Pinemeadow Excel Lightning Driver

In these recessionary times, off-brand clubs are looking better and better. Unlike the cheap knockoffs you see in bargain stores and at disreputable golf shows, the Pinemeadow clubs I’ve bought are well constructed from quality materials. As a some-time clubmaker, I’ve been impressed with the little details, like the close fitting, turned ferrules, and perfectly aligned grips.

The difference in the price is not in materials or workmanship, but that they are design followers, not leaders. What Pinemeadow offers are last year’s designs.

But the prices! This square driver is stylistically out of date, but at $99, you can afford to play last year’s design. Constructed of 6/4 titanium, the square head is supposed to provide the maximum possible MOI, straightening out your drives. The big sweet spot also will maximize distance.  That’s why Nike, Callaway and others were touting the square design. If square worked a year and a half ago at $500, it works this season at $99.

ADAMS A7 OS Chipper

All of the golf experts say that the fastest way for an amateur to lower his scores is to improve play around the greens. That said, I’ve wondered about the average player’s obsession with newer, faster, “longer” drivers. It might make more sense (both score wise and financially) to spend a small fraction of that money on a club that could help you from 20 yards in.

The Adams A7 OS Chipper tries to do just that. A cross between a wedge and a putter, the Adams Chipper has a 37 degree loft to get the ball up quickly, and rolling. The sole is designed to cut through turf.

I have a chipper that I built years ago from a GolfWorks kit and I pull it out of storage when I hit one of those streaks where I’ve completely lost my short-game feel. I use a putting grip and stroke and it usually works wonders from 50 yards in.

The difficulty of using one is, of course, trying to figure out what club to drop in its place. For me, its usually the three or four iron. I can’t hit those consistently anyway.

COBRA S2 Iron Set 4-GW with Steel Shafts

I tried the Cobra S2 Irons at a recent demo day and was impressed by their feel (the less we say about my ball striking that day, the better).

The key feature is the polymer topline, which as you might suspect, reduces the weight there, and repositions it where it’ll do some good—at the bottom. That multi-material topline, combined with a lower urethane sole is apparently what accounts for the nice feel I experienced when chunking shots off a frozen astroturf mat.

The also look very nice from address, with a hidden back flange, shorter blade length and a topline that doesn’t look like a game-improvement iron.

Cobra says that other features include a mid-width sole with a trailing edge groove that’s supposed to offer the reduce fat shots, while still keeping the leading edge low. Distance is maximized throughout the set through the combined tricks of stronger lofts and slightly longer shafts. But that’s been a trend with manufacturers for years. Hmm. If this keeps up, we’ll eventually have seven irons the length of drivers.

CLEVELAND CG15 Oil Quench Wedge

I’ve got a Cleveland “Oil Can” wedge from a few years ago, and really like the finish.

I like its play, too.

ADAMS Speedline Fast10 Draw Driver

The new meme in golf is “speed.” Seemingly technologically tapped out with Moment of Inertia and Coefficient of Restitution, more and more companies this spring are telling us that more clubhead speed will give us more distance. And it should, ceteris paribus.

The Speedline is a good example of this new mindset. The key with this one is the aerodynamic shaping, including FEA (finite element method) simulation, CFD (computational fluid dynamics) analysis, wind tunnel testing and other things borrowed from the aerospace industry. It’s also weighted to encourage a draw (which in itself should get you an extra yard or two).

Adams claims up to 15 yards more than other drivers on the market. Hmmm.