Demo Day Impressions

[Matt Saternus]

I went to the local GG for National Demo Day to collect free stuff and try some new equipment. I left with a free hat, 4 golf balls, 2 losing raffle tickets, and a handful of thoughts on some new gear. Here it is:

 

First thing I tried was the TM Superfast driver. For someone who plays a 44" driver, 46" feels like a fishing pole. It is nicely weighted and doesn't feel overly light and you can feel where the head is throughout the swing. The Matrix shaft (which I assume is the stock offering) is very lively, but smooth and not out of control. I took a handful of swings choked up to around 44" and a few with the driver at full length. I never put much credence in the numbers that the simulator gives me, but it did hold its own against some other drivers. I took a few swings with the FT Tour simply because I like how it looks, and that's a first for a Callaway driver. As has already been reported, it's very nice on center hits, but not very forgiving when you miss your mark.

 

I swung the Callaway Diablo forged irons a bit. These had the Nippon shafts in them which I'm beginning to think that I need. I've hit Nippon shafts in a handful of different irons, and they make everything feel amazing. The one thing that I thought was a little cheesy was that they come with a uniflex shaft. If I'm going to pay $1000 for a set of irons, I'd like the shafts to fit me, not be some "one size fits all" deal. I'm sure you can custom order them through Callaway with any shaft you want, but, as I said, it just came off as cheesy to me.

 

Finally, I tried a ton of different putters. The one standout was the Rife IMO mallet. This is a club with nothing that I normally like: it's a mallet, it's face balanced/double bend shafted, and it's got an insert with roll-improving technology. In spite of all these strikes, I thought it was a pretty nice putter. It was easy to swing, felt nicely weighted, put a good roll on the ball, and felt good. That last part was the real rarity among the putters I tried. Admittedly, I'm very spoiled in terms of putter feel - I own 7 Byron Morgans. Nonetheless, I was really disappointed in the way that most of the putters I tried felt. I tried the NC X-Ray putters and found them to be very tinny. I also tried the entire line up of Ping putters (with the exception of the Redwood which I've tried before and found to be excellent). I thought that the 50th Anniversary putters were far and away the best in terms of feel, and they were also the cheapest. I found all the others (iwi, various insert models) to be very dead feeling - virtually no feedback from the strike. More importantly, when will Ping come up with an original headshape? Everything I saw there was an Anser copy or a Zing copy.

 

That's all I know right now. If you've demoed some new clubs lately, feel free to add your experiences here.

[MmmmmmBuddy]

Thanks for the updates... I have had a chance to demo all of the newer equipment, and can give you my opinions on everything, if need be....

[Addicted2Golf]

You didn't really say whether you like the Diablo forged or not (other than the shafts). What did you think about the look of them? Are the cavity badges/graphics as busy as they look in the pictures? Was the amount of offset an issue? Just curious.

 

We're you able to spend any time with the Cleveland BRZ putters? If so, wow do they compare to the Cleveland Classics? Also, how do they look to you?

 

Funny comment on the Ping Anser and Zing designs. Nicely played.

[MmmmmmBuddy]

 

 

We're you able to spend any time with the Cleveland BRZ putters? If so, wow do they compare to the Cleveland Classics? Also, how do they look to you?

I'll Jump in?

The BRZ putters seem to have a really soft feel at impact that leads me to have trouble controlling the distance the putts roll. Makes me sad, because these things look mean... I really want to like them. But in the end, It is all about making putts.

[GolfSpy Dave]

I'll Jump in?

The BRZ putters seem to have a really soft feel at impact that leads me to have trouble controlling the distance the putts roll. Makes me sad, because these things look mean... I really want to like them. But in the end, It is all about making putts.

Totally the same feeling for me Nic. That is exactly what I found too. Older model had better feel off the face, but I definitely liked the 4.5 model better than the others.

[jamo]

I think the Craz-E, Craz-D and Wack-E are fairly new and original. Also fairly vomit inducing too.

[Matt Saternus]

You didn't really say whether you like the Diablo forged or not (other than the shafts). What did you think about the look of them? Are the cavity badges/graphics as busy as they look in the pictures? Was the amount of offset an issue? Just curious.

 

We're you able to spend any time with the Cleveland BRZ putters? If so, wow do they compare to the Cleveland Classics? Also, how do they look to you?

 

Funny comment on the Ping Anser and Zing designs. Nicely played.

