectively, most three putts are made from more than 20 feet. So it too many diferences between handicaps, but on closer
is key to think “lag” from around the 20 feet mark. Lagging does not inspection there is a significant swing between eight-
mean leaving it short, but the goal should be to two putt and make handicappers and 20-handicappers on one and three
the second putt as short as possible to reduce stress. putts. Two-putting stays relatively constant by handicap.

THREE PUTT LIKELIHOOD AVERAGE DISTANCE OF SECOND

8 10.2%
14 13.8%
20 19.1%
A massive scoring key for the handicap golfer is to avoid
three putting – do this well and it can significantly
reduce your handicap. The three-putt percentage
is surprisingly high over the various handicaps, with
20-handicappers three-putting 19% of the holes they
play. There is a lot of room for improvement!
8 5.8ft PUTT IN A THREE PUTT
14 7.6ft
20 8.9ft
Even more surprising is the average distances of the second putt
when three-putting – a 20-handicapper has a second putt of nearly
nine feet! This is predominantly a distance control issue, because
the ball usually comes up short. Even Jordan Spieth – one of the
best putters in the world – only holes a nine-footer 24% of the
time, so what chance have you got?
TURN BACK
To help yourself create this arcing stroke, picture
your chest at the centre of the curve. As your chest
rotates your shoulders, arms and putter move
with it. Try it for yourself with your trail hand on the
putter and your lead hand on your chest. Moving
back, let the turn of the chest sweep the putter
inside the ball-target line.

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TURN THROUGH
Now make your follow-through. Again, let a simple
rotation of the chest drive the stroke and allow
your trail arm to remain passive; it’s simply going
along for the ride. Feel how, when the chest
controls the movement, that in-to-in arc becomes
natural and the putter’s face and head begin to
feel more stable.
TOWEL DRILL
Repeat the feeling of that core-dominated stroke with
both hands on the grip and you will feel how your upper
arms stay close to your chest. Use a towel to develop
that feeling. Use your upper arms to pin it against your
sides. Swing the putter back and through, ensuring
there is enough pressure between your arms and sides
to hold the towel in place.
THE TECH
ISSUE
THINK ‘ARC’,
NOT ‘STRAIGHT’
Most golfers try to move the putter
straight back and through the line.
That might work on short putts, but
as the stroke gets longer it needs
to describe an in-to-in arc, just like
the full swing. This is because the
putter’s shaft is angled at address.
An arcing stroke allows it to move on
the correct plane and path, putting
its sweetspot directly in the path of
the ball.
PIGEON IT FOR STABILITY
When you put your core in charge of the stroke, you will
notice how your hips want to rotate a little as the body turns
back and through. That’s OK, but within this we need to keep
a stable platform for the stroke. Turn your toes in to feel how
your upper body can turn while keeping lower-body motion
to a minimum. Then, when you have the feeling trained,
return your feet to their regular position.
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 Turn your smartphone
into a launch monitor
Y ou’re at the range, and the swing feels
good. You’re hitting the target with
your irons, when you grab the driver
and spank one into the distance. If only you
had a launch monitor to tell you how far it
went… Well, two golfing brothers from
South Africa have developed an app that
gives you some of the numbers you’d get
from a £10,000 radar.
Shaun and Bryan Theron have
created a simple-to-use variation of
a launch monitor which can run
on a smart device such as an
iPhone. Most launch monitors
are incredibly
expensive, but Joe
Public can
download
this
app and gain access to much ofthesameshot
data for the cost of a cheap subscription.What
the app can’t do, though, is track clubhead data
such as attack angle, path, face angle and
dynamic loft.
Shaun, the tech boin in the Theron
family, has spent the last two-and-a-half
years developing the algorithms necessary to
create the app. “I left my job in the
corporate world to study
industrial design in
Holland, then
started a web
design business,
and taught myself
how to code and
build apps,” he said.
“I took time out from
the business to make
this first app project
work, and it has been
entirely funded by
our family.
“Excitingly, the
breakthrough came
just a few months
ago, and Bryan and I have
now launched our golf
technology start-up called
LEVV GOLF (Launch
Enhancing Velocity Vision).
“We’ve always been intrigued
by the numbers on launch monitors,
and the fun you can have with them, so
our goal was to find a way of making
them more accessible for all golfers.”
We meet the brothers on the range,
where Shaun takes out his iPhone, loads
the LEVV app, places the device on a tripod,
and positions it less than a metre behind him
in the range box. He hits a short iron to an
island green, and instantly a voice on the
iPhone gives him the distance the ball flew.
On the screen is varied feedback – distance,
carry, ball speed, spin, launch angle – key
data that modern golfers and teachers love to
have.
Remarkably, this information is
instantaneously captured in a split second by
the device’s camera as the ball leaves the
clubface. “This data gives golfers insight into
what happens after the ball leaves the
clubface, in our opinion the most important
and useful information,” says Shaun.
“The app works with any modern smart
device,” says Bryan, a financial adviser
with a marketing degree. “The oldest
iPhone you can use is the 6S. This is the
first true golf launch monitor on a smart
device that can ofer the accuracy of
products many times the cost. From the
outset, the vision of the project was to build
a monitor that could run on a smart device
without any other hardware required. It
needed to be accurate, afordable and easy
to set up and use.”
You don’t actually need a tripod to balance
the smart device. Bryan leaned it against a tee
stuck in the ground to get the same results.
“Setting up is quick, and the device is always
close to the golfer, yet out of his line of sight. It
can be used on the golf course while out
playing, without delaying anyone.”
How much will it be? The Therons will be
making their app available for a monthly
subscription of around $5…

Our favourite… Launch monitors

The latest ball-tracking technology has opened up a new world of data for tour pros teachers and club golfers

Foresight Sports GC FlightScope Mevo Swing Caddie SkyTrak £1,900

From £12,000
trackmangolf.com
Until now putter fittings
have taken a back seat, but
TrackMan 4 is changing all
that. This version gathers
data on everything from ball
speed, skid distance and
roll percentage. The latest
update also shows where
shots impact the club face
on full swings.
Quad From £13,990
www.foresightsports.com
The latest GC Quad – which
we use for much of TG’s
testing – measures club and
ball data from a single unit
not much bigger than this
magazine. It ofers hundreds of
stats, including the path of the
clubface and its face angle
at impact, plus new putting
software to assess roll.
£550
www.flightscopemevo.com
Aimed at golfers wanting a
personal launch monitor. It’s
tiny (smaller than an iPhone
box), but thanks to a decent
app it’s a powerful practice
tool for less than an average
set of irons. We’re big fans of
its go-anywhere portability.
It’s ideal for getting numbers
wherever you are.
SC200 Pro £299
www.jsint.com
With most of these units
costing well into four or five
figures, the Swing Caddie
really makes it afordable – as
long as you just want basic
numbers and no clubhead
data. That’s probably not
enough for teaching pros,
but it’s ideal for club golfers
looking to track improvements.
www.skygolf.com
A bit of a one-size-fits-all
launch monitor. Not only
is it a reasonably low cost
solution for club fitters
and teaching pros, but as
long as you have the right
subscriptions and a practice
net you can turn a garden or
garage into a simulator. New
wedge gapping software is
handy for club golfers, too.

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The golf ball of the future...
L osing a ball which was brand new less
than five minutes ago is up there with
slow play and unraked bunkers as the
biggest irritant in golf. A ball with a GPS
chip embedded in it always seemed a
simple solution, and thanks to OnCore
Golf, a father and son start-up, that wait is
almost over. You may remember they
brought us the first hollow metal core golf
ball and forced the USGA to rewrite the
rules on technology for just the second time
in a century. Only now their latest
invention is genius. Both by name and
technology. Not only is it fully trackable,
but the data is, too. It captures real time
analytics and measures the roll and carry
distance, ball velocity, apex, trajectory, spin
– the whole works. Just like Trackman, the
user can then pore over every stat – on and
of the course – via a mobile app and even
compare their performance against the
average golfer. “We’re confident that what
THE TECH
ISSUE
a launch monitor can do for a golfer on the
driving range is what the GENiUS Ball will
do on every hole and for every shot,” says
co-founder Bret Blakely. “Golfers crave
technology and information, and our new
‘ball with a brain’ will deliver both.” It’s not
going to be cheap – prices are still to be
decided. But when you treat them as a
training aid, it makes sense. Just don’t hit
them near water...

UN-LOSABLE! THE COVER THE CHIP VIRTUAL CADDIE GPS SENSOR

Whether in the air or on
the ground, the ball’s
location can be shown
and recorded graphically
and statistically via a
mobile app and website.
That means you can be
as wild as you like from
the tee, knowing that
the GPS sensor will let
you know (and hopefully
locate) where your ball is.
The cover and The patented, rigid core
components can is just 0.9 inches in
withstand upward diameter and contains
of 20,000 Gs of a series of chip sets,
acceleration force. In including a nine-axis
simple terms, it can take accelerometer (no, us
any kind of battering you neither), magnetometer,
want to give it. Over to high performance
you, Joe Miller! GPS and bluetooth.
It also comes with a
self-charging battery to
power it all.
If you want to take the
tech to the next level,
you can invest in a pair
of “Virtual Caddie”
‘augmented reality’
glasses and view the
path of your ball and
performance data within
seconds of hitting a
shot. It’s like a cross
between Terminator and
Toptracer.
Backed by a $125,000
crowd-funding
campaign, the GENiUS
ball also provides GPS
distances to hazards
and front, centre and
back of the green. The
only catch is that you’ve
got to download the free
app to your smartphone
first.

The shoes that tell you

how well you’re swinging
W eight transfer is a key part of
the swing. Loading your right
side (right-handers) before
releasing the stored energy into your
left side is the sign of a solid action
swing balance, press
(left/right balance an
balance) and COP (ce
in real-time. The info
an app, which includ
– and many of us do it the opposite feature that gives ins
way round (reverse pivot, anyone?). what needs fixing in
Step forward the IOFIT shoes how you fix it. “In th
($359, around £270), which have been way for golfers to get
developed by a creative ofshoot of feedback on their sw
Samsung. coach or purchase eq
On the outside they look like costs thousands of d
regular golf shoes – synthetic upper, IOFIT CEO and co-f
breathable lining, traction story. Cho. “Now, with just
Things get more interesting inside and an app, golfers c
though, where pressure sensors smartly improve the
embedded in the sole track your having fun.” ➔

TODAYSGOLFER .CO.UK IS SUE 37 7 69

 Taking
Bryson DeChambeau is a Tour pro
turned physicist who’s winning
PGA Tour titles based on analytics
B
ryson DeChambeau is the
antithesis of your average
sportsman. Geeky, polite
and engaging, he has the
brain of an engineer and
the look of Ben Hogan. Puma flat
cap and all. He’s a marketing man’s
dream with a passion for
technology and degree in physics.
From building his own set of single-
length irons at 17, doing the same
thing for Cobra and then partnering
with Microsoft on A.I. technology
for golf, his approach is about as
unconventional as his attire. In
doing so, he’s thrown out the rule
book and shown everyone that
sometimes it pays to be diferent.
Two PGA Tour titles and over
$4.4 million in prize money are
proof of that, and now he’s on a
mission to convince you to embrace
technology and transform your
game...
My swing is inspired by
‘The Golfing Machine’, a book
written in 1969 by an aircraft
mechanic. There’s a bunch of
diferent ingredients that are there,
but ultimately it tells you how to
make the cake. That’s the way I
describe it. You’ve got 24
components – the ingredients – but
there’s 144 variations. Those
components make up the cakes, and
once you put them all together, you
get this beautiful arrangement of
desserts. It’s really the reason I
know my golf swing so well,
because it literally laid out every
single little thing and then told me,
‘these are all potential options of
how to swing a golf club’. What’s
been super beneficial to me is my
ability to explain my golf swing on a
70 IS SUE 37 7 TODAYSGOLFER .CO.UK
t
whole other
level that
most people
really can’t.
Not that you
have to do that,
but I wanted to
do it so that
whenever
something broke
down, I could
easily go back and
say ‘oh, this is what’s
breaking down’ and
fix it.
I test every ball in
Epsom salts and water
before using it. It’s a little
science project. We’re
measuring the consistency of
the centre of mass in the ball. If
the centre of mass is of, it can
act like there’s mud on the side
of a ball. We get it to the point
where the density matches the ball
so it can float, and then we just spin
it until it slows down and the heavy
side presents itself and wobbles to
the bottom. I always want to be
rolling it over the heavy spot. If it’s
outside a certain parameter, we’ve
got to fix it. But any golf ball out
there is going to have its
imperfections. You can’t make a
spherical golf ball. It’s very, very
diicult.
I’m at the leading edge of
technology in regards to the
game of golf, at least from a
playing standpoint. The data
analytics aspect of golf has helped
me understand, from a percentage
standpoint, where to hit shots, how
to play a course, what clubs to use

the Tour
based on conditions, etc... It’s also
very helpful in regards to machine
learning. Once a machine learns
what’s happening on the course, it
can tell you the optimised route.
People always scrutinise me,
saying I’m too technical, but it
just makes me feel more
comfortable in more diicult
situations. The tougher the
situation gets, the more I can rely on
numbers to be able to aid my feel. At
the end of the day, if you can
calculate every variable – which you
can’t – but if you can at least try and
bring it back to some sort of
understanding of what’s going to
happen, or predictability, that can
allow you to have a little more
confidence out there consistently.
Everybody is curious about the
Cobra One Length irons I’m
playing with. They’re like ‘what
is this, how do I even swing?’
But I think of it like you’re
swinging a tennis racket
from the ground. It’s
a great learning
experience for
anybody.
To try
something
diferent is not
necessarily a bad thing. I
remember the first time I went out
to test them. On my first shot I had
160 yards in, an 8-iron. Now
obviously that’s relatively close to a
7-iron, but it went the exact number
and I thought ‘that’s progress’. On
THE TECH
ISSUE
was the moment of truth. It seemed
like an eternity when the golf ball
Our favourite…
GPS watches
GPS watches are by far the most popular way for
modern golfers to get yardages on the golf course.
Here’s five of our favourite 2018 models
Shot Scope V2 £225
www.shotscope.com
Excellent value as a golf watch,
was in the air, and sure enough it when you consider the V2 comes
landed right next to the hole. And with 14 tags (to be inserted into
the first thing I thought was: ‘This the grips of each of your clubs)
could potentially change the game.’ so you can track where you hit
every shot on the golf course.
I realised that using JumboMax Shot tracking experts reckon
grips stopped me gripping in golfers who use the tech improve
the palm and allowed me to 46 times faster than those who
don’t analyse their rounds.
control the club better. Because I
had more surface area across the
whole hand, I was able to feel it a lot Bushnell iON2 £149
better and ultimately it’s made me www.bushnellgolf.co.uk
the player that I am today. Do I Upgraded from the original iON
think they’re a huge benefit in the for 2018, the Bushnell is so
long run for everybody if they ever much more than just a GPS. A
started with it? Yeah, absolutely. shot distance calculator is really
useful for working out yardages
for each club in your bag, and a
Installing sensors inside clubs
step counter helps keep track of
themselves and tracking each your daily activity. A reversible
shot in the cloud could be the strap means you can change the
next big step in technology. look of the watch, too.
I’m not sure how it will work in
competition, but at least in practice,
you’ll be able to understand what is Garmin S10 £139.99
happening. When you pulled that www.garmin.com
shot on hole 16, you can find out the Garmin refer to the S10 as an
exact reason why it happened and entry-level GPS watch, but
unlike some, along with all the
what happened to your body and be usual front, centre and back
able to improve from there. That’s yardages, it displays distances
the next quest. to doglegs, lay-ups and hazards.
You can also keep score on it
There will be a so no need to worry if you don’t
monumental have a pencil.
leap in sport
because of
technology. There SkyCaddie LX3 £149.95
will be a couple of www.skygolf.com
people who come out, A feature-laden gadget which
just like Tiger Woods or can tell you everything from
Michael Jordan, and make a how many calories you’ve burnt
huge leap that people won’t to how many fairways you’ve
expect because of technology. hit, as well as sending you
notifications of missed calls,
I’ve thought a lot about people’s texts and emails. Perfect for
perception of me on Tour. I don’t the gadget geek who insists on
knowing more than just basic
want to be thought of as this guy
yardage information.
trying to change the game. I’m just
t for myself. But
be easier for Golf Buddy WTX+ £199
so we can get www.eu.golfbuddyglobal.com
people playing. A whole new level of GPS watch.
The touchscreen lets you toggle
between key distances and scroll
through the hole’s layout before
you play a shot. That can be a
real benefit if you play lots of
golf away from your home track.
The tech comes at a cost, but
this stylish watch is seriously
multi-functional. ➔
TODAYSGOLFER .CO.UK IS SUE 37 7 71
We

‘Sir, may I suggest a

6-iron as your optimum
for this 164-yard shot?’
How Artificial Intelligence could change the way we play
O ver 100 years ago almost every round of
golf was played with a caddie, but that
number has dramatically reduced over the
past century to just three per cent of all rounds
played. The latest innovation from Arccos may
not be able to carry your clubs, but it aims to
eradicate human guesswork to provide both
optimal shot strategies and club selection with
its latest upgrade – Caddie 2.0.
Taking into account your personal shot-
tracking history, forecasted weather conditions,
elevation changes and the historical
performance of similar players, Caddie 2.0
combines artificial intelligence, machine
learning and Microsoft’s Azure cloud to provide
a tour-style stat analysis of your game, as well as
ofering an on-course strategy for every shot, on
over 40,000 golf courses in the world.
Shots are measured using sensors in your
grips which connect to the Arccos app on your
phone (that you need to have in your pocket).
From there, you can see how far you have to the
green, and the app will recommend an optimum
club strategy and at least one other choice based
on the course conditions and data it has collected
on you. We’ve tried it, and it’s pretty good!
How accurate is it?
There are 418 million GPS course-mapping
data points and 26 billion time-stamped,
geotagged data points on golfer behaviours
the Arccos system, with over a million rou
played. You currently need to play five rou
before you can unlock the caddie feature,
which then becomes more accurate every t
you use it.
How do I buy it?
There are three buying options for Arccos;
Purchase the ‘Smart Sensors’ separately, buy
‘Smart Set’ of Cobra clubs, or get ‘Smart Grip
on pre-sale. The first option allows you to
download the app for free, while the other tw
require you to buy a subscription.
Elevation indicator
The upgraded elevation feature provides
precise incline and decline measurements
from your position to any target, which
is taken into consideration when the app
provides “plays like” distances and your
optimal strategy.

Our favourite… Apps

Save shots, track scores, know the rules and just have fun with these (mostly free) downloads

VPAR
Free
The best app for live scoring.
To set up a competition,
choose from matchplay,
strokeplay or Stableford
formats, and get your mates
to upload their scores
after every hole. The app
then displays a real-time
leaderboard so everyone can
feel like a pro. Users can
also access GPS distances
to holes and hazards, and
archived performance and
scoring stats. Your Sunday
morning roll-up or society
will never be the same again!
R&A Rules of Golf
Free
Free up space in your golf
bag by chucking away that
weather-beaten rules book
for a digital copy. To keep
disputes and slow play to a
minimum, all 34 rules and
sub-sections are condensed
into a quick guide covering
the most-commonly broken
rules. If you need to go into
more detail, the complete
rulebook is available to view
alongside a separate guide
on golf etiquette. There’s
also an interactive quiz if you
have some time to kill.
PGA Tour / European
Tour Free
A must for every golf fan.
Both apps feature real-time
leaderboards (including
player scorecards) and a
bunch of video highlights.
The big difference, however,
is that the PGA Tour’s
version is quicker to update
and features ‘added extras’
such as in-play highlights,
podcasts and a live video of
featured holes and groups at
selected tournaments. You
can also pay to subscribe
and watch live coverage from
over 30 tournaments.
V1 Golf
Free
Capture, compare and
improve your swing. Simply
press record and then play
it back frame by frame
or in super slow-motion.
Features include a drawing
tool to measure and
highlight form, drills to fix
your faults and a split-
screen so you can compare
your swing against dozens
of tour pros’, including Rory,
Spieth and Tiger. TG reader
Kevin Lancaster used the
app to go from 18 to nine in
one summer.
WGT Golf Game by
Topgolf Free
If you were a fan of the PGA
Tour video games, this one’s
for you. It’s just as realistic
and challenging, plus it
doesn’t cost a penny. The
graphics are the big seller
and while you can’t play as
Rory or Tiger, you can play
the US Open, a ‘WGT virtual
tour’ and Topgolf. You are
limited to strokeplay and
have to earn credits to unlock
extra courses and a full range
of clubs, but why bother
when you’ll spend most of
the time challenging friends?

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 THE TECH
ISSUE
‘Plays Like’ distances
Built into the app is a GPS, which gives an
initial distance to the green that you can then
drag to diferent points. In Caddie 2.0, the app
tells you how far both the distance is and the
distance the shot is playing. For example, the
distance on a par-3 might be 170 yards, but
with a bit of a headwind and elevation the hole
is actually playing 182 yards.

Wind speed
Taking the guesswork out of play, a
forecasted wind speed and direction is shown
constantly on the app on each hole. The wind
is forecasted using ‘dark sky’, and is updated
as frequently as dark sky is – and though it
isn’t real time, when we played we found it to
be accurate for around 90% of the holes.

Optimal strategy
The optimal strategy is the one Caddie 2.0
believes will give you the lowest score on the
hole, recommending a club for every shot by
taking into account the distance you normally
hit the ball, how accurate you are, the wind
speed and elevation. Click on the club
suggestion and it will tell you something like:
‘Your average tee shot of 251 yards will give
you a 34.1% of hitting the fairway’ or ‘Your
9-iron will give you a 43.8% chance of hitting
the green in regulation.’
From the tee, Arccos will ofer you two to
three strategies but that always includes the
option of hitting a driver, and will give you a
prediction of how many strokes it expects
you to take based on each strategy. For other
shots, up to two shot strategies are given.

Shot Tracer
£5.99
A pro-tracer for your phone.
It records and tracks every
shot (putts included) from
start to finish and saves
them in your photo library.
You can also view carry and
total distances using GPS,
and switch between the
swing and 3D map tracer
to see the full cause and
effect of those good (and
bad) shots. But please,
don’t bother with the special
effects. Adding a rocket
launcher to your shot tracer
doesn’t make it look good!
Golfshot: GPS +
Scorecard + Tee
Times Free
The most versatile and
comprehensive golf app you
can get. Use it before your
round for course previews
and 3D hole-by-hole
flyovers, and then during it
for distances to the centre
of the green and scorecard
and performance tracking.
You can even sync it to your
watch or health app to relay
your pace of play, steps,
miles and calories, or simply
check out some cheap
tee-time deals.
Metronome Beats
Free
You might be thinking that
this is a strange choice, but
this app – or something
similar – is an easy way to
improve your putting tempo.
Just set the metronome
between 65-75 – the
standard for your pros – and
then start your stroke on the
first beat, and hit the ball
on the next. Apply the same
rhythm to all your putts –
long and short – and you’ll
soon find that you have a far
more reliable and consistent
stroke.
Visulax Golf
Free
Golf is, as we know, 90%
mental, so why not follow
the trend of pros investing
in a psychologist? It may be
that a session on the sofa
with a £50-an-hour shrink
isn’t your thing, which is why
this app ticks all the boxes.
It teaches you how to block
out nerves and distractions
and improve your course
management – and all from
the comfort of your own
home. Put the visualisation
and relaxation tips into
practice on the course.
Motocaddy GPS
Free
Join over 50,000 golfers
by downloading this GPS
rangefinder. With over
36,000 courses mapped,
you can view yardages to the
front, middle and back, zoom
in on the green and measure
the distance of every shot
hit. You can also plan ahead
by using the overhead
course map to plot different
distances, and activate
the power save mode to
save draining your phone’s
battery. It also links to your
Motocaddy trolley. ➔

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 Ba arni li ered via drone
The pace of technology means drones and robotic caddies could be roaming our
fairway sooner than you might think... This is how the course of the future could look

I
f you grew up in the 1960s, using a cordless phone
probably seemed like a pipe dream. As were simulators,
laptops and anything remotely techie. Only now our
lives are dominated by all of them. Look around and
you’ll see kids practically attached to their
smartphones. But who are we to judge when so many golfers
– young and old – use them to find out yardages, keep score
and order a bacon sarnie from the halfway house? We may
claim to prefer simpler times, when there were only three
channels on the telly, but the truth is that we wouldn’t have it
any other way. Simply put, we’re all obsessed with
technology. That shiny new driver. That £20,000 Trackman.
Even a 99p app. The exciting thing is that there’s still plenty
more to come, and they could be coming to and changing a
course near you. Letting our minds run amok, we gazed into
a crystal ball and spoke to Mark Birchmore, global head of
marketing at Syngenta – a leading golf agronomy specialist –
to predict how the course of the future could look…

Synthetic practice greens

We already warm up on artificial driving
range mats, so why not greens as well?
Most are so advanced nowadays that
n change the stimp manually,
reenkeepers won’t need to worry
repairing spike marks or damage
d by pests. Everyone’s a winner,
ing the golf course.
No gender-based tees
Admit it. There’s no way your ego will ever let
you play of the reds, even if you can’t clear the
water from the yellows. Gender-based tees are to
blame, and golf clubs are starting to scrap these
to accommodate a wider demographic, including
beginners, children and seniors. A popular concept
abroad sees players allocated a tee based on their
handicap or driving distance.

Robo-caddies Robot mowers

It may sound like a spin-of from Robocop, but
there’s evidence to suggest a robotic caddie
could join you for 18 holes. The Royal Society
of Arts reckons robots could take four million
UK jobs in the private sector by 2027. For golf
to follow the trend, some clever boin needs to
turn an app into a walking and talking ma hi
and then convince a rich club to buy a bun
No easy task. As a selling point, however,
wouldn’t want to play a course with a virt
Fluf giving you advice?
“It is conceivable,” says Birchmore. “The
technology of machines like these produce a very
precise cut, which improves the playability of
that surface. Not being wholly reliant on humans
also means that night-time hours can be used
more productively for course maintenance. This
di it li tion of agronomy will allow greenkeepers
ork around golfers better so they’re not
erfering with play and can then focus on
ose added-value jobs which turn a good
ourse into a great one.”

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 THE TECH
ISSUE
Eco-friendly irrigation
Sun-burnt fairways could be a thing of
Our favourite…
Trackman on every tee
the past, thanks to satellite imagery and
drone technology. Syngenta predicts
Laser rangefinders
It’s not cheap, but it’s already that sensors will be used to determine The latest point-and-shoot yardage calculators
happening at Tour events. And once moisture content in soil while
the ball-tracking technology reaches “advanced irrigation systems will collect come with built-in GPS info so you can get the
a reasonable price – or someone rainwater and allow greenkeepers to
reuse it.” In other words, more clubs will
best of both worlds on one device
invents a new way to do it, like the
app on page 68 – big clubs will be self-suicient for water, which could Garmin Approach X80
queue up to get it. Imagine 18 launch – in theory – have a knock-on efect £549.99
monitors perched on every tee box, in reducing green fees and producing a
www.garmin.com
just waiting to tell you just how bad better-looking golf course.
Combining a laser rangefinder
that hook or slice was. It would add
with GPS has been done a
a whole new layer of fun to golf days
couple of times before, but never
and competitions, and you’d be able
quite like Garmin’s new Z80.
to look at all the data afterwards.
GPS yardages and 2D course and
green maps are shown next to
each other as you laser the flag.
Indoor holes It’s not cheap, but the idea has
We admit it’s a bit out there, but it’s not beyond the realm of been really well executed.
possibilities. “There are indoor ice rinks,” says Birchmore. “If you look
at the popularity of Topgolf, you have the combination of an indoor Bushnell Hybrid £399
and outdoor driving range with technology over the top. It’s entirely
feasible to grow natural grass indoors. The technology on lighting has www.bushnellgolf.eu
got particularly advanced, and we can use LEDs to adapt the growth Combining a laser rangefinder
rate to deliver certain conditions. Nothing is impossible.” with simple GPS (front, centre
and back) isn’t as simple as it
sounds, and cost can be an issue.
Bushnell reckon they’ve cracked it
with their Hybrid, which gives both
laser yardages and GPS distances.
It has two independent batteries
powering each, so you won’t get
caught out for juice on the course.

GolfBuddy LR7 £249

www.gpsgolfbuddy.eu
If like many golfers you primarily
use a rangefinder inside 150
yards, you don’t have to spend
a fortune to get your distances.
The LR7 is a simple, no-nonsense
afair. It’s water-resistant, legal
for tournament play (as there’s
no slope function) and its soft,
ergonomic body is designed for a
stable grip.

