300Yards

I finally had an opportunity to throughly test this years hottest drivers. I went to GS yeterday, and found the launch monitor was totally empty, so I took advantage of it. All tests were with 9.5* clubs.

Test #1: Nike SQ

I hit the SQ, and I was impressed! The club has the distance, accuracy, to get any tough tee shot done. My club head spees was 128.3, carry was 330.5, total distance was 343. Ball spin: 2350. launch angle: 14.2*.

Test #2: Nike Sumo

I hated this club. I didn't do anything for me. It's looks made me stifle my vomit, and I definently lost distance over the SQ: Clubhead speed: 128.3, carry: 325, total distance: 335.6. Ball spin: 2200, launch angle 14*. This club had no feel. It felt as if I was hitting with a 2x4. Every hit felt clanky, and I couldn't get comfortable with it. I hear people talkng about the loud sound, this thing makes..however, I thought it sounded kinda dead...but then again..maybe it's not made to be hit at 128 MPH..


Test #3: Highbore XL

My favorite club, that I hit!(big suprise) I always loved this club, and it's cousin the Highbore. The greatest improvement over the old Highbore, was the fact this club was much longer, and I think it feels a lot better. Club head speed: 127.2, Carry: 332, total distance: 350!! Ball spin: 2300, launch angle 13*! As you can see, I got much better results from this club. It felt great! I backed off my swing a bit, once I realized how hot the face was. More distance than any other I tried, It would be the one I would've bought, had I had some money. My Personal favorite of testing! I was hitting the 320 yard target, every time with this beast.

Test #4: Ping Rapture

I was suprised how much I liked this club. I usually hate anything Ping.(except their putters, I like those) It performed well, and felt very solid. Club head speed: 128.2, carry: 328.6, total distance, 343.4! Ball spin: 2355, launch angle: 13.5*! I definently liked this club more than the SQ, I felt nice, the shape wasn't vomit inducing, and it was of reasonable size. I hit this club very consistant, and if it wasn't for the marketing sceems of Ping, I might buy this one.

Test #5: Taylormade Burner 460

Another close favorite for me! I got about the same results, as with the SQ, but the feel was a little better with the SQ. Clubhead speed: 128, carry: 329.6, total distance: 342.5, bsll spin: 2800, launch angle: 15* I hit this higher, than the other clubs..but it was nice! A nice sized club, with a more traditional shape. I feel with some dialing in, this one could outhit the Highbore XL. The RPMS were a little high with this one, but not to bad.

Test #6: Callaway FT-I

Didn't think I was going to forget about this thing, did you?
Besides the horrendous looks, I liked this club! I got much better feel, and distance than the Sumo, and I actually got comfortable withh it. Clubhead speed: 128, carry: 330, total distance: 345.6, Ball spin 2400, launch angle: 14*. It felt very solid, and I would pick it over any of the Nike clubs, just becasue of the consistancy it gave me.

Test #8 Nike Sumo 2:
What can I say about this club?? I hated it more than anything.
The feel, and sound was absolutely dispicable. I onlt hit it twice, and both times the ball went barely over 300 yards. This club isn't worthy of a review, IMHO. THe high MOI, makes this club shorter than the others, and I wasn't comfortable enough to take a maximum swing at the ball. I would take the FT-I, over this, any day.


Test #9: My driver, Krank RHCP

My driver won hands down! Not that I didn't except that! The guy running the LM, really liked this club, and it's still my top favorite. clubhead speed: 127.6, carry: 338.6, total distance: 358! Ball spin: 1900! Launch angle: 13.2*! Due to it's no groove face, this one won in distance, accuracy, and RPMs, hands down. The face is so reactive, it is sometimes hard to tell if you hit the ball. There is very little feel when I hit balls with it, but the sound is LOUD! The SQ or Sumo, has nothing on the sound from this behemoth! I was hitting this, and 3 employess came over to see what the noise was. I had a small crowd of people watching me hit this one. Vey sweet club, and for $200, it cannot be beat.

I hope you enjoyed my tests. Just for the record: I was swinging as absoultely hard as I could. Based on the results of the LM, my average SS is 121, with 315 yards of carry, and about another 15 yards of roll. I normally don't swing as hard as my tests reveiled, I usually just swing comfortably. I would recoomend everyone try the Highbore XL, The Rapture, the FT-1, the SQ, and the Krank. Definently top of the line clubs.

