TRX Ti Driver

GigaGolf’s TRX Ti Driver features movable weights and a thin titanium face. The former can help you keep it in play; the latter gets it out far into the fairway.

Interestingly, this driver is available not only in the regular 10 and 9 degrees, but also in a 12.5 degree loft. That makes it ideal for players who have a hard time getting enough carry out of their drivers.

The best part, of course, is the price. You can have this titanium driver for under $100 with a base configuration.

TOUR EDGE Bazooka GeoMax Driver with Graphite Shaft

Grade: B+
Teacher’s Comments: A powerful feeling with a high ball flight.

I’ve never been a long hitter off the tee, but in recent weeks have been actively searching for a driver that will help me get the extra yards I need to make my second shots more reasonable. In pursuit of that goal, I have been conducting an extended test of Tour Edge’s Geomax driver. My test model is a 9.5 degree with a stiff shaft.

Clubhead geometry is all the rage these days. Square drivers, drivers with scoop backs, oddly bulbous designs ... there seems to be no end to the non-traditional shapes that manufacturers are producing.

The Geomax, however, is said to offer performance advantages of the geometrical drivers while still maintaining a traditional shape. Inside the head,

It’s an attractive looking club.

The Geomax is a powerful and solid feeling club. While it doesn’t offer the “hot” sensation that I’ve felt with some other drivers, it doesn’t lack for distance or height.

In fact, for me, ball flight was too high. I absolutely don’t need any help getting the ball in the air. On the contrary, I probably need a club desiged to keep it down, so I can generate a more penetrating shot.

As a club rep said to me at a recent demo day: I need less “up” and more “out.”

In spite of the height, I got nearly as much distance with the Geomax as I’ve been getting lately with my TaylorMade R7—about 220 or so. That leads me to believe that the GeoMax would be a fine choice for the typical golfer who has trouble getting the ball up in the air. (before you scoff at the 220 yards, remember that USGA studies say that the average golfer hits the ball 200 yards, but *thinks* he hits it 20 yards longer.)

The greater launch should help the average golfer find extra yards. In places that get regular summer rainfall—and on courses that water consistently—distance generally is all about carry. Getting the ball up, and keeping it up is the key.

Unless, like me, your tee shots typically look like something shot out of a mortar—the ball takes off steeply, quickly peaks and then falls out of the sky.

The Geomax also impresses me with its accuracy. The high moment of inertia helps to keep the ball in play, even on off-center hits. I lost some distance on toe and heel shots, but didn’t find my balls bleeding off into the rough. I would always rather play a slightly longer shot from the fairway for my second.

With its solid distance, high launch and good accuracy, the Geomax is a quality club. And it’s an even better value: the retail on the Geomax now is just $149 at Golfsmith.

While a lower price point often makes golfers think of low quaility “clones” and department store clubs, that’s not the case with Tour Edge. Tour Edge has found a niche in the golf industry by offering original designs with big name quality at value prices. They manage to do this by eschewing advertising and not paying players to endorse their products. Tour Edge products regularly make the Hot Lists and Editor’s Choices of the various golf magazines.

While the Geomax really doesn’t fit my specific needs, I think I can safely recommend it for the vast majority of golfers, who need help with high launch and accuracy.

Mizuno MX-560 Men’s Driver

Regular readers will know that the GolfBlogger has been spending some time at demo days this spring looking for a replacement driver. An analysis of my swing shows that my launch angle is too high, and that there’s too much spin on my ball—both of which cost me yards off the tee.

Thus far, I’ve tried Nike, TaylorMade, Cleveland, MacGregor and Mizuno. My favorites have been the TaylorMade Tour Burner (way too expensive for this teacher’s salary, though) and the Cleveland XLS (good performance, better price).

To that short list, I can add another club: the Mizuno MX-560. In fact, it may be my current choice.

The MX-560 is another one of those “geometrically driven” clubs. Like the Burner and the XLS, the crown swoops down away from the face, rather than curving up as with a traditional driver shape. The effect is not as severe as the XLS with its scoop back, but the thought is the same. What it’s supposed to do is increase the moment of intertia, both heel to toe and crown to sole.

After hearing my (very sad) clubtest angle, spin and swing speed numbers, the Mizuno rep gave me a 8.5 degree, stiff shaft model. It turned out to be just the right fit. I absolutely bombed those shots out past the 250 marker with those terrible yellow range balls. For half an hour, I hit ball after ball after ball, and almost every one was straight and long.

I also tried a 9.5 degree, regular shaft for a while and liked that also, although I think the shots were less straight and noticeably higher.

So here’s what Mizuno says about the clubs:

The MX-560™ driver achieves two major design goals: EXTREME DISTANCE and EXTREME FORGIVENESS. In creating a unique H.E.M.I. geometric head shape, Mizuno engineers increased the heel-toe and up-down MOI of the driver for massive forgiveness, while maintaining a low spin rate and high launch angle for massive distance. Furthermore, the H.E.M.I geometric shape provides the perfect balance of a low-deep COG and a COG with proper distance from the shaft axis. This also aids greatly in “Bombing” long and straight drives. In addition, the CNC milled plasma welded CORTECH ™ face insert delivers the maximum USGA allowable ball speed across the entire area of the face for explosive distance.

H.E.M.I Geometric Head Design for Extreme Distance and Extreme Forgiveness.

Features

* Unique H.E.M.I geometric head shape delivers maximum heel-toe and up-down MOI and a precisely placed C.O.G. for EXTREME FORGIVENESS.
* CNC milled, plasma welded CORTECH™ design utilizes multiple face thicknesses for EXTREME DISTANCE.
* Maximum allowable USGA 460cc volume delivered in a unbelievably large head shape for a “can’t miss” driving attitude.
* Solid, Explosive, and Powerful sound.

The best part about this very good club is the price. Mizuno has it set at $299. I’ve always thought of Mizuno as a premium club (probably because the guys who play them kick my butt regularly; the brand has a reputation for “players” clubs).

Its going to be a very tough decision for me. When I get a club, its got to be right because I won’t be able to purchase another for several seasons. TaylorMade? Cleveland? Mizuno? There’s more thinking to be done.

Gigagolf Powermax GX Squared Draw Driver

GigaGolf’s second generation square driver has been designed with a high moment of inertia (resistance to twisting) for accuracy, and a cup face design for distance. The draw model features an internal weighting system that will promote a left to right ball flight.

And you can’t beat the price. This square technology titanium driver starts at just $99. Even better: These clubs come with a 30 day play guarantee.

Cleveland HiBORE XLS Men’s Driver

I spent about forty five minutes earlier this week hitting a variety of Cleveland HiBore XLS drivers at a local demo day. I came away thinking that it’s a terrific club, and at $100 less than the competition, a terrific buy.

The scoop back crown design works to keep the weight low and back, visibly reducing spin on the ball. Ball flight was just what it ought to be, with a high launch, and lots of carry. I was hitting into a strong headwind, in the rain, in 40 degree weather with range balls and still was getting 200+ yards in the air. Under better conditions, I think this might be among the longest drivers available for a player of my skill.

It’s also one of the straightest drivers I’ve ever hit. I hit exactly one slice in the entire session. That may not bode well for those who like to work the ball. The very high moment of intertia is simply not going to let you spin it around.

I particularly liked the feel of the driver. It swing easy, and I could tell immediately where I had hit on the face.

But the sound! Good heavens this club is loud! It’s like a pistol shot going off.

But I can live with that. As I search for a new driver, this is right up there at the top of the list with the TaylorMade Tour Burner.