Nikon Coolshot 80 VR
£379.99
www.europe-nikon.com
Nikon are experts when it comes
Reversible layouts to optics, so it’s no surprise
Playing the same 18 can get a little their latest rangefinder features
monotonous. Keeping that in mind, designer “vibration reduction” to reduce
Tom Doak recently crafted a fully reversible hand shake when you’re trying to
18-hole course in Michigan. The Loop at pinpoint the flag. The 80 doesn’t
Forest Dunes is played clockwise one day, and give slope-adjusted distances
counterclockwise the next, and we reckon he (the 80i does for £419.99), so
could be on to something. Everyone likes a it’s legal for competition play.
bargain, and at Forest Dunes you’re efectively
paying for one course and getting another for
free. Take note, golf club owners. Bushnell Pro X2 £449
www.bushnellgolf.eu
Waterproofing isn’t the first
Welcome from Siri? thing most golfers think about
The need to become environmentally friendly – and when buying a rangefinder. Until
fashionable – has already seen golf clubs switch from you pull yours from its case after
hard copies to digital versions of tee sheets, course a downpour and it’s misted and
guides and even scorecards. Expect the trend to unusable. Bushnell say the X2
continue as more clubs cut down on staf and install is completely waterproof, and
touchscreen systems – voiced by a virtual receptionist it’s capable of toggling between
– in clubhouses so members and visitors can sign in slope adjusted and standard
and pay green fees. distances, so it’s fine in comps. ➔

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 Can a green reading app
help you hole more putts?
P utting just got easier, and there’s no
need to bother with a lesson or one of
those mindboggling green books.
That’s the theory behind a new app
called Golf Scope, which practically
doubles as a virtual caddie and statistician
in your pocket. For £3.99 a month/£22.99 a
year, the app removes all the guesswork of
green reading and show you the line before
you putt. It then provides tips on how hard
to hit the putt and how much the putt will
break. The only thing you’ve got to worry
about is putting a good stroke on the ball.
That, and starting the ball on line.
How does it work?
Using your phone’s camera, the app scans
the green, snaps a picture of your ball and
then captures a photo of the hole. Once
complete, it creates a 3D rendering of the
green and generates a predictive trajectory
of the putt in the style of PuttView. Think
Shot Tracer, but for putting.
Are the reads any good?
We had our doubts, but the 3D simulation
is incredibly accurate as long as you take
the time to find out the stimp of the greens.
To make things easier, a new update is
coming which will allow you to measure
the stimp of any green using just your
phone and a couple of golf balls. Stand
aside greenkeepers.
Is it easy to use?
As with most augmented reality apps, the
usability is a little temperamental and the
read will “fail” if you walk too quickly
while scanning, or leave a piece of debris on
your line. When it does work, it lets you
choose between three alternative line types
– conservative, normal and aggressive – to
fit your putting style. There’s also a “putts
percentage graphic” to temper
expectations, and the option to video a putt
and play it back to compare ‘your’ line
versus the “optimal” line. So, as long as you
document each putt, you and your coach
can identify your strokes gained relative to
diferent distances.
Can I use it in competition?
Sadly not, but then you probably guessed
that already. Rule 14-3 prohibits the use of
equipment and artificial devices for the
purpose of gauging or measuring distance
or conditions that might assist a player in
making a stroke.
Is it worth the money?
For the cost of one meal deal a month, we putting. GolfLogix includes all your usual
think so. The app simplifies the green gizmos, such as GPS distances, calorie
reading process better than most coaches counting and handicap and scorecard
can and highlights trends – good and bad – tracking. The coolest and newest feature is
in your putting. It does lack a function an interactive, 3D putting map. Basically,
which lets you save videos in the app, and it’s a digitalised version of the green book
so clutters up your phone’s photo library and allows you to see a bird’s-eye view of a
instead. A few bugs also need ironing out, green’s contours so you can adjust your
but even then it’s still one of the best approach shots and putts accordingly. The
training apps on the market. But don’t take only hitch is that of the 35,000 golf courses
our word for it; download the free, 30-day mapped, less than 25% include the “Putt
trial and decide for yourself. breaks” feature. Sadly, we couldn’t find
any in the UK and considering you’ve got
Should I download GolfLogix as well? to pay £4.49 a month/£27.99 a year just to
The most downloaded app in golf access them, it simply isn’t worth it. Stick
(apparently) is also a cheat sheet for to Golf Scope for the time being.

Our favourite… Micro GPS units

Quick and simple yardages are all the majority golfers want on the course nowadays. If that’s you, micro GPS systems are perfect

Bushnell Phantom
£99
www.bushnellgolf.com
Bushnell’s new Phantom
has a high-powered magnet
inside, which means it
attaches easily to a belt
buckle, electric trolley or any
metal surface. You get all the
usual back, centre and front
yardages for each green,
along with four hazard/
lay-up yardages per hole.
Golf Buddy VoiceX
£149.99
www.gpsgolfbuddy.eu
In our book micro units are
changing how golfers get
yardages, especially for anyone
who’s not a fan of wearing a
watch as they play. VoiceX
takes the tech to the next
level, relaying yardages by
voice, just like a sat nav. A clip
on the back means it can be
attached to a belt, cap or bag.
Golf Buddy CT2
£129.95
www.gpsgolfbuddy.eu
Designed to be clipped on
to almost anything. You get
all the usual distances, plus
lay-up and hazard yardages,
an odometer and clock. The
CT2 comes with a lanyard
so it can be secured to the
towel ring on a golf bag, too.
Access 40,000 measured
courses for free.
SkyCaddie SR1
£129.95
www.skygolf.com
SkyCaddie say it’s the
lightest and most compact
micro on the market. You
get green distances, lay-up
targets, shot distances,
digital scoring, hole stats
(fairways hit), fitness
tracking and calories burnt, a
clock and access to 35,000
worldwide courses.
Garmin Approach G10
£129.99
www.garmin.com
Distances are limited to
front, back and middle of the
green, along with hazards,
but there is a view to show
the shape of the green and
you can manually position
the pin. An odometer means
you can track how far you’ve
walked, plus there’s a handy
digital scorecard function.

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 THE TECH
ISSUE

How big data I

t’s often said that every football team
needs a 12th man. But rarely do you
hear about a golfer needing – and
using – the 15th Club. Doing so is
usually grounds for disqualification,
but not so if you’re a European Tour

is changing
member.
Every player, caddie and coach is
actively encouraged to use them without
penalty. When Danny Willett won the
2016 Masters, he even paid tribute to that
very same club. Only he wasn’t referring

the game
Meet the entirely legal 15th Club that has probably
already told Thomas Bjorn who’s on the plane to Paris
to an extra club in his bag. He was merely
championing the golfing arm of the 21st
Club, a British-based football analytics
and consultancy company.
Born out of an idea scribbled on the
back of a napkin, “over a bottle (or two) of
wine”, the 21st Club opened for business in
August 2013 with just two staf and the
aim of providing “contextual intelligence
to data”.
The concept proved an instant hit and
as word spread, so did their client list. ➔

TODAYSGOLFER .CO.UK IS SUE 37 7 77

 Their partners now include the FA
and dozens of European, national
and global leagues and teams,
including Manchester City, Arsenal
and Tottenham Hotspur. Applying
the same business model to golf,
however, was never on the agenda,
but everything changed when CEO
and co-founder Blake Wooster met
then Ryder Cup captain Darren
Clarke for lunch in April 2015. He left
an hour later with the job of being the
analytics partner for Team Europe.
Wooster promptly hired four
software engineers to build an
analytics app for golf and within two
months, he had a fledgling venture
called the 15th Club – while Clarke
had a digital dossier on every Ryder
Cup hopeful. Three years on and a
team of 10 data scientists, software
engineers and industry experts are
now providing the same service to
Thomas Bjorn and his vice-captains.
But, as Wooster told TG, it’s just one
part of a much bigger business which
involves providing software for Sky
Sports, the European Tour and a
bunch of Major winners.
We never imagined that we
would diversify into golf. It kind
of happened to us, rather than by us.
An old friend of mine Duncan Carey,
who was the head pro of Astbury
Golf Club at the time, had been
following what we were doing in
football and called me to say there
was a similar opportunity in golf.
The transition from a team-based,
fluid sport to an individual one didn’t
seem obvious, but when we
investigated further we realised
Duncan was right. Luckily, he knew
Darren Clarke and he said he could
get us a meeting with him. We
showed Darren what we did in
football and he loved it. He just said,
‘look, I’ve got to have this for the
Ryder Cup.’ So, before we knew it we
were building a similar business in
golf.
Darren’s biggest problem as a
captain – and the same goes for
all his vice-captains – was not
being able to be everywhere at
once. It’s diicult trying to get
information on how everyone is
performing because you can only be
in one place at one time. So, we built
an analytics dashboard essentially,
which gave him information on how
and where the players were playing,
and we also used our data scientists
to provide probabilities on how likely
players were to make the team. So
ahead of time, Darren knew which
players were likely to make the team
so he could start playing around with
diferent strategies for fourballs and
foursomes.
78 IS SUE 37 7 TODAYSGOLFER .CO.UK
We’re now doing the same thing
for Thomas Bjorn ahead of this
year’s Ryder Cup. We can provide
projections on who will make the
team, and run simulations based on
how well Rory might play with Jon
Rahm relative to how he might play
with Henrik Stenson in diferent
circumstances. Really, we’re just
another voice in the room when it
comes to the decision making. So, if
we find out that experience is more
important in foursomes or fourballs
or if a certain player performs better
on Sunday when they were given a
rest on the Saturday, we can then
feed that data into the dashboard for
Thomas to use.
Data might tell you one thing, but
it’s also important to understand
the players’ personalities and
how they might interact w
each other. We can get prett
with analytics and how some
might play under pressure. It
very well knowing someone’s
record at Le Golf National, bu
also important to know how t
perform when they are leadin
Major compared to a ‘lesser e
when they are at the top of the
leaderboard versus coming
from behind. Our mission is t
reveal the true story of golf
performance.
Traditional stats don’t
necessarily tell the
accurate story of how a
golfer is performing, or
about their quality. If you
look at traditional statistics
like greens in regulation or
average putts per round, they
don’t give you a strong
Players have indication of how a golfer is
access to all the performing. For example, we could
data they need play a round together and you could
using 15th Club’s
unique software hit your approach shot three feet
called Waggle. from the pin and I could put mine 20
feet from the pin. Though we would
both achieve a green in regulation,
how good your shot was compared to
mine wouldn’t be reflected in the
traditional statistics. We try to be a
lot more granular in our approach
and take into account another layer of
insight and statistics where a golfer
can understand the proximity to the
hole from specific yardages.
From our work with the Ryder
Cup, we’ve started working with
a lot of European Tour players
Danny Willett directly. The likes of Rory McIlroy,
credited 15th Club Matt Fitzpatrick and Thomas
after his Masters Pieters. One of the earlier success
win in 2016.
e had was with Danny
when he won the Masters.
ran a partnership
nt with the European Tour,
basically took a master
om us and rolled that
out to all their members.
ry Tour pro can get access to
Club’s software, which is
Waggle (above).
me of the next generation
olfers like Fitzpatrick
Chris Wood have grown
with data and have a huge
etite around getting as much
ormation on their game as
ey can to get a competitive
ge. Typically, a player will
in daily with their coach to
their stats for a specific
rnament. We also have
hatsApp channels and often
layer will ask where they

There are myriad stats
collected every week.
Darren Clarke was
a data pioneer.
should be playing next month. They
want to know which courses suit
their game, so we do a lot of schedule
optimisation and use analytics to help
a golfer understand where their game
is best suited. For example, Rory and
Rahm hit the ball further than most,
but can be a bit wayward, so the
software will identify courses which
don’t penalise them and their style.
Whereas, golfers like Francesco
Molinari and Fitzpatrick will suit
tighter courses where they can
capitalise on their accuracy of the tee.
We can then run simulations on the
data we have and produce an
optimised schedule for the golfer by
giving them 25 events which they
should play to give themselves the
highest probability of success.
If you look at the profile of Clarke
and Bjorn, they’re at the back end of
the careers and have still got a big
appetite for this type of information.
We shouldn’t assume that it’s only the
next generation of millennials who
are interested in this stuf.
We’ve calculated that if a golfer
can improve their score by just
half-a-shot per round – two shots
per tournament – it can increase
their earnings potential by 72%.
That’s often how the conversation
starts with the golfer when they ask,
‘why do I need this?’ We can’t
Wooster is at Bjorn’s
side already.
guarantee that our data will get them
that half a shot, but at least it’s very
measurable.
The danger with any piece of
statistical information is
overcomplicating it. Our aim is to
provide a simple insight, and that can
be as simple as ranking golfers on the
diferent aspects of their game. We
try to condense the information into
simple, meaningful ways which
people can dip into and out of. There
are a lot of companies that produce
statistics. It’s a crowded market, but I
think in terms of analytics, we’ve
probably trailblazed a new way of
analysing the game. We’re the first to
optimise schedule and predict future
performance and run simulations.
We’re really fortunate that we
started right at the elite end of the
pyramid. Most companies try and
get their foot in the door somewhere
and then move up the ladder.
Whereas, we’re coming at it from the
opposite direction, trying to get some
scale to grow the business. In terms
of our strategy moving forward, we’d
like to make our services available to
a broader audience. The most
immediate things for us would be the
Challenge Tour, EuroPro Tour and
Web.com Tour. But then we’d love to
bring to market a version of what we
do for club golfers.
THE TECH
ISSUE
‘I made a decision to
really look at my stats’
Now Rory McIlroy is a big fan of the fact-based
approach to preparation, planning and practice
E
ver wondered how much work a pro puts in
behind the scenes? Well, here’s your answer.
Away from the driving range and practice
green, Rory spends his time wading through
PDFs and pulling apart stats and facts so he
can gain an edge over the competition.
“I made the decision at the end of last year to really
look at my stats,” he told TG. “That’s one of the great
things teaming up with TaylorMade; they have an in-
house stats guy, James Cornish. He’ll provide a little
PDF for me in an email that says, OK, hitting driver on
No. 2 will give you a 0.33 per cent better chance of
making a birdie on that hole because that’s what people
did last year. Also, it doesn’t just tell you what to work
on, but it tells you what the best way is to tackle or try to
get your way around a certain golf course each week.”
Comparing strokes gained stats against the Tour
average isn’t a new concept, however. The PGA Tour
has been listing them all on their website since 2004,
and Rory admits he’s turned into a stats geek when it
comes to assessing the state of his game.
“Whether it’s tee to green or putting or around the
green or whatever, I think that’s been one of the biggest
changes for good that we’ve seen in golf,” he says,
“because it really just lets you see how your game stacks
up against everyone else.” Asked to highlight one area
he wants to improve, Rory needs little time to think.
“Strokes gained approach to the green. That’s
something that I was very strong at a few years ago, and
have let slip a little bit. When Tiger was at his prime, he
was gaining about a shot a round on the field. Obviously
that’s really, really good. But if you can just get yourself
to even 0.5, that’s huge. With all this knowledge now,
you know that from 175 yards if you hit it 22 feet from the
pin, you’re gaining 0.2 on the field or whatever it is. It’s a
very objective way to practice, and if this generation isn’t
better than the last, because of all this information that
we have, then something has gone terribly wrong.”
TODAYSGOLFER .CO.UK IS SUE 37 7 79
 PROJECT

RE A C H YO U R
FULL P E N T I A L
Can getting physical gain our trio of amateurs even more distance?
PART 4: CONDITIONING

P
roject 300 is a four-
month, four-stage
process designed to
discover just how close
three regular club
players could get to
that mythical 300-yard
drive. They’ve had some tips, and
been fitted for TaylorMade drivers
and balls, with phenomenal results
– so far, our three players have
gained a total of 171.9 yards, with
one already beating 300 yards.
Physical conditioning may be our
fourth and final element, but given
the long-term nature of changing
elements like flexibility, strength
and speed we actually dealt with
this right back at the start.
Each of the three was given an
assessment by TG Top 50 coach
and golf movement expert Kevin
Hale at Forest of Arden’s HIT
Academy. “Ultimately, if you can TG TOP 50
train yourself to move better your Kevin Hale,
golf can’t help but benefit,” he says. HIT Academy,
“Moving better doesn’t have to Forest of Arden, Warwicks
mean gym sessions; there are
things you can do at home that can
help. If you can improve your base THE POWER LEAP
level of strength, increase your Kevin Hale says: “In the golf swing,
your lower body is a key source of power.
mobility and generally improve Every golfer has a base level of strength here,
your understanding of efective and broadly the higher the level, the greater
golf movement, you will boost your your power potential. To assess your base level
distance potential… and that’s what try the vertical jump test – simply squat and see
we will aim to achieve here with how high you can jump. Do this against the wall,
Richard, Ryan and Lewis.” marking where your fingers reach, and you
can measure your jump height against your
static height. The national average
for men is 42cm – can you beat
this?”

80 IS SUE 37 7 TODAYSGOLFER .CO.UK

 PROJECT 300

LEWIS SMITH
Handicap: 18
Fitted driver: TaylorMade M3 460, 8.5º
Original average drive length: 237.7 yards
Average distance after clubfitting:
264.5 yards
Average distance after swing change:
272.7 yards
Average distance after ball fitting
(TaylorMade TP5x): 272.7 yards

Kevin says: Lewis has a decent range of

movement and develops good clubhead speed,
but throughout Project 300 his distance data
has been constantly hampered by inconsistent
ballstriking. When you look at his action from
a conditioning standpoint, you can see why.
He swings quickly from an unstable frame,
which is always going to make it harder for
him to find the sweetspot on a regular basis.
That in itself will cost him distance, but this
instability also hinders his ability to rotate at
speed. Specifically, lateral motion in his pelvis
is not controlled and it causes both a sway
going back and a thrust towards the target on
the way through, leaving him in a big reverse patterns; you would never lean back to
C at impact (right). As well as this stopping complete this task. The work Lewis has put
Lewis putting maximum energy into the ball, in has been rewarded by an improved smash
this move risks injury. factor and ball speed… and that’s directly
The first thing we did was to place a contributed to his gain of 10.5 yards.
stretch band around Lewis’ lower body, and
ask him to stretch out another across his Lewis says: I had no idea how much I
upper body . These bands encourage Lewis leaned back until I saw these pictures. I think
to engage the stabilising muscles in his upper it has come from the advice to bump your
and lower halves; rotating with these in lead hip forward from the top; it looks like
place, he can feel the more solid and I’ve been overdoing it, and it certainly
repeatable motion that will boost his explains the ache I’ve been experiencing after
consistency. But for a second, simple way of playing. But after working on Kevin’s advice
training his movement, I asked him grab a after the past few weeks, that has subsided. I
range basket, take his posture and throw it as now feel much more solid over the ball and
far as possible down the range. This awakens my improved striking has finally allowed my
our naturally strong rotational movement distance average to creep upwards.

‘THE WORK LEWIS

HAS PUT IN HAS
BEEN REWARDED’
THE RESULTS
Original smash: 1.37
New smash: 1.46
Original ball speed: 135mph
New ball speed: 146mph
Previous distance: 272.7 yards
New distance: 283.2 yards
FINAL GAIN
NEW GAIN
10.5 YARDS 45.5
YARDS
➔

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 RYAN WILLIAMS
Handicap: 19
Fitted driver: TaylorMade M3 460, 8.5º
Original average drive length: 204.9 yards
Average distance after clubfitting:
248.5 yards
Average distance after swing change:
285.4 yards
Average distance after ball fitting
(TaylorMade TP5x): 302.7 yards

Kevin says: When the body isn’t moving

optimally, we basically have two avenues
to explaining why. Is it a physical
‘I SUSPECTED IT
limitation, or is it simply a learned pattern
of movement that is not ideal? With Ryan,
WAS ALWAYS
a strong and reasonably flexible young
man who is quite new to the game, it was
GOING TO BE
always likely to be the latter.
Technically, Ryan’s issue is that he
MY TECHNIQUE
retains his right side bend, created during
the backswing, well into the downswing.
THAT WAS
This means he spins and backs up into the
ball, his right hip and shoulder high. It HOLDING ME
causes a steep downswing and attack,
masses of spin and a weak, choppy impact. BACK’
In almost the opposite move to Lewis,
Ryan needs to bump his lead hip laterally
towards the target to create the opposite
side bend. To check if he is able to do this, I
asked him to take a wide stance and move
his lead hip laterally, towards the target. A
rotational motion here betrays a limitation,
but Ryan was able to make the correct,
lateral move. With Ryan’s issues being far
more technical, we were unable to create
any extra speed or power through
conditioning alone. Instead a mostly
technical drill – standing behind the ball
then planting his lead foot and hip forward
to strike – will be of more benefit to him.

Ryan says: I have spent time in the gym

and I suspected it was always going to be
more my technique that was holding me
back. I’ve always been under the
impression you just turn hard during the
downswing. I thought I was shifting
laterally while I was doing this, but clearly
I am not. I will use the step-forward drill
Kevin has given me to gain distance
through creating a more efficient release.

THE RESULTS
Original smash: 1.23
New smash: 1.46
Original ball speed: 125.2mph
New ball speed: 162.1mph
Previous distance: 302.7 yards
New distance: 302.7 yards
FINAL GAIN
NEW GAIN
0 YARDS 97.8
YARDS
82 IS SUE 37 7 TODAYSGOLFER .CO.UK
 PROJECT 300

RICHARD LEWIS
Handicap: Seven
Fitted driver: TaylorMade M4 D-Type, 9.5º
Original average drive length: 232.9 yards
Average distance after clubfitting:
247.9 yards
Average distance after swing change:
256.1 yards
Average distance after ball fitting
(TaylorMade Project (a)): 272 yards

Kevin says: In a powerful backswing your

movement stretches and loads muscles;
that’s how you create rotational speed on the
way down. But there’s precious little of that
going on here. At the top Richard looks more
collapsed than loaded.
The first step is to ascertain what physical
restriction Richard has. The flat shoulder
turn suggests immobility in the thoracic
(mid) spine and the shoulders, which would
cause him to have to lift the club to the top
through his chest. When I asked him to put
his back against a wall and place his forearm
back against it, this was confirmed – look
how much he needs to lift and extend his
chest to get the wrist back there (below).
Richard’s way forward will be to work on
some simple moves that will increase his
rotational mobility through his midspine,
while improving his concept of movement.
Taking his golf posture, spreading his arms
out with elbows bent then circling the
elbows will loosen up his chest and
shoulders. He can also get on all fours before
taking each arm in turn, stretching it up and
round behind him, to improve rotation. But
ultimately, if he can make a shorter, tighter
‘SEEING RESULTS OF THIS PROCESS GIVES YOU
backswing that coils and loads the muscles
better, he can gain speed and power.
THE INCENTIVE TO INGRAIN NEW, GOOD HABITS’
Richard says: As you get older of course
you lose flexibility, and I must admit I
don’t do anything to work on it. But seeing FINAL VERDICT
results of this process gives you the Our three, regular golfers have
incentive to ingrain new, good habits. gained a total of 192 yards – a not-
A distance gain of almost 10 yards is as inconsiderable average of 64
welcome as it is unexpected, and for me yards each. While only one
this is where you see the benefits of managed to break the 300-yard
Trackman and its data. barrier, the process has laid out
for all to see that big distance
gains are there for the taking for
THE RESULTS any golfer willing to make the
Original smash: 1.39 most of the latest technology in
New smash: 1.46 clubs and ball fitting, and the
latest wisdom in swing and
Original club speed: 135.5mph physical conditioning. Sure, it
New club speed: 145mph takes some investment of cash
Previous distance: 272 yards and time; but with data from the
New distance: 281.6 yards world’s tours consistently
FINAL GAIN proving the value of longer
hitting in terms of overall
NEW GAIN
9.6 YARDS 48.7
YARDS
scoring and performance, it is
probably a price worth paying.

TODAYSGOLFER .CO.UK IS SUE 37 7 83

 MY LIFE IN GOLF ROBBIE FOWLER

84 IS SUE 37 7 TODAYSGOLFER .CO.UK


‘I was one under for the
back nine. I won’t tell you
what I shot on the front!’
Liverpool legend Robbie Fowler on taking up golf instead of
gambling, being called a bandit and why the game builds character
WO R D S K E V I N B R OWN P I C T U R E S H OWA RD B OY L A N , G E T T Y I M AG ES
H
arry Kane may be the
man of the moment, but
Liverpool legend Robbie
Fowler is arguably the
best, most lethal natural
finisher England has
produced since the
heady days of Jimmy Greaves.
Fowler – still known as God at
Anfield – had an uncanny knack of
being in the right place at the right
time. He scored 183 goals for his
beloved Liverpool, including 128 in
the Premier League, putting him
sixth in the all-time list. Once, in 1994
against Arsenal, he netted a hat-trick
in less than five minutes!
He would surely have banged in
even more but for a knee injury, and
nowadays he spends his time in an
ambassadorial role at Liverpool
“travelling all over the world meeting
fans, sponsors and partners.”
But is he as deadly on the greens as
he was in front of goal?
I love the game and love to play,
but doing what I do now
travelling with Liverpool and
with four kids, that’s not always
possible. I live in Hoylake a few
minutes from Royal Liverpool and
I’m trying to become a member there.
I know I’m a little bit biased, but it’s a
great course, with lots of history and
tradition, and I love the ambience and
feel of the place. We’re spoilt for
choice in our neck of the woods, with
the best of seaside and inland courses
including Royal Birkdale and
Delamere Forest.
I’m oicially a 12-handicapper at
Carden Park, Cheshire. I have
good days and bad days, hence there
are times when I get called a bandit. I
know I could be more consistent if I
played more often – it’s like anything,
the more you play the better you get.
I’ve been playing on and of for
20 years. I didn’t start until I was 20
or 21. I came from an area where the
players went down the pub or the
bookies. It was a case of having time
of and not wanting to get into those
habits, so I found the golf course. It’s
great to get away from the pressures
– it’s probably the most relaxing thing
you can do as a footballer as it’s so
diferent from our day job. You just
have to look at the number of
footballers, current and past, who are
playing the game. Whether you’re a
footballer or a bricklayer, it’s the
same. Trying to hit a good shot is the
only thing on your mind. You give
yourself four or maybe five hours of
total concentration. That’s what I love.
I’m surprised we don’t see more
team events in golf. I love the Ryder
Cup and Presidents Cup because,
unusually, you’ve got that team ethic
so you’ve got players looking after
their teammates. The fans love it as
well – it gives everyone, players and
fans, a bit of togetherness. I think it
gives you a bit more drive and
ambition when you’re part of a team.
There are some similarities
between the two sports and
pressure is one of them. Any
footballer playing in a big pro-am
tell you that the nerves they get do
that is totally diferent from what
they’d get in front of a packed footb
stadium. It’s hard to fathom out ho
that should happen. I’ve played in
few pro-ams, including the BMW
Wentworth, and early on it was ju
job to get my ball on the tee!
It can be a very frustrating gam
but that’s why we play. For us
amateurs, no two rounds are the
same so there’s always that ambiti
of bettering yourself the next time
you get out. You hit a good shot and
you can’t wait until you do that again;
you always want to beat your last
round. And there’s always the
competitive edge; the desire to beat
the opposition. It’s a sport that builds
character; one in which you challenge
yourself all the time.
I’ve had a bout of the shanks and
it’s a nightmare… you just want to
rip your clubs apart! Having said
that, I’m on my best behaviour when
I’m on the course. I totally
understand the rules and the
etiquette – that part of the game is
absolutely brilliant. I’ve been to a few
Opens when they’ve been at Hoylake
and the astmosphere and behaviour
provides such a feel-good factor.
FOWLER’S There are some very good golfing
FAVOURITE footballers, but they all seem to
GOLFING... be Scottish! Gary Gillespie and
Alan Hansen are both very good as
FOURBALL are Sir Kenny Dalglish and Gary
Tiger Woods, Rory McAllister. I play with Steve
McIlroy and John
Lennon. Harkness and Jason McAteer, both
former Liverpool players. Jason,
COURSES especially, is a very good golfer. A
It’s got to be Royal company arranges golf days for
Liverpool, though former Liverpool players whether it
I’m also a big fan of
Carden Park, Caldy, be among ourselves or against other
Wallasey and clubs – we’ve recently played Man
Kingsbarns in Fife. Utd and Everton – with charities
usually benefiting. We lost against
DESTINATION United, so we’ve got to get our own
Dubai. The courses
and weather are back for that one!
superb, while the
hotels and My best experience so far came at
restaurants are Formby, where I was one-under
world class.
for the back nine. I won’t tell you
PLAYERS what I shot for the front nine!
Darren Clarke and Ambitions? It’s the old footballing
Lee Westwood, and mentality, I just want to get better. I’m
I’ve had a round with a confident lad and I’m confident I
Ryder Cup captain
Thomas Bjorn. can improve, and winning last
summer’s final Celeb-AM British
AND THE WORST… Par 3 Championship was a boost.
I once played
Carnoustie I haven’t had a hole-in-one yet. I
hungover and in
pouring rain and a missed out by inches a couple of
gale Not to be times It drives me mad when I see
s getting them. My
etty strong and, as
efore, if you’re playing a
rove your touch
ound the green.
he best footballer I’ve
with? I’ve played with
many great players. Paul
oigne was fantastic and I
d sit here all day and talk
ut Liverpool players –
n Barnes, Ian Rush, Jan
y, Ronnie Whelan and
ard, who was
e. He’d probably be my
o. But the best I’ve played
ve McManaman.
TODAYSGOLFER .CO.UK IS SUE 37 7 85
 NOW
ON AIR

SUMMENRDS TODAUYNDS
SOU SO
L L I A N T L L I A N T
BRI L
DIGITA IDE
NATION
W BRI

OW

E M U S I C
TH O UN D S
S
L I A N T
L
DIGITA IDE
NATION
W BRIL NATI
L
DIGIOTNAWIDE

E RY D AY A K FAS T
V
E UN D S BRE NDS
SO
T SOU T
BR I L L I A N GITALIDE BR I L L I A N
ATIONW
 HE
T O H ER E
Every club tested and rated at www.todaysgolfer.co.uk YOU B L P
BETT UY
ER


EQUIPMENT
NEW LAUNCHES  
TESTS  
TG TOP 10s  
BUYING ADVICE  
COMPETITIONS

The i’s have it!

Two new Ping irons are packed with helpful tech

INSIDE THIS SECTION...

GLOVE SHOWCASE MAIL ORDER BALLS LATEST PUTTERS TOP 10S

Our favourite cabretta leather options ProV1 performance at half the price? aylorMade Spider Mini v Odyssey Exo Including our favourite drivers under £400
 EQUIPMENT NEW LAUNCH Watch our video review at www.todaysgolfer.co.uk

Ping has an i on
better players
New i500 and i210 irons are designed
for distance, precision and control THE DETAILS
Price: £149 (s), £159 (g)

G ear fans who get their golf news from the internet Availability: 3-UW
will know Ping’s new i210 and i500 irons have been 7 iron loft: 30.5°
the worst-kept secret of the year. Staff players Stock shafts: Choose from
Tyrrell Hatton and Tony Finau rocked up to the US Open in eight premium steel and two
June with them in their bags. Hatton announced on social graphite options.
media he loved the softer feel and lower ball flight of his
new i210s (going on to finish sixth), while Finau had an
unnamed forged Ping hollow-body long iron in his bag. In
all fairness to Ping, no details have slipped from their lips
about either new iron until the covers were pulled from
both at The Open… but we were given both sets weeks
before so we could test them first (see page 92).

IT’S AL
FORGI
saysthen
samelevel
ei210,bu
00iseight
(Pinghas
15-yard

Inside the i500s

What started as a trickle of hollow
body irons when PXG launched their
first in 2014 has turned into a full-on
flood for 2018. TaylorMade drew the
battle lines when they joined the hollow
body party in August 2017 with the
P790s. Then it was Titleist’s turn with
the 718 AP3, before Ping entered the
ring with the G700 in January 2018. But
where G700 is aimed firmly at the
distance/game improvement market, the
i500 is very much a player’s distance iron.
Why? There’s a hollow body construction,
which increases forgiveness and
playability, and a forged face, but no
mention of tungsten weighting or internal
foam to dampen vibration (like its rivals
from TaylorMade and Titleist).

WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT THE i500

WHAT IS IT?
A players’ distance iron, with a
compact head size similar to Ping’s
i200. Hosel offset is the same as
the iBlade, but with similar amounts
of face flex as the G700 – a potent
combination for tons of reasonable
ball-strikers.
FACE FLEX
By using the same forged maraging
C300 face in the G400 fairways
and hybrids (it’s three times
stronger than the 431 stainless
steel in the i200) Ping say the i500
has five times more face flex than
the i200.
LOGIC DEFYING
The face isn’t the only part of the
i500 that flexes at impact. The top
rail does, too. It allows Ping’s
engineers to add stronger lofts to
maximise distance, but also deliver a
high, towering ball flight for an iron
of this size.
THEY’RE VERY PREMIUM
The forged faces and grooves are
precision milled, ensuring shot
making consistency from all lies.
Ping says a new hydropearl 2.0
finish scuffs less and is better at
cutting moisture between ball and
grass to help eliminate fliers.

88 IS SUE 37 7 TODAYSGOLFER .CO.UK

 IT’S ALL ABOUT THE LOFT
There’s a 3.5° difference between an iBlade and i500 7- iron, which is effectively a club less/more
when approaching the green. Ping 7-iron lofts: iBlade 34°; i500 30.5°; i200 33°; i210 33°.

THE DETAILS
Price: £126 (s), £136 (g)
Availability: 3-UW
7-iron loft: 33°
Stock shafts: Choose from
eight premium steel and two
graphite options.

Inside the i210s

Many golfers reckon more iron distance
is great, but believe it or not there are
players out there that aren’t sold on it.
Some just want to stick to what they’ve
always known and rely on better
distance control and accuracy with their
irons to make their score. Ping’s i200s,
which are now two years old, have been
massively popular with decent players
and tour players alike. In fact they’re by
far Ping’s most played iron on
tour. So it goes without saying
i210 is much more an update
than a revolution, like the i500.

R SPEC
rs of fitting, so
ets come in three
r Spec (reduces
ce), standard and
e wanting to play
lofts). There’s a
etween the three
210 7-iron.

WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT THE i210

MORE ELASTOMER
30% more elastomer than the
i200s helps support the face at
impact, but the real win is the fact
the elastomer is 50% softer, which
increases the feel and feedback.
IMMACULATE HEAD PROFILES
Ping say they’ve tweaked and nudged
the i210’s profile to give a sharper
radius on its edges and cleaner
straighter lines for a really crisp
appearance. Expect more forgiving
shapes in the long irons and a
muscleback look in the scoring clubs.
CNC MILLED CAVITY
It’s not just the face and grooves
that are CNC milled on the i210 –
the cavity is, too. It means the
face thickness can be controlled
very carefully for extremely
consistent and reliable shot
making.
TIGHTER GROOVE SPACING
No stone has been left unturned in
the performance search. The face
grooves are more tightly spaced, and
each has a sharper top radius to
generate more friction between ball
and clubface. It all adds up to getting
15-30% more groove on the ball.

TODAYSGOLFER .CO.UK IS SUE 37 7 89

 EQUIPMENT NEW LAUNCH
How they compare
We’ve tested both of Ping’s new irons
P ing and “forged” are two words
rarely uttered in the same
sentence. It’s so rare, in fact,
that we believe the i500s are only
the second Ping iron model in the
last three decades to incorporate
any form of forging (albeit on this
occasion it’s only the face that’s
stamped into shape, as the body is
still cast).
Almost as rare as forged Ping
irons are beautiful Ping irons. Don’t
get us wrong, the company’s
brilliant at making super-forgiving
and playable irons which can be
custom fitted to any golfer on the
planet. But we can’t remember the
last time one of their iron’s beauty
bowled us over... until, that is, we
saw the i500, which is stunning.
To illustrate where each new
model fits into Ping’s range, we got
TG test pro Kevin Hale to hit both,
along with the current iBlade and
outgoing i200 (all of which fall into
the better player category) to reveal
how all four models compare on a
launch monitor.
Watch our video review at www todaysgolfer.co.uk
i500
LOOKS: Simply a stunning looking iron. Who doesn’t want a
sleek blade design that’s really playable? It’s exactly what
reasonable ball strikers and half-decent club golfers have
hankered after for years. Gone is the typical Ping boxy head shape
and what’s left behind is quite possibly Ping’s best looking iron
ever, with a narrow top line, thin sole and beautifully shaped head
that appeals to a wide audience of golfers.
PERFORMANCE: Ping says the i500 is on average eight yards
longer (but can be up to 15 yards longer with the 7-iron) than the
i210, which is unheard of from a manufacturer. Who says one of
their two new irons doesn’t go as far as the other? It’s a bold
statement, but our numbers completely support Ping’s data, with
the i500 7-iron carrying seven yards further than the i210. Our
test pro reckoned impact sound was a little louder than the i210
which is down to the hollow head.
THE NUMBERS: Just as Ping promised, i500 produced the fastest
ball speeds of all four models – 6mph extra over the iBlade (and 2-3
mph over the i200 and i210) is seriously impressive. i500 launched
shots into the air at a similar angle and peaked shots out at the same
height as the other irons, meaning even though they span less you’d
still stop shots on a green. Incredibly i500 (with the 7-iron) was 16
yards longer than the iBlade which in part can be explained by the
3.5° stronger loft. But if hitting almost two clubs less into a green
isn’t the perfect demonstration of how far iron tech has come, we
don’t know what is.
 KEVIN HALE Pro
HIT Academy, Forest of
Arden, Warwicks THE TESTER

i210
LOOKS: Sit the new i210 beside the i200 and to the untrained eye
there’s not a massive diference. It’s a solid decision from Ping to not
reinvent the wheel; they know the i200 has been successful so it
THE KEY NUMBE
makes sense to opt for updates and improvements on what’s already iBlade i500 i200 i
working. i200 has always been a good looking iron and the
refinements just make it even more desirable. BALL 119 mph 125 mph 123 mph 12
SPEED
PERFORMANCE: Don’t be under any illusions the i210 is in LAUNCH
anyway comparable to the i500, the pair are light years apart ANGLE 18º 17º 18º 18º
when it comes to ball speed, backspin and carry distances – and
they’re supposed to be. There is, though, a decent degree of BACKSPIN 5,566
rpm
4,704
rpm
4,842
rpm
4,946
rpm
wedge ,
forgiveness. In fact Ping say playability is pretty much level
between the i210 and i500. We reckon i210 will be a big hit in It goes without saying if you
HEIGHT 30 31 31 31 buy a set of beautiful forged
tour bags. Tyrrell Hatton already has a set and Lee Westwood is yards yards yards yards
likely to join him, but where full sets of i210s will be played by the irons you’ll want some forged
elite, it’s highly likely you’ll only spot an odd i500 long iron in a CARRY 172 188 183 181 wedges to match, so it’s
DISTANCE yards yards yards yards absolutely no surprise Ping are
tour pro bag, as those guys just aren’t chasing distance.
introducing a new Glide
THE NUMBERS: Our data shows just how closely the outgoing Forged wedge, too.
i200s are matched to the new i210s. We removed any shots from Unlike the i500 irons the
our data that our test pro wasn’t happy with, but on another day wedges don’t have hollow
the numbers between the pair could easily be switched. It says to bodies. Instead, they’re made
us that if you already own a set of i200s they’re still a great iron from a single piece of forged
and you’re unlikely to see big gains trading up to the i210s. We 8620 carbon steel. Ping says
reckon golfers are less likely to buy i210s on data alone, which the profile’s refined with a
makes how our test pro loved the premium feel and sound pretty rounded leading edge and
significant. tapered hosel to give a
compact tour inspired profile.
A tungsten toe weight
draws the centre of gravity out
towards the middle of the
face, which not only improves
accuracy and consistency, but
heightens feel, too. Just like
the i500 irons each wedge
has a CNC machined face and
a hydropearl 2.0 finish to
ensure a seamless transition
from a new set of Ping irons.

GLIDE FORGED WEDGE

RRP: £200 (s) £210 (g)
Lofts: 50° / 52° / 54° / 56°
/ 58° / 60°

7 91
 EQUIPMENT SHOWCASE The home of golf equipment reviews www.todaysgolfer.co.uk

Gloved up
10 of our favourite leather gloves of 2018

Mizuno Pro £14.95

Finest grade cabretta
leather with Mizuno
FlexMesh for an
enhanced fit.
golf.mizunoeurope.com

92 ISSUE 37 7 TODAYSGOLFER .CO.UK

 HOW TO LOOK AFTER YOUR GLOVES
Keep your glove as dry as possible. Take an extra glove when you play if you sweat a lot, or it’s wet,
and rotate them throughout the game. Let your gloves air dry between uses, straight and flat.

FootJoy ProFLX £18 Zoom Aqua Control £19.99 Ping Tour £15.99
www.footjoy.co.uk www.zoomgloves.de www.ping.com

Wilson Staf Conform £12.95 Puma Pro Performance Tour £15 Srixon Premium Cabretta £12.99
www.wilson.com www.cobragolf.co.uk/puma www.srixon.co.uk

TaylorMade Tour Preferred £17.95 G/Fore Cabretta £25 Under Armour StrikeSkin Tour £14.99
www.taylormadegolf.com www.trendygolf.com www.underarmour.co.uk

TODAYSGOLFER .CO.UK IS SUE 37 7 93

 EQUIPMENT READER TEST
‘You’ve got to try a red one for yourself’
TaylorMadenowhasalargerangeofpremium,redputters–sohowdotheyperformforregulargolfers?
T hanks to the success of Jason Day’s
red putter, TaylorMade have for the
first time got a serious foot hold in
the premium putter market. With Spider
putters weaving their web across the
world’s tours and because they’re now
available in 13 diferent head and hosel
options, to suit all strokes and folks we
thought it was time four TG readers got
to try the red revolution.
Q What was your first impression of
the colour?
SD: It looks great, I’ve taken an Odyssey
2-Ball out of the bag for the Spider, so I
must like the colour.
MD: I’m loving the red; it’s new and
diferent. It’s not something I’d even
considered before; a fresh look is never a
bad thing when it comes to putting.
AB: I’ve got to admit to already being a
red putter fan as I’ve been using a red
Odyssey 2-Ball for a while. The Spider
looks fantastic in red. I love how there’s
no glare of the matt finish.
CK: It wasn’t so much the red that
struck me with the Spider ARC but the
radical design and shaping. I reckon red’s
an improvement. It contrasts really nicely
with the ARC’s black back (stability) ring
and white alignment lines.
Q You tested four models (Spider Tour
Red, Spider Tour Red Sightline, Spider
Mini Red and Spider ARC Red) –
which was your favourite and why?
SD: I liked the ARC and Mini, but my
favourite was the Tour Red without the
sightline. It gives such a clean, simple
look and I really liked setting up putts
without any distracting line. I think it
improves my focus.
MATT DOWNES
Handicap: +1
94 IS SUE 37 7 TODAYSGOLFER .CO.UK
More putter reviews at www.todaysgolfer.co.uk
MD: Seeing Tour pros use new models and
colours draws me into trying new gear. For
me the Tour Red Sightline best fitted my
eye and stroke. The contrast between the
red head and white alignment line is
brilliant and perfect for aiming more
consistently at a target.
AB: I immediately gravitated towards the
Spider Mini. It’s the smaller, cute, less fussy
head shape which got me. The T alignment
aid is so simple and really works for me. I’ve
putted really well with it.
CK: It wasn’t quite love at first sight but
the Spider ARC, grew on me. The back
weight makes it almost impossible to not
maintain the desired path of the putter.
The combination of three alignment
lines, a white ball-sized disc and perfect
balance meant I felt confident holing
anything inside six feet, which is a huge
boost on the course.
Q What did you think of the roll,
feedback and how did you find the
oversized SuperStroke grip?
SD: Putts felt great coming of the face
and rolled really nicely. I particularly liked
the grip (SuperStroke Pistol GTR 1.0),
which is a little smaller than my regular
grip. It improved touch and feel from
longer distances.
MD: Feel was softer than my Odyssey
#7, and it sounds weird but the
control or consistency between each
putt felt improved with the Pure Roll
insert. I’m a big fan of oversized grips,
for me the Pistol GTR is an excellent
option.
AB: The insert feels very diferent to my
old putter. It’s a pretty solid feel, and I
reckoned the extra feedback helped
boost confidence. The grip gets a thumbs
STEVE DOWNES CHRIS KNIGHT
Handicap: 6 Handicap: 14
THE
PRODUCT
up, it’s great oversized grips come as
standard, gone are the days of buying
and regripping a new putter.
CK: To be honest I can’t say I noticed a
diference between the Spider and my
TAYLORMADE usual Ping for roll, but I did feel there was
SPIDER PUTTERS lots of positive feedback which seemed
www.taylormadegolf.com
to help me confidently judge distance. I
love oversized grips, it’s great to get one
included within the price.
Q All the Spider putters you tried
come in for £269 each, is it a fair
price? And after your experience with
Spider ARC Red Spider and Red putters would you
£269 recommend them to other golfers?
SD: Everyone who’s a serious golfer
spends £400 on a new driver, but it’s the
putter that can save us all shots. A putter
could lower your handicap more than a
driver, so I don’t have an issue with the
price. I’d definitely recommend the
Spider family.
£269 MD: The Spider’s performance justifies
the price. Putters are the most used club
in the bag, so I’d be willing to spend
almost anything to get the model I really
want. The Spider’s feel, appearance and
roll is the best I’ve ever used, so of course
I’d recommend them.
AB: Putting is such an important part of
the game and the right putter helps
Sightline £269 massively, so when you consider we all
spend £300+ on a new driver I think
£269 is fair. I’ve already recommended
red putters to other members at the club.
CK: I haven’t bought a putter for four or
five years so £269 sounds like a lot, but
if the Spider ARC fills you with
confidence – like it did for me – it’s got
£269 to be value for money. You’ve got to go
and try one for yourself.
ANDREW BROWN
Handicap: 9

THE TEST
Pro V1 performance...
at half the price?
Can the new mail order balls really compete with a Titleist? We found out
M ail order golf balls weren’t even
a thing five years ago. Back
then your choice of premium
tour-level balls boiled down to the
traditional major brands – Titleist,
TaylorMade, Callaway and Srixon. All
brands who’d like you to believe tour-
level balls need to be played on tour to
be considered validated.
But there’s new ball upstarts out
there like Vice and Snell Golf, who
think a bit diferently. Both spotted
the huge potential in premium tour
golf balls and a significant gap in how
balls are sold to golfers.
TITLEIST
PRO V1
Price: £52 a dozen
Construction: 3-piece
with urethane cover
Cost per ball:
£4.33
BEN FROST Pro
Senior Instructor at The Belfry
Academy; expert in clubfitting.
Each developed their own ball, but
without the overheads of marketing a
ball on tour – player deals, advertising
– it means they can sell a premium
tour ball for half the cost of the
market leader, Titleist’s Pro V1.
Our recent “best sub-£30 golf ball
test” highlighted the Vice Pro as a
cracking ball, but could a ball with
such a low price tag – £20 a dozen
cheaper – really compete against the
No.1 ball in golf? It only seemed fair to
put the latest mail order golf balls up
against the market leader and find
out.
THE DIFFERENCE
BETWEEN THE TWO
TITLEISTS
Pro V1 flies lower with a
enetrating trajectory and feel
softer. Pro V1x flies higher, has
a slightly firmer feel, and spins
more on iron shots.
THE TESTER
HOW WE DID IT
We invited the leading mail order golf
ball brands – Vice, Snell and Pearl –
to send us their best tour balls, and
we bought a dozen Titleist Pro V1 and
ProV1x to test them against. We got
our pro to hit each ball with a driver,
7- iron and wedge so we could gauge
the diference between long, mid and
short game performance, all while our
launch monitor watched on. Once
each ball had been hit with each club
we analysed the data alongside our
test pro’s comments to come up with
our conclusions. ➔
TITLEIST
PRO V1X
Price: £52 a dozen
Construction: 4-piece
with urethane cover
Cost per ball:
£4.33
TODAYSGOLFER .CO.UK IS SUE 37 7 95
 EQUIPMENT THE TEST All the latest balls tested at www.todaysgolfer.co.uk

VICE PRO+
Price: £29.88 a dozen
VICE PRO (or £25.08 if you buy three dozen)
Price: £29.88 a dozen
Construction: Four-piece with
(or £25.08 if you buy three dozen)
a cast urethane cover
Construction: Three-piece
Cost per ball:
with a cast urethane cover
£2.49
Cost per ball:
£2.49

WHO ARE VICE GOLF?
Vice was founded by two Germans in 2012 (Ingo
Duellmann and Rainer Stoeckl) in Germany before
expanding out across Europe and into the US
market in 2015. Prices, they say, are cheap, but
the golf balls aren’t. They reckon their balls have
been tested by independent, international
institutes, and the results show Vice balls are as
good as any comparable ball available.
DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE TWO BALLS
The Pro+ is designed to be lower launching and
lower spin for longer drives. Both balls are suited
to advanced golfers with medium to high swing
speeds.
THE RESULTS: We first tested the Vice Pro and
Vice Pro+ back in our sub-£30 golf ball test in
February and our test pro was mightily impressed
from the of. It speaks volumes that our pro (who
was diferent this time) agreed with everything
Kevin Hale said back in February. The Vice Pro+,
which would be Vice’s equivalent of our test pro’s
usual ball (Pro V1x) gave up nine yards of carry of
the tee with a driver, which of course is significant
as most golfers would want to be as far down the
fairway as possible. But that extra nine yards
comes at a cost of £1.84 per ball more (or
£22.08 a dozen, or £265 a year if you get
through 12 dozen), which is a huge factor to many
golfers. Our test pro’s usual Pro V1x wasn’t quite
such an emphatic winner when it came to his
irons and wedges, though. A slightly faster ball
speed in favour of the Vice Pro+ with almost the
same carry distance (just one yard in it) with a
7-iron can legitimately be declared a dead heat.
But the data’s flipped on its head when it comes
to wedge backspin. Both Vice balls registered
over 8,000rpm, while neither Titleist could break
the 8k barrier.
OUR VERDICT: Our test pro happily admitted
not being able to tell the diference between the
Vice and their equivalent Titleists, so there’s
absolutely no doubt in our minds Vice are a
premium tour level ball. It’s inescapable how
closely-matched both Vice balls are to our pro’s
usual ball, yet the costs are so diferent.

WITH A DRIVER... WITH A 7-IRON... WITH A WEDGE...

BALL LAUNCH BACKSPIN CARRY TOTAL BALL LAUNCH BACKSPIN CARRY TOTAL BALL LAUNCH BACKSPIN
SPEED ANGLE DISTANCE SPEED ANGLE DISTANCE SPEED ANGLE
KEY NUMBERS

250 277 183 196

VICE PRO 148mph 16° 2,205rpm yards yards 123mph 16° 4,920rpm yards yards 79mph 26° 8,417rpm
252 275 182 194
VICE PRO+ 149mph 16° 2,821rpm yards yards 124mph 16° 5,237rpm yards yards 81mph 25° 8,284rpm

239 262 180 193

TITLEIST PRO V1 143mph 17° 2,688rpm yards yards 122mph 16° 4,919rpm yards yards 79mph 26° 7,835rpm
261 285 181 194
TITLEIST PRO V1X 153mph 15° 2,545rpm yards yards 123mph 15° 4,989rpm yards yards 81mph 26° 7,957rpm

96 IS SUE 37 7 TODAYSGOLFER .CO.UK

 IT’S ALL ABOUT HAVING MORE KNOBS TO TURN
Premium tour-level balls come in three, four and five layer constructions. Firmer options(orX
equivalent) tend to have an extra layer, which gives more opportunity to fine-tune launch, feelandspin.

SNELL
SNELL GOLF MTB BLACK
Price: £29.99 a dozen
GOLF MTB RED (or £26.66 if you buy 6 dozen)
Price: £29.99 a dozen
Construction: Three-piece
(or £26.66 if you buy 6 dozen)
with a urethane cover
Construction: Four-piece
Cost per ball:
with a urethane cover
£2.50
Cost per ball:
£2.50

WHO ARE SNELL GOLF?
Founder Dean Snell has more than 28 years
experience in the golf industry. He was involved in
designing the original Pro V1 during seven years at
Titleist; 12 years at TaylorMade saw him develop
their first tour ball and he was responsible for golf’s
first five-layer ball, the Penta. He holds 40 US
patents and, before entering the golf industry,
worked in defence and aerospace, designing parts
for F16, F18 and Blackhawk helicopters.
DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE TWO BALLS:
Dual feel technology means the four-piece Red
ball feels a bit firmer and is a bit faster on longer
shots than the softer feeling Black.
THE RESULTS: The first time Snell ball’s have
been involved in a TG test, and it’s fair to say they
made an instant impact. The Black was the
lowest spinning of all our test balls with the driver
and irons, which should make it attractive for
golfers looking to reduce spin. Our pro felt the
black was super-long when hit with an iron (it tied
on 186 yards as longest with the Pearl PurePro X)
which showcases beautifully how complex
modern ball designs can be optimised to perform
at varying club speeds. It’s a point which explains
well how the Pro V1x is so strong for our test pro
from the tee, but not quite top of the tree when it
comes to iron and wedge performance. Our pro
said if he blind tested each ball the Red would be
the only one he could sense was slightly harder
with the driver (just as Snell promises). But he
also said the diference was purely down to
sound, rather than any diference in “feel”.
OUR VERDICT: Whatever our data shows the
Snell balls give up against the Titleist Pro V1x
with the driver, it was made up for by a seriously
strong iron performance. Wedge spin was spot on
middle of all eight balls tested (and just ahead of
both Titleists ) which we reckon can be summed
up as a solid across the board performance. All in
all emphatically answering our question… yes
premium mail order golf balls really can compete
against golf’s No.1 ball. And the best bit is you’ll
keep over £22 quid in your pocket for every dozen
Snells you buy over the Pro V1.

WITH A DRIVER... WITH A 7-IRON... WITH A WEDGE...

BALL LAUNCH BACKSPIN CARRY TOTAL BALL LAUNCH BACKSPIN CARRY TOTAL BALL LAUNCH BACKSPIN
SPEED ANGLE DISTANCE SPEED ANGLE DISTANCE SPEED ANGLE
KEY NUMBERS

248 186 200

SNELL MTB BLACK 145mph 18° 2,203rpm yards 274 yards 125mph 16° 4,600rpm yards yards 81mph 26° 7,976rpm
250 273 yards 181 192
SNELL MTB RED 148mph 17° 2,803rpm yards 125mph 17° 5,787rpm yards yards 81mph 26° 8,278rpm

239 262 180 193

TITLEIST PRO V1 143mph 17° 2,688rpm yards yards 122mph 16° 4,919rpmyards yards 79mph 26° 7,835rpm
261 285 181 194
TITLEIST PRO V1X 153mph 15° 2,545rpm yards yards 123mph 15° 4,989rpm yards yards 81mph 26° 7,957rpm

TODAYSGOLFER .CO.UK IS SUE 37 7 97

 EQUIPMENT THE TEST All the latest balls tested at www.todaysgolfer.co.uk

PEARL
PEARL PUREPRO X
Price: £28.99 a dozen
PUREPRO (or £24.99 if you buy 3 dozen)
Price: £28.99 a dozen
Construction: Four-piece
(or £24.99 if you buy 3 dozen)
with a urethane cover
Construction: Three-piece
Cost per ball:
with a urethane cover
£2.42
Cost per ball:
£2.42

“best ball for under £30 test , the Pearl PureSof

Pearl have come from absolutely nowhere in the
last 18 months. They’ve spotted how more and
more premium golf balls are being bought online,
and they’ve got on board before the market
becomes saturated. Based in Germany they’re
completely dedicated to producing the finest
quality balls, bags and accessories, and say by
eliminating the “middle-man retailer” golfers get
to buy direct for reasonable costs.
DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE TWO BALLS:
The firmer feeling X is slightly longer on all shots,
but the standard Pro ball spins slightly more,
increasing control with the irons.
balls performed brilliantly. The X posted both the
fastest driver ball speed and highest wedge
backspin numbers which is incredible, when you
can buy them for just £18.99 a dozen. The PurePro
and PurePro X involved in this test are brand new
for 2018 and aimed directly at competing with
premium tour balls, whereas the PureSoft primarily
is for the emerging softer ball stage. Our numbers
alone spell out how Pearl is a very strong
alternative to a Pro V1. 2.5% less driver distance
(and our test pro’s second longest driver ball) with
a 2mph lower ball speed pale into insignificance
when you see the Pearl PurePro was our highest
spinning wedge ball, with 12% more backspin than
balls we tested were within two yards (carry) of
each other with a 7-iron. The PurePro was within
that 63%, while the PurePro X was tied longest on
186 yards with the Snell Black.
OUR VERDICT: A seriously impressive
performance from both Pearl balls, and the
numbers are completely backed up in terms of feel.
Our test pro said there wasn’t a ball here he
wouldn’t use himself… and he certainly wouldn’t
have said that a few years ago. Pearl are newest to
the mail order golf ball stage and they’ve got some
work to do to get their name out there. But we’ve
proved the performance is there.

WITH A DRIVER... WITH A 7-IRON... WITH A WEDGE...

BALL LAUNCH BACKSPIN CARRY TOTAL BALL LAUNCH BACKSPIN CARRY TOTAL BALL LAUNCH BACKSPIN
SPEED ANGLE DISTANCE SPEED ANGLE DISTANCE SPEED ANGLE
KEY NUMBERS

255 281 180 193

PEARL PUREPRO 151mph 15° 2,317rpm yards yards 122mph 16° 4,851rpm yards yards 81mph 26° 8,733rpm
252 277 186 199
PEARL PUREPRO X 148mph 16° 2,436rpm yards yards 125mph 17° 4,932rpm yards yards 80mph 26° 7,746rpm

239 262 180 193

TITLEIST PRO V1 143mph 17° 2,688rpm yards yards 122mph 16° 4,919rpm yards yards 79mph 26° 7,835rpm
261 285 181 194
TITLEIST PRO V1X 153mph 15° 2,545rpm yards yards 123mph 15° 4,989rpm yards yards 81mph 26° 7,957rpm

98 IS SUE 37 7 TODAYSGOLFER .CO.UK


It was first played on tour in Las Vegas way back in 2000. The ProV1xwas
introduced three years later and they’ve both been updated every two yearssince.
SEVEN THINGS WE LEARNED...
1 Mail order balls are every bit a match for the
market leader
Our numbers speak for themselves, and
emphatically answer YES to the question: Can mail
order balls really compete against the No.1 ball in
golf? But we’d say this model only works for
premium balls because the profit margin (when
you’re not paying tour players to use them) is so
good. It’s diicult to make the model work for say a
two-piece ball which would need to sell for a
similar cost as a well-known ball, but isn’t available
in American Golf or pro shops across the country.
2 Ball fitting really should be a thing
Titleist will hate us for showing how diferently
our pro’s best fitting Titleist (Pro V1x) fared against
the standard Pro V1. They’ll argue what’s the point,
and what’s to be gained? Well, in this instance it
illustrates brilliantly how important it is to get the
right fitting ball, as giving up 22 yards of the tee is
huge, especially if your decision is based on a bit
more feel and workability. Admittedly, you can’t get
fit for any mail order balls in our test, but through a
process of trialling a “selected pack” which
contains all the balls a brand produces at a lower
cost, you can try your way to a perfect new ball.
3 Is it time to stop blindly playing the Titleist
Pro V1?
If you’ve blindly played the Titleist Pro V1 for years
we couldn’t think of a better time to reassess if it’s
still your best ball. The Pro V1 underwent some
updates at the start of 2018 and Titleist said
themselves that some players would now be better
of switching between the 1 and 1x.
4 It’s got to be covered in urethane
If you absolutely swear your game demands a
tour-level ball, then you have to make sure the
WWW.GOLFMAXX.CO.UK
AMAZINGLY, THE PRO V1 IS 18 YEARS OLD...
Online Golf Clearance that you’ll love
cover is urethane. All the top brand’s tour balls are
urethane covered and so was each of our mail order
models. At this moment in time a urethane cover
has got to be the absolute bare minimum for a ball
to be considered a tour ball.
5 A Pepsi challenge on balls would throw up
interesting results!
We didn’t expect our test pro to admit to not really
being able to feel the diference between our test
balls. That’s how far the mail order competition has
come. To be fair, he thought all the ‘X’ style balls
felt similar, as did the slightly diferent feeling/
sounding standard balls. But he was adamant that
if we were able to blindfold golfers for a proper
“Pepsi challenge” – where participants can’t be
swayed by brand perception and marketing – we’d
end up with some very interesting results.
6 Go for the hardest ball you can tolerate
There are very few golfers who want to give up
distance from the tee, and rightly so as it’s proven the
further you’re down the fairway from the tee equals
closer approaches. Our test pro reckoned if you want a
rule of thumb for picking a ball in the tour-level
category, go for the hardest ball you can tolerate. It
means you won’t give up distance. Just remember,
the longest driver ball isn’t always the longest iron ball,
so a combination of both is a great idea.
7 You’d still want to put any new ball to the
golf course test
Our numbers are created within a controlled
environment, so we can bring you data that’s not
contaminated by wind, temperature or mishits. It
means we can compare each ball accurately. The
ultimate test, though, is taking any new ball to the
course, and comparing it to your usual ball from every
situation – including your wallet’s point of view!
 EQUIPMENT TWIN TEST Hundreds more gear reviews at www.todaysgolfer.co.uk

Ta lor ade Spider Mini M oment of inertia is a buzz phrase in golf

that’s normally associated with drivers. But
recently, as more Tour pros – including
Tiger Woods – have switched to big, MOI-style

y Exo Seven putters, the phrase has been associated with

flatsticks. At one point in 2017, nine of the top 10
players in the world used mallet and MOI putters
(yet club golfers reckon the best putters use
blades), a fact which can be attributed to how
Two of the very latest putter designs go head-to-head putter designers have learnt how to make mallet
and MOI style putters with toe hang, rather than

THE DETAILS
Price: £269
Head weight: 355g
Toe hang: Face balanced
Options: Tour Red or
Diamond Silver finish
Grip: SuperStroke Pistol
GTR 1.0

TAYLORMADE SPIDER MINI

www.taylormadegolf.com
YOU NEED TO KNOW
Spider Mini is 15% smaller than the standard Spider
Tour. The head’s cast in a single piece, where its big
brother has a multi-material body. TaylorMade say its
compact size still delivers the stability and high-MOI
performance of its sibling, and it costs £80 less than
the EXO.
LOOKS AND SIZE 9/10
Just like a cute little puppy, the Mini is a cheeky chap!
We love how TaylorMade’s engineers have managed to
keep the look of the original Spider, but have come up
with a much less wieldy design. It really is a cracker.
We’re big fans of the red paint job, too, which freshens
things up. A more subtle shaping appeals to golfers
who may have been put of by the original Spider’s
larger, winged design.
ROLL, FEEL AND FEEDBACK 9/10
We’ve done plenty of putter insert testing, and
TaylorMade’s Pure Roll always comes out glowing. The
aluminium gives a slightly crisper feel, which we reckon
makes it a solid option for year-round golf in the UK.
SIGHT AND ALIGNMENT LINES 10/10
It’s bonkers how a couple of lines can change putter
alignment completely. The Spider’s T-Sightline is
inspired by tour players, and we love how
makes hitting putts like hitting a nail hea
with a hammer. Simple. Simple. Simple.
GRIP 10/10
It’s a tiny point, but exactly the type of
thing that inspires confidence or zaps it.
We’re massive fans of the sharper, more
pronounced edges of the Pistol GTR grip
it’s bigger, arching upper sits perfectly in
the hands.

