CLEVELAND HiBore XLi Iron Set 3-PW with Steel Shafts

One thing I’m glad to see is that manufacturers such as Mizuno (with their MX-950), Adams (Idea clubs) and now Cleveland are radically rethinking the way they design clubs for higher handicappers. And if high handicappers had any sense, they would be listening.

I’ve tried several of these hybrid sets, and the bottom line is that they really work to solve some of the higher handicapper’s issues: namely, getting the ball consistently into the air, and producing consistent distance.

The Cleveland XLIs offer a hollow body construction, with allows the center of gravity to be pushed downward, making it easier to get the ball in the air. It also will create a larger “sweet spot”, like on a wood or driver. The thin cup face should generate higher ball speed for slower swingers. The progressive sole width and offset will help to keep the ball straight.

It looks like a good mix of technologies. Now if people can just get over the fact that it doesn’t look liek a traditional golf set.

MIZUNO Mizuno MX 100 Iron Set 4H, 5H 6-GW with Steel Shafts

Mizuno’s MX-100 hybrid-iron set is aimed squarely at higher handicappers, and Mizuno claims that this is their easiest to hit set ever. But what caught my eye is that the design of the set allows the hybrids to be adjusted for loft and lie—something that no one else offers for consumers (I’ve seen them adjust metal woods in the TaylorMade Tour van at the Buick Open, but you and I can’t go to a local clubfitter and get that done).

Here’s what Mizuno has to say about the MX-100s:

The new MX-100 irons with Y-Tune Technology are the most forgiving irons MIZUNO has ever made. Furthermore, with a cutting edge Hybrid Designed set make-up, the MX-100 irons can be custom fit to your individual specifications, something that only Mizuno offers. The Y-Tune Technology successfully expands and extends the sweet area of the clubface out towards the toe to deliver amazing forgiveness on miss-hits. This Y-Tune Technology receives the XL designation because the “oversized” sweet area is carried throughout the set from the easy to launch, maximum distance #4 and #5 hybrids down to the set matching SW. The hybrids are built with the patented “Drop Down Crown”, which enables them to be bent to your custom fit specifications. The MX-100 irons are unmatched for forgiveness and ease of play, making them the perfect weapons for the mid to high handicap player.

These look very interesting, but I still lust over the MX-950s.

TAYLORMADE Itsy Bitsy Monza Spider

The original Monza Spider offered a high moment of inertia and movable weights. But it was huge, offending the sensibilities of many players (Such as yours truly. I hate those huge putters.

Enter the Itsy Bitsy Spider. Twenty percent smaller than the original, it still features a high MOI and movable weights. The reduction in width, however, is likely to reduce the moment of inertia; and it’s still ugly.

I’ll pass.

Bridgestone E7+ Golf Ball

Not one of the bigger names in American golf shops, Bridgestone has quietly been putting together a very nice lineup of balls for a variety of swing types and speeds. I’ve been playing the E6+ for most of the summer, and have been pretty satisfied with the results.

But now Bridgestone is offering a ball that seems tailor made for me: the E7+.

The E7+ is designed for players with higher ball flights, and is supposed to encourage a lower, more penetrating trajectory. That’s just perfect. I lose a lot of distance going up, instead of out. When this ball comes out in October, it’s likely it will be too cold to really give them a go, but they’ll be first on the list next spring.

BRIDGESTONE Tour B330-RX

Here’s an interesting concept from Bridgestone: a “Tour Caliber” ball that’s designed for players with a slower swing speed. It’s a three piece design, with a gradational core, a mantle, and a 330 dimple soft urethane cover. Bridgestone says it’s the softest multi-layer urethane ball on the market.

Bridgestone says that it developed the ball after their ball fitting program found a gap in current offerings. Their research apparently revealed that there was no ball that offered tour-level spin and performance on the greens while also offering a softer compression that allowed moderate swing speed players the ability to compress the core in the same manner a high swing speed player does with other TOUR-level balls.

So it comes down to the short game with these. If its true, these should be popular for mid to low handicappers. I’ve always liked the performance of the Pro V1 around the greens, but never felt that I had the swing speed to get any distance out of it.

I’m going to try a sleeve.