65nlovenit

Great Review 300, a little overly descriptive on your Sumo's evaluation, you got to learn to be a little more objective and less personal. Haven't hit one but was beside a guy testing one, sounded like he was hitting balls with an empty garbage can. Turns out he wasnt particularly impress with them either. Glad to see Callaway is still putting out a quality product.

Del

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The shortest distance between any two points on a golf course is a straight line that passes directly through the center of a very large tree.

300Yards

LOL, yeah I did get a little personal on the Sumo..but I came in unbiased, and gave everything a fair shot..the Sumo just wasn't for me...I liked the Sasquatch a lot though. Very nice club.

Captainobvious

The new sumo's are rediculous. Looks AND sounds like a mailbox on a stick. Those things are L-O-U-D, and you need to carry a second umbrella to cover them in rainy situations. But on the plus side, you do get to pay just $400 for them. Oh, wait a second...

Captainobvious

300, very solid review by the way. I would have liked to see one or two others thrown in the mix such as the Cobra HS9, and Mizuno MX-500, maybe a TaylorMade R7. Next time you stop in, try swinging away and see how they hit. Id love to see you continue on with some of the others out there since your reviewing is very detailed. Well done!

300Yards

Thanks a lot! Yeah, there was a few more, I wanted to test..but then this kid and his dad came up to the plate..so I decided to just let him have some fun. I will be sure to test the R7..I really wanted to...I also want to hit the Cobra Speed series, and the new Speed LD.(if it's out yet..)they didn't have the Mizuno..maybe next time.

300Yards Driver test 2, coming soon!

Fourputt

Just a quick response on the FTi... (just FYI it's not FT-one, it's FT-eye.) I have it and yes, the head looks funny, took some getting used to, and I take some ribbing for it from my mates right up until I stripe one 270 down the center. Somehow that seems to shut them up. I don't hit them all perfect, but I even hit the bad one's very well compared to the R7 I had before this. The R7 wasn't any longer for me, and I was slinging them all over the county with it. For me, the extra $200 was worth every cent for the improved consistency.

__________________
Rick

Driver - Mizuno MX-560 9.5°
3W - Mizuno F-60 15°
4W - Mizuno F-60 16.5°
22° & 25° TM Rescue hybrid
6I thru PW King Cobra 3400I/XH
Gap Wedge52° Callaway X Tour
SW - Cleveland CG11 56°
High Wedge - 58° Callaway X Tour
Putter - Golfsmith Enterprise

USGA Index 11.1

Captainobvious

Glad to hear your taking requests 300! Consider me subscribed.

300Yards

I completely agree! As I said in my original post, the FT-I was a very accurate club..and yes I scerewed up on the name..I don't why I put a 1.. It as definently a nice club..but since it lacked some distance to the Highbore, (which was just as accurate for me.)It just wasn't at the top for me. As you can see by my SS, I hit hard, so I like a club that's more distance oriented, as I have plenty of accuracy. I'm glad it works for you, it's a nice club, and if I needed some accuracy..I may add it to my bag, but I don't need that now in a club.

Recently added to my "to test" list:
Drivers

Macgregor Mactec NVG2 Draw bias driver
The new King Cobra Speed Pro D, Speed LD F, and M, original Speed series
Ping G5
Callaway GBB Ti, BB 454
Taylormade R7, R7 TP, and R7 superquad(if I can test it)
Titleist 905 series, and new 907, when it comes out.
Mizuno MX500
Cobra HS9

Woods
Nike Sumo
Cleveland Highbore XL
Nike SQ
Exotics Tour Edge CB2
Ping Rapture

Irons/Wedges

Taylormade R7
Macgregor Mactec NVG2 Mid Irons
Mizuno Mx900
King Cobra S9, FP, and CB
Ping G5
Cleveland 588RS,DSG, CG10, CG11,(wedges)
Cleveland CG4, CG2, CG1 Tour irons
Mizuno MP 60 series
Wilson Staff Di7
Nike X tour wedges
Titleist Vokey spin milled wedges
Feel wedges


In additon, I would also like to test various putters. Heavy putter,
Odyssey White Hot, Scotty Cameron, Yes, others.

If anyone sees anything I missed, say something, and if I see it, I'll keep you in mind.

srothfuss

The more and more I hear and read about the FT-i [eye-eye captain!] I might not be able to make it until the end of the season befor trying it out and, obvisously buying one.

Great read!

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Everything Callaway
11* FT-3
Fusion Fairway Woods (3&5)
FT Hyrbrid #3
Big Bertha 2004 Irons (4-10) + Wedges
Odyssey White Hot Putter - Semi Mallet

Drive for show and putt for Dough