VERDICT 38/40
I’d happily put the Mini in play tomorrow. It’s a crafty
little putter with plenty of tech to boot. Face
balancing means it’s more suited to straighter strokes.
TaylorMade were nowhere when it came to tour putter
usage just a few years ago, but the Spider and its red
paint job in particular have lit up the market, so much
so Spider has been the most used putter at a number
of tour events recently. Because it’s £80 less than the
EXO we reckon real world golfers may pick Mini over
the more expensive EXO, which is the only way we can
see to separate the pair.

100 IS SUE 37 7 TODAYSGOLFER .CO.UK

 SIMON DADDOW
TG’s Equipment Editor is a 10-handicap
former equipment designer. THE TESTER
just face balanced. It means a new audience
are turning to mallets and MOI styles, and when
a player like Woods – a staunch blade fan all his
life – makes the switch, everyone starts to
take notice.
So with MOI putters back in the spotlight we
thought it was time to put two of the latest
models – Odyssey’s EXO and TaylorMade’s
Spider Mini – up against each other to see
if MOI putters really are the real deal.
THE DETAILS SHARPEN
Price: £349 GROOVE SHARPENER
Head weight: 360g
Toe hang: Face balanced or
slight toe hang
Options: Available in both a face
balanced and toe hang hosel
Grip: Super Stroke Mid
Slim 2.0

REPAIR
3-IN-1 PITCH REPAIRER

DRAW
BALL LINE MARKER

ODYSSEY EXO SEVEN

www.odysseygolf.com
YOU NEED TO KNOW
How the Seven is available as either a face balanced or
slight toe hang model (with slant neck) speaks volumes
about how the same putter models are being designed
to suit diferent strokes. The aluminium centre weighs
a third of the equivalent model in steel, which allows
the head to be bigger with an excellent MOI. Seven has
the highest MOI of the three new EXO models. The
insert is golf’s most popular of all time, the White Hot,
with steel microhinges to help grab and grip putts.
LOOKS AND SIZE 10/10
This shape is etched into golfing folklore. It’s one of the
very best for improving MOI and forgiveness as well as
highlighting the path away from the ball. The EXO may
be pumped full of steroids, but its head isn’t anything
like the pizza boxes associated with big MOI models.
ROLL, FEEL AND FEEDBACK 10/10
Odyssey has messed about with inserts ever since
they first made them popular back in the 1990s. The
sound coming of the White Hot face, and feeling the
interaction between ball and microhinge, is brilliant for
getting putts running smoothly across the green.
SIGHT AND ALIGNMENT LINES 9/10
Three small alignment dots and two long white path lines ALIGN
are great, but if we have a tiny criticis BALL MARKER AND PUTT ALIGNMENT
we’ve seen it before. Especially when
put up against the Spider Mini, which
has found a new way to help golfers
visualise “nailing” putts into the hole.
GRIP 8/10
Experience tells us more golfers pre
a larger, flat front and crisper edges
on a grip than the Mid Slim’s
rounded design.

VERDICT 37/40 produce and that of course is reflected in the price.

£349 is a heck of a lot of money for a new putter, But at the end of the day it’s a desirable beauty,
and you’ll struggle not to hole more putts thanks to
IMPRESS
just as much in fact as a new driver. But it’s worth MEMBERS BAG TAG
remembering you hit more putts in a round than almost 50% more MOI performance over the
drives. Make no mistake, Exo Seven is a premium standard OWorks model. Just like the Spider Mini,
model; its multi-material construction is costly to I’d put one in my bag.
WWW.GROOVEFIX.COM
020 8240 0527
100% BRITISH MADE
LIFE TIM E GUARAN TE E
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 TOP 10s
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FOR A BIGGER CHOICE

WITH BETTER VALUE

Our no-nonsense verdicts on the best gear of 2018. More at todaysgolfer.co.uk

TOP 10 DRIVERS UNDER £400

Ping G400 £389 I www.ping.com
IN MY BAG
Our verdict: If you’re considering one in 2018, try it alongside the new Lofts: 9° / 10.5° IRISH OPEN CHAMPION
460cc G400 MAX. We can’t take anything away from G400, but Shaft: Ping Alta CB55 / Ping Tour 65 RUSSELL KNOX
comparing it to the MAX in this test (in the right golfer’s hands), we Adjustable hosel: Yes Scotland’s Russell Knox is in a superb
£349 saw some very impressive gains from the larger headed club. Loft change: +/- 1° vein of form. The 33-year-old followed
up his T-12 at the US Open with a
Ping G400 LST £389 I www.ping.com runner-up finish at the French Open
Our verdict: A fantastic low-spin option. Just like all the G400 Lofts: 8.5° / 10° before recording a stunning play-of
drivers, the LST sits beautifully at address, it sounds better than Shaft: Ping Tour 65 / Ping Alta CB55 victory at the Irish Open, holing two
previous Ping models and comes with a choice of some decent Adjustable hosel: Yes 40-foot putts in a row. The popular
£349 shaft options. Get a good fitting (and Ping is a fitting leader). Loft change: +/-1° Scot’s second European Tour win
sealed his spot at The Open at
Carnoustie. Here’s what Knox has been
Ping G400 MAX £389 I www.ping.com using during his recent run, including
Our verdict: MAX isn’t just for hackers; Tony Finau, one of the tour’s Lofts: 9° / 10.5 ° his success at Ballyliin.
biggest hitters, has one. If you miss lots of fairways, the MAX is a Shaft: Ping Alta CB, Ping Tour 65 / Driver: Ping G400 LST (10º loft,
great shout. But if your game would benefit from all the speed you can 75, Alta Distanza Adjustable hosel: Aldila Tour ATX shaft).
£349 get, a standard G400 could be a better option. Be sure to get fitted. Yes Loft change: +/-1°
Fairway: Cleveland Launcher FL
(19º loft, Aldila ATX Tour shaft).
Cleveland Launcher HB £279 I www.clevelandgolf.co.uk Hybrid: Cleveland Launcher DST,
Our verdict: The Cleveland just about held its own for all three Lofts: 9° / 10.5° / 12° 20.5º loft, Aldila VS Proto shaft)
testers without fitting – that’s impressive. If you’re not too Shaft: Miyazaki C (High balance point)
worried about being fitted, you could spend a lot more and get a Adjustable hosel: No Irons: Srixon Z 745 (3–9, Nippon NS
£249 worse-performing driver. Pro Modus 3 Tour 125 shaft).
Wedges: Cleveland RTX 3 (48º, 54º,
60º lofts, Nippon NS Pro Modus 3
Cobra King F8+ £329 I www.cobragolf.co.uk Tour Wedge shaft).
Our verdict: If controlling spin is an issue for your game, it’s well worth Lofts: 8-11° Shaft: Aldila NV 2KXV
a look as our data shows it can definitely help. It sounds absurd, but Blue 60, Green 65, Project X Hzrdus Putter: Scotty Cameron Tour Proto
with a shot tracker in the grip, a CNC milled face as well as a choice of Yellow 75 Adjustable hosel: Yes Loft
£329 premium shafts, £329 looks like reasonable value! change: 8-11°

Cobra King F8 £329 I www.cobragolf.co.uk

Our verdict: This is a fantastic driver. It looks the business, it’s Lofts: 9-12° Shaft: Mitsubishi TenseiCK
powerful and forgiving, sounds great and it’s the only model on Blue50,AldilaNV2KXVBlue60, Green
the market that will record where you hit every drive, thanks to 65, Project X Hzrdus Yellow 75
£329 Cobra Connect in the grip. Adjustable hosel: Yes Loft change: 9-12°

Wilson Staff C300 £349 I www.wilson.com

Our verdict: Wilson is targeting a very specific player with the Lofts: 9° / 10.5° / 12°
C300; if you fit the bill, you won’t be let down by the performance Shaft: Fujikura Speeder Pro 58
on ofer. If you own a powerful swing that could benefit from Adjustable hosel: Yes
£329 cutting spin, the C300 should definitely be on your short-list. Loft change: +2/-1°

Mizuno ST180 £399 I golf.mizunoeurope.com

Our verdict: For those who do put one in play, you won’t be
disappointed; it’s a decent performing driver. We just can’t help
Lofts: 9.5°, 12.5°
Shaft: Mitsubishi Tensei CK Blue
SIGN UP FOR THE TG
thinking for most club golfers there’s probably slightly faster, Adjustable hosel: Yes NEWSLETTER...
£349 longer drivers on the market for slightly less money. Loft change: +/- 2° Get the latest
TaylorMade M4 £369 I www.taylormadegolf.com
gear news
Our verdict: DJ won his first event of 2018 with an M4, giving the Lofts: 8.5° / 9.5° / 10.5°/ 12° first, plus tips,
club instant tour validation. It produced very solid distance and
forgiveness numbers for our testers without quite topping the pile.
Shaft: Fujikura Atmos Red
Adjustable hosel: Yes
tour updates
£349 The stock shaft’s quite high spin, so select your set-up very carefully. Loft change: +/- 2° and exclusive
ofers, reader
Srixon Z765 £325 I www.srixon.co.uk opportunities
Our verdict: We’d never recommend a smaller tour profile driver Lofts: 9.5° / 10.5°
to the masses, that would be irresponsible. But if you’re a fan of Shaft: Miyazaki Kaula Mizu 6 andprizes...
slightly smaller drivers and have a tendency to hit shots low in the Adjustable hosel: Yes WWW.TODAYS GOLFER.CO.UK
£299 face, the 765 is worth seeking out. Loft change: 12 settings +/- 1°

TODAYSGOLFER .CO.UK IS SUE 37 7 103

 EQUIPMENT TOP 10s Every new launch tested at www.todaysgolfer.co.uk

TOP 10 FAIRWAY WOODS

Ping G400 £240 I www.ping.com
NEW WHEELS…
Our verdict: Ping has proven time and again its engineering brilliance Lofts: 3-14.5°/5-17.5°/7- NEED A SPACE SAVING
and the G400 fairway is another triumph. Its decent sized head is 20.5°/9-23.5° Shaft: Ping Alta TROLLEY? HERE ARE
friendly to hit from the turf and tee box and thanks to an adjustable CB65/Ping Tour 65 Adjustable SOME OPTIONS
£219 hosel it can be dialled in to fill specific yardage gaps. hosel: Yes Loft change: +/- 1°
Motocad
Cleveland Launcher HB £200 I www.clevelandgolf.co.uk From £49
www.mot
Our verdict: If £200 is your absolute max for a new fairway (and your Lofts: 3-15°/5-18° Powered o
game doesn’t warrant the ofset Cobra F-Max), then it’s an all-out Shaft: Miyazaki C Weight: 10
fight between the Launcher and Cobra F8 in our book. It’s not Adjustable hosel: No Folded siz
£179 adjustable, but it’s a no-nonsense distance machine. 47cm x 41

Cobra F-Max £169 I www.cobragolf.co.uk

Our verdict: The average age of golfers is creeping up year on year, so Lofts: 3-16°/5-20°/7-23°
it makes sense we have clubs to help us enjoy the game. In our book Shaft: Cobra Super Lite 60
F-Max is a great option if your game’s slowly slipping towards lower Adjustable hosel: No PowaKaddy C2i
£169 clubhead speeds and less distance. From £599
www.powakaddy.co.uk
TaylorMade M3 £279 I www.taylormadegolf.com Powered or push? Powered
Our verdict: TaylorMade needs to cater for tour players, and the M3’s Lofts: 3-15°/3HL-17°/5-19° Weight:
adjustable hosel and sliding sole weight lets them do that easily. Shaft: Mitsubishi Tensei Blue 65 (excludin
Unless you’re the one in 10 players looking for very specific launch Adjustable hosel: Yes Folded
£249 conditions, it’s likely the awesome M4 will be better for you. Loft change: +/- 2° size: 51c
x 35cm
56cm
Cobra King F8 £199 I www.cobragolf.co.uk Lofts: 3-4 (13°-16°)/5-6
Our verdict: The F8 is well-equipped to perform at average and above (17°-20°)/7-8 (21°-24°) Shaft:
swing speeds. If, like us, you want to squeeze every last yard out of your Mitsubishi Tensei Blue 50, Aldila NV Big Max Blad
3-wood, a Cobra fitting is an excellent idea, as there’s 20g of diference 2KXV Blue 70 Adjustable hosel: Yes £299
£199 between the two stock shafts. Cobra Connect shot tracker in the grip. Loft change: Eight settings www.bigmaxg
Powered or pus
Wilson Staff C300 £219 I www.wilson.com Weight: 6.5kg
Folded size: 88
Our verdict: At over £200 the C300 doesn’t come cheap, but it Lofts: 13.5° / 15° / 18° Shaft:
x 62cm x 12.5c
ofers a decent degree of adjustability, which the glued hosel Fujikura Speeder Pro 68
models can’t. It’s capable of delivering a very a solid performance Adjustable hosel: Yes
£199 from the deck and tee. Loft change: +2/-1°

TaylorMade M4 £229 I www.taylormadegolf.com

Our verdict: It’s a revelation. The slightly wider footprint is forgiving, Lofts: 3-15° / 3HL- 16.5° / Motocaddy Cube Connect
the speed pocket and fast face tech are super-powerful and there are 5-18° / 5HL-21° / 7HL-24° £219.99
enough lofts to cover of gaps between your driver and longest iron/ Shaft: Fujikura Atmos Red 6/5 www.motocadd
£199 hybrid. If you want a new fairway, you’d be daft not to hit one of these. Adjustable hosel: No Powered or push
Push, with GPS
connectivity
Mizuno ST180 £279 I golf.mizunoeurope.com Weight: 6.8kg
Our verdict: This is a really solid wood, which looks great and ofers Lofts: 15° / 18° Shaft: Mitsubishi Folded size: 56c
load of adjustability. Our only issue with it is the price. It’s jointly the Tensei CK Blue x 37cm x 44cm
most expensive club here, and £50 more than the non-adjustable Adjustable hosel: Yes Loft
£219 (but very good) M4. Only you can decide if it’s worth the extra. change: +/- 2°

Callaway Rogue £269 I www.callawaygolf.com Lofts: 3+-13.5° / 3-15° / 4-17° Bag Boy
Our verdict: Everything Rogue this year comes in at serious money, but / 5-19° / 7-21° / 9-23° / 11-25° / £189
even considering the cost, the driver and fairway are comfortably within 20° Shaft: Aldila Quaranta 50, www.js
our top three. Experience tells us the choice of shafts is a huge plus, and Aldila Synergy 60, Project X Even Powered
£249 means the Rogue can easily be set up for a wide range of swing speeds. Flow 70 Adjustable hosel: No Weight:
Folded s
x 46cm
Cobra King F8+ £199 I www.cobragolf.co.uk
Our verdict: Compared to the standard F8 the head size is tiny, but Lofts: 3-4 (12°-15°), 4-5 (16°
it’s one of the cutest we’ve seen, and you can’t fail to like it. The size -19°) Shaft: Aldila NV 2KXV
means it won’t be that forgiving (if you want that have a look at the Green 75 Adjustable hosel: Yes
£199 standard F8). Loft change: Eight settings

104 IS SUE 37 7 TODAYSGOLFER .CO.UK

 THE CHANGING FACE OF EQUIPMENT CONTRACTS
Both the first two majors in 2018 were won by players without equipment contracts. Patrick Reed and Brooks Koepka choose a pick and
mix selection of 14 clubs and a ball, representing a massive change in how tour pros set up their bags and earn extra endorsement cash.

TOP 10 BETTER PLAYER IRONS

Ping i200 £120 (s) £130 (g) p/c I www.ping.com
ON TOUR
Our verdict: The i200 is everything you wouldn’t really expect in a better Availability: 3 - UW WHO’S USING MIZUNO
player iron; it’s a fantastic all-rounder which won’t put undue pressure on your Shaft: Choice of seven IRONS... WITHOUT
ball striking. Our pro’s numbers with the i200 were just below average for premium options BEINGPAID
FROM £629 ball speed and carry, which in part is down to a higher 7-iron loft than average. 7-iron loft/length: 33°/37”
Since Nike pulled the plug on its golf
equipment business in 2016, there’s
Wilson Staff C300 Forged from £599 (s) £799 (g) I www.wilson.com been a serious change in how pros and
Our verdict: Compared to other players’ distance irons, the C300 is the Availability: 3-PW, GW manufacturers see endorsement deals.
only one that can boast a full forged head; both the P790 (forged faces Shaft: KBS Tour 105 (s), More pros now use 14 clubs and a ball
only) and AP3 (not forged) can’t. Compared to the FG Tour V6, C300 Fujikura Pro 85 (g) they really want to use and forego the
FROM £569 was four yards longer through the air, which makes it attractive. 7-iron loft/length: 33°/37.25” barrowloads of cash previously dished
out by the leading manufacturers just for
TaylorMade P790 £1,049 (s) £1,299 (g) I www.taylormadegolf.com gaming their gear.
It means Mizuno has doubled the
Our verdict: We’ve heard of lots of golfers trying to decide between the P790 Availability: 3-PW Shaft: True amount of its irons played on the PGA
and Titleist AP3. Both have hollow bodies. Both are fast and long. So if you Temper Dynamic Gold 105 (s), Tour, which Japanese bosses reckon is by
need help choosing, hit them both. If you still can’t make up your mind, look at UST Recoil 760/780 (g) 7-iron far the best endorsement their famed
FROM £799 the set you need; the 790s come as a set, AP3s are sold individually. loft/length: 30.5°/36.75” forged irons can get. Three players within
the world’s top 50 now play Mizuno irons
Mizuno MP-18 MMC £150 p/c I golf.mizunoeurope.com and don’t get paid a penny to do so,
Our verdict: A cracking iron that blurs the line between better player and a Availability: 3-PW, GW including two-time US Open champ
game improvement model. A definite rise in playability over MP-18 SC means Shaft: Choice of 16 options Brooks Koepka. We thought it was time
we reckon its levels of forgiveness are along similar lines to the TaylorMade 7-iron loft/length: to have a look at who plays what.
FROM £859 P790 and AP3. A brilliant option for improving golfers up to 10 or 12 handicap. 32°/36.75”

Titleist 718 AP3 £150 (s), £175 (g) p/c I www.titleist.co.uk

Our verdict: We can see people flocking to the AP3 and P790s this year, Availability: 3-PW, AW Shaft:
because they ofer golfers a club they’ve been wanting for years. It’s a True Temper AMT Black plus a
simple recipe, but not an easy one to pull of, teaming the looks of a better choice of 43 premium options
FROM £769 player iron with forgiveness. 7-iron loft/length: 31°/37”

BROOKS KOEPKA World #4

Mizuno MP-18 SC £135 p/c I golf.mizunoeurope.com Irons used: Mizuno JPX900 Tour
Our verdict: It’s interesting more tour players have plumped for Mizuno’s Availability: 3 - PW (4-PW). PGA Tour wins: 3 (including
JPX900 Tour than the MP-18 SC. That’s likely down to them having Shaft: Choice of 16 premium two US Opens). PGA Tour career
diferent finishes, but if you’re into classic, forged cavities MP-18 SC are options 7-iron loft/length: money won: $17.5 million.
FROM £779 a traditionalist’s dream. 34°/36.75”

Callaway X Forged £1,049 I www.callawaygolf.com

Our verdict: This is the furthest you need to go down the Callaway iron Availability: 3-PW
range, leave the Apex MB alone unless you’re name is S. Garcia. You can Shaft: Project X (s)
bet your bottom dollar they’ll look the business in your bag, but they’re 7-iron loft/length: 33°/37”
FROM £769 likely to be a devil to live with for anyone but superb ball strikers.

Srixon Z 765 £770 I www.srixon.co.uk PAUL CASEY World #13

Our verdict: The Japanese love to pore over every detail and it’s these tiny Availability: 3-SW (stock set Irons used: Mizuno MP-5 (4-PW).
additions that make these irons stand out. Laser face milling, a beautiful 4-PW) Shaft: Nippon NS Pro PGA Tour wins: Two. PGA Tour career
satin and polished finish, the sole detailing, a new heat treatment to Modus3 Tour 120 (s) money won: $25 million.
FROM £649 improve feel and grooves that are just a tiny bit bigger... 7-iron loft/length: 32°/37”

Wilson Staff FG Tour V6 £699 I www.wilson.com

Our verdict: Wilson can’t claim anything like the tour presence it used to, Availability: 3-PW (4-PW)
but if you can take a step back and look at the V6s objectively they’re a Shaft: True Temper Dynamic
really decent set of forged irons, with just enough tech to aid, not punish, Gold AMT
FROM £599 a decent player’s enjoyment of the game. 7-iron loft/length: 35°/37.25”

Lynx Prowler VT £599 I www.lynxgolf.co.uk ROSS FISHER World #42

Our verdict: At a time when good looking, hollow-headed irons are Availability: 4-PW Irons used: Mizuno JPX900 Tour
growing rapidly in popularity, we wouldn’t be doing our job if we didn’t (5-PW stock set) (3-9 iron). PGA Tour wins: None. PGA
highlight at £599 the VT is a fantastic option, particularly if you can’t run Shaft: KBS Tour 7-iron loft/ Tour career money won: $1.6 million.
FROM £599 to £1k for a set from the bigger brands. length: 32°/37.25”

TODAYSGOLFER .CO.UK IS SUE 37 7 105

 EQUIPMENT TOP 10s Read 1,000s of equipment reviews at www.todaysgolfer.co.uk

TOP 10 MALLET PUTTERS

TaylorMade TP Red Collection Ardmore £239 I www.taylormadegolf.com
ON TOUR…
Our verdict: A really good choice if you’re in the market for a red putter, but Weight: 355g THEPUTTERGRIPS
don’t want a wacky-shaped MOI model. Two long sightlines really help Grip: SuperStroke
with alignment. The aluminium insert gives decent feedback and roll, and Pistol GTR 1.0 USEDBYTHEWORLD’S
because it’s slightly firmer than some, it would be at home year-round on Toe hang: Face-balanced BESTPLAYERS
£199 UK greens. If you haven’t noticed oversized putter
grips have taken a stranglehold on
flat sticks. So much so that they now
Bettinardi Queen Bee #9 £319 I www.bettinardi.com regularly come as standard on many
Our verdict: A putter which, if you’re ever lucky enough to own, you’ll Weight: 362g of the latest putter models. If you
cherish because its beauty goes well beyond its intended use. For Grip: Lamkin Deep Etched need further proof, four of the five best
owners of an arcing stroke who are looking for an exceptional mallet to Pistol players on the planet use one, too.
invest in for years to come, the Queen Bee #9 is one of the finest Toe hang: Strong Here’s what the very best choose.
£309 we’ve come across.

Cleveland FI 2135 Satin Cero £139 I www.clevelandgolf.co.uk

Our verdict: Groovy face tech is all the rage when it comes to putters, Weight: 370g
and it really can make a diference when it comes to distance control, Grip: Cleveland Golf 1.25”
particularly on long putts. It has a similar performing and feeling insert Toe hang: Face-balanced
as more expensive models, plus a cracking head shape and a brilliant
£129 alignment aid, all for £139.

Ping Sigma G Craz-E from £175 I www.ping.com 1. DUSTIN JOHNSON

Weight: 370g SuperStroke Pistol GT 1.0
Our verdict: The head shape is a proven winner, the variable width and
depth grooves and face insert add an extra dimension to the Craz-E Grip: Ping Pistol P60
and the midsize sharp-edged grip is a triumph; what’s not to like? If Toe hang: Face-balanced
you’ve been a fan of Craz-E models before, you won’t be disappointed
£159 with the Sigma G edition.

Wilson Staff Infinite South Side £95 I www.wilson.com

Our verdict: A brilliantly simple introduction to centre shaft putters Weight: 365g
and counter balancing, for what is very sensible money in 2018. Grip: Wilson Staf
Padraig Harrington can use any putter he chooses, but he swears by Infinite (104g)
the South Side (he’s won twice with it, too), which speaks volumes Toe hang: Face-balanced
2. JUSTIN THOMAS
£89 about how nice a putter this is. SuperStroke Pistol GT Tour

Evnroll ER7 £275 I www.evnroll.com

Our verdict: We can’t say for sure Rife’s variable width and depth Weight: 370g
grooves gear putts back on line, but we will admit to being really Grip: Winn Pro 1.18
impressed by how putts interacted with the face, and rolled. We love Toe hang: Slight
the head’s simplicity, the weight (heavier than some) and the cracking
£275 oversized Winn grip, which sits snugly.

Scotty Cameron Select Fastback £365 I www.titleist.co.uk

Our verdict: All three testers agreed the single sightline was a step Weight: Variable on length.
3. JUSTIN ROSE
forward from the pop-through “cross-hair” set-up last year. All in, the Grip: Matador Red Midsize
FlatCat Svelte
Fastback is a beautiful mid-mallet design, and it has an excellent blend of Toe hang: Slight
premium looks, feel and performance. Scottys never come cheap, and for
£329 2018 there’s a £30 price hike.

Toulon Memphis £399 I www.odysseygolf.com/toulon-design

Our verdict: A beautifully created, rounded, simple design with a single Weight: 350g
long sightline that couldn’t be any more appealing in our eyes. We can’t say Grip: Super Stroke Pistol
for sure the diamond mill face pattern will help you hole more putts, but it GTR Tour
looks amazing and two of our three testers would happily put one in the Toe hang: Face -balanced
£399 bag for 2018.
4. BROOKS KOEPKA
Scotty Cameron Pistol
Ping Vault 2.0 Piper £275 I www.ping.com
Our verdict: Ping has obviously put tons of work into making them betterthan Weight: 360g
thepreviousrange;themilling,colourandweightoptionsarefantastic.Inour Grip: Ping PP60
opinion this is probably the least attractive of the range, but that shouldn’tput Toe hang: Face-balanced
you off looking at it or any other Vault model. They are beautifully madeandthe
£249 roll tech is sound.

TaylorMade TP Red Collection Chaska £239 I www.taylormadegolf.com

Our verdict: In all honesty the Chaska wasn’t any testers’ favourite Weight: 355g
mallet or red putter model, but that doesn’t mean it wouldn’t be Grip: Super Stroke Pistol
perfect for lots of club golfers. It is an excellent blend of looks, GTR 1.0 5. JORDAN SPIETH
stability, and all-round solid performance. The SuperStroke grip feels Toe hang: Face-balanced SuperStroke Flatso 1.0
£199 great, too.

106 IS SUE 37 7 TODAYSGOLFER .CO.UK

 MOST DRIVER WINS SO FAR IN 2018
Half way through the major season (after The Masters and US Open) TaylorMade M4 and M3 drivers have racked up 10 wins and
$13,590,000 in cash. That’s twice as many as 2nd placed Ping with almost double the amount of prize money ($7,4242,000).

