The GXz Ti a GigaGolf’s latest design. It’s a 460cc forged titanium driver shaped to provide maxumum moment of inertia to make off center hits travel longer and straigher. The GXz Ti features an aero foil channel and a cup face design. The face is enhanced with GigaGolf’s Graduated Thickness Design, which is thinner on the edges than the center. This allows the ball to be hotter in the traditionally “dead” areas on the outside, while still conforming to the USGA’s coefficient of restitution limits in the center. Like all GigaGolf drivers, it comes with a 30 Day Play Guarantee.

GigaGolf Drivers

PowerMax GX922

The GigaGolf PowerMax GX22 is on sale for the next couple of days, with the $169 base price marked down to $145 for an eight iron set. I’ve had good luck with GigaGolf products, so if you want a bargain iron set, this may be the thing.

From the GigaGolf Site:

T

he PowerMax GX22 is our representation of the next generation of cavity-backed irons. This versatile iron combines a forgiving notched cavity back with a sleek profile that allows shot making. The notched cavity provides stability and an increased MOI resulting in longer straighter golf shots even when the ball is struck off center. A moderate sole width and a playable bounce angle do not limit the golfer to a single flight pattern. These irons will grow with your game, allowing the player to set up and play shots that may require a draw or fade as your skill allows and your ball position dictates. Excellent choice for the golfer who is looking for an iron that will provide years of use and help lower their handicap.

GX2 Hybrid

Grade: B
Teacher’s Comments: Plays well, looks funny.

Following the trends set by name brand manufacturers, GigaGolf for 2009 has released the GX2 Hybrid in a square headed design. Like all of the geometric designs, the goal with the GX2 was to raise the moment of inertia, thus improving the results of off-center hits. GigaGolf says that the club’s sole has been designed to reduce friction by reducing surface area. An internal weight is supplsed to keep the center of gravity low and help produce long, high ball flights.

The clubface is built with forged 455 stainless steel, and feels hot at impact. The stock shaft performs well enough for this mid-handicapper, but I actually think I would have preferred a steel shaft.

And if a steel shaft is your thing, you can get it at GigaGolf. Using their online customizer, you can specify different grips, shafts, flexes and lengths.

In practice, I have enjoyed playing with the GX2. I have the 3-iron substitute, and it goes about as long as I would expect for a three iron, but with a much higher ball flight. I don’t like it as much as my five wood out of the short grass, but the GX2 much more effective out of the rough. In that lies the source of the constant tinkering of the contents of my bag. I can never decide whether to carry hybrids or fairway woods, or what mix thereof makes the most sense.

In spite of the advice I’ve been given about playing hybrids, I found the GX2 to be most effective when the ball is a little forward in the stance, like a fairway wood.

The club I received was professionally assembled, with the grip properly aligned, and the ferrule sitting flush to the hosel. There was no extra epoxy or glue marks.

My complaints with the GX2 are purely aesthetic—and they’re why I gave the club a “B”. To my eye, the small, square head looks for all the world like a Craftsman hammer on the end of a stick. It reminds me of that training club that was out a few years ago that was designed to look like a hammer head (who was the “famous” teacher who was promoting that one?). I’ve had a hard enough time getting used to the look of “regular” hybrids; the GX2 is just another leap for me to make.

But if odd looking heads don’t bother you, the GX2 may be just the club for your bag. I think the performance is solid, and the price—starting at under $40, depending upon how you configure it—is terrific.

Pursuit s510 True Forged

Grade: A
Teacher’s Comments: A classic wedge

Even as my distances off the tee and from the fairway deteriorate, my short game has stepped up to help me keep my fifteen handicap. Get me anywhere within a hundred yards of the green, and I’ll get up and down in short order. It’s the thing I find most fun about the game.

So I’ve become a connoisseur of wedges. I carry five in my bag (pitching, gap, lob and two sand wedges, for different lies). A dozen more live in my shed. Each has its season and place.

One that’s found its way into my bag this spring is a 52 degree (Gap) Pursuit s510 True Forged from GigaGolf. Designed with a classic teardrop shape, it’s as easy to look at as it is to play.

And it’s versatile. Playing from the fairway, from tight lies, bunkers, thick grass and all manner of positions, the Pursuit s510 has proved its worth. I found it especially useful in playing from hard, tight lies. The six degrees of bounce and the ability to lay the leading edge flush with the ground minimizes for me the chance of a skull, and allows me to play those shots as high and soft as out of fluffy grass.