 

With the Diablo, I thought they looked fine, more like my MX-23's than my MP-57's. The fact that I didn't hate them is a major shock given the maker. The cavity is definitely ugly, but that's not a determining factor for me. Offset wasn't a noticeable both, and I hit them into a net so I can't really report on the performance.

 

I've hit the Classics putters before and was pretty impressed, but haven't hit the BRZ's yet.

[Matt Saternus]

I think the Craz-E, Craz-D and Wack-E are fairly new and original. Also fairly vomit inducing too.

 

If this was a "Missing the Joke" contest, Jamo would have an insurmountable, Usain Bolt sized lead.

[Addicted2Golf]

I'll Jump in?

The BRZ putters seem to have a really soft feel at impact that leads me to have trouble controlling the distance the putts roll. Makes me sad, because these things look mean... I really want to like them. But in the end, It is all about making putts.

 

Well, I'm sorry to hear that because I was really digging the look of those putters from what I've seen online. I will still check them out for myself, but thanks for the quick take.

[Addicted2Golf]

The cavity is definitely ugly, but that's not a determining factor for me. Offset wasn't a noticeable both, and I hit them into a net so I can't really report on the performance.

 

I'm assuming then that none of the cavity is visible at address?

[JohnBarry]

You didn't hit the Adams Fast 10, shame, shame on you! I hope you at least drank a PBR after!!

[MmmmmmBuddy]

Well, I'm sorry to hear that because I was really digging the look of those putters from what I've seen online. I will still check them out for myself, but thanks for the quick take.

 

Anytime. I really like the look of these, and was expecting to love them, and was sad that I an not enamored. Perhaps they are like stinky cheese... just need a little time to grow on you.

I'm assuming then that none of the cavity is visible at address?

Not on the short Irons.

 

You didn't hit the Adams Fast 10, shame, shame on you! I hope you at least drank a PBR after!!

The Fast 10 is starting to get better and better for me. I really don't want to have to buy a new driver this year too...

[GolfSpy Dave]

With the Diablo, I thought they looked fine, more like my MX-23's than my MP-57's. The fact that I didn't hate them is a major shock given the maker. The cavity is definitely ugly, but that's not a determining factor for me. Offset wasn't a noticeable both, and I hit them into a net so I can't really report on the performance.

 

I've hit the Classics putters before and was pretty impressed, but haven't hit the BRZ's yet.

I liked the Cally forged quite a bit hitting them on the range. Very long, but didn't feel like it is the same long and the 09 burner long. i know that doesn't make much sense, but they went about the same distance, but the cally just felt longer. maybe felt more powerful of something goofy and intangible.

 

I too don't get the reason behind uniflex steel in $1000 irons.

[mudfish]

On a similar note I went on Saturday too, got my free hat and balls, and tried a few clubs...

 

But the clubs I tried were on the other end of the spectrum... I trued the Mizuno MX100, Adams A7, Callaway Diablo, X20's and Taylormade Burner... All are SGI or GI clubs...

 

Since there were so many people, I didn't get long with the net, but I got about 3-4 swings per club... Overall the best feeling clubs were the MX100's and the X20's... I didn't like the feel of the Diablos at all, but that could be because I was comparing them to the Mizunos which were soft and felt great... The A7's and the Burners were OK, but nothing really jumped out as outstanding...

[GolfSpy Dave]

Are you thinking about snagging the Mizunos?

[jamo]

I must be doing this wrong, I never get free stuff.

[mudfish]

Are you thinking about snagging the Mizunos?

 

I'm actually going to get the MX950's in a couple weeks... Need to pick up league dues this week, and then vacation next week, then the Mizzys... I can't wait...

[Matt Saternus]

I'm assuming then that none of the cavity is visible at address?

 

I was hitting the 6I and the cavity wasn't visible to me, or at least not noticeable. Can't say that I was looking for it.

[Matt Saternus]

You didn't hit the Adams Fast 10, shame, shame on you! I hope you at least drank a PBR after!!

 

There were no Adams reps, so it was hard to get on the sim with an Adams club.

 

I'm saving the PBR to toast the end of this madness in 3 days.

[Matt Saternus]

I'm actually going to get the MX950's in a couple weeks... Need to pick up league dues this week, and then vacation next week, then the Mizzys... I can't wait...

 

Awesome. Did you get fit with the Mizuno Shaft Selector? Keep us updated on how they work out for you.

[mudfish]

Awesome. Did you get fit with the Mizuno Shaft Selector? Keep us updated on how they work out for you.

 

not yet... because there were so many people they didn't have time, but the Mizuno rep is going to be there on the 14th so I set up an appointment to get it done with him...