TOP 10 BALLS UNDER £30 (DOZEN)

Callaway Super Soft £19.99 I www.callawaygolf.com
A N D F I N A L LY…
LOW COMPRESSION
Our verdict: A brilliant low-compression ball. In our opinion the Super Soft Layers: Two
RYDERCUPGOODIES
is very well matched to golfers who own an average swing speed, which With the Ryder Cup just around the
Cover material: Ionomer
won’t over power and compress the ball too much to cost distance. That corner, here’s three of our favourite
Colours: White, yellow and
£19.99
FOR 15 BALLS means most of us. pink.
Ryder Cup goodies to get your hands
before battle commences in Paris.
www.rydercup.com
Wilson DX3 Soft Spin £27.99 I www.wilson.com LOW COMPRESSION Ryder Cup Flag £28
Our verdict: Just like picking a driver or set of irons, our data shows that A must-have fo
golf balls need careful selection, too. A brilliant low compression option for Layers: Three any golfer’s man
golfers who demand soft feel, even if you own a set of harder cast steel Cover material: Surlyn cave. It looks
£19.99 irons and wedges. Very well suited to average driver swing speeds. Colours: White only much better
framed, and
Vice Pro £29.98 I www.vicegolf.com TOUR BALL signed...
Our verdict: Vice is an interesting model. Its balls are only available online,
not in pro shops, which seriously reduces the price of them. If your ball of Glenmuir Fredrick
Layers: Three polo shirt £60
choice is currently a premium-priced tour favourite, we can only say the Cover material: Urethane A timeless, classic
Vice Pro is every bit as comparable... for a lot less cash. Colours: White, lime and red polo which you can
wear forever… so long a
Vice Pro Plus £29.98 I www.vicegolf.com TOUR BALL Europe win.
Our verdict: To get the best out of this ball you need either to have an above-
average swing speed or harbour a desire to play a firmer ball and want to hit Layers: Four
shots lower. Though a majority of tour players use firmer “x” balls, the majority Peter Millar Pertch
Cover material: Urethane
of club golfers would be better served by the slightly softer Vice Pro. camo top £90
Colours: White, lime and red
Americans love making
a battle out of anything
Srixon AD333 Tour £29.99 I www.srixon.co.uk TOUR BALL – play them at their
Our verdict: You won’t find much in golf that’s less expensive this year own game with this
than last. Srixon, though, have dropped the Tour’s price by £4 a dozen for Layers: Three camouflaged top.
2018. A perfect ball for golfers who like the feel of a tour ball, but don’t Cover material: Urethane
£19.99 quite own the swing speed needed to compress one fully. Colours: White only

Srixon AD333 £24 I www.srixon.co.uk ALL-ROUNDER

Our verdict: A very well-rounded, reasonably priced ball that comes with an
excellent pedigree for lots of “normal” golfers. Ideally positioned to perform for Layers: Two
a wide range of swing speeds. The solid sound but soft feel is well suited to Cover material: Ionomer
£18.99
players who don’t want to join the march towards low-compression balls. Colours: White, yellow

Titleist Velocity £26 I www.titleist.co.uk ALL-ROUNDER

Our verdict: No doubt the Velocity is long. For us there’s a trade-of in feel Layers: Two
for that speed and distance, but we reckon it suits a wide audience of Cover material: Ionomer
swing speed golfers. Most at home in the hands of golfers who want to blend Colours: White,
£22.99 rinse every last yard out of their game. orange and pink

Mizuno JPX £25 I golf.mizunoeurope.com ALL-ROUNDER Largest Choice Online

Our verdict: For many the JPX would be an excellent choice of ball,
irrespective of swing speed or feel preference. Incredibly it’s more than Layers: Two Trusted UK Retailer
capable of holding its own in a scrap with premium tour balls in the hands Cover material: Surlyn
of everyday club golfers... for £25 a dozen. Colours: White only PGA Professional Staff

TaylorMade Project (s) £24.99 I www.taylormadegolf.com Fantastic Savings

BUDGET
Our verdict: If you own a swing speed anywhere just below average to just
above, and don’t want a low compression or tour-style ball, the (s) will do a We also offer
Layers: Three
job for you. If your budget doesn’t stretch to more than £25 a dozen, the Cover material: Ionomer ‘Free UK Delivery Over £30’
£19.99 (s) should be high on your short-list of balls to try. Colours: White
5 Star Rated Service
Pearl Golf Pure Soft £21.99 I www.pearlgolf.co.uk BUDGET
Our verdict: If you can run to buying three dozen at a time the Pure Soft Layers: Three ONLINE
represents excellent value. We certainly aren’t saying you won’t be able to Cover material: Urethane www.clubhousegolf.co.uk
tell the diference between it and a tour ball. But for golfers who can’t Colours: White, yellow and
justify £50 a dozen, it should be on your golf ball radar. orange

FOR TONS MORE GEAR REVIEWS INCLUDING VIDEO VERDICTS

& BONUS PICTURES VISIT WWW.TODAYSGOLFER.CO.UK
Looking for new kit? Don’t buy a thing until you’ve seen all our 2018
reviews on our website AND details of all the new launches
Plus if you’re looking at secondhand kit, we’ve already reviewed it
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 HE
T O H ER E
YOU C L P
Search 1,000s more courses at www.todaysgolfer.co.uk B E T TH O O S E
ER

THE PLAYLIST

COURSE REVIEWS  
GREEN FEE DEALS  
STAY & PLAYS  
HOLIDAY IDEAS

Time for nine!

As the R&A gets behind nine-hole rounds, we’ve THE REGIONS
South West 110
picked the best short courses in Britain and Ireland South East 112
The Midlands 114
The North 116
Scotland 118
Ireland 120
Wales 122

INSIDE THIS SECTION...

COURSE REVIEWS SEVE’S STAR ALL-WEATHER COMPETITION

Our pick of GB&I’s best nine-hole courses Discover his only course design in France Nothing stops play at this Cornwall venue Win a stay and play trip to Slovakia
 THE PLAYLIST SOUTH WEST More SW courses at www.todaysgolfer.co.uk

GWELANMOR,CORNWALL coastal views above Portreath while MUST

Architect: David Cooper (2017).
Yardage: 1,241 (par 27).
Green fees: £15 midweek, £18 weekends.
In a nutshell…. A short course with a significant
diference. This brand new nine-hole par-3 layout
– holes range from 106 to 177 yards - was opened
by former Ryder Cup captain Bernard Gallacher
last year. It pays tribute to some of golf’s greatest
holes – it’s known as the Famous Nine – and features
all-weather artificial greens.
To play well you need to... Drink in the glorious
imagining you’re getting a small slice of
legendary courses such as St Andrews,
PLAY
Augusta and Pebble Beach. Oh, and turn
up with your best short game.
You’ll love that… It only take around 90 minutes to
play, and is the biggest UK course using the latest
all-weather tees and greens. Of-course, the venue
ofers the ultimate in luxury breaks, providing five
star self-catering accommodation in a spectacular
coastal location and superb amenities.
01209 842354 www.gwelanmor.com

LINKS GREAT
HEAVEN VIEWS

BURNHAM&BERROW(CHANNEL),SOMERSET DARTMOUTH,DEVON PAINSWICK,GLOS

Architect: Hawtree Design (1977).
Yardage: 5,852 (par 70).
Green fees: £25.
In a nutshell… The nine-hole Channel course sits slap
bang next door to the Championship layout, one of the
country’s top links, and a decent seaside examination in
its own right with six par 4s, two par 3s and a par 5.
You’ll love the… 18 tees, which mean you’ll be
encouraged to do it all over again. It will be in excellent
condition, too, and is £90 cheaper than its sister.
01278785760 www.burnhamandberrowgolfclub.co.uk
Architects: Jeremy Pern (1992).
Yardage: 2,252 (par 33).
Green fees: £16 midweek, £18 weekends.
In a nutshell… The Dartmouth is a worthy option for the
neighbouring Championship layout, the testing nine-
holer featuring several undulating greens and water.
You’ll love that… Dartmouth has been built to the same
high standards as the Championship and is similarly
maintained and presented. The value-for-money resort
boasts impressive leisure facilities.
01803 712011 www.thedartmouthhotel.co.uk
Architects: David Brown (founded 1891).
Yardage: 4,572-4,831 (par 67).
Green fees: £22.
In a nutshell… This hilltop layout in the Cotswolds is
900ft above sea level on Painswick Beacon. Ancient
ramparts of earth and stone feature on five holes.
You’ll love the… quick round! You’re likely to get around
within three hours. Also, brain rules over brawn here
while you’ll be knocked out by the stunning Cotswold,
Brecon Beacons, Severn Valley and Malverns views.
01452 812615 www.painswickgolf.com

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 WATSON SIGNS FOR A 59
Wessex Golf Centre pro Michael Watson shot a 59 en route to his second win of the season in the Vivary
Park Pro-Am at the Taunton municipal course, posting nines of 30 and 29 with five birdies and an eagle.

NOVEL
SETTING
WINCANTON, SOMERSET
Architects: Unknown (1994).
Yardage: 6,266 (par 70).
Green fees: Nine holes - £11 midweek, £13 weekends.
In a nutshell… This nine holer is maturing nicely since
opening 24 years ago and doubles up with the Sport of
Kings – it’s plotted within Wincanton racecourse.
You’ll love that… 18 teeing areas means there’s a
diferent challenge if you’ve time to go round twice. The
cafe in the scenic historical barn within the racecourse
boundaries is worth visiting, too.
01963 435850 wincanton.thejockeyclub.co.uk
WOODBURYPARK,DEVON
Architects: James Hamilton-Stutt (1992).
Yardage: 4,609 (par 65).
Green fees: £16 for nine holes.
In a nutshell… The mighty Oaks may be the No.1
attraction at this delightful venue formerly owned by F1
legend Nigel Mansell, but the nine-hole Acorns poses
plenty of questions, too.
You’ll love the… Stunning views across the Exe Valley.
It’s testing without being too daunting or intimidating
so it’s ideal for players of all abilities.
01395 233500 www.woodburypark.co.uk
BUDOCKVEAN,CORNWALL
Architects: James Braid (1922).
Yardage: 5,255 (par 58).
Green fees: £16 for nine holes in midweek & £25 per
day at weekends.
In a nutshell… A gently undulating parkland layout
plotted within 65 acres of gardens and woodland in
an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty
You’ll love that… The 1st tee is just a few paces away
from the hotel, and you can play for free if you’re staying
on site. The 7th was once the longest par 5 in Cornwall.
01326 252102 www.budockvean.co.uk

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 THE PLAYLIST SOUTH EAST
HEVER CASTLE, KENT
Architect: David Wood (1998).
Yardage: 5,086-5,604 (par 70).
Green fees: Nine holes; £15 midweek, £20
weekends.
In a nutshell… The handiwork of Hever Castle’s
course manager, David Wood, the nine-hole Prince’s
is celebrating its 20th anniversary this year and is
a lovely and challenging foil to nearby royals and
championship layout, the Kings and Queens.
To play well you need to... It’s densely tree-lined so
you need to be pretty straight of the tee while your
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nerves will be fully tested at the par-3
3rd and 6th holes, both played over
MUST
water. You can boost your confidence on PLAY
the neighbouring – even shorter – nine-
hole Express course with its oversized holes.
You’ll love the… Chance to stay and play in grand
style at a venue fit for royalty, experiencing 700 years
of history at the double-moated castle once the
childhood home of Anne Boleyn and featuring award-
winning gardens set in 125 acres of glorious grounds.
01732 700771 www.hevercastle.co.uk

West Essex GC has appointed 23-years-old James Levick as its new secretary
and he’s believed to be the youngest manager of a golf club in the country.
DATCHET, BERKSHIRE
Architects: Unknown (founded 1890).
Yardage: 5,941-6,087 (par 70).
Green fees: Nine holes; £15 midweek, £20 weekends.
In a nutshell… Lovely nine-hole parkland which runs
along the Thames and is overlooked by Windsor Castle.
There are 15 tees in all, ensuring the back nine players
very diferently.
You’ll love the… Easy walk through beautiful
countryside. The par-3 finishing hole – played between
two large oaks and over a ravine – is the highlight.
01753 543887 www.datchetgolfclub.co.uk
LECKFORD, HANTS
Architects: Harry Colt (1929).
Yardage: 6,276 (par 72).
Green fees: £23 (only in groups of eight or more).
In a nutshell… A Colt classic plotted on chalk-based
downland, remaining virtually unchanged for the best
part of a century. No wonder there’s a three-year
waiting list for new members.
You’ll love the… Par-4 8th, played from an elevated
tee to a sloping fairway and long, narrow green before
you sign of with another cracking downhill par 3.
07860 719184 www.leckfordgolf.co.uk
REPLICA
HOLES
NORTHWICKPARK,MIDDLESEX
Architects: Peter McEvoy (2006).
Yardage: 1,635-1,759 (par 29).
Green fees: £10 midweek, £15 weekends.
In a nutshell… A nine-hole layout modelled on signature
holes at superstar venues including Augusta, The Belfry
and Troon, with versions of world-famous holes such as
the Postage Stamp and Golden Bell (Augusta’s 12th).
You’ll love the… Fun, fast and cheap way to play some
of golf’s greatest holes. Can you avoid the treacherous
bunker guarding Troon’s Postage Stamp?
0208 864 2020 www.playgolfworld.com
THE YOUNG ONE
REIGATEHEATH,SURREY
Architects: Unknown (1895).
Yardage: 5,253-5,658 (par 67).
Green fees: Nine holes - £22.50 midweek, £27.50
weekends. Bookable five days in advance.
In a nutshell… One of Surrey’s best nine-hole courses
with a single par 5 (4th) – it’s played as a par 4 on the
reverse nine – and a 226-yard par 3 (6th).
You’ll love the… Gorgeous heathland setting within a
Site of Special Scientific Interest. It’s always playable,
and always in terrific condition.
01737 242610 www.reigateheathgc.com
EASY
ACCESS
HOEBRIDGE,SURREY
Architects: Simon Gidman (1982).
Yardage: 2,294 (par 33).
Green fees: From £10.
In a nutshell… Outstanding all-round golf centre
close to both the M25 and M3 motorways featuring
the nine-hole Shey Copse, which winds its way
through mature parkland and comprises six par-4s
(the longest being 387 yards) supported by the
18-hole par-3 Short Course.
You’ll love the… Pirate Adventure Golf after your round!
01483 722611 www.hoebridgegc.co.uk
WYCOMBEHEIGHTS,BUCKS
Architects: John Jacobs (1991).
Yardage: 1,955 (par 54).
Green fees: £13 midweek, £15 weekends.
In a nutshell… Underrated all-round venue where you
can just pitch up and play the impressively maintained
18-hole Short Course with the par-3 holes ranging from
77 to 157 yards.
You’ll love it if… You’re a new golfer. It’s also a great
spot for regular players to sharpen up their short game
and a warm-up for the main 18-hole layout.
01494 816686 www.wycombeheightsgc.co.uk
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 THE PLAYLIST MIDLANDS & EAST
ROYAL WORLINGTON & NEWMARKET, SUFFOLK
Architect: Tom Dunn, Harry Colt (1893).
Yardage: 6,246 (par 74).
Green fees: £70 (18 holes).
In a nutshell… Widely regarded as one of the finest
nine-hole layouts in the land – it has been claimed
the world, but that’s probably stretching it. It is
undoubtedly a fine course with a strong combination
of holes draped across gently undulating sandy-
based soil that drains well year-round.
To play well you need to... Learn fast from playing
the front nine so you know where to go and where not
to when you play it second time round. You certainly
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need to have the right club in your hands
to combat the par-3 7th – usually MUST
played in a crosswind across a valley to a PLAY
pacey green. There’s only one par-5, the
friendly opening hole.
You’ll love that… It regularly features in most Top
100 Course listings, plus the history – it has been the
home club of the Cambridge University golf team,
The Light Blues, since its formation over 120 years
ago. The CUGC Captains’ Board list proudly adorns
the charismatic clubhouse walls and the first name
on it is legendary architect Harry Colt!
01638 717787 www.royalworlington.co.uk

HARBORNE CHURCH FARM, WEST MIDLANDS
Architect: Harry Colt (1926).
Yardage: 2,441 (par 33).
Green fees: £9 midweek, £10.80 w/e (nine holes).
In a nutshell… This mature parkland with narrow fairways
and small, well-guarded greens will test you every inch of
the way. Holes range from 157 to 392 yards.
You’ll love the… Superb value (just over a tenner at
weekends is exceptional) and that it’s only a short
drive from the bright lights and many attractions of
England’s second city.
0121 427 1204 www.mytimeactive.co.uk/golf
BRAID
DESIGN
NAILCOTEHALL,WARWICKS
Architect: Rick Cressman (1994).
Yardage: 1,048 (par 27).
Green fees: From £15 for 18 holes.
In a nutshell… Home of a devilishly
diicult nine-hole par-3 layout and
the star-studded Farmfoods British
Par 3 Championship, which annually
attracts a whole host of top players
and celebrities watched by sizeable
crowds. This year’s event is set to take
place on August 7-10 (Charley Hull
and Ian Woosnam are just two of the
star names set to take part).
You’ll love that… You’ll get round
in an hour! It’s the ultimate short
game examiniation thanks to tiny,
well-guarded – there are 23 bunkers
to avoid – raised greens, along with a
variety of hazards, including plenty of
water. The longest hole is 140 yards
so your short irons/wedges will need to
be spot on! PAR 3
02476 466174 CHAMPS
www.nailcotehall.co.uk
Famous West Midlands Ryder Cup host, The Belfry, has become the first
major venue in Europe to adopt a fleet of Club Car’s new Tempo golf buggies.
BAKEWELL,DERBYS
Architect: George Lowe (founded 1899).
Yardage: 5,152-5,244 (par 68).
Green fees: £15 midweek, £20 weekends.
In a nutshell… This undulating treat features nine holes
and 18 tees along the hillside east of the Peak District
town and should be treated with respect, especially the
demanding par-4 opener.
You’ll love the… Scenery. Set in the heart of the Peak
District the views are pretty special with the course
overlooking the town and River Wye.
01629 812307 www.bakewellgolfclub.co.uk
DRIVE IN STYLE
SOUTHWOLD,SUFFOLK
Architect: James Braid, Harry Vardon and Tom Dunn
(founded 1884).
Yardage: 5,937-6,067 (par 70).
Green fees: From £14 (nine holes).
In a nutshell… Golf has been played here for over 130
years and the splendid nine-hole par-35 heathland
layout starts and finishes with demanding short holes.
You’ll love that… It plays like a links. Being near the
coast, it’s afected by the constant coastal breezes with
firm, fast-running fairways and wonderful greens.
01502 723234 www.southwoldgolfclub.co.uk
CHARNWOOD FOREST, LEICS
Architect: James Braid
(founded 1890).
Yardage: 5,971 (par 69).
Green fees: £17 for nine holes.
In a nutshell… Home of the oldest
club in the county, nine holers don’t
come more enjoyable than this
mature Braid heathland. Though
there are no bunkers to negotiate
there’s plenty of heather and gorse,
plus an ancient rustic stone wall to
avoid. It boasts 18 tees so the back
nine plays diferently.
You’ll love the… Wonderfully rolling
terrain. It’s plotted within a Site of
Special Scientific Interest (SSSI)
around the Hangingstone Rocks
dating back 620 million years – and
a number of dramatic elevated tees. It
celebrated its 125th anniversary three
years ago with the Duke of York paying
a visit. In good condition year-round.
01509 890259
www.charnwoodforestgolfclub.com
SUTTONBRIDGE,LINCS
Architect: Albert Norton (1914).
Yardage: 5,588-5,822 (par 70).
Green fees: £12.50 midweek, £15 w/e (nine holes).
In a nutshell… This historic course is fun and quirky. It
sits within a collapsed and abandoned Victorian dock
basin next to the River Nene.
You’ll love the… Challenge provided by the former dock
basin walls, some 15ft high, which are in play on seven
holes including most notably the par-4 7th.
01406 350323
www.club-noticeboard.co.uk/suttonbridge
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 THE PLAYLIST NORTH More northern courses at www.todaysgolfer.co.uk

SOUTHPORTOLDLINKS,
MERSEYSIDE
Architects: James Braid (1892).
Yardage: 6,339-6,461 (par 72).
Green fees: £25 for nine holes.
In a nutshell… Being right next
to legendary links such as Royal
Birkdale and Southport & Ainsdale
means it’s tough for Southport
OL, especially since golf has been
played here since 1892 – well before
the others held their first monthly
medal. But with a splendid course
overlooked by a modern clubhouse HEBDENBRIDGE,WESTYORKS
it’s certainly worth playing if you’re Architects: Unknown (1932).
in the area. Yardage: 2,582 (par 34).
You’ll love the… Value - a tenth of Green fees: £10 for nine holes.
green fees at the leading links. Short In a nutshell… Interesting, challenging and exposed
but fun, enjoyable and testing nine- moorland layout on a hillside 1,000ft above sea level
hole parkland alternative to the nearby in the foothills of the Pennines, taking full advantage
superstar links. The 18 diferent tees of the natural contours; so be prepared for plenty of
give it the feel of a fully-fledged sloping lies. The wind is always a factor.
18-hole course. You’ll love the… Short par-4 9th/18th, which plays to a
01704 228 207 green around 100ft below you!
www.southportoldlinksgolfclub.co.uk 01422 842896 www.hebdenbridgegolfclub.co.uk

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RUDDING PARK, NORTH YORKS
Architect: Hawtree Design (2008).
Yardage: 911 (par 27).
Green fees: Six holes from £7.
In a nutshell… Wonderful all-round venue just
outside Harrogate and the six-hole Repton course
is a belter. The holes are replicas of golf’s most
famous short holes, varying in length from 71 to
139 yards. It is brilliant fun, especially if you’re
looking to sharpen up your short game.
To play well you need to... The Repton demands
pinpoint precision, imagination and creativity with
CHEADLE,CHESHIRE
Architect: T Renouf (1885).
Yardage: 4,712-4,993 (par 64).
Green fees: £10 in Golf Express
(nine holes).
In a nutshell… Proud home of the
county’s second oldest course behind
world famous Open venue Royal
Liverpool, this charming parkland
boasts a strong combination of par-
3s and 4s, with the 440-yard 6th
arguably being the pick and the most
challenging.
You’ll love that… The club fully
supports England Golf’s Golf Express
initiative – which encourages people
to play nine holes in under two hours –
to keep golfers on course and playing
regularly. Plus, you can unwind in the
one of the cosiest clubhouses you
could hope to find and maybe even
compete over a frame or two in the
snooker room.
0161 4914452
www.cheadlegolf.com
Leading Northumberland venue Slaley Hall has swapped over the nines on its renowned Hunting course
so members and visitors get to play it in the same order as the professionals during championships.
your short irons and wedges, which MUST
need to find the tiny targets if you’re
PLAY
to make par – or better. You also
need to hold your nerve at the thrilling
penultimate hole based on the 17th at Sawgrass.
You’ll love that… You can get around within an
hour, something of a golfing rarity. The Repton
was built to USGA specifications, too, so is in just
as good nick as the neighbouring main Hawtree
course. Staying at the smart on-site hotel with its
excellent facilities is a big plus.
01423 871350 www.ruddingpark.co.uk
GOLF
EXPRESS
ALL-CHANGE AT SLALEY HALL
GREAT
VIEWS
ALSTONMOOR,CUMBRIA
Architect: Unknown (founded 1905).
Yardage: 5,364 (par 68).
Green fees: £15.
In a nutshell… Ten holers are few and far between but
this little beauty, 1,476ft above sea level, happens to be
the highest course in England with its 10 greens – eight
shared – and 18 teeing areas plotted in 132 acres.
You’ll love the… Diferent back nine tees, which ofer a
challenge to keep you fully focused, especially considering
the gorgeous North Pennine views.
01434 381675 www.alstonmoorgolfclub.org.uk
RAWDON,WESTYORKS
Architect: Harry Vardon (founded 1896).
Yardage: 5,702-5,886 (par 72).
Green fees: £10 midweek.
In a nutshell… This well-established parkland has been
placed in the top 10 UK nine-holers – and justifiably
so. It’s a decent test for all players, has a good variety of
holes, including a pair of par-5s.
You’ll love the… Location. It’s just outside Leeds so
the stunning courses of Alwoodley and Moortown are a
short drive away.
0113 250 6040 www.rgltc.co.uk
WHALLEY,LANCS
Architect: Unknown (founded 1912).
Yardage: 5,968-6,226 (par 70/71).
Green fees: £15 midweek, £18 weekends.
In a nutshell… Underrated nine holer even though the
mini parkland layout has been around for over a century.
The course has been upgraded in recent times and
features two nerve-jangling par-3s over water.
You’ll love the… Greens, which are very consistent, the
friendly welcome, the exercise over some hilly terrain
and superb Ribble Valley views.
01254 822236 www.whalleygolfclub.co.uk
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 THE PLAYLIST SCOTLAND
GIFFORD, EAST LOTHIAN
Architect: Unknown (1904).
Yardage: 5,798-6,129 (par 71).
Green fees: £18 midweek, £20 weekends (nine holes).
In a nutshell… The only nine-hole course on Scotland’s
Golf Coast is a century old parkland bordered by mature
woodland, and has changed little down the years.
You’ll love the… Diferent tees on several back nine
holes. It nestles in a tranquil scenic setting at the foot
of the Lammermuir Hills and watch out for the Speedy
Burn coming into play on several holes.
01620 810591 www.gifordgolfclub.com
FAMED
TRACK
SHISKINE, ISLE OF ARRAN
Architects: Willie Fenie (1896).
Yardage: 2,787-2,996 (par 42).
Green fees: £25 midweek, £30 weekends (12 holes).
In a nutshell… A sensational layout that’s well worth
the short ferry ride across to Arran from Ayrshire. It’s a
wild, raw links set in truly spectacular surroundings.
You’ll love that… It’s unique. You’ll be blown away by
the views and the early par 3s, including ‘Crows Nest’
where you’re hitting blind into a green on top of a hill.
It’ll take you just over two hours to get around, too.
01770 860226 www.shiskinegolf.com
EPIC
TRIP!
DURNESS, SUTHERLAND
Architect: Ian Morrison, Lachie Ross, Francis Keith (1988).
Yardage: 5,555 (par 70).
Green fees: £20 (9/18 holes).
In a nutshell… Home of the most north-westerly course
in mainland Britain and a modern nine-hole links with
two diferent sets of tees if you’ve got time to play 18.
You’ll love the… Gorgeous surroundings. On-course
standouts include the glorious par-5 6th which sweeps
around the bay – go right and you’ll be in it – and the
par-3 finale. Amazing value, too.
01971 511364 www.durnessgolfclub.org
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TOP100
VENUE
CRUDENBAY,ABERDEENSHIRE
Architect: Tom Simpson and Herbert Fowler (1926).
Yardage: 4,926 (par 64).
Green fees: £20 midweek, £25 weekends (nine holes).
In a nutshell… Naturally the vast majority go to the club’s
fabled Championship links, but its nine-hole St Olaf sibling
(five par 4s and four par 3s) is well worth playing.
You’ll love that… If you play the Championship course
you’ll get on the St Olaf for free on the same day. It
finishes with a demanding par-4 8th hole followed by a
125 yarder with a green guarded by three pot bunkers.
01779 812285 www.crudenbaygolfclub.co.uk
CUPAR,FIFE
Architects: Allan Robertson (founded 1855).
Yardage: 4,752-5,153 (par 66/68).
Green fees: £15 (nine holes).
In a nutshell… A parkland treat down the road from St
Andrews with plenty of history of its own – it’s believed
to be the home of the oldest surviving nine-hole club in
the country, if not the world. Play it twice of the Medal
tees and it’s a par-68, 5,000 yarder.
You’ll love the… Small greens that are in excellent
shape, and it finishes with a great, driveable par-4.
01334 653549 www.cupargolfclub.co.uk
BLAIRGOWRIE,PERTHSHIRE
Architect: James Braid (1930s).
Yardage: 2,327 (par 32).
Green fees: £17.50 (nine holes).
In a nutshell… Short-but-sweet companion to the
classy venue’s outstanding Rosemount and Lansdowne
heathland layouts. Starts and finishes with a par-3.
You’ll love the… Aptly-named Wee Course is hugely
popular among players looking for a test before they
tackle either of the 18-hole layouts. It’s great fun and
with a handful of par-4s is no stroll in the park.
01250 872622 www.theblairgowriegolfclub.co.uk

The 14th World Hickory Open will be held over two days (Oct 16-17) over the
demanding Scotland’s Golf Coast links of Luffness and Gullane No. 3 in East Lothian.
COMRIE, PERTHSHIRE
Architect: James Braid (founded 1891).
Yardage: 5,398-6,016 (par 70).
Green fees: £15 for nine holes.
In a nutshell… A short drive from legendary
Gleneagles you’ll discover one of the finest and
most scenic nine-holers in the UK, with the most
memorable of half-rounds climaxing with a nailbiting
tee shot through an avenue of trees.
To play well you need to... Have good course
management and that particularly applies to the 6th
hole, the only par 5 – if you’re to be in with a birdie
BAGGY TROUSERS
shout, you should try and stay on the
left side of the fairway with your second MUST
shot to get a clear view of the two-tiered
green – and the long par-4 finale where
PLAY
it’s advisable to take one club less for the
approach shots.
You’ll love the… Views of the surrounding Perthshire
hills and over Strathearn valley are simply stunning
and all nine holes have their own distinctive
character, with no two holes either looking or playing
the same. The 3rd and 5th holes are a particularly
classy pair of par 3s…
01764 670055 www.comriegolf.co.uk
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 THE PLAYLIST IRELAND More Irish courses at www.todaysgolfer.co.uk

WILD &
REMOTE

CRUIT ISLAND, COUNTY DONEGAL

Architect: Michael Doherty (1986).
Yardage: 4,941 (par 68).
Green fees: €35.
In a nutshell… A remote outpost, with a bridge leading
to a long drive across the island, towards a links of
heaving dunes. Nine holes roar through them out to the
sea’s edge. Great fun from start to finish.
You’ll love the… Par-3 6th, which encapsulates all of
Cruit Island’s beauty in one hole. You have to hit over a
rocky hollow that drops straight into the sea.
00353749543296 www.cruitislandgolfclub.com

RELAXING
ROUND

PARKNASILLA, COUNTY KERRY

Architect: Dr Arthur Spring (1975).
Yardage: 5,284 (par 69).
Green fees: €20 (nine holes).
In a nutshell… A 12-holer perched on the edge of
Kenmare Bay and part of a famous resort on Ireland’s
Wild Atlantic Way.
You’ll love the… Relaxed air to the course. Three greens
sit above the water, the par 3 at the farthest point being
a peach, while from the 8th fairway you can see all
along the Kenmare estuary.
00353 64 6645195 www.parknasillaresort.com

CARRICKMINES,DUBLIN
Architect: Unknown (1900).
Yardage: 6,122 (par 71).
Green fees: €20 (nine holes)
midweek, €25 weekends.
In a nutshell… A slice of hillside
heathland happiness. The turf, the
gorse, the bracken and the terrain all
ensure an experience that is quite
diferent to almost every other Irish
course. It is a fine test that requires
you to navigate sloping fairways and
sharp green ledges with care because
MULRANNY,COUNTYMAYO the gorse ofers no forgiveness.
Architect: Unknown (1896). You’ll love the… Bench beside the 7th
Yardage: 5,729 (par 71). green, dedicated to acclaimed writer
Green fees: €20 Samuel Beckett. He played golf here
In a nutshell… The last of Ireland’s courses with greens for many years – and was very handy,
enclosed by fences. Cattle and sheep roam the fairways too. Carrickmines also ofers diferent
of this wild west coast links and still the course is a tee boxes for many of its holes and, on
beauty, with little interference from man. three of these, the par is diferent on
You’ll love the… Greens; step inside the wire and they’re each loop. It makes a nine-hole course
as good as anywhere you’ll play. Just keep an eye out for so much more.
cow pats as you exit them!! 003531 2955972
00353 9836262 www.mulrannygolfclub.com www.carrickminesgolfclub.ie