GigaGolf manufactured the club from 1035 carbon steel with a five step forging process. This, they say, packs the molecules densely for greater feel and control. In fact, the feel of the club is what you might expect from a forging. When struck cleanly, it’s as soft and pure as any club I’ve played.

The finish on the club is chrome, with the classic dark region framing the striking area. I haven’t noticed any wear on the finish or rust, but I’ve only had the club for a month or so. The logo and lettering on the back are understated, and not in the least distracting.

Workmanship on the club is excellent. The grip is properly aligned, and the ferrule flush with the hosel, with no gaps. That last is a sure sign of care in manufacture. As a semi-pro clubmaker, I know how easy it is to just shove a ferrule on with no regard for proper fitting.

You can get the Pursuit s510 made with a variety of shaft brands and flexes, as well as various grip types. You can also get the shaft length cut to custom lengths, and a lie adjustment.

The best part is that you can get all for as little as $45. That’s about half the price of a forged wedge from one of the big names.

Recommended.

TRX Ti Driver

Grade: A
Teacher’s Comments: As long as any name brand driver I’ve played, at a fraction of the cost.

It’s a general truism in life that you get what you pay for. Sometimes, however, you catch a break and end up with a whole lot more.

The GigaGolf TRX Ti driver is one of those exceptions. Although in the base configuration it costs just over $100, it plays as well as any name brand driver I’ve ever owned. It’s every bit as long and straight as my TaylorMade R7, Mizuno MX-500, and Tour Edge Bazooka GeoMax.

The TRX Ti is a 460cc titanium construction driver with a movable weight system. The weights are set in a triangular configuration on the base of the driver head. Unlike other manufacturers’ weights, the TRX Ti weights can be removed and tightened with a standard Allen wrench. That saves the cost of an expensive, one-trick tool. But since it does create the need to be careful when you tighten the screws; the TaylorMade R7 wrench, in contrast, has a ratcheting device that prevents over-tightening.

At address, I think that the black driver has a powerful, aggressive look. It looks huge from above—giving you the feeling that you just can’t possibly miss the sweet spot. The top view is traditional—pear shaped, tending toward the triangular. It will appeal to players who like the classic look. The bottom is shiny and angular, with scoops for the weights.

One minus: there aren’t any alignment marks to help you out.

With my stance, the TRX TI sets up fairly square and low. I found that I had to tee the ball a bit lower than I do my TaylorMade R7. I love the way the ball feels coming off the clubface.

I’m told that the club is loud, but long-time GolfBlogger readers know that I can’t hear squat, so I have no real comment on that.

My model has 12.5 degrees of loft, and it predictably hits the ball fairly high. But that’s ok. In the wet Michigan springs, you don’t get a lot of roll on the fairway anyway.

I like this club very much, and it has found its way into my “Up North” set of clubs (I keep a set at the cottage “Up North” so I don’t have to pack the whole kit back and forth on quick weekends away.

Recommended.

GXI Hybrid Set

If one hybrid is good, nine hybrids are better!

That’s the theory behind GigaGolf’s new GX Hybrid Set. The new hollow core design has been extended from the 2 iron all the way to the sand wedge. This allows more weight to be pushed to the sole and perimeter on every club, offering more stability and forgiveness through the power of Moment of Intertia. A thin face on these also is supposed to offer greater velocity and more distance. 

The design of these irons would particularly benefit players who strike their irons with a more sweeping, rather than downward motion, or those who may not necessarily have the strength to cut through turf: seniors, juniors, and high handicappers.

To my eye, these are somewhat reminiscent of the Cleveland XLI hybrid irons—but with a better price. You can get a set for as little as $150.

GigaGolf P2 Fairway Woods

The 2008 GigaGolf P2 Fairway woods are designed with the popular new low profile design that’s supposed to help on even the tightest lies. The shallow face actually lowers the center of gravity, allowing you to get behind the ball and get it quickly up on the air. They come in 3, 5, 7 and 9! woods (good for GigaGolf. Most companies don’t offer the 9) and are constructed from 17-4 stainless steel.

GigaGolf also points out somewhat humorously that:

The black on silver finish is easy on the eyes too. Somewhat in contrast to the oh so colorful offerings by the nationally advertised tour player endorsed brands. A good choice for players who would not wear orange socks nor play with an orange fairway wood.

But the best part is the price and the guarantee. You can get one for as low as $30 and they come with a 30 day playability guarantee.