ODYSSEY BLACK SERIES 1
TECH STORY
The milled soft 1025 carbon-steel head is fitted with a tungsten flange to move weight back and low for a high moment of inertia and improved roll. A double-layer face insert (a resilient elastomer behind a thin, firm outer layer) provides optimal feel, and the loft fits the putter’s center of gravity. The series includes two blade-like models, the #1 (a classic Anser style) and the #9 (the half-mallet look preferred by Phil Mickelson).
PLAYER COMMENTS
“This is the shiny little birthday present that I’ll be hoping for. . . . This putter has great balance. Rolls true. . . . The firm insert gives it a nice, confident feel. . . . It’s a solid putter, and the response on the mis-hits is there — especially on toe hits. . . . The chrome color is sharp without causing glare, and the roll on this putter is otherworldly.”
HOT
The best-looking Odyssey on the market, but this isn’t just another high-end blade. It’s got some serious technological horsepower.
NOT
Some might have to adjust to its soft sound.
Golf 101 Tips Top Ranked Putters 2008
Gold Wedges CLEVELAND CG12
STREET PRICE: Click Here
TECH STORY
The CG12 features milled “zip” grooves that have 25 percent more volume than previous Cleveland wedges. The 0-degree angle to the sidewalls of each groove provides the extra volume and creates a crisper groove edge to improve spin. A special plating process during the final sandblasting maintains the consistency of the groove depth.
PLAYER COMMENTS
“It was easy out of the thick grass. Even on mis-hits there was great trajectory and consistency… Has a smooth move through the sand and is versatile on chip shots. It performed well from any lie. Consistent spin and balance… I love the way it sets up to the ball. Superior feel; it really grabs the ball. Chipping with it is just as good as you’d expect. Easy to control distance and height.”
HOT
An impressive bit of manufacturing that translates just as impressively into performance. Unmatched variety in its 16 loft/bounce options.
NOT
Watch out for excessive spin on full shots on the lower-lofted models.
View Top Ranked Golf Wedges 2008
Gold Wedges CLEVELAND CG12
Gold Game-Improvement Irons
ADAMS IDEA A3
STREET PRICE: Click Here
LOFTS
6-iron: 29 degrees, PW: 45 degrees
TECH STORY
Three boxy hybrids with a high moment of inertia are designed to be more forgiving in what normally would be the 3-, 4- and 5-irons. They combine with hollow-back middle irons and cavity-back short irons to complete the set. The center of gravity and MOI are aligned between the hybrids and the short irons for consistent yardage gaps throughout the set.
PLAYER COMMENTS
“This is a good stick. Impact feels solid and forgiving at the same time. And, man, did I hit that 3-hybrid really well. . . . You could definitely work the ball with it. . . . The boxy look on the hybrids makes them easy to square up, and the irons look sharp.”
HOT
When we say “advancing the category,” this is what we mean. Adams has been at the forefront of the hybrid movement, and this set is the latest example. The Grafalloy ProLaunch Red graphite shaft option is a plus.
NOT
Three hybrids in an iron set might still be a little much for some egos to stomach.
View ADAMS IDEA A3 Irons
Golf 101 Tips Top Rated Golf Irons 2008
Golf 101 tips review top rated Woods 2008
Gold Fairway Woods — ADAMS INSIGHT XTD
LOFTS
13, 15, 18 in a3; 15, 18, 21, 24 in a3OS
TECH STORY
Using its hybrid knowledge to address the needs of different types of players, Adams has developed two hybrid-like fairway woods. Both feature “boxer” technology (that is, stretched corners) to increase the moment of inertia without constraining the center-of-gravity location. The regular a3 has a CG closer to the face; the a3OS has a 10-percent higher MOI. Shaft lengths were shortened by half an inch to help average golfers contact the center of the face more frequently.
PLAYER COMMENTS
“There’s no arguing with the results. It’s incredibly solid. . . . This club just takes the ball up into the air by itself. . . . Stable is the key word. It has the most stability on mis-hits.”
HOT
Adams is boldly attempting to meld the best of fairway woods and hybrids into a new breed of club — an impressive way to take advantage of all the benefits of shape, size and length. Sole engineering is subtle, inventive, effective.
NOT
Square is still not a natural look.
Golf 101 Tips — Golf Digest 2008 Hot List
Golf 101 tips review top rated Woods 2008