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Seapoint’s Dylan Keating– the nephew of pop star Ronan Keating –
claimed an impressive Irish Boys U16 Championship at Castle Dargan.
PORTSTEWART (OLD), COUNTY LONDONDERRY
Architects: RC Davison, James Rea (founded 1894).
Yardage: 4,822 (par 64).
Green fees: £15.
In a nutshell… Home of 18 holes which beguilingly sit in
the shadows of its famous neighbour, the Strand course
which hosted last year’s Irish Open, won by Jon Rahm.
But this is where it all began golfing-wise along the
rocky shore east of Portstewart at the back end of the
19th century.
To play well you need to... Obviously it’s nowhere
near as challenging and demanding as the mighty
Strand though it’s a mini version of its near neighbour
FOXROCK, COUNTYDUBLIN
Architect: Harry Colt re-design (founded 1893).
Length: 5,875-6,257 yards (par 70).
Green fees: €65.
In a nutshell… A mature nine-hole parkland surrounded
by upperclass suburbia. The course is rich in colour
and richer in history: this is Colt’s handiwork and
while changes have been made they’ve always been
sympathetic to Colt’s core design ethos.
You’ll love the… Smart routing, which gives the course
far more room than the golfer might anticipate.
003531 289 3992 www.foxrockgolfclub.com
STAR TURN
so shouldn’t be underestimated because
it’s well capable of dishing out some MUST
punishment of its own. It provides a good
warm-up for Portstewart’s chief attraction
PLAY
so take your time – the course is usually
pretty quiet – and display your best links and course
strategy skills and you’re likely to be well rewarded.
You’ll love that… The course remains virtually
unchanged from the mid-1930s, when it was
extended to 18 holes from 12 after initially setting
out as a humble nine holer. It really is a chip of the
old block in more ways than one – a round on the
Strand will set you back an additional £160!
028 7083 2549 www.portstewartgc.co.uk
SPANISHPOINT,COUNTYCLARE
Architect: Unknown (1896).
Yardage: 5,000 (par 68).
Green fees: €20 midweek,
€25 weekends.
In a nutshell… So named because
the Spanish Armada apparently
washed up here! Today it is home to
a classic nine-hole links overlooking
the beach and providing sensational
Atlantic views, especially at the par-
3 6th. It features five par 4s and
four par 3s and is always in great
shape.
You’ll love its… Stunning location
and the history it boasts, plus the
fact it’s a short drive away from the
ancient legendary links of Lahinch
and the magical modern links of
Doonbeg, making for a fantastic
weekend away. It’s also blessed with
wonderful natural drainage so is
always playable.
00353 65 7084198
www.spanishpointgolfing.com
TODAYSGOLFER .CO.UK IS SUE 37 7 121
 THE PLAYLIST WALES More Welsh courses at www.todaysgolfer.co.uk

GREAT BETWS-Y-COED, CONWY MUST

VIEWS
PENMAENMAWR,CONWY
Architect: Members of the local district council (1910).
Yardage: 5,119-5,372 (par 67).
Green fees: £10 for nine holes.
In a nutshell… Among North Wales’ best nine-holers
and well worth visiting if you’re checking out the
region’s top links. The views are out of this world.
You’ll love the… Discounts for golfers undertaking a
North Wales golf break at Llandudno’s superb courses.
You can just pitch up and play six days a week (Sun to
Fri). Terrific holiday action.
01492 623330 www.pengolf.co.uk
Architect: Unknown (1978).
Yardage: 2,455 (par 32). PLAY
Green fees: £15.
In a nutshell… Located in the heart of North Wales, in the
foothills of Snowdonia, an area of truly outstanding natural
beauty, and skirted by the River Conwy, the nine holer is a fairly
straightforward test – from the tee everything is in front of you
– and boasts generous fairways.
To play well you need to… Master the par 3s. If you’re playing
18 holes, eight of the ‘short’ holes are 200 yards-plus and
they’re well protected too, so stay fully focused and somehow
don’t let the glorious surroundings distract you from the
diicult task in hand.
You’ll love the… Stunning scenery and walk. Located on
the valley floor, the course itself isn’t hilly, but provides a
thoroughly enjoyable stroll, with stunning views all around.
016907 10556 www.betws-y-coedgolfclub.co.uk

GREAT
VALUE

RHYL,NORTHWALES
Architect: James Braid (founded 1890).
Yardage: 5,938-6,315 (par 70/71).
Green fees: £10 (nine holes).
In a nutshell… This nine green/18 tee layout may lack
length, but will still prove deceptively tricky, especially
when the westerly wind is blowing.
You’ll love the… Recently refurbished clubhouse and
the absolutely awesome views; the Irish Sea flanks the
northern edge of the course and ofers views towards
the Great Orme and Anglesey.
01745 353171 www.rhylgolfclub.co.uk

STMELYD,DENBIGHSHIRE
Architect: Unknown (1922).
Yardage: 5,594-5,839 (par 69).
Green fees: £12 (midweek) & £16 (weekends).
In a nutshell… This well established parkland nine-holer
overlooks Prestatyn and though there isn’t much water
to speak of - apart from a small stream crossing the 3rd
fairway – the course’s biggest defence are the mature
trees tightly hugging the fairways.
You’ll love the… Convenient location, splendid greens
and excellent conditioning. There’s 18 tees, too.
01745 854405 www.stmelydgolf.co.uk

122 IS SUE 37 7 TODAYSGOLFER .CO.UK

 LINKS SPECIAL DEAL
Two nights’ B&B and three rounds (Nefyn, Conwy & Royal St David’s) costs
£195pp in October. Call Wales Golf Holidays on: 0800 083 2983.

ST DAVIDS CITY, PEMBROKESHIRE

Architect: Unknown (1903).
Yardage: 5,582-6,117 (par 70).
Green fees: £25 per day.
In a nutshell… Nine-hole links layouts (with 18 tees)
are few and far between and this one proudly takes its
name from Britain’s smallest city. The most westerly
course in Wales is both fun and challenging, the latter
being increased when the wind is blowing.
You’ll love the… Gorgeous coastal views – plus you can
play as many holes as you want for your green fee.
0752 700 4015 www.stdavidscitygolfclub.co.uk

BALA, GWYNEDD
Architects: Syd Collins (1928).
Yardage: 4,729-5,031 (par 66).
Green fees: £15 midweek, £20 weekends (10 holes).
In a nutshell… This most scenic of hilltop layouts
features just 10 holes on a plateau nearly 1,000ft above
sea level and gets under way with a 231-yard par-3.
Flat lies are few and far between…
You’ll love the… Quirkiness - you have to contend with
hillocks, rocks and other natural hazards, along with
several blind holes.
01678 520359 www.golfbala.co.uk

NO
BUNKERS

BARONHILL,ANGLESEY
Architect: CD Lawrie redesign in the 1960s.
Yardage: 5,332- 5,564 (par 68).
Green fees: £13 for nine holes.
In a nutshell… One of the surprise packages in North
Wales, Baron Hill is not only a cracking nine-hole
heathland layout but also one of the oldest privately
owned courses in the UK, dating back to the 1880s.
You’ll love the… Great greens – quick and undulating
- and the wonderful views. The par-3 5th has been
nominated one of the country’s best short holes.
01248 810231 www.baronhill.co.uk

TODAYSGOLFER .CO.UK IS SUE 37 7 123

 THE PLAYLIST DREAM DESTINATION
SE ’
Pont Royal blends Ballesteros’ only French course design with
gastronomy, wine and relaxation to create a paradise in Provence
124 IS SUE 37 7 TODAYSGOLFER .CO.UK
More courses at www.todaysgolfer.co.uk
H S itting in the foothills of the Alps in the very heart
of Provence, it is no surprise that the great Seve
Ballesteros chose this stunning piece of land to
design his only French course.
What the Spanish great created in the small
market town of Mallemort some 26 years ago is a
par 72 masterpiece that reflects the way he saw and
played the game. Drama, fun and a strategic test
await as you weave through just under 7,000 yards of
pine, plateaus and Provencal countryside flanked by
Luberon and Alpilles mountains.
It’s a combination that has attracted the Challenge
Tour for its inaugural Open de Provence by Hopps
Group in September, an event that will return until
2021. That news has seen Pont Royal’s members,
who have owned the club since 2001, announce a
seven-figure investment plan to establish the resort
as Provence’s premier destination over the next five
years.
Since taking over, the members have already
delivered a new clubhouse, irrigation system, two-
 CELEBRATING A DECADE AMONG THE ALGARVE’S BEST
The Jack Nicklaus-designed Monte Rei G&CC, arguably the No.1 course in the Algarve and among the best in Europe,
has just celebrated its tenth anniversary. Look out for news on a sister Nicklaus layout in the near future…

tier driving range, six-hole golf course, Pont Royal
Academy and a (David) Leadbetter Golf Academy
based at the 37-acre Durance Training Centre. Plans
to extend the short course to nine full holes have
already been approved, while the clubhouse will be
extended with new changing rooms, pro shop and
terraces. A fitness centre and spa, to complement
existing physio facilities, is also planned.
Exciting times lie ahead, just as they do on the 1st
tee – a short, downhill dog-leg hole flanked by out of
bounds, trees and with a huge pine in the middle of
the fairway ahead of a shallow green.
A testing par 3 over water follows, taking you
past the resort’s four-star, and classically Provencal
102-room Moulin de Vernègues hotel and luxury spa.
It leads to a truly memorable stretch starring a par 4
that almost sings Seve’s name. Flanked by stunning
mountain views, the dog-leg left 7th almost dares you
to carry a drive over a huge valley towards a narrow
strip of fairway for a short, downhill approach into a
slick green with little room for error. You could always
opt for a safe iron of the tee, but you’d know Seve
would be disappointed.
A devilishly diicult par 4, and picturesque
par 5 flanked by some of the many apartments and
villas that make up the resort village follow, building
seamlessly towards the signature par-3 11th – a 215-
yard shot across a rocky valley to a raised green.
Seve, the master of drama, sets up a thrilling close
with a narrow, undulating par 4 leading to the final
three. The short par-4 16th’s green is surrounded
by trees and sand, before the 17th’s fairway tries
desperately to pull your ball left and leave one of the
course’s toughest greens blocked out. The par-5 18th
is a classic finale. An elevated tee shot to a fairway
that dog-legs left and is flanked by trouble leaves an
approach into a long, narrow green with water looming
left and sand right.
But whatever happens you can guarantee the array
of local wines, beers and produce awaiting you in the
adjacent clubhouse, hotel and restaurants will help
you celebrate... or forget.
GETTINGTHERE
We flew direct to Marseille from Heathrow with BA
in little over two hours but you can fly from more than
20 UK airports. The transfer takes 30 minutes.
www.britishairways.com
BEST TIME TO GO
Provence attracts plenty of visitors in the peak
summer so plan your Pont Royal visit for March to
May or September to November when the weather is
enjoyable and the crowds have quietened.
TRY IT YOURSELF
Stay at The Moulin de Vernègues (www.
moulindevernegues.com), or apartments and villas
within the on-site Pierre & Vacances village (www.
pierreetvacances.com). As well as the superb golf
facilities the resort includes a Provencal-style village,
wooded areas, lakes, pools, bars, restaurants, and
tourist information. A two-night, two-round summer
stay costs from £329 with Golfbreaks.com

‘YOU COULD ALWAYS

OPT FOR A SAFE IRON
OFF THE TEE, BUT YOU’D
KNOW SEVE WOULD
BE DISAPPOINTED’
TODAYSGOLFER .CO.UK IS SUE 37 7 125
 THE PLAYLIST PRIZE DRAW
Win a golf break for two in Slovakia
Prize includes flights, accommodation and unlimited play on this spectacular course

The PGA Black Stork

course is as beautiful
as it is challenging.

fairways, elevated tees and panoramic views,

HOW TO ENTER This is typical of
this superbly kept course is as testing as it is
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breathtaking.
todaysgolfer.
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T his month we’ve teamed up with

Mountain Paradise to ofer one lucky
reader and a golfing partner a memorable
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with the chance of unlimited play on the
your email address.
Entries close at
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August 29. T&Cs
stream running through it.
In addition, it features the largest covered
driving range in Slovakia with 11 bays,
enabling practice in all weathers and, being
on the website. 350 metres long, it will comfortably satisfy
stunning PGA Black Stork course. the longest of hitters! There is also an indoor
The prize includes three nights’ half-
The prize must be
taken in September golf simulator, putting greens, chipping area
board accommodation at the four-star and a superb clubhouse bar. Relax in the
course’s on-site Hotel International, return
or October 2018 or
in May, June or July The luxurious Hotel International’s stylish hotel’s spa.
Wizz Air flights from Luton to Poprad with spa and wellness centre, with calming heated
2019. The package
airport transfers in Slovakia, and unlimited pools, whirlpools and saunas, is the perfect
is non-transferable
play at Black Stork, which features 27 place to recharge those weary muscles after
and no alternative
holes of quality golf. a testing round of golf and the good news
packages will
Located at the foot of the High Tatras be offered. is that hotel guests have unlimited access
mountains, between Velka Lomnica and There is no cash to these facilities. The establishment also
Tatranska Lomnica, the 120-hectare Black alternative and features a restaurant serving great food and a
Stork Golf Resort ofers three attractive course the competition large lobby with an extensive drinks menu as
combinations and experiences – including a prize is subject to well as a terrace.
par 72, championship standard layout. availability. For more information on this stunning area,
With immaculate fast greens, undulating visit https://mountainparadise.co.uk

E N T E R N O W AT W W W.TO D AY S G O L F E R . C O . U K /S L O VA K I A
 ACCESSORIES & EQUIPMENT ACCESSORIES & EQUIPMENT

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www.todaysgolfer.co.uk Issue 377 TODAYS GOLFER 127

 HOLIDAYS IN ENGLAND HOLIDAYS IN ENGLAND

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www.todaysgolfer.co.uk Issue 377 TODAYS GOLFER 129

 LAST WORD

Did you know?

he Golf Test
After four consecutive years
ranked inside the world’s top 50,
Quiros “messed” with his swing
in 2011 and didn’t win again
for six years.

Just how much do you have in common with

world’s top golfers? On the tee this month…
e European Tour winner Alvaro Quiros
Have you ever had a I think I’ve had five or six. The most recent was last year TG
won [the Rocco Forte Open] in Italy. It was on hole No.13 SCORE
hole-in-one? I won some champagne which I haven’t drunk! BIRDIE

Have you ever shot a 59 TG

I have a very bad memory, but maybe 60 is my best. It SCORE
or better? was on a par 71 so… not bad, not bad! PAR

Have you ever wo ember walking in after 12 holes against Mike Weir in the WGC TG
lost a match 10& vent in Arizona in 2011. He beat me unfortunately. My biggest SCORE
BOGEY
win? No more than three of four. I’m not a big match player.

Have you ever Yes. At the Porsche Open last year. I was struggling with my
TG
swing. It was in the second round and I wasn’t making the cut.
taken double ut a couple of balls in the water, and I just kept trying the same
SCORE
BIRDIE
digits on one hole shot and messing it up. I took an 11 I think.

Have you ever missed a putt Yes, for sure! That kind of feeling stays in your head for a lon TG
But if I start taking extra time over every single shot I’ve me CORE
from inside two feet? before, my rounds would be 10 hours long! PAR

Unfortunately, I have to say I have hit a few spectators bef

Have you ever found your ball in TG
The strangest was probably when I found my ball on a cha SCORE
an unusual place? the 72nd hole of the London Club in the European Open. It BIRDIE
ady’s chair – and she was still sitting in it.

Have you ever had a I have, yes. In Argentina on the 13th or 14th hole at Lagartos Open as an TG
amateur. That was back in 2002. I think it was a driver, six-iron. SCORE
albatross? It was a short par 5 obviously. BIRDIE

In the BMW Open in China earlier this year, I five-putted the 4th. The putt
Have you ever had TG
wasn’t that long, but it was very severe. The slope was four or five metres, SCORE
five putts or more? nd the length was 12 or 13 metres. I was a little bit stubborn. It was one of BIRDIE
ose putts where you had to hit it dead weight, and I repeated it four times.

Have you ever forgo y TG

waterproofs and ended up In that case, my caddie would be fired! SCORE
PAR
regretting it?
No, and what I’m going to say is very risky. But I promised myself that if I ever
Have you ever hit a shank TG
hit a shank in normal conditions during a golf tournament, I would quit [laughs]. SCORE
before? Normal conditions means a flat lie. If there’s a big slope, that’s understandable. PAR
That’s my own rule.

A decent showing from the big-hitting Spaniard, who once snapped his driver and tour stick when
a swing drill went wrong! Next month, Englishman Matt Southgate reveals some of his highs and lows. TOTAL: -4
130 IS SUE 37 7 TODAYSGOLFER .CO.UK
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 THE VERY BEST
CLUBS, BALLS,
SHOES, ACCESSORIES,
GADGETS & MORE
+ TG READERS’
CHOICE AWARDS
THE WINNERS
T 6
he Today’s Golfer Awards have
recognised the best products in
the game for more than 20 years
– now they’re back, and they’re bigger
than ever.
After exhaustive testing and
research throughout the spring, TG’s
Editors and our test pros have
selected their top-three products in 22
key categories: Drivers; Fairway
woods; Hybrids; Better player irons;
Game improvement irons; Super
game improvement irons; Wedges;
Blade putters; Mallet putters; MOI
putters; Balls; Electric trollies; Push
trollies; Trolley bags; Stand bags;
Spiked shoes; Spikeless shoes;
Apparel; GPS devices; GPS watches;
Laser rangefinders; Shot trackers.
There are so many superb products
available to golfers this year that
whittling them down to just three
winners in each category has been a
very tough process.
We’ve assessed technical
innovation, real-world performance
and sales success to make our final
decisions, and I think the list of
winners represents a fair and useful
guide to the best golf equipment on
sale this year.
For the first time ever, we’ve also
thrown the doors open to golfers to
vote in the 2018 TG Readers’ Choice
Awards. You had the chance to pick
your favourite products in each
category, plus two readers-only
awards – Innovation of the Year and
Brand of the Year.
You can find more about all the
winners, including full specs and
video reviews, at our bespoke site –
www.todaysgolfer.co.uk/tg-awards
Chris Jones, Editor
DRIVERS Find out our longest and
most forgiving big stick of 2018.
8 FAIRWAYS One model in particular
blew us away with its performance.
10 HYBRIDS There’s so much choice
we’ll help you whittle it down.
12 PLAYERS’ IRONS If you’re good enough
to use them, these are our favourites.
14 GAMEIMPROVEMENTIRONS
When you need a little extra help.
16 SUPER GAME IMPROVEMENT
IRONS When you need all the help you get!
18 WEDGES The three models that
stood out for us in 2018.
20 BLADE PUTTERS Beautiful clubs
with more tech than ever before.
MALLET PUTTERS Even Tiger
22 Woods
is trying one of these now.
24 MOI PUTTERS They’ll help straighten
out the wonkiest putting strokes.
27 BALLS There’s a surprise winner fro
us... and from TG readers.
28 ELECTRIC TROLLIES It’s a big
purchase you need to make wisely.
30 PUSH TROLLIES Never have there
been so many models to choose from.
33 TROLLEY BAGS Whether you want a
club brand or one to match your trolley.
35 STAND BAGS Every brand has them
but these are our favourites.
37 SPIKELESS SHOES They’ve c
from nowhere to be ultra-popular.
39 SPIKED SHOES But some people
sill want ‘spikes’ under their feet.
41 APPAREL Our pick of the vast array
of technical clothing on sale today.
42 GPS WATCHES Now one of
golf’s most popular products.
43 GPS HANDHELDS Get one of
these for less than £100.
43 RANGE FINDERS Lasers are now
much more than point and shoot.
SHOT TRACKERS The very
44 latest tech to help you improve.
 WAY ROGUE

ce
way
an
d up to
over the

is light years
. It has a more
d head shape
of us will boost
ee. Our test pro
est average ball
st average carry (274
with TaylorMade’s M3)
ue. That speaks volumes
xcellent combined package
e with forgiveness. One of
ree drivers of 2018. Yes,
s a lot of money for a golf club,
his is a lot of club – and it delivers
ts distance promise. For the
erage club golfer the Rogue’s a leap

6 AWARDS 201 8 TODAYSGOLFER .CO.UK

TAYLORMADE M4
£369
www.taylormadegolf.com
TECH: The same Twist Face and
Hammerhead tech as the M3, but with
41g (up from 22g in the M2) of weight
positioned in the rear weight pad to max
out forgiveness. Geocoustic engineering
means the recessed sole frees up
volume to create a bigger, more forgiving
footprint.
WHY IT’S WON: Dustin Johnson
won his first event of 2018 with an
M4, giving the club instant tour
validation. It produced very solid
distance and forgiveness numbers for
our testers without quite topping the
pile. The stock shaft’s quite high spin,
so select your set-up very carefully to
ensure you max out performance.
They’re only tweaks, but we like the
new silver strip on the crown and how
the carbon-fibre crown joins the
titanium leading edge is more subtlety
shaped. After plotting where every
impact occurred during our drivers test
(for all three testers) we were able to
prove that Twist Face launches shots
from the high-toe and low-heel faster
with less side-spin (they also flew five
to six yards further) than the
competition. It doesn’t mean you’ll hit
every fairway, but we’d always like any
advantage stacked in our favour.
PING G400 MAX
£389
www.ping.com
TECH: All the same aero, acoustic, fast YOUR WINNER
face and dragonfly crown tech as the
standard G400s, but with a 460cc head TAYLORMADE M4
to improve forgiveness. Tungsten
weighting is wrapped from the sole on to
the back skirt, raising MOI 700 points
higher then the standard G400.
WHY IT’S WON: MAX is a really 9.8%
interesting addition to the G400 family.
Whereas the other heads are 445cc,
Ping has taken MAX to the 460cc limit.
You may lose a little club speed thanks 1 TaylorMade M4
to the extra size, but whatever’s lost is
more than made up for in forgiveness. 2 Callaway Rogue 17%
It’s particularly useful for golfers who
spray shots around the face. Simply put,
3 Ping G400 MAX
you can’t buy a G400 driver in 2018
without looking at MAX, too. Like the
other G400 models it sits beautifully
behind the ball, and Ping says its
massive MOI makes it the most forgiving 13.9%
driver on the market. It isn’t just for
hackers – Tony Finau, one of the tour’s
biggest hitters, has one in his b
want help deciding betwe
think about your nor
you miss lots of
great sho ‘DJ WON HIS FIRST EVENT OF
benefit
s 2018 WITH AN M4, GIVING IT
INSTANT TOUR VALIDATION’

O Callaway Great Big O Srixon Z765

Bertha Epic Sub Zero O TaylorMade M3
O Cleveland Launcher HB O Titleist 917 D2
O Cobra King F8+ O Wilson Staf C300
O Mizuno GT180 Draw options
O Mizuno ST180 O Callaway Rogue Draw
O Ping G400 O Cobra F-Max
O Ping G400 LST O TaylorMade M4
O Ping G400 SFT D-Type

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CHANNEL
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TODAYSGOLFER .CO.UK AWARDS 201 8 7


TAYLORMADE M4
£229
www.taylormadegolf.com
TECH: TaylorMade’s engineers know
how to rinse ball speed and distance out
of any swing, and they say the M4’s
longer speed pocket and internal split
pad weighting reduces twisting so even
more energy is transferred to the ball.
WHY IT’S WON: Wow! We don’t often
see a club stand head and shoulders
above the competition nowadays, as the
tech used by most brands is so good.
But the M4 stole the show. Wind the
clock back to our driver test and none of
our testers quite got their best results
using the M4’s stock Atmos shaft. But
the case was very diferent when it came
to the fairway. We reckon it’s exactly
why TaylorMade has chosen the Atmos,
because more golfers get fitted for a
driver, but few bother when it comes to
fairways. The M4 was the only club our
test pro reached 150mph ball speed
with, and incredibly for him it was NINE
YARDS further than the next longest
fairway he hit, which is significant. M4
performed similarly well for the
amateurs, too, posting an extra five
yards carry on average. Brilliant.
8 AWARDS 201 8 TODAYSGOLFER .CO.UK
CALLAWAY ROGUE
£269
www.callawaygolf.com
TECH: This is the first year Callaway has
put “jailbreak” technology into its
fairways and hybrids. They say it
promotes higher ball speeds from a
larger portion of the face. A carbon
crown frees up weight to reposition to
increase MOI as well as promote a high
launch with low spin. A speed step
crown improves airflow eiciency and
you get a choice of shaft weights from
40g-70g.
WHY IT’S WON: Jailbreak was a big
leap forward in terms of increasing and
protecting ball speeds in Callaway’s Epic
drivers last year. For 2018 the tech’s
included in the fairways and hybrids, but
we reckon it’s a much bigger ask getting
heavy, steel woods to flex and rebound
like a driver, particularly when you want
golfers to see the gains on a launch
monitor. Our test pro’s 148mph ball
speed was 2mph slower than the M4,
but still good enough to make the top
three fastest on test. A second longest
average carry (236 yards) is impressive,
and the appearance is a huge step
forward over last year’s Epic.
S
COBRA KING F8
£199
www.cobragolf.co.uk
TECH: Baler sole rails get deeper as
lofts increase to help cut through rough
and launch shots from more challenging
lies. Aero trips on the crown and toe area
improve aerodynamic performance,
which is a theme running through
Cobra’s 2018 woods.
WHY IT’S WON: How far you hit a
3-wood from the turf is really important. It
can mean the diference between getting
home in two on a par 5 or having to lay
back and rely on your short game. So any
fairway that rinses out every drop of juice
from the next longest club to your driver
should be grasped with both hands. Our
test pro thought for him the F8 was a
superb distance club from the fairway.
Averaged between three testers F8 posted
our second highest fairway ball speed (just
1mph behind the M4) and it was only three
yards down on the second longest. If like
us you want to squeeze every last yard out
of your 3-wood, a Cobra fitting is an
excellent idea, as there’s 20g of diference
between the two stock shafts. For that
£200 RRP you also get a Cobra Connect
shot tracker in the grip.
YOUR WINNER
PING G400

18.8%

1 Ping G400 27.5%

2 TaylorMade M4
3 Callaway Rogue

20.4%

‘PING HAVE PROVEN

TIME AND AGAIN THEIR
ENGINEERING BRILLIANCE’
O Cleveland Launcher HB O Mizuno ST180
O Cobra F-Max O Ping G400 SFT
O Cobra King F8 O TaylorMade M3
O Cobra King F8+ O Wilson Staf C300




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TODAYSGOLFER .CO.UK AWARDS 201 8 9

 TAYLORMADE M4
99
ormadegolf.com
ider body than the
r golfers who tend
f the deck like a
ocket sole
s
the face.

rsial,
4

. It’s
vast
out-perform
ody hybrid for
ut playability. It’s
Atmos shaft in the M4
sn’t the best fit for any of
each saw improved results
g to a custom shaft), was
lly a great fit for both fairways and
rids. It probably goes some way to
explaining why TaylorMade chooses it,
especially considering fewer golfers get
fitted for their fairways and hybrids
compared to drivers. The M4 and its
friendly, low profile excelled for our tw
amateur testers, posting one of th
second longest carries (187 yar
yards back from the longest) f
ed 5mph slower than his

10 AWARDS 201 8 TODAYSGOLFER .CO.UK

CLEVELAND MIZUNO CLK
LAUNCHER HB £179 £245
www.clevelandgolf.co.uk
TECH: The whole story with Launcher
HB is simple distance with excellent
forgiveness. A HiBore crown lowers and
deepens the centre of gravity, Flex-Fins
in the sole direct more energy back at
the ball for excellent distance and speed
retention, especially on of-centre hits.
WHY IT’S WON: Cleveland promised
simple distance with the Launcher and it
certainly delivered. It was our test pro’s
l t carrying hybrid of the year (229
gistered among the top three
and carry distance for our
. All three thought the
which in part is
eing white),
a bit of
e hitting tons of diferent types of shots,
f on the course. The CLK produced our
golf.mizunoeurope.com
TECH: The CLK’s wave sole pushes YOUR WINNER
mass low and closer to the face for
higher launching, lower spinning shots. A PING G400
thin maraging 1770 steel face is fast and
forgiving and Mizuno says the CLK’s
versatile profile sits right between a long
iron and fairway wood.
WHY IT’S WON: Ever since hybrids
first became popular, their purpose of 14.6%
delivering extra playability over long irons
has dictated how they’ve come with
some pretty funky head shapes. We 1Ping G400 23.5%
can’t think of another hybrid like the CLK
that we’d describe as being cute. Yes, 2 TaylorMade M4
it’s a compact head which will be 3 Callaway Rogue
intimidating for some. But thanks to the
CLK’s cheekiness, we were drawn into
which adds a good degree of versatility
test pro’s second fastest ball speeds 15.5%
(141mph, tied with the TaylorMade M3),
ut thanks to some extra back spin (over
t average) it recorded a carry
ust a yard further than the test
most Mizuno products, the
a top-notch Fujikura
‘THE G400 IS A BRILLIANT
o launch low, which
to average and
ALL-ROUND OPTION THAT
SUITS LOTS OF PLAYERS’
O Callaway Rogue X
O Cleveland Launcher HB
O Cobra F-Max
O Cobra King F8
O Mizuno CLK
O TaylorMade M3
O Titleist 818 H1
ONLINE, ON MOBILE
Visit our website for the best new gear
coverage, first tests and breaking news
www.todaysgolfer.co.uk
TODAYSGOLFER .CO.UK AWARDS 201 8 11
 BE

£
w
TEC
play
are a
great
intern
suppo

WHY I
will tell
would c
forged b
forgivene
remarkab
excellent
has been a
introductio
constructio
P790 irons
category. On
irons since th
the P790s ha
among the pig
golfers lookin set. With the
looks of a blade, but playability of a
cavity-back, they are a potent cocktail.
Our test pro liked the lively, slighter
lighter feel, which in part is down to the
Dynamic Gold 105 being 22g-25g
lighter than a traditional Dynamic Gold
shaft. With a ball speed average of
124mph the P790 was tied for the
fastest on test (this category). We’ve
heard of lots of golfers trying to decide
between the P790 and Titleist AP3.
Both have hollow bodies. Both are fast
and long. So if you need help choosing,
we recommend hitting them both. If you
still can’t make up your mind, look at the
set make-up; the 790s come as a set
while the AP3s are sold individually.
12 AWARDS 201 8 TODAYSGOLFER .CO.UK
he
y distance three
s short of the second longest
iron on test. The sole width is still
narrow, so we reckon you need to be
a decent ball striker to get the best
out of them. A massive draw of any
Mizuno iron is the huge choice of
premium shaft and grip options, all
of which are included within the
RRP. And of course you have the
ability to buy irons individually, so
you only buy the ones you need. It’s a
cracking iron that blurs the line
between better player and a game
improvement model. A definite rise
in playability over MP-18 SC means
we reckon its levels of forgiveness is
along similar lines to the TaylorMade
P790 and Titleist AP3. A brilliant
option for improving golfers up to a
10 or 12 handicap.
because hol
y rons are such a fast-gro
trend it really should be on yo
if you’re looking at either the
winning TaylorMade P790 o
718 AP3. Being able to cho
eight premium steel shafts
extra cost just adds to th
and like any Ping iron i5
custom-fit to any playe
how because you buy th
individually you only n
irons you actually use
‘THE i500 IS SO IMPRESSIVE WE
COULDN’T BEAR TO LEAVE IT OUT.
IT’S PROBABLY THE BEST
LOOKING PING IRON EVER’
YOUR WINNER
TAYLORMADE P7

16.7%
20.2%
1 TaylorMade P790
2 Ping i200
3 Titleist 718 AP3

17.9%

‘THE P790 IRONS ARE ONE

OF THE MOST TALKED-
ABOUT IRONS 0F 2018’
O Callaway X Forged
O Lynx Prowler VT
O Mizuno MP-18 SC
O Mizuno MP-18 MMC
O Srixon Z 765
O Wilson Staf C300 Forged
O Wilson Staf FG Tour V6

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TODAYSGOLFER .CO.UK AWARDS 201 8 13

 E IMPROVEMENT
CALLAWAY ROGUE X
£849 (S) £1049 (G)
www.callawaygolf.com
TECH: Callaway say Rogue X are an
all-out assault on distance. Their lofts
are strong, the shafts are longer and
they’re lighter than the standard Rogue.
The 7-iron is 27°, which is only half a
degree from being a 6-iron in other sets.
Callaway insist they’re not for everyone,
but are essentially aimed at golfers who
like and/or want distance, and let’s face
it most golfers don’t often have too
much of it.
WHY IT’S WON: An all-out assault on
distance? Our data completely supports
that claim. We tested the Rogue X in our
longest irons of 2018 test and it proved
to be a worthy long distance winner.
Some will argue the 7-iron (thanks to a
strong loft) is really a 6-iron, but “loft-
jacking” is a game Callaway didn’t start.
If you need validation of the X’s
credentials in the hands of average
golfers, it was the flat-out longest iron
we hit for all three testers. Even at an
average swing speed, Rogue X went
eight yards further than the next longest
iron on test. But, importantly, it went
just as high as other models. Our test
pro carried Rogue X on average six yards
further than the next longest iron tested.
The head’s big, butch and chunky, and
while ball flight was four yards lower
than the highest iron, it was exactly the
same height as the Cobra F8,
suggesting you should hold approaches.

