Titleist DT SoLo

Grade: A

The DT SoLo golf ball is Titleist’s offering in the low-compression golf ball revolution. It’s turned out to be my favorite golfball of the summer.

It’s probably not the best ball that I’ve played in any single category. It’s not the longest .... or the straightest ... or the one with the highest spin ... or the softest feeling. But it’s pretty good in all of those categories. But then again, there are several other that fit in the "pretty good" category.

There are two things that are the deal breaker for me with this ball:

1) I love the way it putts. I have no problem judging distance with it, and it rolls true. And,

2) It’s Titleist tough. I can play one of these balls for several rounds without getting cuts, gouges, or even those little strings that annoy me so. I can’t say the same for some of the other brands I’ve played.

It’s a top quality ball at a reasonable price. You can pick up a dozen in many places at just around $20.

The only downside: I don’t think I hit these as far as I hit other balls. But I’m willing to live with that. I like the feel.

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Snake Eyes 600C Forged Iron Head

Grade: A

I am not worthy of these clubs. But I play them nonetheless.

The Golfsmith Snake Eyes 600C heads are a beautiful set of forged iron heads. I assembled a set with Rifle graphite shafts, and have found them to be the best feeling heads I have ever used—even including the much more expensive major manufacturers’ clubs.

They also attract a lot of attention. Everyone I have played with at the club has noticed them and asked to take a swing. And everyone has liked them.

From the address position, these clubs look for all the world like blades. But they have a small cavity back that helps to compensate for off-center hits. They are nearly as forgiving as any of the other game-improvement irons I have tried (although I have by no means tried them all). But they are much, much better feeling. On a well-stuck ball, you just can’t believe how buttery it is. And on off center shots—well, the cavity back helps, but you also will be able to feel your mistakes.

Of all the clubs in my set, the 4-iron is my favorite. I normally don’t carry an iron longer than a 6, but I put the 4 back in the bag. I use it to smash balls out of the rough after an errant drive on long par 5s. My best shot with it: I eagled a par 5 from 180 out of the rough.

Another great feature of these heads is that they are designed to fit with the Snake Eyes 600B muscleback forged heads. That way, you can mix and match: used the musclebacks on the short irons, and the cavity backs on the long.

Snake Eyes 600B Forged Iron Heads

The only problem is that I am unworthy. I’m a 15 handicapper with a streaky game. When I’m on, I am capable of playing very well, indeed. But I have a nasty problem with a flying left elbow that causes bad shots—a problem that shows up on a couple of holes each round, ruining my scores. A good player would be able to make these clubs sing for their supper.

My pro friend tried my clubs for a round and liked them so much that he put together a set for himself. Then he promptly sold them right out of his bag to a client who made him an offer he couldn’t refuse.

I’m interested in what you have to say! Add your own review by clicking on the comments link below.

Dunlop LoCo Low Compression Ball

Grade: C

There's only one thing I really didn't like about this ball: the way it putts. I had a hard time judging the distance and never felt as though it was rolling well. And, since putting is the strongest part of my game -- the part that I rely on to keep my scores down -- that was enough to sink it (pun intended). Other aspects of the ball were ok. The feel was nice and soft, it had adequate distance, and decent spin. And the price is right. But I just couldn't get past the feeling that it was hurting my putting. I gave it a C for effort.

New Decade Lite Cord

Grade: B

I have oddly sized hands: large palms with smallish fingers. This makes it difficult to find golf gloves that fit. It also makes it difficult to find grips of the proper size.

So when I went to Ralph Maltby's Golfworks looking for a smallish, thin walled grip, the clerk suggested the New Decade. He was right. The grip fits better than any I've yet tried. It also turned out to be just right for the new graphite shafts that I was trying out. The grips were a couple of grams lighter than the ones I was using and this made the swingweight come out just right.

I also like the grip's feel. The cord is a little rough on the top of the grip, and I think this makes me not grip it so tight. The grip's lower half is very soft.

The downside of the grip is that, after a long session at the range, I get blisters. Because I don't play with gloves (could never get any to really fit), the corded upper area gets a little rough on the hands. Because of this, I can't really give it an A. So it gets a B.

Rifle Graphite 75 Gram Iron Shaft Set 3-PW
Grade: A

The knock against graphite golf shafts always has been that they are not as consistent as steel. But recent advances in manufacturing have reportedly solved that problem, so this summer I decided to give them a try.

I chose the Rifle Graphite 75s because they promised to provide consistent weights across the different lengths in the set. The tips on each of the shafts were pre-cut, so it was simply a matter of making sure the right shaft went into the right head. The weights on these shafts turned to be right on the mark, as the finished clubweights were consistent across the entire set.

One advantage of the graphite was that the lighter weight enabled me to cut the shafts a half inch longer without making the clubs feel too heavy. I've always been more comfortable with a longer shaft, as it allows me to stand more upright and take some pressure off my back.

After playing the second half of the summer with graphite shafts, I have to say that I am a believer.  I haven't had any noticable accuracy or consistency problems. And the feel of the graphite is superior to the steel. Mishits don't hurt anymore because the graphite easily absorbs the shock. And, after playing more golf this summer than ever before, I don't have the case of "golfers elbow" that I usually develop by the fall.

And then there's the Magic Word for amateur golfers: distance. I think I'm hitting my irons further. Never a long hitter, I think I've gained distance. My reference club used to be a well-swung 6 iron at 150. When I'm playing well, 150 now is an easy six, or a hard 7

It's probably a combination of things. The clubs are longer, the swingweight lighter, and there likely is more whip. But the distance is there.

I won't go back to steel. Graphite is more expensive, but it's worth it.