Stormfit Goretex Rain Jacket
Grade: A-

I invested in a Nike Storm Fit rainsuit after being disappointed by the Sun Mountain suit. And I do mean "invested" because this sucker wasn't cheap. It was so expensive, in fact, that I hesitated for a long time before buying it. But my wife, the ski bum (we're a mixed marriage -- I golf, she skis), told me that  I wasn't going to be comfortable unless I got a suit that breathes (all her stuff is Gore-Tex).  And she encouraged me to buy one (Gee, I love that woman).

The Nike suit, while not Gore-Tex, is made of Nike's proprietary fabric that essentially does the same thing: it keeps the rain out, while allowing inner moisture to pass out. It's a neat trick. And it works. I can wear this suit and stay dry even in warmer weather.

The suit is well-designed. The legs have a zipper up the side that allows you to easily get your shoed feet into them. The pants pockets allow you to reach through to your pants underneath. Both have enough room in them to allow you to easily make a full swing.

The jacket, in particular, is good looking, and I often wear it as an around-the-town cover. The pants don't look to bad either.

If I have one complaint, its that the sleeves don't fit tightly enough. I think that if the fit a bit more tightly, I could give this suit an A+.

Sun Mountain Provisional Rain Suit

Grade: D

My complaints with this rain suit come down to one thing: it's too hot because it doesn't breathe. Oh, it keeps the rain off you, but on any slightly warm day, you end up just as wet from the sweat. I guess that's why they bill it as "for cold weather play."

There are a couple of good things about it. It fits very nicely into a very small zipper package, and it doesn't weigh very much. It's also very durable -- much more so than rainsuits that I've owned for camping.

Still, the lack of breathability kills this product for me.

Nike Tour Air Golf Stand Bag

Grade: A

As I've said in previous posts, I think that walking is the only way to play golf.  Although I usually use a pull cart when playing 18 during the summer, I carry when playing a nine, or in colder weather (lugging the bag keeps me warm).

The Nike Air Tour is the third stand bag that I've owned. The others were a Ping and an Izzo. Of the three, I like the Nike the best.

First of all, the Nike has what I think is the best strap system out there -- the Izzo. And, keeping with the Nike tradition, the straps have been enhanced with a Nike "Air" system -- several air filled pads to make the shoulder straps softer. There's also a big air filled pad that rests against the small of the back.

The top of the bag is nicely padded and divided. All of my shafts are graphite, and I experienced no scratching on the paint this summer. The putter well at the top that fits my oversized Snake Eyes putter nicely.

The bag has a good variety of pockets and D rings for hooking things to. On the sides are two pockets for bottles, with mesh bottoms to let the condensation drip out.

Finally, I like the stand system. Unlike the Ping, whose legs extend whenever you set the bag down, the Nike system has a little "foot" that sticks out and doesn't activate the legs until the bag leans forward. This makes it much easier to strap it into a hand cart, or onto the back of a power cart (heresy!).

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Club Glove Kaddy Stroller

Grade B

As far as I am concerned, walking is the only way to play golf. You just can't get a feel for the course dashing from ball to ball in a cart. Walking a course helps you to judge distance, course conditions and the effects of the weather. Even better: walking is exercise; you'll be healthier for it.

Of course, the best way to do this is to use a caddy. Unfortunately, there aren't many places with caddies these days. Power carts are much more profitable.

So, in the absence of a good caddy, you have two choices: carry your clubs or use a hand cart. I own a lightweight carry bag, but as I get older, I find that my back and shoulders start to feel the strain after a few holes. So the hand cart is the answer.

My golf club bought Kaddy Strollers this last spring to replace a fleet of antiquated push carts. Constructed from lightweight (aluminum?) tubing, they are extremely easy to push, thanks to the bicycle-style pneumatic wheels. The Kaddy Stroller also has a nice wide handle that adjusts to any number of heights. It's also got foot and hand brakes.

I used these carts on most of my 18-hole rounds this summer (I still like to carry on a "nine"). They easily navigate hills and rough terrain. And unlike a pull cart, they don't put any strain on the wrists. The bag is held at exactly the right height and angle for easy access to the clubs. Its almost as though your caddy was handing the clubs to you.

I do have a couple of complaints, though.

First, it's not exactly easy to strap the bag into the cart. The bag boys at the club really have to tug on the bottom one to get it into place.

Second, the cup holder is positioned at an angle, so that any full cup spills.

But my biggest beef with these is that they look too much like a baby stroller. In fact, the first time I saw someone with one, that's exactly what I thought it was. And I still cringe every time I see it. Still, its better than riding in a power cart.

They could have made the thing look a little more .... well, manly.

So, for handiness and construction, it gets an "A", but its aesthetics downgrade it to a "B".

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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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