14 AWARDS 201 8 TODAYSGOLFER .CO.UK

T IRONS
PING G400
£110 (S) £120 (G)
www.ping.com
TECH: Ping says there’s no point hitting
shots further if they don’t fly higher, as
they won’t stop. The multi-material
G400 has undercut cavities in the sole
and top rail to launch shots higher and
further. Think hitting a 7-iron as far as
you’d usually hit a 6, but as high as you
hit an 8-iron. There’s also improved
forgiveness over the previous G model.
WHY IT’S WON: Ping has always been
one of the best options for game
improvement irons, ever since they
introduced the Ping Eye which both tour
pros and amateurs loved. Even though
the G400 was launched last year, it’s
still a brilliant option for 2018. With a
7-iron loft three degrees weaker than the
Rogue X it was never going to be the
longest iron, but we can’t fault its
fantastic overall distance and
forgiveness package. Average swing
speed golfers might well see a gain in
distance going for the new Ping G700,
but make no mistake the G400 is a top
club across the board. Ping irons also
hold their value more than virtually any
other brand; worth remembering. Ping
have made brilliant game improvement
irons for years, and the G400 follows
that trend. We say it time and again but
it’s well worth investing the time to get
properly fitted. We love how buying each
iron individually means you only pay for
the clubs you’ll actually use.
TAYLORMADE M4
£749 (S) £849 (G)
www.taylormadegolf.com
TECH: New RIBCOR tech behind the YOUR WINNER
face localises face flexibility, which
TaylorMade says transfers more PING G400
energy to the ball. A fluted hosel,
undercut top edge, speed pocket sole
and face slots all help create a super
low CG design and highly forgiving
iron.
13.1%
WHY IT’S WON: A seriously good
iron that suits a wide audience of
golfers. They’re especially good if
you’re not a fan of chunky game 1 Ping G400 29.1%
improvement irons as the profiles are
sleeker than many we tested within 2 Mizuno JPX900 Forged
the game improvement category. 3 Callaway Rogue X
TaylorMade’s engineers have worked
hard to improve sound (by controlling
vibrations), and it has paid off as the
M4 sounds powerful and feels
explosive. In each of the past two 17.9%
years, TaylorMade’s equivalent iron
(the M2) was the longest iron we
tested, but for 2018 Callaway’s
Rogue X trumped M4 thanks mainly
to a stronger loft. But this is still a
top iron. We’re big fans of the KBS
Max steel shaft, which gives a light ‘PING HAS ALWAYS BEEN ONE
and responsive feel.
OF THE BEST OPTIONS FOR
GAME IMPROVEMENT IRONS’
O Benross Evolution R O TaylorMade M3
O Cleveland CBX O TaylorMade M4
O Cobra King F8 O Wilson Staf C300
O Srixon Z 565
ONLINE, ON MOBILE
Visit our website for the best new gear
coverage, first tests and breaking news
www.todaysgolfer.co.uk
TODAYSGOLFER .CO.UK AWARDS 201 8 15
 PING G700
£149 (S) £159 (G)
PER CLUB
www.ping.com
TECH: Ping’s longest, highest flying iron
ever. A new, machined C300 steel face
generates twice the face flex as the
usual 431 stainless steel. Low and
extreme heel-toe weighting boosts
resistance to twisting (forgiveness),
protecting ball speed and distance.
WHY IT’S WON: Whereas most
hollow-body irons have attempted to
blur the lines between better player and
game improvement iron categories, the
G700 blurs the lines between game
improvement and SGI iron models. Or as
our pro put it… it’s an average player’s
blade. For our test pro G700 was his
longest carrying SGI iron (180 yards.
The big head, large amount of ofset,
chunky sole and lack of a cavity badge
are all typically Ping, but we applaud
them for coming at hollow head tech
from a very diferent angle to its rivals.
Everything about the G700 is slightly
larger than the hugely popular G400,
including the price. At £39 per club more
(£273 extra for a seven-piece set) it’s
the price which may well be a deciding
factor between G400 or G700.
Whichever you choose both are a great
option, and don’t forget you can buy
them individually and mix both models to
suit you.
16 AWARDS 201 8 TODAYSGOLFER .CO.UK
TAYLORMADE M CGB CLEVELAND
£849 (S) £1099 (G) LAUNCHER HB
FOR 7 CLUBS £570 (S) £648 (G)
www.taylormadegolf.com
TECH: With the same amount of face
flex in every iron as a driver, the M CGBs
are fast, fun and forgiving. An ultra-low
CG placement flights shots higher with
optimised spin rates to maximise carry.
Speed pocket and face slot tech is
combined with tungsten weighting to
create a super forgiving, high MOI design.
WHY IT’S WON: By posting ball speeds
and carry distances within the top three
fastest and longest SGI irons for each
tester, it must be said the CGBs have the
ability to perform. The heads have plenty
of ofset, a wide sole and chunky top
edge, but thanks to a lightweight shaft
overall feel is surprisingly lively and
friendly. It’s worth remembering the
CGBs have the same amount of face flex
as a driver throughout the whole set,
which means you’re highly likely to gain a
bit of distance with the 8, 9 and PW as
these are the clubs usually left without
fast face tech. This is a decent looking
super game improvement iron which can
do a job for a wide range of golfers. It’s
ideally suited to those who really want as
much distance as they can get their
hands on, but don’t quite have the club
speed to launch the long and mid irons of
a strong lofted set (like the Callaway
Rogue X and TaylorMade M4).
www.clevelandgolf.com
TECH: Hybrid forgiveness for a whole
set of irons. A hollow-body takes
stability to higher levels than cavity-
back irons, which Cleveland says means
toe and heel hits fly higher, straighter
and longer. A HiBore crown positions
mass low and deep, a high-speed face
insert flexes at impact to maximise ball
speed.
WHY IT’S WON: Flat-out the most
forgiving iron on sale this year. The
stretched head (from toe to heel) and
low and deep weighting contribute to an
ultimate forgiveness and consistency
recipe. Would the majority of club golfers
use a set? No. Even though we know
they’re ultra forgiving, many won’t be
able to see past the head shape and
wide sole. Anyone buying a set would do
well to get an experienced fitter to cast
their eye over how the HBs flights shots
for them; our amateur tester saw a gain
of 800rpm in backspin (over his test
average) which lost up to 10 yards of
carry. Experience tells us though small
numbers of golfers will actually put a set
in play, even though our test pro
reckoned lots of 15-plus handicappers
would hit the Launcher more
consistently than a traditional cavity-
back iron. Food for thought...
V IRONS
YOUR WINNER
PING G700

13.5%
Ping G700
1
2Titleist 718 AP1 24.3%
3 Callaway Rogue W
3 Mizuno JPX900
Hot Metal

14.3%

‘THE G700 BLURS THE

LINES BETWEEN GI AND
SGI IRON MODELS’
O Benross HTX Compressor
O Cleveland Launcher HB
O Cobra F-Max
O Cobra King Oversize
O TaylorMade M CGB
O Wilson Staf D300

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TODAYSGOLFER .CO.UK AWARDS 201 8 17

 WEDG
CLEVELAND CBX
£109
www.clevelandgolf.com
TECH: The wedge that’s designed for
84% of golfers. If you use cavity back
irons, you really should be playing cavity
back wedges. You get all the same spin
tech as Cleveland’s RTX-3 tour wedges,
but there’s better accuracy and a slightly
lighter feel thrown in.
WHY IT’S WON: We can’t believe
brands haven’t thought harder about
cavity back wedges before; what
Cleveland has done with the CBX is
genius. Most of us would never dream
of buying a set of bladed irons, yet we
have no trouble buying a bladey wedge.
Some 84% of golfers use cavity back
irons, so surely it makes sense for
most to use cavity back wedges to
match their lighter, more forgiving
irons? Yes, the CBX has a slightly
bigger head and wider sole, and they
only come in a single bounce option.
But let’s not forget they also boast all
the same spin tech that’s packed into
Cleveland’s RTX-3 tour-style wedges.
For us that makes them a brilliant
option if you play cavity back irons,
which is over three quarters of us.
Unlike lots of game improvement
concepts, the CBX comes with
absolutely no drawbacks. There’s a
good chance you’ll hit them more
consistently and accurately than a
typical blade wedge so what’s to lose?
We can’t recommend them highly
enough.
TITLEIST VOKEY
DESIGN SM7
£150
www.titleist.co.uk
TECH: Vokey says a progressive centre
of gravity means the CG is aligned with
the impact position of each wedge
(higher on the high lofts and lower on the
low). Every groove of each SM7 is
inspected by quality control, which
Titleist says leads to tighter tolerances,
and, on average, gives up to 100rpm
more spin..
WHY IT’S WON: To many golfers,
Vokey has set a benchmark for wedge
design for years. Though the SM7 has
barely changed from the SM6, it’s the
best-shaped Vokey for years. We’re
really picky when it comes to wedges
and by testing the jet-black head
18 AWARDS 201 8 TODAYSGOLFER .CO.UK
instead of a chro
shape and size
small) are heavil
difficult to spot th
ordinarily catch the
of spin tech wrapped
backspin was 500rpm
very highest spinning mo
beautifully designed, avail
of options and you can rest as
they’ve been optimised to perfo
decent players’ hands. Our SM7s
with shafts matched to our irons (i
gives a similar feel), which if you wan
to maximise consistency seems like a
sensible way to go rather than just
buying off the rack. To ensure correct
gapping and grinds we’d always
recommend a proper short game
fitting, which Titleist holds throughout
the season.
CALLAWAY MACK
DADDY 4
£139
www.callawaygolf.com
TECH: New “micro-positive”
protrusions between each face groove
give the Mack Daddy 84 contact
points to grip the ball at impact. An
extra “nip it” 16th groove closer to th
leading edge maximises spin espec
on shorter shots.
WHY IT’S WON: Callaway’s
MD 3 Milled wedges were
spinning wedges of 201
surprise, thanks to micr
on the face, these generate
than any other wedge (averaged a
three testers) this year, too. We’ve no
idea how Callaway’s R&D boffins got
the “protrusion” idea past the game’s
ruling bodies, but it’s a bit of masterful
thinking. Our test pro loved the
versatility of the MD4s, feeling he
could open them up really easily to
increase shot-making potential. We’re
big fans of the matt black finish; it
helps disguise the profile, which is
perfect if you’re not entirely sold on a
wedge’s head shape. The 115g shaft is
the same weight as Cleveland’s CBX,
which is more closely matched to a set
of slightly lighter cavity back irons,
than most wedge shafts here. Wedge
maestro Roger Cleveland has clearly
worked his magic on the Mack Daddy
4s; the micro groove story alone is
down to some seriously clever
thinking. Averaged between our
testers, they are the highest spinning
wedge of 2018. If you insist on new
tour-style wedges this year, you really
should try one before buying anything.
YOUR WINNER
TITLEIST VOKEY SM7

12.7%

1 Titleist Vokey
Design SM7
2 Cleveland RTX-3
3 Callaway Mack 36.7%
12.8% Daddy 4

‘TO MANY GOLFERS, VOKEY

HAS SET A BENCHMARK FOR
WEDGE DESIGN FOR YEARS’
O Bettinardi H2 303 SS
O Cleveland CBX
O Mizuno S18
O Ping Glide 2.0 Stealth
O TaylorMade Milled Grind
O TaylorMade Milled Grind HI-TOE
O Wilson Staf PMP Raw

ONLINE, ON MOBILE
Visit our website for the best new gear
coverage, first tests and breaking news
www.todaysgolfer.co.uk

TODAYSGOLFER .CO.UK AWARDS 201 8 19

 BLADE PUTTE
ODYSSEY OWORKS
RED 1WS £189
www.odysseygolf.com
TECH: The 1WS head is a modern
wide-body blade, with a short slant
neck to reduce toe hang. Odyssey says
the microhinge face insert lifts putts
into a better roll. The 1WS is well
suited to slightly arcing strokes and is
available with either a red or black
paintjob.
WHY IT’S WON: For golfers who
think they’ve seen everything blade
putters have to offer (like we did), the
1WS will make you think again.
Michelle Wie used the model to win
her first event in years in March and
we can see why she and other tour
pros are fans. The short and stubby
but wide head is a look you really don’t
expect in the blade category. And its
performance similarly surprised us,
too. We can’t explain exactly why the
1WS worked for us, but it certainly did.
Two of our testers were so impressed
they squabbled over who got first dibs
on taking it to the course for some
“long-term” testing! It's a brilliant
reinvention of the blade for modern
golfers. The fresh, red paintjob would
be our choice of finish. It goes without
saying the cracking OWorks insert
feels great and rolls putt end over end
like the very best. After a few years of
using oversized grips, the excellent
Winn AVS gives a fresh new feel.
20 AWARDS 201 8 TODAYSGOLFER .CO.UK
BETTINARDI STUDIO EVNROLL ER2
STOCK #8 £319 £249
www.bettinardi.com
TECH: Bettinardi reckons the #8 is one
of his most classic putters. The high toe
and plumber’s neck (cranked hosel)
create a distinct toe and heel weighted
blade. A F.I.T grooved face design means
less face in contact with the ball at
impact, delivering the softest feel of all
Bettinardi putters.
WHY IT’S WON: An absolute beauty
of a blade; the CNC milled head just
couldn’t look this sharp if it was
created using a cheaper casting
process. It’s the straight lines and
defined edges of the #8 that give the
clean, premium look golfers are willing
to pay for. We couldn’t quite agree
whether we loved the mercury grey
finish or not, but there’s no doubt the
matt finish it creates absolutely cuts
out glare. The #8’s curved sole (from
toe to heel) is very forgiving when
putting from severe side slopes, and we
applaud Bettinardi for working out how
to deliver a cracking soft feel without
using an insert. The traditional sized
grip not only fits beautifully in the
hands, but comes as a welcome change
after several years of using oversized
models. If you do buy into a Bettinardi
any time soon we recommend making
the commitment to look after it, and
wipe it down after every round and
never leave it in a wet headcover.
www.evnroll.com
TECH: Evnroll putters have a face
milling pattern which Evnroll owner
Guerin Rife says gives a progressive
energy transfer. To you that means putts
hit of centre roll virtually the same
distance as on centre hits, so you get
new levels of accuracy and consistency.
The ER2 is milled from a solid block of
303 stainless steel and hand finished in
California.
WHY IT’S WON: Evnroll only started up
a couple of years ago, yet its owner and
chief designer Guerin Rife has designed
putters for 25 years. So it’s fair to say
there’s a lot of experience and
knowledge rolled into his new concept.
The ER2’s modern, wide head was the
biggest in the category so MOI and
forgiveness should be slightly enhanced
over most models, which played out with
the amount of putts our testers holed. A
slight toe hang opens the design up to
slightly arcing and straighter strokes and
we thought it was very stable, easy to
swing and keep online. We’re not going
to go quite as far as saying the ER2’s
cleverly-shaped face grooves “gear” of
centre putts back online, as Evnroll
claims. But we will say we were very
impressed by the new tech. The ER2’s
been in and out of our gear editor’s bag
since the test, which speaks volumes
about the concept’s potential.
YOUR WINNER
SCOTTY CAMERON
SELECT NEWPORT 2 1WS

12.9%
1 Scotty Cameron
Select Newport 2
2 Odyssey OWorks
Red 1WS
3 Odyssey OWorks
16.1% 39.8%
#1 Tank

‘IT IS ONE OF CAMERON’S

MOST COVETED MODELS...
AND IT’S EASY TO SEE WHY’
O Bettinardi Studio Stock #8
O Cleveland TFI2135 Satin 8.0 CB
O Evnroll ER2
O Ping Sigma G Kinloch C
O Ping Sigma G D66
O Seemore Nashville Z1C Platinum
O TaylorMade TP Collection Juno

TG STRAIGHT TO YOUR INBOX

Sign up for our weekly newsletter and new
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TODAYSGOLFER .CO.UK AWARDS 201 8 21

 MALLET PUTTERS

LORMADE TP
D COLLECTION
DMORE £239
taylormadegolf.com
Red heightens contrast against
hich TaylorMade says helps align
r squarely. A skim-milled 304
steel head gives a sharp-edged
ook. The Pure Roll aluminium
optimises roll.

WON: Red putters are all

d to make sure there’s a
eryone TaylorMade has
whole family of TP Reds
Ardmore’s a wide,
let, but minus the MOI-
gs you get on the
test pro loved how
dmore’s lie got him into
high hands) where he
oulders and putt really
long white sightlines
with the putter’s
setting up really
tforward. The
and brash, and its
ack the class of a
ad. But, boy, does it
ence sat behind the
ice if you’re in the
r, but don’t want
model. Two long
lignment. The
decent feedback
’s slightly firmer
would be at
greens.

22 AWARDS 201 8 TODAYSGOLFER .CO.UK


ers with more
s (hence the extra
to is a compact to
mid- llet with a simple look
thanks to the crisp, clean milled edges.
The micro honeycomb milling pattern
on the face delivers a muted but crisp
feel at impact.
WHY IT’S WON: Every last detail has
been thoroughly thought through, and
all three testers agreed that golfers
who have the cash to buy themselves
into the Bettinardi stable would surely
want to go all out and bag themselves
a trademark model (thanks to the
distinctive face milling pattern) if they
could. We love the honeycomb face
pattern, which Bettinardi says (at a
microscopic level) gives a more
accurately cut face thanks to the mill
moving up and down to create the
face rather than sweeping across it.
Ultra premium on all levels, it’s a
putter which, if you’re ever lucky
enough to own, you’ll cherish because
its beauty goes well beyond its
intended use. For owners of an arcing
stroke who are looking for an
exceptional mallet to invest in for
years to come, the Queen Bee #9 is
one of the finest we’ve come across.
Look after it, cherish it and never
leave it in a damp cover.
YOUR WINNER
TAYLORMADE TP RED
COLLECTION ARDMORE
9.7%
1 TaylorMade TP Red
Collection Ardmore 24.8%
2 Scotty Cameron
Select Fastback
3 Ping Sigma G Craz-E
23.9%
ON STAFF
NFINITE SOUTH ‘THE ARDMORE’S BIG, BOLD
SIDE £95 AND BRASH, BUT BOY DOES
www.wilson.com IT GIVE YOU CONFIDENCE’
TECH: The grip weighs in at 104g,
which moves the balance point closer
to the hands, creating a higher OBettinardi Queen Bee #9
moment of inertia and more stable
stroke. The clubface is double CNC O Cleveland TFI 2135 Satin Cero
milled, which Wilson says imparts a O Evnroll ER7
more consistent roll. O Ping Vault 2.0 Piper
O TaylorMade TP Red Collection Chaska
WHY IT’S WON: At a time when prices
in golf are on the rise, the sub-£100 O Toulon Memphis
South Side is amazing value. We were O Wilson Staf Infinite South Side
fans of Wilson’s Infinite models last year
(because of the quality head shapes and
reasonable price tag) and, thanks to an
overhaul which has simplified their look
and made them even more appealing,
they’ll be a big hit this year, too. We
loved how the three white lines on the
back of the head highlight alignment and
path, while a single stripe on the top
edge is really good for helping square the
blade to your target. As far as fancy,
flufy tech goes, the South Side’s been
paired back to just a CNC milled face
which is just about all you need if you’re
looking for a simple, straightforward and
dependable mallet. A brilliantly simple
introduction to centre shaft putters and ONLINE, ON MOBILE
counter balancing, for what is very
sensible money. Padraig Harrington can Visit our website for the best new gear
use any putter he wants, but he swears coverage, first tests and breaking news
by the South Side, which speaks www.todaysgolfer.co.uk
volumes about how nice a putter Wilson
has created for less than £100.
TODAYSGOLFER .CO.UK AWARDS 201 8 23
 ODYSSEY OWORKS
RED #7S £189
www.odysseygolf.com
TECH: The Odyssey #7 head shape is a
classic when it comes to MOI putters.
Weighted alignment wings increase MOI
and stability. The OWorks microhinge
face insert lifts putts into a better roll. A
short slant neck (the #7 is also available
face-balanced with a double-bend
shaft) and slight toe hang mean the #7S
is well suited to a slightly arcing stroke.

WHY IT’S WON: The #7 has a long

history; it’s featured in tons of tour pro
bags in diferent guises over the years.
It’s a clever move by Odyssey to release
to the public the slant-neck hosel, which
is so popular on tour. Two of our three
testers holed a huge amount of putts
with the #7S, even though they putt
with a straight back and through stroke,
meaning the slight toe hang is well
suited to more than just arcing strokes.
We loved the bold and simple alignment
spots and sight lines, and our test pro
was particularly impressed by how the
two black lines, which run from the top
edge to the back-flange, show when the
sole’s flat on the ground and your eyes
are correctly aligned above the ball. Our
skid and roll testing last year proved the
OWorks insert is top drawer. This #7
head is a huge tour winner and the red
paint job is just the icing on the cake. A
fantastic high-stability putter, and did
we mention it’s £80 cheaper than
TaylorMade’s Spider Tour, too? A brilliant
introduction to red putters.

24 AWARDS 201 8 TODAYSGOLFER .CO.UK


ww
TECH: Re t against a
green, which says helps you
align the putter squarely. A skim-milled
304 stainless steel head gives a sharp-
edged premium look, a Pure Roll
aluminium face insert optimises forward
roll and a fanged back increases MOI
stability.
WHY IT’S WON: Love them or hate
them, fang-shaped putters split weight,
raise stability and improve of-centre hit
forgiveness. They also give an excellent
focal point with long sight lines to help
you align correctly and keep track of your
stroke. Justin Rose won with the
Ardmore in his bag over winter, and we
can see why. If you’re the type of golfer
who finds the wings on TaylorMade’s
Spider Tour distracting, the Ardmore
looks very clean and easy on the eye. A
full shaft width of ofset means your
hands are naturally positioned ahead of
the ball, which is perfect for stroking
putts across the green, from distance or
short range. If you need to know why the
Ardmore costs less than the Spider, it’s
all down to how the head’s created. The
Spider’s made in two parts (plus an
insert), where the Ardmore 2 is just one.
Perfect for golfers who mark a line on
their ball and aim putts meticulously.
One of the very best putters for picking
your ball up, too!
YOUR WINNER
TAYLORMADE SPIDER
TOUR RED SIGHTLINE
17.1%
1 TaylorMade Spider
Tour Red Sightline
2 Odyssey OWorks
30.6%
Red #7S
3 Scotty Cameron
Futura 6M
23.3%
DE
R TOUR RED ‘YOU WON’T GO WRONG
IGHTLINE £269 WITH ONE OF THESE IN
www.taylormadegolf.com YOUR BAG IN 2018’
TECH: The putter Jason Day used to
get to world No.1, but with the addition
of a sightline on the crown to focus O Bettinardi Inovai O Ping Sigma G Tyne
attention. Exceptional perimeter
weighting ofers excellent of-centre Rev 5.0 O TaylorMade TP Red
strike forgiveness and a slight toe hang O Cleveland TFI 2135 RHO Collection Ardmore 2
means the putter is well suited to O Cure Tour X3 O Wilson Staf Infinite
slightly arcing strokes. O Odyssey OWorks The Bean
WHY IT’S WON: A big step forward Jailbird Mini
from last year’s Spider Tour. A full-length
sightline on the crown is much more
suited to club golfers, as is the slightly
thicker, sharp-edged grip, which gives an
excellent sensation of what the club
face is doing. We reckon part of the
reason this slant-neck model is so
popular on tour is how putters of this
shape are usually face-balanced,
meaning they don’t have toe hang. But
thanks to the Red’s slant hosel giving a
slight toe hang, plus the promise of
better forgiveness and stability, it
attracts the eye and stroke of golfers
who usually use smaller, less forgiving
clubs. Remember for 2018 the Spider
Tour is available in four diferent hosel
set-ups (which change face balancing), TG STRAIGHT TO YOUR INBOX
so there’s a solution for everyone’s
stroke. There’s some science behind the Sign up for our weekly newsletter and new
colour, too; red helps you focus, game-improvement series today
increases accuracy and enhances your www.todaysgolfer.co.uk/newsletter
attention to detail. It all means you won’t
go wrong with one in your bag in 2018.
TODAYSGOLFER .CO.UK AWARDS 201 8 25
As the name already
suggests this tool,
constructed by Vice
Golf, is responsible for
matching a player with
a golf ball that feels as
if it had always been a
part of them.

- was used as casing, which makes the difference. able to answer, the suitable ball for the respective

IT’S A
Moreover it is the factors such as a ball’s com-
pression, the number of layers and also the dimple
design that are of significance in determining the
ball’s performance,” Ingo Duellmann, founder and
player. Questions regarding previously favored
ball models, average hitting length as well as
preferences in short games are compared with the
characteristics of all golf balls and matched with

MATCH!
Whoever takes their golf game
seriously, will not leave anything
to chance when it comes to the
right golf ball. In a conversation
with Vice Golf we learned what
constitutes the ideal golf ball and
more importantly, how to find it.
On the subject of golf balls the opinions, but also
the perceived value, that corresponds to the small
white sphere could hardly be anymore disputed.
Indeed, nowadays an exponentially increasing
amount of golfers are on the search for the right
golf ball, while the previously loud cries of “It just
needs to be cheap” are seemingly beginning
to quieten. This is primarily due to companies
beginning to sell their high quality golf balls at
lower prices, as well as there being alternatives
to the usual “producers that transfer costs of
expensive product fair appearances, advertisement
campaigns and middlemen to the final consumers”
says Vice Golf co-founder Rainer Stoeckl. “But in
the big picture, these additional costs have nothing
at all to do with a golf ball’s performance”.
“Rather it is the material, specifically if surlyn or
urethane – and the production process behind it
CEO of Vice Golf, adds. Golfers of all handicap the player, to ensure the best possible outcome.
ranks benefit from high quality balls with regards “The different ball models produced by Vice Golf
to feel, spin values and ball control. Yet, many are deliberately designed in a way that players
ball models direct their focus on specific core from all positions on the spectrum are satisfied. Ef-
areas in order to support players in their playing fectively, through this golfers are able to play their
process. Many ball models focus on single areas individually perfect ball in fair conditions, without
of the game and try to minimize the dispersion for having to quickly switch to an old marble before
example but thereby reduce the player´s ability to approaching water obstacles,” explains Duellmann.
purposely shape a ball. It is the art of the golf ball
construction to combine multiple positive charac-
teristics that benefit a golfer.
Duellmann and Stoeckl are the leading figures
in Vice Golf, which–in comparison to the well
established players in the industry is still a young,
distinguished company based in Munich. Their ap-
proach unites highest quality with smart structure,
from which their customers are able to comfort-
ably purchase multiple excellent golf balls
over the internet, at inexpensive prices.
The risk attached to purchasing the wrong
ball is minimized by Vice Golf through the
simple but still effective ball fitting tool that
is offered online. “VICE BALL DNA” shows,
on the basis of six questions that golfers
with all different levels of knowledge are
www.vicegolf.com
WHAT IS THE VICE WA
TOP PERFORMANC
HALF THE PRICE
UNIQUE DESIGN
£29.88 (DOZ)
www.vicegolf.com
WHY IT’S WON: What a revelation!
We had no idea it was possible to
create a ball for £29.88 a dozen that,
for many golfers, would be
indistinguishable from the most popular
tour ball. Our test pro loved the soft,
sticky cover, and he said all-round feel
and feedback with driver, iron and
wedge was just like a tour ball. Wedge
spin was within 500rpm of the highest
when we tested it; driver carry distance
was just four yards back from the
longest and ball speed was within 1mph
of the quickest. And the Pro launched
and flew higher than any ball on test.
Seriously good performance from a
company that doesn’t spend a penny on
player endorsements. There’s
absolutely no doubt in our minds Vice
are a premium tour-level ball. It’s
inescapable how closely matched this
balls is to mainstream tour balls, yet the
price is so different.
YOUR WINNER
CALLAWAY
CHROME SOFT /
CHROME SOFT X
TP5X £49.99 (DOZ) SOFT / CHROME
www.taylormadegolf.com SOFT X £38 (DOZ)
WHY IT’S WON: TaylorMade have
pulled of a masterstroke with the TP5
and TP5x, as they’ve simplified the
choice between them to a level club-
golfers can harness. They say to make
your selection based on the feel you
desire. If you like softer go for TP5; if
you prefer firmer go TP5x. The majority
of TaylorMade’s tour staf (including DJ
and Rory) have gone TP5x, which can be
explained by them wanting to be as far
down the fairway as possible. As high
swing speed players they generate lots
of spin anyway so they don’t necessarily
need a ball to generate spin for them.
When we invited eight readers to be
fitted for their TP5s and then trial them
over numerous rounds, their feedback
was unanimous – it’s long of the tee,
holds its line in the wind and spins on
short shots. “I’ve blindly played the Pro
V1x for years,” said one TG reader, “but
the TP5x performs better.”
15.6%
1 Callaway Chrome
Soft / Chrome Soft X
2 Titleist Pro V1 /
Pro V1x
3 Srixon AD333
23%
www.callawaygolf.com
WHY IT’S WON: Callaway say every
component in the 2018 Chrome Soft has
been improved, and thanks to “graphene”
they’ve got a strength advantage over
the competition, without compromising
feel. Graphene has been used to create a
thinner, lighter “crash helmet” style
outer core, which means the inner core
can be larger. That means more ball
speed, and Callaway says the Chrome
Soft’s (again, thanks to graphene) lowers
spin increases launch and tightens
accuracy with the driver. Callaway aren’t
messing about when they say they’ve
improved every component of the
Chrome Soft either; they reckon the
2018’s core is more consistently centred
than even the market leading ball. It’s a
massive claim, but means the 2018
Chrome Soft boasts of improved flight
consistency between shots.
O Mizuno JPX
O Srixon Z-STAR / Z-STAR XV
24% O TaylorMade Project (a)
O TaylorMade TP5 / TP5x
O Titleist Tour Soft
O Vice Pro
O Volvik Vivid
TODAYSGOLFER .CO.UK AWARDS 201 8 27
 ELECTRIC TR
MOTOCADDY M5 POWAKADDY POWAKADDY
CONNECT £599 FW7s GPS £749 COMPACT C2
www.motocaddy.com www.powakaddy.co.uk £549-£599
WHY IT’S WON: Smaller and lighter is WHY IT’S WON: PowaKaddy have www.powakaddy.co.uk
a common trend running through really upped their game when it comes
everything tech in the modern world, and to the styling and design of their WHY IT’S WON: This innovative
the idea has locked its teeth into the trolleys over the last few years. The trolley has been designed to be packed
electric trolley market. Last year we FW7s GPS looks really good gliding away, so you can fit it into the tightest
pitted Motocaddy’s M1 Series trolley down the fairway. And the simplicity of of spaces during transportation. It can
(which was then four years old) against having a GPS built into the handle be folded with a simple two-fold
the latest all-singing and dancing (rather than via a phone, like mechanism, is ultra-lightweight and
PowaKaddy Compact C2, and to be fair Motocaddy’s app) means setting it up the handle can be height adjusted to fit
there was a gulf between the pair, couldn’t be easier. Simply select “play you perfectly. The C2 is packed full of
particularly when it came to design. It’s golf” and the system finds the course technology and has a full colour
little surprise then for 2018 Motocaddy and off you go… it is that easy. Other widescreen display that features a
has completely redesigned the M-Series features we like include it’s lovely sleek digital power gauge, battery fuel
range, and they’ve done so from the upmarket, premium chassis design, and indicator and the automatic distance
ground up. There’s a new chassis, new all the tech – it keeps score, counts function (ADF). This trolley also has an
space-saving inverted wheels, a lithium your miles walked and calories burnt. integrated soft grip handle and a USB
battery that’s a third smaller than the charging port to power up your GPS or
previous model and a next generation mobile phone.
28v high-power system which
Motocaddy says delivers twice as much
power as other compact trolleys. The
top-of-the-range M5 Connect gives
GPS yardages to the front, centre and
back (via a free app) along with a whole
host of other electronic features
including app connectivity through a
digital display on the handle. Some
clever fold-under wheels mean the
footprint is 11% smaller than the
competition. We like how it stands up for
storing, which takes up less floor space
in the garage.

28 AWARDS 201 8 TODAYSGOLFER .CO.UK

YOUR WINNER
MOTOCADDY S5 CONNECT

14.6%
1Motocaddy 17.6%
S5 Connect
2 Motocaddy S1
3 PowaKaddy
FW7s GPS

16.8%

‘THE S5 CONNECT
IS AT THE FOREFRONT
OF GOLF TECHNOLOGY’
O Big Max Hunter Quad
O GOKart
O Golfstream Vision
O PowaKaddy FW3
OPowaKaddy Compact C2
O Stewart Golf X 9 Follow

ONLINE, ON MOBILE
Visit our website for the best new gear
coverage, first tests and breaking news
www.todaysgolfer.co.uk

TODAYSGOLFER .CO.UK AWARDS 201 8 29

 MOTOCADDY CUBE
CONNECT £219.99
www.motocaddy.com
WHY IT’S WON: Motocaddy’s Cube
Connect is the first push trolley in the
world equipped with GPS. It follows the
successful launch of their S5 Connect
electric trolley and free GPS partner app,
which has been downloaded by more
than 500,000 golfers. Through a Smart
Display screen positioned above its soft-
touch handle, the Cube Connect
provides the same distance data and
optional smartphone alerts as the
powered version on the S5. When
synced to the Motocaddy app via
Bluetooth, it can be pre-set to receive
notifications alerting golfers to a missed
call, text, email or range of app alerts,
including WhatsApp and Facebook. The
smartphone can remain connected, even
when securely placed in a golf bag. The
digital display also acts as a conventional
GPS device – providing front, middle and
30 AWARDS 201 8 TODAYSGOLFER .CO.UK
back distances to the green (in yards or
metres) for more than 40,000 courses
worldwide, plus shot measurements,
clock and round timer – all of which can
be controlled directly from the trolley
handle. Other features include a simple
two-step assembly system that allows it
to quickly fold over 45% smaller than
traditional push trolleys to fit into the
smallest of car boots. It also
incorporates a foot-operated parking
brake; quick-release friction free
oversized wheels; a folding lock;
adjustable bag supports and the brand’s
innovative Easilock bag-to-trolley
connection system found on all
Motocaddy trolleys, removing the need
for a lower bag strap.
ROVIC RV1S £179
www.jsint.com
WHY IT’S WON: A compact and
versatile three-wheel cart, which is really
easy to fold and lighter than other carts.
Along with a full swivel front wheel, it
features a solid aluminium and new
plastic construction. Standard handle-
mounted brakes and full console make it
easy to use. The trolley has been
designed to make life easy on the course.
MOTOCADDY P360
£169.99
www.motocaddy.com
WHY IT’S WON: The new P360 ofers
excellent manoeuvrability thanks to a
360° rotating front wheel which allows
the trolley to access the tightest of
spaces. A simple one-step folding
mechanism means it can be assembled
in seconds, while an ergonomic height-
adjustable handle makes the trolley
comfortable to hold and easy to steer.
There’s also a foot-operated parking
brake; quick-release wheels; a folding
lock, adjustable bag supports and
Motocaddy’s Easilock bag-to-trolley
connection system which removes the
need for a lower bag strap.
YOUR WINNE
CLICGEAR

15.7%
1 ClicGear 3.5+ 21.2%
2 Motocaddy Cube Connect
3 Stewart Golf
R1-S Push

16.6%

‘IT’S INCREDIBLE SUCH A

COMPACT TROLLEY UNFOLDS
INTO SUCH A LARGE MACHINE’
O BagBoy TriSwivel 2
O Big Max Blade IP
O Big Max Blade Quattro
O Motocaddy P1
O Motocaddy P360
O PowaKaddy Twinline 4
O Rovic RV1S

TG STRAIGHT TO YOUR INBOX

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game-improvement series today
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TODAYSGOLFER .CO.UK AWARDS 201 8 31

LIBERTY STAND BAG / ACID YELLOW
VISIT US NOW - WWW.PEARLGOLF.CO.UK
 TROLLEY BAGS

MOTOCADDY SUN MOUNTAIN TAYLORMADE

DRY-SERIES
£199.99
www.motocaddy.com
WHY IT’S WON: Motocaddy are big
players when it comes to cart bags, so
much so they regularly out-strip the big
club brands for sales. Dry-Series have a
fresh new look for 2018, and they weigh in
at just 2.6kg, which should be a factor for
golfers looking to lighten their load for
lifting the bag into a car. A 14-way divider
and seven pockets keeps your gear
organised, but most importantly the
waterproof fabric and welded seams will
keep your kit dry and protected. Put it on a
Motocaddy trolley with an Easilock base
and you don’t even need to strap it down.
H2NO SUPERLITE
£250
www.sunmountaingolf.co.uk
WHY IT’S WON: There’s plenty of mad-
keen golfers out there who’ll play no
matter what the weather. For anyone
who does it’s essential to have the right
kit to keep you out on the course, when
everyone else is heading for cover. Sun
Mountain are well known for their H2NO
bags and we’re big fans of their level of
waterproofing, which is similar to a
modern tent. Reinforced wear areas
increase life expectancy and you get top
of the range YKK zips to maximise
durability. A top waterproof bag, hence
why it’s won Gold!
TOUR CART BAG
£329
www.taylormadegolf.eu
WHY IT’S WON: All serious golfers at
one point or another have wanted a tour
bag to house their gear, and we can’t
think of a cooler one than this. The
colours are spot on and match the
current M-Series drivers and
headcovers. The world No.1, No.3, No.5
and No.8 have all got one (a tour bag
equivalent) so we can’t think of a better
time to buy a tour-style cart bag if
you’ve always wanted to get your hands
on one. There’s 12 pockets to house all
your kit, including two with hard shells to
protect valuables and accessories.

11.1% O Big Max Aqua Sport 2

O Big Max DriLite Active
21.4% O Callaway Golf Org 15
YOUR WINNER Motocaddy Dry-Series O Cobra King Cart
O Mizuno BR-D4
MOTOCADDY 2 Sun Mountain
O TaylorMade Tour Cart Bag
DRY-SERIES H2NO SuperLite O PowaKaddy Lite
3 Ping Pioneer Monsoon 19.7% O Titleist Club 14 Lightweight

TODAYSGOLFER .CO.UK AWARDS 201 8 33

classic
design...

breakthrough
technology

evnroll.com
100% MILLED IN THE USA
 S
MIZUNO BR-DRI
£250
golf.mizunoeurope.com
WHY IT’S WON: Weighing in at just
2kg the BR-Dri is a seriously lightweight
waterproof bag option. Mizuno say it’s
water-tight, which is a pretty big claim
considering there’s a whacking big hole
in the top to put clubs in! We’re big fans
of the simplicity of the five-way top
which makes it really simple to get clubs
in and out of the bag, and the stylish
colouring tops of a top quality stand
bag.

PING HOOFERLITE
£150
www.ping.com
WHY IT’S WON: It’s diicult to imagine
now, but golfers who carried their bags
used to lay them down while playing
shots. That was until Ping invented the
stand bag. Ever since, their stand bags –
which have clever flexing bases – have
been some of the best available. W
reckon the Lite’s four-way top, sev
pockets and Ping’s attention to ev
last detail make the Hooferlite nig
the perfect stand bag for weight
conscious walking golfers.

PEARL LIBERTY
£186.99
www.pearlgolf.co.uk
WHY IT’S WON: You may not hav
heard of this German company, bu
they’re making waves in Europe w
some quality bags and balls. And
because they only sell online, it’s a
competitively priced. The Liberty
our eye because of its “style meet
performance” design, and Pearl’s
dedication to focusing on quality
materials and functionality. YKK z
are expensive to buy and common
found on premium clothing, which
complete commitment to making
best product possible.

13.1%
1 Sun Mountain O BagBoy Go Lite Hybrid
H2NO Superlite O Big Max Dri Lite G
27% O Cobra Ultralight
YOUR WINNER 2 Ping
O Mizuno BR-DRI
SUN MOUNTAIN Hooferlite O Pearl Liberty
H2NO SUPERLI 3 Callaway
20.1% O Srixon SRX Tour
Hyper-Lite 5 O Wilson Staf Hybrix

TODAYSGOLFER .CO.UK AWARDS 201 8 35

Shop your way to
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with cash rewards from mustard jar

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Changing the way you buy

motor insurance forever.
 S
SKECHERS GO GOLF
ELITE V.3 £99
www.skechers.com
WHY IT’S WON: This full leather,
lace-up shoe is the next generation of
Skechers’ most successful spikeless
golf shoe – and it’s fantastic value. It
has a new full-leather upper and
available in four new colours. Feature
include a low-drop design to keep yo
foot low to the ground; a Resamax
cushioned insole to improve comfo
support; and full leather upper is p
with a DRI-LEX moisture management
interior and H2GO Shield to provide
100% waterproof protection.

ECCO BIOM
HYBRID 3 £190
www.eccoshoesuk.com
WHY IT’S WON: This is the latest
evolution of Ecco’s multi-award-winning
Biom Hybrid franchise, with a new Tri-
Fi-Grip outsole that has three segments
engineered for “multi-purpose zonal
performance” – one for stability, another
for durability and a third for rotational
support. These zones are a product of
intensive research and data analysis in
the ECCO Golf Lab. Each is formed from
ultra-durable T.PU, meaning the shoes
can be worn on and of course without
afecting performance. The lovely-to-
touch Yak leather upper ofers
breathability and durability while the
100 per cent Gore-Tex waterproof
protection is guaranteed for three years.

PUMA IGNITE
PWRSPORT £109
www.uk.puma.com
WHY IT’S WON: Last year’s model w
a firm favourite of PGA Tour winner
Bryson DeChambeau – but we thin
one is even better. A new PWRCag
saddle improves support and stabi
this microfibre (upper) shoe. Puma’s
Ignite energy-returning soles give a
responsive feel and ofer extreme
comfort.

14.1%
O Callaway XFer Fusion
1 Skechers Go Golf 23.4% O Ecco Biom Hybrid 3
Elite V.3 O Ecco Cool Pro
2 FootJoy ARC SL
O GFore Collection Gallivanter
O Mizuno Nexlite Boa
YOUR W 3 adidas Adicross O Puma Ignite PWRSport
SKECHERS GO GOLF ELITE V.3 Classic 24.5% O Under Armour Performance SL

TODAYSGOLFER .CO.UK AWARDS 201 8 37

SUBSCRIBE AND GET 30
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■ Receive 30 new-for-2018
Callaway Superhot Bold balls
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Chris Jones, Editor 13 issues for £44.99

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Terms & Conditions: Subscriptions will start with the next available issue. Prices include postage for print and packaging. Prices quoted apply when paying by recurring payment. One-off
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 S
A IGNITE
ADAPT £140
obragolf.co.uk/pumagolf
S WON: New “traction pods”
e ofer ground-grabbing grip to
stable no matter what the
s or terrain. Ignite foam soles
entire length of the foot ofer
onsive cushioning and more
ck than a jack in the box.
as a standard, Disc fastening
onal fit) and leather upper
of which come with a two-
rproof guarantee.

O COOL
0
www.eccoshoesuk.com
WHY IT’S WON: Ecco’s Cool shoes
are a joint venture between Ecco and
Gore, combining unparalleled comfort,
as well as exceptional protection from
the wet. Gore-Tex Surround
echnology, an air channelling system
or 360° breathability without
aterproof compromise.

NDER ARMOUR
SPIETH 2 £160
www.underarmour.co.uk
WHY IT’S WON: A shoe that helps
you hit it further? Sounds crazy, but
when three TG readers tested the
Spieth 2s earlier this year, each one
generated more ground force through
their swing – a key to more distance.
Rotational resistance cleats aid
traction, and at Jordan’s request
alignment stripes on both shoes help
you set up square to your target. A
new waterproof and breathable Gore-
Tex membrane improves this model a
lot over the original Spieth One. A
smartweave (created from strong
lightweight TPU fibres) and leather
upper provides stability and comfort.
Integrated lacing gives a locked-in fit.

14.5% O Ecco Biom G2

O Ecco Cool
1 FootJoy Tour-S 27.9% O FootJoy D.N.A Helix
O Mizuno Wave Cadence
2 adidas Tour 360
O Nike Lunar Command 2
YOUR WINNER Boost 2.0
15.9% O Puma Ignite PWRAdapt
FOOTJOY TOUR-S 3 Skechers Go Golf Pro V.3 O Under Armour Spieth 2

TODAYSGOLFER .CO.UK AWARDS 201 8 39

LIGHTWEIGHT LOCKDOWN - ®
STABILITY TRACTION WATERPROOF
 APPAREL
JACKET £230
www.galvingreen.com
WHY IT’S WON: The Lance is made
from Galvin Green’s new Interface-1
material, and it’s a revelation. The
company says it can be worn for 95 out
of 100 rounds, and we’d agree. It’s so
light and flexible you barely know you’re
wearing one, and it’s as easy to swing in
as anything. But if you do get caught in a
shower it’s well up to the task. It’s
windproof, breathable and water
repellent – and the modern design,
especially in black and orange, looks
fantastic.
YOUR WINNER
GALVIN GREEN
C-KNIT (WITH
GORE-TEX) JACKET
JACKET £180
www.pingcollection.co.uk
WHY IT’S WON: When four Today’s
Golfer readers tested Ping’s Zero
Gravity jacket, they couldn’t believe
how light it was. “It’s the lightest
waterproof jacket I’ve ever come
across,” said one. “The quality is really
good, and it’s quiet, which stands out
over some waterproofs,” said another.
It packs into the smallest of pockets,
is fully waterproof with sealed seams
and a three-year guarantee.
1 Galvin Green 15.6%
C-Knit (with
Gore-Tex) jacket
2 UA Reactor Hybrid
3 FootJoy DryJoys
Tour LTS jacket 17.7%
COLDGEARREACTOR
HYBRID£65
www.underarmour.co.uk
WHY IT’S WON: Under Armour says
the Reactor responds to your activity
level to maintain an even body
temperature, warming you up when
you’re inactive, and cooling you down as
you warm up. The fabric is low-profile,
so you won’t look like the Michelin man.
A firm favourite with Jordan Spieth –
and us.
O adidas Ultimate 365 polo shirt
21.8% O Galvin Green Lance Interface-1
O Glenmuir water-repellent sweater
O Mizuno Solar Cut HPP Polo
O Ping Zero Gravity jacket
O Puma PWRWarm Heather ¼ Zip
O Zoom one-size-fits-all glove
TODAYSGOLFER .CO.UK AWARDS 201 8 41
 , LASERS &
SHOT SCOPE V2
£225
www.shotscope.com
WHY IT’S WON: Millions of gol
have chosen GPS watches as th
simplest way to access accurat
yardages. So it’s a masterstrok
Shot Scope to utilise watch te
their tracker. We’re big fans of
V2’s different modes, which m
possible to access just yarda
gather data without showing UR WINNER
or do both, so you can compl
comp rules. Serious golfers RMIN
at the heart of Shot Scope
start and it’s thanks to this
detail that Shot Scope has
PROACH S60
one of the most useful analy
platforms. You can drill down into
interactive graphs and charts to lear
everything about your game. Stats are 10.3%
broken down into tee shots, approach
shots (outside 50 yards), short game
(inside 50 yards) and putting, and the
guys at Shot Scope reckon the
is so good at helping you improv 1 Garmin Approach S60
don’t need an electronic caddie 29.9%
you which club to hit. A sound o
2 Garmin Approach X40
for golfers wanting to really brea 3 Bushnell Excel
down performance. As the syste
includes a GPS watch, it’s really
value, too.
21.8%
BUSHNELL EXCEL
£199
www.bushnellgolf.co.uk
WHY IT’S WON: GPS tech is chang
‘GARMIN’S S60 IS PRETTY
rapidly, so it’s no surprise the Excel is
completely new for 2018. Bluetooth
PRICEY, BUT THIS WATCH
capability means it can talk to your
phone on the golf course so you get c
DEFINITELY HAS IT ALL’
alerts and notifications on your wrist.
Bushnell’s new app also means you ca
book a tee time from your smartphone O Golf Buddy WT6
and get hole flyovers for a birds-eye view O Golf Buddy WTX
on the golf course.
O Shot Scope V2

GARMIN APPROACH O SkyCaddie Linx GT

O SkyCaddie LX3
X40 £199.99 O TomTom Golfer 2
O TomTom Golfer SE
www.garmin.com
WHY IT’S WON: Where many GPS
systems are golf-specific, we see a need
in our busy lives for much more general SUBSCRIBE TO OUR
lifestyle trackers to relay data on staying YOUTUBE CHANNEL
healthy. That’s where the X40 steps in. For the latest
It can monitor your performance in lots
of diferent sports from cycling to equipment reviews,
swimming, but also records daily tips and tour
how many steps you take interviews
each day, along with calories www.youtube.com/
burnt, your heart rate, how user/todaysgolfer
you’ve slept and more.

42 AWARDS 201 8 TODAYSGOLFER .CO.UK

GPS EQUIPMENT
BUSHNELL
HYBRID £399
www.bushnellgolf.com
WHY IT’S WON: There are some
occasions when a laser won’t help you
– when you face a blind shot for
instance. Bushnell has fixed the
problem by adding a GPS to its newest
rangefinder. Precise distances are
provided through the Hybrid’s laser
function, while the GPS display on the
side delivers front, middle and back
yardages to help when golfers have
blind shots or need quicker, more
general information. Separate power
supplies for the two let you use the
laser, even if the GPS isn’t charged,
and vice versa. As with Bushnell’s
other market-leading laser products,
the Hybrid boasts PinSeeker with
JOLT Technology – short, vibrating
bursts to isolate the target and lock
onto the flag. The vibrations let you
know you have the exact distance to
the flag.
YOUR WINNER
BUSHNELL
TOUR V4 SHIFT
BUSHNELL
PHANTOM £99
www.bushnellgolf.com
WHY IT’S WON: Bushnell’s new
Phantom has a high-powered magnet
inside, which means it attaches easily
to a belt buckle, electric trolley or any
metal surface. You get all the usual
back, centre and front yardages for
each green along with four hazard/lay-
up yardages per hole, thanks to
Bluetooth connectivity (via the
Bushnell app) it updates automatically.
And you get all this for less than
£100… amazing value.
YOUR WINNER
GARMIN
APPROACH G30
GARMIN APPROACH NIKON
Z80 £549.99 COOLSHOT
www.bushnellgolf.com 80i VR £419.99
WHY IT’S WON: While Bushnell goes
about combining GPS and laser tech via
a screen on the side, Garmin does it
diferently – with a laser readout and a
hole map viewed on the display at the
same time. The graphic you see is similar
to a GPS watch readout – an overhead
view, where you see your position on the
hole and any hazards between you and
the green. It helps you plan out your shot
by giving you the shape of the hole and
the locations of hazards – a huge bonus
over a normal laser if there are hidden
hazards on a hole as well as the true
shape of the green on over 41,000
courses worldwide. A PlaysLike Distance
feature adjusts yardages based on an
uphill or downhill slope (turn it of in
tournament mode) and there’s built-in
image stabilisation to reduce shakiness,
from its 6x magnification. Pricey, but a
really well executed idea.
18%
1 Bushnell
Tour V4 Shift
2 Bushnell Pro X2
27.7%
3 Garmin Approach Z80
GOLF BUDDY VTX
£249.99
www.golfbuddyglobal.com
WHY IT’S WON: The VTX packs an
enormous amount into such a well-
priced handheld. It features a full colour
touch screen and a slim, lightweight
design, making it simple to use and
barely noticeable to carry. With access
to a database of over 38,000 pre-loaded
courses the VTX is ready to go. If you
stray of course, a dynamic green view
will give accurate distances from your
angle of attack, even if it’s from a
fairway across.
12.9%
Garmin Approach G30
1
20.7%
2 Bushnell Phantom
3 Garmin Approach G10
www.europe-nikon.com
WHY IT’S WON: How many
times have you tried to lock a
laser onto a target, only for th
shake to make it impossible?
Nikon’s Coolshot 80i VR uses
“optical vibration reduction”
technology to compensate for
any hand movements during
use. The result is that the targe
remains stable, regardless of
how windy it is, stabilising the
beam and making it much easi
to get the correct yardage. Th
tech works automatically onc
the button is pushed, and can
scan continuously for
approximately eight seconds
produce an almost immediat
measurement in less than a
second.
O Bushnell Hybrid
32.2% O GolfBuddy LR7
O Nikon Coolshot 80i VR
SKYCADDIE SR1
£129.95
www.skygolf.com
WHY IT’S WON: The SR1
is laden with tech, but
SkyCaddie reckon it’s the
lightest and most compact
micro on the market. You get
green distances, lay-up targ
shot distance measurement
digital scoring, hole stats
(fairways hit), fitness trackin
and calories burnt as well a
clock and access to 35,000
worldwide courses.
O Golf Buddy VTX
O SkyCaddie Touch
41.2% O SkyCaddie SR1
TODAYSGOLFER .CO.UK AWARDS 201 8 43
 SHOT SCOPE V2
£225
www.shotscope.com
WHY IT’S WON: Millions of golfers
have chosen GPS watches as the
simplest way to access accurate
yardages. So it’s a masterstroke by Shot
Scope to utilise watch tech in their
tracker. We’re big fans of the V2’s
diferent modes, which mean it’s
possible to access just yardages, gather
data without showing yardages or do
both, so you can comply with comp
rules. Serious golfers have been at the
heart of Shot Scope from the start and
it’s thanks to this eye for detail that Shot
Scope has developed one of the most
useful analytics platforms. You can drill
down into interactive graphs and charts
to learn everything about your game.
Stats are broken down into tee shots,
approach shots (outside 50 yards), short
game (inside 50 yards) and putting, and
the guys at Shot Scope reckon their data
is so good at helping you improve, you
don’t need an electronic caddie to tell
you which club to hit. A sound option for
golfers wanting to really break down
performance. As the system includes a
GPS watch, it’s really good value, too.
you back £49.99 a year for the privileg
The analytics package is everything a
budding tour statistician needs to
improve.
GAME GOLF PRO
£299.99
www.gamegolf.com
WHY IT’S WON: Game Golf can
lay fair claim to creating the sho
tracking trend. The key to the n
Pro version is not having to t
which could be frustrating a
forget with the original syste
big fans of going hands-free
having to keep a phone in yo
which has been a drawback of s
systems. We also like the ability to
distinguish between a practice swing
and real shot, which historically some
systems have struggled with. At nearly
£300 a pop the Pro version is a sizeab
investment (the previous Game Golf L
version was available for £139) so you ll
need to really want to improve to justify
the cost. A smart caddie feature (which
is coming later in 2018) will also make
recommendations for every shot, where
currently others only work for tee shots.
There’s also a free coaching dashboard
available online, which enables you and a

ARCCOS 360 coach to analyse performance and

create lesson plans.
£249
www.arccosgolf.com
WHY IT’S WON: By using your phone’s
GPS capability, costs are kept under
control, but it does mean the phone
needs to be kept in your pocket for the
system to work, which for some golfers
is a drawback. Rumour has it Arccos is
working on a new “patch” which can be
dropped into a pocket, stuck to a cap or
hung around the neck (eliminating the
need to keep a phone in your pocket)
which we think will make the system a
lot more attractive. We love the idea of
the AI caddie, which after five rounds
starts to make club recommendations
(for tee shots) based on your previous
shots. The system considers wind
speed, wind direction and elevation to
give “Plays Like” yardages, too. Just
bear in mind the caddie function will set

17.1%
O Game Golf Pro
O Mobitee and Piq
36.2%
Shot Scope V2
YOUR WINNER 2 SkyCaddie Linx GT
30.9%
SHOT SCOPE V2 3 Arccos 360

44 AWARDS 201 8 TODAYSGOLFER .CO.UK

 MOST ADVANCED
NEW
TALKING HANDHELD GPS

• Distance to front / centre / back of the green

• Distance to hazards
• Digital scorecard
• Yardage readings from the golfer’s perspective
• Automatic course updates wirelessly with
GolfBuddy Smartphone App

Now available in golf shops nationwide

 YOUR AWARDS
counteract the high
hook), the driver fac
“twisted” open – lo
increased, face ope

TAYLORMADE’S high on the toe to h

straighten ball fligh
TWIST FACE counteract the low-
(a slice) the face ha
twisted closed, de-
www.taylormadegolf.com closing the face in t
area. Does it work?
WHY IT’S WON: After studying half- our extensive tests
a-million of shots from a vast range of pros and amateurs,
players, TaylorMade discovered our were a little faster,
most common driver misses result higher, span a little
from high-toe and low-heel impacts. six yards further. Si
So engineers attempted to straighten shots launched with
these shots out by “twisting” the face less backspin and w
in the new M3 and M4 drivers. To longer than average

17.7% O Cleveland CBX

33.5% cavity-back wedge
1 TaylorMade O Cobra CNC-milled
Twist Face
YOUR WINNER 2 Callaway Jailbreak

TAYLORMADE TWIST FACE 3 Ping GMAX driver

got its act together in every single

product category... look at the
winners elsewhere in these
awards, such as the P790 and

TAYLORMADE M4 irons, TP Red and Spider

www.taylormadegolf.com
WHY IT’S WON: A close-run contest
between the three biggest names in golf
saw them separated by just 4% of the
votes. But TaylorMade came out on top
to be your Brand of the Year. We all know
they make great drivers and woods – and
the M3 and M4 lines are among their
best ever. But this year the company has
putters and the TP5 ball.
TaylorMade also has the
strongest player line-up of any of
the big three manufacturers, with
the likes of Johnson, Rory, Rahm, R
Day and a certain Tiger Woods on it
books, plus lots of players using its
drivers without a contract.

22.2%
O Cleveland O Srixon
O Cobra O Titleist
26.1% O Mizuno O Wilson
1 TaylorMade
22.8% O PXG Staf
YOUR WINNER 2 Ping
TAYLORMADE 3 Callaway

46 AWARDS 201 8 TODAYSGOLFER .CO.UK

 INSPIRED BY CHICAGO.
AWARDED FOR EXCELLENCE.

line of putters at Wilson.com

 ONE FACE TO
RULE THEM ALL
THERE’S ONE DRIVER FACE THAT THE BEST IN THE WORLD CHOOSE
TO BEAT THE BEST IN THE WORLD. AND IT’S ONLY IN THE M3 AND M4 DRIVERS.

FOR STRAIGHT DISTANCE, THERE IS ONLY ONE CHOICE.